Xi meets Fijian PM in Beijing, pledging to strengthen development cooperation Xinhua) 08:05, August 21, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi congratulated Fiji's Men's Rugby Sevens team on winning the silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. Noting that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with China and that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xi said that for nearly half a century, the two countries have always supported and helped each other, setting a good example of equal treatment and friendly cooperation between countries large and small. China attaches great importance to China-Fiji relations and is willing to continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability for Fiji's economic and social development, and work with Fiji to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations and promote the building of a China-Fiji community with a shared future to better benefit the two peoples, Xi said. Xi briefed Rabuka, who had visited Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces prior to the meeting, on China's practices and experience in poverty alleviation. The completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects for more than 1.4 billion people is a historic achievement the Chinese people have made under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and a historic contribution China has made to the cause of poverty reduction and the development of humanity, he stressed. "In this process, we have left no ethnic group, region or individual behind, fully demonstrating the socialist system's political advantage in concentrating resources on major undertakings. We have won the heartfelt support of the people of all 56 ethnic groups in China," Xi said. China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization that adheres to a path of peaceful development, Xi said. Noting that China and Fiji both belong to the Global South, Xi said China is ready to help Fiji and other Pacific island countries cope with climate change, and strengthen development cooperation with them to make the Pacific Ocean an ocean of peace, friendship and cooperation. Rabuka congratulated the Chinese Olympic delegation on its excellent performance at the Paris Olympics. He said he visited China 30 years ago as prime minister, and through his Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang tours this time, he witnessed the tremendous achievements China has made in poverty eradication and development under the leadership of President Xi. Fiji is willing to learn from China's experience, and strengthen cooperation with China in poverty reduction, infrastructure and connectivity, he said. Fiji appreciates China's adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, supports the global initiatives proposed by President Xi, and is willing to continue the Belt and Road cooperation with China, promote the development of relations between Pacific island countries and China, and make the Pacific Ocean a peaceful ocean, Rabuka said. He noted that Fiji fully understands China's position on the Taiwan question and will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy. A joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Fiji was issued. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chinese premier lands in Moscow for meeting between Chinese, Russian heads of gov't and visit Xinhua) 09:21, August 21, 2024 MOSCOW, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here on Tuesday to hold the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and visit Russia at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Li arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, where a grand welcome ceremony was held. The premier reviewed the honor guard accompanied by senior Russian government officials. In a statement released upon arrival, Li said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, China and Russia set a model for a new type of international relations and relations between neighboring major countries. Over the past 75 years, China-Russia relations have withstood the test of changing international situation and become stronger and fresher over time, Li noted, adding that China-Russia relations in the new era have shown new vigor and vitality, with stronger mutual political trust, fruitful cooperation in various fields, deeply rooted friendship, and close and effective international coordination. Li said his visit to Russia is aimed at implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state, carrying forward the enduring friendship from generation to generation, and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. He pointed out that the two heads of state have met twice this year, laying out the top-level design and strategic plan for the new development of China-Russia relations at the new historical starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. It is believed that with joint efforts of both sides, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era will surely enter a brighter future, Li said. During his stay, Li will meet with Mishustin to exchange in-depth views on bilateral relations, practical cooperation and key issues of common interest. The regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, held every year since its inception in 1996, is an important mechanism for implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promoting bilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and Russia and the launch of the China-Russia Years of Culture. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) State District Judge Christine Hortick Courtesy of the Hortick Campaign State District Judge Christine Hortick Courtesy of the Hortick Campaign In a rare rebellion by a judge against court procedures, Judge Christine Hortick said she intends to pursue her challenge to Bexar Countys system for scheduling pretrial hearings in civil cases all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. Hortick told the San Antonio Express-News that she has hired an attorney to file a challenge with the states highest court in an attempt to resolve an ongoing feud with her superiors and the 13 other District Court judges over the courts centralized docket system. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under that 62-year-old system in Bexar County, pretrial hearings are assigned to different civil court judges rather than staying with the same one all the way through the case. Hortick maintains the system is outmoded because attorneys have to rehash the basics when a pretrial issue is assigned to a judge unfamiliar with the case. The system is also hard on litigants, especially children, when they have to relive the details of disputes, Hortick said. Hortick gave notice last week that she would pull out of the Presiding Court system beginning Monday. She called the system inefficient and costly to litigants in time and money. Horticks superiors responded with an order requiring her to work within the centralized docket system. The order was signed by Judge Jacqueline Jackie Valdes, the local administrative judge, and Senior District Judge Sid Harle, who presides over the multicounty 4th Administrative Judicial Region in South Texas. Hortick did not show up at the courthouse Monday. She returned Tuesday afternoon and handled a pretrial hearing referred to her by Presiding Court. As far as Im concerned, shes in full compliance, and I appreciate it, Harle said Wednesday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hortick, however, made clear that she was not backing off. In an interview, she said she had hoped the other judge would allow her to opt out of the centralized docket. At this point, theyve opted to not allow me to leave, so theres no consent or approval to do that, she said. The only recourse I have is legal action, to have the Texas Supreme Court tell us, once and for all, what are we doing in Bexar County. The order from Harle and Valdes requires Hortick to serve as Presiding Court judge during the month of September, but Hortick doesnt plan to follow that directive. She said she will ask the states high court to issue a stay of the order so she is not held in contempt. Just what Horticks challenge will look like is still being worked out, but she said it will center on whether the District Courts local rules, which form the basis of the Presiding Court system, are valid under the state constitution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She said that under the Presiding Court system, she must give up jurisdiction over cases assigned to her when, in her view, the state constitution requires her consent when she is asked to essentially trade cases with other judges. In most other Texas counties, a case usually remains with the judge to whom it was assigned at the time it was filed. Hortick declined to identify the attorney she has hired to pursue the challenge. The judge wants to hear only cases assigned to her 225th District Court from start to finish. Under the Presiding Court system, theres the potential for judge-shopping by lawyers and inconsistent rulings as cases move from judge to judge during the pretrial phase, she said. Hortick said she has not heard from her colleagues on the Bexar County bench. I dont anticipate that Ill hear from them, she said. Im sure theyre not happy about it. But I cant worry about whether theyre happy with me or not. I came out against Presiding about a year ago or so. Every effort to be productive and collaborative has been met with nothing but stonewalling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She added that she has received phone calls and texts of support from lawyers and judges in other jurisdictions. Although her superiors have sought to block her efforts to withdraw from the centralized docket, the District Court judges have created a task force to examine the Presiding Court system. Judges Nadine Nieto and Angelica Jimenez are co-chairs; Hortick and about 15 lawyers serve as members. A 45-year-old Rapid City man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for second-degree rape of a child. Aubry Glascock appeared in Pennington County Court Tuesday morning for his sentencing hearing before Judge Jeffrey Connolly. Glascock had entered a plea agreement with the Pennington County States Attorneys Office on May 24. In exchange for a guilty plea, Glascocks charges for first-degree rape and part two information for being a habitual offender would be dismissed. The state alleged Glascock had raped the victim from the ages of four to nine in both South Dakota and Colorado. Despite being investigated in Pennington County in 2012, Glascock was not prosecuted until now due to his incarceration in Colorado, where he was serving a prison sentence for sexually assaulting the same victim. Senior Deputy Pennington County States Attorney Roxanne Hammond said she has never seen a case where the defendant takes such accountability for their actions, however, the damage Glascock has done to the victim is long-lasting." I commend the defendant for taking responsibility for his actions, but the reality with this type of abuse is that an apology doesnt take away the prison that the victim gets to live in every single day, and for that, he does not deserve to walk free, Hammond said. Hammond said despite Glascock turning himself in to the authorities in California, the trauma he put the victim through should not go unpunished. The state requested the court consider 30 years in prison. Hammond said this is a fair request considering how forthcoming Glascock has been and providing justice for the victim. Defense attorney Paul Brankin also noted Glascocks need to take responsibility for his action, commending him for being the one to turn himself in. Brankin suggested the court consider suspending some of the 30-year sentence. In the state of South Dakota, second-degree rape carries a maximum sentence of 50 years and a $50,000 fine. Connolly said he also was impressed by the PSI (pre-sentence investigation) and how much Glascock had taken responsibility. However, with the extent of the crime, Connolly said 25 years in prison seemed to be appropriate considering all the factors of the case. Come out and meet Gen. Andrew Lewis, the colonial hero who twice secured Virginias freedom, on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Salem Museum. The immersive event General Andrew Lewis: Colonial Hero Day, features live re-enactments of the Battle of Mount Pleasant and Dunmores War. Mingle with Fincastle Company actors outfitted in attire from the late 1700s, complete with weapons, tools and general supplies. Wander the museums five floors of galleries filled with exhibits devoted to the general and his contribution to American independence, including 350 years of Roanoke Valleys history. The event, which is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public, thanks to the support of generous sponsors, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Its a wonderful opportunity for people to experience the past for one day and realize how different the settlers way of life was compared to how we live today. There are so many things we dont even think about in terms of how they survived day-to-day life, said Garrett Channell, director of the Salem Museum. Traveling by horse and buggy, protecting a wood home from fire, using tools to cook over a fire, buying materials and sewing clothes it will all be on display. Visitors can just immerse themselves in the colonial lifestyle. Channell said actors interpreting historical figures will interact with visitors throughout the day. In fact, Channell, who also is a Fincastle Company actor, will be portraying Gen. Lewis himself. He welcomes all questions, too. Im honored to be able to re-create the character and educate people on General Lewis many accomplishments, he said. He is the one who gave Virginia self-rule and allowed us to be free. I hope to be able to convey how important he was to our history. Gen. Lewis was also a close friend of George Washington and distinguished himself first by leading his troops to defeat the Shawnee warriors at Point Pleasant (present day West Virginia) during Dunmores War. Also during Dunmores War, considered a precursor to the Revolutionary War, the general was able to secure the Virginia colonys western border. He was later tasked with driving the last royal governor, Lord Dunmore, out of the state. Have a few days to explore? Youll find plenty to do in downtown Salem. The quaint city features 16 restaurants, boutique hotels, multiple antique shops and dozens of historical markers including the East Hill Cemetery, Old Courthouse, Old Post Home and the Great Road, to name a few. Otherwise known as Main Street, the Great Road also once served as the main conduit for settlers heading west during the pre-Revolutionary days and beyond. General Andrew Lewis: Colonial Hero Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7. For more information, please visit salemmuseum.org. Prince George County police officers are not required to use body-worn cameras on the job, an issue that has begun to simmer amongst attorneys defending clients in the county. Prince George County wraps around Hopewell and Petersburg, though the two are their own localities with their own law enforcement agencies. Police Chief Keith Early said that the department has discussed implementing them as it prepares its next budget. But Early flagged costs that arent necessarily within the police department to control, saying that body-worn cameras come with significant investments beyond just an equipment investment. Our highest priorities have been investing in the effective hiring and retention of police officers and emergency communication officers (salaries), along with increasing our staffing to meet the needs of our growing community, Early said. Early said the department will continue to review the issue. Prince George County officials did not return a request to clarify whether they were looking to add the technology in the future. Nearly every law enforcement agency in central Virginia uses body-worn cameras, including police in Richmond; Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties; and Ashland. Petersburg and Hopewell police use them as well. Some departments adopted the accountability technology as early as 2016. Police and body cameras Departments in the Richmond area that use body cameras: Ashland Chesterfield Hanover Henrico Hopewell Petersburg Richmond Departments in the Richmond area that don't use body cameras: Prince George County Virginia State Police Last year, Chesterfield police Lt. Dave Shand described the devices as a security blanket that takes documentation of activities beyond the word of a police officer against the word of a defendant. The long-standing exception has been the Virginia State Police, who also said theyve lacked the funding, which would need to be appropriated by state lawmakers. A bill to carve out the funding was transformed into a study in this years legislative session. Body-worn cameras do come with indirect costs namely bigger workloads for prosecutors that need to comb through arrest footage. Still, defense attorneys who practice in Prince George said they believe its past time for the county to require them for the countys 63 sworn police officers, who work cases that can overlap into the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell. Several criminal defense lawyers told The Times-Dispatch that the devices are a boon to the entire criminal justice system, capable of protecting both officers and defendants from miscarriages of justice. Robert Lichtenstein has practiced law in Virginia since 1988. He described body-worn cameras as both a sword and shield for clients. Video, rather than a written police report or eyewitness testimony, can be much more vibrant, Lichtenstein explained. To me, its inexplicable that (Prince George County) doesnt have body-worn cameras, said Lichtenstein. And I dont buy into its too expensive or whatever. Many jurisdictions that are less prosperous seem to find the money to have body-worn cameras. As an example, Lichtenstein pointed to Petersburg and Hopewell, which support body-worn cameras for their officers. Lichtenstein said that sometimes, body-worn camera footage is decisive enough that cases will be dropped by prosecutors at an earlier stage in legal proceedings. Alternatively, a client sees their behavior on video and decides its in their best interest to take a plea, Lichtenstein explained. Ive had clients exonerated because the video was not comparable or mirrored by the police narrative, said Lichtenstein. A body-worn camera is instrumental to the administration of justice. Where memory can be hazy, body-worn camera footage can be crystal clear. Video evidence can clarify when, how, or if a defendant made a specific statement, said former Hopewell Commonwealths Attorney Anthony Sylvester. Sylvester, who is now in private practice, offered one example: a concealed weapons violation where a weapon is found in a drivers car. Exactly where a gun is in a car, in terms of it being concealed and or apparent, that accurate portrayal or presentation is critical, said Sylvester. Sylvester said they also offer immunity against human error, which can occur when a police officer is required to record an incident from memory. Its one thing to describe the incident, its another thing to actually see it, said Sylvester. A picture is worth a thousand words. Prince George County Sheriff R. W. Buck Vargo said he sympathized with law enforcement officers who dont get the protection that objective footage of an incident can offer. I sympathize with any law enforcement officer who cant have body-worn camera footage, said Vargo. It could save them a lot of headaches in the future, and it could convince a jury. Cats and dogs that need homes in the Richmond area A man died after he was shot multiple times outside a Northeast Side hotel Tuesday night, San Antonio police said. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images A man shot multiple times during an argument Tuesday night outside a Northeast Side hotel died from his injuries, San Antonio police said. Another man involved in the argument also was shot, and the suspected shooter of both men was arrested at the scene on an unrelated warrant, according to a preliminary police report. The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. outside a hotel in the 6400 Block of Interstate 35 North. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to the report, officers were called for a shooting in progress and found a 32-year-old man lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of his injuries. His name has not been released. While police were at the scene, a man approached officers and said he'd been shot. The man, 31, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Witnesses told police they saw a man arguing with two men when he took out a firearm and started shooting toward them, the report states. Police said they arrested the suspected shooter as he was fleeing the scene. The man, 33, was booked in the Bexar County jail on an unrelated warrant. Recently, I toured a notable American cathedral that, as a parish, had been founded by preRevolutionary War French immigrants. When our group came to a panel that included images of four martyrs who had evangelized different European peoples, our docent told us the story of St. Denis, who took Christianity to the French in the third century. Most representations of St. Denis, including this one, reflect the final episode of his life, in which he walked several miles while preaching despite having been beheaded. So he was depicted in this panel as a headless body holding a severed head. Our docents near-apology that such a fantastical event had been memorialized there was met with patronizing head nodshow could anyone other than primitive premoderns ever believe such a preposterous thing?! More than 1700 years after St. Deniss martyrdom, Frances political situation is chaotic in the wake of European and National Assembly elections. Marine Le Pens National Rally, long a pariah, is now undeniably a mainstream party, having made significant gains in European elections and the national elections that followed. National Rallys electoral success paralleled gains by similarly controversial parties in other parts of EuropeGeert Wilders PVV in the Netherlands, the AUR in Romania, the AfD in Germany, and Georgia Melonis Brothers of Italy. Elsewhere, parties like Polands Law and Justice and Hungarys Fidesz have exerted political power for several years. The rightward political shift in continental Europe has been met with alarm across the continent among the elites, with many attempting to undermine these parties in the media and the courts as a means of labeling them extremists. It likely does not occur to many political analysts in France that the story of St. Denis has any bearing on the political trends they are tracking. How could it? And how many French voters even now know who St. Denis was? But it has been the central mistake of European electoral politics of the last generation to forget St. Denis and all the other figures, stories, and myths that have defined what it means not to be European but a particular kind of European: What does it mean to be uniquely French and not Spanish or German? What does it mean to be uniquely Polish and not Italian or British? Just like the American docent, too many European peoples have become embarrassed and begun to apologize for their national identities. They were not overly concerned when the European Unions compound of drab buildings intentionally designed not to reflect a particular European style replaced blocks and blocks of identifiably Belgian buildings in central Brussels. And nobody seemed to care when the House of European History, a museum dedicated to the amalgamation of the history of European peoples into one amorphous pan-European history, opened just behind the European Parliament. As the nonelite living and working away from capital cities have awakened to this, elections have becomedespite what those in power would have anyone believemuch less about policy and political platforms and much more about reasserting national identity. Not every concern about what it means to be French or German or Spanish is an embryonic expression of nationalist homicidal aversion to ones neighbors. The left elites, the globalists, the EU technocrats, and others who have been in charge for the last generation have quite frankly overplayed their hand, and now the pendulum has swung in ways that are proving to be very difficult to manage. Interestingly, the rightward shift on the Continent has occurred concurrently with the electoral collapse of the British Conservative Party, the most successful political party in history. The Conservatives suffered a humiliating defeat in national elections that saw a Labour Party surge and capture more than 400 seats in Parliament. But the election results hide the fact that this is not a Labour mandate, although it can easily be interpreted as such. Nigel Farages Reform Party divided the vote on the right in such a way that Conservative or Reform candidates often finished second and third with enough combined votes to take the seat. Labours share of the vote in 2024 was not much more than their share of the votes in the last national election, in 2019, when thenPrime Minister Boris Johnson led the Conservatives to a stunning victory on the promise to Get Brexit Done! The rightward Continental shift and the Labour insurgency in Britain are related politically and socially even if the result has been to place power in the hands of very different politicians. Britain is on the same path as the rest of Europe, but just one election cycle behind. The rightward lurch in the next election cycle will not be the fault of the left-wing government alone. Fourteen years of largely chaotic Tory rule did not produce improvement in many areas. The root of the problem is that it is impossible to have reasonable conversations about immigration. The influx of migrants and refugees into Europe since approximately 2015 has had a profound impact on every European nation, but to do anything other than celebrate this or even to gently suggest that present rates are unsustainable is simply impermissible. It is labeled as racist at worst and insensitive at best. On July 29, in Southport, England, a 17-year-old wielding a knife attacked a group of children and killed three and injured 10 other people. The attacker was a British citizen born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff, Wales. Online speculation that it was a Muslim asylum seeker sparked days of destructive protests by those who oppose mass immigration. In the wake of mostly peaceful protests by those on the American left, commentators were quick to remind us that a riot is the language of the unheard. While the British rioters were prodded by misinformation in Southport, the kindling that finally caught fire there had already been stacked high by events like the decades-long Rotherham child sex abuse scandal and the London BridgeBorough Market attack in 2017. Then in 2019, the world watched as a terrorist killed two people on London Bridge as a brave civil servant held him off with a narwhal tusk! The scene was sad for more than one reasonthe loss of life, yes, but also because the picture evoked a once-great civilization fighting off its own destruction with tools not fit for use. It is because England has proved unable to address productively the economic, cultural, and social challenges presented by the influx of immigrants that radical voices have been able to make headway and push genuinely extreme positions into the political mainstream. During the campaign, National Rally effectively promised to ban halal and kosher foods and clothing associated with Muslim communities. In fairness, however, the last French prime minister had already done something similar in French schools while serving as the education minister. These types of solutions are neither real nor sustainable solutions but unproductive reactionary policies. Thats all the French (or the British or the Germans) can expect if the subject remains taboo. The political and social ban on reasoned discussion not just about immigration but also on what it means to be French or German or British in the context of mass immigration has festered into genuine racism among some bad actors within many of these parties enjoying electoral success. Most are labeled as anti-immigrant parties, but all that many of their members want is a chance at public dialogue about how the U.K., for example, could ever manage the more than 100 million people eligible for protection under the laws of the nation of 67 million if they were to show up on British shores. European nations and peoples are different in important ways. They speak different languages, eat different foods, have different histories, and are defined by different national myths and sources of pride. These unique sources of identity have been overshadowed (and sometimes attacked) by mass immigration and the project of European integration. Until these differences are acknowledged, respected, and protected, any progress that is possible regarding European integration or multiculturalism will be unrealizable, and the frustration it foments will provide cover for the worst impulses among ussparking increasingly frequent and, possibly, violent riots as more and more voices critical of these trends are left unheard. Come out and meet Gen. Andrew Lewis, the colonial hero who twice secured Virginias freedom, on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Salem Museum. The immersive event General Andrew Lewis: Colonial Hero Day, features live re-enactments of the Battle of Mount Pleasant and Dunmores War. Mingle with Fincastle Company actors outfitted in attire from the late 1700s, complete with weapons, tools and general supplies. Wander the museums five floors of galleries filled with exhibits devoted to the general and his contribution to American independence, including 350 years of Roanoke Valleys history. The event, which is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to the public, thanks to the support of generous sponsors, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Its a wonderful opportunity for people to experience the past for one day and realize how different the settlers way of life was compared to how we live today. There are so many things we dont even think about in terms of how they survived day-to-day life, said Garrett Channell, director of the Salem Museum. Traveling by horse and buggy, protecting a wood home from fire, using tools to cook over a fire, buying materials and sewing clothes it will all be on display. Visitors can just immerse themselves in the colonial lifestyle. Channell said actors interpreting historical figures will interact with visitors throughout the day. In fact, Channell, who also is a Fincastle Company actor, will be portraying Gen. Lewis himself. He welcomes all questions, too. Im honored to be able to re-create the character and educate people on General Lewis many accomplishments, he said. He is the one who gave Virginia self-rule and allowed us to be free. I hope to be able to convey how important he was to our history. Gen. Lewis was also a close friend of George Washington and distinguished himself first by leading his troops to defeat the Shawnee warriors at Point Pleasant (present day West Virginia) during Dunmores War. Also during Dunmores War, considered a precursor to the Revolutionary War, the general was able to secure the Virginia colonys western border. He was later tasked with driving the last royal governor, Lord Dunmore, out of the state. Have a few days to explore? Youll find plenty to do in downtown Salem. The quaint city features 16 restaurants, boutique hotels, multiple antique shops and dozens of historical markers including the East Hill Cemetery, Old Courthouse, Old Post Home and the Great Road, to name a few. Otherwise known as Main Street, the Great Road also once served as the main conduit for settlers heading west during the pre-Revolutionary days and beyond. General Andrew Lewis: Colonial Hero Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7. For more information, please visit salemmuseum.org. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com. Richmond, Virginia-based Carmax is proposing to build a $19.9 million, 25-acre superstore in San Marcos, according to filings with the state. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Used auto retailer Carmax plans to build a $19.9 million superstore along Interstate 35 just north of San Marcos. The company is proposing a 45,600-square-foot used car facility and auction building on a 26-acre plot at the crossing of the interstate and Chuck Nash Loop, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Carmax store would be on a stretch of the interstate that includes several other dealerships, including Griffith Ford San Marcos, Chuck Nash Chevrolet Buick GMC and Steel Hyundai Kyle. Construction is projected to begin in May 2025 and could be completed by March 2026, according to the filings. Based in Richmond, Va., CarMax describes itself as the nations largest retailer of used autos. The publicly traded company reported revenue of $26.5 billion for its most recent fiscal year, and has more than 240 store locations and nearly 30,000 employees, according to the companys website. Carmax currently has 27 stores in Texas, including two in Austin and two in San Antonio, according to the companys website. " " This large uncut specimen of rhodonite was mined from the Ural Mountains in Russia, where the first piece of the mineral was originally found in the 18th century. koroboky/Shutterstock As sleeping babies lay in their cribs in the 18th-century Ural Mountain villages near Sidelnikovo, Russia, parents slipped pink stones next to them, called orlets. Rocking their child's crib slowly, parents told local folklore about how eagles (orels), the king of birds, brought the same beautiful and valuable stones to their nests. By placing rhodonite next to their children, the villagers hoped it would bring their children courage and acuity, like the majestic eagle. Eventually, rare rhodonite crystals and stones became highly prized in Russia, donned by czars and fashioned into enormous ornaments. Today, this pink stone with its notable charcoal veining is less known for its monetary value and rarity but more for its metaphysical value as a stone of power, protection, and self-love. Advertisement In this article, we'll explore how these rose-colored stones would go on to develop a huge following amongst mineral collectors, alternative health enthusiasts, and romantics. Seven fluffy white Chilean flamingo chicks are on display at a zoo in southwest England for the first time since 2018 and one is particularly notable for the way it made its entrance. Two male flamingos named Arthur and Curtis successfully hatched an egg together a first for the Paignton Zoo. The zoo has had several all-male pairings during past breeding seasons, so the same-sex couple is not an unexpected turn of events, said Pete Smallbones, the zoos curator of birds. But the zoo is not sure exactly how the couple acquired the egg. Its likely that this egg became available unprotected, kind of just left (in a nest) and then theyve taken the opportunity, said Pete Smallbones, the zoos curator of birds. As a bird department, were more than aware of how its a known thing for flamingos, penguins and other species to have same sex pairings. So, it wasnt a shock I suppose it was a slight surprise, just because it wasnt quite the expected (male and female pairing). During breeding season, the couples usually spend more time together and follow each other around the enclosure, but a pairing is confirmed when two birds pick a nest to share, where they will take turns sitting on the mud mound with or without an egg. This year, however, a same-sex pair had an egg to sit on. While two male birds hatching an egg together is notably rare, it has happened a handful of times at other zoos. The successful hatching between two males highlights the social birds innate parental instincts and flexibility, experts say. It also underscores the need for conversation about the near-threatened Chilean flamingos that are declining in the wild and their native home of South America, according to the zoos news release. And experts have some theories as to how and why their pairing came to be. Birds of a feather Chilean flamingos can be finicky when it comes to breeding. In the wild, observations have shown the species to avoid breeding for up to nine years as the birds wait for weather and environmental conditions to be just right, Smallbones said. But even at the zoo, which provides their preferred mud nests, they often dont breed every year. One year at the Paignton Zoo, flamingo eggs laid several weeks too late had to be taken away as the chicks would likely not have thrived in the colder weather conditions, Smallbones said. Avian influenza concerns disrupted another prior breeding season, since the birds were removed from their enclosure as a safety precaution, he added. Curtis and Arthurs chick, which does not have a name yet, is almost a month old and appears to be thriving, Smallbones said. The parents are obviously doing a great job. The chick has been observed exploring the exhibit with another chick roughly the same age but will still return to Curtis and Arthur for food. While the two males are the only same-sex pairing the zoo is aware of this breeding season, the zoo could potentially welcome more chicks this year as several eggs are still incubating, according to the news release. Urge to nest A number of other zoos have observed same-sex pairings among certain bird species. There are even several egg-hatching success stories, such as in 2007 when the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire entrusted an abandoned egg to two male flamingos, and in 2018 when two male penguins at Sydneys Sea Life Aquarium also became adopted parents to a chick. Being in a same sex pair is a relatively common occurrence in captive flamingos, because of small flock sizes, said Paul Rose, a biologist and senior lecturer on animal behavior at the University of Exeter. Actually hatching an egg is more unusual. These two male flamingos were likely very keen to nest but could not attract a female partner and so the same urge to nest brought them together. Sometimes, same-sex flamingo pairs have been observed disrupting other nests as Chilean flamingos nest as a flock in an attempt to obtain eggs of their own, Rose said. In the wild, Chilean flamingo flock sizes can be in the hundreds during breeding season, according to Rose. The Paignton Zoo currently has 26 female flamingos and 25 male flamingos in the exhibit, which suggests there are enough females for the males to pair with, Smallbones said. While more research is needed to determine why same-sex bird pairings occur, it is possible that Arthur and Curtis found an egg from a male and female couple that wasnt being cared for and jumped at the opportunity to tend to it, or they took over another couples nest, Smallbones said. It takes two Flamingos often have non-breeding partnerships that consist of same-sex associations, according to a June 2020 study led by Rose. The birds tend to be very particular in who they like to spend their time with, and will actively seek out some birds in a flock and avoid others, Rose added in an email. I am not surprised that two male flamingos are successful in raising a chick because of their social flexibility, but I dont believe it would have been their first choice of breeding partner. While same-sex bird couples are recorded more in captivity than in the wild, according to Rose, a number of albatross species types of seabirds have more females than males in the population, and occasionally, females will pair together to raise one egg, or both will lay eggs and care for them together, said Kevin McGowan, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Similar to flamingos, hatching an egg and taking care of an albatross chick requires two dedicated parents, as egg incubation takes as long as 60 days about 28 days for flamingos and both parents need to provide food for the chick. You cant do it on your own. So, these birds have figured out how to make it work. Its in their instincts to want to take care of an egg, however the circumstances, McGowan said. For Arthur and Curtis, the strong natural instinct to breed was likely the driver for the same-sex pairing. There is a grand desire to have kids, and these two guys (Arthur and Curtis) figured out how to do it, McGowan added. Research on the occurrence of same-sex pairing in the wild could provide more information on the possible adaptive benefits of the behavior, such as if a wild flamingo lost its partner but had an egg to look after, Rose said. This demonstrates how resourceful animals can be when they are driven to do something a specific time of the year or season. ___ Which airline is the best to travel with an emotional support animal? See how policies vary. United Airlines Delta Air Lines Southwest Airlines Alaska Airlines Which airline is the best to travel with an emotional support animal? See how policies vary. American Airlines Air Force trainees down meal rations during a break from exercises at the Chapman Annex of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The annex is home to Air Force special warfare training, including pararescue. KAYLEE GREENLEE BEAL In a troubling turn of events over the weekend, Air Force security personnel guarding the entrance to a training annex at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland twice came under fire in the dead of night. The assailants have not been identified, and authorities have made sometimes contradictory statements about what their aims and motives may have been. No one was injured. Here is what we know and don't know based on reporting by Sig Christenson, the Express-News' military affairs correspondent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What exactly happened, and where? It went down in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 17. Guards from the Air Force Security Forces, who protect U.S. air bases worldwide, were keeping watch at the main gate to the Chapman Training Annex, at Ray Ellison Boulevard and Medina Base Road on San Antonio's Southwest Side. At about 2:15 a.m., they saw a sedan approach and heard gunfire and the whine of bullets flying past, according to accounts from the Air Force and the San Antonio Police Department. How did the Air Force respond? More guards were sent to the gate to bolster security, although no one will say how many. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, the sedan returned, and someone inside fired another volley at the gate, according to the Air Force and SAPD. This time, the security personnel fired back. How many attackers were there? An Air Force spokeswoman, Stefanie "Stevi" Antosh, said it was more than one, but she didn't provide a number. NBC News, quoting an unidentified source, said there was a single shooter, along with one other person in the sedan, and that neither individual appear to be affiliated with the military. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authorities provided no details of the cars make, model or color. Air Force trainees participate in a combat simulation at the Chapman Training Annex of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The annex is home to Air Force special warfare training, including pararescue. Kaylee Greenlee Beal Was any evidence found at the scene? SAPD officers found shell casings near where the sedan had stopped. That's all the evidence we know of. Who did this, and why? If the Air Force and the police know, they aren't saying. But they have ruled out certain explanations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Antosh said there's no indication the shootings were politically motivated or an act of terrorism. A few hours after the incident, she said there was "a sense" the incident was gang-related. But on Monday, an SAPD spokeswoman, Capt. Michelle Ramos, said police did not have evidence of gang involvement. SAPD is investigating the incident as an aggravated assault with deadly weapon. What is the Chapman Training Annex? It's the home of Air Force special warfare training. Long known as the Medina Annex, it was renamed in 2020 for Air Force Master Sgt. John Chapman, a combat air controller who was killed in a battle in Afghanistan on March 4, 2002, and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Has this incident rattled the Air Force? "Rattled" would be too strong a term. Authorities closed the Chapman Annex gate for a few hours, but it reopened around 9:40 a.m. Saturday. Lackland was never locked down, and the base's security condition remained unchanged at Force Protection Condition Bravo. By Saturday afternoon, there was little indication the entrance to the annex had been the site of gunfire a few hours earlier. A lone security officer was visible at the guard shack. That said, Antosh revealed that Air Force Security Forces were working with local law enforcement to develop comprehensive security measures to protect gates at JBSAs three major installations Lackland and Randolph AFBs and the Army's Fort Sam Houston as well as Camp Bullis, a training range in northern Bexar County. When was the last time something like this happened at JBSA? Lackland was briefly locked down on June 9, 2021, after two individuals were reported to have fired shots at the base near the Valley Hi Gate and then fled on foot. No injuries were reported. In 2016, Lackland was rocked by an on-base murder-suicide. Air Force Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, a former Green Beret, killed his squadron commander and then himself. Bellino had tried out for the service's pararescue program. He breezed through the initial physical training at the Chapman Annex but went AWOL after disputing the results of a team-building exercise in which he and another trainee had to move a brick under water from one end of a pool to the other. CHICAGO The Democratic National Convention's second night highlighted the party's past presidents, particularly Chicago's own Barack Obama. The Democrats also went all-in on promoting cross-party appeal, featuring a former Donald Trump spokeswoman and a Republican mayor from the battleground state of Arizona. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, ducked out of Chicago to hold a rally just up the interstate in Milwaukee, wooing voters in swing state Wisconsin. It's a recognition that, regardless of whatever good vibes may exist at the convention, Democrats expect this presidential election to be razor-close. Here are some takeaways from the convention's second night. The ex-presidents club If the Republican convention was all about Trump, the Democrats on Tuesday wanted to put Harris in a pantheon with past presidents. The biggest validators of the night were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. The latter linked Harris with her husband by telling the rapt crowd, America, hope is making a comeback. Barack Obama, for his part, reached back to his own 2004 convention speech to tie Harris to his legacy. I am feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where everything is possible, he said. It wasnt just the Obamas making the case for the vice president. The grandsons of Jimmy Carter and John F. Kennedy also portrayed her as the natural heir of past Democratic leaders. As groundbreaking as Harris candidacy is as the first woman of color to be her partys nominee, these speeches by an ex-president and presidential progeny were all about linking her to a broader historical arc and evoking the excitement of Obamas 2008 run that Harris hopes to replicate. Diverting from the high road The Obamas did not hold back in lacing into Trump. Michelle Obama's well-worn adage from years past that when they go low, we go high no longer seemed operative. Barack Obama called Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Michelle Obama also took a personal swipe, saying: For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black. Playing off her famous line about Republicans going low, Michelle Obama suggested that Trump was going small and that its unhealthy, and quite frankly, its unpresidential. DNC dance party Political conventions technically happen so that delegates can nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates. This year, the Democrats took care of that job in advance. But that didn't stop them from holding a ceremonial do-over and turning it into a raucous dance party. DJ Cassidy strode on stage in a bright blue double-breasted suit and spun tunes for every state as they nominated Harris and Walz. Minnesota got "1999" by native son Prince, Kansas got "Carry on Wayward Son" by, well, Kansas. "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen played as New Jersey weighed in. Usually it was governors or state party chairs calling out the votes, but some states passed the mic to make serious points. Kate Cox, who unsuccessfully sued her home state of Texas while seeking an abortion for a nonviable fetus, announced Texas' votes. A survivor of the 2017 Las Vegas strip gun massacre announced Nevada's votes. The roll call highlight was when Atlanta rapper Lil Jon strode through the United Center to the beats of "Turn Down for What," his song with DJ Snake, and rapped his support for Harris and Walz. Democrats are eager to highlight how Harris' ascension energized the party. The roll call fit that vibe. Harris, Walz take detour to battleground Wisconsin Harris and Walz ditched Chicago for the night to hold a primetime rally in Milwaukee that packed the same arena that had hosted the Republican National Convention just last month. Their appearance served as a second-stage power boost to the main event in Chicago, and Harris was beamed in to the main hall to thank delegates for their roll call. In her Wisconsin remarks, Harris stressed repeatedly that the election will be close. "We know this is gonna be a tight race to the very end," she said. "We have some hard work ahead of us. We like hard work; hard work is good work." She scoffed when someone in the crowd seemed to call out that she'd already won. A message for Republicans: It's OK to Quit Trump The Democrats are making a play for disaffected Trump voters and they used one of his former White House staffers to make their case. Stephanie Grisham worked in various roles in the Trump White House, including communications director and press secretary, allowing Democrats to argue that those who know Trump best have seen him at his worst. "He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth," Grisham said. "I couldn't be part of the insanity any longer." Kyle Sweetser, a Trump voter from Alabama, told the convention the former president's tariffs made life harder for construction workers like him. Republican Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona, also spoke about why he's backing Harris. Giles sees Trump's policies as hurting cities like his. A weighty prop targets Project 2025 Each day of the DNC is to feature a speaker brandishing an oversized tome designed to represent the Project 2025 policy book from the conservative Heritage Foundation. Project 2025 is on one hand a very typical Washington effort, uniting a bunch of wonks and activists to map out a potential agenda for the next president. In this case, the authors include many officials who served in Trump's administration and remain close to the candidate. Its organizers say they got dozens of conservative groups to sign on to the push, making it far more meaningful than the average collection of policy papers. Democrats use Project 2025 as shorthand for their warnings about what might transpire in a second Trump term, particularly potential revisions to civil service rules to ensure more of the federal workforce is loyal to the president. It's also got page after page of other proposals, grist for attacks from the convention podium. On Tuesday, it was Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta's turn to wave the big book. "It is a radical plan to drag us backwards," he declared. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters didn't wield the prop, but name-checked the initiative. Harris chimed in from Milwaukee, telling the rally crowd, "Can you believe they put that thing in writing?" Read more election coverage: Dont ask Amanda Browder to hem up a skirt or make a quilt. The Missoula, Montana, native insisted that such things were outside of her skill set. But what about draping the exterior of a downtown building with huge swatches of fabric? Well, thats exactly what she does best. An artist best known for her large-scale public art installations, Browder has wrapped buildings in New York City, Grand Rapids, Michigan and, even, Bruges, Belgium, among many other places. For the past 18 months she's been creating Razzle Dazzle, a textile installation that will eventually cover the outside of both the Sioux City Art Center as well as the adjacent Gilchrist Learning Center. 2024 ArtSplash preview Terri McGaffin and Vikki Jacobs, right, sew sections of massive Razzle Dazzle textile art installation which will adorn the side of the Sioux 2024 ArtSplash preview Michele Melo, special projects coordinator for the Sioux City Art Center, talks about the design for the ArtSplash 2024 poster which depicts f The project which also involved the handiwork of nearly 500 volunteers plus a massive quantity of donated fabric will be unveiled to the public at the Art Centers 30th annual ArtSplash, taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at 225 Nebraska St. We wanted to celebrate ArtSplashs 30th birthday with a little razzle dazzle, Sioux City Art Center executive director Todd Behrens said with a smile. This is taking that idea to the extreme. But dont confuse what Browder and her crew are accomplishing with a simple quilting bee. No, this is turning the entire exterior of the art center into a colorful piece of folk art, special events coordinator Michele Melo explained. Its like nothing youve ever seen before. Still for such a massive undertaking, Browder enlisted a handiwork of volunteers during public sewing days that took place at West High Schools gymnasium and the Tyson Events Center, among other locations. This piece could only be accomplished through community support and, in many ways, that is very empowering, Browder said. At the start of every project, Ill meet women wholl say, Oh, Im not very creative, but I made 15 quilts last year, she added, shaking her head. That always disturbed me. Ill turn around and say, OK, thats cool. Lets take all of that talent and utilize it into covering up a building. 2024 ArtSplash preview Michele Melo, special projects coordinator for the Sioux City Art Center, and Todd Behrens, director of the Art Center, describe the design fo 2024 ArtSplash preview Todd Behrens, director of the Sioux City Art Center, discusses the vendors and activities at the 2024 ArtSplash. Sure enough, volunteers as young as 10 as well as those over the age of 80 participated in the project. Yet dont call Browders crew of top-notch stitchers seamstresses. I cant help but think seamstress is a slightly derogatory term because it depicts something that only ladies do, she explained. I prefer the term sewists because it is more professional and that we utilize the work of both men and women. OK, what are Browders sewists working on now? According to volunteer Kris Mueller, it was the 109-by-44-ft stitched-together fabric that will cover the Art Centers rotunda. It is going to look outstanding once it goes up on the building, she said, marveling at massive piece of brightly-colored material. 2024 ArtSplash preview Todd Behrens, director of the Sioux City Art Center, right, and Michele Melo, special projects coordinator for the Art Center, discuss ArtSpla An experience knitter, Mueller said working on the project violated some long-held rules. I was always taught to not let the threads show or to not let the seams show, she said. Amanda said all of that detail stuff goes out the window because nobody see it on top of the building. Unlike some of the other volunteers, Terri Parish McGaffin has an extensive background in the fine arts. The longtime head of Morningside Universitys art department, she jumped a the chance to participate in the public sewing days. When I saw Amandas work, I immediately thought of Christo (Vladimirov Javacheff), the famous Bulgarian artist who was known for wrapping buildings, landmarks and landscapes in fabric, McGaffin noted. But Amanda said she wasnt influenced by Christo. No, my work is much more garish and cartoonish than that, Browder said. We think shes just being modest. Having said that, Browders work may well be temporary. Fabric, especially cotton, is stronger than you think, she explained. When it is stretched tautly onto a building, it will withstand a lot. 2024 ArtSplash preview Sue Mullin, left, and Sue Chartier sew a part of the massive Razzle Dazzle textile art installation which will adorn the side of the Sioux Cit 2024 ArtSplash preview Amanda Browder, left, helps Sue Mullin align pieces of fabric at the Tyson Events Center to complete the Razzle Dazzle community sewing project. Maybe, but it wont withstand a Midwestern winter. We just hope it lasts until around Halloween or so, Behrens said. Having it survive ArtSplash is first and foremost on our minds. As it should be since the annual event has become a local staple over the years. People associate Saturday in the Park with the Fourth of July and, now, they associate ArtSplash with Labor Day weekend, he explained. Thats pretty cool. In fact, the festival has evolved into a downtown-wide event. Not only will we have art vendors, we will also have live music, food trucks and fun interactive stuff for both children and adults, Behrens said. Plus all of the downtown art galleries will be open. So, people can make ArtSplash into an all-day thing. Which is good news for Melo, who is a proponent on making art accessible for everybody. Art galleries still have a reputation for being stuffy or boring, she said. In reality, it is anything but boring or stuffy. Thats especially true when the entire Sioux City Art Center will be wrapped up as if it was a big birthday present. Now, this is totally fitting for ArtSplashs 30th year. We wanted to give the community something they had never seen before, Behrens said. I think Razzle Dazzle will fit the bill. Details WHAT: Sioux City Art Center's 30th annual ArtSplash WHEN: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 WHERE: Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St. Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Athena, Kristin, and Ilyce here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Pay Dirt, My father-in-law is a very old-fashioned man. He lost his only son when he was in high school. It is a family tradition to name sons after their fathers. So he is John VI. He offered to pay for college for any grandson named after him. My wife and I are gay and expecting our first son via surrogate. My sisters-in-law all have boys. None of them have taken their father up on the offer. I think my wife and I should take him up on the offer. She is worried about causing bad blood with her sisters. Thoughts? Name Dear Name, Giving your son his grandfathers name seems pretty straightforward and sweet. But there must be a reason your wife is worried about it causing bad blood. Does she think it might bring up some issues of favoritism among your sisters? Whatever the reason, I wonder if your wife is willing to have a conversation with her sisters about this before you proceed. She doesnt need to ask them for permission to name your child, but she can let them know that the two of you are considering it. What do they think about it (and why didnt they choose to cash in themselves)? Giving them the chance to weigh in on the matter might help soften any hard feelings. Theres another potential issue to consider, though. Do you expect your father-in-law to hold up his end of the bargain? If youre only taking his name for the free tuitionand not the significance of itconsider the possibility that your father-in-law could always change his mind. He might not have the funds for it after all; he might ultimately think its unfair to the other grandkids. How would you and your wife feel if that were to happen? Its something to think about. College is wildly expensive these days, so the free tuition is a big bonus. But I would also make sure youre attached to the name and the meaning that comes with it. Want Advice From Pay Dirt? For questions on the money issues in your life try submitting to Pay Dirt! Dear Pay Dirt, A person who I considered to be a good friend for eight or nine years asked my husband and I, along with others, if we would like to join them in starting a marijuana business. She and her brother were in it together. We trusted them because they were like family. So we agreed. We sold our house, and the friend happened to be a realtor so she put it on the market for us. It sold quickly. We moved over 100 miles away so we could be close to where this business was going to be. After a few years, the business was a go. They asked my husband to help with a few tasks and paid him for the first few months, but then the payments stopped. They now owe him $11,000.00 for the work he did for them. I sent them invoices every month for a year and never received payment. I have since then discovered that they and one of their business partners (who is in charge of funding) have been involved in legal battles with another group of people that they never paid back for their investment money: $150,000! So our piddly $11,000 is nothing to them. After finding all of this out, I have not spoken to my friend in seven months. I am hurt and feel betrayed by her. I constantly think about the whole situation and her involvement. I feel it is a waste of my energy to keep holding these bad feelings toward her but cant seem to stop. I have not told her about my reasons for not speaking to her. But silence on her end seems to me like she has figured it out on her own. She fits the definition of a narcissist. My question is: What can I do to let this all go? Betrayed By Friend Dear Betrayed, This is a huge betrayal, but its also a lesson in being careful about who you trust before you uproot your life. If you havent heard from your friend in seven months, she knows theres a problem and is likely avoiding you. And if she was a true friendor at the very least, someone you could trustthe least she couldve done was be upfront with you about everything. After all, you sold your house and relocated to help them launch this business. Its unclear what the companys status is, but she should have been forthcoming with this information. You could take legal action, which would involve consulting with a lawyer and maybe heading to small claims court, or the lawyer could send them a demand letter to see if it lights a fire. A lawyer might also be able to help you negotiate a settlement or a smaller payment plan. But dragging this out might be a lengthy and ugly process, especially if your friend has ghosted you, so you have to be prepared for that. Whether you go the legal route or not, would you be willing to reach out to your friend for an explanation? Theres a slim chance youll get those invoices paid anytime soon, but if you decide to hire a lawyer, you might want to hear her side of things and give her a chance to explain herself. Be honest about how this has affected you. If her response is positive, maybe you can work something out before you take any further steps. Even if you dont get a dollar back, hearing from her might help you put the situation behind you. I dont see how its possible to trust your friend now, and you go so far as to suggest shes a narcissist, so the friendship probably wont ever recover. But for the sake of closure, reaching out to ask for an explanation might turn out to be what you need. Want more Pay Dirt every week? Slate Plus members get an additional column each week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Dear Pay Dirt, My husband and I both own our own solo businesses. They make enough to get by but we are not putting money into saving for a vacation house or anything beyond regular bills and contributing to our simplified employee pensions. We have a 4-year-old son. A few years ago when money was coming in pretty well, we bought disability and life insurance for both of us. The life insurance is called 20-pay whole life insurance and it was sold to us as a way to invest because we can take money out of it for retirement. Our monthly bill for these policies is $1,700. Our businesses have not been doing well for several months and we have no cash savings. That $1,700 is looking like an attractive bill to cut out or cut down. Do we need to keep these policies no matter what? These might add up to a lifetime payment of $600,000. Are we better off investing that money elsewhere? Times are Tight Now Dear Times are Tight, For those who arent familiar, a whole life policy is a type of life insurance policy that also functions as an investment vehicle. It usually has a high premium, and you pay into the policy like any other life insurance policy, but your money also grows over time. Many personal finance experts do not recommend them as an investment. The fees are high and, historically, the stock market has produced better returns. In other words, in most cases, your money would be better invested in a retirement account like the simplified employee pension plan you mentioned. Of course, with a life insurance policy, youre also paying for peace of mind. If the worst case scenario happens, your family gets a big payout. Peace of mind is great, but $1,700 a month is a lot to pay for it, especially when youre already stretched thin. The trouble is that canceling the plan can be costly. Youll likely be on the hook for fees, and since youre cashing out, youll probably have to pay taxes on any interest earned on the policy. That said, the extra $1,700 a month of breathing room in your budget might be worth the hit. Before you go that route, talk to the company about your options. For example, you might be able to stop paying premiums in exchange for a smaller benefit. Talk to the insurer and, ideally, your financial planner. Its always a good idea to see if there are more options before making any big moves. If you still want life insurance, look into a term life policy, which only pays out for a set time in the event of a death. In other words, its not permanentif you outlive the policy, you dont get the benefit. But this type of policy also allows you to pay a much smaller premium. You get the comfort of knowing your family is taken care of but at a fraction of the cost. Kristin Classic Prudie Help! My adult daughter is planning a wedding in November. I just learned she was married in secret in August. Shes now angry and says I invaded her privacy by looking up her marriage license online. I wouldnt have looked at all, but she accidentally wore a ring during a FaceTime call. I asked if she was married, she said no, and thinks I should have left it alone. She still wants the wedding with 100 guests, and is expecting me to pay for it. It was a quiet first day at the Democratic National Convention on the hot-button issue of IsraelPalestine. The tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters that organizers had anticipated ended up numbering in just the four digits. There was only one real skirmish with police outside the convention. Inside the United Center, it was largely quiet as well, with few mentions of the conflict from speakers, little in the way of Israeli or Palestinian flags, and merely one dustup between delegates. And it was an especially quiet night at the launch party of Zioness Action Fund, the brand-new, unabashedly progressive, unapologetically Zionist, excitedly pro-Kamala and pro-Democrats political arm of the pro-Israel nonprofit, despite a star-studded lineup featuring members of Congress and an RSVP list that was oversubscribed. Event is SOLD OUT!!!!! We are over capacity, read an email sent out by the organizers. Promised attendees included congresswomen Shontel Brown, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Manning, and Marilyn Strickland; congressmen Dan Goldman, Jared Moskowitz, and Adriano Espaillat; and Sens. John Fetterman and Cory Booker. When I arrived at the event, on the third floor of a swanky downtown Chicago venue, there were about three dozen people present, facing a small stage in the middle of a dark, cavernous, and mostly empty room. A pile of T-shirts that read Zioness AF, available in black and blue, sat unattended on a long table out front. CNN political commentator Van Jones was at the dais, finishing a speech that linked the struggle of the Black community to that of the Jewish community (and taking a weird potshot at Puerto Ricans in the process). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lineup of speakers was chock-full of the Democratic Partys most loyal supporters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and top recipients of its financial support. No one said a critical word about the organization all night. Advertisement AIPAC, the lobbying group closely allied with right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, has been the largest and most influential outside spender in Democratic elections in 2024, via its United Democracy Project super PAC. It is, critically, not a loyal Democratic operation. In 2022 AIPAC endorsed 109 of the 147 Republican members of Congress who had voted to overturn the 2020 election for the benefit of Donald Trump; the United Democracy Project is funded in large part by Republican megadonors. If Zioness Action Fund was meant to be a counterweight to that, there was little evidence of this. Based on the lineup, and the content of the speeches, it seemed more like a spinoff. It was after midnightthe first night of speeches at the DNC had, famously, run long; Biden had just finished upand things at the party were struggling to get going. Grindset impresario and assiduous podcast guest Scott Galloway loitered by the back bar. Advertisement Related From Slate The Only Thing That Could Kill the Vibes at the DNC Read More Before the event even began, its attendees were already dropping like flies. Fetterman, the junior senator from Pennsylvania, announced Sunday that he would be skipping the DNC altogether, a shocking move for an elected Democrat at any level. He claimed he was skipping the event to spend time with his kids, a justification that has raised a number of eyebrows at the convention. I scanned the room. I didnt see Booker anywhere either. Advertisement The first elected official I finally saw take the stage was Wasserman Schultz, the Florida congresswoman, whose speaking slot at Monday nights DNC had been unceremoniously scotched at the last second for time. For Wasserman Schultz, a onetime chair of the DNC herself, this party becoming her biggest stage of the night seemed not much of a consolation prize. She told the crowd that she was pushing to form a Jewish caucus in Congress. If were not at the table, were on the menu, she said. Thank God we had Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House who understood that. The verb tense of that last sentence felt notable. After her brief remarks, she made a beeline for the exit. Advertisement Advertisement Next came Ilan Goldenberg, the Harris campaigns Jewish liaison, whose hiring had been announced all of a week ago. He tried to assure the attendees of Harris record on Israel. Then Amanda Berman, founder of Zioness, got on the mic and apologetically announced that both Strickland and Moskowitz had left before addressing the crowd. Manning hadnt even shown up, I was told, though I was informed that her spouse had been in attendance. The number of partygoers unaffiliated with the organization or its official program was low, and dropping. There was not an A-list or a B-list or a C-list celebrity to be found. Advertisement Advertisement In fact, the only other member of Congress who delivered remarks was a surprise politician who hadnt even been named on the invite: Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider. It was his birthday. He repeated again and again his support for the Jewish democratic state of Israel. Advertisement After he spoke, I went up to him to chat. I didnt realize there was press here, he said warily. Earlier that day, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters had told Politicos Jonathan Martin that Bidens policy on Gazathe unconditional and massive military support for Netanyahu and a bombing campaign that has killed at least 40,000 Palestinianswas not Kamala Harris policy on Gaza. I think she has differences, said Peters, insisting that Harris should go public with those differences and distinguish herself as much as possible from the current White House stance, which is deeply unpopular with Democrats and independents. Though the official party platform shows scant evidence of it, Harris has been known to more readily criticize Netanyahu and seems genuinely attuned to the politics of the issue, especially for youth voters. Advertisement Schneider was eager to talk. Did he worry that the ground was shifting within the party on Israel with Biden on the way out and a more vocally critical Harris taking over? No, he saidHarris rhetoric was less important than her actions, which he thought wouldnt change. Listen to what she says, but watch what she does, he told me with a knowing look. I asked if he was worried that Netanyahu, who clearly would prefer Trump to win, was hurting Joe Biden and Democrats on this issue. Im gonna give an indirect answer because its my job, he responded. Im not gonna defend everything Israel has done. Advertisement Advertisement Finally, I went over to Mondaire Jones, who had served as the nights big finisher. Jones is a former member of Congresshe left in 2023. During his one term, he was best known as a left-wing advocate for court reform; now, as he tries to get back in, he has rebranded himself as a vocal supporter of Israel, staking out a position on the far right of the Democratic caucus. (His Republican opponent is a top AIPAC affiliate.) Jones was not eager to talk. Im surprised youre here, he said, rebuffing my first attempt. He antagonizes me on Twitter, he said to a bystander, in an attempt to pass me off a second time. Advertisement Advertisement I waited him out. As we walked to the elevator together, I asked him what he thought about a potential shift in the Democratic Partys stance toward Israel. That there was a need for this event at allProgressive, Pro-Israel, Pro-Kamalaseemed to indicate some uncertainty. He really did not want to answer. I asked him if hed seen Bidens speech, resoundingly cheered by all Democrats in attendance, during which the president had said: Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. Advertisement Advertisement In his own speech, Jones had railed against those pro-Palestinian activists, pejoratively referring to them as so-called protesters. For a brief moment, Jones seemed genuinely surprised. Did he really? he asked. I pressed him for more. Some of the protesters and uncommitted delegates Id spoken with felt as if the party had barely moved an inch on Gaza, despite evidence of widespread famine and reports of sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli military detention. But attendees at this party, now scattered on the sidewalk, seemed concerned that a perceptible shift was already underway. I asked Jones if he was surprised how much money AIPAC had spentthe most ever in a congressional race by an outside groupto knock his old neighbor and fellow freshman Jamaal Bowman out of Congress. Was that a sign of weakness or strength? He laughed, shut the door of his cab, and rode off. Thomas Michael "Mickey" O'Donnell, 81, of Valley Lee, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 7, 1942, in Washington, DC to the late William and Janice O'Donnell. Mickey grew up a couple of blocks from the Capitol. He attended St. Francis Xavier through the 8th grade, Bishop Ireton for 9th and 10th grade, and Suitland High School for his last two years of high school, graduating in 1961. In 1958, Mickey met the love of his life, Dot, while visiting a friend in her Forestville, Maryland neighborhood. Mickey spent much of his time hanging out with Dot and neighborhood friends, playing outside, as teenagers do. Married on June 23, 1961, this teenage courtship turned into a loving marriage of 63 years. Mickey and Dot began their marriage together in a small apartment in Washington, DC. After having their first three children, they bought a home in East Pines before settling into a house in Riverdale, which they would call home for over 50 years. This home was where his four children spent much of their childhood, and it was the center for large family gatherings and holiday celebrations. Mickey loved being surrounded by family and friends. Mickey began his career working in the plumbing sales industry. He quickly built a customer base because of his ability to make business transactions a more personable experience. Through his work in sales, he recognized the need for a business that sells plumbing repair parts. This unique business idea turned into reality in 1977, when Mickey established his own wholesale plumbing supply company named T.M. O'Donnell Company. His business began in his basement, moved to Beltsville in 1981, and it remains open today, operated by his son and grandsons. T.M. O'Donnell Company was, and still is, more than just a place to purchase plumbing supplies; it is a hub for building enduring friendships and relationships. When not at work, Mickey would spend much of his time in St. Mary's County. Tall Timbers Marina became his weekend get-a-way location, which is where he met many life-long friends. Mickey was the Captain of the Colleen. He enjoyed fishing and spent many weekends running charter boat trips, with his son serving as the mate. In 1990, he bought his home in Valley Lee, where he and Dot would happily spend his remaining years. Mickey often expressed his love for this home as he gazed at the water's edge to enjoy the peaceful scenery and observe the active wildlife. Having an outgoing personality, Mickey would often participate in social events. One event he particularly loved was the car show in York, PA. This was a great opportunity for Mickey and Dot to travel in his '37 Ford Coupe, to admire other cars, and to socialize with the people who had a shared interest in old cars. Other events he enjoyed were the yearly fishing trips with the If You Can Hack It Fishing Club. These trips were likely more about friendship than about catching fish. Mickey possessed a unique gift of bringing joy to others, always offering a comment that could brighten any moment. Anyone who spoke with Mickey was guaranteed to experience smiles and laughter. He could quickly turn a bad situation into a joke. His lighthearted personality was welcomed by all. Mickey is survived by his beloved wife, Dot; his sisters, Patricia "Pat" Newton (Carlton) and Mary "Betty" O'Donnell; his four children, Eileen Higgins (Don), Richard "Rich" O'Donnell (Fran), Catherine "Cathy" Burkins (Jay deceased), and Sheila Rohde (Tim); his ten grandchildren, Sean Higgins, Stephen Higgins, Chris O'Donnell, Shannon Kovash, Christina Schwartz, Nick O'Donnell, Tim Rohde Jr., Jenny Crupi, Michael O'Donnell, and Anna Burkins; his thirteen great-grandchildren, Noel Higgins, Natalie Higgins, C.J. O'Donnell, Kaylie Higgins, Bailey Pickens, Cassie Schwartz, Hailey Higgins, Bella Higgins, Levi Schwartz, Abby Schwartz, Mya Crupi, Alivia Crupi, and Nora Rohde; and one great-great-grandchild, Taylor Williams. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following associations: Alzheimer's Association - link to Mickey's tribute page - Alzheimer's Association American Diabetes Association - Diabetes Research, Education, Advocacy | ADA Leukemia Society - Donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org) A celebration of life gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in St. Mary's County. For details, please contact Eileen, Rich, Cathy, Sheila, or Dot. Anne Patricia Quinn of Lexington Park, MD peacefully passed away on Wednesday August 14th, 2024, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Anne was born on June 20th, 1949, in Derry, Ireland. She was the daughter of the late Ambrose McConnell and Philomena Deehan McConnell. Anne is survived by her husband Mike, who she married on February 5th, 1972 and has had 52 wonderful years with. She was the loving mother of Terry (Libby), and Michele, and late Michael Paul who she now joins in Heaven. Devoted and loving grandmother of Chelsie, Matthew, Lizzie, and Joseph, who she now joins in Heaven. She was the sister of Phyllis, Vera (Ian), Lizzy (Don), Ka (Brendan), Ray (Kitsie), Ambrose (Kathleen), Gerard (Patricia), Paddy, and James; Anne was predeceased death by brother John (Judy) and sister Caroline (Mada). Anne and Mike started their life adventure while Mike was in the Navy and for the next 26 years they moved throughout the world and made lifelong friends, before retiring to Lexington Park. Anne was the glue that held the family together, she was the ultimate momma (and Meme) bear, fiercely nurturing and encouraging them to succeed in life. Anne loved traveling, especially to her native Ireland to visit her family, relatives and many friends from childhood. She and her sisters loved to play Bingo, and enjoyed many get togethers in local pubs with her friends and family, where there was great banter and laughs. Recently she travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland where she went with Libby, Chelsie and Lizzie to see Taylor Swift, where they had the best time and made a lasting memory. Anne was a devout Catholic and dedicated to St Jude and Padre Pio. One of the highlights of her life was her visit to Rome where she was lucky enough to have met and be blessed by the Pope Benedict. Any time anyone would ask for a prayer she would light her St Jude candles and pray for his intersession. Anne was the most devoted and loving mother, Meme to her grandchildren, and friend you'd ever have the honor of knowing. She will be missed more than anyone can put into words. A Life Celebration Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with prayers recited at 7:00 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Raymond Schmidt on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, 43927 St. John's Road, Hollywood, MD 20636. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Another large plant is planned, while sites for small modular reactors are being explored. The AP300 small modular reactor is based on the proven, licensed Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design. (Source: Courtesy of Westinghouse) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share In the next 15-20 years, experts have forecast Slovakia will need 15-30 TWh more electricity per year than it currently generates, as industry, heating and transport is decarbonised. This would call for a potential doubling of production from current levels of 30 TWh. To achieve this goal, Slovakia plans to harness wind, sun and water power, but also to build new nuclear plants. This comes at a time when nuclear power is already playing a greater role in Slovak energy production. Related article Related article Slovakia has clear plan to remain "nuclear energy powerhouse" Read more The completion of the fourth reactor at the Mochovce nuclear plant expected next year will mean Slovakia can cover as much as 75 percent of its national energy consumption from nuclear power. Robert Jindra had been the chief conductor in Kosice for the past three years. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Robert Jindra, the chief conductor of the Kosice State Philharmonic, has resigned from his position just several days after publicly criticising Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova. The Czech artist voiced his concerns over the ministers recent controversial dismissals of two directors. Last week, the minister dismissed the director of the National Gallery and the National Museum without naming significant managerial failures for their removal. Former director Alexandra Kusa from the National Gallery and Matej Drlicka, the former head of the National Theatre, are among those who have criticised the ministers actions regarding public media and culture, which many believe to be autocratic attempts to control the cultural landscape in Slovakia. Earlier this week, the minister faced a two-day protest in Bratislava, attended by nearly 30,000 people. Lets stop this incompetent person who is ruining Slovak culture, Jindra wrote on social media last week. Slovakia, my dear friends, I'm with you. He also signed a petition calling for the ministers dismissal, which has garnered over 180,000 signatures. Vulgar term in Facebook post In another post on his private Facebook profile, Jindra referred to Simkovicova with a derogatory term, according to a screenshot shared by the minister on Telegram. Jindra later removed the post from Facebook. This post led to expectations that Jindra might lose his position. The use of such language by an employee of a state cultural institution is shocking and unacceptable, stated the ministry in a press release. As of Wednesday afternoon, August 14, Jindra was no longer employed by the Kosice Philharmonic. He had held the position of chief conductor since 2021. It is currently unclear who will conduct the concerts that were planned with him. Robert Jindra. (Source: Facebook/Kosice State Philharmonic/Jakub Simonak) Jindra emphasised that his private opinions do not represent the stance of the institutions with which he is affiliated. My purely private statements on entirely different matters, even those made over a month ago and taken out of context, have been deliberately and purposefully pieced together. He explained that his derogatory remark was a reaction to the ministers homophobic comments from early July, in which she attacked LGBT+ people and spoke about the supposed extinction of the white race in Europe due to LGBT+ people. Her words essentially amounted to categorising people as either necessary or less necessary to society. My post [with the derogatory term] may have offended Mrs. Simkovicova, but her statements have offended many, Jindra told the Moja Kultura website. Jindra noted that he had not written the entire derogatory term but had used asterisks, and that the comment was made under the pressure of strong emotions. Directors contract to end soon The Kosice Philharmonic has thus lost its collaboration with this prominent Czech artist who also works in Prague and guest conducts in German-speaking countries. The Philharmonics director, Lucia Potokarova, met with the culture minister on August 12 and informed her that Jindra had offered his resignation on August 8. It is unclear whether Simkovicova had requested Jindras resignation. However, the artistic board of the Kosice State Philharmonic, which is an advisory body to the institutions director, also discussed the situation and recommended that Potokarova accept the resignation. Potokarovas contract as director ends in three weeks. It is unclear whether the ministry will extend her contract. Potokarova had signed a statement from the Association of Slovak Theatres and Orchestras, of which she is a member, criticising the minister for dismissing directors of national institutions without dialogue with the directors themselves. Potokarova described Jindra as a talented conductor and thanked him for the memorable concerts, noting that his work brought French classical music to Kosice. Besides undeniable artistic qualities, one of the criteria for selecting a chief conductor is their personal qualities and chemistry with the orchestra. The current situation is all the more regrettable, she concluded. Video shared by Russian embassy and television. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Members of Brat za Brata, a pro-Russian Slovak motorcycle gang, visited the eastern Slovak village of Dargov on Wednesday, August 14. Their mission: to remove Ukrainian flags painted on Soviet military equipment at a victory monument on the Dargov Pass. The flags, a gesture of support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict launched by Russia in February 2022, had been added by unknown individuals, reports the Sme daily. At the turn of 1944 and 1945, the village of Dargov became the centre of bloody battles between the Nazi German and Soviet armies. Approximately 22,000 soldiers died, and the small village was destroyed. Ukrainians also took part in the liberation of Slovak territory in the Red Army ranks. After the Second World War, locals raised a monument featuring military equipment as a sign of gratitude for the gesture. Story about pro-Kremlin vandals on Russian TV Now, members of the pro-Russian group Brat za Brata (Brother for Brother) visited the memorial to remove Ukrainian flags painted on the equipment. The group published a video, showing their boss Matus Alexa covering the Ukrainian flag on the Soviet T-34/85 tank with green paint. Other members then sprayed a red star on the tank as well as the SU-100 tank destroyer. An uncut video was published by the Russian embassy in Slovakia, and later the Russian state television Rossiya 1 also aired a short report about them. This is not the first time that support for the contemporary Russian army was supported in this way. In the summer of 2022, an unknown perpetrator sprayed the letter Z on military equipment. Spreading Kremlin-aligned propaganda The pro-Russian group, which was established in 2014, spreads pro-Kremlin propaganda. For example, in 2022 they visited the village of Ladomirova, eastern Slovakia, after Russian ambassador Igor Bratchikov accused the then village mayor of defaming the military cemetery. The bikers also published the name and photo of the former mayor, who subsequently received death threats. Members of Brat za Brata were also spotted a few months ago in occupied Crimea. They were part of a delegation monitoring the Russian presidential elections, effectively legitimising the process. Not long ago, Meta blocked their Facebook and Instagram accounts, with almost 120,000 followers on the former social media platform. However, the US tech firm restored the accounts within 24 hours, refuting Alexa's claim that the European Parliament had ordered Meta to block Brata za Brata's accounts. Marc Whyte, San Antonio city council member representing District 10, arrives for a court appearance related to his 2023 DWI arrest on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Marc Whyte, San Antonio city council member representing District 10, arrives for a court appearance related to his 2023 DWI arrest on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Assistant District Attorney Luis Echeverria talks with reporters about developments in Marc Whytes DWI case, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Attorneys for City Council Member Marc Whyte, whos facing a charge of driving while intoxicated, pressured prosecutors on Tuesday for more information about the state employee who tested the alcohol level in Whytes blood after his arrest Dec. 29. During a brief court appearance, defense attorney Thom Nisbet focussed on blood tests conducted by Texas Department of Public Safety employee Karen Ream in other cases. We do have cause to believe there is additional exculpatory evidence of Karen Ream issues she may have had as a chemist in other jurisdictions in Texas, Nisbet said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He told Judge Erica Pena that information about chemistry anomalies in other Ream-administered tests may be missing from a batch of evidence provided by Assistant District Attorney Luis Echeverria. The prosecutor was required by law to give the Northeast Side council members lawyers all evidence that could be used against him at trial the date for which hasnt been set. Echeverria said hed complied with state law because he turned over all the records hed received about Reams work in Bexar County. He added that the Bexar County District Attorneys office can gather records from other jurisdictions if Whytes defense team identifies the cases. Echeverria and Whytes lawyers talked behind closed doors for about 30 minutes. Echeverria later said they were discussing evidence in the case. In the same session, Echeverria said hes being removed from the case, without offering an explanation. The DAs office declined to comment about his removal. A new prosecutor is expected to be assigned in the next couple weeks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whyte was on hand in Bexar County Court 11 on Tuesday for what was supposed to be a pretrial hearing. But it was delayed until Oct. 2. He remained in the courtroom while the attorneys talked privately. He stood up from his front row seat for a few minutes while he waited until a bailiff asked him to sit back down. He declined to answer reporters' questions as he left the courthouse. Whytes arrest Whyte, 44, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving the night of Dec. 29. The Bexar County District Attorneys office formally charged Whyte with driving while intoxicated in July. San Antonio police officer Devin McCroy said in an affidavit that he witnessed the first-term council member speeding and changing lanes without signaling on a Northeast Loop 410 frontage road, and pulled him over shortly after 11 p.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The officer also alleged that Whyte smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and red, and he swayed back and forth after getting out of his car. Whyte told the officer he had one drink at El Mirasol restaurant on Northwest Military Highway, a second at Myrons Prime Steakhouse next door and a third at the nearby Thirsty Horse Saloon. Days after his arrest, Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda said that she, Whyte and a few other people she declined to identify met at El Mirasol for dinner. Some of the party went to Myrons at one point and then returned to El Mirasol. Both are in Alon Town Centre on Northwest Military Highway. Some members of the group, Whyte included, went to Thirsty Horse afterward. But Whyte drove Cabello Havrda home before making his way to the dance hall. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The San Antonio Police Department on Jan. 11 released body-camera video of the arrest. In the 20-minute recording, the first-term council member appeared coherent and polite, and was adamant that he was sober. Yet the Texas Department of Public Safety reported in late February that Whytes blood alcohol concentration was 0.089 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood a few hours after his arrest. DWI is defined in the Texas Penal Code as driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. An actress in the play likened Stefan Kuffa to a censor. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share It was a Sunday evening in the small, remote village of Mala Frankova, nestled in the Kezmarok district of eastern Slovakia. Roughly a hundred spectators gathered to enjoy an outdoor performance by the National Theatre of Kosice at the local amphitheatre. The show, Little Gem an acclaimed Irish play by Elaine Murphy tells the stories of three generations of women grappling with life, love, and sexuality. But what was meant to be an evening of culture turned into a spectacle of disruption. The peace was shattered when Stefan Kuffa, a deputy environment minister and far-right nationalist appointed by the Slovak National Party (SNS), strode in front of the audience. Three-quarters of an hour into the play, he attempted to halt the performance, declaring it inappropriate for the crowd, which included children. Lukas Marhefka, the editor-in-chief of Zamagurske noviny, a local paper, was among the audience members. He was the first to bring the incident to light. People asked Kuffa to leave because they couldnt see the stage, Marhefka said in a video. Instead of stepping aside, Kuffa launched into a tirade, addressing the crowd about who should and should not be watching the play. He even likened the performance to pornography. Tempers flared, leading to a heated argument and the abrupt interruption of the performance. Its unbelievable, Marhefka said. He single-handedly disrupted the performance of actress Dana Kosicka. The play was part of a hunting event held in the village last Sunday. Theatre critical of Kuffa The play in question, Little Gem, premiered in 2008 and has garnered widespread acclaim, including an award at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Its exploration of love, death, and intimacy through the voices of three women granddaughter, mother, and grandmother seemed to have struck a particularly sensitive chord for Kuffa. One monologue, delivered by actress Luba Blaskovicova as the grandmother, candidly reflects on a friends advice to visit a sex shop to reignite her passion for life. It was during Kosickas salsa-related monologue that Kuffa chose to intervene. Kuffa has since denied Marhefkas account, yet in an official statement, he admitted to disrupting the play. I acted in good faith to prevent the performance containing perverse scenes, targeted solely at adults, from continuing in front of our children, he said on Facebook. Blaskovicova responded by comparing Kuffa to a censor. The National Theatre of Kosice defended its production, noting that the play is clearly marked as suitable for viewers aged 18 and over on its website. However, festival organisers had failed to communicate this to the audience, leading to an apology to the theatre from the event organisers. Nonetheless, the theatre stood by its stance that the situation did not justify anyone interfering with the performance or ejecting the audience from the cultural event. It further emphasised that it is the responsibility of parents, not organisers, to decide what content is appropriate for their children. The performance eventually resumed, though no longer in the original amphitheatre. After Kuffa was escorted away by the villages mayor, Milan Kalafut, the play continued in an alternate venue offered by the organisers. Like Kuffa, who comes from Mala Frankova, Kalafut criticised the play, and called it unsuitable for the conservative local community following the incident. Kuffas provocation Kuffas intervention, however, extended beyond the performance itself. Late in the evening, while theatre staff dismantled the set, Kuffa reappeared with his phone in hand, filming the workers. This encounter ended with a brief physical altercation, after a staff member struck Kuffas hand with a metal rod. Kuffa later posted a video of the incident online, sparking an ongoing police investigation. The Mala Frankova incidents have rippled through Slovakias political sphere. While opposition parties have called for Kuffas resignation, Slovak National Party chair Andrej Danko denounced the assault on Kuffa by the theatre worker. Meanwhile, a commenter on social media claimed that Kuffa had harassed and insulted the theatre troupe throughout the day. Minister wants an investigation The Culture Ministry also weighed in, siding with Kuffa. Children and youth must be protected from inappropriate content and from the persistent pressure of liberal-progressive propaganda, Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS) stated. She described the play as far beyond the bounds of what is suitable for children and youth, citing both its sexual content and language. There is no confirmation as to whether Simkovicova herself saw the production. However, Dennik N, a prominent Slovak daily, reported that the minister used a photograph from a different staging of the play Little Gem, involving a sex toy, to publicly criticise the national theatre and the play itself on social media. The image, although related to Little Gem, was taken from a rendition at the Bratislava-based theatre L+S. Simkovicova has faced criticism for purging cultural institutions, attacking the LGBT+ community, and attempting to consolidate control over cultural funding in an effort to reshape Slovakias cultural landscape. The minister has since announced plans to investigate whether the performance in the village of Mala Frankova violated laws regarding the moral protection of minors. Additionally, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (SNS) has expressed hopes that General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka will also look into the matter. Kuffas actions mirror a similar incident in 2016, when far-right politician Marian Kotleba halted a theatre performance due to its coarse language. Irish TV crew in Bratislava, Blue Church visit, and foreigner attacked. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Update: On Wednesday, we updated the main story in the news digest by adding a statement from the museum. Hello. Here is the Tuesday, August 20 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Pagan ritual exhibit censored after Kuffas visit Deputy environment minister Stefan Kuffa and the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology in the background. (Source: TASR/The Slovak Spectator) After a visit by Deputy Environment Minister Stefan Kuffa to the Slovak Museum of Nature Protection and Speleology, a controversy has erupted over the museums step to alter part of a historical display portraying a pagan ritual from the Bronze Age. The museum, located in northern Slovakia, removed a figure in the exhibita man depicted as kneeling before a couple preparing to offer him as a sacrificeafter Kuffa reportedly expressed discomfort with the scene a few months ago. The kneeling figure was replaced by a bowl of rye. The decision has been met with outrage by critics, particularly from the non-parliamentary Demokrati party, led by former defence minister Jaroslav Nad. The party accused Kuffa of imposing censorship on scientific and cultural heritage. Kuffa is literally mocking human knowledge and the work of generations of archaeologists, historians, and speleologists, said Michal Kica, a Demokrati member and former deputy environment minister. Ideological interference with scientific research is unacceptable in a free society. Kuffa, an ultra-conservative politician aligned with the hard-right Slovak National Party, has drawn national attention for his extreme views. He has previously voiced support for the crowning of Jesus Christ as the king of Slovakia and has made inflammatory statements about LGBT+ people, suggesting they would be better off dead. The museum, which falls under the purview of the Environment Ministry, did not comment on the specifics of Kuffas involvement in the alteration on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the museum denied that Kuffa had influenced the work of its staff. According to the museum, the exhibition was adjusted in order to tailor it to a childrens audience. The kneeling man has been removed and replaced by a bowl of rye. (Source: TASR - Jan Kroslak) Related: Over the weekend, deputy environment minister Stefan Kuffa disrupted a theatre performance during a cultural event in a small village, insisting that parents remove their children from the audience. Kuffa deemed the Irish play being performed as perverse. MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE Politics: Following a recent amendment to the Penal Code, several retailers are reporting an increase in thefts. The Justice Ministry does not believe them. Following a recent amendment to the Penal Code, several retailers are reporting an increase in thefts. The Justice Ministry does not believe them. Bratislava: Portuguese tourist Carlos Figueiredo enjoyed his time in Bratislava, but says he wont be returning after being attacked in the city. Portuguese tourist Carlos Figueiredo enjoyed his time in Bratislava, but says he wont be returning after being attacked in the city. Opinion: A push for greater Slovak autonomy, growing support for reformist communists, and criticism of communist leader Antonin Novotnys concentrated power further fuelled the momentum toward the Prague Spring, writes historian Miroslav Londak. A push for greater Slovak autonomy, growing support for reformist communists, and criticism of communist leader Antonin Novotnys concentrated power further fuelled the momentum toward the Prague Spring, writes historian Miroslav Londak. Travel: Dedinkys cable car captivates visitors with stunning views. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY You really need to get rid of your mosquitos! Bratislava is a great place to film - especially on the street, you dont even need a permit if youre shooting without a tripod, says Irish producer Mairead Tucker. (Source: Mairead Tucker) The Slovak capital recently dazzled as the backdrop for an Irish language travel show, showcasing its vibrant attractions. However, the shoot was far from smoothan Irish Instagram star emerged as the most dramatic casualty of the trip. Tour Rare Blue Church tour with organ music St. Elizabeth's Church, known as the Blue Church, in Bratislava. (Source: TASR) Dont miss this rare opportunity to explore the iconic Blue Church on Bezrucova 2 in the Old Town, Bratislava. Experience a stunning organ performance in the enchanting atmosphere of this Art Nouveau masterpiece, typically accessible only during services. No reservation is required for the tour, which runs every half hour from 10:00 to 15:00, Monday through Friday. Tickets are 5 and can only be purchased on site. The tour, which will end on August 30, is conducted in English, with printed materials available in German, Hungarian, Slovak, Spanish, and Italian. IN OTHER NEWS The Culture Ministry will cancel its Cultural Policy Institute at the end of August due to reorganisational changes related to the consolidation of public finances. The Justice Ministry and the Defence Ministry have dissolved their analytical units. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenicky (Smer) and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Hlas) are currently visiting China to negotiate with major companies that may invest in Slovakia . Two months ago, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (Smer nom.) also visited China, and Prime Minister Robert Fico is also planning a trip there. Starting next year, the minimum wage will rise to 816 from the current 750. This increase results from a legally mandated formula that activates if unions and employers cannot reach an agreement on wage adjustments, which was the case this time. The Open Culture! platform has kicked off a relay protest named the Slovak Cultural Uprising outside the Culture Ministry. They are demanding the removal of Minister Martina Simkovicova and her Chief of Staff, Lukas Machala. The protest takes place daily from 8:00 to 20:00, concluding on August 29 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising. The judge at the Specialised Criminal Court has dismissed the charges against former judge David Lindtner, who advises Prime Minister Robert Fico and Minister Susko, due to significant procedural errors. The prosecutor has filed an appeal. The charges involve allegations of interference with judicial independence and indirect corruption. Recently, the government apologised to Lindtner for his unlawful detention. As of January 1, the Belarusian embassy in Slovakia has ceased operations. The Pravda daily reports that an unnamed source attributed the closure to Belarusian officials deeming some of Slovakias activities in Minsk as unacceptable interference in their internal affairs. To put it cautiously, it involved facilitating the transfer of cash to individuals persecuted by the local regime, the source said, noting that this situation began following the change of government in 2020. The Steiner antiquarian bookshop in Bratislava is spotlighting the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia these days. (Source: Courtesy of Jana Liptakova) WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: Wednesday will see mostly cloudy to overcast skies across the country. Expect rain throughout the day, with thunderstorms possible at times. Daytime temperatures will range from 23C to 28C, reaching up to 33C in the south and Zemplin region, eastern Slovakia. Storm warnings will be in effect on Wednesday from 10:00 to 21:00 in central and eastern Slovakia. In Slovakias far southeastern region, a heat alert will be in effect on Wednesday afternoon, too. (SHMU) AUGUST 21 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Jana. Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram (@slovakspectator). https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/attack-on-ukrainian-village-hits-kraken-unit-1119855945.html Attack on Ukrainian Village Hits Kraken Unit Attack on Ukrainian Village Hits Kraken Unit Sputnik International The "incoming strike" was recorded in Galytsynovoe in the Nikolaev Region of Ukraine, and the location of neo-Nazi Kraken Regiment* was hit, the coordinator of the pro-Russian underground network, Sergei Lebedev, told Sputnik on Wednesday. 2024-08-21T07:39+0000 2024-08-21T07:39+0000 2024-08-21T07:39+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia army tactical missile system (atacms) nikolaev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/0e/1118418787_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8d276933ce426c48d495b968a8431953.jpg "There is the village of Galytsynovoe in the south of the Nikolaev Region, there is an alumina refinery and an important port area. Extremists from the Kraken gang, which is banned in Russia, have settled in these places. And finally, they were struck," Lebedev said. Lebedev added that the strike was allegedly carried out on the warehouse where the missiles were located. He suggested that these were ATACMS missiles. The Kraken Regiment is a Ukrainian military volunteer unit, part of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine. The national battalion was formed by veterans of the Azov Regiment* and take part in counter offensives and sabotage operations.*banned in Russia for terrorism and extremism https://sputnikglobe.com/20240705/exclusive-russian-specialists-studied-concept-of-operation-of-atacms-cluster-submunition-1119249010.html ukraine russia nikolaev 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 kraken unit, pro-russian underground network, attack https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/bidens-desperation-for-foreign-policy-win-explains-why-blinken-jumped-the-gun-on-gaza-deal-1119862969.html Bidens Desperation for Foreign Policy Win Explains Why Blinken Jumped the Gun on Gaza Deal Bidens Desperation for Foreign Policy Win Explains Why Blinken Jumped the Gun on Gaza Deal Sputnik International The US administration is particularly eager to announce an agreement, driven by both diplomatic and domestic pressures, Dr. Imad Salamey, an assistant professor of political science at Lebanese American University, told Sputnik. 2024-08-21T18:07+0000 2024-08-21T18:07+0000 2024-08-21T18:07+0000 analysis middle east benjamin netanyahu simon tsipis antony blinken israel tel aviv lebanon hamas democrats https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119863121_0:157:3080:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_96fb6a649b509d7bc2e46bb2273c8f2d.jpg The US administration is particularly eager to announce an agreement, driven by both diplomatic and domestic pressures, Dr. Imad Salamey, an assistant professor of political science at Lebanese American University, told Sputnik, commenting on why Israeli officials havent confirmed Tel Avivs readiness to accept the bridging proposal announced by Secretary Blinken on Monday.By contrast, the Israeli government may face significant internal challenges regarding the deal, the observer said. Prime Minister Netanyahus government is deeply divided, and any official confirmation could exacerbate these divisions, potentially leading to resignations or even the collapse of the coalition. Thus, while the US is keen to publicize progress, Israel might be more cautious, weighing the domestic repercussions of any public acknowledgement of the agreement.Blinkens public announcement could [also] be interpreted as a strategic move to exert public pressure on Israel, according to the scholar. The pressure serves multiple purposes: it advances US diplomatic interests in the region, reinforces the image of the US as a global leader, and garners domestic support by showcasing the administrations proactive role, Salamey said.Netanyahu Has No Interest in DealBut Israeli media reports indicate that the government has no intention of agreeing to the agreement announced by the US and at least in Israel, its clear to everyone that there will be no deal, Tel Aviv-based international affairs observer Dr. Simon Tsipis told Sputnik.But in my view this is just an excuse for the fact that Netanyahu is not interested in making any deal with Hamas, no matter its contents, the observer noted. Tsipis recalled that for Netanyahu, the conflict in Gaza has become not just a matter of his governments political survival, but his personal freedom, given the multiple Israeli criminal investigations hanging over his head, which would inevitably resume if the conflict were brought to a peaceful conclusion.Plus, its becoming increasingly clear to people whose relatives and friends are being held hostage by Hamas with each passing day that there are practically no more of them left alive. Yesterday, six bodies of hostages were pulled out of one of the tunnels. If earlier, several months ago, it was assumed that there were more than 220 of them being held there, now its assumed that there are no more than 100 still alive. The rest are dead, and the pressure inside Netanyahu is growing. By showing society that there are no more living hostages, hes trying to let off the political pressure building up within Israeli society, Tsipis said.As far as the US and Blinkens hasty announcement of an agreement, Tsipis believes its tied to the fact that the Biden administration is effectively running on autopilot at this point after the president announced that he would not be seeking another term, and the Democrats began preparing Vice President Harris to take the reins.These remaining months before the elections are accompanied by total confusion, and this, naturally, is reflected in US officials statements. The American side is now completely inactive and has virtually no influence, and this is felt in Israel too, Tsipis said. There is no pressure from the US because there is no one to apply this pressure, because even if the US is not yet in a state of anarchy, it is in a transitional period and has a kind of temporary government. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240820/philadelphi-corridor-gaza-war-negotiations-sticking-point-which-could-wreck-entire-peace-process-1119844008.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240820/israels-litany-of-new-conditions-ruined-hamas-ceasefire-deal---analyst-1119840655.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240818/hezbollah-has-150-bln-in-israeli-infrastructure-in-its-sights-may-have-flown-uav-over-bibis-house-1119813041.html israel tel aviv lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov why hasn't israel confirmed blinken's gaza deal, why has hamas rejected israel's gaza agreement, why is netanyahu against gaza peace deal https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/canadian-ambassador-says-ottawa-never-imposed-conditions-on-weapons-sent-to-ukraine-1119851568.html Canadian Ambassador Says Ottawa Never Imposed Conditions on Weapons Sent to Ukraine Canadian Ambassador Says Ottawa Never Imposed Conditions on Weapons Sent to Ukraine Sputnik International Canadian Ambassador to the United States said on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention that Canada has never imposed restrictions on the weapons it provided to Ukraine. 2024-08-21T00:05+0000 2024-08-21T00:05+0000 2024-08-21T00:05+0000 americas canada ukraine ottawa russian embassy sputnik kursk us democratic national convention https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/1e/1118191303_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_019bb513730a7ab424dc6e2066a9ad39.jpg "Canada actually has never put conditions on the weapons that we've been providing for Ukraine during the conflict," Hillman said on Tuesday. The remarks were in response to a reporter's question about the Canadian government's recent statement that Ukrainians can use Canadian-supplied weapons inside Russia as they see fit, asking whether this signifies a change in policy and if there are any limits to that. Hillman added that Canada has consistently provided weapons to Ukraine, emphasizing that the decision on their use should be determined by the Ukrainians themselves. Last week, the Canadian Department of National Defense said Ukraine can use the tanks and armored vehicles donated by Canada inside Russia. The Russian Embassy in Ottawa told Sputnik on Friday that Canada has reaffirmed it is waging an undeclared war against Russia - together with the rest of the collective West - by allowing Ukraine to use Canadian-supplied military equipment in Russia's Kursk region. The thugs, foreign mercenaries and all the Western-supplied weaponry and equipment will be destroyed and the Kiev regime is doomed to collapse, the Russian Embassy said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240728/canadas-trudeau-part-of-globalist-managerial-class-does-not-have-final-say---brother-1119548625.html americas canada ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International democratic national convention, canadian tanks in russia, canadian aid to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/check-out-vladimir-putins-visit-to-russias-chechnya-1119855345.html Photos: Check Out Vladimir Putins Visit to Russias Chechnya Photos: Check Out Vladimir Putins Visit to Russias Chechnya Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and arrived in Chechnya on Tuesday as part of his working trip to the North Caucasus Federal District. 2024-08-21T09:40+0000 2024-08-21T09:40+0000 2024-08-21T19:10+0000 multimedia photo vladimir putin ramzan kadyrov aimani kadyrova chechnya russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119854778_0:0:2933:1649_1920x0_80_0_0_0fb29c32ab032f71c9b2e59e0fcd691d.jpg In Chechnya, the Russian president visited the tomb of the republics first president, Hero of Russia Akhmat Khadzhi Kadyrov. The Russian head of state also inspected a model of a new district in Grozny named after the Russian president, was acquainted with the work of the Russian Special Forces University, and talked to volunteers who will be sent to the special military operation.Putin also met with the head of Russias Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.Take a look at Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Chechen Republic in Sputnik's gallery: 2 chechnya russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International vladimir putin visits russia's grozny, north caucasus federal district, chechnya https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/every-entry-of-western-reporters-into-kursk-region-to-be-considered-separately---zakharova-1119858418.html Every Entry of Western Reporters Into Kursk Region to Be Considered Separately - Zakharova Every Entry of Western Reporters Into Kursk Region to Be Considered Separately - Zakharova Sputnik International Each case of illegal entry of Western reporters into the Kursk region will be considered separately, and this applies to reporters from all countries, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. 2024-08-21T11:25+0000 2024-08-21T11:25+0000 2024-08-21T11:25+0000 russia maria zakharova vladimir putin kursk kiev russian federal security service (fsb) kursk region ukraine ukraine crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/19/1119498690_0:104:3271:1943_1920x0_80_0_0_fdf948a73b7716d4c52420b94e4b8344.jpg "And with every journalist, or so-called journalist, or those who work under the cover of Western journalists...every case [of Western journalists entering the Kursk Region] will certainly be under control, it will be checked, it will be monitored, it will concern journalists from all countries," Zakharova told Radio Sputnik. On August 17, Russian Federal Security Service launched a criminal case against against Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini for unlawfully crossing the Russian border and filming in the town of Sudzha in the Kursk Region.Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Kiev regime had carried out a provocation and was firing indiscriminately, including at civilian targets. Putin said that the enemy would receive a worthy response, and all of Russia's goals would be achieved. kursk kiev kursk region ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine attacks russia, ukraine attacks russian region, kursk incursion, kursk under attack, ukraine breaks into russia, whats happening in kursk, russian regions attacked by ukraine, ukrainian aggression in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/iran-shuts-down-german-soft-power-tool-institute-in-tehran-in-apparent-tit-for-tat-move-1119864110.html Iran Shuts Down German Soft Power Tool Institute in Tehran in Apparent Tit-for-Tat Move Iran Shuts Down German Soft Power Tool Institute in Tehran in Apparent Tit-for-Tat Move Sputnik International The German Foreign Ministry summoned Irans ambassador after the Islamic Republic shuttered two branches of German Language Institute of Tehran, which receive funding from the German government. 2024-08-21T18:51+0000 2024-08-21T18:51+0000 2024-08-21T18:51+0000 world iran germany hezbollah german foreign ministry foreign office https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101615/79/1016157904_0:0:2501:1407_1920x0_80_0_0_7c311908aca805db3899fd6bffc6a709.jpg The German Foreign Ministry summoned Irans ambassador on Tuesday after the Islamic Republic shuttered two branches of German Language Institute of Tehran (formerly the Goethe Institute), which receive funding from the German government and operate under the auspices of the German Embassy.The German Foreign Office slammed the move, saying it was in no way justifiable, and that that the institute "is a popular and recognized meeting place where people put a lot of effort into learning languages under difficult circumstances. The institutes work is intended to strengthen the connection between the people of Iran and Germany, the Foreign Office assured.The language centers closure comes a month after Berlin raided and shut down Islamic Center Hamburg, a Shia Islamic cultural center accused by Berlin of promoting extremism and radical Islamic ideology, spreading aggressive antisemitism, and providing support for Lebanese political and militia movement Hezbollah, which German authorities deem a terrorist organization.German police also raided 53 affiliated properties across eight German states, banning affiliates in Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt, confiscating assets and shutting down four separate mosques.German harassment and monitoring of Islamic Center Hamburg goes back to the 1990s. In 2022, its deputy director was expelled from Germany over alleged communications with Hezbollah. In 2023, after the start of the Gaza war, Greens politician Jennifer Jasberg demanded the centers closure, saying she did not want Hamburg to serve as a breeding ground for hatred against Israel.Iranian authorities blasted Islamic Center Hamburgs closure as an act of Islamophobia, a boon for terrorism and a move reminiscent of the racist policies of the Nazi regime. Iranian acting foreign minister Ali Baqeri slammed the measure as an unjustified move that flouts all principles of freedom of religion and thought.Iranian authorities said their investigation into the German Language Institute is ongoing, and indicated that other German state-affiliated entities are being looked at.While it paints itself as autonomous and politically independent and engaged only in the exchange of culture and language, Germanys Goethe institute has been characterized by some as a tool of soft power for Berlin. Russia froze Goethe Institute bank accounts in Russia in 2023 in a tit-for-tat move after Berlin moved to block the accounts of the Russian House of Science and Art in Berlin several months prior. Moscow said it would unblock the accounts only after the complete and unconditional unfreezing of the bank accounts of the Russian center.The Goethe center was opened in Iran in 1958 under the auspices of the West German government, but saw its activities restricted after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and banned completely in 1987. The institute was reopened in 1995 under the German Language Institute moniker. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240516/its-not-over-irgc-warns-europeans-who-rushed-to-israels-defense-during-april-strikes-1118483317.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240513/tehran-says-no-changes-made-to-irans-nuclear-doctrine-1118414757.html iran germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov why did iran shut down german institute, what is the german language institute, what is the hamburg islamic center, are german-iran relations good, are german-iran ties deteriorating https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/journalist-medhurst-arrest-is-the-assange-effect-continued-1119852811.html Journalist Medhurst Arrest is the Assange Effect Continued Journalist Medhurst Arrest is the Assange Effect Continued Sputnik International The arrest of independent journalist Richard Medhurst on Thursday at Heathrow Airport in London is a continuation of trying to intimidate journalists worldwide from reporting on the empire. 2024-08-21T03:11+0000 2024-08-21T03:11+0000 2024-08-21T03:11+0000 analysis julian assange richard medhurst scott ritter united kingdom (uk) foreign agents registration act (fara) heathrow airport fbi https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1a/1119136643_0:97:3072:1825_1920x0_80_0_0_a37af9bc60d069c73113398da84fbb69.jpg The arrest and detainment of Medhurst and several other journalists stems from the case against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, activist, organizer, and commentator Misty Winston told Sputniks The Critical Hour on Tuesday.Assanges Wikileaks released a video named Collateral Murder in 2010, which showed US helicopters firing on Iraqi citizens and medical personnel. A few months later, Swedish prosecutors issued the first arrest warrant for Assange, accusing him of sexual assault. Assange denied the accusations and the investigation was eventually dropped but that kicked off a 14-year saga that saw the publisher be confined for over 12 years, first in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for nearly eight years and then more than four years in the UKs notorious Belmarsh Prison.Assange was released in June of this year after signing a plea deal with the United States, which was seeking his extradition on espionage charges. By that time, according to his family, his health had seriously deteriorated. He has rarely been seen in public since.Like Assange, Medhurst was critical of the Western empire and the military-industrial complex. As were other journalists who have recently been detained by UK authorities, including Kit Klarenberg, Craig Murray, and Vanessa Beeley, all of whom have been arrested or detained by authorities in recent months.Journalist Glenn Greenwald's late husband and former Brazilian politician David Miranda, who was instrumental in revealing the Edward Snowden leak, was also detained in the UK under the same law that Medhurst was arrested for. Miranda successfully sued the UK government, arguing that the law did not apply to those participating in journalism. However, the law has since been amended to include expresses an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed (deemed a terrorist) organization, if in doing so is reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organization.This is not the first time that this has happened, but it is going. As I said when the Assange stuff was going on, this will continue to get worse. They have opened Pandoras box, explained Winston. Theyve normalized this attack on journalism. And so it is going to continue. Were going to see more and more journalists being censored, being arrested, being imprisoned, all of those things. And itll continue until we start to stand up and say, no, thank you. We dont want this.Beyond simply attempting to imprison or intimidate the individual journalists being harassed, these actions have a larger goal of intimidating journalists worldwide, in what is known as the chilling effect.Earlier this month, former UN weapons inspector and frequent Sputnik radio guest and columnist Scott Ritters house was raided by the FBI on alleged Foreign Agent Registry Act (FARA) violations. Ritter has denied the charges.You know, all of us need to be peeping out our windows for when were going to see camouflaged guys come wandering up with their flashbang grenades to give us the Uhuru 3 treatment, exclaimed The Critical Hour co-host Garland Nixon, referring to member of the African Peoples Socialist Party, who are currently facing alleged FARA violation charges.Its not just about Kit. Its not just about Richard Medhurst, concluded Winston. This is meant to send a message to all other journalists and commentators out there, that if you dare speak against Israel and the empire, this is what will happen to you. And so, its really going to create a chilling effect across that type of journalism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240626/assange-to-speak-to-public-when-recovered---stella-assange-1119143871.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220730/fbi-raids-african-peoples-socialist-party-claims-the-group-was-controlled-by-fsb-1097960392.html united kingdom (uk) 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 richard medhurst arrest, journalist arrested on terrorism charges, chilling effect, censorship of journalists in the uk, terrorism act 2000 https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/over-40-of-french-want-new-prime-minister-to-represent-national-rally-party---poll-1119867046.html Over 40% of French Want New Prime Minister to Represent National Rally Party - Poll Over 40% of French Want New Prime Minister to Represent National Rally Party - Poll Sputnik International About 42% of the French would like to see a representative of the right-wing National Rally (RN) party as the countrys new prime minister, a poll by the Harris Interactive polling company showed on Wednesday. 2024-08-21T21:13+0000 2024-08-21T21:13+0000 2024-08-21T21:13+0000 world europe france emmanuel macron christine lagarde national rally socialist party https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/08/1119286474_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_688e0f531e55686b020dca8b9ce4cf13.jpg At the same time, 36% of French respondents would like the new prime minister to represent either the Socialist Party or the Republicans Party, the document said, adding that only 28% would prefer a candidate from French President Emmanuel Macrons Renaissance party. According to the survey, 40% of the French consider incumbent Prime Minister Gabriel Attal a good governmental leader. Meanwhile, 39% of respondents support the candidacy of Jordan Bardella, the leader of the National Rally. The top five most popular candidates among the French public also include ex-French Labor Minister Xavier Bertrand (32%), European Central Bank governor Christine Lagarde (30%) and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (29%), the survey read. The candidacy of Lucie Castets, nominated by the left-wing New Popular Front bloc as a candidate for the post, is supported by only 17% of the French, the data showed. The survey was conducted online among 1,083 French people aged 18 and older between August 19-20, 2024. The margin of error ranged from 1.4 to 3.1 percentage points. The results of the French polls left the country facing a hung parliament, with no party holding a majority. The New Popular Front, a broad alliance that includes France Unbowed, the Socialists, the Greens and the Communists, came out on top in the runoff, seizing 182 seats in the lower-house National Assembly. The centrists came in second with 168 seats, while National Rally won 143 seats. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240717/frances-le-pen-says-convinced-that-macron-would-dissolve-parliament-again-in-1-year-1119403885.html france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International europe, france, emmanuel macron, christine lagarde, national rally, socialist party Jireh Trujillo fixes her friend Betty Lous hair as they wait to be called to their first class at Hot Wells Middle School on the first day of school after the pandemic, in August 2021. The school last week had to move students to the gym and an elementary school next door because of air-conditioning problems. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News The San Antonio Independent School District, which has struggled to cool some of its aging buildings during a late summer heat wave, got the OK from its board to bypass state procurement laws so it can fast-track air-conditioning repairs. The board authorized staff Monday to procure HVAC equipment or services without the normal bidding required under the states Education Code, declaring it would prevent or substantially impair the conduct of classes or other school activities. The legal finding makes the district more nimble in responding to system failures by not having to take 30 to 45 days to advertise for, evaluate and award bids, officials said. As you are aware, some of our systems might have parts fail or other kinds of failures of the system, and in order for us to respond rapidly and get the systems back online, so kids can learn in an environment conducive for learning, were asking that you approve this measure, Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann told trustees. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jaciel Sigala, 12, sings with the Hot Wells Middle School mariachi ensemble at the start of the SAISD Mariachi Spectacular for Fiesta at the Tobin Center in 2023. The school last week had to move students to the gym and an elementary school next door because of air-conditioning problems. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News READ MORE: San Antonio schools see small gain on testing scores A few days before the school year began Aug. 13, the district informed parents it would move students, if buildings werent sufficiently cool, to another campus by bus. Even with modern chillers in place, some older schools are hard to cool for long periods in the summer because of inadequate insulation and outdated windows and doorways, officials said. Last week, sixth-grade students at Hot Wells Middle School were moved next door to Ball Elementary, and seventh- and eight-graders were sent to the middle school gym. Parents were notified and given the option of picking their children up. Pablo Escamilla, the districts lawyer, said the law allows SAISD to bypass the bidding process because of the emergency, if the board determines that normal methods of procurement would prohibit you from being able to provide the kind of environment you need. If a purchase exceeds $250,000 the superintendents limit for spending without board approval the staff must inform trustees of the expense, but it wont legally need to be ratified, Escamilla said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Friends and seventh graders at Hot Wells Middle School Corina Garza, Audrianna Esqueda and Aubrianna Esqueda talk before the start of their first day of school after the pandemic, in August 2021. The school last week had to move students to the gym and an elementary school next door because of air-conditioning problems. Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News The district has vendors under contract, purchasing co-ops and cooperative agreements with other districts to provide repairs and maintenance but could be forced to work with an alternative vendor if a specialized part or system fails, officials said. Anthony Rogers, a member of Our Schools San Antonio, a parent-driven advocacy group, said hed just been out in triple-digit heat and was concerned for the districts students, staff and teachers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/pictures-chinese-premier-li-qiang-visits-russia-1119862232.html Pictures: Chinese Premier Li Qiang Visits Russia Pictures: Chinese Premier Li Qiang Visits Russia Sputnik International On Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Moscow for an official visit, during which he held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. 2024-08-21T17:23+0000 2024-08-21T17:23+0000 2024-08-21T17:23+0000 multimedia photo mikhail mishustin vladimir putin russia china moscow beijing kremlin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119860887_0:0:3011:1694_1920x0_80_0_0_9bb9b75d2f2e222b1d9aff8792baa854.jpg Russia and China will celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year.Russia was the first country to recognize the Peoples Republic of China on the day after its establishment. "Over the decades, Russian-Chinese relations have reached an unprecedented high level of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction," Mishustin said.He also noted that mutual investments between Russia and China continue to grow. Despite external pressure, Moscow and Beijing have exceeded target trade figures, hitting over 20 trillion rubles ($220 billion) in 2023.Explore Sputnik's gallery to find out more! 1 russia china moscow beijing 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 li qiang in moscow, li qiang in russia, li qiang meets with putin, li qiang meets with mishustin, russia china cooperation, russian chinese ties, russia china ties, russian chinese partnership https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/police-across-canada-responding-to-bomb-threats-targeting-jewish-organizations-1119864977.html Police Across Canada Responding to Bomb Threats Targeting Jewish Organizations Police Across Canada Responding to Bomb Threats Targeting Jewish Organizations Sputnik International Canadian Law enforcement agencies reported on Wednesday that they were responding to multiple bomb threats targeting Canadian and Jewish institutions across the country. 2024-08-21T18:36+0000 2024-08-21T18:36+0000 2024-08-21T19:03+0000 us canada ottawa toronto royal canadian mounted police (rcmp) ottawa temporary protection status (tps) anti-semitism jewish diaspora palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119864650_0:141:3139:1906_1920x0_80_0_0_3d2413afe0b340f7614d72ad41303c23.jpg Earlier, Bnai Brit Canada reported that more than a hundred Jewish institutions had received identical emails at 5:00 a.m. ET containing bomb threats, including at their Toronto and Montreal offices. "We are aware of threats made via email to Jewish Organizations across Canada. Today, TPS [Toronto Police Service] attended bldgs. In Bathurst St & Sheppard Ave W area for a bomb threat. The Bldgs were evacuated as a precaution and cleared," the TPS said via X. In a separate statement, Ottawa police said it was assisting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with an ongoing operation at several hospitals across the capital city and the region, targeted by bomb threats. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240603/human-rights-situation-in-ukraine-degraded---russian-foreign-ministry-1118755545.html canada ottawa toronto americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International anti-semitism in canada, rise of anti-semitism, anti-jewish sentiment in canada https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/three-units-of-ukraines-national-guard-refuse-to-obey-orders-in-donetsk-region--reports-1119862427.html Three Units of Ukraines National Guard Refuse to Obey Orders in Donetsk Region Reports Three Units of Ukraines National Guard Refuse to Obey Orders in Donetsk Region Reports Sputnik International Russias steady advance throughout the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) is shown not just by Russian troops liberating settlement after settlement, by also by Ukrainian soldiers refusing to follow the commands of their superiors. 2024-08-21T16:03+0000 2024-08-21T16:03+0000 2024-08-21T16:03+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia donetsk national guard kiev ukrainian armed forces ukraine crisis donetsk people's republic dpr https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/08/1114011490_0:0:2500:1407_1920x0_80_0_0_694d07c0282db0062a418a085886e939.jpg Three companies of the Ukrainian National Guard have refused to obey orders to fight Russian forces in Donetsk.The men, led by their commanders, refused to carry out combat missions near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk in Ukrainian), located in the Kiev-controlled part of the DPR, Strana reported, quoting a serviceman of the second battalion of the 15th National Guard Brigade."But the trouble was that we had already arrived at Pokrovsk with a huge manpower shortage," he added. "After a week of fighting there were even fewer of us, 10 to 13 men in a company, including commanders.Vladislav said it was impossible to defend the positions, as Ukrainian troops were outnumbered 30 to one by the Russian forces. He said they were regularly under attack.The soldier also complained of the extremely poor cohesion and lack of communication within the ranks. Only one unit was covering their flank, but they abandoned their position without telling their comrades.According to Vladislav, one of the groups was unable to retreat and the fate of its men remains unknown whether they were killed or captured.After the retreat the troops were threatened with punishment by their commanders.Our three companies from among those transferred to Pokrovsk refused to carry out combat orders," Vladislav said. "The superiors came and suggested that those who refused to carry out the tasks should step forward."But all the men, including their officers, took responsibility."All those who remained, led by their commanders, stepped forward," he said. "The superiors videotaped it and left. Now we do not know what will happen next, we are waiting for the consequences."All the guardsmen who refused to follow orders had been fighting since the start of the Russian military operation, and all had experienced artillery shelling and combat. "But there are simply too few of us left, Valdislav said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240817/video-ukrainian-command-post-terminated-by-russian-rocket-artillery-strike--1119804306.html ukraine russia donetsk kiev dnepropetrovsk kramatorsk slavyansk 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 russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict, battlegroup sever, battlegroup yug, battlegroup zapad, battlegroup vostok, battlegroup tsentr, battlegroup dnepr, russia ukraine peace talks, russia ukraine peace settlement, russia ukraine negotiations, russian air defenses, mercenaries in ukraine, foreign merc in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/un-on-reports-of-new-us-strategy-rising-risk-of-use-of-nuclear-weapons-causes-concern-1119865820.html UN on Reports of New US Strategy: Rising Risk of Use of Nuclear Weapons Causes Concern UN on Reports of New US Strategy: Rising Risk of Use of Nuclear Weapons Causes Concern Sputnik International UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about the heightened risk of nuclear weapons being used, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday, amid reports of the United States approving a new secret nuclear strategic plan refocusing on an alleged Chinese threat. 2024-08-21T18:45+0000 2024-08-21T18:45+0000 2024-08-21T18:45+0000 world us stephane dujarric joe biden antonio guterres china russia north korea the united nations (un) congress https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119865603_0:135:3162:1914_1920x0_80_0_0_f99b5b3ea3bd0fc5fdf16d7847568103.jpg "The secretary-general is very concerned about the acute risk of nuclear weapons being used," Dujarric said during a press briefing. Dujarric stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to move toward a nuclear-free world. The remarks were in response to a reporter's question about a New York Times report that US President Joe Biden approved a classified US nuclear strategy plan that shifts focus to China, a country with significantly fewer nuclear warheads and a no-first-use policy. The new strategy is also said to address concerns of potential coordinated nuclear challenges by China, Russia, and North Korea against the United States. The document is highly classified and has no electronic copies, the report said. Biden is expected to provide a notification to Congress in connection with the revised strategy before leaving office, the report said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concerns with the reports about the new US strategy. The US is promoting a "Chinese nuclear threat" to evade its nuclear disarmament commitments, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240819/chinas-restrictions-on-antimony-exports-could-cripple-us-military-industrial-complex-heres-why-1119827925.html china russia north korea 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 nuclear weapons, what nuclear weapons does russia have, what nuclear weapons does us have, american nukes, russian nukes, nuclear weapons in europe, nuclear weapons around the world, countries with nuclear weapons, does china have nukes, does china have nuclear weapons https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/us-mercenary-group-seen-in-kursk-region-say-ordered-by-kiev-not-to-comment-1119853021.html Russia Previously Linked US Mercenaries Seen in Kursk to Chemical Provocations in Ukraine Russia Previously Linked US Mercenaries Seen in Kursk to Chemical Provocations in Ukraine Sputnik International The alleged US private military contractor company, Forward Observations Group (FOG), told Sputnik that Ukraine security services told them they should not comment on allegations that they are operating inside the Kursk region. 2024-08-21T03:32+0000 2024-08-21T03:32+0000 2024-08-21T04:52+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine kursk russia sputnik state department newsfeed instagram kursk mercenaries https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/12/1119810703_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_ffa81c16ce9fd68cc03cba7adfad21d3.jpg A few days ago, FOG posted on social media under the nickname "gearlab.official" a photo of its members participating in the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region.In the photo posted on Instagram (owned by Meta, banned in Russia for extremism), three men in military gear holding weapons and carrying blue armbands are posing in front of an armed vehicle."The boys in Kursk," the caption said.Geolocation data showed that the photo had indeed been published from the Kursk region.This is not the first time the group, which officially brands itself as a company selling tactical gear, has come into the spotlight. In March 2022, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned of a plot involving the destruction of 200-litre barrels with toxic chemicals in highly populated areas of the Donetsk region. According to the warning, Forward Observations Group was engaged in delivering and storing the toxic chemicals cargo.On November 15, 2023, the founder of the mercenary group, Derrick Bales, published a photo on Instagram depicting a soldier walking along a snowy street somewhere in Ukraine, under which a comment from the official fog account subsequently appeared reading "The time we brought chemical weapon on frontline."Both the US State Department and the Pentagon have declined to provide any comments regarding the presence of American mercenaries on Russian soil.The alleged US private military contractor group, Forward Observations Group, told Sputnik that at the direction of Ukraine's security services, they would not be able to comment on allegations that they are participating in Kiev's offensive in Russia's Kursk Region.The Forward Observations Group responded on Tuesday that all questions should be directed to the Security Services of Ukraine when asked if they're operating in Ukraine's Kursk offensive. The White House National Security Council and the State Department did not immediately respond to Sputnik's request for comment on this matter. The Forward Observations Group described as a military lifestyle brand online but there is some controversy about the status of the group as it appears they have been active in Ukraine based on their social media posts. Last week, the Forward Observations Group posted on social media a photo of its members allegedly participating in the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk Region. In the photo posted on Instagram*, three men in military gear holding weapons and carrying blue armbands are posing in front of an armed vehicle. The caption on the post read: "The boys in Kursk." Geolocation data showed that the photo had been published from the Kursk Region. Earlier this month, a resident of a village in the Kursk Region told Sputnik that foreign mercenaries had entered their village, including from France and Poland.*owned by Meta, banned in Russia for extremism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/us-private-military-company-operating-in-kursk-was-in-ukraine-conflict-zone-for-2-years-1119852428.html ukraine kursk russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International forward observations group, mercenaries in ukraine, americans in ukraine, mercenaries inside of russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/us-private-military-company-operating-in-kursk-was-in-ukraine-conflict-zone-for-2-years-1119852428.html US Private Military Company Operating in Kursk Was in Ukraine Conflict Zone for 2 Years US Private Military Company Operating in Kursk Was in Ukraine Conflict Zone for 2 Years Sputnik International The Forward Observation Group, a private mercenary company based in the United States, is currently operating in Kursk and has been operating in Ukraine for years, a Sputnik investigation found. 2024-08-21T01:17+0000 2024-08-21T01:17+0000 2024-08-21T03:58+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine newsfeed ukraine russia kursk russian defense ministry instagram kursk mercenaries https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/14/1119841812_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_c153769122c8469622e5ae3dfdcde8a6.jpg The group attracted media attention after it shared photos of its team members taking part in Ukraine's military incursion into Russia's Kursk Region last week. The group's official account on Instagram* shared a controversial photo showing three members of the group posing in front of a military vehicle, with the caption saying "The boys in Kursk" and the posts geolocation tagged as "Kursk, Russia." On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d'Affaires Stephanie Holmes to lodge a protest in connection with the actions of US mercenaries in the Kursk Region. An Instagram account believed to belong to the group's founder, former US infantry soldier Derrick Bales, showed that FOG had been operating in the conflict zone in Ukraine for over two years. Bales uses "Raoul Duke" as a pseudonym for his personal account, under the handle "raoulduke_69," on Instagram. Public pictures of Bales show the same tattoos on both of his arms as the person appearing under the "raoulduke_69" account. Raoul Duke was the pseudonym Hunter S. Thompson used for his seminal gonzo journalism novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.Bales' first post related to FOGs activities in Ukraine dated back to as early as February 26, 2022, two days after Russia's special military operation began. In his post, Bales shared a photo of a broken armored vehicle with the group's flag with a canoe on it with the caption "Canoe szn [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]." Bales went on to share a series of photos apparently showing members of the group taking part in military operations with the geolocation tagged as "Kyiv, Ukraine." In subsequent posts from the same account, Bales showed possible members of the group engaging in various kinds of military operations in the conflict zone in Ukraine. In a video posted on February 18, 2024, Bales showed a person apparently laying an anti-tank mine with the caption "Back with the boys next month. [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]." In a photo posted on April 25, a person could be seen operating a drone with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar," which is the city of Chasov Yar (also known as Chasiv Yar) in the Donetsk People's Republic, where the fighting is currently taking place. Judging by the tattoos on the person's hand, it appears that it was Bales himself operating the drone in the photo. The most recent post from the account on Tuesday showed a person with the FOG patch on his chest carrying what appears to be an artillery shell, with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar" once again. The posts on the account tagged FOGs official account on Instagram in various posts, indicating the account's strong link to FOG. According to a post on Reddit, FOG also supported at least one Ukrainian SSO unit, the 73rd Maritime Special Operations Regiment, by serving as a mortar team for it, as well as passing along tactics and medical training. In March, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 13,387 mercenaries had arrived in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's special military operation. Back then, as many as 5,962 mercenaries were reportedly eliminated.*owned by Meta, banned in Russia for extremism. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240810/russian-forces-eliminate-15-foreign-mercs-with-thermobaric-weapons-near-sudxha-in-kursk-region-1119705546.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/us-mercenary-group-seen-in-kursk-region-say-ordered-by-kiev-not-to-comment-1119853021.html ukraine russia kursk 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 kursk operation, mercenaries in ukraine, us mercenaries in ukraine, forward observation group, are us troops in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240821/watch-black-sea-fleet-marines-capture-18-ukrainian-assault-fighters-in-kursk-region-1119857561.html Watch Black Sea Fleet Marines Capture 18 Ukrainian Assault Fighters in Kursk Region Watch Black Sea Fleet Marines Capture 18 Ukrainian Assault Fighters in Kursk Region Sputnik International Earlier, 19 servicemen of the same 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were captured by Black Sea Marines near the village of Olgovka in the Kursk region. 2024-08-21T10:39+0000 2024-08-21T10:39+0000 2024-08-21T10:39+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine video ukrainian armed forces russian defense ministry ukraine marines kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/15/1119857154_98:0:1321:688_1920x0_80_0_0_4dcd31f7cfc784ba43c363d3c7dedc20.jpg "Marines of the 810th Brigade near the village of Spalnoye in the Kursk region captured a group of 18 Ukrainian assault soldiers belonging to the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the ministry said.Earlier, 19 Ukrainian servicemen of the same 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade were captured by Black Sea Marines near the Kursk region village of Olgovka. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Marines of the 810th Black Sea Fleet Brigade captured 18 Ukrainian servicemen near the village of Spalnoye in the Kursk region Sputnik International Marines of the 810th Black Sea Fleet Brigade captured 18 Ukrainian servicemen near the village of Spalnoye in the Kursk region 2024-08-21T10:39+0000 true PT0M30S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian defense ministry, black sea fleet, Three $8,000 Prospect Series divisions for sophomore pacing colts went postward on Tuesday evening, Aug. 20 at Georgian Downs with Larjon Levi, Tricky Mcwicky and Onyx Bovino capturing their respective splits. Larjon Levi kicked off the action with the swiftest mile of them all. The Patrick Bissett student was driven by Samuel Fillion as they took post four in the field of seven. Lamborghini Lou (Paul MacKenzie) lived up to his name and was quick on the engine, controlling the tempo with panels in :28, :58.3 and 1:25.2. Larjon Levi got away fifth, pulled second over en route to the half, and kept chugging away through the third quarter pole. Still fourth at the top of the stretch, Larjon Levi had to turn on the afterburners to sweep past his foes and challenge the leading favourite. With the final few steps ahead, Larjon Levi broke free to prevail by a half length in a 20-1 upset in 1:55. Lamborghini Lou had to settle for second best with Lotto Max (Travis Henry) completing the show ticket. Larry Lane owns the sophomore gelded son of All Bets Off out of the Jeremes Jet mare Twin B Elite. Larjon Levi was unraced as a freshman and has made 12 starts this year, winning six of those and yielding $20,592 in earnings. His upset score paid $41.80. Brett MacDonald and the David Frey student, Tricky Mcwicky, protected their rail position in the second division, leading the whole mile en route to a 1-1/2-length triumph in 1:55.3 over All Bets On Red (Jason Ryan) and Harborlite Ambrose (Austin Sorrie). Tricky Mcwicky (McWicked-Hat Trick Honey) is owned by breeders Stuart and Patricia Bolender. Unraced as a freshman, he recorded his fifth career win from 26 starts this year with $65,176 earned. He paid $3 to win. Onyx Bovino was driven by J Harris to a gate-to-wire score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3 for trainer Lacey McCabe. Gladiator S Bg (Jason Ryan) finished second with Rise N Grind (Brett MacDonald) third. Owned and bred by Glenview Livestock Ltd, Onyx Bovino (Bettors Delight-Lady Terror) won his third race in 13 tries this year and sixth race from 18 career starts, producing $40,299 in lifetime earnings. He returned $2.80 to win. To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Georgian Downs. (Standardbred Canada) Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri. Jeremy also authors the Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace newsletter, where he shares insights from inside the Capitol along with the occasional Willie Nelson reference. You can sign up here. You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com. GRAND ISLAND, Neb. The Hall County Historical Society and its partners want to get its documentary on Grand Island hero David Kaufmann in front of as many people as possible. During an encore presentation of A Life Well Lived: An Account of David Kaufmann on Saturday at the Grand Theatre, Michelle Setlik with the society announced efforts to enter the movie into the National Education Television Association, which is the distribution network for PBS stations across the country. The documentary tells the life of Kaufmann, who emigrated from Germany to Grand Island, became a successful businessman and then saved hundreds of lives and affected countless descendants by sponsoring German Jewish immigrants to America. Through his work, people that might have otherwise remained in Germany under Nazi rule were able to flee to the U.S. Setlik said after the movie that the association has different levels, and the film backers are targeting a $5,000 level that would give them access to professionals whod develop a curriculum component to go with the documentary, because our goal has always been to get this out into public schools. Nebraska in particular, but there are other states that have Holocaust education required, Setlik said. The backers are already working with NET to broadcast the documentary on Nebraska public television airwaves and we hope to get this film to other markets, too, Setlik said. Good news on that effort came Saturday the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation presented a $5,000 check to the society on stage at the Grand. This was an amazing surprise. I was very shocked, Setlik said afterward. I was going to have to shift back to fundraising mode to raise that money. Now theyve taken that (need) away. The film is currently 45 minutes long. Setlik said theyll work to expand it to 58 minutes to hit the mark required by PBS. That shouldnt be a problem, given the number of interviews done by filmmakers. Chimney Rock Media made the film in partnership with the Hall County Historical Society and the Institute for Holocaust Education, an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha. 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: Dung beetles use the Milky Way at night to navigate. Engineers have used the same technique to develop an AI sensor for navigation in low light. Credit: University of South Australia An insect species that evolved 130 million years ago is the inspiration for a new research study to improve navigation systems in drones, robots, and orbiting satellites. The dung beetle is the first known species to use the Milky Way at night to navigate, focusing on the constellation of stars as a reference point to roll balls of dung in a straight line away from their competitors. Swedish researchers made this discovery in 2013 and a decade later, Australian engineers are modeling the same technique used by the dung beetle to develop an AI sensor that can accurately measure the orientation of the Milky Way in low light. University of South Australia remote sensing engineer Professor Javaan Chahl and his team of Ph.D. students have used computer vision to demonstrate that the large stripe of light that forms the Milky Way is not affected by motion blur, unlike individual stars. "Nocturnal dung beetles move their head and body extensively when rolling balls of manure across a field, needing a fixed orientation point in the night sky to help them steer in a straight line," Chahl says. "Their tiny compound eyes make it difficult to distinguish individual stars, particularly while in motion, whereas the Milky Way is highly visible." In a series of experiments using a camera mounted to the roof of a vehicle, the UniSA researchers captured images of the Milky Way while the vehicle was both stationary and moving. Using information from those images, they have developed a computer vision system that reliably measures the orientation of the Milky Way, which is the first step towards building a navigation system. Their findings have been published in the journal Biomimetics. Lead author UniSA Ph.D. candidate Yiting Tao says the orientation sensor could be a backup method to stabilize satellites and help drones and robots to navigate in low light, even when there is a lot of blur caused by movement and vibration. "For the next step, I want to put the algorithm on a drone and allow it to control the aircraft in flight during the night," Tao says. The sun helps many insects to navigate during the day, including wasps, dragonflies, honeybees, and desert ants. At night, the moon also provides a reference point for nocturnal insects, but it is not always visible, hence why dung beetles and some moths use the Milky Way for orientation. Chahl says insect vision has long inspired engineers where navigation systems are concerned. Chahl explains, "Insects have been solving navigational problems for millions of years, including those that even the most advanced machines struggle with. And they've done it in a tiny little package. Their brains consist of tens of thousands of neurons compared to billions of neurons in humans, yet they still manage to find solutions from the natural world." More information: Tao et al, Computer vision techniques demonstrate robust orientation measurement of the Milky Way despite image motion, Biomimetics (2024). DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9070375. Journal information: Biomimetics 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 Boeing 787 Dreamliner taxis after its landing at Le Bourget airport, east of Paris, upon its presentation for the first time at the 49th Paris Air Show at the airport, June 21, 2011. Credit: AP Photo/Francois Mori, File Federal safety officials are requiring inspections of cockpit seats on Boeing 787 Dreamliners after one of the jets went into a dive when the captain's seat lurched forward without warning and disconnected the plane's autopilot system. Boeing also has stopped test flights of a new version of its 777 jetliner after discovering a damaged structural part between the engine and the rest of the plane. The new model has not yet been approved by regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration said in an order scheduled to be published Wednesday that it will require operators of 787s to inspect both pilot seats for missing or cracked caps that cover a switch used to move the seats. During a March flight by Chile-based Latam Airlines, the captain's seat moved forward and hit a switch that disconnected the autopilot system. The plane, flying from Australia to New Zealand, rapidly dropped about 400 feet (120 meters) before the co-pilot regained control, according to a preliminary report by Chilean authorities. Several dozen passengers were injured, according to news reports. Within days of the incident, Boeing recommended that airlines look at the cockpit seats on 787s for loose caps on the switches and told them how to turn off power to the motorized seats. The FAA said it has received four other reports from Boeing of cockpit seats moving when not intended to, including one in June. The FAA said its safety order will affect 158 planes registered in the United States. Separately, the FAA published a final rule requiring airlines to inspect inlets around ducts in engine anti-ice systems on 787s for signs of heat damage. The agency proposed the rule in February after a report of damage to "multiple" engine inlets caused by missing or "degraded" seals around the ducts. Boeing identified the inlet issue in bulletins sent to airlines last year. Meanwhile, Boeing suffered a setback in its effort to win FAA certification of the 777-9, a new, long-range addition to its lineup of 777 jets. The plane might be most noteworthy for its folding wingtips, which would allow the larger model to fit at airport gates designed for other 777s. Boeing said Tuesday it has stopped flights after one of four test planes was found to have cracks on a part called a thrust link that helps balance load between the engines and the aircraft. The issue surfaced after a test flight returned to Hawaii. "During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed," Boeing said in a statement. "Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready." Boeing said there are four thrust links on each 777-9two on each engine for redundancy. The company said the component is new to the 777-9 and is not used on existing 777s or other planes. Boeing, which is based in Arlington, Virginia, said it was keeping the FAA and airlines informed about the issue. The problem with the component was first reported by The Air Current. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: Most of the world's biggest operational solar farms are in China. Australia on Wednesday approved plans for a massive solar hub intended to power millions of homes domestically and supply electricity to Singapore. The SunCable project is expected to produce 6 gigawatts (GW) and begin supplying power by 2030. Here is a look at other major solar projects that have been announced, are under construction or are already operating worldwide. Midong solar project, China Most of the biggest operational solar farms are in China, which is adding renewable capacity at a rate that far outstrips the rest of the world. In June, the Midong solar power project in the Xinjiang region was brought online, with an operating capacity of 3.5GW. The project is touted as China's biggest yet, exceeding the capacity of its two previous largest solar projects in Ningxia and Qinghai regions. But it is likely to be overtaken soon, with other megaprojects already in the works, including the Inner Mongolia Tengger solar farm. The project is under construction and is projected to have a capacity of 8GW, according to Global Energy Monitor's (GEM) solar tracker. China is building almost twice as much wind and solar capacity as every other country combined. It has 339GW under construction, including 180GW of solar, according to GEM. Khavda is a massive solar and wind energy project in a desolate region of India's Gujarat. Khavda solar park, India The Khavda solar park is an enormous renewable energy project under construction in a desolate region of India's Gujarat, near the border with Pakistan. A hybrid solar-wind project, it is slated to have a whopping 30GW capacity when fully operational, around 2027. The site has already begun generating power however, with 551 megawatts of solar capacity coming online earlier this year, according to Adani Green Energy, one of the firms developing the massive site. It says the park will be the world's largest renewable energy installation when complete, and capable of powering 16.1 million homes a year. India, which is currently heavily dependent on coal, aims to install 500GW of renewable energy by 2030, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates inaugurated the 2GW Al Dhafra solar plant last year, weeks before it hosted UN climate talks. Located south of the capital Abu Dhabi, it stretches over 21 square kilometres (eight square miles) of desert, an area about one-fifth the size of Paris. The project was described as the largest single-site photovoltaic power plant in the world upon its inauguration. It can generate enough power for 160,000 homes across the oil-rich Gulf state. The UAE aims to triple its renewable energy over the next seven years as it attempts to achieve net zero by 2050. Egypt's Benban Solar Park is visible from space. Benban Solar Park, Egypt Egypt's Benban Solar Park, built in the western desert some 40 kilometres from the city of Aswan, was connected to the national grid in 2019. It is often described as Africa's largest solar project and one of the world's biggest, with a capacity of around 1.5GW, though that could be increased if planned expansions go ahead. Visible from space, the $4 billion World Bank-funded project stretches over 37 square kilometres (14 square miles) and produces enough electricity to supply 420,000 households, according to the UN. Chill Sun Project, United States Among the biggest planned solar farms in the United States is the Chill Sun Solar Project. The projected 2.25GW facility is proposed for construction in the sun-drenched state of Nevada, which is already home to dozens of smaller solar plants. The United States is adding renewable capacity fast, behind only China, but at a far slower rate. It has 40GW of wind and solar in construction compared to China's 339GW, and it generates 16 percent of its electricity from wind and solar, according to Ember, a think tank. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new national survey has found that most adult Australians use different types of digital media regularly, yet their overall confidence in their digital media abilities remains quite low, showing very little change since 2021. Two-thirds of adult Australians (65%) use three or more different media formats on a daily basis, and people who regularly consume a diverse range of media have far more confidence in their media abilities. Additionally, 4 in 10 adult Australians have experimented with text-focused generative AI services. However, there is a strong overall negative sentiment towards this technology, with the majority of adults wanting regulation to mitigate potential harm. Many adults report encountering misinformation frequently, and there is strong support for action with 4 in 5 (80%) adults wanting the spread of misinformation addressed, a 6% increase since 2021. Almost everyone (94%) who wants misinformation to be addressed agrees that people need to be taught how to identify misinformation. The surveya collaboration between Western Sydney University, University of Canberra and Queensland University of Technologyasked 4,442 adult Australians in January to April 2024 about their media literacy abilities and is a follow up to the inaugural survey conducted in 2021. Lead author Associate Professor Tanya Notley, School of Humanities and Communication Arts and Institute for Culture and Society, said despite almost all Australians using social media and digital platforms in their everyday lives, progress has been slow when it comes to adult media literacy. "Most adult Australians are not confident about their ability to identify false and misleading information online, create a video and post it online, edit a digital photo, change social media privacy settings, or seek help from relevant authorities if they are being harassed online," said Associate Professor Notley. "We found that there is overwhelming demand among Australians for adult and school-based media literacy education. However, too many Australians have not received any form of media literacy education or they don't have access to support when they need it." The survey found while most Australians (68%) have heard of the term media literacy, only one-third (33%) have some understanding of what it means. Older adults, those with a lower level of education and lower household income are less likely to know what media literacy means. "There is an urgent need for more media literacy educational resources and support to address the media interests, needs, deficiencies and concerns of adult Australians. Australians want actionfrom governments, media companies and education providerson issues that concern them such as online misinformation, the exploitation of their private data, racist or racially insensitive broadcast content, and risks to society that are associated with generative AI," said Associate Professor Notley. There is strong support for media literacy initiatives: 4 out of 5 (82%) believe media literacy education for adults is needed. Professor Sora Park emphasized the timing is ripe. "Australians want to know more about the rapidly changing media environment. They want to be educated about how to protect themselves and their family from scams and misinformation. "However, support is not always readily available. Targeted media literacy programs are needed especially for those who have lower levels of media literacy including regional, less educated, older and people living with a disability," said Professor Park. Associate Professor Notley stated it is important to acknowledge that significant progress has been made since 2021 with a 9% increase in adults who have some understanding of media literacy. "This is likely the result of the advocacy efforts of the Australian Media Literacy Alliance (AMLA) and the work of Australian organizations who have implemented media literacy programs for young people, or training for teachers and librarians in recent years," she said. "We recommend that media literacy should be more actively promoted by governments, public institutions, education providers, policymakers, and the corporate sector." More information: Adult Media Literacy in 2024: Australian Attitudes, Experiences and Needs. apo.org.au/node/327239 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: Matter (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.07.014. https://www.cell.com/matter/fulltext/S2590-2385(24)00424-7 A new technology can extract lithium from brines at an estimated cost of under 40% that of today's dominant extraction method, and at just a fourth of lithium's current market price. The new technology would also be much more reliable and sustainable in its use of water, chemicals, and land than today's technology, according to a study published in Matter by Stanford University researchers. Global demand for lithium has surged in recent years, driven by the rise of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. The dominant source of lithium extraction today relies on evaporating brines in huge ponds under the sun for a year or more, leaving behind a lithium-rich solution, after which heavy use of potentially toxic chemicals finishes the job. Water with a high concentration of salts, including lithium, occurs naturally in some lakes, hot springs, and aquifers, and as a byproduct of oil and natural gas operations and of seawater desalination. Many scientists are searching for less expensive and more efficient, reliable, and environmentally friendly lithium extraction methods. These are generally direct lithium extraction that bypasses big evaporation ponds. The new study reports on the results of a new method using an approach known as "redox-couple electrodialysis," or RCE, along with cost estimates. "The benefits to efficiency and cost innate to our approach make it a promising alternative to current extraction techniques and a potential game changer for the lithium supply chain," said Yi Cui, the study's senior author and a professor of materials science and engineering in the School of Engineering. The research team estimates that its approach costs $3,500 to $4,400 per ton of high-purity lithium hydroxide, which can be converted to battery-grade lithium carbonate inexpensively, compared with costs of about $9,100 per ton for the dominant technology for extracting lithium from brine. The current market price for battery-grade lithium carbonate is almost $15,000 per ton, but a shortage in late 2022 drove the volatile lithium market price to $80,000. Meeting growing demand Lithium, so far, has had a critical role in the global transition to sustainable energy. The demand for lithium is expected to rise from approximately half a million metric tons in 2021 to an estimated 3 million to 4 million metric tons by 2030, according to a report by McKinsey & Co. This sharp increase is driven mostly by the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems, both of which rely heavily on batteries. Traditionally, lithium has been extracted from mined rocks, a method that is even more expensive, energy intensive, and driven by toxic chemicals than brine extraction. As a result, the dominant method for lithium extraction today has switched to evaporating salt-lake brines, though still at high financial and environmental costs. This method is also heavily dependent on specific climatic conditions that limit the number of commercially viable salt lakes, throwing into doubt the lithium industry's ability to meet rising demand. The new method from Cui and his team uses electricity to move lithium through a solid-state electrolyte membrane from water with a low lithium concentration to a more concentrated, high-purity solution. Each of a series of cells increases the lithium concentration to a solution from which final chemical isolation is relatively easy. This approach uses less than 10% of the electricity required by current brine extraction technology and has a lithium selectivity of almost 100%, making it very efficient. "The advantages displayed by our approach over conventional lithium extraction techniques enhance its feasibility in eco-friendly and cost-effective lithium production," said co-lead author of the study, Rong Xu, a former postdoctoral researcher in Cui's lab, now a faculty member at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China. "Eventually, we hope our method will significantly advance electrified transportation and the ability to store renewable energy." Cost and environmental benefits The study includes a brief techno-economic analysis comparing the costs of current lithium extraction with those of the RCE approach. The new method is expected to be relatively inexpensive due mostly to lower capital costs. It eliminates the need for large-scale solar evaporation ponds, which are expensive to build and maintain. The new method's use of significantly less electricity, water, and chemical agentsaside from the sustainability benefitsfurther lowers costs. By avoiding the extensive land use and water consumption of traditional methods, the RCE approach also reduces the ecological footprint of lithium production. The RCE method works with a variety of saline waters, including those with varying concentrations of lithium, sodium, and potassium. Study experiments showed that the new technology could extract lithium, for example, from wastewater resulting from oil production. It could potentially be used to extract lithium from seawater, which has lower lithium concentrations than brines. Lithium extraction from seawater using conventional methods is not commercially viable today. "Direct lithium extraction techniques like ours have been in development for a while. The main contending technologies to date have significant drawbacks, like the inability to operate continuously, high energetic costs, or relatively low efficiency," said Ge Zhang, a Stanford postdoctoral scholar and co-author of the study. "Our method seems to have none of these drawbacks. Its continuous operation could contribute to a more reliable lithium supply and calm the volatile lithium market." Looking ahead The scalability of the RCE method is also promising. In experiments where the scale of the device was increased fourfold, the RCE method continued to perform well, with both energy efficiency and lithium selectivity remaining very high. "This suggests that the method could be applied on an industrial scale, making it a viable alternative to current extraction technologies," said Cui. Nevertheless, the study highlights some areas for further research and development. The researchers experimented with two versions of their method. One extracted the lithium more quickly and used more electricity. The other was slower and used less electricity. The slower extraction resulted in lower costs and a more stable membrane for extracting the lithium continuously and for a long time, compared with the faster extraction. Under high current densities and faster water flow, the membranes degraded, leading to reduced efficiency over time. Even though this was not evident in the slower extracting experiment, the researchers want to optimize the design of their device for potentially faster extraction. They are already testing other promising materials for the membrane. Also, the researchers did not demonstrate lithium extraction from seawater in this study. "In principle, our method is applicable for seawater as well, but there could be stability problems for the membrane in seawater," said Zhang. Still, the team remains quite optimistic. "As our research continues, we think our method could soon move from the laboratory to large-scale industrial applications," said Xu. Harris County Constable for Precinct 1 Alan Rosen listens during the funeral mass for Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Harris County constables will receive a 17.5% pay increase this year a bigger boost than the raise already approved this month by Commissioners Court after a grievance committee made up of local residents approved their requests Tuesday. Harris County is divided into eight precincts, each represented by an elected constable. The committee awarded a $45,000 pay increase to each of the eight constables, raising their base salary from $133,598 to $178,509, according to the Office of County Administration. Commissioners Court sets the salaries for elected officials during the annual budget approval process, but if elected officials do not agree with their approved salary, they can take their grievances to a committee of randomly selected citizens, much like a jury. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Most Harris County elected officials havent received a pay increase since 2016. However, Commissioners Court approved a 9.2% increase for elected officials including the sheriff, constables and themselves as part of the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The constables objected to the raise, though, arguing that they would still be paid less than their chief deputies. Most county employees received a 7% increase in 2023, including deputies. There is no other county in Texas where a law enforcement leader makes less than their subordinates, Constable Alan Rosen told the committee Tuesday. This is not just about pay parity. Its about pay equity. Its about aligning compensation with the stakes involved. Its not necessarily unusual for an elected officials top employees to earn more than their boss. All five members of Commissioners Court have staffers who earn more than they do. County Attorney Christian Menefee has a lower salary than the first assistant county attorneys. Last year, then-Mayor Sylvester Turner was ranked just 17th among city employees in terms of pay. Houston City Council chiefs of staff earn more than their bosses, as well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad However, constables on Tuesday argued that the pay gap doesnt exist in other law enforcement agencies in Texas. Constable Mark Herman said that constable pay should be even higher than the 17.5% increase they were awarded by the committee. If it were up to me, every constable would be making the same as (Harris County Sheriff) Ed Gonzalez, Herman said. Our jobs are the same. We take the same risks. While constables are responsible for one precinct, Gonzalez oversees the county as a whole, as well as the Harris County Jail. The vast majority of inmates at the jail are arrested by the sheriffs office or the Houston Police Department, not the constables office, according to an analysis published earlier this year by the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalezs base salary is currently set at $199,160, though he is set to receive the same 9.2% increase Commissioners Court approved this month for elected officials, including themselves. Gonzalez, like most Harris County elected officials, hasnt received a raise since 2016. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. lessened its stake in Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) by 13.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,168 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 486 shares during the quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd.s holdings in Edison International were worth $228,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new stake in Edison International in the 2nd quarter worth $3,700,000. RBA Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Edison International by 6.2% in the second quarter. RBA Wealth Management LLC now owns 38,050 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,732,000 after buying an additional 2,231 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in Edison International by 3.3% during the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 379,868 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,278,000 after buying an additional 12,136 shares during the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in Edison International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Edison International by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 924,280 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $66,373,000 after buying an additional 9,600 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.95% of the companys stock. Get Edison International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Mizuho increased their target price on Edison International from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Edison International from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Edison International from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Argus upped their price objective on Edison International from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 12th. Finally, UBS Group cut Edison International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $83.00 to $82.00 in a report on Friday, July 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $80.09. Insider Transactions at Edison International In other Edison International news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 32,505 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.12, for a total value of $2,604,300.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 19,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,575,159.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Edison International news, CEO J Andrew Murphy sold 32,505 shares of Edison International stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.12, for a total value of $2,604,300.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 19,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,575,159.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Caroline Choi sold 10,004 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.77, for a total transaction of $758,003.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 26,918 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,039,576.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 73,845 shares of company stock worth $5,823,662. Company insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock. Edison International Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:EIX traded down $0.18 on Tuesday, hitting $83.71. 1,603,303 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,020,871. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.71 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $76.14 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.46. Edison International has a 12 month low of $58.82 and a 12 month high of $84.13. Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.18. Edison International had a return on equity of 13.01% and a net margin of 6.60%. The business had revenue of $4.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.12 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.01 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Edison International will post 4.92 EPS for the current fiscal year. Edison International Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 8th were paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 8th. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 136.84%. About Edison International (Free Report) Edison International, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and distribution of electric power. The company supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 50,000 square mile area of southern California to residential, commercial, industrial, public authorities, agricultural, and other sectors. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EIX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edison International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edison International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lowered its holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 0.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,354,761 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,280 shares during the quarter. Procter & Gamble accounts for about 0.7% of Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned about 0.06% of Procter & Gamble worth $223,427,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Advantage Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 64.7% in the 1st quarter. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. now owns 196 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Criterion Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.77% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Procter & Gamble Trading Up 1.2 % NYSE:PG traded up $2.01 on Tuesday, reaching $170.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,513,165 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,643,645. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 1-year low of $141.45 and a 1-year high of $171.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market cap of $402.24 billion, a PE ratio of 27.76, a PEG ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.41. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $167.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $163.36. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend Procter & Gamble ( NYSE:PG Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.03. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 33.46% and a net margin of 17.71%. The firm had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.69 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.37 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 19th were issued a dividend of $1.0065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 19th. This represents a $4.03 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.36%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is presently 65.69%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have issued reports on PG shares. Argus lifted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $181.00 to $179.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Procter & Gamble from $157.00 to $161.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Procter & Gamble from $157.00 to $164.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, BNP Paribas started coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research note on Monday, June 24th. They issued an outperform rating and a $187.00 target price for the company. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $173.95. Get Our Latest Report on Procter & Gamble Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Jon R. Moeller sold 72,174 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.01, for a total transaction of $12,342,475.74. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 263,158 shares in the company, valued at $45,002,649.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Procter & Gamble news, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 8,842 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.90, for a total value of $1,458,045.80. Following the sale, the insider now owns 11,537 shares in the company, valued at $1,902,451.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Jon R. Moeller sold 72,174 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.01, for a total value of $12,342,475.74. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 263,158 shares in the company, valued at approximately $45,002,649.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 84,389 shares of company stock worth $14,373,932. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Company Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Procter & Gamble Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procter & Gamble and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR Free Report) by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 91,118 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,300 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs holdings in Cencora were worth $20,529,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of COR. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Cencora during the 2nd quarter valued at $655,000. TD Asset Management Inc bought a new stake in Cencora in the 1st quarter valued at $95,313,000. LSV Asset Management bought a new stake in Cencora in the 1st quarter valued at $3,579,000. Cairn Investment Group Inc. bought a new stake in Cencora in the 1st quarter valued at $2,294,000. Finally, Lake Street Advisors Group LLC bought a new stake in Cencora in the 1st quarter valued at $836,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.52% of the companys stock. Get Cencora alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have issued reports on COR. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Cencora from $285.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Cencora from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Cencora from $236.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. SVB Leerink reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Cencora in a report on Thursday, June 27th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Cencora from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $254.57. Cencora Price Performance Shares of Cencora stock traded down $0.44 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $238.41. The companys stock had a trading volume of 680,383 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,376,743. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $231.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $232.66. Cencora, Inc. has a one year low of $171.65 and a one year high of $247.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.93, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The stock has a market cap of $47.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.45. Cencora (NYSE:COR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.16. Cencora had a net margin of 0.65% and a return on equity of 266.60%. The firm had revenue of $74.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $73.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.92 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Cencora, Inc. will post 13.56 EPS for the current year. Cencora Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 26th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 9th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.86%. Cencoras dividend payout ratio is presently 22.32%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Silvana Battaglia sold 1,473 shares of Cencora stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.69, for a total transaction of $357,482.37. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,948 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,656,970.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Cencora news, EVP Silvana Battaglia sold 1,473 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.69, for a total value of $357,482.37. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,948 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,656,970.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sold 4,438,171 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.56, for a total transaction of $1,067,646,415.76. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 19,980,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,806,388,800. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 6,338,756 shares of company stock valued at $1,476,658,274. Company insiders own 15.80% of the companys stock. Cencora Company Profile (Free Report) Cencora, Inc sources and distributes pharmaceutical products. The company's U.S. Healthcare Solutions segment distributes pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers; provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers; clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support services; data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers; pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and other products to the companion animal and production animal markets; and sales force services to manufacturers. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cencora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cencora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (OTCMKTS:CRHKY Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $5.75 and last traded at $5.81, with a volume of 47909 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $6.40. China Resources Beer Price Performance The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $6.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.06. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. About China Resources Beer (Get Free Report) China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, distributes, and sells beer products in Mainland China. The company offers its products under the Nong Li, Snow, and Jinsha brands. The company was formerly known as China Resources Enterprise, Limited and changed its name to China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited in October 2015. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Resources Beer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Resources Beer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cynthia Lee Fontaine, aka Carlos Diaz Hernandez, of RuPauls Drag Race fame, performs during a Equality Advocacy Day rally at the State Capitol, Monday, March 20, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News The Texas Department of Public Safety will no longer allow Texans to change the sex on their drivers license even if they have a court order. Texas now joins a number of conservative states that have set new policies that aim to block or make it more difficult for transgender people to adjust their driver's licenses to reflect their gender identity, including Florida, Kansas and Missouri. Some of those have drawn legal challenges. In a statement Wednesday, the department said that as of the previous day, the agency will no longer comply with court orders mandating the change to driver's licenses after Attorney General Ken Paxton's office raised concerns about their validity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The department said that was because "neither DPS nor other government agencies are parties to the proceedings" and because officials have questions about the legal basis for courts to issue the orders. The department and attorney general's office plan to initiate a "comprehensive legal review," the statement said. A spokesperson for Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sheri Gipson, the chief of the driver's license division at the DPS, first confirmed the move to the Texas Newsroom. The DPS website previously stated that anyone seeking to change their gender could bring an original certified court order or an amended birth certificate verifying the change, according to an archived version of the site. That language could no longer be found on the site as of Wednesday. Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas, said the new policy denies trans people the minimum respect of having a state ID that reflects their identity and will hurt more than 92,000 transgender adults in Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We use our IDs to navigate all areas of life driving, voting, employment. Having an ID that reflects who you are is a basic form of dignity that many take for granted, Pritchett said. Every Texan deserves privacy, respect, and safety. The policy change comes after Paxton in 2022 asked for data from DPS on transgender Texans who requested changes on their licenses, according to the Washington Post. The agency at the time said it advised Paxtons office that the requested data did not exist or could not be accurately produced and that therefore it did not provide any. Focus Financial Network Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report) by 10.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,093 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after buying an additional 398 shares during the period. Focus Financial Network Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $701,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in TSM. Seed Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.3% during the second quarter. Seed Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,558 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $792,000 after buying an additional 57 shares during the period. Keudell Morrison Wealth Management grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.5% during the second quarter. Keudell Morrison Wealth Management now owns 4,027 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $700,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the period. Cadence Bank grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 0.5% during the first quarter. Cadence Bank now owns 15,004 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,041,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. ZRC Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 20.9% during the second quarter. ZRC Wealth Management LLC now owns 405 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Old Port Advisors grew its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 2.9% during the second quarter. Old Port Advisors now owns 2,546 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $443,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $168.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $150.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, June 20th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 5th. Susquehanna reiterated a positive rating and set a $250.00 target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $130.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $200.00. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock traded down $3.31 on Tuesday, reaching $172.14. The stock had a trading volume of 13,525,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,138,627. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 1 year low of $84.01 and a 1 year high of $193.47. The company has a market cap of $892.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The businesss 50 day moving average is $171.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.43. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The semiconductor company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.11. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 37.85% and a return on equity of 25.89%. The firm had revenue of $20.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.14 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 34.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 6.44 EPS for the current year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 12th will be paid a $0.4871 dividend. This is an increase from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 12th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.57%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Profile (Free Report) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Focus Financial Network Inc. lessened its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report) by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,568 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 54 shares during the period. Focus Financial Network Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF were worth $731,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fiducient Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $466,000. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $202,000. Flaharty Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Flaharty Asset Management LLC now owns 60,666 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $15,301,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Planning Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 94.4% in the 4th quarter. Stonebridge Financial Planning Group LLC now owns 3,260 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $822,000 after acquiring an additional 1,583 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CreativeOne Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 291.4% in the 4th quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 6,118 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,543,000 after acquiring an additional 4,555 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA IWO traded down $2.78 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $272.64. The stock had a trading volume of 304,501 shares, compared to its average volume of 477,495. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.25 and a beta of 1.31. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a one year low of $203.42 and a one year high of $291.61. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $268.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $263.14. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Horizons Wealth Management trimmed its position in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (BATS:ESML Free Report) by 45.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,803 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,324 shares during the quarter. Horizons Wealth Managements holdings in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF were worth $113,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its holdings in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 36.7% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 1,125 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. SWS Partners raised its stake in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 13.1% in the first quarter. SWS Partners now owns 7,550 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after buying an additional 874 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its holdings in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 10.2% in the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 8,309 shares of the companys stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares in the last quarter. 1ST Source Bank lifted its position in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 7.9% in the first quarter. 1ST Source Bank now owns 9,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $366,000 after acquiring an additional 668 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Trust grew its stake in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. American Trust now owns 9,857 shares of the companys stock worth $397,000 after buying an additional 685 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF stock traded down $0.41 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $40.06. 58,396 shares of the company were exchanged. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $39.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.66 billion, a PE ratio of 14.50 and a beta of 1.18. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Profile The iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund tracks an index of US small-cap companies with high environmental, social, and governance factor scores as determined by MSCI. ESML was launched on Apr 10, 2018 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NIPPON STL & SU/S (OTCMKTS:NSSMY Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $7.15 and last traded at $7.55, with a volume of 29907 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.48. NIPPON STL & SU/S Trading Up 0.9 % The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $7.17 billion, a PE ratio of 2.73, a P/E/G ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.35. The companys 50-day moving average is $7.23 and its 200 day moving average is $7.59. About NIPPON STL & SU/S (Get Free Report) Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation engages in steelmaking and steel fabrication businesses worldwide. It operates in five segments: Steelmaking and Steel Fabrication, Engineering and Construction, Chemicals, New materials, and System Solutions. The company offers steel plates; hot- and cold-rolled steel sheets and coils, coated steel sheets, color coated steel sheets, electrolytic tin plates, and electrical steel sheets; bar and rod materials; and structural steel products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIPPON STL & SU/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments bought a new stake in shares of Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN Free Report) during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 35,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $876,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Abundance Wealth Counselors lifted its stake in shares of Clearway Energy by 24.2% during the 2nd quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors now owns 36,855 shares of the companys stock worth $910,000 after acquiring an additional 7,177 shares during the last quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Clearway Energy by 228.6% during the 2nd quarter. Monetary Management Group Inc. now owns 13,800 shares of the companys stock valued at $341,000 after buying an additional 9,600 shares during the last quarter. Friedenthal Financial purchased a new stake in Clearway Energy during the second quarter worth $712,000. Fulton Bank N.A. lifted its position in shares of Clearway Energy by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 11,757 shares of the companys stock valued at $290,000 after buying an additional 1,347 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Clearway Energy by 49.8% during the 1st quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,879 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 625 shares in the last quarter. 38.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Clearway Energy alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley upgraded Clearway Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the company from $25.00 to $36.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. StockNews.com upgraded Clearway Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Clearway Energy from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Roth Mkm reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $32.00 target price (up previously from $30.00) on shares of Clearway Energy in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $31.17. Clearway Energy Stock Down 1.5 % CWEN traded down $0.44 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $28.74. 439,872 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 875,904. The stock has a market cap of $5.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.83 and a beta of 0.85. Clearway Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $18.59 and a fifty-two week high of $29.20. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $26.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $24.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.65. Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by ($0.23). The company had revenue of $366.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $424.59 million. Clearway Energy had a net margin of 7.21% and a return on equity of 1.80%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.33 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Clearway Energy, Inc. will post 0.74 EPS for the current year. Clearway Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.417 per share. This represents a $1.67 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This is a boost from Clearway Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Clearway Energys dividend payout ratio is 251.52%. Clearway Energy Profile (Free Report) Clearway Energy, Inc operates in the renewable energy business in the United States. The company operates through Conventional and Renewables segments. It has approximately 6,000 net MW of installed wind, solar, and energy generation projects; and approximately 2,500 net MW of natural gas-fired generation facilities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CWEN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Clearway Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Clearway Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments cut its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report) by 21.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,164 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 4,388 shares during the quarter. Summit Global Investments holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $707,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of VWO. Focus Financial Network Inc. boosted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 263,352 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $11,785,000 after acquiring an additional 4,797 shares during the period. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 21.3% during the 2nd quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,709 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $337,000 after acquiring an additional 1,352 shares during the period. Wealthspan Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 31.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthspan Partners LLC now owns 6,385 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $279,000 after acquiring an additional 1,537 shares during the period. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $291,000. Finally, Sunpointe LLC purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $449,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Down 1.0 % VWO traded down $0.44 on Tuesday, reaching $44.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,194,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,460,294. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $44.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $42.86. The company has a market capitalization of $81.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.50 and a beta of 0.80. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a fifty-two week low of $37.46 and a fifty-two week high of $45.72. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sweetgreen, Inc. (NYSE:SG Get Free Report) CFO Mitch Reback sold 9,156 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.61, for a total value of $335,201.16. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 379,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,881,816.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Mitch Reback also recently made the following trade(s): Get Sweetgreen alerts: On Tuesday, August 20th, Mitch Reback sold 9,497 shares of Sweetgreen stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.40, for a total value of $317,199.80. On Wednesday, May 22nd, Mitch Reback sold 8,837 shares of Sweetgreen stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.98, for a total value of $282,607.26. Sweetgreen Stock Down 4.8 % Shares of SG stock traded down $1.67 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $33.15. The company had a trading volume of 3,971,122 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,757,519. Sweetgreen, Inc. has a 52 week low of $8.64 and a 52 week high of $37.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -35.65 and a beta of 2.30. The stocks 50-day moving average is $28.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.71. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sweetgreen Sweetgreen ( NYSE:SG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $184.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $180.79 million. Sweetgreen had a negative return on equity of 19.34% and a negative net margin of 14.33%. The businesss revenue was up 21.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.20) earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Sweetgreen, Inc. will post -0.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SG. Baillie Gifford & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Sweetgreen by 6.2% in the second quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 12,326,336 shares of the companys stock worth $371,516,000 after buying an additional 721,740 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Sweetgreen by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,420,947 shares of the companys stock worth $212,713,000 after purchasing an additional 70,395 shares during the period. Driehaus Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Sweetgreen by 231.8% in the second quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC now owns 2,688,403 shares of the companys stock valued at $81,028,000 after purchasing an additional 1,878,216 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Sweetgreen by 2.3% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,763,572 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,151,000 after purchasing an additional 39,823 shares during the period. Finally, Hood River Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Sweetgreen by 42.6% in the second quarter. Hood River Capital Management LLC now owns 1,643,028 shares of the companys stock worth $49,521,000 after buying an additional 490,806 shares during the period. 95.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group upped their price target on Sweetgreen from $31.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Bank of America increased their target price on Sweetgreen from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday. Piper Sandler reissued a neutral rating and issued a $39.00 price target (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Sweetgreen in a research report on Monday. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Sweetgreen from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of Sweetgreen from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $37.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on SG About Sweetgreen (Get Free Report) Sweetgreen, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates fast food restaurants serving healthy foods at scale in the United States. The company also accepts orders through its online and mobile ordering platforms, as well as sells gift cards that do not have an expiration date and can be redeemed. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sweetgreen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sweetgreen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. trimmed its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 66,824 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 2,238 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 1.2% of Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $34,031,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 84,405,255 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $41,755,280,000 after acquiring an additional 544,740 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 26,062,928 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $12,893,331,000 after acquiring an additional 94,641 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,122,203 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $7,961,369,000 after acquiring an additional 324,733 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 11,860,985 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $6,244,158,000 after acquiring an additional 542,424 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $5,802,231,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group In other news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 2,851 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $569.88, for a total transaction of $1,624,727.88. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 29,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,812,029.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 2,851 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $569.88, for a total transaction of $1,624,727.88. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 29,501 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,812,029.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,500 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $579.03, for a total transaction of $868,545.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,785 shares in the company, valued at $4,507,748.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.3 % UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $1.87 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $580.65. The company had a trading volume of 1,638,356 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,197,138. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $436.38 and a 1-year high of $591.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $531.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $507.93. The stock has a market cap of $536.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.59. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.66 by $0.14. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.66% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The company had revenue of $98.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $98.73 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.14 EPS. The firms revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.45%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.34%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Argus raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $570.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $560.00 to $604.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $546.00 to $601.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $630.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $640.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $614.17. Read Our Latest Stock Report on UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group Company Profile (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC trimmed its stake in Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 132,896 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,125 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned 0.05% of Xylem worth $18,025,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main lifted its position in Xylem by 1,503.7% in the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 1,649,926 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $188,685,000 after buying an additional 1,547,043 shares in the last quarter. Duality Advisers LP purchased a new position in Xylem in the first quarter valued at about $6,746,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Xylem by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,048,996 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,207,683,000 after purchasing an additional 187,847 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Xylem by 12.9% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 338,315 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $43,737,000 after purchasing an additional 38,603 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Xylem by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 393,856 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $50,902,000 after buying an additional 5,477 shares during the last quarter. 87.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Xylem alerts: Xylem Stock Performance XYL stock traded down $0.23 on Tuesday, reaching $134.15. 761,407 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,214,914. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.85 and a quick ratio of 1.33. Xylem Inc. has a 12 month low of $87.59 and a 12 month high of $146.08. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $135.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $132.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.58 billion, a PE ratio of 47.74, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.04. Xylem Announces Dividend Xylem ( NYSE:XYL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The industrial products company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.04. Xylem had a return on equity of 9.48% and a net margin of 9.11%. The firm had revenue of $2.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.14 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.98 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 26.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Xylem Inc. will post 4.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 29th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 29th. Xylems dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.25%. Insider Activity In related news, CAO Geri-Michelle Mcshane sold 2,278 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.63, for a total value of $315,799.14. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,536 shares of the companys stock, valued at $490,195.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Rodney Aulick sold 21,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.01, for a total transaction of $3,030,418.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 76,287 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,604,655.87. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Geri-Michelle Mcshane sold 2,278 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.63, for a total value of $315,799.14. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,536 shares of the companys stock, valued at $490,195.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently weighed in on XYL. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Xylem in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. They set a buy rating and a $165.00 price objective on the stock. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of Xylem from $146.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 29th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Xylem from $147.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Mizuho boosted their price target on Xylem from $110.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price target on Xylem from $135.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $147.54. Check Out Our Latest Report on Xylem Xylem Profile (Free Report) Xylem Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and servicing of engineered products and solutions worldwide. It operates through four segments: Water Infrastructure, Applied Water, Measurement & Control Solutions, and Integrated Solutions and Services. The Water Infrastructure segment offers products, including water, storm water, and wastewater pumps; controls and systems; filtration, disinfection, and biological treatment equipment; and mobile dewatering equipment and rental services under the ADI, Flygt, Godwin, Sanitaire, Magneto, Neptune Benson, Ionpure, Leopold, Wedeco, and Xylem Vue brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XYL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Xylem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xylem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) shot up 0.7% on Monday . The company traded as high as $253.39 and last traded at $253.37. 291,771 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 2,985,551 shares. The stock had previously closed at $251.71. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In AXP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Barclays upped their target price on shares of American Express from $221.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on American Express from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on American Express from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 8th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of American Express from $190.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $230.70. Get American Express alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on AXP American Express Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of $177.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74. The companys 50 day moving average price is $238.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $230.42. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 19th. The payment services company reported $3.49 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $16.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.60 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 32.94% and a net margin of 15.53%. The firms revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.89 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that American Express will post 13.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Express Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of American Express by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Sawgrass Asset Management LLC now owns 10,384 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $2,404,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in American Express by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 4,315 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $983,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of American Express by 0.9% during the second quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 4,682 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $1,103,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Willner & Heller LLC boosted its position in shares of American Express by 4.1% in the second quarter. Willner & Heller LLC now owns 1,087 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $252,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the period. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of American Express by 18.9% in the second quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 271 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $63,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock. American Express Company Profile (Get Free Report) American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for American Express Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Express and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) is in his second term representing Texas' 22nd Congressional District. Samuel Corum/Getty Images Congressman Troy Nehls speaks during the annual Texas Youth Summit held at Grace Woodlands Church on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 in The Woodlands. Michael Wyke/Contributor Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) is in his second term representing Texas' 22nd Congressional District. Melissa Phillip/Staff photographer A gay former staffer of Houston area U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls has sued the congressman's office, alleging a homophobic workplace. Alex Chadwell worked at Republican congressman's office from 2021-2023 as a legislative correspondent and field representative. Chadwell also worked on Nehls campaign in 2019, according to the lawsuit. While Chadwell worked at the office, he alleges that he was subjected to offensive comments about being gay and gay people in general from Nehls, his chief of staff and special adviser, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday. Chadwell said he was told that the office would never support LGBTQ+ issues and that gay people shouldnt be let into the military. Those colleagues also made offensive remarks, such as Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, and that gay people would all go to hell, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When leadership found out that Chadwell was gay, he alleges that his workload was reduced and he was not afforded roles and responsibilities he would have been previously. He also alleges that this resulted in his ultimate resignation, after being pressured to take a different job, despite a pay cut, because he did not have a future at the representatives office, the lawsuit alleges. Ultimately, Chadwell resigned. On his last day in the office, he alleges that the chief of staff called him and told him the separation was because their lifestyles did not align, which Chadwell believed was a reference to him being gay, according to the lawsuit. Nehls office has not responded for comment, but a spokesperson from the office told the Texas Tribune that the claims did not have merit and that they believed the office would exonerated in the court of law. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Saturday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. American Shared Hospital Services Price Performance Shares of AMS stock opened at $2.99 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The stock has a market cap of $18.93 million, a P/E ratio of 37.38 and a beta of 0.70. American Shared Hospital Services has a one year low of $2.16 and a one year high of $3.69. Get American Shared Hospital Services alerts: American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The company reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.06. American Shared Hospital Services had a return on equity of 4.29% and a net margin of 2.50%. The business had revenue of $7.06 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.15 million. Analysts predict that American Shared Hospital Services will post 0.29 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Shared Hospital Services American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AMS. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in American Shared Hospital Services in the first quarter worth about $31,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in shares of American Shared Hospital Services by 31.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 55,501 shares of the companys stock valued at $177,000 after acquiring an additional 13,201 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in American Shared Hospital Services by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 179,637 shares of the companys stock worth $574,000 after acquiring an additional 8,436 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.16% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) American Shared Hospital Services provides stereotactic radiosurgery and advanced radiation therapy equipment. It operates in two segments, Medical Equipment Leasing, and Retail. The company offers radiosurgery equipment for the Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-invasive procedure to treat malignant and benign brain tumors, and arteriovenous malformations, as well as for trigeminal neuralgia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for American Shared Hospital Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Shared Hospital Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amotiv Ltd (ASX:AOV Get Free Report) declared a final dividend on Thursday, August 15th, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 11th will be paid a dividend of 0.22 per share on Wednesday, September 11th. This represents a yield of 2.07%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 22nd. Amotiv Price Performance About Amotiv (Get Free Report) Amotiv Limited, through its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, distributes, and sells automotive products in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, France, and the United States. It operates through Automotive, Auto Pacific Group (APG), and Davey segments. The Automotive segment offers automotive and heavy-duty filters for cars, trucks, and agricultural and mining equipment; automotive electrical and lighting products; and fuel pumps and associated products and accessories for the automotive after-market. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Amotiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Amotiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $78.83. Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Guggenheim raised their price objective on Kontoor Brands from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Kontoor Brands from $77.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 14th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $76.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Kontoor Brands from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Get Kontoor Brands alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on KTB Kontoor Brands Stock Down 0.8 % KTB stock opened at $71.41 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04, a current ratio of 2.74 and a quick ratio of 1.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.16. Kontoor Brands has a fifty-two week low of $39.90 and a fifty-two week high of $74.90. The business has a 50-day moving average of $68.08 and a 200-day moving average of $64.81. Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $607.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $592.97 million. Kontoor Brands had a net margin of 9.35% and a return on equity of 72.43%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.77 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Kontoor Brands will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Kontoor Brands Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 20th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 10th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 10th. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 50.63%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Scott H. Baxter sold 29,212 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.52, for a total transaction of $2,089,242.24. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 318,188 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,756,805.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Susan Denise Sumner sold 4,713 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.36, for a total transaction of $341,032.68. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 15,379 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,112,824.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Scott H. Baxter sold 29,212 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.52, for a total transaction of $2,089,242.24. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 318,188 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,756,805.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KTB. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 1.1% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 14,050 shares of the companys stock worth $929,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 5.0% in the second quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,544 shares of the companys stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 4,979 shares of the companys stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its position in shares of Kontoor Brands by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 25,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,654,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 2.2% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 9,340 shares of the companys stock valued at $616,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the period. 93.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Kontoor Brands Company Profile (Get Free Report Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Kontoor Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kontoor Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited (LON:BOCH Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 399.22 ($5.19) and last traded at GBX 399.22 ($5.19), with a volume of 76598 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 385 ($5.00). Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public from GBX 563 ($7.32) to GBX 595 ($7.73) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Get Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on BOCH Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Price Performance Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Company Profile The company has a market cap of 1.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,750.00 and a beta of 0.74. The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 349.30 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 333.23. (Get Free Report) Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of banking, financial, and insurance services in Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel, and internationally. The company offers current, demand, savings, sight, quick, and fixed deposits; housing, student, vehicle, mortgage, consumer, and business and business premises loans; and trade finance facilities, Escrow, and project finance services, as well as hire purchase services for car and equipment. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. cut its holdings in BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF (NYSEARCA:BKHY Free Report) by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,776 shares of the companys stock after selling 490 shares during the quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. owned about 0.14% of BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF worth $367,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BKHY. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $127,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $666,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF by 34.7% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 77,261 shares of the companys stock worth $3,682,000 after purchasing an additional 19,895 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its position in BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF by 33.1% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 26,189 shares of the companys stock worth $1,235,000 after purchasing an additional 6,514 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 81,511 shares of the companys stock worth $3,885,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046 shares in the last quarter. Get BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF alerts: BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF Price Performance Shares of BKHY traded up $0.10 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $48.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,827 shares, compared to its average volume of 32,098. The business has a fifty day moving average of $47.51 and a 200 day moving average of $47.28. BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF has a 1 year low of $44.04 and a 1 year high of $48.51. BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF Increases Dividend BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF Profile The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 1st were paid a $0.3081 dividend. This is an increase from BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETFs previous dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 1st. (Free Report) The BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF (BKHY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated high yield corporate bonds with broad maturities. BKHY was launched on Apr 24, 2020 and is managed by BNY Mellon. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BNY Mellon High Yield Beta ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the sixteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$179.29. A number of equities analysts have issued reports on CNR shares. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$188.00 to C$187.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$172.00 to C$169.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Desjardins cut their price target on Canadian National Railway from C$194.00 to C$192.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Canadian National Railway from C$202.00 to C$189.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, TD Securities dropped their target price on Canadian National Railway from C$185.00 to C$180.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Read Our Latest Report on CNR Insider Buying and Selling Canadian National Railway Stock Up 0.0 % In other news, Director Josephine Ann Marie Depass Olsovsky purchased 2,610 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$115.29 per share, for a total transaction of C$300,906.90. In other Canadian National Railway news, Director Josephine Ann Marie Depass Olsovsky purchased 2,610 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$115.29 per share, with a total value of C$300,906.90. Also, Director Shauneen Elizabeth Bruder acquired 544 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 25th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$160.21 per share, with a total value of C$87,156.42. 1.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. CNR stock opened at C$155.10 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$97.64 billion, a PE ratio of 18.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.65. Canadian National Railway has a 52 week low of C$143.13 and a 52 week high of C$181.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 107.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of C$160.27 and a 200 day moving average of C$169.22. Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported C$1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.93 by C($0.09). The company had revenue of C$4.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.40 billion. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 27.41% and a net margin of 32.02%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Canadian National Railway will post 7.740982 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian National Railway Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Investors of record on Friday, September 6th will be given a dividend of $0.845 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. This represents a $3.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.14%. About Canadian National Railway (Get Free Report Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA Free Report) by 4.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 19,166 shares of the companys stock after selling 851 shares during the period. Legacy Capital Group California Inc.s holdings in CAVA Group were worth $1,778,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC increased its stake in CAVA Group by 101.2% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 505 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC boosted its stake in CAVA Group by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 7,574 shares of the companys stock worth $531,000 after purchasing an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CAVA Group by 66.7% during the first quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 1,000 shares of the companys stock worth $70,000 after buying an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American International Group Inc. raised its position in shares of CAVA Group by 194.2% in the first quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 709 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.15% of the companys stock. Get CAVA Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of CAVA Group from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. Citigroup boosted their target price on CAVA Group from $60.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, May 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on CAVA Group from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and set a $100.00 price objective on shares of CAVA Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut CAVA Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $77.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, CAVA Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $84.42. Insider Transactions at CAVA Group In related news, CFO Tricia K. Tolivar sold 5,949 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.47, for a total value of $562,002.03. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 297,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,114,272. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Tricia K. Tolivar sold 5,949 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.47, for a total value of $562,002.03. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 297,600 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,114,272. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Ronald M. Shaich sold 1,231,979 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.25, for a total transaction of $107,490,167.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,000 shares in the company, valued at $436,250. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,420,564 shares of company stock worth $124,690,835 over the last ninety days. CAVA Group Trading Down 2.0 % NYSE CAVA traded down $2.03 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $98.18. The company had a trading volume of 1,500,880 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,556,200. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 239.45 and a beta of 3.27. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $88.80 and a 200 day moving average of $74.94. CAVA Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $29.05 and a 1-year high of $101.20. CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 28th. The company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.08. CAVA Group had a net margin of 3.75% and a return on equity of 5.18%. The firm had revenue of $259.01 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $246.02 million. CAVA Groups quarterly revenue was up 27.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that CAVA Group, Inc. will post 0.34 EPS for the current year. CAVA Group Profile (Free Report) CAVA Group, Inc owns and operates a chain of restaurants under the CAVA brand in the United States. The company also offers dips, spreads, and dressings through grocery stores. In addition, the company provides online and mobile ordering platforms. Cava Group, Inc was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Washington, the District of Columbia. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAVA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CAVA Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAVA Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lessened its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 154,452 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,385 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $36,599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Illinois Tool Works in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Security National Bank purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors own 79.77% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $275.00 to $240.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $217.00 to $215.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $251.00 to $246.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $250.22. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director David Byron Smith, Jr. acquired 775 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $238.82 per share, with a total value of $185,085.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 121,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,018,062.92. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.88% of the stock is owned by insiders. Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.9 % NYSE ITW traded up $2.31 on Wednesday, hitting $245.69. 205,809 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,143,207. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.30. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $240.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $249.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52-week low of $217.50 and a 52-week high of $271.15. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $4.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.08 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.15% and a return on equity of 99.74%. Illinois Tool Workss quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.41 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.44%. This is a positive change from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is presently 59.17%. Illinois Tool Works Company Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI increased its position in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report) by 61.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,905 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 1,489 shares during the quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FIs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $607,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Extra Space Storage by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 33,686,389 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,951,899,000 after acquiring an additional 170,380 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Extra Space Storage by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,083,752 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,135,738,000 after acquiring an additional 577,918 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 4th quarter valued at $1,022,811,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Extra Space Storage by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,219,030 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $516,107,000 after acquiring an additional 186,940 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centersquare Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Extra Space Storage by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 2,546,475 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $341,941,000 after acquiring an additional 32,591 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.11% of the companys stock. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth EXR has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $140.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a sector underperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 19th. Bank of America cut Extra Space Storage from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $172.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $140.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $157.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, May 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Extra Space Storage currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $161.92. Insider Buying and Selling at Extra Space Storage In other Extra Space Storage news, Director Joseph J. Bonner sold 677 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.22, for a total value of $100,344.94. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,229 shares of the companys stock, valued at $775,042.38. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Joseph J. Bonner sold 677 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.22, for a total value of $100,344.94. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 5,229 shares of the companys stock, valued at $775,042.38. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Joseph D. Margolis sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.58, for a total transaction of $1,144,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 31,690 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,835,260.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.36% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Extra Space Storage Price Performance Shares of Extra Space Storage stock traded up $1.77 on Wednesday, hitting $171.13. 308,292 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,060,181. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.37 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $160.66 and a 200 day moving average price of $149.17. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 1-year low of $101.19 and a 1-year high of $171.46. Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. Extra Space Storages payout ratio is presently 144.32%. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Free Report) Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,714 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.6 million units and approximately 283.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Entree Resources (OTCMKTS:ERLFF Get Free Report) and Austin Gold (NYSE:AUST Get Free Report) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings. Profitability This table compares Entree Resources and Austin Golds net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Entree Resources alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Entree Resources N/A N/A -145.18% Austin Gold N/A -35.82% -34.68% Institutional and Insider Ownership 62.1% of Austin Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.4% of Entree Resources shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 70.7% of Austin Gold shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Entree Resources 0 0 0 0 N/A Austin Gold 0 0 1 0 3.00 This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Entree Resources and Austin Gold, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Austin Gold has a consensus target price of $3.00, suggesting a potential upside of 185.71%. Given Austin Golds higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Austin Gold is more favorable than Entree Resources. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Entree Resources and Austin Golds top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Entree Resources N/A N/A -$9.58 million ($0.05) -22.00 Austin Gold N/A N/A -$4.00 million ($0.32) -3.28 Entree Resources is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Austin Gold, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility & Risk Entree Resources has a beta of 1.12, indicating that its share price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Austin Gold has a beta of 1.38, indicating that its share price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Austin Gold beats Entree Resources on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Entree Resources (Get Free Report) Entree Resources Ltd., a mining company, engages in the exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral property interests in Canada. Its principal asset is the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture property comprising Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit and the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit located in Mongolia. The company was formerly known as Entree Gold Inc. and changed its name to Entree Resources Ltd. in May 2017. Entree Resources Ltd. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About Austin Gold (Get Free Report) Austin Gold Corp., a gold exploration company, focuses on the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral property interests in Nevada. The company holds interest in Kelly Creek Project located in the Kelly Creek Basin, in southeastern Humboldt County, Nevada; Fourmile Basin Project that comprises various unpatented lode mining claims covering approximately 6410 acres located in Nye County; the Lone Mountain Project consisting of various unpatented lode mining and patented mining claims located near Lone Mountain in Elko County. It also holds interest in the Miller Project consisting various unpatented lode mining claims located in Elko County in Nevada. Austin Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Entree Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Entree Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. African leaders set to attend FOCAC summit in Beijing, China 09:22, August 21, 2024 By Abu Bakarr Kargbo ( People's Daily Online African leaders are poised to attend the upcoming 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. The event, scheduled from Sept. 4 to 6 this year, aims to foster dialogue and strengthen ties between China and African nations. Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing, shared insights on the forthcoming summit during a media briefing at the Face to Face with China program. He highlighted the foundational role of FOCAC as a platform for collective dialogue, uniting China with the African Union Commission as well as 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China. The summit signifies a milestone in solidifying the friendship between China and Africa, with a focus on elevated political and mutual trust. Wang emphasized the rapid development track of China-Africa relations facilitated by FOCAC. He underscored President Xi Jinping's advocacy for sincerity, practical results, friendship, and good faith in shaping a shared future between China and Africa. This strategic vision aligns with building a robust China-Africa community and navigating global challenges through collaborative efforts rooted in multilateralism. The ambassador highlighted the substantial progress in China-Africa trade cooperation, with China emerging as Africa's largest trading partner since 2009. The bilateral trade volume surged to $282 billion in 2023, accounting for over 21.5 percent of Africa's total external trade. China's commitment to enhancing trade diversity by promoting non-resource product imports from Africa and providing favorable tariff treatments signifies a paradigm shift towards balanced trade relations. Moreover, investments and financing collaborations between China and Africa have revitalized economic and social development across various sectors. From mining and agriculture to the digital economy and healthcare services, China's support has bolstered industrialization efforts in African countries, fostering export capacity and economic growth. The solidarity and mutual assistance demonstrated by China and Africa amid the COVID-19 pandemic serve as a beacon of international cooperation. Joint efforts in combating the virus and providing medical assistance underscore the strong bond and collective resilience shared between the two regions. The summit is poised to catalyze further progress in people-to-people exchanges and cultural interactions between China and Africa. Through collaborative research initiatives, media partnerships, and vibrant cultural events, the foundations for deeper understanding and mutual appreciation are being laid. Deputy Political Director at the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Ge Yao, highlighted the significance of the upcoming FOCAC summit as the first meeting between African and Chinese leaders post-COVID. He said the summit presents a pivotal opportunity to chart the course for enhanced cooperation in the new era, with a focus on practical collaboration and governance experience sharing. The FOCAC summit stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between China and Africa, and is poised to open new avenues for common development and foster an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future. The gathering of leaders in Beijing signals a renewed commitment to unity, collaboration, and mutual prosperity between China and Africa, paving the way for transformative partnerships in diverse sectors and fostering greater regional integration and cooperation. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) A Catholic friar in New York is accused of running an unholy scam that bilked donors of at least $650,000 they thought would fund charitable medical clinics in Lebanon. But Pawel Bielecki who took a vow of poverty to join the Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order allegedly spent the money on luxuries that included trips to the Hamptons, meals at fancy restaurants, liposuction and a $334-a-month gym membership. The province, based in suburban White Plains, says on its website that its friars are "inspired by the life and ideals of St. Francis of Assisi" and "dedicated to serving those in need, living a simple life together as a community of brothers, and drawing closer to the Lord through prayer." For at least the past nine years, Bielecki, 48, of Manhattan, allegedly portrayed himself as a priest and physician who was operating two clinics in Beirut to help Christians, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said Monday. Bielecki repeatedly appeared on local radio shows and used crowdfunding websites to solicit donations for medicine, food and equipment, including baby incubators and an ambulance, authorities said. He also falsely claimed to have been seriously injured by the massive, August 2020 explosion at Beirut's port, according to to the criminal complaint against him. Bielecki even allegedly lied to the Province of St. Mary, where his personnel file contains a fake medical school diploma, authorities said. The province which provided Bielecki with a monthly, $250 stipend and a credit card for "friary-related expenses" uncovered his alleged fundraising scheme, contacted law enforcement and has cooperated with the investigation, according to the complaint. It didn't return immediately a request for comment Tuesday. Bielecki was arrested Saturday on charges of wire fraud and mail fraud, which each carry a maximum, 20-year prison sentence. During a court appearance later that day in U.S. District Court in White Plains, he agreed to remain in custody pending a future bail application, according to court records. Bielecki was represented at the hearing by a public defender, who didn't immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday. Bielecki was advised during the hearing to hire his own lawyer "promptly" but hasn't yet done so, records show. Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report)s share price traded up 0.3% during trading on Wednesday after Scotiabank raised their price target on the stock from $104.00 to $113.00. Scotiabank currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Duke Energy traded as high as $112.92 and last traded at $112.72. 407,497 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average session volume of 2,932,632 shares. The stock had previously closed at $112.38. A number of other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on DUK. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $102.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. KeyCorp increased their price target on Duke Energy from $114.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Duke Energy from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $110.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $99.00 to $114.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $110.85. Get Duke Energy alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on DUK Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Trading of Duke Energy In other news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 540 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.64, for a total transaction of $61,365.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,259,617.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Duke Energy by 4,163.9% in the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 882,552 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $85,352,000 after buying an additional 861,854 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,515,388 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $799,599,000 after buying an additional 842,458 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 65.7% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,052,969 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $205,769,000 after acquiring an additional 813,744 shares during the last quarter. Wulff Hansen & CO. raised its holdings in Duke Energy by 9,923.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wulff Hansen & CO. now owns 769,265 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $77,103,000 after purchasing an additional 761,590 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in Duke Energy by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 11,141,020 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,081,125,000 after purchasing an additional 509,039 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the companys stock. Duke Energy Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average is $106.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $86.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.45. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.16. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.25% and a net margin of 10.78%. The business had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.91 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Duke Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be given a dividend of $1.045 per share. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.71%. This is a boost from Duke Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 105.03%. Duke Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Enova International, Inc. (NYSE:ENVA Get Free Report) CEO David Fisher sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.46, for a total value of $834,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 423,239 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,323,526.94. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Enova International Price Performance NYSE:ENVA traded up $0.64 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $82.22. The companys stock had a trading volume of 126,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 245,916. Enova International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $35.30 and a twelve month high of $88.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 12.07 and a quick ratio of 12.07. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $64.18. The company has a market capitalization of $2.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.75 and a beta of 1.45. Get Enova International alerts: Enova International (NYSE:ENVA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The credit services provider reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.07 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $628.44 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $622.92 million. Enova International had a net margin of 7.52% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The firms revenue was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Enova International, Inc. will post 7.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ENVA. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Enova International by 27.6% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 855 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 185 shares during the period. J.Safra Asset Management Corp increased its position in Enova International by 25.1% in the 2nd quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 1,163 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 233 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in Enova International by 21.1% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 3,649 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $228,000 after acquiring an additional 636 shares during the period. Summit Global Investments raised its stake in shares of Enova International by 7.5% during the second quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 25,464 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,585,000 after acquiring an additional 1,785 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of Enova International during the first quarter worth $223,000. 89.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. ENVA has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Enova International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Maxim Group increased their price target on Enova International from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Enova International from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, April 25th. JMP Securities increased their target price on Enova International from $78.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, BTIG Research assumed coverage on Enova International in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $90.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $79.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on Enova International About Enova International (Get Free Report) Enova International, Inc, a technology and analytics company, provides online financial services in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. The company provides installment loans; line of credit accounts; CSO programs, including arranging loans with independent third-party lenders and assisting in the preparation of loan applications and loan documents; and bank programs, such as marketing services and loan servicing for near-prime unsecured consumer installment loan. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Enova International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enova International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by equities researchers at Evercore ISI from $115.00 to $126.00 in a research note issued on Monday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the apparel and home fashions retailers stock. Evercore ISIs target price would suggest a potential upside of 11.20% from the companys previous close. TJX has been the subject of several other reports. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, May 23rd. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $132.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 23rd. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $110.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, June 3rd. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $119.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, TJX Companies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $116.71. Get TJX Companies alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on TJX Companies TJX Companies Stock Performance TJX stock opened at $113.31 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $128.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.88. TJX Companies has a 12 month low of $86.71 and a 12 month high of $115.35. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $111.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $103.04. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 22nd. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $12.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.48 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 8.47% and a return on equity of 64.26%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.76 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that TJX Companies will post 4.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at TJX Companies In related news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.17, for a total transaction of $2,043,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 571,148 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,354,191.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Kenneth Canestrari sold 20,332 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.00, for a total value of $2,033,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 110,893 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,089,300. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.17, for a total transaction of $2,043,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 571,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $58,354,191.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 50,003 shares of company stock worth $5,060,941 in the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On TJX Companies A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Chase Investment Counsel Corp raised its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp now owns 34,968 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $3,849,000 after buying an additional 840 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 229.8% in the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 221,497 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $24,387,000 after buying an additional 154,342 shares in the last quarter. Kimelman & Baird LLC acquired a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,816,000. Core Alternative Capital increased its position in shares of TJX Companies by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 55,407 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $6,100,000 after purchasing an additional 1,379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of TJX Companies by 20.2% during the 2nd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 15,656 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 2,634 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.09% of the companys stock. TJX Companies Company Profile (Get Free Report) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Everest Group, Ltd. (NYSE:EG Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the nine analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $431.00. Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Everest Group from $387.00 to $403.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Everest Group from $454.00 to $438.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Everest Group from $450.00 to $445.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Everest Group from $419.00 to $405.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Everest Group from $392.00 to $393.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Get Everest Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Everest Group Everest Group Price Performance EG stock opened at $377.24 on Friday. Everest Group has a 52 week low of $343.36 and a 52 week high of $417.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $376.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $377.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.63. Everest Group (NYSE:EG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $16.85 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $16.97 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $4.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.32 billion. Everest Group had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 24.09%. Everest Groups revenue for the quarter was up 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $15.21 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Everest Group will post 61.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Everest Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $2.00 per share. This represents a $8.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 16th. Everest Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.89%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Avior Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Everest Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Everest Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. American National Bank acquired a new stake in Everest Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors acquired a new stake in Everest Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, DT Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Everest Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.64% of the companys stock. About Everest Group (Get Free Report Everest Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segment, Insurance and Reinsurance. The Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Everest Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Everest Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Bancorp decreased its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX Free Report) by 8.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 32,095 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,974 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorps holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano were worth $3,455,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 448.6% during the 4th quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 203 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Park Place Capital Corp lifted its stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 78.2% during the 1st quarter. Park Place Capital Corp now owns 221 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 48.6% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 318 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA bought a new stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano in the 2nd quarter valued at $51,000. Get Fomento Economico Mexicano alerts: Fomento Economico Mexicano Price Performance Shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano stock traded down $2.87 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $107.36. The companys stock had a trading volume of 786,366 shares, compared to its average volume of 688,606. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $110.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $119.08. Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. has a one year low of $99.24 and a one year high of $143.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The stock has a market cap of $38.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.05, a P/E/G ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.94. Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend Fomento Economico Mexicano ( NYSE:FMX Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $1.87 earnings per share for the quarter. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 3.75% and a return on equity of 8.65%. The firm had revenue of $11.54 billion for the quarter. On average, analysts predict that Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. will post 5.38 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 17th were issued a dividend of $1.0206 per share. This represents a yield of 1.5%. This is an increase from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous semi-annual dividend of $0.74. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 17th. Fomento Economico Mexicanos dividend payout ratio is presently 14.36%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $160.00 to $145.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $139.50. Read Our Latest Analysis on FMX Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile (Free Report) Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FMX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fomento Economico Mexicano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT Free Report) by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,492 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 346 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorps holdings in Trane Technologies were worth $3,122,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of TT. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Trane Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $655,804,000. Swedbank AB purchased a new stake in Trane Technologies in the 1st quarter worth approximately $206,211,000. TD Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in Trane Technologies by 719.8% in the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 750,894 shares of the companys stock worth $183,143,000 after acquiring an additional 659,299 shares in the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC increased its holdings in Trane Technologies by 27,824.4% in the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 572,730 shares of the companys stock worth $139,689,000 after acquiring an additional 570,679 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kodai Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Trane Technologies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $77,615,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.97% of the companys stock. Get Trane Technologies alerts: Insider Activity at Trane Technologies In related news, EVP Raymond D. Pittard sold 1,805 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $328.65, for a total value of $593,213.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 83,517 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,447,862.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Trane Technologies news, EVP Raymond D. Pittard sold 1,805 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $328.65, for a total transaction of $593,213.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 83,517 shares in the company, valued at $27,447,862.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Christopher J. Kuehn sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $318.67, for a total transaction of $1,274,680.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 61,293 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,532,240.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 44,243 shares of company stock worth $14,216,550 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes TT has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Trane Technologies from $287.00 to $326.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Trane Technologies from $325.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Trane Technologies from $247.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Trane Technologies from $360.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Trane Technologies from $334.00 to $350.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $323.29. Read Our Latest Report on TT Trane Technologies Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of TT stock traded up $3.99 on Wednesday, hitting $351.66. The stock had a trading volume of 631,424 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,123,650. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $334.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $313.12. The company has a market cap of $79.60 billion, a PE ratio of 37.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.01. Trane Technologies plc has a one year low of $184.02 and a one year high of $353.44. Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.08 by $0.22. Trane Technologies had a net margin of 12.33% and a return on equity of 33.97%. The business had revenue of $5.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.68 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Trane Technologies plc will post 10.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Trane Technologies Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a $0.84 dividend. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 6th. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 35.90%. Trane Technologies Profile (Free Report) Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Trane Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Trane Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Free Report) in a report published on Sunday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Flexible Solutions International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE FSI opened at $2.94 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The businesss 50 day moving average is $1.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.02. The company has a market cap of $36.61 million, a P/E ratio of 15.47 and a beta of 1.47. Flexible Solutions International has a 12 month low of $1.36 and a 12 month high of $3.14. Get Flexible Solutions International alerts: Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.07 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $10.53 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.34 million. Flexible Solutions International had a return on equity of 6.24% and a net margin of 6.23%. On average, equities analysts expect that Flexible Solutions International will post 0.29 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Flexible Solutions International About Flexible Solutions International A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Flexible Solutions International stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Flexible Solutions International, Inc. ( NYSE:FSI Free Report ) by 4.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 379,245 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 17,400 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 3.05% of Flexible Solutions International worth $664,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 54.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. (Get Free Report) Flexible Solutions International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets specialty chemicals that slow the evaporation of water in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Energy and Water Conservation Products, and Biodegradable Polymers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Flexible Solutions International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flexible Solutions International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:HEWU Get Free Report) shares traded up 0% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $24.82 and last traded at $24.82. 100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 97% from the average session volume of 3,330 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.81. iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF Price Performance The company has a market cap of $8.69 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.66 and a beta of 0.56. The firms fifty day moving average price is $24.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.82. About iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF (Get Free Report) The iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF (HEWU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap UK stocks, hedged against movements in the pound for US investors. HEWU was launched on Jun 29, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI United Kingdom ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Krilogy Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 25.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 14,385 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,878 shares during the period. Krilogy Financial LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $763,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EFV. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Bangor Savings Bank grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 3,125.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 516 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $47,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of BATS EFV traded up $0.48 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $55.88. 737,092 shares of the company traded hands. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $53.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.81. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 1 year low of $49.15 and a 1 year high of $59.57. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (NYSEARCA:EIRL Free Report) by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,632 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 501 shares during the quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI Ireland ETF were worth $814,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EIRL. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares MSCI Ireland ETF by 205.4% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $412,000 after purchasing an additional 4,166 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI Ireland ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $208,000. Brookstone Capital Management grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI Ireland ETF by 32.0% in the 1st quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 5,007 shares of the companys stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 1,214 shares during the last quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Ireland ETF by 4.1% during the second quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 12,769 shares of the companys stock valued at $822,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the period. Finally, Comerica Bank raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Ireland ETF by 141.4% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 461 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Ireland ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Ireland ETF Trading Down 0.5 % NYSEARCA EIRL traded down $0.35 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $68.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,981 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,002. The companys fifty day moving average is $67.10 and its 200-day moving average is $67.46. iShares MSCI Ireland ETF has a one year low of $50.51 and a one year high of $70.64. The company has a market cap of $120.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.14 and a beta of 1.03. About iShares MSCI Ireland ETF The iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (EIRL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI All Ireland Capped index, a market-cap-weighted index of Irish firms. EIRL was launched on May 5, 2010 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EIRL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (NYSEARCA:EIRL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Ireland ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Ireland ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A former American NATO commander says Ukraine's ongoing incursion into Russia shows Moscow can't "do much" about it as reports Tuesday said more than 122,000 residents have fled the region and Ukraine damaged its last key bridge. Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a staunch supporter of Ukrainian resistance to Russia's February 2022 invasion, said on social media that America has "failed to help Ukraine win because of excessive fear that Russia might escalate." "UAF has shown that Russia can't/wont do much," Hodges wrote on X Monday, using an abbreviation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. UAF are exposing our continued self-deterrence. We've failed to help Ukraine win because of excessive fear that Russia might escalate. UAF has shown that Russia can't/wont do much. https://t.co/ffQG7zhCc3 Ben Hodges (@general_ben) August 19, 2024 Hodges' comments were followed Tuesday by a report that said more than 122,000 residents have abandoned their homes in Russia's Kursk region since Ukraine launched a cross-border offensive there on Aug. 6. Russia's Tass news agency, also said the refugees were being housed in "temporary accommodation centers" spread across 24 regions, citing Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations. Hours later, the Associated Press reported that Ukrainian forces had damaged the last of three bridges over the Seym River in Kursk. "As a result of targeted shelling with the use of rocket and artillery weapons against residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in the Karyzh village...a third bridge over the Seym River was damaged," an unidentified representative of Russia's Investigative Committee said in a video clip posted on the Telegram messaging website, AP said. Russian military bloggers and pro-war users of Telegram also said the third bridge had been damaged, according to AP. The development raises the possibility that Russian troops could wind up trapped between the Seym and advancing Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said its army controlled 488 square miles of Russian territory and 93 settlements, up from 386 square miles a week ago. Syrsko later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy, who said in a video address afterward that Ukraine was achieving "set goals" in Kursk. On Sunday, Zelenskyy said for the first time that Ukraine was trying to create a demilitarized buffer zone there to keep Russia from launching cross-border attacks. The Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) Research analysts at National Bank Financial lowered their Q3 2024 earnings estimates for Bank of Nova Scotia in a report released on Thursday, August 15th. National Bank Financial analyst G. Dechaine now anticipates that the bank will post earnings of $1.63 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.65. The consensus estimate for Bank of Nova Scotias current full-year earnings is $7.01 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Bank of Nova Scotias Q4 2024 earnings at $1.59 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $6.49 EPS. Get Bank of Nova Scotia alerts: Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS Get Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 28th. The bank reported C$1.58 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.55 by C$0.03. Bank of Nova Scotia had a net margin of 26.43% and a return on equity of 9.91%. The business had revenue of C$8.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.32 billion. Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on BNS. CIBC upped their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$64.00 to C$68.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 29th. National Bankshares lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$67.00 to C$66.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$68.00 to C$69.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Cormark lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$68.00 to C$65.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group set a C$67.00 price objective on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$66.57. Read Our Latest Research Report on BNS Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Performance Shares of TSE BNS opened at C$64.74 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$63.34 and its 200-day moving average price is C$64.76. The company has a market cap of C$79.63 billion, a PE ratio of 10.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.96. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 52-week low of C$55.20 and a 52-week high of C$70.40. Bank of Nova Scotia Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 29th were paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 3rd. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.55%. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 70.55%. Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets segments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Nova Scotia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ Get Free Report)s stock had its overweight rating reiterated by Piper Sandler in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They presently have a $22.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandlers price target indicates a potential upside of 26.15% from the companys current price. Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $22.00 price objective on shares of Utz Brands in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Barclays decreased their price target on Utz Brands from $23.00 to $19.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Utz Brands from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Stephens lifted their target price on Utz Brands from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Utz Brands from $19.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $20.17. Get Utz Brands alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Utz Brands Utz Brands Price Performance Shares of UTZ traded up $0.45 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $17.44. 104,768 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 799,624. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.40. The company has a market cap of $2.46 billion, a PE ratio of -69.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.00. Utz Brands has a 52-week low of $11.17 and a 52-week high of $20.04. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.55. Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.03. Utz Brands had a net margin of 0.29% and a return on equity of 6.80%. The firm had revenue of $356.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $356.23 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.13 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Utz Brands will post 0.73 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Transactions at Utz Brands In related news, Director Bruce John Lindeman acquired 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $64,440.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 42,480 shares in the company, valued at approximately $684,352.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, Director Bruce John Lindeman acquired 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was bought at an average price of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $64,440.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 42,480 shares of the companys stock, valued at $684,352.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Christina Choi sold 3,160 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.98, for a total transaction of $56,816.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 29,740 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $534,725.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 17.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Utz Brands Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Picton Mahoney Asset Management acquired a new stake in Utz Brands during the 2nd quarter worth $5,422,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Utz Brands by 26.0% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,212,493 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,691,000 after acquiring an additional 250,557 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Utz Brands by 22.0% in the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,238,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,607,000 after purchasing an additional 223,462 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Utz Brands by 15.2% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,331,581 shares of the companys stock worth $24,554,000 after purchasing an additional 175,956 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV purchased a new stake in shares of Utz Brands in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,981,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.97% of the companys stock. About Utz Brands (Get Free Report) Utz Brands, Inc engages in manufacture, marketing, and distribution of snack foods. It offers a range of salty snacks, including salty snacks, including potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, pork skins, veggie snacks, pub/party mixes, tortilla chips, salsa and dips, ready-to-eat popcorn, and other snacks under the Utz, Zapp's, ON THE BORDER, Golden Flake, Boulder Canyon, Hawaiian, TORTIYAHS!, etc. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Utz Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Utz Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q3 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of EOG Resources in a report released on Wednesday, August 14th. Zacks Research analyst N. Banerjee now expects that the energy exploration company will post earnings of $3.19 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $3.31. The consensus estimate for EOG Resources current full-year earnings is $12.13 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for EOG Resources Q4 2024 earnings at $2.90 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $12.07 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $3.04 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $3.01 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.22 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $3.04 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $12.31 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.69 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.95 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $11.83 EPS. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The energy exploration company reported $3.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.98 by $0.18. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 25.65% and a net margin of 30.33%. The company had revenue of $6.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.07 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.49 earnings per share. EOG Resourcess quarterly revenue was up 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on EOG. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $166.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Benchmark reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on EOG Resources in a research report on Thursday, June 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $157.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com upgraded EOG Resources from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $147.00 price objective on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $144.15. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on EOG Resources EOG Resources Price Performance EOG Resources stock opened at $125.25 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.98 billion, a PE ratio of 9.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.30. EOG Resources has a 52 week low of $108.94 and a 52 week high of $139.67. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $125.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $124.91. The company has a quick ratio of 2.05, a current ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.91 per share. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 17th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 28.75%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other EOG Resources news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total transaction of $505,920.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 35,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,434,135.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On EOG Resources Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wright Investors Service Inc. increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% in the first quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. now owns 10,163 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,299,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 11.0% in the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 820 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $103,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Bailard Inc. increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 0.4% in the second quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 19,899 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $2,505,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Field & Main Bank increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 1.4% in the first quarter. Field & Main Bank now owns 6,163 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $788,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PDS Planning Inc increased its position in shares of EOG Resources by 4.1% in the first quarter. PDS Planning Inc now owns 2,152 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.91% of the companys stock. About EOG Resources (Get Free Report) EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily in producing basins in the United States, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and internationally. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O Get Free Report) dropped 0.5% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $60.19 and last traded at $60.26. Approximately 494,659 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 6,054,548 shares. The stock had previously closed at $60.56. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently commented on O shares. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Realty Income from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on Realty Income in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. They issued a sector weight rating for the company. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Realty Income from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $62.00 target price on shares of Realty Income in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on Realty Income from $61.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Realty Income presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $61.73. Get Realty Income alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Realty Income Realty Income Price Performance The stock has a market capitalization of $52.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.80, a PEG ratio of 5.05 and a beta of 0.96. The stocks fifty day moving average is $56.18 and its 200-day moving average is $54.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.83 and a quick ratio of 1.83. Realty Income (NYSE:O Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.36 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. Realty Income had a net margin of 17.74% and a return on equity of 3.26%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 31.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.00 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Realty Income Co. will post 4.2 earnings per share for the current year. Realty Income Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a sep 24 dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.263 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Realty Incomes payout ratio is 291.67%. Institutional Trading of Realty Income A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. American National Bank acquired a new stake in Realty Income during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Vima LLC acquired a new stake in Realty Income during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its holdings in Realty Income by 444.4% during the 2nd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 490 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Co grew its holdings in Realty Income by 65.7% during the 1st quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 497 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the period. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new stake in Realty Income during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.81% of the companys stock. Realty Income Company Profile (Get Free Report) Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company, is an S&P 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. We invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. The company is structured as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 15,450 real estate properties (including properties acquired in the Spirit merger in January 2024) primarily owned under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Realty Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Realty Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Free Report) National Bank Financial lowered their Q3 2024 EPS estimates for Laurentian Bank of Canada in a research note issued on Thursday, August 15th. National Bank Financial analyst G. Dechaine now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.81 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.83. The consensus estimate for Laurentian Bank of Canadas current full-year earnings is $3.99 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Laurentian Bank of Canadas Q4 2024 earnings at $0.97 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $3.58 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $3.97 EPS. Get Laurentian Bank of Canada alerts: LB has been the topic of several other research reports. Desjardins upped their target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$25.00 to C$26.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$28.00 to C$26.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 6th. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$27.00 to C$26.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 3rd. Raymond James reduced their target price on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$27.00 to C$26.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. Finally, CIBC decreased their price target on Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$30.00 to C$28.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Laurentian Bank of Canada has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$28.24. Laurentian Bank of Canada Price Performance Laurentian Bank of Canada stock opened at C$26.38 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.16 billion, a P/E ratio of -94.21, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of C$26.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$26.57. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 52-week low of C$24.45 and a 52-week high of C$39.73. Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, May 31st. The company reported C$0.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.84 by C$0.06. The business had revenue of C$252.59 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$253.47 million. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a negative return on equity of 0.01% and a negative net margin of 0.04%. Laurentian Bank of Canada Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 1st were given a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 2nd. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.13%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas payout ratio is currently -671.43%. Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile (Get Free Report) Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laurentian Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (OTCMKTS:JINFF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 577,200 shares, a drop of 6.9% from the July 15th total of 620,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 125.5 days. China Gold International Resources Stock Performance JINFF stock opened at $5.32 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $6.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.91. China Gold International Resources has a twelve month low of $3.49 and a twelve month high of $7.42. Get China Gold International Resources alerts: China Gold International Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Further Reading China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd., a gold and base metal mining company, acquires, explores for, develops, and mines mineral properties in the People's Republic of China. It primarily holds 96.5% interest in the Chang Shan Hao gold mine located in Inner Mongolia; and holds interest in the Jiama copper-gold polymetallic mine that hosts copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, lead, and zinc metals located in Tibet. Receive News & Ratings for China Gold International Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Gold International Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments lessened its stake in Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Free Report) by 14.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,100 shares of the companys stock after selling 369 shares during the quarter. Summit Global Investments holdings in Snap-on were worth $549,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on during the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Pacific Capital Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on during the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Snap-on during the 1st quarter valued at $56,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Snap-on by 529.0% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 195 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.88% of the companys stock. Get Snap-on alerts: Snap-on Stock Up 1.2 % Snap-on stock traded up $3.31 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $278.66. 59,173 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 293,153. Snap-on Incorporated has a 1 year low of $249.84 and a 1 year high of $298.49. The firm has a market cap of $14.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 4.06 and a quick ratio of 3.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $269.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $275.70. Snap-on Announces Dividend Snap-on ( NYSE:SNA Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The company reported $5.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $0.13. Snap-on had a net margin of 21.90% and a return on equity of 19.90%. The firm had revenue of $1.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.89 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Snap-on Incorporated will post 18.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Monday, August 19th will be paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 19th. Snap-ons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.03%. Snap-on declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, August 8th that permits the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to purchase up to 3.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently weighed in on SNA. Roth Mkm restated a buy rating and set a $324.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Tigress Financial restated a buy rating and set a $336.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and set a $325.00 target price on shares of Snap-on in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Snap-on from $282.00 to $275.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Snap-on has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $315.00. View Our Latest Research Report on Snap-on Insider Transactions at Snap-on In other news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 24,145 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.95, for a total value of $6,493,797.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 759,019 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $204,138,160.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Jesus Arregui sold 8,434 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $265.17, for a total value of $2,236,443.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 252 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,822.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 24,145 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.95, for a total transaction of $6,493,797.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 759,019 shares of the companys stock, valued at $204,138,160.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 56,799 shares of company stock valued at $15,192,138. Insiders own 4.10% of the companys stock. Snap-on Company Profile (Free Report) Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JNK Get Free Report)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $96.42 and last traded at $96.41, with a volume of 1094421 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.27. SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF Stock Up 0.2 % The firm has a 50 day moving average of $94.95 and a 200-day moving average of $94.47. Get SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF alerts: Institutional Trading of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 223.6% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 2,545,240 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $242,307,000 after purchasing an additional 1,758,741 shares during the last quarter. Arch Capital Group LTD. acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $100,794,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF by 25.2% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,737,137 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $259,047,000 after acquiring an additional 550,840 shares during the period. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $48,448,000. Finally, Dynasty Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $46,519,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.54% of the companys stock. About SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield Bond ETF, seeks to provide investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital High Yield Very Liquid Index (the Index). The Index includes publicly issued United States dollar denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bonds that have a remaining maturity of at least one year, regardless of optionality, are rated high-yield using the middle rating of Moodys, S&P, and Fitch, respectively, and have $600 million or more of outstanding face value. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) shares shot up 0.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $74.29 and last traded at $73.80. 2,402,226 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 87% from the average session volume of 18,876,740 shares. The stock had previously closed at $73.31. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have issued reports on UBER. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Uber Technologies from $91.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Uber Technologies from $96.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of Uber Technologies from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $86.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Uber Technologies from $103.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 9th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $87.47. Get Uber Technologies alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Uber Technologies Uber Technologies Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average is $69.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.32. The company has a market cap of $154.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 119.03, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.21. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.47 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.16. Uber Technologies had a net margin of 5.02% and a return on equity of 17.06%. The company had revenue of $10.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.57 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.18 earnings per share. Uber Technologiess quarterly revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 1.04 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Uber Technologies news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.91, for a total transaction of $35,955,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,266,114 shares in the company, valued at $91,046,257.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.91, for a total value of $35,955,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,266,114 shares of the companys stock, valued at $91,046,257.74. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Tony West sold 28,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.67, for a total transaction of $1,978,760.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 96,945 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,851,103.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 617,234 shares of company stock worth $44,017,734. Insiders own 3.84% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 222.7% in the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 355 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its position in Uber Technologies by 111.6% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 383 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 563.9% in the 2nd quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 405 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 344 shares during the period. J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Uber Technologies by 1,038.5% during the second quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 444 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.24% of the companys stock. About Uber Technologies (Get Free Report) Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report)s share price rose 1.4% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $73.11 and last traded at $73.08. Approximately 3,598,516 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 81% from the average daily volume of 18,967,182 shares. The stock had previously closed at $72.04. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UBER shares. Melius initiated coverage on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Monday, July 22nd. They issued a hold rating and a $77.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Uber Technologies from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $85.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a research note on Wednesday, May 8th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $90.00 target price on shares of Uber Technologies in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $80.00 price objective on shares of Uber Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Uber Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $87.47. Get Uber Technologies alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on UBER Uber Technologies Trading Up 0.2 % The firm has a market cap of $154.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 119.03, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a 50 day moving average of $69.14 and a 200 day moving average of $71.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.21. Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $10.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.57 billion. Uber Technologies had a net margin of 5.02% and a return on equity of 17.06%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.18 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 1.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.91, for a total value of $35,955,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,266,114 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,046,257.74. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 500,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.91, for a total transaction of $35,955,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,266,114 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,046,257.74. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Tony West sold 89,234 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.18, for a total value of $6,083,974.12. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 124,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,518,750.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 617,234 shares of company stock valued at $44,017,734 over the last quarter. Insiders own 3.84% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UBER. Ted Buchan & Co bought a new stake in shares of Uber Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $286,000. Truist Financial Corp increased its holdings in Uber Technologies by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 490,554 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $35,653,000 after buying an additional 20,815 shares during the period. Fiera Capital Corp raised its stake in shares of Uber Technologies by 5.1% in the 2nd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 89,712 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $6,520,000 after buying an additional 4,350 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 142.4% during the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 79,070 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $5,747,000 after acquiring an additional 46,449 shares during the period. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Uber Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $24,232,000. Institutional investors own 80.24% of the companys stock. About Uber Technologies (Get Free Report) Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Uber Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Uber Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Michigan woman who was caught on video flinging cat feces at her neighbors denied the unsavory allegations. Speaking with WJBK-TV, the unidentified woman said the animal poop wasn't directed at any particular house in her Redford Township, Michigan neighborhood, but rather, the street. "Totally untrue about me throwing it at anybody else's property," she alleged, according to the station. "The street is public property. Nobody owns the street. So by throwing it out into the street, we're not throwing it on anyone's property," her husband clarified. According to her next-door neighbor, Mark Dellamora, the woman has targeted his family multiple times with her alleged fecal attacks, ever since he and his wife began to "put out a little makeshift cat shelter for strays, and a bowl of food and water," several years ago. Dellamora said the incidents including the latest one on Sunday were completely "unprovoked. We've never had any bad blood with them." The woman and her husband alleged the Dellamoras' makeshift cat shelter which has since been removed attracts feral cats who defecate on their lawn, ruining the grass. "On a bad week, there might be five or six spots that need to be cleaned up piles," the husband explained. "And they're not just normal; these feral cats, they've got diseases. They don't defecate like a normal household cat would. It's a mess. It stinks, and it's like a cow pie." "When they defecate, it is messy and it smells; it's very sour," he added. The couple has reached out to the city for direction on the matter. At the same time, Dellamora said: "I sincerely doubt one bowl of water on my porch is leading to any extra animals in the area." Veracity Capital LLC cut its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,244 shares of the companys stock after selling 224 shares during the period. Veracity Capital LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $345,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Private Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Novartis during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Novartis during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Clearstead Trust LLC raised its stake in Novartis by 73.5% in the 1st quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 269 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Finally, Lynx Investment Advisory acquired a new stake in Novartis during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. 13.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Novartis alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on NVS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Friday, July 19th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Novartis from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 24th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Novartis from $121.00 to $122.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Novartis in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. They set a buy rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays upgraded Novartis to a strong sell rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Novartis presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $118.13. Novartis Price Performance NYSE:NVS traded up $0.48 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $117.61. 711,792 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,437,086. The business has a 50 day moving average of $109.29 and a 200 day moving average of $102.93. Novartis AG has a 1-year low of $92.19 and a 1-year high of $117.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $240.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.57. Novartis (NYSE:NVS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.10. Novartis had a return on equity of 34.56% and a net margin of 33.76%. The company had revenue of $12.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.83 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 7.44 EPS for the current year. Novartis Profile (Free Report) Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM Get Free Report)s stock had its outperform rating reaffirmed by stock analysts at Telsey Advisory Group in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $170.00 target price on the specialty retailers stock. Telsey Advisory Groups price target indicates a potential upside of 23.52% from the companys current price. WSM has been the subject of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, May 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a report on Friday, June 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $137.50 to $155.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, June 4th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a hold rating on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Thursday, May 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $340.00 to $170.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $138.77. Get Williams-Sonoma alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on WSM Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance WSM stock opened at $137.63 on Monday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $147.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $141.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.90, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.75. Williams-Sonoma has a fifty-two week low of $62.44 and a fifty-two week high of $174.26. Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 22nd. The specialty retailer reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.65. The business had revenue of $1.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.65 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 13.83% and a return on equity of 54.50%. Equities analysts forecast that Williams-Sonoma will post 7.24 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Williams-Sonoma In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.45, for a total value of $6,258,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,070,956 shares in the company, valued at approximately $167,551,066.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP David Randolph King sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.93, for a total transaction of $2,878,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 101,024 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,539,879.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laura Alber sold 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.45, for a total value of $6,258,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,070,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $167,551,066.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 77,862 shares of company stock valued at $11,800,439. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. EntryPoint Capital LLC grew its position in Williams-Sonoma by 520.0% during the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 93 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Crewe Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Williams-Sonoma during the first quarter worth $33,000. 99.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Williams-Sonoma (Get Free Report) Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Williams-Sonoma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams-Sonoma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette were joined by Attorney General Alan Wilson, Congresswoman Nancy Mace and members of the General Assembly for a ceremonial bill signing of S. 142, which creates the crime of child luring and strengthens protections for human trafficking victims across South Carolina. "Protecting our children and victims of human trafficking is essential to building safe communities and allowing our state to continue to thrive," said McMaster. "By enacting this legislation, we are not only defending our people but equipping our prosecutors and law enforcement with additional tools to ensure criminals are held accountable." The criminal offense of child luring applies to adults who lure, entice, or attempt to lure a child with the intent to harm them. This carries a felony penalty of no more than $10,000, a sentence of no more than ten years, or both. The act also expands the definition of sex trafficking to include the sexual exploitation of minors as well as participation in the prostitution of a minor. Victims of human trafficking may now motion the court to expunge a non-violent offense stemming from trafficking if they were forced to commit the crime by their captor. Further, the bill adds that a person under the age of eighteen who is a victim of human trafficking may not be prosecuted for prostitution or any other non-violent misdemeanor or class F felony. "We need to prevent victims from being prosecuted for crimes they committed because they were entangled in the human trafficking ring," said Wilson. "I am so grateful we brought in safe harbor to protect victims of human trafficking." Additionally, the bill establishes an address confidentiality program through the Attorney General's Office that allows domestic violence victims and others to use a designated address to conceal their place of residence from their abusers. Get TheTandD.com for $1 Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com. View our latest offer at TheTandD.com/subscribe "This bill is an important step forward in protecting the innocent and making it easier for them to come forward," said Sen. Katrina Shealy. "Together, each part of this act will work to build a stronger body of armor for children and victims in South Carolina." Further, it addresses sentencing issues related to kidnapping and murder. It removes a provision in the existing criminal code that impeded independent sentencing for kidnapping if the offender was also sentenced for murder. This change ensures that, even if a murder conviction is overturned, the individual can still face punishment for a separate kidnapping offense. Police in Romania raided the homes of controversial internet personality Andrew Tate as part of an investigation into new allegations against him. They include sex with and trafficking in underage persons, along with money laundering and intimidating witnesses, according to the BBC. The special prosecution service of the Romanian Organized Crime Directorate (DIICOT) announced in a statement that authorities searched four of Tate's houses in the capital, Bucharest, and in Ilfov County on Wednesday morning. In response, Tate took to his X account to post: "The Matrix is real. And they have a tried-and-true playbook. Slander is their number one tool, and the process is the punishment. But unfortunately for them, Good always wins in the end." The Matrix is real. And they have a tried and true playbook. Slander is their number one tool and the process is the punishment. But unfortunately for them, Good always wins in the end. pic.twitter.com/UrjhTjlxMh Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) August 21, 2024 Tate is a self-declared misogynist and was previously banned from social media platforms for his misogynistic views. Both Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, who also faces the same charges, have large followings on social media. The brothers are accused of exploiting women through an adult content business, which prosecutors allege operated as a criminal group. They were initially detained in Romania in December 2022 and released from house arrest in August 2023. (TBTCO) - FTSE Russell duy tri Viet Nam trong Danh sach Cho xet nang hang trong ot cap nhat anh gia hang nam thang 9/2024. Cung voi viec ghi nhan no luc va ho tro lien tuc cua Chinh phu, co quan quan ly oi voi cac cai cach cua thi truong, To chuc nay anh gia tich cuc ve cac giai phap cua Viet Nam, trong o bao gom mo hinh thanh toan Khong yeu cau co u tien (NonPrefunding) uoc quy inh tai Thong tu 68/2024/TT-BTC va nhieu quy inh khach uoc cap nhat trong Thong tu nay. 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). Arabian Mills for Food Products Company has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) of 30% of the firms issued share capital and list its ordinary shares on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul). On June 24, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) approved the companys application for registering its shares and the offering of 15.39 million shares by way of a sale of existing shares by Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan Sons for Trading and Real Estate Investment Company Ajlan & Bros (Ajlan & Bros), Sulaiman Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi International Company, and The National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC). The final offer price of the offer shares will be determined at the end of the book-building period. Ajlan Alajlan, Chairman, Arabian Mills, said: Today we are one of the leading wheat and feed milling companies in Saudi Arabia. Our commitment to quality and excellence is resolute, enabling us to serve the Saudi communitys daily nutrition needs while contributing to the kingdoms food security agenda. Platform to invest and expand The decision to go public is a natural next step for Arabian Mills. It will provide us with the platform to invest and expand our production capacities and capabilities, and expand our product portfolio to meet the growing demand from KSAs growing F&B and agribusiness while furthering our ambitions to embed sustainable practices at every step of the milling and distribution process. With the support of new shareholders, we aim to take Arabian Mills to new heights, driving growth and creating long-term value for all stakeholders. Rohit Chugh, Chief Executive Officer, Arabian Mills, added: The decision to go public is a decisive one toward accelerating our growth trajectory. Since our privatisation in 2021, we have significantly scaled the business, increased profitability margins, and strengthened our market share. This was only made possible thanks to the efforts of our teams and the backing of our shareholders. Looking ahead, the growing market for flour, feed, and bran in the kingdom presents compelling opportunities, and we are well-positioned to capitalise on robust demand through continuous innovation and quality enhancements. Our focused strategy will deliver value and further our growth ambitions. We have a robust product pipeline, which includes the launch of new SKUs and variations tailored to meet diverse consumer needs and preferences, supported by an effective marketing and sales strategy. We are also expanding our presence in the kingdom by opening distribution centers in strategic locations to ensure we reach more customers more efficiently. To support our expansion plans, we are constantly enhancing our operations to optimise utilisation, minimise downtime and enhance our margins. Higher standards By going public, we are also committing to higher standards of transparency and corporate governance, which we believe will ultimately benefit our shareholders and other stakeholders alike. This IPO is a catalyst for Arabian Mills to achieve sustainable, long-term growth and to continue our purpose of driving milling excellence and delivering nutrition. With respect to the offering, the company has appointed HSBC Saudi Arabia as Financial Advisor, Global Coordinator, Bookrunner, Underwriter, and Lead Manager. Alrajhi Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) and Banque Saudi Fransi have been appointed as receiving agents for retail investors.--TradeArabia News Service Dubai Investment Real Estate (DIR), a leading real estate developer in the UAE, has announced that it has joined hands with Al Mujama, a leading owners association in the UAE, Yellow Door Energy (YDE), a leading sustainable energy provider for businesses in the Middle and Africa, and Clyde Engineering, for the successful launch of a 1.2 megawatt-peak solar power system. DIR, the real estate arm of Dubai Investments, a leading investment company listed on the Dubai Financial Market, said the solar power system is spread across nine residential buildings in the premier residential community of Ritaj, located in Dubai Investments Park. Over 2,000 solar panels have been installed on the roofs of the buildings, producing 1.9 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity in the first year of operation, meeting 30% of the buildings energy consumption needs. This is equivalent to reducing carbon emission by 756,000 kilogrammes per year. The project, which is in line with the UAEs Net Zero by 2050 Target and 2050 Clean Energy Strategy, operates under a solar lease, whereby significant cost savings are realized for Al Mujama without expending its own capital investment. Mohammed Bin Hammad, Senior Director of Jointly owned Properties at Dubai Land Department, said: "This project aligns with our strategic vision of promoting innovation in the real estate sector, reflecting the foresight of our wise leadership. By utilising the suns energy to meet a significant portion of the needs in the Ritaj residential community, this collaboration between the public and private sectors highlights the importance of joint efforts in achieving sustainability goals and demonstrates how such partnerships can drive impactful change." "These advanced solutions support the UAEs Net Zero by 2050 target and the 2050 Clean Energy Strategy, showcasing our commitment to a more resilient future. We commend all partners for their dedication to environmental stewardship and look forward to more initiatives that contribute to the progress of our real estate sector," he stated. DIR General Manager Obaid Salami said: "Al Mujama is honored to play a key role in advancing the UAEs sustainable future with the implementation of the solar power system. This initiative not only highlights the Companys unwavering commitment to sustainability but also delivers significant cost savings for the residents by reducing energy consumption." "It sets a new standard for Jointly owned Properties in driving impactful, eco-friendly change. By generating clean energy, we are fostering a greener, more affordable living environment that benefits communities today and secures a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come," noted Salami. "Al Mujama is dedicated to leading the way in environmental stewardship and innovation, and we look forward to continuing to set new benchmarks in sustainable residential living," he added. Mansoor Serkal, the General Manager of Al Mujama, said: "We are striving to ensure all our communities are operated in the most cost effective and energy efficient manner to provide best possible value to the owners. We have been working hard with our solar developer Yellow Door Energy and our energy consultant Clyde Engineering." "To-date, we have already produced savings of over 18% on our community energy costs. We are dedicated to protecting our environment and are proud to have 30% of our energy needs at Ritaj provided by solar power," he stated. Yellow Door Energy Group CEO Jeremy Crane said: "We are honoured to partner with Dubai Investment Real Estate and Al Mujama on this solar lease, marking a significant stride in advancing sustainability efforts in the UAE. This milestone is proudly added to our rapidly growing portfolio of successful projects in the UAE and internationally, where we have been awarded 240 megawatts of solar projects." "As the leading solar developer in the Middle East and Africa, we are excited to empower businesses to transition to clean energy, lower their electricity costs and actively contribute to the UAEs Net Zero by 2050 Initiative," he added. Philip Mills, the CEO of Clyde Engineering, said this project will provide a major improvement in the carbon footprint at the Ritaj Community. "This project was implemented with guaranteed solar production and zero capital expenditure from the client. Therefore, it is both a win for the environment and for the owners in Ritaj," he stated. The inauguration of the solar power plant marks a significant milestone in the journey towards sustainable development and energy efficiency in the UAE's real estate sector in alignment with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 target. The collaboration integrates technological innovation and environmental stewardship to set a precedent for incorporating renewable energy solutions in residential communities and pave the way for more sustainable projects, he added. Bahrain's Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced key regulatory changes aimed at enhancing housing services for Bahraini citizens. One of them is the scrapping of the condition that disqualifies wives who have inherited property from accessing housing services, reported BNA citing the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning. The ministry will now only review income criteria at the time of issuing nomination certificates, rather than during the allocation process, ensuring that housing applications remain unaffected by changes in financial status or inherited assets, stated Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi. She pointed out that the ministry had begun implementing these new standards, which were developed in close co-ordination with both legislative and executive authorities. These changes reflect feedback from citizens received through various channels, including the national suggestions and complaints system 'Tawasul.' The minister also lauded the Cabinet for its recent approval to streamline the process for obtaining nomination certificates for ownership services. This includes a crucial amendment that simplifies eligibility criteria, particularly for widows and divorced individuals with minor children, by removing age-related conditions for children listed in housing applications. Al Rumaihi also announced a key update to the nomination process for housing, particularly benefiting widows and divorced individuals with minor children, said the BNA report. "The new regulation ensures that if an applicant from this group is granted a nomination certificate, the application will not be affected by the children reaching the age of 21. This change is part of the ministrys ongoing efforts to prioritise housing for those in need," she explained. These amendments to the housing regulations are designed to better serve Bahraini families and address the diverse needs of the community, stated the minister, adding that this affirmed its commitment to continuously improve housing services in response to citizen feedback and legislative input. GS Inima, a global leader in the water sector, said it has successfully completed the acceptance tests of the final phase of the Barka V desalination plant in Oman and is now delivering water to Nama Power & Water Procurement Company, the single procurer of power and water capacity and output in the Sultanate of Oman. Positioned as one of the groups with the largest volume of plants in terms of concessions and with the longest history in reverse osmosis desalination, GS Inima had played a major role in the project as EPC contractor. In this key role, the Spanish utility major was responsible for the construction and commissioning of the desalination plant as well as the technological leadership, in charge of the engineering, procurement, construction supervision and commissioning of the project for the pre-treatment, reverse osmosis process and post-treatment of the plant. Barka V achieved 100% availability, including the last Performance Test Total Contracted Water Capacity for 105,000 cu m/day. The reliability testing involved the plant operating at its full capacity, producing 100,000 cu m per day of quality drinking water for 30 days. Barka V was one of the largest infrastructure projects recently undertaken in the Sultanate of Oman, whose construction started in March 2022 and ended in June 2024. The project, which uses reverse osmosis technology will cater to the needs of 800,000 residents in Muscat, Dakhiliyah and Batinah areas, the most populated zones of the country. According to GS Inima, the Barka V plant also achieved an important health and safety milestone, having overseen 3 million work hours without lost time incidents (LTI), and the maintenance of excellent safety conditions throughout the project. With completion of the project in 26 months, Barka V has also set a construction record in the desalination industry in Sultanate of Oman. Nama Power and Water Procurement Acting CEO Ahmed bin Salem bin Mohammed Al Abri said: "The commencement of commercial operations at Barka V underscores PWPs commitment to meeting the growing demand for potable water. This milestone reflects our continuous efforts to implement new projects that ensure water security and provide potable water in the Sultanate of Oman." "By expanding the production of energy and desalinated water at the best economic cost, we aim to fulfill our mission of delivering sustainable solutions for our community," he stated. GS Inima pointed out that this achievement reaffirms its capacity to undertake and successfully complete projects of high technical complexity, providing an optimum response to the clients requirements while achieving the highest levels of occupational risk prevention and safety standards. Within the region, the Spanish utility major is also in charge of the construction and operation and maintenance of Ghubrah III the largest desalination plant in the Sultanate of Oman currently under the construction phase. "We are proud to have reached this milestone on time which is the result of the strong collaborative and successful teamwork between our partners, engineers, the constructions team and Nama," remarked its CEO Marta Verde. "Leveraging from our global expertise, we are now focused on to keep up the good work, fully committed to working with all industry partners in Oman to continue to meet their growing water and energy demands," she added.-TradeArabia News Service Business solutions provider Transguard Group has announced it is seeking 1,000 motor bike riders to join its workforce. This is an exciting opportunity for experienced food delivery drivers to join one of the most trusted companies in the UAE, said Allan McLean, Head, Transport, Transguard Group. To be considered, applicants must have a UAE driving license issued in or before February 2024. Benefits include a fixed monthly salary, tips, a company-provided motor bike, mobile phone, SIM card, accommodation, medical insurance, an annual flight ticket and 30 days paid leave. Transguard will also reimburse fuel expenses up to AED300 ($81.7). Open Days Starting August 19, 2024, applicants are invited to attend one of Transguards Open Days at its Jebel Ali 6 and Sonapur 11 accommodations, Monday to Thursday, 8am to 1pm. This is Transguards second major recruitment announcement of 2024. In May, the business solutions provider announced a series or Open Days at Emirates Headquarters for chauffeur drivers.--TradeArabia News Service Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), a world-leading aluminium smelter, has joined hqnds with Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre (NAIRDC), the research and development arm of the Nasser Vocational Training Centre (NVTC), to deliver a comprehensive three-day Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Industry 4.0 course for 35 of its employees. The course, which concludes tomorrow (August 22), covers various aspects of AI, including modern applications, future trends, and fundamentals of generative AI and prompt engineering. "Artificial Intelligence is a dynamic force revolutionising industries and societies," remarked Albas Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali after visiting the students today at the companys Oasis Hall along with Dr Jassim Haji, Executive Advisor for AI and Data Science, NAIRDC and representatives from both organisations. "This cutting-edge course is pivotal to our Industry 4.0 journey and our dedication to cultivating a future-ready workforce. By empowering our team with AI expertise, well streamline operations, drive innovation, and achieve unprecedented excellence." he noted. "Were also pleased to partner with NAIRDC, a leading institute in Artificial Intelligence in Bahrain, to elevate our employees AI acumen," he added. NAIRDC Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulla bin Naser Al Noaimi said: "We commend Alba for their commitment to technological innovation. Together, we are working to implement high-quality initiatives that leverage cognitive integration with modern technology and artificial intelligence." Highlighting the pivotal role of AI in driving transformation in the industrial sector and various processes across organizations in the near future, Al Noaimi said: "This collaboration with Alba is not the first of its kind and expressed pride in NAIRDC's leadership in AI at both local and regional levels." He also emphasized the importance of continued joint efforts with all entities to accelerate digital transformation and the adoption of AI applications in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service The National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) has successfully implemented SAP Signavio, leveraging the technology to advance the company's digital transformation strategy. The initiative is aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and aims to enhance the efficiency of NADECs services, supporting diversification of its products and enabling it to enter new sectors in the food industry. It will also support expansion into local, regional, and global markets while improving customer satisfaction and product quality. Supported by the SAP Customer Success programme, NADEC achieved the deployment within just five days, and customers, staff and partners are already benefitting from the results. In total, 51 business processes have been transformed, including finance, procurement, warehousing, production, quality control, sales, transportation, and plant maintenance. Operational excellence Saad Saud Alhowaimel, NADEC, Vice President - Digital & Technology, said: Achieving operational excellence is fundamental to NADECs goal of supporting a diversified economy and contributing to regional and global food security strategies. Through the SAP Signavio business transformation project, we have integrated and streamlined our business processes, automated tasks and gained greater visibility, insight and control over our diverse operations. This empowers our employees deliver exceptional service for our customers and partners across KSA, GCC, and the wider Middle East region. The NADEC SAP Signavio project was so successful that it outperformed competitors across global industries to win the category of Best Achievement in a Business Process Management Program at this years prestigious Business Transformation & Operational Excellence Awards held in the US. The goal of the transformation project was to create a single source of information to evaluate where NADEC could best integrate its business processes to acquire real-time system data on business transactions and inventory visibility across different verticals. Implemented solutions include SAP Signavio Process Insights, SAP Signavio Process Manager, and SAP Signavio Process Collaboration Hub, all of which were integrated with SAP S/4HANA, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. The integration resulted in a precise and comprehensive roadmap for business process improvements and strategies. A total of 116 recommendations were implemented across the 51 business processes analysed. These led to significant results including a 37% reduction in average transactional time and near-perfect accuracy across product costing. Ideal solution Omar Bukhari, Head of Consumer Retail Services, SAP Saudi Arabia, commented: SAP Signavio is an end-to-end business process transformation platform that enables enterprises to quickly understand, benchmark, improve, transform and manage their business processes rapidly and at scale. This makes it an ideal solution to support NADECs focus on operational excellence and growth. The NADEC teams forward-thinking approach and readiness to collaborate inspired our Customer Success department, and the resulting solution will enable the continued agility and high performance needed to propel NADECs expansion and long-term success. Eman Goubran, Head of Sales EMEA South, SAP Signavio, commented: SAP SIgnavio was selected for the project for multiple reasons including the ease of integrating the system with existing SAP solutions; the effortless creation of models, simulations and flow charts; the fact that the Signavio Process Collaboration Hub enables NADEC employees to share knowledge seamlessly; and the specialized expertise and support provided by the SAP Customer Success program. The SAP Signavio project is part of a wider digital transformation and modernisation strategy to support NADECs expansion into new and varied markets. Last year, NADEC launched an ambitious strategy as part of its plans for transformation in the coming years, aiming to achieve a significant shift in the food industry and actively contribute to the policy of self-sufficiency and food security in Saudi Arabia, based on three key criteria: sustainability, growth and health. NADECs strategy primarily focuses on developing food projects based on quality and sustainability, achieving operational excellence, localising modern food industry technologies and methods, and training and developing national talents and skills, with the goal of contributing to self-sufficiency in line with Vision 2030 for food security.--TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Network (BNET), the national broadband service provider of Bahrain, has launched BNET E-Sourcing, a digital platform designed to manage supply chain and supplier relations. The platform was developed in partnership with SAP, a global leader in e-commerce, procurement and supply chain management solutions, and SEIDOR, an IT services and consulting company, alongside the efforts of a dedicated team from BNET's Procurement and Logistics Department. The BNET E-Sourcing platform utilises advanced features to incorporate supplier selection features, facilitate negotiation, tendering and contract management processes. Procurement efficiency The platform aligns with BNET's ongoing commitment to enhancing procurement efficiency and driving operational excellence to enhance collaborative opportunities between partners and suppliers. Training sessions were conducted with BNETs Procurement and Logistics Department to streamline the launch of the platform and ensure a smooth transition. As part of the adoption phase, further training sessions with all relevant stakeholders will be arranged. Additionally, video guides and step-by-step guidelines are available to ensure a smooth transition and full understanding of the platform's functionalities. Laalea Rostom, Director of Procurement and Logistics at BNET, said: "The platform has made our vision of strengthening relations between all stakeholders a reality. Driven by our innovation and collaborative spirit, the platform is set to play a crucial role in delivering a seamless customer experience. We would also like to extend our gratitude to our partners for developing this platform, and for their expertise and support in making this launch a success." Tariq Laham, Head of Enterprise Business at SEIDOR, commented: "This will create a positive impact and digital revolution in the procurement and logistics space. We will continuously develop this platform to meet the digital aspirations of today's business markets." Sauquib Ahmed, Managing Director of SAP in Bahrain, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, said: "We look forward to contributing to unlocking BNETs full potential, in addition to supporting the achievement of their visions and aspirations. We have both laid the foundation for an exceptional digital platform, establishing opportunities for seamless and streamlined automation, and more efficient and reliable operations."--TradeArabia News Service A pair of missing scissors forced the shutdown of one of Japan's busiest airports. The scissors had been used at a store in the departure area of a domestic flight and caused an hours-long security search at the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. Due to heightened concerns over the potential threat that the missing scissors could be used as a weapon on board a flight, 36 flights were canceled on Saturday, and another 201 were delayed amid the search, according to CNN. "We are aware that the incident occurred due to the lack of proper usage, storage, and management systems by the store users," New Chitose Airport's operators said in a statement. The airport handles approximately 15 million passengers a year. It was especially busy due to travelers returning home from a Japanese holiday, NDTV reported. Japanese rock band 9mm Parabellum Bullet was among the affected by passengers and the band missed its performance at the Rising Sun music festival in Hokkaido. "We will definitely get our revenge!!" the band said in a statement posted on the event's website. Several travelers also took to social media to voice their frustrations. "I feel like crying because my flight was canceled due to someone losing a pair of scissors," one user wrote on X. "Because of this incident, the flight I was supposed to take was canceled, and now my reunion with my family, which I was looking forward to, has been shortened. It's a major disappointment," said another. The scissors were eventually located, and flights resumed. "We will investigate this incident, determine its cause, and prevent its recurrence. We will also reaffirm that this incident could relate to hijacking and terrorist attacks, and we will ensure that all airport personnel are fully aware of the importance of management," the airport operators stated. CNTXT, a leading cloud and digital transformation firm, has announced an expanded partnership with Google Cloud to introduce a new premium cybersecurity offering to the Saudi market -- Sovereign Controls by CNTXT. The new offering is designed to support the digital transformation journeys of organisations operating in the region who must meet strict data sovereignty, regulatory and security requirements. With this offering, CNTXT, a reseller of Google Cloud Platform services for Saudi-based customers, helps local organisations meet digital sovereignty requirements by delivering a managed External Key Management (EKM) with Key Access Justifications (KAJ) service, as well as localised support. EKM with KAJ encrypts customer data at rest with keys stored outside of Google Clouds infrastructure. Designed to protect This offering also requires detailed justifications each time access to keys is required, offering customers the ability to deny access for any reason, including extraterritorial data requests. This innovative solution is designed to protect highly sensitive workloads that would typically remain on-premise, providing an additional layer of control for organisations moving to the cloud The EKM solution is offered in Saudi Arabia by SITE, as an integral part of the DATA SHIELD powered by Fortanix product and Google Clouds Cloud External Key Manager service. SITE provides innovative, reliable Digital and Cybersecurity services and solutions, and develop future technologies to address needs, aspirations, and threats, while fostering an entrepreneurship ecosystem and developing a highly talented pool of Saudi human capital. This integration allows organisations to move their data to the cloud while maintaining the same level of security for keys that they are accustomed to in their own on-premises environments. DATA SHIELD powered by Fortanix enables users to create, store, and manage encryption keys outside of the Google Cloud environment. This ensures that encryption keys are always under customer control and stored inside a FIPS 140-2 level 3 certified HSM, away from the cloud. With the click of a button, organisations can enable or disable access to their data from specific instances and locations in real-time, ensuring the highest level of security for their data. "We are thrilled to bring Cloud External Key Manager to Saudi Arabia, offering organisations the ability to securely move their most sensitive workloads to the cloud," said Abdullah Jarwan, CEO at CNTXT. "With the integration of SITEs DATA SHIELD powered by Fortanix EKM, organisations can trust that their data is protected by the highest standards of security and encryption." Secure migration Majed Alamri, Chief Business Solutions Officer at SITE, said: "We are excited to introduce the External Key Manager to Saudi Arabia, empowering organisations to securely migrate their most sensitive workloads to the cloud. With the integration of SITEs DATA SHIELD powered by Fortanix EKM, clients can be assured that their data is protected by the highest standards of security and encryption." Bader Almadi, Google Cloud country manager for Saudi Arabia, said: Google Cloud is committed to working with local trusted partners to help our customers meet digital sovereignty requirements. We are proud to offer Sovereign Controls by CNTXT to help Saudi-based organisations meet more stringent data sovereignty requirements. This offering thats provided through Assured Workloads, and built on Google Cloud's Class C-certified infrastructure offers customers the ability to deny access to their data for any reason, empowering organisations across the Kingdom to accelerate their digital transformation journeys while helping to meet regulatory requirements and maintaining more control over their data.--TradeArabia News Service Nokia has partnered with Axiom Space to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits that will be used for the Artemis III lunar mission. Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometres on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface. Vital bridge Russell Ralston, Axiom Space executive vice president of extravehicular activity, said: Axiom Space is excited to work with Nokia to build on the advanced capabilities of our next-generation spacesuit. Adding high-speed 4G/LTE network capability on the Moon will serve as a vital bridge linking astronauts to Earth, facilitating crucial data exchange, and enabling high-definition video communication over long distances. Nokia plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in 2024. During that mission, Nokia aims to demonstrate that cellular connectivity can facilitate crucial communications during future lunar or Mars missions. Nokias Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), pioneered by Nokia Bell Labs research and innovation, will be deployed during IM-2 and will be further adapted for use in the AxEMU spacesuit. Thierry E Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, said: Just as astronauts will need life support, shelter and food, they will need advanced networks to communicate with each other and go about their crucial work. Bell Labs has a long history of working on space projects, and Nokia is a leader in designing and building networks that connect the world. We are taking advantage of the same standards-based technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth every day, while bringing new innovation and technologies to bear on the specific challenges encountered in space." Fully autonomous LSCS The fully autonomous LSCS has two components: a network-in-a-box combines the radio, base station and core network elements of a terrestrial cellular network into a single unit, and device modules that will be integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits. Both the network and device modules have been carefully engineered to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the lunar surface and the dynamic stress of spaceflight, and have been optimised for size, weight and power consumption. Axiom Spaces spacesuits will provide astronauts with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing NASA with commercially developed human systems needed to access, live, and work on and around the Moon. Axiom Spaces development of these next-generation spacesuits and Nokias lunar surface communications innovations are significant advancements toward furthering American leadership in space exploration, enabling a deeper understanding of the Moon, the solar system and beyond.--TradeArabia News Service The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) has opened nominations for the 2025 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Prize for Impactful Achievement in Islamic Economics aimed at recognising and rewarding successful projects that address significant development challenges in IsDB member countries, a report said. The IsDBI indicated that the prize is valued at $100,000 for the first-place winner, while the second and third-place winners will receive $70,000 and $30,000, respectively. It also noted that eligible contributions must have been made within the past seven years and should be replicable in other locations, Saudi Press Agency, SPA, said. The 2025 IsDB Prize focuses on the "Development Solutions Achievement" category. The winner and runner-up will be honoured at a ceremony during the IsDB Group's 2025 annual meetings, scheduled to be held in Algeria. Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of the Emirate's five airports, has announced the recent launch of three direct routes by Indian airline IndiGo, a report said. These new routes will connect Zayed International Airport to Mangaluru, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore in India, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said. This expansion further strengthens the connectivity between Abu Dhabi and key destinations across India, bringing the number of IndiGo-operated routes to 13. Nathalie Jongma, Vice President of Aviation Development at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "We are extremely encouraged by this announcement as it reflects the vibrancy of our respective hubs. This expansion is about much more than just adding flights - it is about creating accessible links for families and friends, opening new pathways for businesses, and building on our successful partnership with Indigo." Sanjeev Ramdas, Executive Vice President Airport Operations and Customer Services at IndiGo, said: "This expansion strengthens our presence in the region and underlines the vital role Abu Dhabi plays as a hub for our travellers." The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued the classification index for air transport service providers and airports in Saudi Arabia to inform passengers about their performance and help them make informed choices. The assessment is based on the number of complaints filed with GACA by travellers, reported SPA. According to GACA, 1422 complaints were filed by travellers on Saudi air carriers in July and of these the national flag-carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) had the least number of complaints (25 per 100,000 travellers) and a complaint resolution rate of 100%. Low-cost carrier Flynas came in second, with 27 complaints per 100,000 travellers and a resolution rate of 100% folwowed by Flyadeal with 34 complaints per 100,000 travellers and a resolution rate of 99%, said the GACA report. The most common complaints in July were about luggage, flights, and tickets, it added. According to the report, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had a remarkably low complaint rate of 0.4% per 100,000 passengers and a 100% complaint resolution rate, despite serving over 6 million annual passengers. With less than 6 million annual passengers, Hail International Airport had a complaint rate of 1% per 100,000 passengers and a 100% complaint resolution rate. Bisha Airport had the lowest complaints among domestic airports, with a complaint rate of 3% per 100,000 passengers and a 100% complaint resolution rate. These low complaint rates testify to the high quality of service these airports provide, stated the report. GACA reiterated that the monthly classification report aims to help passengers make informed choices, promote transparency, demonstrate its credibility and keenness to deal with travellers' complaints, stimulate fair competition, and develop and improve services. Senior civil avitaion officials said multiple communication channels including social media accounts are available around the clock to facilitate interaction with travellers and airport visitors. Through these channels, the authority receives complaints concerning boarding passes, employee behavior, and services for persons with disabilities and limited mobility, reorted SPA citing the officials. In support of its partnering airports, GACA prepared a booklet containing guidelines on handling traveller complaints. The booklet, which was circulated among airport operators, sets out service agreements and the rules for all types of complaints and inquiries. The authority also trains, through regularly held workshops, employees of national airlines and ground service companies that deal directly with travellers on how to comply with passenger protection regulations, it added. Casper voters have narrowed the field of hopeful city councilors. Ward I There are two seats open in Ward I and Pat Sweeney, Amber Pollock, Ken Dockweiler and Julie Collins-Thiel made it through the primary election. Pollock was born and raised in Casper and went to the University of Wyoming. She is a local business owner and was previously involved with ENGAGE, a state group focused on attracting young people to stay and get involved in their communities, the Star-Tribune previously reported. Sweeney is a longtime public servant who previously served in the state legislature and city council. He still wants to be involved, he told attendees at a Politics in the Park event in June. Julie Collins-Thiel has called herself a born-and-raised, third-generation Wyomingite who served on former governor Matt Meads Wyoming Senior Services Board and currently is on the Casper Housing Authority Board. Ken Dockweiler has lived in Casper for around 25 years with his family and believes a citys key responsibilities are infrastructure and public safety, he has said. Im very honored, and would very much like to continue to serve the people of Casper, Sweeney said on Tuesday night. I still have some work to do between now and the general election, but really thankful for everybody who did come out and give me a vote today, Pollock also said on Tuesday night. Im looking forward to the opportunity to continue to serve people of Ward I. I am thrilled to still be on the ballot for the general election, and I see that I have my work cut out for me, Collins-Thiel said in a voicemail. But I am going to work very, very diligently and hopefully will be successful in my bid for office. Im looking forward to this next phase of the campaign and getting out to meet more of the voters in Ward 1, Dockweiler said over text on Wednesday morning. Heres how they fared percentage-wise: Amber Pollock (incumbent), 25.87%; Dawn Madrid, 6.74%; Julie Collins-Thiel, 14.36%; Ken Dockweiler, 16.28%; Kianna Smith, 7.32%; and Pat Sweeney, 29.04%. Ward II There are two seats open on Ward II and they will be contested in the general election in November by Lisa Engebretsen, Kyle Gamroth, Matthew Larson and Ross Schriftman. Gamroth currently serves as a councilor representing Ward II. He is running again, he has shared, out of a dedication to Casper and his constituents and listed communication and transparency as key values for himself. Engebretsen is currently the vice mayor. She has her own realty company. Schriftman has said he chose Casper to live out the rest of his life after moving out of Pennsylvania. Issues he will focus on include public safety, infrastructure, roads, water, sewer and open spaces like parks, he has said. Larson wrote in the Star-Tribunes voters guide that he is a professional geologist for a local oil company. I am Casper born and raised, a U.S. Navy veteran and University of Wyoming graduate. I have a strong understanding of the issues most important to the people of Casper. Gamroth wrote in a text to the Star-Tribune on Tuesday night that he is thankful for the support and consider it a privilege to be able to serve my community on council ... Any resident, from my ward or not, is welcome to reach out if they ever have any questions or concerns. Larson wrote in a text to the Star-Tribune on Wednesday morning: All I would like to say is congratulations to the successful candidates and good luck in the general. Heres how they fared percentage-wise: Bill Brockley, Jr., 5.41%; Gabriel Tullis, 4.71%; Kyle Gamroth (incumbent), 28.25%; Lisa Engebretsen (incumbent), 22.96%; Matthew Larson, 20.06%; and Ross Schriftman, 18.10%. Ward III Michael McIntosh and Marcia Neumiller made it through for the lone open seat in Ward III. They were the only two candidates running for that seat in the primary. McIntosh is running for council out of a desire to communicate as clearly and comprehensively as possible with the community, he said at a Politics in the Park event in June. He was appointed to serve on council for about four months in 2022, and he feels that interlude gives him a boost to run again. Marcia Neumiller introduced herself at a Politics in the Park event earlier this summer as a longtime Casperite who is raising a family. Her children and stepchildren, she said, motivate her to want to keep Casper as lovely as possible for future generations. In a text on Wednesday morning, McIntosh said I am excited to be able to move forward to the general election and look forward to letting the people of Ward 3 learn more about me so they can make a good choice in November. Neumiller also commented through text, saying The only thing I can say is that I have my work cut out for me. ... There are numerous issues that need to be discussed and opinions that need to be voiced. I want to be accessible to every voter in Ward 3 so I will be out meeting my neighbors and talking about their concerns. Heres how they fared percentage-wise: Marcia Neumiller, 48.36% and Michael McIntosh, 50.75%. Voters around Wyoming on Tuesday cast their ballots to see who they would like to see in office next year. In Natrona County, all nine House representatives were up for reelection while only three senate seats were up. Wyoming voters also voted whether they wanted to see a change in representation in Washington D.C., which Rep. Harriet Hageman and Sen. John Barrasso facing reelection. U.S. House Harriet Hageman, a Republican, and Kyle Cameron, a Democrat, have won their primaries for the United States House of Representatives seat representing Wyoming. The Republican race was called just after 8 p.m. despite only about one fifth of the vote being counted. Hageman is well positioned to win the seat again after she unseated Liz Cheney in the 2022 midterm election. Hagemans team did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the win. The Democratic race was called early as Cameron was the only Democrat running for the seat. U.S. Senate John Barrasso, a Republican, and Scott Morrow, a Democrat, have both won their respective primaries for the United States Senate seat for Wyoming. Barrasso faced two opponents in his primary: John Holtz, from Laramie, and Reid Rasner, a Mills resident. Barrasso has held the Wyoming Senate seat since 2007. Prior to this, he was a state senator for Wyoming. Thank you, Wyoming! I am grateful for your overwhelming vote of confidence. I will continue to fight for every vote this November. Together, we can restore a Republican majority in Washington and secure a better future for hard-working Wyoming families, Barrasso said in a statement to the media. The Associated Press called the race at 8:01 p.m. with only 18% of the votes having been submitted. Scott Morrow ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat. Statehouse A fight over control for the House of Representatives unfolded in the 2024 primary election. The fight for control over the Wyoming House of Representatives intensified through the 2024 primary election as it became clear that the far-right Wyoming Freedom Caucus needed to gain just six seats to hold an outright majority in the legislative body. Many more moderate Republicans in the statehouse have lost ground to further-right conservatives over the past couple of elections, and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has gained ground in the Legislature. During the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, the group had the ability to stop any bill from being introduced because all bills require a two-thirds vote to be introduced. The groups did not have the power to pass legislation as it would need 32 seats in the House to gain a simple majority but the caucus has been gaining steam. Several races in Casper were part of the proving grounds for a return to moderate conservatism or a push farther to the right. House Districts 35 and 57 saw two Freedom Caucus aligned incumbents being challenged for their seats while House District 38 saw a long-time house member being challenged for his seat by a hard-right candidate. No Democrats filed to run for any state Senate or House seat in Natrona County. Natrona County was among the last counties to report. HD 35 Rep. Tony Locke defeated political newcomer Chris Dresang. Locke will retain the seat he first won in 2022 and although not officially a member of the Freedom Caucus, his legislative votes closely align with the organization. Locke was one of numerous Wyoming Freedom Caucus endorsements for the Wyoming House of Representatives. Common sense, conservative values is where House District 35 stands and Im blessed to be a part of it, Locke said following his win. Dresang, a Natrona County District school administrator, began his campaign against Locke in March and sought a more moderate approach. HD 36 Art Washut, the Republican incumbent, ran unopposed for the House District 36 seat. Washut did not immediately respond to a Star-Tribune request for comment. HD 37 House District 37 will go to Republican Steve Harshman as he ran unopposed for the position. Harshman has held the seat since 2003. Harshman told the Star-Tribune he is working on numerous bills for the legislature, including the gravel pit issue. Ill continue to put Wyoming first and work to move our beautiful state forward and thats what we have to keep doing and handing it off to the next generation, Harshman said. HD 38 Jayme Lien defeated senior lawmaker Rep. Tom Walters. Walters, a moderate republican, has served in the Legislature since 2013 and has served on the House Appropriations committee since 2017. His appointment to the committee that manages and balances the states budget marks his seniority in the legislature. Lien won the endorsement of strongly conservative groups including the Freedom Caucus. I think that [House District 38 residents are] ready for somebody that will listen to them and somebody that is in favor of property tax reform, less spending and pro life votes, Lien said following her win. Good Lord willing, this would be the outcome, and Im grateful to him for everything, and I couldnt have done this without the support of the people. HD 56 Elissa Campbell beat out two other candidates for the House District 56 seat. The race did not see an incumbent in the race for the seat as outgoing moderate Rep. Jerry Obermueller chose not to not seek reelection. Campbell won out over Pete Fox and Pamela Mertens. I know theres going to be a pretty steep learning curve, but Im really excited, Campbell told the Star-Tribune following her win. Campbell gathered the endorsements of Speaker of the House Albert Sommers and Senate President Ogden Driskill. Fox, a Casper native that believes in limited government and increasing energy production. Mertens, a retired military veteran with a doctorate that has worked in higher education, moved to Wyoming in August, according to media reports. The Freedom Caucus did not endorse any candidate for this race. HD 57 Political newcomer Julie Jarvis beat out notable Freedom Caucus member Jeanette Ward. Jarvis works as an administrator for the Natrona County School District. Im honored and excited at the opportunity to serve my district, and Im hoping to collect as many more surveys as possible, just to truly be able to represent the people, Jarvis said following her win. Ward during the 2024 Legislative Session brought bills that tackled hot button issues. Bills included one that sought to codify the definition of a male, female, boy, girl, mother and father based on their sex determined at birth; and one that sought to prohibit the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization from having any jurisdiction in Wyoming. The win by Jarvis is a departure from the hardline representatives that have come out of House District 57. Ward first won her election to the seat in 2022 and succeeded Chuck Gray, who held the seat from 2017 to 2022. HD 58 Rep. Bill Allemand won reelection to the House District 58 seat. Tom Jones, who has served as General Manager of the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo for decades, challenged Allemand for the seat. Allemand was first elected to the House District 58 seat in 2022 and a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Allemand was unable to provide comment by deadline. HD 59 J.R. Riggins is set to capture House District 59 after Tuesday as he ran unopposed. Riggins will take over the district from Kevin OHearn. OHearn has not released a statement on why he chose to not seek reelection. OHearn originally won his seat in 2020, and he later won reelection in 2022. Riggins did not immediately respond to the Star-Tribunes request for comment. HD 62 Kevin Campbell beat out Edis Allen on Tuesday by only seven votes. Allen is the owner of a Martinizing cleaners franchise and is from Glenrock. Campbell joined the race late, and he only decided to run after the Converse County Republican Convention. House District 62 comprises parts of Natrona and Converse counties. In Converse County, Campbell lost by 89 votes. However, he won in Natrona County by 96. Campbell will replace outgoing Rep. Forrest Chadwick who only served one term. The Freedom Caucus endorsed Kevin Campbell for the seat. Campbell said that he will start as quickly as he can on looking into issues he cares about like EMS service, property taxes and infrastructure. He also said that he hopes residents of his district reach out to him with any concerns they want addressed. SD 2 Brian Boner, a Republican from Douglas, will remain the seat holder of Senate District 2 as no one chose to run against him. Boner first won the seat in 2015. I look forward to getting past election season and focusing on policy decisions that we are going to face as a state, Boner said following his win. Boner added that property taxes and abortion are big issues that will likely be tackled this upcoming session. SD 28 Sen. Jim Anderson squeaked out a win against a Freedom Caucus endorsed candidate with a 30-vote margin. The win feels good, even though it was pretty darn close, Anderson told the Star-Tribune, adding that he felt like an underdog. He had the backing of the Freedom Caucus and the Gun Owners of America, and all those nasty out-of-state PACs that attacked me continuously. I thought maybe he had an upper hand. Anderson explained that the fight between him and the Freedom Caucus wasnt done yet, and that hell push them to be reasonable and negotiate for legislative solutions. The senator says hell work on legislation to encourage more medical professionals to work in Wyoming Specifically, he plans to attack what he sees as a failure of the WWAMI initiative, a program that pairs medical students from rural states with programs elsewhere. The problem is that many Wyoming medical students leave but dont return. Were rapidly losing all of our medical professionals in the state. Im working to keep private practice doctors in the state and bring students back. WWAMI is an acronym for the states served by the UW School of Medicines M.D. and Graduate Medical Education programs: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Bryce Reece, Andersons challenger, was endorsed by some of the most conservative members in the Legislature and has called Anderson a Democrat in mailers sent by his campaign. Anderson has held the seat since 2013. SD 30 Sen. Charles Scott won reelection to the seat he has held since 1983. Scott, a staunch conservative, was challenged by Charles Schoenwolf and Robert Hendry. Charles Schoenwolf previously ran and lost for the same seat in 2020 and Hendry is a former Natrona County Commissioner. Scott did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia's economic and trade links with China are "yielding results" as he welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang to the Kremlin. Moscow has looked to Beijing as an economic lifeline since the Ukraine conflict began, with the two boosting trade to record highs as Russia faces heavy economic sanctions from the West. "Our trade relations are developing successfully... The attention that the two governments on both sides are paying to trade and economic ties is yielding results," Putin said in a meeting with Li. "Our states have worked out large-scale joint plans, projects in economic and humanitarian spheres, we expect for many years ahead," he added. Li told Putin that "Chinese-Russian relations are at an unprecedentedly high level," according to the Kremlin's translation of his remarks, saying Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had created a "strong impulse for further deepening of bilateral relations". In a separate meeting with Li, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin hailed the countries' links as a powerful stabilising factor. "Our partnership and strategic cooperation is especially important in a situation where new contours of the global order are being formed," Mishustin said. "And in these conditions, the Russia-China link is a powerful stabilising factor, promoting economic growth in both countries and increasing quality of life for our citizens," the Russian premier said. Moscow and Beijing both rail against "western hegemony", particularly what they see as US domination of global affairs, and Mishustin on Wednesday said the two countries must "focus efforts on protecting our shared interests". Facing Western sanctions, Russia has pushed to use non-Western currencies as the basis for its trade. "Today the share of the ruble and the yuan in mutual settlements is already over 95 percent," Mishustin said. China presents itself as a neutral party in Russia's offensive on Ukraine and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations. But it is a close political and economic ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war, which it has never condemned. Beijing has also benefited from cheap Russian energy imports and access to vast natural resources, including steady gas shipments through the Power of Siberia pipeline. Li's visit comes as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Poland, set to make his first visit to Ukraine at the end of the week. India, China's regional rival, is also close with Russia, but Modi has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict. THE theme for this years World Sight Day: Love your eyes, kids, is a call to action, says co-founder of the Trinidad Eye Hospital (TEH) and Hummingbird Medal Gold recipient, Dr Ronnie Bhola. One of the main problems affecting our young population that is causing concern among health care professionals like Bhola is myopia a condition in which people can see close objects clearly but objects farther away appear blurred. 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. Homicide detectives are at the scene of a double murder in Barrackpore where a woman and her The prevalence of bullying in our school system has become a critical issue that demands immediate attention. Too many students face harassment and intimidation from their peers, which can have severe emotional and psychological impacts. This toxic environment not only affects the victims but also creates an atmosphere of fear that hinders the overall learning experience for all students. David Clark and Brian Alan DeLaney are going to be busy this weekend. The operators of Houston Film Meet (a free, monthly get-together for those involved in the local film community) and Not Another Film Screening (a free, monthly mini film fest of sorts featuring five locally made shorts) will not only be hosting the next NAFS on Friday at Bad Astronaut Brewing Co., they will also have a table at the Houston Media Conference, a three-day symposium on filmmaking in Houston beginning Friday at the Norris Conference Center, sponsored by the Houston Cinema Arts Society and SWAMP (Southwest Alternate Media Project). Not Another Film Screening When: 7 p.m. Friday Where: Bad Astronaut, 1519 Fulton Details: Free; facebook.com/NotAnotherFilmScreening Houston Film Meet When: 7 p.m. Sept. 10 Where: Bad Astronaut, 1519 Fulton Details: Free; facebook.com/groups/houstonfilmmeet Houston Media Conference David Clark and Brian Delaney will have a booth at the event When: Friday-Sunday Where: Norris Conference Center, CityCentre, 816 Town & Country Blvd. Suite 210 Details: $75 (all-access pass which allows access to expo vendor floor, keynote speaker and workshops); free for expo vendor floor only; cinemahtx.org/houston-media-conference On top of that, away from these public events, they are also going to be working on a proposed sketch-comedy project together. HOUSTON AS HOLLYWOOD?: After decades of struggle, more films and TV may be produced here Advertisement Article continues below this ad It's all just part of their plan to help make Houston a city known more as an exporter of filmmaking talent (Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater, Bassam Tariq) than an incubator a more hospitable place for those who either want to make a living in film or simply take part in the creative process as a side hustle or hobby. "Our vision for everything we've been putting out since we've been collaborating has been, 'What can we do to be the rising tide that lifts all boats?,'" says Clark, 39, in a Google Meet interview. "We're trying to connect people and put everyone in the same sandbox. We just want to help connect people, get them resources, put them in touch with people who can make stuff happen. Because when you have a passion as a creative, it's really painful to not be able to find an outlet for it. You either have to move, go somewhere where you can do it, or you have to give up on it." Enjoying Houston filmmaking It all started when Clark, whose day job is in oil and gas but who is also a writer, and composer/music teacher DeLaney were each trying to do their own film-community meet-ups. In fact, DeLaney had taken over as host of a group with roots going back to 2006. Ultimately, they joined forces and decided to host two monthly events: the film meet/mixer (every second Tuesday) and the film screening (no set day). The first one took place in May. "I want to keep the mixer as purely a mixer," DeLaney, 41, says in the same interview. "It's just there for other filmmakers to get to know each other, hang out, have a beer. We do have time for announcements, if you've got a project that needs crew. But most of it, I just want to keep it just focused on the actual mixing and meeting people aspect." Advertisement Article continues below this ad David Clark, left, and Brian Alan DeLaney, right, watch director Roderick Jones during the production on the set of their proposed sketch comedy show Karen Warren/Staff photographer The Not Another Film Screening is meant to show that there's "some good filmmaking that's coming out of Houston that we might not know about," Clark says. "It's a fun night to go and attend. You're going to get a horror film. You're going to get a stoner comedy. We've done a crime film. If you watch all five films and there wasn't something there for you that you enjoyed, the issue's on your end. We try to put something in for everybody and showcase and highlight the local community." Both events are held at Bad Astronaut, north of downtown. "Bad Astronaut was nice enough to provide the venue, so we didn't have to come out of pocket and do a venue fee," Clark says. "So, we thought, 'Hey, we're not trying to make money off an audience of filmmakers who aren't making a living doing this. We're trying to celebrate the community.' So we made it free to attend, free to submit films. Just come out and enjoy Houston filmmaking." 'Death Bike' and 'Men in Cars' For the filmmakers who participate, Houston Film Meet and Not Another Film Screening are ways to get to know fellow creatives and craftspeople in a fractured, sprawling city where community sometimes can be hard to find. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The sense of community and the networking, obviously that's really nice," says Dwight Yarotsky in a separate phone interview. He showed the trailer for his still-to-be-finished horror film "Death Bike," at a recent NAFS event. "Anytime you have that strong anchor of community, in any town or city that you're in, that really helps you," he continues. "L.A., I've thought about going out there but you're just another person in L.A. What I've noticed is that people in Houston, because there are fewer opportunities for them, there's more enthusiasm." Director Molly Vernon, who teaches filmmaking and film studies at College of the Mainland and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and whose film "Men in Cars" screens Friday night, concurs via email. "There is no better place to pitch ideas and garner feedback on developing projects than these gatherings of film fans and filmmakers," she says. "To stay current, a seasoned filmmaker like myself must work with new filmmakers and fresh ideas as often as possible." David Clark talks with Adrian Mauro and director Roderick Jones talk on the set of their proposed sketch comedy show Karen Warren/Staff photographer Clark and DeLaney say the events draw around 100 people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We have our core group of people who show up to every meet-up, but then it seems like half of them are brand-new people. Either they just moved here or just found out about the meet-up," says DeLaney. "It's just like there's an unbelievably large number of people who just want to be working in the industry. We're just trying to do everything we can to connect all those people so we can actually get projects made." Clark says it's OK if some of those who show up aren't burning to be the next Steven Spielberg or Spike Lee. "It's just a fun industry to work in," he says. "Not everybody has ambitions of 'Hey, I want to go be in Hollywood. I want to make a living doing this.' Sometimes it's just fun to create something with people who share your passion." For more than 80 years, Lucila Gomez Bejarano welcomed people into her home in Tumacacori from casual visitors who left with their bellies full of her homemade tamales to foster children who stayed until they were grown. The Santa Cruz County native, who recently had a bridge in Rio Rico named in her honor, died on Aug. 14, just nine days after her 105th birthday. She was born Lucila Gomez on Aug. 5, 1919, in the soon-to-be ghost town of Calabasas, a late 19th century railroad stop along the Santa Cruz River in present-day Rio Rico. At 17, she married a young cowboy named Raul Arvizu Bejarano, and they settled in Tumacacori, where they raised four children. After Raul died in 1960 at the age of 43, Bejarano continued to live in the house they shared just up the road from Tumacacori National Historical Park. Even into her 100s, she could still be seen sweeping up leaves in her yard. Bejarano ended up sheltering more than 20 foster children at that address over the years. One of those kids, Tony Velasquez, led the effort to get the bridge named for her. His campaign succeeded in June, when the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to dedicate Rio Ricos Pendleton Drive bridge over Sonoita Creek, just east of the Santa Cruz River, as the Lucila G. Bejarano Crossing. Velasquez said he was just looking for a lasting way to celebrate the woman who raised him from the age of 9, along with his six siblings. Seven little kids seven little Indians showed up at her house, and none of us were separated, he told the supervisors on June 20. She made a tremendous home for us. Dedication, kindness, love she showed us everything. On Monday, Velasquez posted a picture of Bejarano and a tribute to her on the Viva Nogales! history page he runs on Facebook. This was my beautiful foster mother (who) back in 1967 took in all seven of us foster kids and made us part of her loving family, he wrote. I will miss her greatly. Bejarano served as a model of strength and perseverance for those who knew her, according to her obituary notice, which described her as a patient, kind, independent woman who cherished her family. She is survived by her children, Lilia Masterson, Ernesto Bejarano, Norma Megariz and Raul Bejarano; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raul; her five brothers, Gilbert, Ignacio, Ramon, Eduardo and Febronio Gomez; and her sister, Petra Wisdom. A memorial for Bejarano was held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Nogales on Tuesday afternoon. After the service, she was buried next to her husband at the Nogales Cemetery, where he has waited for her for 64 years. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: I am a Franciscan Sister, a member of a Catholic religious community whose patron saint is Francis of Assisi, who loved all creation and the poor. When Pope Francis took the name of this saint on the day he was elected, Franciscans worldwide knew that this Jesuit would pursue a pro-creation agenda in his outreach to the poor. It wasnt surprising that he wrote a document in 2015 called Laudato Si, calling for attention to and conversation about the environmental crisis. He urged a new way to live in harmony with all of creation. As a follow-up to this, Pope Francis issued another document in 2023, called Laudate Deum. With even more urgency, he calls for faster action against the climate crisis and he challenges climate change deniers to understand the danger. He calls on politicians and business leaders to transition to renewable forms of energy and to see how these adaptations are generating countless jobs in different sectors. When Pope Francis asks us to think about where the power over humanity lies, this evokes serious reflection from us when we consider the policy positions of political candidates who deny climate change, want to roll back green energy, and seek to accelerate the mining of fossil fuels. He admonishes us that our immense technological development has not been accompanied by a development in human responsibility, values and conscience. In our part of Arizona, environmentalists are currently protesting the opening of new mines that will destroy wildlife habitats and take huge amounts of water from the community. An excellent feature article in the Star on Sunday, August 11, told us about the copper mine in Mexico that is causing farmers and ranchers wells to run dry. In his document, Pope Francis laments that people are not clearly told that a project will result in the clearing of their lands, a decline in the quality of their lives, a desolate and less habitable landscape lacking in life. He asks why people with great power would even care about the damage being done if they feel securely shielded by financial resources. As he nears the end of his powerful exhortation, Pope Francis asserts that unless citizens control political power ... it will not be possible to control damage to the environment. He exhorts us to demonstrate the nobility of politics and not its shame. As we prepare for an extremely consequential election in November, our pope offers a clear direction to anyone looking at candidates for office. Each of us who believes climate change is real is doing our best to reuse, recycle and renew, but Pope Francis says, the most effective solutions will not come from individual efforts alone, but ... from major political decisions on the national and international level. Vote wisely! Editor's Note This column originally published in June 2007. The Tulsa World now uses the term "Tulsa Race Massacre" to refer to 1921 events. Click here to read more from the archives as well as current mass grave search efforts. A black attorney had been in Tulsa only a few months when the race riot of 1921 erupted, but he was able to convince a surging group of black residents they shouldn't invade white areas to set fires. Buck Colvert (Ben) Franklin shouted until he was hoarse that May 31, 1921, to bring the mob under control. "Think," he begged. "Two wrongs don't make a right." He made such a persuasive speech that the group that had gathered in front of Booker T. Washington High School decided against getting gasoline to set fires in white neighborhoods in retaliation for damage to the Greenwood area. It was believed that his action prevented much greater damage from the riot. The riot that continued into the next day had erupted after an angry group of whites became a mob planning to lynch a black man because of a rumor that he had accosted a young white female elevator operator. After Franklin's speech to the other blacks, he was rounded up with many others and taken to a detention center where they were held while all their belongings were stolen or burned. Shortly after the riot, Franklin set up his law practice in a tent and drafted a lawsuit aimed at blocking a new ordinance passed by the city commission -- a lawsuit that eventually went to the state Supreme Court, which threw out the ordinance. The ordinance would have required fireproof construction in rebuilding the Greenwood area, which would have made the cost prohibitive for blacks. Franklin believed the real purpose of the ordinance was to force blacks to move out of town rather than rebuilding. Franklin's best-known criminal case was in 1934 when he convinced a District Court judge that black people should be allowed to serve on juries. The trial of his client, R.C. Foster, was the first time a black person was on a jury in Oklahoma. Foster, charged with murder for killing an underworld character, was acquitted. Born in the Chickasaw Nation in southwestern Oklahoma, Franklin was the son of slaves. His father was owned by the brother of a governor of the Chickasaw tribe; his mother by Choctaws who treated her the same as a member of their family. Franklin received his first education at a black school founded by white missionaries of the Baptist Church and later attended Roger Williams University in Nashville and Atlanta Baptist College. After graduating and getting married, Franklin and his wife moved back to Oklahoma to farm, but his interest in law exceeded his interest in farming and ranching. With his education and his sharp mind, he was able to pass the bar examination after completing a correspondence course in law. He opened law offices in Ardmore and Rentiesville, one of the dozens of all-black towns that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Franklin also served as postmaster for a time in Rentiesville. But it was difficult for a black lawyer to make a living, especially in a small community, so he moved to Tulsa months before the riot. Most blacks hired black lawyers only if the other side had a black lawyer. They preferred to hire white lawyers because they believed a black lawyer could not prevail against a white lawyer with a white judge. In his autobiography, Franklin noted that "white lawyers hired black runners to falsely warn black people that black lawyers could not prevail against them." Franklin, however, was able to prevail in many of the cases he handled after the race riot and was credited with knocking down the ordinance that would have prohibited rebuilding of the Greenwood area. Franklin, who was honored by Greenwood residents at a special ceremony when he retired in 1959, died in 1960. Speaking in Tulsa at the 2000-01 Presidential Lecture Series at the University of Tulsa, historian John Hope Franklin credited his father for his love of reading. "When I wasn't in school, I was at his law office watching him work," John Hope Franklin said. "I guess that's why I read and write for a living." The younger Franklin, a past president of the American Historical Association, has received many honors. He has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, has been named one of the state's 11 cultural treasures, was named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Frame and received the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. The Sugar Land City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish a music advisory board aimed at promoting the citys local music industry. Houston Chronicle Sofar Sounds-Houston is a global music events company which promotes local artists. Sofar gigs follow a specific structure, with typically three artists performing and no opener or headliner. The venues are nontraditional, ranging from living rooms and art galleries to coffee shops or even airplane hangars. Sofar Sounds Houston Sofar Sounds-Houston is a global music events company which promotes local artists. Sofar gigs follow a specific structure, with typically three artists performing and no opener or headliner. The venues are nontraditional, ranging from living rooms and art galleries to coffee shops or even airplane hangars. Sofar Sounds Houston Sofar Sounds-Houston is a global music events company which promotes local artists. Sofar gigs follow a specific structure, with typically three artists performing and no opener or headliner. The venues are nontraditional, ranging from living rooms and art galleries to coffee shops or even airplane hangars. Sofar Sounds Houston Sugar Land leaders who want to foster more live music events and help residents who want to grow a music career are creating a framework to do so, starting with a new advisory board that will be sworn in Tuesday. The effort has been led by Sha Davis, 36, civic arts manager for the city and a Houston-based professional musician who has been with the city of Sugar Land since February of 2023. Davis developed and managed Sugar Lands first Make Music Day music festival in June. "Having a music advisory board definitely gives (the city) more of an industry," said Davis. "Sugar Land doesn't have a music industry at all." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Creating the board is also a requirement of joining the Texas Music Office's Music Friendly Texas Certified Community Program. Inspired by Houston music program The city of Houston has been certified for more than a year, Davis said, and so are more than 60 communities in Texas. "Houston, honestly, really didn't have one--it had a large music community and a lot of really talented, popular artists," she said. "But building industry, providing resources, having forums that people can come to and have, like a town hall and speak about what the music industry needs --that didn't exist until their music advisory board was formed." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Davis said she's done musical residencies in Houston. A residency is a program in which a musician spends time at a specific location such as a school or cultural institution, and spends time composing, putting on concerts and conducting workshops with children. "Being in Houston really helped," she said. "Like Houston, we want to build our music database of all music venues, studios, booking agents." Dallas, Fort Worth, and Galveston have been certified, and The Woodlands is working on its certification, Davis said. Who is on the music advisory board? Board members include Mark Winters, Ebony McFarland, Jalen Baker, Sam Asthana and Eric Estrada, city spokesman Doug Adolph said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We want to make sure the venues in Sugar Land know that we exist, partner with the local venues, so we can work together in bringing music, more music, to a variety of venues," said McFarland, who also serves as the coordinator for Sugar Land Civic Arts. Estrada is the local promoter and producer for Sofar Sounds-Houston, a global, London-headquartered music events company which promotes local artists. Sofar gigs follow a specific structure, with typically three artists performing and no opener or headliner. The venues are nontraditional, ranging from living rooms and art galleries to coffee shops or even airplane hangars, he said. Estrada said as a member of the music advisory board, he is looking forward to bringing the community together. I've seen the impact that these shows have outside of just the performance itself -- like, economic impact and morale. I've seen businesses win over clients by treating them to a show its magical. You never really know what all the overall benefits are going to be. How does the music advisory board operate? The board will hold monthly meetings, either via Zoom or in person, said Davis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The application to the Texas Music Office program involves multiple steps, with the final step being the appointment of a music advisory board, according to city documents. The city submitted its application in May 2023 and participated in mandatory liaison training in September, Davis said at a recent city council meeting. This was followed by a workshop with the governors office at Sugar Land City Hall in February. Between March and May 2024, the city received applications from candidates for the music advisory board. The city received less than 100 suitable applications, Adolph said. FORT BEND INSIDER: Never miss a story with our bi-weekly newsletter The move to acquire the certification and therefore create a music advisory board was driven by research starting last March, during which Davis said she learned from residents and data that there was a clear demand for more live music events. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "A lot of people are really hoping for more live music opportunities, not just big concerts, but small things that residents can walk to and be a part of, like buskers in the city,' she said at a recent meeting. "Things like the busker program we started at the Imperial Farmers Market. The specific goals of the music advisory board, according to Davis, are to: The Price Tower in Bartlesville will be put up for public auction on Aug. 22, when the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed skyscraper will be officially placed on the Ten-X Commercial Real Estate Auction Platform. The actual auction, according to an email forwarded to the Tulsa World by Cynthia Blanchard, the tower's current owner, will take place Oct. 7-9. According to the email, signed by Scott Schlotfelt, the managing director of Commercial Oklahoma: "The auction will include the Price Tower property itself, excluding the art collection. The art collection will be addressed in Phase 2 of the new ownership transition. This phased approach aims to ensure a smooth and successful transition, preserving the rich legacy of Price Tower while opening up new avenues for growth and development under new ownership. "We are committed to securing a fair and competitive sale, and we encourage all interested parties to participate in this unique opportunity to become a part of the ongoing history of Price Tower," the email states. The Price Tower was built in 1956, commissioned by Bartlesville oil man H.C. Price to serve as his company's headquarters. The tower also contained apartments, offices and retail spaces. When Price sold his company to the Phillips Petroleum Company, the building was used primarily for storage. In 2000, the building was donated to the nonprofit organization Price Tower Arts Center, which operated the building until 2023, when the nonprofit turned it over to Copper Tree, a company founded in 2022 of which Blanchard is the CEO. In April of this year, Blanchard sold a number of items from the Price Tower collection, including some rare and one-of-a-kind items designed by Wright himself, to a Dallas firm specializing in mid-century furniture and design. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the architect's work, protested the sale, saying that it violated the preservation easement it has on the tower. Blanchard contends that the change in ownership nullifies the easement, and that she does not need to permission from the Conservancy to sell items from the collection. On Aug. 9, the Price Tower closed to the public, the majority of its staff was laid off, and all reservations to the boutique hotel, The Inn at Price Tower, had been cancelled. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman 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 Three Broken Arrow police officers who were fired earlier this month were found to have violated department policies, including one rule violation that has resulted in possible criminal allegations involving found property, according to termination letters obtained by the Tulsa World in response to an Open Records Act request. Broken Arrow officials announced Monday that four of the citys police officers had left their employment three by termination, one by retirement following an internal investigation into a May 23 incident. Officials did not elaborate Monday on the incident or provide any names involved in the announcement, other than to say one of the four officers was not disciplined but instead chose to retire from the agency. However, Broken Arrow officials on Wednesday in response to an Open Records Act request released to the Tulsa World termination letters addressed to the three officers who faced disciplinary action. The three letters indicate that Kaitlin Anderson, Jonathan Chisum and Jesse Sandoval were all fired Thursday, Aug. 15. Your actions resulted in serious rule infractions, including pending criminal allegations, each of the three officers two-page termination letter states. The letters indicate that an internal investigation of the May 23 incident resulted in the substantiation of the following findings: Category III misconduct regarding criminal allegations Category III misconduct regarding serious rule infractions (moral turpitude) Category II misconduct regarding handling of found property The Tulsa County District Attorneys Office confirmed Wednesday that it was reviewing a report from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation regarding the incident. A spokeswoman for the District Attorneys Office could not provide a timeline on when a decision might be made other than to say that it will likely be sooner than later. In June, the Broken Arrow Police Department announced that it had placed four unnamed officers on leave in response to allegations of misconduct. In a news release at the time, police stated that: On Monday, May 27, 2024, during a call for service, Broken Arrow Police Department patrol officers discovered alleged misconduct by fellow officers which had occurred on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The alleged misconduct was related to the call for service and the patrol officers investigation. The letter to Anderson states that during an Aug. 1 predetermination hearing she agreed that she was trained to book all found property into the departments property room and as a field training officer was responsible for training recruit officers in the same process. You admitted to violating policy by your actions, the letter signed by Chief Brandon Berryhill states. Although you stated you didnt feel like you were committing a crime, your actions resulted in theft of property and a serious rule infraction of the Broken Arrow Police Department. The letter goes on to define found property and the process for handling it, specifically mentioning how the policy relates to firearms and ammunition. Similar policy statements were contained in the letter to Chisum. Your interactions with an officer with just over one year of experience appeared to have discouraged another officer from completing their duties according to policy, the letter to Chisum states. You took no responsibility for your actions and attempted to justify your wrongdoing by explaining previous actions you had done according to policy in the past, the letter to Chisum continues. The letter to Sandoval states that he admitted to using poor judgment and apologized for his actions and for bringing discredit to the department. In announcing the results of its latest internal investigation, the Broken Arrow Police Department said in a statement that it has a proud and rich history of serving the community and ensuring Broken Arrow is a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. We will continue to uphold the core values of Professionalism, Integrity, Accountability, Courage, and Compassion among our officers and build on the trust and relationship we have with the members of our community, the statement concluded. The Tulsa World was unable to reach the three officers for comment. This is the second time in less than 30 days that Broken Arrow police have announced the firing of an officer or officers. The department announced July 23 that it had fired Sgt. Michael Ferguson in connection with the May 29 arrest of a homeowner. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Related Content DOCUMENT: Oklahoma Consolidated Performance Review Report FY 2024 Just days after Oklahoma legislators launched an investigation of the Oklahoma State Department of Educations finances, a scathing new federal report has surfaced that reveals significant compliance or quality concerns that require urgent attention by OSDE. A large team from the U.S. Department of Education from Dec. 11-14 conducted a review of federal programs and $2.72 billion in related federal funding handled by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and then a desk review of a sampling of a handful of school districts, mostly in the Oklahoma City metro area, between Dec. 12-Jan. 11. Out of 52 indicators reviewed, 32 were deemed so out of compliance or lacking in quality that they require urgent attention by the (state) and will be revisited until the (state) has remedied the issue, in most cases between 30 and 60 days. Another seven indicators came with recommendations because of quality implementation concerns. State Superintendent Ryan Walters is facing a slew of questions and criticism about his state agencys handling of state and federal funds since he took office in January 2023. On Thursday, an investigation of OSDE finances was launched by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, or LOFT, after Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka, declined a different proposed probe that could have led directly to Walters impeachment. Among the complaints made against Walters during his year and a half in office are that school districts are not receiving timely estimates of federal Title I allocations that allow them to budget for each new school year, that some federal grants have been allowed to lapse, and that money appropriated by the Legislature for specific purposes such as maternity leave and asthma inhalers has not been spent appropriately or at all. The Oklahoma Consolidated Performance Review Report for fiscal year 2024, which was dated July 25, questioned the OSDEs internal controls, late annual audit reports and oversight of charter schools. Additionally, the federal report flagged the OSDEs record keeping and noted that the agency either did not have written procedures or was unable to find records for multiple federal grant programs, including schools identified for comprehensive and additional targeted supports. The review found that OSDE is not fully reporting all required data on its school report cards and is not offering state report card translations in languages spoken by sizeable populations within Oklahoma, including Marshallese and Cherokee, that are not available from Google Translate. Federal law requires that report cards be accessible to parents with limited English proficiency, either through oral interpretation or written translation. Among the specific Title I concerns raised in the report was the lack of documentation that the OSDE is ensuring that school districts are complying with parental notification requirements. Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I schools are required to notify parents whose children are taught for at least four consecutive weeks by instructors who are not certified for the subject and grade level they have been assigned to teach. The only two areas where the agency was commended were for supports offered for multilingual learners and data collection efforts by the Office of Indian Education for Title VI programs. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education told the Tulsa World it conducts approximately four comprehensive, consolidated monitoring reviews of state educational agencies each year. When asked for comment on the report, Dan Isett, director of communications for the State Department of Education, released a statement, saying: Many of the issues in this report from the US Department of Education are from the 22-23 school year and have been addressed in the LOFT report in June that gave OSDE high marks for compliance and stewardship of taxpayer money. The policies, procedures, and documents requested by the USDE were those used or developed in the 22-23 school year. The snapshot of data taken in December 2023 for the USDE report found some areas that needed improvement, the number of which are similar to other states that have undergone this process. The OSDE team has moved swiftly to address these findings, has already resolved many of them, and all will be resolved by the October deadline. Although the full report is not due to USDE until mid-October, the agency has worked quickly and diligently to resolve any remaining issues. Fulbright University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City has received a grant worth US$1.5 million from Google to improve its AI education, president of the university Scott Fritzen said on Monday. During a discussion about AI between Googles chief scientist Jeff Dean and students at Fulbright University Vietnam, Fritzen informed that the school would use the grant to integrate AI into all academic programs, develop AI-related majors and minors in its undergraduate curriculum, and equip students with AI application skills. The amount will also support the university in recruiting AI experts to expand AI teaching, enhance AI-related research by lecturers and students, and boost initiatives in association with Vietnamese and international partners. Fritzen claimed that AI is reshaping the world in unprecedented ways. Googles chief scientist Dean said Vietnam is home to multiple young talents in technology, especially AI. He suggested local universities should offer more opportunities for students to study AI and access new learning methods with AI integrated into their curricula. Dean asserted that collaboration between universities and AI-focused organizations would also benefit students by enhancing their education and skills. In addition to the $1.5 million grant to Fulbright University Vietnam, Google has partnered with the Vietnam National Innovation Center to launch initiatives like Google AI Essentials, aimed at equipping the local workforce with vital AI skills, and Google for Startups Accelerator SEA Vietnam, which supports the development and testing of generative AI (GenAI) among Vietnamese startups. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz waits to pin badges on new police officers during the graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz salutes after pinning badge on the new police officers during the graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz embraces officer J.T. Corliss after pinning his badge to his uniform during the graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz embraces officer Carmen Correa Ocasio after pinning her badge to her uniform during the graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A new records management system in 2025 and new police chief give the Houston Police Department a chance to prevent a future scandal like the ongoing suspended cases from gripping the ranks, according to an independent panels final report. City leaders should hire an independent consultant to conduct a performance staffing study, the department should hire more civilian employees, and better use human resources to train and assign staffers already in the agency, Christina Nowak, a member of the external committee appointed by Mayor John Whitmire, said to City Council on Wednesday. We all recognize there are staffing shortages, but it is on HPD to find ways to improve the department, find efficiencies, in addition to simply boosting recruitment, Nowak said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: HPD graduates smallest cadet class of year with 53, with new chief in attendance Members of the committee Wednesday unveiled their final report into the more than 268,000 cases the department suspended using an internal code citing a lack of personnel beginning in 2016. The 90-page document largely echoes points the committee already addressed during a preliminary hearing on the scandal in May. It did not single out any individuals for blame. Among the top findings of the final report: Each division within the department operated and used the code with near-total autonomy. The department is facing severe staffing shortages. An outdated records management system further exacerbated the problem. There wasnt enough discussion among top leaders in the department and those within each investigative division. But in comments before city council, members of the committee said the department needed to take concrete steps to fix these issues, particularly with the opportunity presented by a new records management system, or else the scandal would surface again in the future. They cited a 2014 report under former Chief Charles McClelland that identified many of the same issues about staffing and uninvestigated cases raised during the investigation into the current suspended cases scandal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Department leaders for months have said they need more than 2,000 more officers to keep pace with the population growth in Houston in recent years. Were asking that HPD ring the bell sooner if lack of resources is affecting public safety, so that they give all the stakeholders, city council, the mayor and anybody else who has a voice and opportunity again to come to the table and come up with solutions, Nowak said. Department leaders in July released their internal report examining the history and causes of the suspended cases code. Then, earlier this month, the council confirmed Noe Diaz as the departments newest full-time police chief. Whitmire wants future accountability Whitmire on Wednesday said hed like to see regular reports from the police and fire chiefs so no one can say they didnt know something like this scandal was happening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We, quite frankly, owe Houstonians an apology, and Ill go a step further and say we cant govern by spin, Whitmire said, criticizing the One Safe Houston initiative, which put $53 million from the American Rescue Plan toward multiple public safety initiatives like addressing behavioral health and domestic abuse. Former Mayor Sylvester Turner, who started the initiative, did not immediately return a phone call for comment. Whitmire said implementing the recommendations at HPD would start with him at the top. He added he would also hold Diaz accountable. You cant fix something if you dont acknowledge its a problem, Whitmire said. And Chief Diaz will be the first to say, we got challenges. Whitmire said he wanted Diaz, who was absent from Wednesdays meeting, and his command staff to be at work instead of at council. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hes still very busy establishing his team, and theyre working on on the backlog as we talk, Whitmire said, adding that it was ultimately the mayors responsibility to make sure changes were made. Hours after Wednesday's hearing on the final report, Diaz released a prepared statement thanking the committee and saying he was reviewing the report, considering its recommendations. "We believe this report will help us become better servants to the community and improve our department for generations to come," he said. Wednesdays presentation was the last scheduled report on the suspended cases scandal. But Whitmire told reporters that Houstonians shouldnt expect this final report to be the end of the scandal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its what you dont know that scares you the most, Whitmire said. Im sure theres still the rest of the story. The panel shared a preliminary report in May saying the code was first approved by Martha Montalvo, who served as the departments acting chief for a few months in 2016, and that the special victims division began using it immediately. The preliminary report largely focused on processes and plans department leaders might implement to stave off something similar happening in the future. The report, ordered by Whitmire, recommended the department should standardize reporting procedures and put departmentwide directives in writing to prevent another scandal from happening in the future. The committee recommended the special victims division partner with the Houston Area Womens Center and victims services to conduct better outreach in sexual assault cases. It also recommended, with the implementation of a new records management system in 2025, the department standardize the options employees have on recording results. Vietnam and China have announced a joint statement on further strengthening their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and promoting the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future with strategic significance. The joint statement was launched on Tuesday as a summary of the outcomes of the three-day state visit to China by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse at the invitation of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and his spouse. During the visit, the Vietnamese leader held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi, Prime Minister Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning. At these meetings, the two sides had in-depth exchanges of opinions and reached important common perceptions on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and promoting the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future in the new situation, the joint statement said, adding they also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern. Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (L) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before their talks in Beijing, China, August 19, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Priority to Vietnam - China ties considered strategic choice The Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China are carrying a historic mission, striving for the happiness of the people, for national development, and for peace and progress of mankind, the Vietnam News Agency cited the joint statement. In the cause of struggling for national independence and liberation, the two Parties, two countries, and people of Vietnam and China supported each other, establishing the Vietnam-China traditional friendship as both comrades and brothers. Now entering a new era, the two nations will not forget their initial wish of friendship, engrave the common mission, steadfastly pursue the path to socialism, and promote modernization in line with each country's situation, according to the joint statement. The Chinese side affirmed its support for Vietnam to develop prosperously, bring happiness to its people, and build a strong, independent, and self-reliant economy. China also advocated Vietnam developing open and friendly external relations and promoting an increasingly important role for peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region and the world. In a joint statement, China reaffirmed its commitment to a policy of friendship with Vietnam, highlighting the country as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. Meanwhile, Vietnam underscored that its relationship with China remains a top priority within its foreign policy framework of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification. The statement emphasized that this alignment represents a strategic choice for both nations. Both sides stressed the importance of fully implementing the common understandings and agreements reached during the bilateral visits of their top leaders. They were committed to advancing the construction of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future, aiming for more tangible outcomes. The two nations also agreed that the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee should guide ministries, agencies, and localities in both countries to actively contribute to building this community. Reaffirming that defense and security cooperation is a cornerstone of Vietnam-China relations, both countries were committed to deepening their collaboration in these areas. They agreed to enhance joint efforts to combat telecom fraud, cybersecurity threats, economic crimes, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, as well as to track and recover assets of criminals who have fled abroad. The two nations also concurred on establishing a hotline between their Ministries of Public Security and moving swiftly to ratify a state-level agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Vietnam and China. Both sides vowed to intensify information exchange and share experience in countering interference, separatism, and color revolutions, with the aim of jointly safeguarding political and regime security. They also pledged to bolster bilateral cooperation in the legal and judicial fields. Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang (R) and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun jointly plant a friendship tree within the framework of the eighth Vietnam - China Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program in April 2024. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre Promoting strategic development connectivity According to the joint statement, the two countries leaders agreed to promote strategic development connectivity between the two countries, effectively implementing the cooperation plan connecting the Two Corridors, One Belt framework with the Belt and Road initiative. They also underscored the need to accelerate the hard connectivity between the two countries in terms of railways, expressways, and border gate infrastructure, while upgrading the soft connectivity in terms of smart customs. China agrees to assist Vietnam in planning the Lang Son - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong standard gauge railway lines, and in preparing a feasibility study report for the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong standard gauge railway line. The two nations will hasten the pilot construction of smart border gates at the Huu Nghi (Vietnam) - Youyi Guan (China) international border gate, while proceeding with the trial construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones and jointly building safe and stable production and supply chains. The joint statement encouraged enterprises with strong capabilities, reputations, and advanced technologies in both Vietnam and China to invest in each others markets, particularly in sectors such as hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure, clean energy, digital economy, and green development. Both countries pledged to create a fair and favorable business environment for foreign enterprises. The two sides also agreed to enhance the role of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, leverage e-commerce platforms and trade fairs, strengthen customs cooperation, and boost the export of key products to each other. China expressed its willingness to facilitate the opening of additional Vietnamese trade promotion offices in China, while Vietnam voiced its support for Chinas bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and welcomed Hong Kongs steps toward joining the RCEP. In a further display of goodwill, the two neighboring countries declared 2025 as the Year of Vietnam-China Humanitarian Exchange and announced plans to jointly organize a series of events to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam, which borders China. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre Complying with international law The leaders of Vietnam and China reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing coordination and multilateral cooperation in building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future, a goal they described as having strategic significance. The joint statement underscored that both nations should adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and fundamental norms of international relations, while advocating for a multipolar world characterized by equality, order, and comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable economic globalization. Both countries pledged to promote human rights exchanges and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect, firmly opposing the politicization, instrumentalization, and double standards often associated with human rights issues. They strongly rejected the use of human rights as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. The two sides also vowed to continue coordinating within multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and to support each others candidacies for international organizations. China was further committed to working with ASEAN countries to advance the initiative of building the Five Common Homes of peace, security, prosperity, beauty, and friendship. It also pledged to accelerate the development of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0, boost cooperation within the Mekong-Lancang framework, and strengthen collaboration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region economic cooperation framework. A Vietnamese coast guard officer is seen in a joint patrol between the Vietnam Coast Guard and its Chinese counterpart in late April 2024. Photo: Quan Doi Nhan Dan (Peoples Army) newspaper Effectively resolving disagreements Vietnam and China engaged in deep, sincere, and frank discussions on maritime issues, underscoring the importance of better managing and proactively addressing disagreements at sea to maintain peace and stability in the East Vietnam Sea and the broader region. Both sides were committed to actively seeking fundamental and long-term solutions acceptable to both parties, in accordance with the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, and in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They agreed to avoid actions that could complicate the situation or escalate disputes. The two countries also pledged to continue the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Vietnam Sea and to work together toward achieving a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) for the waterway, in line with international law, including UNCLOS. Vietnam and China agreed to enhance coordination to effectively implement legal documents related to their land border and associated agreements. They plan to promote cooperation in areas along the land border and to organize activities commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and the 15th anniversary of the three legal documents on the Vietnam-China land border. In the joint statement, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to the 'One China' policy, acknowledging that there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory. Vietnam recognized the government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing all of China. The statement emphasized Vietnam's support for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and China's efforts toward reunification. Vietnam firmly opposed any actions aimed at promoting Taiwan's independence in any form and pledged not to establish any state-level relations with Taiwan. The joint statement concluded with both sides agreeing that the state visit of General Secretary and President To Lam, from Sunday to Tuesday, was a resounding success, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future of strategic importance. This relationship, they noted, is crucial for promoting peace, stability, and development in the region and beyond. Lam expressed his gratitude for the warm reception from the Chinese side and extended a respectful invitation to his Chinese counterpart to visit Vietnam again soon. The Chinese leader gladly accepted the invitation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! A waste-to-energy plant project, worth almost VND2.3 trillion (US$92 million) in investment in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam, was approved in 2022 but its feasibility study remains incomplete and the investor has yet to be chosen. The provincial administration worked with relevant agencies on Tuesday to address issues related to the long-running waste treatment project, located in Vinh Tan Commune of Vinh Cuu District. In September 2022, authorities gave the green light to implement the Vinh Tan waste-to-energy plant project, whose developer is Le Delta JSC, under the public-private partnership format in two phases. The project would process 800 metric tons of waste and generate 20MW of electricity per day in phase one. Its waste treatment capacity would amount to 1,200 metric tons per day in phase two, with its electricity output reaching 30MW. However, its feasibility study has not been done, causing the project to fall behind its schedule by about two months, said Phan Trung Hung Ha, deputy director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment. The Vinh Tan waste-to-energy plant project has hit a snag due to an incomplete environmental impact assessment, stalling the investor selection process. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment recently rejected the projects environmental report, citing the need for further revisions. At a recent meeting, Vo Van Phi, vice-chairman of the provincial administration, emphasized the critical importance of the project and urged all stakeholders to expedite their efforts. Phi specifically called on the project developer to revise the environmental report and resubmit it to the ministry for approval. He also directed the provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, along with the Department of Science and Technology, to assist the developer in finalizing the report by the end of next month. Phi instructed Vinh Cuu authorities to allocate the necessary budget to promptly complete the detailed planning for the project. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- Police in Yen Bai Province, northern Vietnam announced on Tuesday that they were investigating a crash from Monday involving a female driver on a large-displacement motorbike who collided with and overturned a car, injuring three people. -- Rescuers promptly freed a South Korean female tourist who was trapped under a 45-seater bus following its collision with a motorbike in Da Nang City on Tuesday afternoon. -- Traffic police under the Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday they were probing an incident in which a seven-seater car suddenly reversed and drove the wrong way on the Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong-My Thuan Expressway, as shown in a video posted online. -- A group of runners discovered a stranded turtle and collaborated with the management board of Con Dao National Park to successfully rescue and release it back into the sea in Con Dao Island District, off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, last weekend. -- Two police captains from the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang donated blood to save a child with thalassemia in a timely manner on Tuesday. -- The Peoples Committee of Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong said on Tuesday that they were investigating the case of a dog, often used for paid photo services with tourists at Lam Vien Square, being brutally beaten, as shown in a viral video. -- Police in Thua Thien-Hue Province announced on Tuesday that they have prosecuted a police lieutenant colonel, stripped him of his title, and banned him from leaving his place of residence after he caused a fatal accident by driving under the influence. Lifestyle -- The nature documentary series 'Planet Earth III' received five nominations at the 2024 Emmys, including two for the episode featuring Son Doong and Va Caves in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A group of runners discovered a stranded green sea turtle and collaborated with the management board of the Con Dao National Park to successfully rescue and release it back into the sea in Con Dao Island District, off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, last weekend. The runners were joining a running event called Save Turtles Run 2024 when they spotted the male turtle weighing some 65 kilograms. The turtle is a male green sea turtle weighing over 65 kilograms. Photo: Con Dao National Park They immediately reported the case to the management board of the Con Dao National Park. The management board quickly dispatched a team to the location to join hands with the runners to rescue the stranded sea turtle and release it back into the ocean. Around 200,000 sea turtles are rescued and returned to the sea per year in Con Dao. The green sea turtle is stranded on the beach in Con Dao Island District, off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Photo: Con Dao National Park Nguyen Khac Pho, director of the management board of the Con Dao National Park, said Save Turtles Run had been held annually over the past three years with a view to improving residents' and tourists awareness of protecting sea turtles while helping them explore the beauty of Con Dao. The event attracted 230 runners this year. From January 1 to April 15, the Con Dao National Park management board helped 65 sea turtles lay eggs and released 3,374 turtle hatchlings into the ocean. The runners saw the turtle while participating in Save Turtles Run, a running event to preserve sea turtles. Photo: N.S. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Kon Tum Province in Vietnam's Central Highlands experienced a magnitude-4.2 earthquake on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Institute of Geophysics. The tremor occurred at approximately 1:05 pm, with its epicenter located in Kon Plong District. The quake's impact was felt as far as Pleiku City in Gia Lai Province, about 100 kilometers away. Nguyen Hong Anh, an official in Pleiku, recounted feeling the ground shake and his office building tremble while he was resting on the fourth floor. "It lasted only a few seconds," he said. In Kon Plong, forest ranger Dinh Hong Khoan described the tremor's effects at a forest protection station near the Thuong Kon Tum hydropower reservoir. "The ground and the roof shook violently for about 4-5 seconds," Khoan said, noting that no damage was observed. By 2:30 pm, the district had experienced seven additional tremors, with magnitudes ranging from three to 3.4. The area has been hit by numerous earthquakes in recent weeks, causing concerns among residents. On August 8, five earthquakes reaching a magnitude of 2.5 to 4.2 struck Kon Plong, but posed no disaster risk. Between July 28 and August 1, the district was hit by more than 60 earthquakes, most of them classified as level-zero natural disaster risk, except for the one with a magnitude of five that occurred at 11:35 am on July 28. The tremors were felt not only in Kon Tum but also across many other provinces and cities in Vietnam, and even in some areas of neighboring Thailand and Cambodia. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The governments of Vietnam and Australia sent representatives to attend the funeral of Professor Vo Tong Xuan, honorary rector of Nam Can Tho University in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam on Wednesday. At approximately 10:35 am, Nguyen Van Hieu, the Party chief of Can Tho City, led a delegation to pay their final respects to Professor Vo Tong Xuan, who passed away in Ho Chi Minh City at 7:00 am on Monday. Representing Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the National Assembly deputies of Can Tho, Hieu offered incense and conveyed condolences to the professor's son, Vo Tong Anh, and other family members. Earlier that day, representatives from the Australian government, including officials from the Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), also paid tribute to the late professor. Nguyen Thi Thanh An, ACIAR Vietnam country manager, highlighted Professor Xuan's significant role as the first Vietnamese advisor to Australia's Policy Advisory Council for International Agricultural Research and Development approximately 25 years ago. She expressed profound respect and sorrow for his passing, noting his dedication to advancing Vietnamese agriculture and his role as a model for many young scientists. An emphasized that Professor Xuan had established a strong foundation for the partnership between Australia and Vietnam, particularly in agricultural research. She extended her deepest condolences to the family, writing in the condolence book, "May you rest in peace." Nguyen Thi Thanh An, country manager of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in Vietnam, wrote in the condolence book when attending the funeral of Professor Vo Tong Xuan in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam, August 21, 2024. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre Peoples Teacher Prof. Xuan was revered as a leading expert and an active contributor to Vietnams agricultural research and science. He was Vietnams agricultural master, who helped many nations in the region with food security. Born in An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta region in 1940, Xuan secured a scholarship to study at the University of the Philippines Los Banos College of Agriculture and Food Science in 1961. In 1966, he graduated from the university and earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural chemistry. He then served as a postgraduate at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. While his career was at its peak at the Philippines-based institute, he decided to return to Vietnam for work in June 1971. After going back to his country, he worked at Can Tho University, teaming up with Japanese researchers to carry out multiple projects related to rice-growing techniques and debuting numerous scientific articles to popularize agricultural techniques and policies. In 1974, he traveled to Japan to study rice-growing techniques in tropical areas at Kyushu University. He completed his agronomy curriculum there and earned his PhD in 1975. In addition to his expertise in agriculture, he was also a dedicated and talented educator. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese rescuers swiftly freed a South Korean tourist who had been trapped under a 45-seater bus following a collision with a motorbike in Da Nang City on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred at 4:27 pm, when the command information center at the Da Nang police department received reports of a person pinned beneath a bus on a road leading to Linh Ung Pagoda. Rescue teams, along with vehicles and equipment, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered that the South Korean woman had sustained multiple injuries. According to one of the rescuers, they immobilized the bus and employed air lifting bags and a hydraulic hoist to elevate the vehicle and free the victim. Within ten minutes, the rescuers managed to extract the 32-year-old woman and transfer her to medical personnel for treatment. Dashcam footage from a passing car showed that the bus was traveling on the right side of the road when a motorbike suddenly veered from the opposite direction and slid, resulting in the woman being trapped under the bus. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! An auction for The Block: Phillip Island is expected in early November but listings are now live with price guides revealed. Domain reports for the first time in eight years, the price guides have been set below $2 million. The four-bedroom homes all have uniform price guides of $1.7 million to $1.85 million well below recent $3 million to $4 million prices. The price guide reflects the shows move to Phillip Island, about 90 minutes drive from Melbourne. House 1: Jesse and Paige ($1.7 million to $1.85 million) House 2: Courtney and Grant ($1.7 million to $1.85 million) House 3: Haydn and Ricky ($1.7 million to $1.85 million) House 4: Kylie and Brad ($1.7 million to $1.85 million) House 5: Kristian and Mimi ($1.7 million to $1.85 million) Of course, producers have also confirmed one couple does not make it to series end, with another couple stepping in at very short notice. Photos of the homes only show rooms currently revealed, but will be updated ongoing. Rose Marie Kosmetatos, facing, hugs her attorney Lori Laird on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, after a split jury found her and husband, Antonios Pagourtzis, not liable in the 2018 school shooting at Santa Fe High School. The jury found most of the blame fell on their son, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the accused shooter, and Lucky Gunner, an ammunition seller. POOL/Jennifer Reynolds/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News Antonios Pagourtzis, left, reacts as he and his wife, Rose Marie Kosmetatos listen to Galveston County Court No. 3 Judge Jack Ewing read the jurys verdict Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the Galveston County Courthouse in Galveston, Texas. POOL/Jennifer Reynolds/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News The parents of the accused shooter in the 2018 Santa Fe School massacre were not found financially culpable in a civil lawsuit, and Dimitrios Pagourtzis' criminal trial is not on the horizon, as he has never have been found mentally fit to stand trial. But while victims and families seek justice, the one thing they were able to get from the civil trial is details about the deadly shooting, Clint McGuire, one of the attorneys for the families of the victims of the shooting, said. Reflecting on the civil trials verdict, he said Tuesday he was proud to have brought his clients one important thing that had eluded them for six years information. Unlike other Texas school shootings, like Uvalde, where details were quickly released to the public, the parents in Santa Fe have had to wait for years for information about their loved ones last moments as the accused gunman, Pagourtzis, 23, repeatedly has been found not competent to stand trial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And, after testimony in the civil trial from psychiatrist Dr. Bradley Peterson on Pagourtzis mental state, its not clear he ever will come before trial, attorneys for the defendant and McGuire agreed. Hopefully a criminal trial will occur, McGuire said. But based on what Ive seen, the fact that were six years in, typically speaking, those restored to competency are done so within 90 to 120 days. Pagourtzis defense attorney, Nick Poehl, agreed with McGuire, saying the fact that the Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady and County Court-at-Law No. 3 Judge Jack Ewing allowed the civil case to go to trial is a testament that they think a criminal trial is unlikely. If there was a feeling that a criminal trial was going to happen anytime in the near term, this case would not have been allowed to proceed, Poehl said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As such, the details released during the course of the weekslong civil trial may be the most information the parents and victims get about what happened in the halls of Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018, McGuire said. Eight students and two teachers were killed, while 13 others were wounded. The parents were able, through this civil case, to gain a little closure about what happened, McGuire said. At the time of the shooting and since, because of the issues with the criminal case, they have not had access to why it happened. With this lawsuit, we were able to provide valuable information. Antonios Pagourtzis, center, wipes away tears after he and his wife, Rose Marie Kosmetatos, left, were found not liable for the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School by a split jury Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the Galveston County Courthouse in Galveston,Texas. POOL/Jennifer Reynolds/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News Delay in trials Roady, in a prepared statement, said the legal issues in the civil case were separate from the criminal proceedings and that he looked forward to prosecuting Pagourtzis once hes been found competent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Roadys office did not respond to a request for comment about whether he was confident Pagourtzis ever would stand trial. The civil trial has taken six years to come to fruition. During the past two weeks, family of victims and the accused shooter have taken to the stand to testify about the mental health of Pagourtzis, who surrendered to police shortly after the shooting. The many findings that Pagourtzis is mentally unfit to stand trial have delayed any criminal proceedings until at least 2025. MORE FROM TRIAL: Parents of accused 2018 Santa Fe school shooter not liable for negligence, jury finds In testimony last Thursday, Peterson, the psychiatrist, said Pagourtzis suffers from persistent psychosis and a type of schizoaffective disorder heavily influenced by bipolar disorder. Pagourtzis believed he was part of a CIA plot and was receiving instructions on behalf of a mysterious deity named Natasha, Peterson said. The trial culminated with the jury late Monday finding Pagourtzis parents not liable for negligence. The case was filed shortly after the shooting by parents of the victims and several wounded survivors, who asserted Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos failed to recognize their sons deteriorating mental health and didnt secure the familys firearms, leading to the shooting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Poehl in comments to the Chronicle on Tuesday, said despite his pessimism on his clients mental state, that he hoped a criminal trial would one day happen. Europe's leading solar power grid is 'vulnerable' to hackers. This is what a cyberattack could mean Europe's leading solar power grid is 'vulnerable' to hackers. This is what a cyberattack could mean A new study by a cybersecurity firm confirmed that one of Europe's largest solar energy grids is vulnerable to multiple types of attacks on its system. Over a six-month period, researchers with cybersecurity firm Secura researched hacker forums on the dark web and conducted interviews with experts from the energy sector to find out where the most common threats to Dutch solar energy would come from. "There is a significant area of attack in the solar power industry in the Netherlands and this will expand especially in the future," the report says. Related While Germany produces the most solar power in Europe, the Netherlands is the leader in solar energy per capita, the amount of energy produced by person, according to SolarPower Europe, the solar industrys association. There are over 3 million solar power installations throughout the Netherlands which in turn deliver between 17 to 20 gigawatts of power to the national energy grid every year, the report found. The report follows a recent probe by investigative journalism platform Follow the Money that shows that a hacker could have gained control of millions of Dutch smart solar panel systems using a backdoor into their online system. Related What attacks should we anticipate? There are a few reasons why malicious actors might want to attack the Dutch solar system, such as the fact that it accounts for so much of the countrys energy. For example, the report says that interference by a state actor is "relatively high" because it "allows for an easy route to disruption," which another country could use in negotiation. "A strategic dependency arises for the Netherlands (in that scenario) because it can affect vital infrastructure," the report says. The biggest impact that a cyberattack would have is on the central and high-voltage grid: the part of the grid that can hold and deliver the most energy. Related That however is unlikely, because the report says, this grid is used by many European states, and would likely not be the source of a targeted attack against the Netherlands. Hackers could also create too much solar power by manipulating the tipping point for a panels inverters, so they transform too much direct current energy from the Sun into alternating current energy, the type thats needed for the grid. If that happens, it could create a local power outage that the report says is easy to repair if done on a small individual solar panel. What happens in case of a cyberattack? The report says its hard to know what will take place after an attack but that money will likely be lost, whether small residential units or a large solar farm are targeted. How much is lost depends on whether any of the equipment is physically damaged. Power outages could be likely, especially if combined with attacks on wind power generators, battery storage systems, or charging stations. If there are prolonged power outages, the report says it could lead to social unrest because peoples individual needs would not be met. For example, widespread power outages could make it harder for Dutch residents to buy food or use their phones to stay in touch with one another. Related The cyberattacks and resulting power outages could also "damage confidence" in solar energy, the report continued, which would "reduce the willingness to invest in it and delay the energy transition". Euronews Next reached out to Secura but did not receive an immediate reply. 'Were a future-looking sector' While the threat of a cyberattack on solar is low for now, industry group SolarPower Europe said its important to put in place more measures to prevent any future attacks. Were a future-looking sector, on our way to providing the majority of Europes electricity. We take that responsibility seriously. Dries Acke, deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe, said in a July press release said there are some "clear steps" to take, like improving cyberattack risk assessments and empowering customers to learn more about how to keep their solar panels safe from malicious threats. The industry is also asking that solar panels be labelled critical products, so they will be subjected to more cybersecurity assessments. An EU-level threat monitoring group should be formed to look closely at threats to rooftop solar installations or any "centrally coordinated" devices, Acke continued. "Were a future-looking sector, on our way to providing the majority of Europes electricity. We take that responsibility seriously," Acke added. The EU said in a July report from the blocs cybersecurity agency that they are is unprepared for a large-scale attack on its energy infrastructure, including solar. The report asked the Commission to analyse supply chain vulnerabilities in solar and to find ways to put in place cyberprotection for the technologies that are used to control how and when the panels generate energy. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Amplify releases new K-12 Math curriculum Amplify, a publisher of Next Generation curriculum and assessment programs, Wednesday released "Amplify Desmos Math", a new, curiosity-driven K12 core math program that builds students' lifelong math proficiency. Wednesday August 21, 2024 8:56 PM , ummid.com News Network Brooklyn (New York): Amplify, a publisher of Next Generation curriculum and assessment programs, Wednesday released "Amplify Desmos Math", a new, curiosity-driven K12 core math program that builds students' lifelong math proficiency. The program's lessons are standards-aligned, easy to use, and fully customizable by educators. Amplify Desmos Math expands on the Desmos Math 68 curriculum, which is featured in a recent efficacy study led by WestEd that demonstrates increased math achievement across more than 900 schools in nine states. The program combines the best problem-based lessons with tightly aligned personalized practice, assessments, and intervention, creating an integrated experience for teachers and students that includes: Core Instruction: Amplify Desmos Math lessons provide a structured approach to problem-based learning, where each lesson builds on students' curiosity using a "Proficiency Progression" to develop lasting grade-level understanding for all students. Amplify Desmos Math lessons provide a structured approach to problem-based learning, where each lesson builds on students' curiosity using a "Proficiency Progression" to develop lasting grade-level understanding for all students. Screening and Progress Monitoring: "mCLASS" assessments and daily formative checks measure what students know and how they think. The asset-based assessment system provides teachers with targeted, actionable insights, linked to core instruction and intervention resources. "mCLASS" assessments and daily formative checks measure what students know and how they think. The asset-based assessment system provides teachers with targeted, actionable insights, linked to core instruction and intervention resources. Integrated Personalized Learning: "Boost Personalized Learning" activities help students access grade-level math through engaging, independent digital practice. The program's signature "Responsive Feedback" adjusts to students' work, providing item-level adaptivity to further support their learning. "Boost Personalized Learning" activities help students access grade-level math through engaging, independent digital practice. The program's signature "Responsive Feedback" adjusts to students' work, providing item-level adaptivity to further support their learning. Embedded Intervention: Integrated resources like Mini-Lessons and math fluency games provide targeted intervention on specific concepts or skills connected to the daily lesson. Extensions are also available to stretch students' understanding. "Engagement is a real challenge in math classrooms," said Jason Zimba, Amplify Chief Academic Officer of STEM. "Knowing this, we created a program with interesting problems that students are eager to solve, one that keeps them engaged and learning. Amplify Desmos Math achieves rigor and delight, motivating all students to explore new horizons and develop new understanding", Jason said. "Digital Platform" To complement robust printed materials, Amplify Desmos Math leverages a digital platform that enables educators and students to connect with one another as they work through lessons, engage in personalized learning, and check for understanding. The interactive platform and facilitation tools foster mathematical discussions and allow educators to see student thinking in real time. "Right now, teachers have to jump between platforms to access meaningful data, understand it, and use it," said Alexandra Walsh, Amplify Chief Product Officer. "By combining instruction, assessment, and differentiation on the same digital platform, we've made student data more accessible, so educators can spend less time toggling and more time responding to student needs." Amplify Desmos Math is available: KindergartenAlgebra 1 As a beta release for the 2024-2025 school year, for pilot implementations and early adoptions As a commercial release for the 2025-2026 school year Geometry, Algebra 2, Integrated 1, Accelerated Grades 6 and 7 As a beta release for the 2025-2026 school year As a commercial release for the 2026-2027 school year Integrated 2 and 3 As a commercial release for the 2026-2027 school year In addition, hundreds of free math lessons and activities from Amplify Desmos Math are openly available on Desmos Classroom. "Interested educators can not only teach the lessons, but also customize them, or even build their own from scratch. Educators can visit teacher.desmos.com to create a free account", Amplify said. Amplify, a pioneer in K12 education since 2000, is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Its core and supplemental programs in ELA, math and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively and for themselves. (The featured image used here for representation is generated by DALL-E3 AI.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Googles (Illegal) Search Monopoly Google, the worlds most conspicuous and dominant behemoths of Silicon Valley, was found to be operating an illegal monopoly in internet search and advertising markets, thereby breaching the Sherman Act. Wednesday August 21, 2024 6:40 PM , Dr Binoy Kampmark The occasion sparked much in the way of visionary language and speculative musings. This month, one of the worlds most conspicuous and dominant behemoths of Silicon Valley was found to be operating an illegal monopoly in internet search and advertising markets, thereby breaching the Sherman Act which renders monopolisation, attempted monopolisation and conspiracy to monopolise unlawful. In a Memorandum Opinion ruling running into 286 pages, Judge Amit P. Mehta of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia found that Google acted as a monopoly in its general search and general search text advertising markets and had breached Section 2 of the Sherman Act by making exclusive dealing agreements with various vendors (Apple, Samsung, Verizon and so forth). In doing so, Googles search engine was given exclusive default status on various platforms and devices, notably web browsers, wireless carriers and smartphone manufacturers. These partners agree to install Google as the search engine that is delivered to the user right out of the box at key search access points. Through its revenue share operation, involving the payment of billions of dollars to its partners, Google not only receives default placement at the key search access points, but its partners also agree not to preload any other general search engine on the device. Such a distribution system had forced Googles competitors to seek other means of reaching users. The decision offers a chronology of how such monopoly developed. Initially, Google most likely reached the high summit of market supremacy through legal means, making its search product enviably singular. The problem here was Googles conduct in seeking to maintain that supremacy in the market, thereby foreclosing it to competitors. The memorandum ruling is also valuable for revealing the tactical and strategic approach of the company in preserving its dominance, not to mention showing full self-awareness of that fact. Were such partners as Apple to develop their own search engine as the default in Safari, for instance, a fortune would be at stake. The company also showed a sketchy practice to preserving evidence, indulgently destructive in the practice of deleting chat messages after 24 hours, unless the default setting was turned to history on. According to arguments of the DOJ and the regulators, doing so revealed knowledge that Googles practices were likely in violation of the antitrust laws and wanted to make proving that impossible. In Judge Mehtas words: Any company that puts the onus on its employees to identify and preserve relevant evidence does so at its own peril. Google avoided sanctions in this case. It may not be so lucky with the next one. Other practices included an extensive, overly indulgent misuse of attorney-client privilege by filling email communications with gratuitous references to the companys in-house legal team. Directions were also issued to employees to avoid using certain antitrust buzzwords in their communications. A March 2011 presentation, Antitrust Basics for Search Team, was blatant in instructing employees to avoid any reference to markets, market share or dominance, not to mention scale and network effects. Best also avoid, according to the presentation, any metaphors to wars or sports, winning or losing. The exclusionary conduct engineered through Googles agreements was found by the Court to have had three primary anticompetitive effects: market foreclosure, preventing rivals from achieving scale and diminishing the incentives of any rivals, including nascent challengers, to invest and innovate in general search. Causation of such harm could be inferred in this case if the anticompetitive conduct in question reasonably appeared capable of making a significant contribution to maintaining monopoly power. There was no need for but-for proof, something that made the task of the US Department of Justice that much easier. It followed that the companys distribution agreements are exclusionary contracts that violate Section 2 because they ensure that half of all GSE [general search engine] users in the United States will receive Google as the preload default on all Apple and Android devices, as well as cause anticompetitive harm. The saga is set to become even lengthier, given that no remedies have yet been identified. These, as Robert Milne and Edward Thrasher of White & Case explain , can vary in terms of severity and effect, ranging from prohibiting Google from entering into the exclusive agreements to privilege the default status of its search engine, to requiring the company to share data and relevant code with other competitors in the search market, to the more drastic breaking up of the company. Google has announced that it will appeal the decision, and the commentary about how it could do so is already mushrooming. Geoffrey A. Manne, president of the International Center for Law and Economics, is one, offering a detailed overview about where Judge Mehta is said to have misread or misunderstood such concepts as proof of anticompetitive conduct. Invariably, scribblers in the tech industry have seized the opportunity to wonder what the alternatives to a post-Google world or one where the company is stripped of its monopolistic ascendancy might look like. Natasha Lomas in Techcrunch writes dreamily that a web lacking Googles acquisitive, data-pinching domination, let alone existence, is absolutely bigger than mere utility. This presented a chance for different models of service delivery ones that prioritize the interests of web users and the public infosphere to achieve scale and thrive. Broadly speaking, the Google decision can be said to nest in a range of recent efforts and undertakings by government regulators to conserve competition in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital markets, a point made by the July 23, 2024 Joint Statement on Competition in Generative AI Foundation Models and AI Products from the US Department of Justice, the US Federal Trade Commission, the European Commission, and the United Kingdoms Competition and Markets Authority. The regulators are mindful of potential attempts by firms to restrict key inputs for the development of AI technologies, entrench or extend existing market power in digital markets in adjacent AI markets or across ecosystems, taking advantage of feedback and network effects to increase barriers to entry and harm competition, create instances of monopsony power and develop and wield AI in ways that harm consumers, entrepreneurs, or other market participants. Such talk is hardly novel. It peppers and haunts the incipient stages of the webs existence: misty visions of the informed cybersphere; communities of engaged digital citizens rowdily if respectfully engaged in civil discourse. All of this done in defiance of policing measures and the suspicious eye of the authoritarian State. Eventually, techno utopianism is as faulty as any other variant of the unrealised idyll. The honey, milk and fruit always seem better on that side of the river, till the journey is made. [Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com. The featured image used here for representation is generated by DALL-E3 AI.] (Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.) Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Nainital Nurse rape and murder case that fails to move the nation A similar case of rape and murder like the lady doctor in Kolkata has come to light. This time from Nainital, Uttarakhand on August 14, 2024, the victim is a Muslim nurse. Wednesday August 21, 2024 10:41 PM , Syed Ali Mujtaba [The featured image used here for representation is generated by DALL-E3 AI.] New Delhi: A similar case of rape and murder like the lady doctor in Kolkata has come to light. This time from Nainital, Uttarakhand on August 14, 2024, the victim is a Muslim nurse. Since Uttarakhand is a BJP-ruled state, there is a conspiracy of silence in the media for this case, while it is gung-ho, for a 'bhadrlok' victim in the TMC-ruled state. The 32-year-old nurse, worked at a private hospital in Nanital. She lived with her 11-year-old daughter at Rudrapurs Islam Nagar colony in Nanital. The deceased went missing since July 30 and after a prolonged wait, her sister lodged a missing persons complaint at Rudrapur police station on July 31. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police recovered a body from the bushes along the border of Uttarakhand. The skeleton was found at a vacant plot in Dibdiba area of Uttar Pradesh. The post-mortem report of the female body confirmed a case of rape and murder. Instantly, the Uttrakhand Police declared to crack the case of missing nurse. SSP Dr. Manjunath TC said that after scanning the CCTV cameras it was found that the missing nurse was traveling in a tempo from Indra Chowk in Rudrapur police limits. After the investigation, the police arrested the tempo driver Dharmendra from Jodhpur. The accused is a resident of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and was driving tempo in Nanital and had fled to Rajasthan. During the interrogation, the accused confessed that he waylaid the victim with the intention of robbery. He took the deceased to a secluded place, where he first raped her, then strangled her to death. He dumped her body in a vacant plot and ran away with the money and jewelry kept in her purse. Well no bells toll for the Muslim nurse's rape and murder case, while the entirety is in shock for the trainee doctor in Kolkota. We the citizens of India have been witnessing the defilement of womens bodies time and again. First, it was Nirbhaya in Delhi, Jammu rape case, trainee doctor's rape and murder in Kolkata, and now the brutal rape and murder of the Muslim nurse in Nanital. Will this lust for sexual gratification ever end in India? [The writer, Syed Ali Mujtaba, is a journalist. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Saudi National wins SAR 500,000 at 44th King Abdulaziz Quran Contest Makkah Saudi National, Saad bin Ibrahim bin Hamd has won the top prize at the 44th Edition of the King Abdulaziz International Holy Quran Competition or 2024 Makkah Quran Contest for Memorization, Recital and Explanation held at the Grand Mosque Thursday August 22, 2024 1:10 AM , ummid.com News Network Makkah al Mukarramah: Saudi National, Saad bin Ibrahim bin Hamd has won the top prize at the 44th Edition of the King Abdulaziz International Holy Quran Competition or 2024 Makkah Quran Contest for Memorization, Recital and Explanation held at the Grand Mosque. At a glittering ceremony held at Makkah Grand Mosque after Isha prayers Wednesday, Saad was awarded a cash prize of 500,000 Saudi Riyals or SAR 0.5 million prize. The prize distribution ceremony was attended by all Imams of Masjid al Haram Makkah and Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, along with other local and international dignitaries. 3 Top Winners Saad won the top prize of the annual Quran Competition in the first category named Memorization of the entire Holy Quran, with accurate recitation and intonation following the seven rules of recitation. The second prize of SAR 450,000 in the first category went to Nigerian national Nasir Ibrahim Muhammad, and the third prize of SAR 400,000 went to Ziya Talal Fatehi Ibrahim (Deyaa Talal Fatehi Ibrahim) of Jordan. 5 categories The competition was divided into five categories: Memorization of the entire Holy Quran, with accurate recitation and intonation following the seven rules of recitation Memorization of the Quran along with interpretation of its terms Memorization of 15 juz (parts) of the Quran with proper recitation and intonation Memorization of five juz with correct recitation and intonation A category for shorter lengths of memorization with corresponding recitation and intonation requirements. Other winners Among the winners of the Makkah Quran contest are also two Bangaldesh citizens - Anas bin Ateeque (1st prize of SAR 200,000 in 3rd category) and Muaz Mahmud (1st prize of SAR 150,00 in 4th category). Some other winners are Htut Myat Oo of Myanmar (4th prize of SAR 50,000 in 5th category), Ach (Ahmed) Farhan of Indonesia (3rd prize of SAR 130,000 in 4th category), Obada Nouraldin Mohammed Rebhi Sultan of Palestine (2nd prize of SAR 140,000 in 4th category) and Ali Imran Abdullah of Australia (3rd prize of SAR 55,000 in 5th category). Closing Ceremony The closing ceremony was held in the courtyards of the Makkah Grand Mosque immediately after the Isha prayer Wednesday Aug 21, 2024. The King Abdulaziz Quran Competition is organized annually by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance. A total of 174 contenders representing 123 countries participated in this edition held in 5 categories. This marked the most significant number of participating countries in the competition's history. The final qualifiers of the 44th Holy Quran competition at the Makkah Grand Mosque was started at Masjid al Haram in Makkah August 10, 2024. It continued till August 15 when juries assessed and analysed the talent of the participants. After the culmination of the final round of the Quran contest, all participants are visiting different historical places and places of religious importance including Masjid an Nabawi, King Fahd Glorious Qur'an Printing Complex and other monuments, historical mosques, and archaeological sites in Madinah in Madinah - The City of The Prophet (Peace be upon him). The Quran contest participants, who are being hosted as the special guests of King Salman, were also taken for a special trip to Clock Tower in Makkah. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HA NOI The prices of Vietnamese rice are rising, contrasting with the trends in Thailand and Pakistan, according to the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA). The price of 5 per cent broken rice from Viet Nam, at US$575 per tonne, is $14 per tonne higher than that of the same type from Thailand and $34 per tonne higher than that of the same product from Pakistan. Vietnamese 25 per cent broken rice exports reached the price of $539 per tonne, surpassing the same type of rice from Thailand and Pakistan by $27 per tonne and $22 per tonne respectively. Compared to other top rice-exporting countries, Vietnamese rice currently has the highest export prices. This marks an impressive comeback for Vietnamese rice, as just a month ago, export prices were lower than those of Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar. The unexpected increase in rice imports from traditional partners has driven up market demand. This surge has contributed to the continuous rise in Vietnamese rice prices, pushing them back to the highest level globally. Director of Viet Hung Co. Ltd. in Tien Giang, Nguyen Van on, said that in the past half month, his company has continuously exported shipments to the Philippines, with volumes increasing by over 30 per cent compared to July. According to him the last months of the year are typically when countries ramp up their rice imports. This year, the two largest import markets for Vietnamese rice, the Philippines and Indonesia, have announced increases in their rice import volumes. The Philippines has increased its rice import target from 4.2 million to 4.5-4.7 million tonnes. Meanwhile, Indonesia may import up to 4.3 million tonnes of rice, instead of the 3.6 million tonnes initially announced at the beginning of the year. This change is due to a 9.5 per cent decrease in the country's rice production from the start of the year to August, compared to the same period last year. General Director of Phuong ong Food Co. Ltd. Nguyen Viet Anh said that the demand for rice in the market has remained consistently high and price fluctuations are largely driven by seasonal factors. At this time, with limited supply and countries accelerating imports to prepare for next year's drought season, rice prices have been pushed higher. He predicted that Viet Nam's rice exports are likely to remain stable, with prices continuing to rise until the end of the year if India has not lifted its rice export ban to stabilise domestic food security. Chairman of the Viet Nam Food Association, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, said that the demand from traditional Vietnamese rice importers, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Ghana, Malaysia, Singapore and others continues to be high. Additionally, Vietnamese rice exporters are expanding into new markets, including the Middle East, Africa, South America, Japan and South Korea. Statistics from the association show that over the past seven months, Viet Nam has exported over 5.1 million tonnes of rice, with a turnover of $3.2 billion, an increase of 25 per cent in volume and 5.8 per cent in value year-on-year. Viet Nam's average rice export prices are currently very high. At certain times, the export price of Vietnamese rice to Brunei reached $959 per tonne, to the US $868 per tonne, to the Netherlands $857 per tonne, to Ukraine $847 per tonne, to Iraq $836 per tonne and to Turkey $831 per tonne. With the increase in imports from partners, Nam said that rice exports could reach around eight million tonnes this year, earning more than $5 billion - a new record for the industry. VNS 4 arrested at mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration amid U.S. Democratic National Convention: media Xinhua) 09:56, August 21, 2024 CHICAGO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Four people were arrested after breaching a security fence amid a mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protest outside the venue of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago on Monday, reported U.S. media. Police were assessing whether the current fencing near the center was sufficient, said Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department, speaking to reporters at the fenced perimeter, reported CNN. "Our job here is to make sure that we keep the DNC safe, keep our city safe and keep our people safe," Snelling said as documented in videos on social media. The majority of protesters remained peaceful and had left the area before the breach occurred, reported CBS. The DNC's security team confirmed that protesters breached a portion of the fencing on the outer perimeter near the convention arena but said law enforcement personnel acted quickly and there was no threat to attendees, according to Reuters. Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched near the venue of the DNC on its opening day to express their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During the convention, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to formally accept the party's vice presidential nomination. The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has recently surpassed 40,000 since the outbreak of the current conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HISD parent Jessica Campos addresses the HISD board sharing her experience and frustration with the lost of wrap-around specialists in school, especially for immigrant families on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Houston ISD students are losing more days to air conditioning issues, with the closure of T. H. Rogers School in Tanglewood on Wednesday, an email to parents shows. AC issues forced early dismissals and closures at Heights High School and Reynolds Elementary School last school year. It is unclear at this time whether more schools closed due to air conditioning issues Wednesday, but starting earlier in August means the district must navigate an additional two weeks of August heat. At other campuses, including Lanier Middle School and High School for Law and Justice, students have had to be moved out of hot classrooms, according to messages by those principals sent to school communities Wednesday. These issues arise as students take beginning-of-the-year benchmark exams through Thursday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles characterized the ongoing air conditioning issues as a daily battle the district will fight until temperatures cool down in fall. The district aims to keep classrooms between 70 to 75 degrees, he said at a district Board of Managers meeting. I said to the board and to our community, we will fight the air conditioning battle every day until October, Miles said Thursday, adding they had to move students due to air conditioning issues from Montgomery Elementary School to another school that day. But meanwhile, parents continue to express concern for the health of their children amid climbing temperatures. At the Thursday board meeting, parent Tia James Glenn said the dance classroom at Crockett Elementary School was 81 degrees with five fans. Glenn said she wasnt aware of any portable air conditioning offered at that time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She had one last year, so this AC problem has been going on for a very long time with no resolution, Glenn said to the board. The air conditioning issues strike at the heart of a community debate as to whether to support a $4.4 billion school bond on the ballot this November. While the district promises to use some of that money to fix air conditioning issues, some community members are skeptical the money will be used as promised and call for greater transparency from the district. The district would devote $1.35 billion of the bond to campus safety; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system updates and testing school facilities to meet environmental standards. In a bid to win community support, district officials presented their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work order statistics from the past academic years at community bond presentations. Eugene Salazar, district operations administrative officer, said more than half of the work orders in recent years pertained to mechanical, electrical and plumbing issues, including HVAC issues. That comes out to on average 242 campuses per month reported HVAC issues, Salazar said at a May 30 bond presentation. HA NOI Credit institutions will have to develop a roadmap to comply with the share ownership ratio regulation under the newly-issued Law on Credit Institutions. According to the Law, which took effect from July 1 this year, the share ownership cap by an institutional shareholder in a credit institution is reduced from 15 per cent to 10 per cent and for an individual and his/her related parties from 20 per cent to 15 per cent. The amendments are aimed at limiting and preventing cross-ownership and ownership that dominates the operations of credit institutions. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), said it is drafting a circular to implement the new share ownership ratio regulation. The draft will require credit institutions, which have shareholders and related parties owning shares exceeding the regulated limit, to coordinate with the shareholders and related people to develop and implement a roadmap to ensure compliance with the regulation. The draft circular states credit institutions will have to send their roadmap directly or via post to the SBVs Banking Inspection and Supervision Agency, shareholders and related parties within 120 days. The credit institutions, organisations and individuals are the ones responsible for implementing that roadmap sent to the SBV. If necessary, credit institutions can coordinate with related organisations and individuals to adjust the applicable measures and implementation date, but they must still ensure the compliance roadmap deadline. According to the draft circular, the shareholders and related parties are not allowed to increase the number of shares held at the credit institution in any form, until they ensure compliance with the prescribed share ownership limit regulation, except in the case of receiving bonus shares or dividends in shares. Also, they will not be permitted to receive cash dividends (if any) for the number of shares held exceeding the limit until they ensure compliance with the new ownership limit regulation. From the effective date of this circular, credit institutions are not allowed to grant new credit to the shareholders and related parties. In case a credit institution, shareholders and related parties, do not comply with the compliance roadmap, the SBV will consider and apply handling measures according to the provisions of law. According to the SBV, it is challenging to enforce comprehensive regulations to address cross-ownership issues and requires an integrated approach, using national data on population and business registration and coordination between various governmental agencies. Under a directive on the implementation of monetary policies in 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with the SBV to develop measures to prevent and handle cross ownership and manipulation at credit institutions. Scrutinising cross ownership and manipulation at credit institutions aims to ensure system safety, as well as financial and monetary security, the PM noted. VNS HCM CITY The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held a national forum on promoting the Viet Nam EU partnership and sustainable development in HCM City on August 21, aiming to bolster the cooperation between Vietnamese businesses and the EU market. In his opening remarks, VCCI Vice President Vo Tan Thanh said the EU is one of Viet Nam's most crucial partners, and Viet Nam is a safe and potential investment destination for European enterprises. He also stressed that Viet Nam is the only Southeast Asian nation with a comprehensive cooperation framework with the bloc. Thanh urged the EU to share more information and experiences with Viet Nam and assist the nation in the development of green, modern, and efficient policies and growth models. He called for EU support in enhancing Viet Nam's infrastructure, human resources, technical assistance, and technology transfer to help the country meet international standards. Additionally, he hoped for broader access to various EU market segments beyond the traditional markets of northern, western, and eastern Europe. Recommending EU investors to expand cooperation with Vietnamese provinces and cities, Thanh affirmed that the VCCI is committed to supporting the Vietnamese and EU business communities in their cooperation and investment, thereby further enhancing the Viet Nam-EU relations. Jean Jacques Buouflet, Vice President of the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham), acknowledged Viet Nam's efforts in building a policy framework for green economic development and its strong commitments to sustainable growth. He cited the country's national green growth strategy, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, alongside national strategies on forestry, environmental protection, and sustainable development. However, Buouflet noted that Viet Nam still lacks specific legal frameworks for green development across various sectors and guidelines for mobilising financial resources to support this transition. EuroCham recommended that Viet Nam persist in developing these frameworks and increasing social resources to implement green transition goals, leveraging international experience and knowledge to avoid misallocation and waste of resources. EuroCham is willing to support Viet Nam in accelerating its green transition, particularly in renewable energy, green transport, and green finance, the official said. The chamber is committed to close collaboration and sharing expertise with different sectors in Viet Nam to advance sustainable green economic development. At the forum, Vietnamese and EU economists, VCCI officials, and representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade discussed market trends, new opportunities in the EU market, smart agriculture, green finance, and potential business prospects in emerging fields. Currently, the EU is Viet Nam's largest development partner, fifth largest trading partner, and the sixth largest foreign investor. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is the EU's largest trading partner in ASEAN and 14th globally. Two-way trade in the first half of 2024 stood at nearly US$32.39 billion, up 13.5 per cent year on year, in which Viet Nam's exports were valued at $24.69 billion, up 15.4 per cent. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will focus on implementing a series of solutions to combat counterfeit and fake goods, especially in the e-commerce marketplace, the Minister of Industry and Trade said at the 36th session of the National Assembly's Standing Committee held in Ha Noi on August 21. At the session, deputy Chu Thi Hong Thai from Lang Son Province, said that according to the report from the General Secretary of the National Assembly, preventing and combating smuggling and counterfeit goods has not been totally effective. Counterfeit and smuggled goods of unknown origin are still being sold widely with increasingly sophisticated tricks, mainly in cyberspace. Thai recommended that the ministry should have strong enough sanctions to deter violations of goods' origin and a roadmap for implementation of the sanctions. Responding to Thai's request, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that in a market economy, preventing and combating trade fraud, smuggling and counterfeit goods, poor quality goods and tax evasion, are important tasks. But they are also huge challenges for countries, including Viet Nam, especially in the e-commerce space. "Recently, MoIT has coordinated with relevant agencies to advise competent authorities to issue many mechanisms and policies to improve the effectiveness of this work," Dien said. They include the issuance of the Law on Consumer Protection, the project against counterfeit and poor quality goods, amendments to and supplements of regulations on penalties in traditional trade and e-commerce. At the same time, the ministry has implemented a mechanism for receiving and processing information about counterfeit and poor quality goods via the portal on e-commerce management and protection of consumer rights. This is a national portal of the Vietnam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency, MoIT. In addition, it has coordinated with other forces in preventing and combating commercial fraud, including the police, border guard, customs and members of National Steering Committee against Smuggling, Counterfeit Goods and Trade Fraud (National Steering Committee 389) in localities to request e-commerce websites to review and remove thousands of fake and poor-quality goods with numerous violations. The ministry has further strengthened dissemination to guide consumers in finding out violations and build a database for sharing the information with relevant agencies. The agencies include the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the State Bank and the Ministry of Finance. Thanks to carrying out the series of measures, tens of thousands of violations have been handled recently, so the State has collected tens of thousands of billions of Vietnamese ong in fines for violations in commerce. Dien said that in the future, the ministry will continue to work with competent authorities to amend and supplement regulations on penalties for the violations in commerce, especially e-commerce, to protect consumer rights. The ministry will effectively implement the project fighting counterfeit and poor quality goods issued by the Prime Minister. It will also improve the effectiveness of the portal in receiving and processing information on violations of commercial fraud. The ministry will promote communication to help consumers improve their knowledge about counterfeit and poor quality goods. Electricity prices Responding to the questions related to electricity prices, Minister Dien said that the tiered electricity price list is a popular model in all countries to encourage customers to use electricity economically and efficiently and enhance social responsibility of environmental protection. Because more output in electricity production will create more impacts on the environment. Retail electricity prices have six levels, according to Decision No. 28/2014/Q-TTg of the Prime Minister. Implementing the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee and the direction of the Government, MoIT and relevant offices have amended and supplemented this decision, Dien said. Accordingly, in the draft submitted to the Government, the retail electricity prices are restructured into five levels. Of which, level 1 is increased from 0 - 50kWh to 0 - 100kWh as proposed by the National Assembly. This calculation method will contribute to supporting poorer consumers, he said. In addition, to eliminate the unreasonable gap between electricity users, the draft proposes adjusting the electricity price frames in production and daily life so that they are closer. Some production sectors are adjusted to match the price list in the service sector to ensure no cross-subsidy between electricity users. VNS HA NOI The Executive Board of the Vietnam Women Forum in Europe (VWFE) held a working session with the Hanoi Association for Women Entrepreneurs (HNEW) on August 21 to strengthen connections between Vietnamese women in the country and those in Europe. Members of both sides exchanged a lot of information relating to the experience of importing and exporting Vietnamese goods to Europe and vice versa. VWFE President Phan Bich Thien said this was a concrete action to implement an agreement signed between the two sides in April this year, elaborating that it was also a practical step towards collaboration between domestic entrepreneurs and overseas Vietnamese for the cause of national development and construction. The partnership is expected to help to connect entrepreneurs of Ha Noi with their peers in Europe, bringing specific benefits to both sides and creating more favourable conditions for charitable activities in Viet Nam, which is one of the forum's key initiatives, she added. HNEW Vice President Nguyen Thi Hoai Huong noted that this meeting offered a chance for female entrepreneurs of Hanoi to gain more information and explore opportunities to bring Vietnamese products to the global market. At the meeting, domestic and overseas female entrepreneurs discussed the advantages and limitations in leveraging the status of Vietnamese products in the international arena. They expressed a strong desire to connect with each other for mutual benefit in the future. Nguyen Tuyet Hanh, a business owner distributing food products in the Czech Republic, shared that Vietnamese products are of excellent quality and are favoured in Europe. However, shortcomings in branding and packaging are affecting their exports. Hanh suggested Vietnamese businesses pay more attention to product origin and food safety issues, contributing to profits for both sides. Female entrepreneurs of Hanoi also introduced the potential and strengths of their businesses to their peers in Europe. Nguyen Hong Loan, Deputy Director of Minh Anh Trade and Consulting Co. Ltd. said she hoped to find partners who are importing food distributors and explore opportunities to export Vietnamese agricultural and food products. VWFE was set up in June 2023, gathering nearly 300 members from 21 countries, aiming to connect Vietnamese women in regional nations as well as between them and their peers at home. VNS JAKARTA Viet Nam joined ten other member countries of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) at the second AZEC Ministerial Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 21. The event aimed to look into the countries efforts to pursue the targets of net zero emissions, encourage businesses to engage in decarbonisation efforts, and hold a business matching forum to enhance cooperation in the future. In his opening remarks, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said AZEC is a venue for governmental organisations, leaders of sectors, and experts to discuss and affirm the importance of renewable energy and sustainable practices in all fields around the world. Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito Ken said the strength of AZEC is the partnership between the public and private sectors, adding that 350 decarbonisation projects and 100 memoranda of understanding (MoU) have been carried out in the region so far. As many as 70 new MoUs were signed at the meeting, which also recorded many significant results, including a joint statement of the second AZEC Ministerial Meeting, the publication of an MoU for the new AZEC project, and the organisation of the AZEC Business Forum. In particular, the launch of the Asian Zero Emission Centre on this occasion aimed to encourage the participation of business entities in decarbonisation efforts as well as a business matching forum to strengthen collaboration in the future. At the business forum held as part of the meeting, Viet Nam shared its efforts in efficient energy use to achieve net-zero targets. Pham Van Tan, deputy director of the Climate Change Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that Viet Nam and its partner Japan have identified more than 80 projects that could be implemented within the AZEC framework. Japanese businesses and AZEC member countries will work with the Vietnamese Government and partners to carry out those projects in the time ahead, he noted. AZEC is part of the emissions reduction initiative first initiated by the Japanese Prime Minister at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the UK. It was officially launched at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, in 2022. The AZEC members consist of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. VNS KHANH HOA The organisers of the successful Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival, an international drone light show competition held in July, has proposed making it an annual event to boost tourism. Nguyen Hoai Thu, the chief organiser and chairwoman of Corex Business Solutions Joint Stock Company, has said recently that this would help build the citys reputation as a tourist destination. She said her company is developing a programme for next year that promises to be more attractive, unique, and innovative than this year's. Nguyen Tan Tuan, chairman of the Khanh Hoa Province People's Committee, said the festival helped showcase Nha Trangs tourism offerings to the international market and highlighted the broader attractions of the province. Since the drone performance teams participated in this event, Khanh Hoa became the first locality in Viet Nam to obtain two Guinness World Records for the largest light display of world wonders and the largest light display of Vietnams cultural symbol, the Lac bird, he pointed out. If the festival becomes an annual event, it would need to feature something special and unique each year, he added. The four-day festival attracted more than 660,000 visitors to the city, with over 288,000 staying overnight. During the 2024 Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival hotels in the citys downtown reported average room occupancy exceeding 90 per cent. There were over 50 million live viewers on TV and other media. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and China have issued a joint statement on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and building a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future on the occasion of state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam from August 18-20. Following is the Vietnam News Agencys translation of the joint statement 1. At the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam paid a state visit to China from August 18 - 20, 2024. During the visit, General Secretary, President To Lam held talks with General Secretary, President Xi Jinping, had meetings with Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning. In an atmosphere of sincerity and friendship, the two sides informed each other about the situation of their respective parties and countries, exchanged in-depth opinions, reached important common perceptions on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and promoting the building of the Viet Nam-China community with a shared future in the new situation, and discussed international and regional issues of mutual common concern. 2. The Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Communist Party of China are the two ruling Communist parties in the world, carrying a historic mission, striving for the happiness of the people, for national development, and for peace and progress of mankind. In the cause of struggling for national independence and national liberation, the two Parties, two countries and people of Viet Nam and China provided assistance and supported each other, establishing the Viet Nam-China traditional friendship as both comrades and brothers. This year marks 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh came to Guangdong for revolutionary activities; 2025 sees the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and China, and the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. Entering a new era, the two sides will not forget their initial wish of friendship, engrave the common mission, steadfastly pursue the path to socialism and promote modernisation in line with each country's situation, follow the Viet Nam- China friendship path that has been established by generations of leaders of the two parties and two countries, continue to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, together build the Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, promote relations between the two Parties and two countries to a new height, strive for the happiness of the people and strong and prosperous country, for the development of the socialist cause, and for the cause of peace and progress of humankind. 3. The Vietnamese side warmly congratulates China on the 75th anniversary of its founding, the successful organisation of the third plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, and highly values the great achievements China has achieved in the new period; believes that China-style modernisation has opened up choices of paths and implementation plans for the autonomous development of developing countries; China's comprehensive reform and door-opening of foreign affairs at a high level will bring new momentum and new opportunities for the development of other countries. The Vietnamese side wishes and believes that under the steadfast leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core, under the orientation of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, the Party, Government and people of China will comprehensively build a modern socialist power and successfully realise the goals for the second centenary. The Chinese side congratulates Viet Nam on and highly values its important achievements obtained in nearly 40 years of reform and nearly 15 years of implementing the "Platform for national building in the transition period to socialism" (supplemented and developed in 2011), especially the important, outstanding and comprehensive accomplishments since the 13th National Party Congress, thus promoting Viet Nam's combined strength and international influence to the highest ever level. The Chinese side wishes and believes that under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, headed by comrade To Lam, the Party, State and People of Viet Nam will successfully implement the goals and tasks set by the 13th National Party Congress, make thorough preparations and successfully organise the 14th National Party Congress in 2026, build Viet Nam into a socialist-oriented high income developed country by 2045. The Chinese side affirms its support for Viet Nam's prosperous development, happy people, building of a strong, independent, self-reliant economy, along with promoting synchronously the cause of renewal, industrialisation, modernisation, comprehensive international integration, developing foreign relations of friendship, and bringing into play the increasingly important role for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the region and the world. 4. China emphasises its persistent policy of friendship with Viet Nam and always considers Vietnam a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy. Viet Nam affirms that the country always considers relations with China a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification. These are the strategic choices of the two sides. The two sides underline the need to seriously implement the common perception and results achieved during the bilateral visits of the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, especially the two historic visits by late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in 2022 and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to Vietnam in 2023, along with the "Joint Statement on continuing to promote and deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" and the "Joint Statement on continuing to deepen and elevate comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and building a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance" issued during the two visits, respectively. They also emphasises the need to adhere to the 16-word motto and the four-good spirit, persistently implement the six major directions, namely higher political trust, more practical and deeper defence - security cooperation, more substantive and deeper cooperation, more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better control and settlement of differences; promote the building of the Viet Nam-China community with a shared future to gain more substantive results, striving for the happiness of the people and the prosperity of the country, for the cause of peace and progress of mankind. 5. The two sides affirm to maintain strategic exchanges between high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and two countries, and jointly orient the development of the Viet Nam-China relationship. They will fully promote the special role of the Party channel, further strengthen the overall coordination role of the exchange and cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, especially high-level meetings, theoretical workshops between the two Parties, and exchanges between the two Parties' agencies of foreign affairs; improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the respective agencies of the two Parties at the central level and Party committees at the local level, especially in provinces/border areas; comprehensively implement theoretical exchanges and experience sharing in Party and nation management; jointly deepen awareness of the Communist Party's ruling regulations, the law of building socialism, and the law of human development to serve Party building and the development of the socialist cause of each side; and strengthen friendly exchanges and promote the role of the cooperation committee mechanisms between the National Assembly of Viet Namand the National People's Congress of China, friendly exchanges between organisations at the central level and border provinces of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The two sides agree that the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation strengthens overall coordination, directs ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries to build the Viet Nam-China community with a shared future, and enhance mechanisms and forms of exchange and cooperation in strategic areas such as diplomacy, defence and security. The Vietnamese side reaffirms its adherence to the "One China" policy, recognising that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, and that the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China. Viet Nam supports the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and Chinas great cause of reunification, resolutely opposes any dividing act for "independent Taiwan" in all forms and does not develop any state-level relations with Taiwan. Viet Nam considers issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet as internal affairs of China and believes that under the leadership of the Chinese Party and Government, these regions will maintain stability and develop prosperously. China supports Viet Nam in maintaining social stability, ensuring national security, development, and national solidarity. 6. The two sides affirm that defence - security cooperation is one of the pillars of Viet Nam-China relations. They agree to enhance defence - security cooperation, strengthen exchanges at all levels between the two countries' armies through channels such as the border defence friendship exchange, and defence and security dialogue, deepen border, naval, and coast guard exchanges; and promote cooperation in areas such as political work, defence industry, mutual visits of naval ships, and United Nations peacekeeping. The two sides enhance mechanisms between the Ministries of Public Security of the two countries, such as the ministerial conference on crime prevention cooperation, strategic security dialogue, and political security working group; promote cooperation in areas such as combating telecom fraud, cybersecurity, economic crime, human trafficking, organisation of illegal immigration, and tracking and recovering assets of criminals who have fled abroad; coordinate to establish a hotline between the two countries' Ministries of Public Security, expedite the ratification of the state-level agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Viet Nam and China, and establish and expand cooperation between Viet Nam's Ministry of Public Security and China's Ministry of Emergency Management. The two countries strengthen information exchanges and share experiences on countering interference, combating separatism, preventing "colour revolution," and jointly protect political security and regime security; and expand legal and judicial cooperation to ensure a legal foundation for collaboration in various fields between Viet Nam and China. 7. The two sides agree to promote development strategy connectivity between the two countries, effectively implement the cooperation plan connecting the "Two Corridors, One Belt" Framework with the "Belt and Road" Initiative; accelerate "hard connectivity" in terms of railways, expressways and border gate infrastructure; upgrade "soft connectivity" in smart customs; China agrees to provide assistance for Viet Nam to develop the planning of the Lang Son - Ha Noi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong standard gauge railway lines, develop a Feasibility Study Report for the Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong standard gauge railway line. Hastening the pilot construction of smart border gates at the Huu Nghi (Viet Nam) Youyi Guan (China) international border gate and the dedicated cargo transport road in the area of boundary markers 1088/2 - 1089 (Tan Thanh - Po Chai). Actively researching and deploying pilot construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones, jointly building safe and stable production and supply chains. The two sides encourage and support enterprises with capacity, reputation and advanced technology to invest in the other country, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in hi-tech agriculture, infrastructure, clean energy, digital economy and green development; create a fair and favourable business environment for each other's enterprises. Deepening the exchange of experiences on state-owned enterprise reform and management, collaborating in human resources training; actively studying greater cooperation in the key mineral sector. Making good use of the financial and monetary cooperation working group between the two countries, enhancing information exchange and experience sharing on policy management and reform in the financial-monetary field, and boosting monetary cooperation. Accelerating the implementation of economic and technical cooperation projects such as the Traditional Medicine Hospital (Subsidiary 2). Effectively upholding the role of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA); making good use of e-commerce platforms and trade fairs; enhancing customs cooperation and expanding the export of each countrys key products to the other. China is ready to continue creating favourable conditions for Viet Nam to open additional trade promotion offices in various locations in China. Viet Nam supports Chinas accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) based on adherence to the agreement's standards and procedures, and actively welcomes Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China's application to join the RCEP. 8. Both sides affirm commitment to preserving the traditional friendship, upholding shared ideals and missions, and consistently promoting popularisation work on the Viet Nam-China friendship. The two sides declare 2025 as the "Year of Viet Nam-China Humanistic Exchange" and will jointly organise a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and China. Through Party, youth and friendly city channels, effectively utilising "red relic sites" in localities such as Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Chongqing, and holding activities in research, education, culture, and tourism in diverse forms. Encouraging more tourists to visit the other country. Promoting the role of the China Cultural Centre in Viet Nam and welcoming Viet Nams establishment of a cultural centre in China; encouraging cooperation in media, news, publishing, broadcasting, studying collaboration in vocational training, strengthening exchanges and collaboration in medicine, health care, traditional medicine, disaster prevention and mitigation. 9. The two sides affirm to strengthen coordination and multilateral cooperation that aligns with the building of the Viet Nam-China Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. The two sides should persevere in the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" and basic norms of international relations, jointly protect the international system with the United Nations as its core and the international order with international law as its foundation, protect international justice, fairness and the common interests of developing countries. Resolutely promoting an equal, orderly multipolar world and comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable economic globalisation. The two sides agree to step up cooperation within the framework of the major initiatives - Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative, which aim to protect the common interests of all mankind, for the cause of peace, justice and progress of people all over the world, and meet the aspirations of people worldwide for a better world. The two sides advocate human rights exchanges and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect, firmly opposed the "politicisation," "instrumentalisation," and double standards in human rights issues, and resolutely protested the use of human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Strengthening coordination and cooperation in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and supporting each other's candidacy for international organisations. China supports Viet Nam in hosting APEC 2027 and backs Viet Nam's accession and promotion of its role in multilateral mechanisms. The two sides agree to jointly promote open regional cooperation. China supports ASEAN in building an ASEAN Community of solidarity, unity, self-reliance and development, and in maintaining its central role in the ever-evolving regional architecture; works together with ASEAN countries to advance the initiative of creating the "5 Common Homes" of peace, security, prosperity, beauty and friendship; accelerates the development of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0. Stepping up the implementation of cooperation areas within the framework of Mekong-Lancang cooperation, striving to promote the building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mekong-Lancang countries for peace and prosperity; promoting cooperation within the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) economic cooperation framework. 10. The two sides discuss in depth and in a sincere, straightforward manner sea issues, stressing the need for better control and active handling of disagreement at sea, and maintenance of peace, stability in the East Sea and the region. The two sides agree on the need to adhere to the common perceptions of high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries, together maintain peace, stability in the East Sea, persevere in friendly consultation to actively seek essential and long-term solutions acceptable to both sides in accordance with the Viet Nam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, take no action that can complicate the situation or extend disputes. Pushing ahead with discussion on cooperation for common development at sea and the delimitation of sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin towards early substantial progress, actively promoting cooperation in less sensitive sea-related fields. Continuing to implement comprehensively and effectively the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), working on the basis of consensus consultation towards a substantive, effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Continuing to coordinate to effectively implement the legal documents on land border and related agreements, promoting cooperation in areas along the Viet Nam-China land border, well organise activities marking the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-China land border treaty and 15 years since the signing of the three legal documents on Viet Nam-China land border. 11. During the visit, the two sides signed documents on cooperation in Party school, connectivity, industry, finance, customs plant quarantine, healthcare, press and broadcasting, locality cooperation and social affairs and livelihood. 12. The two sides reach unanimity that the state visit to China of Party General Secretary and President To Lam is a success, significantly promoting the building of the Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance that is conducive to peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Party General Secretary and President To Lam thanked the Chinese side for the warm and friendly welcome and invited Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to visit Viet Nam again early. Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping thanked and accepted the invitation with pleasure. Beijing, August 20, 2024. VNS HAVANA The ASEAN Committee in Cuba (ACC), grouping the embassies of Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia, held an ASEAN flag-raising ceremony in Havana on August 20 to mark the 57th founding anniversary of the bloc. Apart from ambassadors of the member countries, the event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of China, Japan, and Timor-Leste, and representatives of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long, the rotating chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, emphasised the spirit of cooperation, friendship and solidarity of the ASEAN community over the past decades, highlighting ASEAN's core values of peace, stability and prosperity through solidarity and cooperation. The block will welcome Timor-Leste as its 11th member, he said, adding that this is also a testament to ASEAN's commitment to comprehensive cooperation in the region. In Cuba, the ASEAN Committee has worked closely to promote the interests of the member countries, as well as the community's solidarity for the peace, development and happiness of the people both in Southeast Asia and in Cuba. Regarding the ASEAN-Cuba ties Long stressed that the relationship is based on mutual respect, solidarity and a shared vision for the future. In November 2020, Cuba became the first Caribbean country to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). This important step underscores Cubas commitment to promoting peace and cooperation in the region. He noted that Cuba undertook as an observer at the 44th Session of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2023, highlighting the Caribbean island nations desire to strengthen relations with ASEAN and contribute to regional stability. The diplomat took the opportunity to extend his thanks to the ASEAN dialogue partners, namely China and Japan, for their important contributions to the bloc's success. For his part, Ariel Lorenzo Rodriguez, Director of the Asia and Oceania Division under the General Division of Bilateral Affairs of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke highly of the solidarity, friendship, and increasing role of ASEAN in the international arena. He affirmed that Cuba always attaches importance to the relations with ASEAN countries, and stands ready to cooperate with ASEAN in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, language training, culture, sports, and climate change response. On this occasion, the ASEAN Committee in Cuba organised a group walk and activities for children to strengthen solidarity and friendship. VNS HA NOI The State visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and his spouse to China from August 18-20 was a great success, marking a new milestone and ushering in a new phase of development in the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. This is a particularly important diplomatic event between Viet Nam and China in 2024, with a significant impact on the long-term development trend of the relationship between the two Parties and countries. The visit, Lam's first foreign trip since his election as the General Secretary of the 13th CPV Central Committee, included 18 key activities. During the talks with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Lam emphasised his desire to work with his Chinese counterpart and other Chinese high-ranking leaders to inherit and uphold the long-standing tradition of friendship between the two Parties and countries, guiding the Viet Nam-China relationship into a new phase of increasingly stable and sustainable development. Xi strongly affirmed that China maintains its persistent policy of friendship with Viet Nam, and always takes Viet Nam as a priority and strategic choice in its neighbourhood diplomacy. A highlight of the visit was a tour of Guangzhou in Guangdong province marking the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minhs arrival in Guangzhou as an international advisor to the Communist International. From 1924 to 1927, President Ho Chi Minh and Chinese revolutionaries established a close friendship that was later described as comrades-cum-brothers friendship. This activity provided an opportunity for both sides to reminisce about the traditional friendship, solidarity, and mutual support between the two Parties, countries, and their peoples, laying a stronger social foundation for the bilateral relationship, according to Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung. Looking ahead to 2025 when the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the leaders decided to designate 2025 as the "Year of Viet Nam-China Humanistic Exchange" to raise public awareness of the traditional bilateral friendship. Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency in Beijing, Director of the Institute for Viet Nam Studies at the Zhengzhou University Prof. Yu Xiangdong said that Lam's visit is a strategic choice based on the stable development of the bilateral relations, demonstrating Viet Nam's consistent stance and "bamboo diplomacy" policy, benefiting the noble cause of modernisation that the CPV is constantly promoting and in conformity with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, and being useful to maintaining and protecting peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the region and the world over. He stressed that the visit has symbolic significance, demonstrating the desire to continue the political legacy left by late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - who laid the foundation for the strategic and especially important relationship between Viet Nam and China. More than 30 years after the normalisation, especially more than 15 years since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership framework in 2008, Viet Nam-China relations have witnessed rapid strides and comprehensive progress in all fields. Following the historic official visit to China by General Secretary Trong in October 2022 and the third state visit to Viet Nam by General Secretary and President Xi in December last year, the two sides agreed to further deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and build a Viet Nam China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, thus opening a new chapter in the bilateral relations. So far this year, the relationship between the two countries has maintained a positive development trend, with a strong atmosphere of cooperation spreading across levels, sectors, and among the general public. The bilateral relationship is said to be at its most profound, comprehensive, and substantive level ever, with increasing growth in economic, trade, and investment cooperation. On the occasion of the Vietnamese top leaders visit, the two countries issued a joint statement on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future. High-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries devoted much attention and time to discussing cooperation orientations in various fields, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in strategic areas such as diplomacy, defence, and public security; expand cooperation connecting the "Two Corridors, One Belt" Framework with the "Belt and Road" Initiative; accelerate "hard connectivity" in terms of railways, expressways and border gate infrastructure; and upgrade "soft connectivity" in smart customs. China agreed to provide non-refundable assistance for Viet Nam to develop the planning of northern railway routes connecting Viet Nam with China, hasten the pilot construction of smart border gates, implement the pilot construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones, jointly build safe and stable production and supply chains, and support Chinese enterprises with capacity, reputation, and advanced technology to invest in Viet Nam. Ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries signed documents on cooperation in Party school, connectivity, industry, finance, customs plant quarantine, health care, press and broadcasting, and locality cooperation. The signed documents vividly reflect the two sides' determination to promote deeper substantive cooperation. The visit is an important activity implementing Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification, which includes a policy of considering relations with China a top priority. The high-level agreements and specific results achieved during the visit will continue to contribute to consolidating the favourable foreign situation, creating a peaceful and stable environment, offering more favourable conditions for pushing socio-economic development, elevating the country's position and prestige, and successfully implementing the targets set by the 13th National Party Congress. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's efforts to address the 'yellow card' warning from the European Commission (EC) for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing over the past seven years had yielded some results. The system for fisheries monitoring had been reorganised, with 28 coastal provinces now having fisheries control forces. A Supreme People's Court resolution criminalising IUU-related offences had been established. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan answered the question by National Assembly deputy Tran Thi Nhi Ha of Ha Noi at the question-and-answer session during the 36th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Wednesday morning in Ha Noi. Deputy Ha asked Minister Hoan about the current difficulties in persuading the EC to lift the yellow card for Viet Nam and whether the ministry had specific commitments to resolve the issue. Minister Hoan said that the main strategy to resolve the issue involved effectively implementing the Viet Nam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045 and the Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development 2021-30, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister. Developing the fisheries sector would focus on three pillars of reducing fishing, increasing aquaculture and marine conservation to ensure fish stock for future generations. He also added that despite a reduction in the number of fishing vessels from over 100,000 to 86,000, the fleet remained extensive compared to regional countries, affecting sustainable development. In the future, the country needed to continue demonstrating its efforts to address the IUU yellow card, collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Defence in implementing an action month. Additionally, the limited expertise in fisheries necessitated collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training to enhance awareness among fishermen to protect fishery resources. Also at the question-and-answer session, National Assembly deputy Pham Hung Thang of Ha Nam Province questioned minister Hoan about solutions for supporting the production and consumption of agricultural products, expanding new foreign markets for Vietnamese farm produce and completing legal policies on developing trademarks, brand ownership and key agricultural products in Viet Nam. The Minister replied that the standardisation of all agricultural-product quality remained a significant challenge for the countrys agricultural sector. We cannot contemplate expanding into foreign markets if our products do not meet the market standards. Therefore, we must focus on issuing codes, specifying cultivation and breeding areas in the near future. Minister Hoan emphasised that rebuilding centralized raw material areas and strengthening cooperatives were crucial to address the fragmented nature of the domestic agriculture sector. Policies aimed at consolidating small agricultural fields into larger ones and transforming small forests into extensive areas required further attention from localities. Moreover, developing regional specialty products was a channel for marketing processed goods and enhancing the value of local agricultural products at various levels. Currently, we had over 13,000 OCOP (One Commune-One Product) items. Effective implementation of the initiative would relieve market pressure and create livelihoods and jobs for farmers. Additionally, the policy of opening markets had been consistently applied to both domestic and international markets. In highlighting measures to open up agricultural markets, he pointed out that the agricultural ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade had continuously negotiated protocols with various countries to facilitate agricultural exports. Regarding trademarks and product branding, the agricultural ministry was conducting in-depth research, as having a strong brand could significantly increase value. However, difficulties remained, he said. Specifically, there was no National Assembly resolution mandating the Government to issue a resolution on branding. Besides, confusion persists between 'trademark' and 'brand', he said. While trademarks were easier to establish and protect, a brand reflected consumer trust in the quality, standards and consistency of a product. Therefore, the agricultural ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to build agricultural product brands. In his opening remarks at the beginning of the hearing session, Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that the issues at the question-and-answer session were crucial matters of great concern to voters and the public. So, he hoped the question-and-answer session would be lively, constructive and provide extensive reflections on the current situation, offering numerous proposals and recommendations to the Government and relevant ministers for better direction, resolution to address difficulties to meet the expectations of voters and the people nationwide. VNS Tatcho Mindiola in his office at the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Houston Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008. Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle Tatcho Mindiola Jr., a retired University of Houston professor who turned the UH Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies into one of the premier programs of its kind, died over the weekend. He was 85. Mindiola died surrounded by his family Saturday evening at Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center after a sudden illness, said his wife, Cindy Mindiola. Born and raised in Houston, the professor led the Center for Mexican American Studies as its director from 1980 until his retirement in 2015. Mindiola saw his position as a way to increase the educational opportunities for Houstons growing Mexican American and Latino communities, and the center grew to include tenure-track faculty, fellowships and scholarship programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LOCAL POLITICS: Harris County launching modified guaranteed income program after legal challenge Cindy Mindiola said her husband rarely bragged about his achievements in academia and the community. He never really about talked about being the professor, she said. In fact, Ive had so many people at church come up to me and say, I didnt know Tatcho was all this and all that. She remembered him as a loving father to their four adult children and a doting grandfather who never missed a chance to play with their young grandchildren. They brought so much joy to his life, she said. Mindiola was born May 6, 1939, to Tatcho Mindiola Sr., a baker, and Hortencia Rocha Mindiola, a housewife. Mindiolas mother raised him and his five other siblings in the Heights and later sold cosmetic products to support the family. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mindiola grew up in Houston but he previously said his large family, including an uncle and other extended family, kept him connected to his Mexican American roots. After graduating from what is now Heights High School in 1957, he enlisted in the U.S. Army so he could later go to college. His service consisted mostly of clerical work, a relief for Mindiola who previously said he never wanted to go to war. Mindiola was accepted to the University of Houston while in the Army and he hoped to be discharged in time to attend classes in the fall of 1962. A freeze in discharges jeopardized those plans, but the then-23-year-old pleaded for help from U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough of Texas. A letter addressed to Mindiolas superiors, bordered in red to signal its urgency, arrived a week before classes started and ordered him to be discharged immediately. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He continued working as a clerk for freight companies around Houston as he completed a business administration degree. After graduating, he realized he did not want to go into business at all. A mentor set him on the path of sociology, and he earned a masters degree from UH. Mindiola then earned a doctorate in sociology from Brown University. In 1974, Mindiola began teaching Mexican American studies and sociology at UH as the Center for Mexican American Studies struggled to get off the ground. He was named the permanent director in 1980, and he remained in the post until he was 76. Mindiolas death spurred an outpouring of tributes from his former students and the institution he served for 34 years. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Tatcho Mindiola Jr., a leader whose vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the University of Houston, the CMALS community, and all who were fortunate enough to know and work with him, the UH Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies wrote on its Facebook page. His leadership inspired us to strive for excellence and to believe in the power of unity and purpose. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Sen. Carol Alvarado, who Mindiola taught, said on X (formerly Twitter), Ill have more to say about this later RIP primo. Russell Contreras, a journalist and UH graduate who was mentored by Mindiola, called his former professor a pioneer in Mexican American studies and said Mindiola encouraged him to pursue journalism to cover the people who are right outside this window in that neighborhood over there. State Rep. Armando Walle also paid tribute to his late mentor on social media. He was a scholar but also a mentor to many who wanted to serve in politics, he wrote on X. Many of my successes can be attributed to his guidance. During a breakfast at Erics Restaurant on the University of Houston campus last year, Mindiola reflected on much of his life in an hour-and-a-half-long interview. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He had grown frail, requiring the assistance of a nurse at his home in Third Ward near UH and relying on a chair lift to get upstairs. But he recalled his academic career vividly and candidly. In the early days after becoming director, Mindiola recalled going behind the backs of UH administrators to find money for the program. He successfully lobbied his connections in the state Legislature for the money. I developed this reputation of being uncooperative, he said with a laugh. But I didnt give a s---. I knew what I wanted, and I eventually succeeded with some help. During breakfast, he had reflected on why his work mattered. Well, for our history, Mindiola said. So that people know who we are and so that books can be written about us. HA NOI Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro exchanged views on the relations between Viet Nam and Japan at their talks in Ha Noi on August 21. They rejoiced at the recent comprehensive and effective development of bilateral ties, notably the elevation of the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership last year. The officials said apart from political trust and all-level delegation exchanges, cooperation in economy, trade, investment, labour, education, and agriculture, among others has also reaped practical results, adding the two sides are expanding collaboration to new areas like digital transformation and green transition. Meanwhile, their coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations has been enhanced. Funakoshi affirmed that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese side in implementing high-level agreements substantively and effectively to advance the bilateral ties on par with the new framework, and that it will join efforts to materialise the results reached at the 12th meeting of the Viet Nam - Japan Cooperation Committee earlier this month. Vu stated that Viet Nam continues viewing Japan as a leading and long-term strategic partner, and hopes to work together in promoting the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership. Both officials consented to increase exchanges and meetings at all levels and through flexible formats, and also improve the efficiency of bilateral dialogue mechanisms. Vu took the occasion to convey invitations to Japanese leaders to attend the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit and the ASEAN Future Forum, scheduled to be held in Viet Nam in 2025. The two sides also compared notes on measures to boost cooperation effectiveness in national defence, security, economy, official development assistance (ODA), investment, climate change response, green transition, and digital transformation. The host said the Vietnamese Government attaches great importance to and is making efforts to effectively carry out high-level agreements with Japan. He suggested the Northeast Asian country provide new-generation ODA with preferential terms and more flexible, streamlined procedures for Viet Nam, prioritising key infrastructure projects. He also called on Japan to soon determine loan commitments for the projects on infrastructure development, climate change response, and livelihood support for ethnic minorities in 11 northern mountainous and midland provinces of Viet Nam. Vu proposed the Japanese ministry coordinate with other ministries and agencies of the country to simplify procedures and gradually work towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens. At the talks, Funakoshi noted that Japanese investors consider Viet Nam a priority destination, expressing his hope for coordination to stimulate ODA and investment ties between the two countries, and promote bilateral cooperation within Japan's Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. Lauding the contributions by the nearly 570,000-strong Vietnamese community to his countrys socio-economic development, the official said the Japanese Government will create more favourable conditions for them to live, study and work there. The two sides also touched upon regional and international issues of shared concern such as cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mekong River, and East Sea issues. They agreed to intensify the coordination of stances and mutual support at international and regional forums like ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). VNS HA NOI Politburo member and standing member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat Luong Cuong received a delegation of the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in Ha Noi on August 21. At the meeting, Cuong affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to the traditional friendly and cooperative ties with the MPLA, the State and people of Angola, and briefed the guests on outstanding achievements Viet Nam has recorded over nearly forty years of oi Moi (Renewal), preparations for the 14th National Party Congress, as well as the countrys goals set to the mid-21st century. The official said the MPLA delegations visit offers a chance for the two Parties leaders to exchange views on the bilateral ties and cooperation orientations, along with the international situation, helping to consolidate and tighten the friendship and traditional cooperation between the two Parties and countries. Ample room remains for the two countries to strengthen their cooperation, he said, suggesting the two Parties focus on instructing the implementation of cooperation agreements signed by Viet Nam and Angola. Politburo member and the secretary in charge of the MPLA's foreign affairs Manuel Domigos Augusto, head of the delegation, spoke highly of the Southeast Asian nations reform achievements, and hailed it as an active and responsible member of the international community, with marked contributions to peace and stability in the region and the world, including the East Sea. He also appreciated Viet Nams wholehearted support to African countries, including Angola, especially during struggles for national independence. The official highly valued cooperation outcomes between the two Parties over the past time and noted his hope to learn more from Viet Nams experience in national development, ensuring social justice, and improving the countrys role and position in the international arena. He also suggested the two Parties work harder to consolidate the traditional relations and promote practical, intensive, and extensive collaboration, particularly in the economy, trade, investment, agriculture, and education. Earlier the same day, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung held talks with the MPLA delegation, during which they agreed to tighten the relations between the two Parties, creating a firm political foundation for the multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Angola. The two sides will also step up theory, experience, and practice exchanges, and cooperation in personnel training, while facilitating trade and investment ties, cultural cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, especially between youths and women, and closely coordinating at international forums and multilateral mechanisms, for the sake of each Party and country, and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the world. On this occasion, Trung and Augusto signed a cooperation agreement between the two Parties for the 2024-29 period. VNS HCM CITY The Ministry of Health has urged HCM City authorities to take immediate action against the current measles outbreak, which has resulted in the deaths of three children. The deceased children, aged between four months and seven years, all had pre-existing health conditions. The ministry has instructed local healthcare facilities to provide timely treatment to individuals diagnosed with measles to minimise severe cases and fatalities. The HCM City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) has been asked to work with agencies to establish a comprehensive monitoring network for both measles infections and vaccination efforts. Hospitals within the city are required to adhere to stringent infection control protocols and to maintain an adequate supply of medical resources. Earlier, the Department of Health had recommended the Peoples Committee declare a measles outbreak due to the rapid increase in cases. As of August 12, more than 600 cases of fever accompanied by rash have been reported, with 346 confirmed cases of measles, over half of which involve patients from other provinces. According to the HCDC, measles infections have been identified across 57 wards within 16 city districts, with the highest number of cases reported in Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, and Binh Tan districts. Over 84 per cent of the affected children were either unvaccinated or had incomplete vaccination schedules. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread rapidly following an incubation period of seven to 21 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever and a rash, which usually begins on the face and subsequently spreads to the back. Additional symptoms may include conjunctivitis, cough, runny nose, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, seizures. Medical experts have cautioned the disease can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, keratitis, diarrhea, and even death. Measles can only be effectively managed when the community immunity rate reaches 95 per cent and each individual has received two doses of the vaccine. Healthcare centres are asked to review the vaccination records of at-risk populations and to ensure that eligible children receive the appropriate vaccinations. If a child has not received or missed their vaccination appointments, they must be taken to medical facilities for consultation and immunisation without delay. Parents and guardians are advised to consult local healthcare stations for information regarding the vaccination schedule. Measles remains one of the 11 infectious diseases for which vaccination is mandatory for children, with the first dose administered at nine months of age and the second dose at 18 months of age. VNS HA NOI Identifying the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a priority to remove the European Commission's (EC) yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood, the coastal provinces in the southern part of the Hong River Delta, namely Thai Binh, Nam inh and Ninh Binh, are working hard to prevent illegal fishing. Decisive action, clear progress Given that local fishermen primarily operate nearshore, and following the Government's directives on combating IUU fishing, the three coastal provinces have actively monitored illegal fishing to prevent all violations. With decisive, regular, and continuous instructions, recent efforts have focused on addressing weaknesses in seafood exploitation pointed out by the EC, thus leading to a positive change in compliance with laws among fishermen. Cao Thi Nga, head of the Fisheries Inspection, Control, and Management Office of Nam inh Province, said that awareness of the penalties for illegal fishing has improved among local fishermen. They now adhere to regulations by reporting before departure, logging their catches, and submitting their logs. As a result, violations related to fishing have significantly decreased, and no fishing vessels in the province have infringed upon foreign waters or been detained by foreign authorities. As of May 15, 533 out of 542 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more in Nam inh, or 98.34 per cent, have been equipped with the vessel monitoring system (VMS). The remainder have not installed monitoring devices as they are inactive, docked, or out of service. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thai Binh Province, as of June 30, the locality had registered 706 fishing vessels that meet the requirements for seafood exploitation in the national fishing vessel database VnFishbase, with a total capacity of over 101,000 KW. In addition to dissemination campaigns to raise fishermen's awareness, the department organised eight inspection teams in the first half of 2024 to detect violations. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Kha, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Ninh Binh Border Guard, stated that the Border Guard has proactively developed plans and enhanced monitoring at sea to promptly detect and address any violations while supporting fishermen in developing sustainable maritime economy. Restructuring, protecting natural resources The provinces have a continuous coastline stretching nearly 150km, with thousands of hectares of mudflats and a vast continental shelf. This presents huge potential and advantages for developing the marine economy. Alongside efforts to have the yellow card warning lifted, these localities are restructuring their fishing industry towards sustainable development, thus creating suitable livelihoods, and improving the quality of life for fishermen. Tran uc Viet, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam inh Province, said that in the coming time, the department and localities will continue to reshuffle the agricultural sector, restructure the fleet of fishing vessels by gradually reducing the number of those operating nearshore. The plan is also to invest in communication systems to ensure the monitoring of fishing activities, thus meeting the requirements of Vietnamese law and international conventions. Meanwhile, leveraging existing advantages, Thai Binh aims to become a leading agricultural production center in the Hong River Delta, with a focus on developing and modernising the production of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, as well as improving the value chain of agricultural products in the province. For sustainable development, the province will enhance the application of science and technology in aquaculture, fishing, and processing by the value chain, meeting domestic consumption and exports. Although Ninh Binh has only one coastal district - Kim Son, the province has maximised this advantage over the years to develop aquaculture, generating high income for its residents. With a total aquaculture area of nearly 5,000ha (including up to 4,000ha of saltwater and brackish water aquaculture), Kim Son has identified saltwater and brackish water aquaculture in coastal mudflats as a development focus. In October 2024, the EC will send its fifth inspection team to Viet Nam to assess the countrys compliance with recommendations on combating IUU fishing. This inspection will be decisive in determining whether Viet Nam can remove the restrictions on its seafood exports to the EU. The three coastal provinces in the southern part of the Red River Delta continue to monitor and detect fishing violations, contributing to the nationwide efforts to regain the "green card". VNS HA NOI The implementation time of the Ha Noi's urban railway line 2 project, connecting Nam Thang Long Urban area to Tran Hung ao Street, is to be completed by 2031 instead of 2015 as per the initial plan. The reason for adjusting the project implementation time is that the process of reviewing, examining and appraising the project adjustment has lasted from 2012 until now, but has not been completed, so the construction and equipment packages of the project have not been implemented. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the progress and implementation timeline of the project to suit the current circumstances. Ha Noi has scheduled the completion and commission of the project by 2029, followed by an additional two years for operational and maintenance training. It was part of Proposal No 275 submitted by the city administration to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to review and approve adjustments to the investment plan for the Ha Noi Urban railway line 2 project. Duong uc Tuan, deputy chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, said due to the longer than expected process of implementing procedures of the project, such as having to change the location of station C9 and changing regulations on public investment and debt, means plans must be adjusted to fit the current reality. According to the document, the proposed total length of the project is 11.5km, consisting of 8.9km of underground track and 2.6km of elevated track, with a fleet of ten trains, each comprising four carriages. Compared to Decision No 2054, issued on November 13, 2008, by the Ha Noi People's Committee, while the overall length of the project remains unchanged, modifications have been made to the length of the underground section (increased from 8.5km to 8.9km) and the elevated section (reduced from 3km to 2.6km). Additionally, the number of trains has been decreased from 14. Another adjustment concerns the estimated total investment for the project, which is proposed to rise to VN35.58 trillion (approximately JPY200.74 billion/US$1.42 billion), an increase of VN16.03 trillion (JPY95.5 million/$642 million) since 2008. Of this, Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) will amount to JPY167.07 billion, equivalent to VN29.67 trillion ($1.19 billion), up by VN13.187 trillion ($527 million). Ha Nois own contribution from its budget is set at VN5.9 trillion (around JPY33.665 billion/$235 million), an increase of VN2.846 trillion ($113.7 million). Under the submission, Ha Noi administration proposed that the Government allocate capital for the project over three middle-term public investment periods to align with the revised project timeline. The allocation consisted of about VN9.2 trillion ($366 billion) for the 2021-25 period, about VN19.9 trillion ($791 million) for 2026-30 and around VN5.58 trillion ($221.8 million) for 2031. Currently, the 2019 Law on Public Investment does not specifically address the balance and allocation of mid-term public investment funds over consecutive periods. Thus, Ha Noi's administration said it would propose the Prime Minister to approve the adjustments and would report the projects status to the National Assembly in late this year, in accordance with Article 104 of the Governments Decree No 29 on major national project assessment and monitoring. Since the Ministry of Planning and Investment completed its report on the investment adjustment in May 2021 and with the Government Office's approval of the C9 underground station location as noted in Notification No 328 on October 14, 2022, Ha Noi submitted four requests for approval of the adjustments, including three in 2024 alone. That demonstrates the complexity of the project, which was initially approved by Ha Noi Peoples Committee under Decision No 2054 issued on November 13, 2008. On Saturday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Hong (Red) River Delta Coordination Council, chaired the fourth meeting regarding the issue. He ordered relevant ministries, agencies and localities to expedite the completion of procedures to accelerate the implementation of regional and inter-regional projects, including the Urban railway line 2 from Nam Thang Long Urban area to Tran Hung ao Street. PM Chinh also called for proposals on special mechanisms and policies for the Government to review and decide. The Urban railway line 2 project, approved by the Ha Noi People's Committee in November 2008, stretches from Nam Thang Long Urban area, Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Thuy Khue Street, Phan inh Phung Street, Hang Giay Street, Hang uong Street, Hang Ngang Street, Hang ao Street, inh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Bai Street and ends at Tran Hung ao Street. It consists of three elevated stations and seven underground stations and a depot located in Xuan inh Ward, Bac Tu Liem District. VNS BAC GIANG Settled in the heart of Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang Province, the commune of Xuan Cam is an important place in Viet Nams revolutionary history. Recognised as one of 16 Safety Zone or An Toan Khu (ATK) in Vietnamese, this small commune once played a crucial role in sheltering revolutionary cadres during the resistance wars. Today, Xuan Cam is not only preserving its revolutionary legacy but is also showcasing a remarkable transformation in its journey towards modernisation and rural development. It is also a commune of resilience, patriotism and deep commitment to Viet Nam's struggle for independence. In the early 1940s, this commune became a pivotal red address for the revolution, hosting key leaders such as Hoang Quoc Viet, Le Thanh Nghi, and Nguyen Trong Tinh, who built and nurtured the revolutionary movement here. On 12 March 1945, under the leadership of Le Thanh Nghi and Nguyen Trong Tinh, the people of Xuan Bieu village rose up and seized power, marking the first successful uprising in Bac Giang Province - a spark that ignited the August Revolution nationwide. A complete transformation Deputy Chairman Nguyen Quang Liem said this revolutionary spirit has instead fuelled their ongoing efforts to develop the commune, particularly through the new rural development movement. In 2015, after years of concerted effort, Xuan Cam was recognised as a new rural commune, a milestone that laid the foundation for further progress. Once characterised by narrow, unpaved roads and modest infrastructure, the commune today boasts synchronised development. The main roads in all five of Xuan Cams villages have been widened, with some now spanning up to 12 metres, greatly improving connectivity and accessibility. This progress showcases the impact of collective effort and forward-looking leadership in driving meaningful change. Education is also a priority, with all three of the communes schools meeting national standards. But the transformation is most evident in the economy. Xuan Cam has embraced agricultural innovation, introducing high-yield crops and modern farming techniques. The establishment of a 30-hectare peach-growing model serving the Tet festival in Cam Hoang village is a standout success, generating over VN1 billion (US$40,000) per hectare annually. Large-scale field models covering over 200 ha have also been developed across the communes, including the provinces first mechanised rice planting initiative in Cam Trung village. Drones now buzz over the fields, spraying pesticides over more than 30 hectares. Additionally, Xuan Cam Commune has fostered the growth of handicrafts and cottage industries, which provide steady employment for hundreds of local workers. With monthly incomes ranging from VN8 million to VN12 million, these industries have become a cornerstone of the communes economic vitality. One of the most remarkable aspects of Xuan Cams transformation is the communitys willingness to unite for the greater good. In a land where the memories of sacrifice are still vivid, over 500 households in the commune have voluntarily dismantled parts of their homes and auxiliary structures, donating over 20,000 square metres of land to expand roads and improve infrastructure. This generosity has paved the way for development, with the expanded roads now stretching nearly 8km. The value of the donated land alone exceeds VN300 billion. These efforts have paid off handsomely. The average income per capita in Xuan Cam now stands at VN52.28 million per year, a significant increase over the previous year. Meanwhile, the communes multidimensional poverty rate has dropped to 2.21 per cent, down by 2.13 per cent from the year before. Preserving cultural heritage As Xuan Cam modernises, it remains deeply connected to its cultural roots, particularly through preserving quan ho folk songs, an integral part of the regions cultural heritage. Despite not being a traditional quan ho village, Xuan Cam has embraced this art form with enthusiasm, said Nguyen Quang Liem, deputy chairman of Xuan Cam Commune's People's Committee. In recent years, the commune has established five quan ho clubs, drawing over 200 members from across its villages. The initiative has even extended into the local schools, where quan ho youth clubs have been formed, ensuring that this beautiful tradition is passed on to future generations. Nguyen Van Hung, the head of the quan ho club in Cam Xuyen village, recalled how the club began with just 25 members, united by their love for the melodies of quan ho. Today, the club has grown significantly, thriving on its members' passion and voluntary contributions The club gathers at the village cultural house every weekend to practise and share their love for quan ho. The commune regularly organises cultural and artistic festivals, encouraging exchanges between its quan ho clubs and those in neighbouring areas, such as the traditional quan ho villages of Hoa Long Ward in Bac Ninh City. This cultural exchange enriches the community, ensuring that quan ho remains a vibrant and living tradition. By 2026, the commune aims to establish five quan ho villages, contributing to the overall number and quality of such villages in Bac Giang Province, deputy chairman Liem said. From its revolutionary past to its modern successes, Xuan Cam exemplifies resilience, innovation and cultural preservation, ensuring it remains a harmonious place to live. VNS MOSCOW Around 100 Vietnamese labourers working at the "Hanoi" garment factory - the largest group of Vietnamese working near conflict zones in Russia's Kursk oblast, have been still working hard to ensure timely delivery of products to customers, despite the ongoing conflict in border areas between Russia and Ukraine. Located near Zheleznogorsk city, about 120km from the centre of Kursk province and about 140km from the conflict zone, the road leading to the factory shows almost no signs of the nearby conflict. Inside the garment factory, three production lines are still operating as usual. Workers are busy sewing and processing winter clothing items to meet the market demand. Nong Minh uc, from the northern province of Cao Bang, who has been working at the factory for two years, said the situation has largely remained unchanged since the news of the conflict. Ngo Thi Thuy Quynh, a worker from the southern province Soc Trang, was quite worried in the beginning when she first learned the news, but everything seems to remain fine, and orders are still good. Nguyen Thanh Bao, manager of the factory, from the southern province of ong Nai, said the situation there is still stable, adding that everyone is focused on their work, and the company has not been negatively affected. The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia is maintaining daily contacts with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Kursk to keep updated on information related to overseas Vietnamese there. VNS TOKYO The Viet Nam-Japan quality agricultural workforce cooperation forum, a joint effort between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), took place in Tokyo on Wednesday. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Japan has been a key partner in Viet Nam's agricultural modernisation, providing assistance in irrigation systems, water-saving technologies, livestock and crop production techniques, and post-harvest processing. Moreover, Japan has invested in the future of Vietnam's agriculture by training numerous officials, engineers and farmers in the application of cutting-edge technologies. Speaking at the event, Director of the Economic Development Department at JICA Shimokawa Takao lauded Viet Nam as Japan's largest source of labour. He informed that between 2021 and 2023, JICA dispatched agricultural workforce development advisors to the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture to support technical interns aspiring to work in Japans agricultural sector. While the number of Vietnamese technical interns in agriculture in Japan has been declining, Takao expressed hope that the introduction of specific skill assessments in agriculture since March would encourage more Vietnamese to pursue career opportunities there. Delegates heard presentations from representatives of JICA, the Thuy Loi (Water Resources) University, the Viet Nam National University of Forestry, the Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University, the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture, the Hiroshima University, representatives from Miyazaki prefecture, and Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises. A discussion session capped off the event, providing delegates with a platform to ask questions and share ideas and information on opportunities and measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in training and using quality human resources in the sector. VNS HA NOI Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on August 21 lauded contributions made by overseas Vietnamese (OVs) to the country, and highlighted policies for them, an integral part of the nation. Speaking at a gala dinner for more than 400 Vietnamese expats who returned home to attend the 4th World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese and the 2024 forum of OV intellectuals and experts, Son expressed his delight at the growing OV community that has been appreciated by local authorities for their good characteristics and contributions to host societies. The minister affirmed that the Party and the State, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, always take care of the community, citing the issuance of policies for them, along with a range of programmes and activities that bring them back to their roots. Son also commended the performance of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which hosted the gala dinner, saying it has served as a bridge between Vietnamese abroad and their homeland, contributing to strengthening the great national solidarity bloc. The minister noted his hope that OVs will make more contributions to host countries as well as national construction and defence at home, maintain their solidarity, and preserve traditional traits and the Vietnamese language. On this occasion, Son and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, chairwoman of the committee, witnessed the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding and cooperation agreements within the framework of the conference and the forum. VNS What are the opportunities for Vietnam and Singapore to expand cooperation in the digital economy and green economy in the context that the two countries are striving to meet net-zero commitments by 2050? Kenneth Loh, vice president of the Singapore Chamber of Commerces Hanoi office The recent signing of the Green-Digital Economic Partnership between Vietnam and Singapore has presented a significant opportunity for both countries to expand their cooperation in the digital and green economies. In term of digital economy cooperation, businesses can explore the digital infrastructure development, fintech innovation, e-commerce, digital services and cybersecurity. As for the green economy sector collaboration, areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, carbon markets and green finance potentially could be considered favourably. Further, the synergistic effect of the digital and green economy would yield significant result in areas such as digitalisation of green initiatives, green fintech and smart cities. Singapore and Vietnam signed an MoU on areas like the green-digital economic partnership and maritime cooperation in 2023. How has bilateral cooperation in the fields developed since then? The MoU was for bilateral cooperation in green and digital economies, as well as maritime sectors. This agreement marked a significant step in deepening bilateral cooperation, and there have been encouraging signs of progress and mutual benefits for businesses in both countries. In the energy sector, both Vietnam and Singapore have been collaborating on renewable energy projects, exploring opportunities in areas like liquefied natural gas, and sharing knowledge on sustainable energy practices. On the digital front, Singapore, with its advanced digital infrastructure and expertise, has been actively assisting Vietnam in building its digital ecosystem. This includes developing digital platforms for sectors like banking, finance, e-commerce, and land management. In terms of innovation initiatives, Singaporean companies are increasingly setting up research and development centres in Vietnam, leveraging the countrys talent pool and market potential. The MoU can potentially benefit businesses of both countries through increased investments from Singaporean businesses, particularly in the technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure sectors. On the other hand, Vietnamese businesses can gain better access to the Singaporean market and beyond. Last year, Vietnam and Singapore signed an upgraded connectivity framework agreement, which expands bilateral cooperation in energy cooperation and sustainable development. How has the expansion made impacts on investment trends among Singaporean businesses in Vietnam? The upgraded connectivity framework agreement between Vietnam and Singapore, with its focus on energy cooperation and sustainable development, has indeed resulted in a shift in investment trends. The likely impact would be increased investment in energy and sustainability due to Vietnams growing energy demands, coupled with its renewables potential, thus making it an attractive market for Singaporean investors. The focus of investments is likely to be in solar, wind and hydropower generation. In the areas of sustainable development such as green infrastructure, waste management and circular economy are similarly attracting increased funding from the Singaporean businesses. The agreement would also be likely to have a broader impact on the bilateral trade and investment between Singaporean and Vietnamese businesses that may result in the diversification of investment portfolios beyond the traditional sectors such as manufacturing and real estate. In addition, it may strengthen bilateral trade in energy resources, equipment and services. Furthermore, the agreement may encourage the knowledge and technology transfer of Singapores expertise in sustainable development and clean energy, thereby fostering Vietnams innovation and capacity building. Ultimately, the upgraded framework positions Vietnam as a more attractive destination for foreign investment. What are the new opportunities for businesses and investors of the two countries in areas such as carbon credits, renewable energy, and the digital economy in the months to come? The upgraded connectivity framework between Singapore and Vietnam presents a wealth of opportunities for businesses and investors in these burgeoning sectors. In carbon credits. Both Vietnam and Singapore can collaborate on developing a robust carbon market framework, including standards, verification, and trading platforms. In addition, Vietnams rich biodiversity offers significant potential for carbon sequestration projects, such as reforestation, mangrove restoration, and sustainable agriculture. Further, as demand for carbon offsets grows globally, Singapore and Vietnam can facilitate cross-border trading, with Singapore acting as a hub for carbon credit finance and trading. In renewable energy. Vietnams abundant solar and wind resources, coupled with Singapores financial and technological capabilities, create a promising partnership in generating solar and wind power. In addition, Singapores expertise in energy storage technologies can be transferred to Vietnam to support the integration of renewable energy into the grid. Further, both countries can collaborate on green hydrogen production and utilisation, leveraging Singapores advanced industrial capabilities and Vietnams renewable energy potential. Vietnam and Singapore deepen collaboration on smart and sustainable industrial parks Singapores Sembcorp Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, and its state-owned joint venture partner in Vietnam, Becamex IDC Corporation, announced the addition of four new Vietnam Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) on August 29. Interest rises for Singapores businesses Vietnam and Singapore have upgraded their bilateral connectivity framework agreement to include new areas, making it more favourable for businesses of both nations to intensify trade and investment ties. Vietnam and Singapore's strategic vision for trade and investment Quang Anh, associate at VILAF and Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at VILAF, spoke to VIR about the blossoming ties between Vietnam and Singapore. Vietnam and Singapore ink MoU to promote development of stock markets The Singapore Exchange signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam Exchange to boost the development of Singaporean and Vietnamese stock markets. In this image taken from video, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, right, accompanied by defense attorney Eric Nelson, addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin's sentencing, Friday, June 25, 2021, at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis. Chauvin faces decades in prison for the May 2020 death of George Floyd. (Court TV via AP, Pool) Associated Press People visit a George Floyd mural near Cuney Homes in Third Ward, following the guilty verdict on all counts in the murder trial of former former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, has been transferred to a Texas prison, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Wednesday. Floyd grew up and spent much of his life in Houston's Third Ward. He moved to Minneapolis in 2014 where he worked as a security guard and truck driver. Here's what you need to know about the former police officer responsible for Floyd's death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Who is Derek Chauvin? Chauvin is one of four former Minneapolis officers convicted in the death of Floyd, along with Thomas Lane, Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao. Floyd's death sparked widespread outrage and protests after a bystander-captured video showed Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on the Black man's neck for roughly 9 minutes in May 2020. What Texas prison is Derek Chauvin being moved to? Chauvin has been transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution Big Spring in Howard County, according to bureau records. Big Spring is located about 107 miles south of Lubbock. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The low-security, all-male federal prison has 825 inmates, including 113 who are at an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. It's unclear whether Chauvin will be held at the adjacent camp. Where has Derek Chauvin been up to this point? Before his transfer to Texas, Chauvin was serving out his sentence in a medium-security Arizona prison. While there, he was stabbed 22 times by another inmate in November, the Associated Press reported. Chauvin was attacked at the Federal Correctional Institution Tuscon by inmate John Turscak, who is serving a 30-year sentence for crimes he committed as a member of the Mexican Mafia. Turscak told investigators he would have killed Chauvin if prison staff had not intervened, according to the Associated Press. For privacy, safety and security reasons, a bureau spokesperson told the Chronicle that they cannot discuss the conditions of confinement for any individual, including reason for transfer. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What was Chauvin's sentence? Chauvin is currently serving a 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd's civil rights and a a 22-year state sentence for second-degree murder. His current release data is set for Jan. 7, 2038, according to the bureau. Dr. Rabie Sleiman (left) and Pham Thi Thanh Mai The ACC clinic appears to be growing at a measured pace to ensure high service quality. Could you provide more details on this approach? Sleiman: When we develop our clinics, we ensure that we build it to its maximum capacity. We want to be able to optimise our customer service and our patient care before we consider expanding to different regions. In Southeast Asia, historically, I've seen chiropractic clinics that would expand really fast and at the same time lose a lot of quality in patient care. We at ACC don't want this scenario to happen. We want to be very strategic and we hope to make sure that we are doing our service exactly the way we intend it to be, providing premium quality healthcare. Chiropractic technique involves a doctor using their hands to adjust the vertebral subluxation. Could you share more details about this profession and how to ensure there are no risks when practising these methods? Sleiman: Chiropractic doctors undergo eight years of rigorous training. We are trained extensively in proper diagnosis and anatomy, even more so than some medical doctors in terms of accumulated hours. We are also very familiar with the nervous system. Before we even begin learning adjustment techniques, we need to understand why we're making those adjustments. Now, there are many out there who claim to be chiropractic doctors or something similar, and that is extremely dangerous. When they perform adjustments, it may seem simple because you hear a pop or click, but they don't understand why theyre doing it. This can often lead to serious injuries. That's why I always emphasise the importance of choosing a specialist in the field to guarantee your safety and health. It's crucial to choose a qualified and licensed professional. ACC Chiropractic Clinic Can you explain the role of FV in supporting and collaborating with ACC? Mai: We have had a comprehensive and good cooperation. The common goal is to care for patients and taking patients as the centre of our activities. Our treatment and care plans are comprehensive, meeting all the needs of patients in terms of treatment, physical and mental care, including preventative and follow-up care. FV Hospital applies Western medicine methods, including internal medicine and surgery, while ACC can help patients overcome musculoskeletal conditions, recover after surgery at the hospital. Therefore, both of us can provide a comprehensive process for patients to remain the pioneers in providing world-class healthcare to Vietnam. Could you share more about the future research and training cooperation plans between FV and ACC, and their contribution to the sustainable development? Mai: Currently, ACC is not only a member of FV but also a member of Thomson Medical Group Singapore. With such cooperation, ACC receives support from Thomson Singapore and effective coordination from FV. We have set out some specific directions and cooperation in training and technology transfer. We do training in both specialised and non-specialised fields. In the specialised field, doctors can learn and share experiences with each other in diagnosis and treatment, and utilise available resources from both sides. For example, ACCs doctors could send patients to FV to do imaging diagnostic studies before making an accurate treatment plan. In the coming time, FV, ACC, and our partners from Singapore will develop home care services, providing rehabilitation physiotherapy for patients post-stroke, patients who are bedridden, or patients after knee, hip, or orthopaedic surgery. With such services, we are targeting patients that dont have the ability to physically access our services at our facilities. Under the transfer of technology and techniques from Singapore, these services will become very effective and unique in Vietnam. Has ACC faced any difficulties when entering the Vietnamese market, and how has it overcome them? Sleiman: From my 14 years of experience practising in Vietnam, I've encountered several challenges. Many patients find a variety of options but are often confused because they don't know where to find the best care. Additionally, many Vietnamese people aren't fully educated about chiropractics, which can pose a challenge. When I first arrived in Vietnam, I saw only two chiropractic clinics in the entire country. Now, there are many more clinics in Vietnam, and a lot of them are trying to follow in our footsteps. They see ACC as pioneers in chiropractic and want to emulate us. I feel proud and flattered by this. However, there are also those who pretend to be like us, and that presents another challenge and danger to patient safety. Patients might go to these places and get poor service, thinking, Oh, these guys are like ACC, but in reality, theyre not. What are ACC's plans to promote this treatment method, and what are your development plans for the future? Sleiman: Promoting our treatment methods is a key focus, and its one of the reasons Im very proud to be part of the FV Group. FV Group has been in Vietnam for quite some time, focusing on being a premier speciality hospital. With ACC, we hope to leverage our large patient base to promote our services. Now, under the umbrella of Thomson Medical Group, we can expand our reach further into Southeast Asia, showcasing our innovative, non-invasive techniques and procedures. I'm really looking forward to this collaboration, and Im happy to be a part of it because I believe it will benefit us as a whole. US and Vietnam build momentum with upgraded ties In the six months since the historic upgrade of the US-Vietnam relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the United States and Vietnam have built on the momentum of our elevated relationship to advance bilateral cooperation across a range of areas. Partnership key to improving healthcare in Vietnam Stakeholders are joining Vietnams efforts in improving healthcare accessibility, and sustainably developing the sector. Nguyen Thi An, country director of HealthBridge, spoke with VIRs Tung Anh about how businesses can make a contribution. What key factors have contributed to CMC's success in the 14 years since becoming a listed business? CMC stands is one of only two IT companies in Vietnam recognised in Forbes Vietnams Top 50 Best-Listed Companies in 2024. This marks the first time CMC has received this prestigious accolade, underscoring investors trust and confidence in us. Beyond our impressive business performance, a significant reason for the recognition is CMCs proactive embracement of AI transformation, delivering AI consulting services and technological solutions across Vietnam and globally. Having been in operation for 31 years, CMC has continuously evolved, particularly lately, when we have been leading the way in embracing new technological waves such as AI, IC design, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. In 2017, we launched our digital transformation strategy, and today, we are advancing to the next stage - AI transformation. CMC achieved remarkable financial results last year. Despite a slight dip in net revenue to over VND8 trillion ($335 million), our pre-tax profit soared to almost VND550 billion ($23 million), the highest amount since listing on the stock exchange. In the second quarter of 2024, our share price surged following news of our partnership with Nvidia. Alongside FPT, our share price consistently reached record highs, contributing to a wave of tech stock appreciation, despite the broader markets stagnation. CMC now is a top technology conglomerate in Vietnam, with around 10 member units focusing on four strategic business areas: digital infrastructure, solutions and technology, global business, and research and education. Today, CMC operates at a regional scale, with revenues and corporate value estimated at $400 million. We are proud that CMCs presence spans over 30 countries and continents, including Japan and South Korea. Moving forward, we plan to expand our international footprint by establishing more subsidiaries. CMC also owns more than 20 core technologies, such as a FaceID technology, ranking 12th globally by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. This capability enables us to meet the diverse needs of thousands of partners and customers. How are the current AI transformation trends impacting Vietnam? AI is not a new technology; its research dates back to the 1960s. However, recent advancements, particularly in generative AI models, have significantly impacted every aspect of society. Earlier this year, when I attended the Davos Conference, AI emerged as the central theme among discussions by global leaders, scholars, and the global business community. Both the EU and the US are pushing for new AI-related legislation in response to its profound and widespread impacts, as well as the inherent risks it poses. This requires a balanced and responsible approach to AI development. Chinh, (third from right), speaking about CMC's AI transformation strategy AI transformation is also being vigorously pursued in many countries within the region. For instance, South Korea launched a national AI transformation initiative in 2022, solidifying its position as a leader in e-government, digital government, and now, AI transformation. Service providers are increasingly embedding AI into their products and services to enhance business productivity, better understand customer needs, and create new value. In Vietnam, AI also has strong influence across all sectors, from government to enterprises and everyday life. The technological advancements of this new era have significantly streamlined tasks and processes that were previously challenging for humans to manage. Looking ahead, AI will continue to evolve, making further strides in assisting human life. To reduce the unfamiliarity and novelty of these advancements, individuals, organisations, and businesses must anticipate the future trends of AI, which are likely to emerge in 2024. CMC is beginning a comprehensive transformation with AI technology, starting with CMC University. Will this cover the companys four core business areas? CMC Corporation has been making investments in research and development and applying new technologies. In July, we started to transform CMC Digital University to an AI university, committing to applying AI in operations, teaching, and enhancing student experiences. This transition is a critical step, reflecting our commitment to integrating AI into every aspect of university life, from management, teaching, and learning to research and student engagement. The AI university model is not just about teaching AI or offering AI-related majors. More importantly, its about using AI technology to comprehensively transform a universitys operations, from teaching and learning to administration. "AI transformation is the process of applying AI technology to fundamentally and comprehensively change how we operate and interact across all societal sectors, from government and business to everyday life. The goal is to leverage AI's potential to improve efficiency, increase value, and create a digital economy, enhancing quality of life and promoting sustainable, and green development." Similarly, in our core business areas, we have begun transitioning all activities to an AI platform. We have established dedicated AI-transformation, or AI-X, units and integrated AI applications into financial management, human resources, and operations. For example, the C-Meet application developed by CMC ATI is an AI-driven technology solution that converts speech to text and can produce meeting minutes immediately after each meeting. Besides internal AI transformation, CMCs top technology experts can provide AI consulting services and solutions, both made by CMC, and those of our partners companies to our clients. Some notable products include C-OCR for Vietnam's social security; C-LS, an AI-based software designed to detect overlaps and conflicts in legal documents; and C-OCR for the automotive industry. CMC is also proud to be among the first Vietnamese telecommunications companies to provide AI infrastructure platforms to numerous prominent corporations domestically and internationally. What are CMC's strategic priorities, and how does AI fit into its objectives? We are aware that AI is a fundamental driver of sustainable growth and innovation among businesses. Our strategy begins with fostering an AI transformation culture internally, nurturing a modern work environment within the company, and training a high-quality workforce capable of adopting and applying AI technology in daily operations. This approach reflects CMCs commitment to continuous learning, improvement, and the application of the most advanced technologies. This enables us to deliver groundbreaking solutions that enhance efficiency, optimise business processes, and meet the needs and expectations of our customers. CMC promotes international cooperation to develop AI technologies and solutions CMC is committed to this revolutionary transformation, not only within Vietnam but also globally. In our corporate strategy, we have identified key areas for development, including AI/DX and Cloud Computing. To achieve this, CMC has received training programmes from our partners in Japan, South Korea, and the US to build a highly trained IT workforce. To date, our expert team has successfully executed over 2,000 IT projects, with more than 90 per cent completed on time across various sectors. Now, our focus is on helping businesses maximise the benefits of digital transformation through AI technology. CMC has delved deeply into researching new technologies, creating an ecosystem of over 20 core technologies that effectively support business digital transformation efforts globally. A standout feature of CMC's products and services is the integration of AI technologies, which significantly enhances efficiency, fosters innovation, ensures high quality, and saves time and costs in the long term. According to our strategic direction, the AI-powered management platforms developed by the CMC ATI Institute will become more sophisticated, providing businesses with enhanced monitoring capabilities and responsive measures to a growing array of cybersecurity and data protection risks. In Vietnam, CMC is recognised as one of the top technology enterprises. However, on a global scale, we acknowledge that we are still at a mid-level compared to the largest international companies. By 2028, our goal is to transform CMC into a global digital corporation with a scale of billions of dollars and a workforce of 10,000-15,000 employees. My greatest concern is how to expand CMC's global influence. This requires us to grow the company at a substantial rate and make a significant global impact by offering products and services sourced from Vietnamese ingenuity that will be utilised worldwide. And AI technology aligns perfectly with the capabilities of both CMC and the people of Vietnam, making it a focal point for our future endeavours. NIC shake hands with CMC to develop digital talent Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung beat the drum to open the first course at CMC University. OPSWAT signs strategic partnership with CMC Cyber Security OPSWAT, a global leader in critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity solutions, on December 7 opened a new office in Hanoi, and signed a strategic partnership agreement with CMC Cyber Security Co., Ltd., making new moves to expand its footprint in Vietnam. Domestic production illustrates resilience, illustration photo/ Le Toan According to the Ministry of Industry and Trades (MoIT) official report on industrial performance for the first seven months of this year, Vietnams industrial production has continued to expand, driven by increasing demand both domestically and internationally. The index of industrial production (IIP) rose by 2.84 per cent on-year in 2023. The growth accelerated to 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year, and further to 7.7 per cent in the first half. Notably, the index of industrial production (IIP) surged by 11.2 per cent on-year in July, bringing the cumulative seven-month growth rate to 8.5 per cent. This compares favourably to the same period last year, when the IIP recorded a 0.8 per cent decline. Significantly, Julys IIP figures showed robust growth across key sectors compared to the same period last year: a 13.3 per cent increase in the manufacturing and processing industry, nearly 10 per cent in the electricity production and distribution industry, and a 12.1 per cent rise in the waste and wastewater management and treatment sector. Building on the recovery trend since late 2023, Vietnams industrial production continues to follow a positive trajectory, signalling the beginning of a new growth phase for the economy, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang. This improvement is attributed to a steady increase in new orders over the past four consecutive months, the MoIT highlighted. According to S&P Global, production output in July surpassed that in June, reaching the highest level since 2011. For instance, in Ho Chi Minh City, the IIP for July increased by 9.6 per cent on-year, with the manufacturing and processing industry up by 13.4 per cent, while inventory levels dropped by 17.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. The General Statistics Offices (GSO) Q2 survey on manufacturing and processing enterprises released last month revealed that, compared to Q1, 28.8 per cent of firms reported an increase in export orders, while 49.6 per cent indicated stable orders. Looking ahead to Q3, 33.1 per cent of enterprises expect a rise in orders, and 50.6 per cent predict stability. Only 16.3 per cent foresee a decline in export orders. In the first seven months of this year, total export turnover reached an estimated $227 billion, up 15.7 per cent on-year. According to the GSO, business confidence has been gradually recovering. During this period, over 95,200 new businesses were established, with registered capital totalling $35.6 billion up 6.3 and 2.4 per cent, respectively, on-year. Moreover, nearly 44,300 businesses resumed operations, reflecting a 4.7 per cent increase on-year. This brought the total number of newly established and reactivated enterprises to nearly 139,500, a 5.8 per cent increase on-year. On average, nearly 20,000 enterprises commenced or resumed operations each month. These figures underscore the resilience of the business community amid growing challenges, the GSO commented. They also reflect the governments significant efforts to support enterprises, as authorities at all levels have rigorously implemented government resolutions aimed at achieving the highest possible outcomes. This has helped maintain a positive socioeconomic trend, laying a solid foundation for the coming months and quarters. In a resolution following the governments July meeting on the national socioeconomic situation, further regulatory improvements were mandated, with a focus on enhancing administrative reform and creating a more transparent and conducive business and investment environment. Relevant authorities have been instructed to review and amend all relevant regulations and address legal obstacles to mobilise all possible resources, both domestic and foreign, for national development. The resolution also called for the resolution of any contradictory or overlapping legal documents. More dialogues must be organised to assist enterprises in overcoming challenges, alongside increased anti-corruption efforts, the development of e-government and e-society, and the promotion of cashless payments across all sectors, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed. In the first half of 2024, 168 business regulations and 247 administrative procedures were simplified or eliminated, while nearly 140 officials and 1,200 state officers faced disciplinary actions. According to the GSO, the push for administrative reform has contributed to increased employment. In the first seven months of this year, nearly 600,400 workers were newly employed by enterprises, reflecting a 2 per cent increase on-year. Last year, Vietnams population reached approximately 100.3 million. The labour force aged 15 and above stood at 52.4 million, an increase of 666,500 from the previous year, with the labour force participation rate rising to 69 per cent, up 0.3 per cent on-year. The government has tasked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs with finalising draft amendments to the Law on Employment, which are scheduled for review during the National Assemblys next session in October and November. The new law aims to enhance the quality of the workforce, offering greater support in areas such as insurance, employment opportunities, access to loans, working conditions, and connectivity between educational institutions and enterprises to boost labour productivity. The World Bank has cautioned that for Vietnam to sustain its economic growth, it must urgently improve productivity, which remains relatively weak. Productivity growth is crucial for sustaining Vietnams economic miracle. Although Vietnams labour productivity has grown by about two-thirds since 2010, outpacing all its regional peers, largely due to improvements in the business environment, enhanced human capital, and substantial foreign direct investment inflows, productivity levels remain well below those of its peers, the World Bank noted in a report last month. Signs are up for industrial production and services Vietnams production and services are beginning to gain momentum, with expectations for a more positive recovery by the years end. Industrial production on back foot Vietnams industrial production remains challenged despite signals of recovery in August, while a decline in business confidence means it may be a stretch to hit government-set goals. Shoots of recovery seen in industrial production Although Vietnams targeted economic growth may be unreachable, there are positive signs of recovery in industrial production and business confidence. Activities in industrial production heat up Vietnams industrial performance is looking up, with the economy forecasted to see a stronger outlook moving into next year. Pro-business landscape heads industrial production wishlist Despite a slowdown in industrial production, confidence among the business community is expected to continue climbing, which is backed by government efforts to provide a more friendly business environment. What is your take on Decree No.80/2024/ND-CP on direct electricity purchase and sale between renewable energy generation units and large electricity consumers? Dr. Oliver Massmann, partner and general director of consulting firm Duane Morris Vietnam LLC Decree 80, which I refer to as the DPPA decree, has been highly anticipated and is warmly welcomed by everyone involved in the energy sector. I, like many others, have been waiting for years for this decree to be issued, and its a positive step by the government to finally release it now. However, certain sections still require further guidance from the authorities, particularly regarding the detailed procedures for participating in grid-connected DPPAs. How effectively do you think this decree will be deployed in Vietnam? I believe this decree will play a crucial role in Vietnams renewable energy development. Investors are likely already making moves based on this decree, which should lead to increased investment in the country. However, some uncertainties in the decree still need to be addressed. Further is necessary on the procedures for participation, guidance, the contract forms, and the parties eligible to participate under the DPPA mechanism. These clarifications must come from the governmental authorities to ensure the decrees enforceability. Additionally, the electricity operation licence remains the most important sub-licence for electricity trading activities, and since this licence is under the sole discretion of the competent authorities, its requirements could significantly impact the decision-making of energy investors. Based on Germanys experience with renewable energy policies, what suggestions would you offer to improve the effectiveness of this new decree in Vietnam? Germanys renewable energy sector is among the most innovative and successful worldwide, thanks to a comprehensive legal framework that includes the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act, the Renewable Energy Act, and the Building Energy Act. These laws offer incentives for renewable energy, establish that the use of renewable energies is of overriding public interest until greenhouse gas neutrality is achieved, and streamline procedures for grid planning and construction. Drawing from Germanys experience, I would suggest that Vietnam provides clear guidance on the DPPA decree to address current ambiguities, including more detailed procedures, a streamlined process, and less emphasis on sub-licences. How can Germanys expertise in renewable energy contribute to Vietnams energy transition, and what collaborative opportunities do you see between the two countries in this field? According to the Energy Industry Act, the electricity grid in Germany is subdivided into transmission grids (maximum voltage) and distribution grids (high, medium, and low voltage). The high voltage transmission grid is largely owned by four transmission system operators. At a lower level of distribution grids, distribution grids are operated by numerous regional and municipal grid operators. To expand the grid infrastructure to encourage renewable energy supply, the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act was issued to reduce the time required for planning and approval procedures for interstate or international very-high voltage lines. Further, to prevent security risks, in Germany, investment screening can be utilised by competent authorities to review the acquisition of German firms by foreign buyers on a case-by-case basis under the Foreign Trade Payments Act and the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance in energy sectors. Generally, under the investment screening mechanism, in some specific sectors (meaning grid operation), the parties entering into an acquisition transaction of more than 10 per cent voting rights must notify their transaction to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the ministrys review. Conversely, in Vietnam, the grid is now under the sole operation and management of Vietnam Electricity while funding from other investors is not yet formally recognised. Further, a screening mechanism similar to that of Germany is also absent. I believe that Germany can help Vietnam in developing relevant mechanisms to promote the grid as well as prevent unwanted investment in specific sectors. This support can be implemented in various ways, such as training, assignment of experts, and treaty on the collaboration. As a German expert myself, I am more than willing to support Vietnam in this regard. Soaring German investments are testament to trust in Vietnam Amid the prevailing winds of trade protectionism and escalating international sanctions, German investment in Vietnam is a testament to investors' trust in the potential of the Southeast Asian country. German Business Association unveils ambitious plan The German Business Association (GBA) has launched its 2024 action plan, focusing on enhancing interaction with its members, expanding its presence in the northern region, and driving strategic development initiatives to strengthen bilateral economic relations with Vietnam. Germany's Ziehl-Abegg Vietnam inaugurates new production facility in Dong Nai Ziehl-Abegg Vietnam announced the opening of a new production facility in the southern province of Dong Nai on June 12, a significant addition to its global operations. Germany supports green technology pilot for Vietnamese businesses Green technology pilot for Vietnamese textile and garment exporters were showcased at the Demo Day in Hanoi on June 17 as part of the German governments initiative to support Vietnamese businesses in their green transition. Germany to ban Chinese telecom giants from 5G network Germany said Thursday it will phase out the use of components from Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks in the coming years due to national security concerns. Binh Dinh seeks investment opportunities from Germany, France A delegation from the south central province of Binh Dinh led by Permanent Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Kim Toan paid a working trip to Germany and France to explore investment opportunities from July 17-22, reported the provincial Department of Planning and Investment. German players leading wave of Euro investments European companies including German ones continue to venture into Vietnam as part of their efforts to diversify supply chain and strengthen manufacturing base in Asia. In early August, a delegation led by the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, paid a working visit to Vietnam. The delegation included around 30 leaders from international, mainland Chinese, and Hong Kong enterprises across sectors such as finance and insurance, innovation and technology, professional services, infrastructure, transport and logistics, energy, and hospitality. Enterprises from Hong Kong often boast some of the most advanced facilities in Vietnam, Photo: Le Toan The visit yielded fruitful outcomes, with 30 MoUs exchanged between Hong Kong and Vietnamese entities. These agreements span various cooperative areas, including trade, economic partnership, investment, aviation, education, and tourism promotion. Vietnam is our seventh-largest merchandise trading partner globally, and second-largest among ASEAN countries, Lee said. Beyond trade, we are also keen on investing in Vietnam. Today, many Hong Kong companies and conglomerates have expanded their operations across ASEAN, with Vietnam being a key focus. I am confident that Vietnams sustainable economic growth, driven by key industries such as manufacturing, construction, services, exports, high-tech and advanced manufacturing, and renewable energy, will continue to present ample market opportunities for Hong Kong companies to thrive. Several well-established brands have led the way here in this regard. For example, Sun Wah Group has been operating in Vietnam for over 30 years, investing well over $1 billion in diverse sectors, from seafood and coffee to real estate and technology. Similarly, Cathay Pacific and Swire Group were among the first to collaborate with Vietnam Airlines in its early days. Jardine Matheson, based in Hong Kong, has invested more than $4 billion in Vietnam, engaging in multiple industries and joint ventures. Since 2007, Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing has operated one of the most advanced facilities in Vietnam, producing over 550,000 tonnes of packaging paper annually. Winnie Lam, general secretary of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam and COO of Avison Young Vietnam, said, Hong Kong has consistently been a top foreign investor in Vietnam. Many multinational corporations use Hong Kong as their regional hub and a gateway to Vietnam. Additionally, numerous Hong Kong investments are channelled through offshore entities such as the BVI. In recent years, Hong Kong has also become a gateway for Chinese companies entering Vietnam. Many of these companies, originally from China and listed in Hong Kong, are expanding globally through Hong Kong, further enhancing the islands status as an international connector and gateway to Vietnam, Lam added. While real estate, hospitality, and garment manufacturing remain attractive sectors for Hong Kong investors, there is a growing interest in technology, green energy, and environment-related services and products. Vietnams expanding middle-class and rising spending power are also drawing more tertiary service providers to the market, Lam said. In early August, two Hong Kong-based corporations, Kingboard and Computime, signed MoUs with Standard Chartered Bank. Kingboard, one of the worlds largest laminate manufacturers, and Computime, a technology and manufacturing company focused on smart and sustainable living, will leverage Standard Chartereds comprehensive financial solutions, including financing, treasury services, and sustainable finance advisory, to expand their business and production lines in Vietnam. Peter Lam, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, expressed optimism about the business potential between Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the broader ASEAN region. In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant strides in new sectors such as innovation and sustainability. Our advancements in green tech, smart manufacturing, and supply chain management, supported by world-class research and development, industrial park infrastructure, and robust government backing, offer substantial opportunities for collaboration with ASEAN businesses, he said. In addition, Hong Kong is now the largest source of government green bonds in Asia. ASEAN businesses seeking green financing opportunities can rely on Hong Kongs professional services for support, he explained. Hong Kong toasts return of Vinexpo Asia Vinexpo Asia, the regions leading international wine and spirits trade exhibition, opened to much celebration at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this week. Hong Kong Airlines boosts Da Nang tourism with new daily flight Flight HX548, operated by Hong Kong Airlines, landed at Da Nang International Airport on July 19, bringing 152 passengers from Hong Kong (China) to explore and experience tourism services in the central city. 30 Hong Kong companies to visit Vietnam Some 30 leaders of leading international, Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong enterprises and conglomerates will visit Vietnam to explore the investment and business opportunities. Vietnam Airlines, Hong Kong International Airport cooperate to open new routes National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) (China) will work together to develop new air routes under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the former presented to its Hong Kong partner on August 1. Hong Kong delegation signs 30 MoUs with Vietnamese government agencies and businesses A delegation led by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee has concluded a working trip to Vietnam, having signed 30 MoUs. Hong Kong's expertise to help develop Ho Chi Minh City During his visit to Vietnam from July 31August 2, Hong Kong chief executive John Lee expressed his willingness to share the special administrative region's experience of building a global a financial centre with Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese leaders have admitted that the move from fossil energy to renewables is slow going, Photo Le Toan In a fresh report posted on its website, the ministry (MoIT) stated that the national electricity system will provide enough electricity for national socioeconomic development and demand of the public and enterprises. In the first seven months of this year, the total output of domestically produced and imported electricity is estimated to hit 174.1 billion kWh, which is 11.7 per cent higher than that in the same period last year. In 2023, the total output of domestically produced and imported electricity reached 280.6 billion kWh, up 4.56 per cent on-year. It is forecasted that the economys total demand for power this year will increase by about 9.6 per cent on-year, meaning a big burden for the electricity industry. However, the MoIT cited Vietnam Electricity (EVN) as having reported that in the remaining months of this year, the electricity supply for the public and domestic production will be ensured. But EVN also admitted that electricity demand will continue to increase at a high level until the years end, while the national power systems reserve capacity is forecast to remain low until the end of October. In the case of of high load combined with unfavourable factors of the power system, there is still a potential risk of having to adjust load during peak hours. The MoIT said it will continue closely monitor and supervise the supply of fuel such as coal, gas, and oil, and the performance of different electricity sources. It will also direct groups and corporations, as well as related units, to seriously implement solutions to provide sufficient power for the economy in the remaining months of this year. Urged by the government, the MoIT is now working with the ministries of transport, planning and investment, and construction to speed up the building of the 500kV transmission line project from Quang Trach to Pho Noi, which must be put into operation in early September. Considered a key initiative in the electricity industry, this 519 kilometre project is costing $931.5 million and is funded by the National Power Transmission Corporation under EVN. It has a scale of two circuits of 500kV transmission line. For power grid projects currently under construction for power connection and support hydropower sources and electricity importation, the MoIT will focus on working with localities to solve problems in site clearance compensation, and at the same time urge contractors to speed up progress, the ministry stressed. At present, Vietnam is making efforts to create improvements for the development of renewable energy as part of its international commitment made in 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The government also approved the nations Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Last week, it requested the MoIT to effectively implement the plan. A decision approving a roadmap for the implementation of the PDP8 has been released, reflecting Vietnams commitment to accelerating the transition from conventional fossil fuels to cleaner and renewable energy sources, addressing environmental concerns, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and aligning with global sustainability targets. By 2030, Vietnam aims to diversify its energy mix significantly. According to the approved roadmap, the country plans to bolster its capacities in thermal, liquefied-natural-gas thermal, and coal-fired thermal power plants to 14,930MW, 22,400MW, and 30,127MW, respectively. Meanwhile, the focus will be on ramping up renewable energy sources, with capacities for offshore wind, onshore wind, and biomass power reaching 6,000MW, 21,880MW, and 1,088MW, respectively. Additionally, electricity generated from waste is expected to contribute 1,182MW, alongside an additional capacity of rooftop solar power set at 2,600MW. To facilitate efficient energy storage, a total capacity of 300MW for battery storage is also planned. Last December, Vietnam announced its resource mobilisation plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which has been since then fuelled by the international community pledging to accompany the country in its journey. The International Partners Group has committed to mobilise significant financing to support Vietnam towards this goal: At least 15.5 billion ($16.8 billion) in public and private finance in the next few years. However, the transformation from fossil energy to renewable energy and new energy sources in order to materialise the governments international commitment to achieve net-zero emissions remain at a slow pace, the MoIT admitted in its report. It is estimated that by 2022, coal-fired power plants accounted for 32.5 per cent in the Vietnams energy mix, while the PDP8 also calls for the gradual transition of such plants to alternative forms of energy. However, according to the United Nations Development Programme, in future, detailed conversion plans must be prepared for many such plants, and discussed between owners and other stakeholders. DPPA streamlining closer to acceptance The business community has asked for relaxed regulations for large customers to be able to buy and sell electricity directly. Durable electricity supply to be ensured Escalating power consumption has sparked an imperative to boost construction of a transmission line and simultaneously mobilise maximum capacity from coal-fired and gas-to-power plants to ensure adequate electricity supply this summer. Vietnam's PM assures no energy shortages in 2024 at WEF discussion Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a discussion with Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and around 20 leaders of major WEF corporations on June 26 in Dalian, China. Some ports are implementing ventures to expand scale and look to the long term, Photo Le Toan The leadership of PVT Logistics is planning to expand and develop logistics services such as chemical warehouses, bulk cargo and crew supply services, maritime human resources, and more amid stiffening competition in the market. Deputy director Tran Hong Kien said, In the next five years, our revenue and profit are expected to grow continuously on an annual basis at an average rate of about 11 and 23 per cent, respectively. Return on equity is expected to reach about 14 per cent a year on average. This is a good performance compared to other companies in the same industry. The company will gradually improve efficiency and standardise investor relations activities, prepare good conditions for expanding charter capital, develop the fleet, and list shares on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange as well as increase the foreign ownership ratio from zero to 49 per cent. Accordingly, by the end of 2025, PVT Logistics aims to develop the fleet of 14 ships, of which 60 per cent will be chemical tankers of 13,000-25,000DWT and 40 per cent will be bulk carriers of 28,000-65,000DWT. It also plans to increase the charter capital to $27.5 million in 2024 and higher in the following years. Focusing on the core business of oil/chemical tanker operations, PVT Logistics is currently operating in international markets such as Europe and North America, meeting the requirements of large chartering associations such as Womar Pool and major oil groups such as Shell, ExxonMobil, and Petronas. To improve operational efficiency, the company has shifted from transporting finished petroleum products to chemicals in the international market to tap into the global energy transition trend. The company is also expanding its operations into the field of bulk cargo transportation of grain and iron ore. Driven by the transformation, in the first six months of 2024, PVT Logistics continued to record a positive business picture with estimated revenues of $28.66 million, up 18 per cent on-year. Its pre-tax profit reached $2.83 million, up 62 per cent. It is expected that for the whole of 2024, revenue and profit are estimated to hit $54.58 million and $5.83 million, up 18 and 85 per cent on-year. Similarly, Gemadept prioritises investment and improving the capacity of the port and logistics ecosystem. In the northern market, South Dinh Vu Port aims to reach maximum capacity in 2024, creating a favourable premise for further implementation of phase 3 of the project. In 2024, Gemadept will continue to implement key projects to expand scale to facilitate its long-term growth plans. They include the expansion of South Dinh Vu Port, the Gemalink deepwater port project, and a project to dredge the depth of Ha Nam canal channel. The company also has ambitions to venture further into new projects, strengthen cooperation, and seek mergers and acquisitions to expand its port-logistics ecosystem. Germadept recorded net revenue of $49.16 million, up 29 per cent on-year during the period. Of the sum, port and logistics activities reached $41.04 million and $8.16 million, respectively. Revenue growth was attributed to the container handling segment, especially in the southern region, with a leap in both output and handling fees. Elsewhere, Vietnam Maritime Corporations (VIMC) is focusing on developing a new fleet and new business activities, including acting as a goods sales agent, instead of focusing only on shipping as in the past. VIMC has actively implemented solutions to market development to grow market share. Specifically, its seaport system continues to develop new container service routes at Danang, Quy Nhon, CMIT, and SSIT ports. Deputy director Le Quang Trung said, New activities were promoted and brought in positive revenue, contributing positively to total revenue. For example, in the first six months of 2024, subsidiary Vosco recorded $73.75 million from coal trading activities. He added that the business activities of the entire corporation during the period achieved many positive results. VIMCs shipping output reached 9.5 million tonnes, or 60 per cent of the 2024 plan. VIMCs total revenue reached $536.25 million and total profit reached $117.08 million. Other domestic logistics companies also witnessed improvements in the January-June span. Revenues of Vietnam Container Corporation in the second quarter reached $29.91 million, up 20 per cent on-year. Profit after tax of the parent company reached $2.83 million, about 2.4 times higher than the same period, mainly coming from financial revenue. According to Viet Dragon Securities, the export-import value of sea container goods reached $103 billion and $68 billion, up 10 and 8 per cent on-year, respectively. Asian giants retain grip of Vietnamese logistics sector There will be little change in current trends of mergers and acquisitions in Vietnams logistics industry this year as domestic players remain sellers and Asian investors continue to gain the upper hand. Logistics primed for Euro take-off While foreign investors are keeping an interest in Vietnamese logistics, the country is being urged to take more drastic action to solve existing problems in order to absorb more European investment in particular. Vietnamese logistics companies upbeat on 2024 outlook As Vietnam's economy is expected to recover and achieve a growth target of 6 per cent in 2024, logistics businesses are optimistic about the logistics industry in 2024. Ryan Nickerson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle's weather team. He can be reached at ryan.nickerson@houstonchronicle.com. Before coming to the Chronicle, Ryan worked for Houston Community Newspapers, covering the Bellaire and Memorial areas. Ryan graduated from Texas Southern University, enjoys riding his bike, is passionate about sports, and loves black and white movies. A person crosses Caroline Street in the afternoon heat Saturday, May 25, 2024, near Discovery Green in Downtown Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Excessive heat warnings continue for much of the Houston area Wednesday as the heat dome remains firmly in place. Houston's hottest week of the year continues through at least Thursday before temperatures finally drop closer to what's normal for late August. As temperatures fall, a plume of deep tropical moisture could bring more widespread rain by next week. Let's dive directly into the forecast. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dangerous heat Wednesday You probably already know this, but Houston is in the middle of its hottest stretch of weather since last year. High temperatures at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport, the official climate site of the city, have averaged 100 degrees since Aug. 16. If you were hoping for cooler weather, Wednesday is definitely not going to be the day. Afternoon temperatures peak at between 101 and 103 degrees depending on where you are. Some backyard thermometers may even crack 105 degrees. Places inside Loop 610 are most likely to see highs of 103 degrees or a bit higher, with areas outside Beltway 8 likely rising to between 100 and 102 degrees. Regardless of where you're at Wednesday, it's going to be a hot one. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not only will it be hot, but Wednesday's heat could be dangerously high. Heat index values of 112 to 115 degrees are likely, resulting in excessive heat warnings for much of Southeast Texas. Heat safety should remain top of mind through this week. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and taking frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning if possible. Heat finally breaks The National Weather Service office in League City, which covers Greater Houston and Galveston, said "the worst of the heat will be behind us as we move into Thursday" in a forecast discussion posted Tuesday. What's behind temperatures gradually falling? The heat dome responsible for this week's hot weather will finally begin to loosen its tight grip on the Lone Star State. This means highs above 100 degrees will yield to highs in the upper 90s by Friday. While not exactly "cool," it's at least closer to normal for late August and that trend will continue through the upcoming weekend. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Forecast highs this weekend are going to be between 95 and 97 degrees for Houston as rain chances finally return. Tropical moisture next week? A pattern change is expected into next week as an area of low pressure could bring tropical moisture to Southeast Texas. Visible satellite is shown above the Atlantic basin on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. No organized tropical development is expected through early next week, though an influx of deep tropical moisture could move from the northeast Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global forecast models are latching onto the idea that an area of low pressure will attempt to develop off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. This disturbance will travel westward across the Gulf into next week, potentially bringing with it a surge of deep tropical moisture. Will tropical trouble develop from this? At this point, it's hard to say for sure, but it is something we'll have to closely watch over the next couple of days. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 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. 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30 Nov (22) 16 Nov - 23 Nov (19) 9 Nov - 16 Nov (15) 2 Nov - 9 Nov (17) 26 Oct - 2 Nov (10) 19 Oct - 26 Oct (12) 12 Oct - 19 Oct (13) 5 Oct - 12 Oct (19) 28 Sep - 5 Oct (14) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (17) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) Nevadas Supreme Court declined Tuesday to wade into an electoral controversy despite pleas from the state's top election official and attorney general after one county initially voted against certifying recount results from the June primary. The Democratic officials wanted the justices to make clear that counties have no legal authority to refuse to certify election results. The high court said in a ruling that the matter was moot since the Washoe County Commission's original 3-2 vote against certification was later nullified when it re-voted the following week to certify the results. The court dismissed Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford's request for a ruling declaring the commission acted illegally. But the justices also made clear that they have the legal authority to make such a declaration and warned they may do so on an expedited basis if it becomes an issue again. As petitioner argues, even when an issue becomes moot, we may still consider the issue if it constitutes a matter of widespread importance capable of repetition, the court said. Aguilar and Ford had argued that it's likely the county commission would refuse to certify results from the general election in November. The court agreed that the issue is important but said it wasn't persuaded there would be a repeat. Aguilar and Ford did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Once seen as a mundane and ministerial task, election certification has become a pressure point since the 2020 election. During the midterms two years later, a scenario similar to what is unfolding in Washoe County played out in New Mexico after that states primary, when a rural county delayed certification and relented only after the secretary of state appealed to the states supreme court. Aguilar and Ford said in their request to the Supreme Court that Nevada law makes canvassing election results including recounts by a certain date a mandatory legal duty for the county commission. It also says commissioners have no discretion to refuse or otherwise fail to perform this duty. Aguilar and Ford have argued previously that the certification flap has potential implications this November in one of the nations most important swing counties, which includes Reno and Sparks. Voter registration there is roughly split into thirds among Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisans. It is unacceptable that any public officer would undermine the confidence of their voters, Aguilar said. Two of the Republican Washoe County commissioners Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark have consistently voted against certifying results and are supported by a wider movement that promotes election conspiracy theories. Republican Clara Andriola, whom that movement targeted in the primaries, initially joined them in voting against certification, one of which involved the primary race she won. After the board revisited the issue and approved the recount numbers, Andriola said she reversed course after speaking with the county district attorneys office. She said it made clear that the commissions duty is to certify election results without discretion. Our responsibility is to follow the law, Andriola said. Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford released this statement: "I respect the Supreme Court's decision, although I strongly believe that legal uncertainty in this matter contributes to unfounded distrust in our elections. I will continue to work with Secretary of State Aguilar to protect Nevadans' right to have their electoral voices heard." (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.) AUGUST 20, 2024: Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron D. Ford have filed a brief urging the Nevada Supreme Court to confirm the legal obligations of Washoe County commissioners and hear the petition filed by both offices following the Washoe County Board of Commissioners failure to certify two vote counts in the June Primary. "While the Washoe County Board of Commissioners corrected their failure to canvass the recounted elections, their initial vote sent a dangerous message. The Supreme Court must take up this issue and confirm the obligation of county commissioners to certify the votes of their constituents, said Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar. We must have a legal precedent affirming that the canvass of the vote is ministerial, and that no elected official can deny the results of a legitimate election. Im grateful to our partners in the Attorney Generals Office for their commitment to our democracy and dedication to upholding the integrity of our elections." Last month, Washoe County commissioners voted 4-1 to canvass the results of two primary election races that underwent recounts. The vote reverses a previous vote on the issue made by the Commission. Commissioner Clara Andriola said she received the clarification she needed from the Registrar of Voters office to canvass the vote. Commissioner Michael Clark said he was made aware that the commission vote to canvass the election is not discretionary, and that he could face criminal prosecution and be removed from office for not voting to certify the election results. Commissioner Jeanne Herman was the sole vote against certifying the election results. "Yesterday, my office filed a brief with Nevada Supreme Court explaining why our case against the Washoe County Board of Commissioners for initially refusing to certify the June 2024 primary election recount results is not moot," said Attorney General Aaron Ford. "Although the Board eventually canvassed the recount results, we have asked the Court not to dismiss our case so as to provide clear guidance on this important issue. It is vital that the Court to make a ruling confirming the legal obligation of county commissioners to canvass and certify election results. Otherwise, we run the risk of further voter disenfranchisement and the destabilization of Nevada and federal elections." Prolific rock musician Neil Young, 78, is releasing his most copiously comprehensive box set yet: Neil Young Archives Vol. III (19761987), a heap of recorded history stretching across 198 tracks, 11 films and 28 hours. Fifteen tunes are previously unreleased, and you can hear one of the prettiest now, Lady Wingshot, which premiered exclusively on AARP on Aug. 21. Listen to Lady Wingshot by clicking on the video player above. Members only Its a midtempo duet with the late Nicolette Larson, Youngs partner on the 1978 hit Lotta Love, recorded Nov. 10, 1977, in Nashville. At the end, you hear persnickety perfectionist Young complaining that one guitar is just a little louder than all the other ones. For Young, the archive is not a retirement hobby. He remains an active recording and touring musician, an outspoken environmental activist and a mercurial rock insurrectionist. Hes also one of the most demanding music historians alive, especially when it comes to his music. The limited deluxe edition of Neil Young Archives Vol. III (19761987), available at neilyoungarchives.com for $449.98 starting Sept. 6, holds 17 CDs and five Blu-rays, plus a 160-page book and a poster. (Thats $2.15 per tune or movie; theres also a 17-disc CD box set of only the music for $240.) It spans 11 studio albums, including country/folk Comes a Time, grunge prototype Rust Never Sleeps, rockabilly detour Everybodys Rockin and Kraftwerk-influenced electronic Trans. The "Neil Young Archives Vol. III" box set. Courtesy Warner Records Tracks youve never heard before outnumber previously released versions of songs by about double: 121 to 62. The new ones are unreleased versions of live performances, studio cuts, mixes or edits. The massive deluxe edition features his never-released albums Oceanside Countryside, Johnnys Island and Summer Songs, and unreleased films Across the Water, Boarding House, Trans and Catalyst. Sprinkled throughout the collection are Rap tracks, with Youngs comments on recording details. Rarities abound. On A Snapshot in Time, Young is heard rehearsing with Larson and Linda Ronstadt. The 1976 European and Japanese tour by Young and Crazy Horse is captured in Across the Water. Theres even the 1982 comedy he codirected and starred in, Human Highway. June 2024 Quarterly Financial Statements and MD&A Toronto, Aug 21, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resouro Strategic Metals Inc.( ASX:RAU ) ( CVE:RSM ) ( 8TX:FRA ) ( RSGOF:OTCMKTS ) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in Brazil, including the Tiros Titanium and Rare Earth Elements Project ("Tiros Project") in Minas Gerais and the Novo Mundo Gold Project in Mato Grosso. Resouro Strategic Metals Inc., formerly Resouro Gold Inc., was incorporated on August 4, 1992 under the laws of British Columbia, Canada. The Company's head office and registered is Suite 250 997 Seymour Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 3M1. The Company's shares are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (the "ASX") under the symbol "RAU", the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX.V") under the symbol "RSM", the Over-the-Counter pink sheet US exchange (the "OTC") under the symbol "RSGOF" and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (the "FSE") under the symbol "8TX". The Company has four subsidiaries. Ison Mining Pte Ltd. ("ISON") is owned by Resouro. ISON was incorporated under the laws of Singapore. ISON owns 100% of the outstanding shares of ISON do Brasil Mineracao Ltda ("ISON do Brasil"), a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil. Tiros Stratmet Pte Ltd ("TSPS") is 100% owned by Resouro. TSPS was incorporated under the laws of Singapore. TSPS owns 90% of the outstanding shares of Tiros Minerais Estrategicos Mineracao Ltda ("TMEL"), a company incorporated under the laws of Brazil. A third party holds a 10% non-controlling interest ("NCI") over the Tiros project assets through its 10% ownership of TMEL. The Company changed its fiscal year end to March 31st effective May 15, 2022, upon the completion of the Company's reverse takeover transaction ("RTO") (Note 3). The change in the fiscal year end to March 31st was made in order to streamline the Company's financial reporting. The Company is an exploration stage company and has interests in mineral exploration properties in Brazil. Substantially all of the Company's efforts are devoted to financing and developing these properties and/or acquiring new ones. There has been no determination whether the Company's interests in mineral exploration properties contain mineral reserves, which are economically recoverable. The recoverability of resources discovered is dependent upon the reserves being economically recoverable, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to complete their exploration and development, confirmation of the Company's interest in the underlying claims and leases, ability to obtain the necessary permits to mine, and future profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of these assets. These condensed interim consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will be able to meet its obligations and continue its operations for the next twelve months. Realization values may be substantially different from the carrying values shown and these condensed interim consolidated financial statements do not give effect to adjustments that would be necessary to the carrying values and classification of assets and liabilities should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company's continuing operations and the ability of the Company to meet mineral property and other commitments are dependent upon the ability of the Company to continue to raise additional equity or debt financing and to seek joint venture partners. At the date of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements, the Company has not achieved profitable operations and has accumulated losses since inception. The Company had a working c capital surplus of $5,869,095 (March 31, 2024 $900,874) and an accumulated deficit attributable to shareholders of $11,714,559 (March 31, 2024 $9,805,476) for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The Company has incurred a loss from operations of $2,003,097 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 (June 30, 2023 $554,819). These factors indicate the existence of material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, and accordingly, the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. Management estimates that the Company currently has adequate capital to operate for the coming year. *To view the full quarterly report including Management Discussion and Analysis, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/0A4C2SK6 About Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. (ASX:RAU) (CVE:RSM) (OTCMKTS:RSGOF) (FRA:8TX) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in Brazil, including the rare earth elements and titanium Tiros Project and the Novo Mundo and Santa Angela gold projects. The Tiros Project, located in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is an exploration project focused on rare earth elements and titanium covering an area of approximately 450 km2. The Tiros Project comprises 17 exploration permits, and one exploration permit application held by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary; and 6 exploration permits and one exploration permit application that have been validly assigned to the Company's Brazilian subsidiary and are awaiting ANM approval. The Company holds, via its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary, a 90% interest in the Tiros Project and the remaining 10% interest in the Tiros Project is held by RBM Consultoria Mineral Eireli (RBM), an unrelated third-party vendor. The Novo Mundo Project is located in the Alta Floresta Gold Province close to the northern border of the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil. Within the licensed area is the small town of Novo Mundo, which is 30km west from the larger town of Guaranta do Norte. It comprises three exploration permits. The Company also has another interest in an exploration permit, being the Santa Angela Project, which is not considered material to the Company's operations. Interests in the Novo Mundo Project and Santa Angela Project are held via the Company's wholly owned subsidiary. Related Companies Husband and wife owners Bobby and Janice Jucker wave at a customer as they stand inside Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. The Jewish bakery has survived four floods and two hurricanes, including Hurricane Harvey. Sharon Steinmann Young customers look at pastries on display at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. Sharon Steinmann A baker decorates cakes at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. The Jewish bakery has survived four floods, including Hurricane Harvey. Sharon Steinmann Political themed cookies are pictured at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. Sharon Steinmann Husband and wife owners Bobby and Janice Jucker sit inside Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. The Jewish bakery has survived four floods, including Hurricane Harvey. Sharon Steinmann Customers look at pastries on display at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. Sharon Steinmann Few people would voluntarily crown themselves the King and Queen of Disaster. But Bobby and Janice Jucker, co-owners of Three Brothers Bakery, proudly embrace the title. After enduring four floods, two hurricanes, a fire, a pandemic, a freeze and a freak derecho sustaining at least $5.39 million in total losses over 23 years theyve earned it. Their South Braeswood location, which has served the neighborhood by Brays Bayou since 1960, is a monument to resilience after Houstons worst natural disasters. Like so many properties in the area, it has been rebuilt over and over again: in 2008, after Hurricane Ike tore their roof clean off, in 2015 and 2016 after the Memorial Day and Tax Day floods filled the store with water, and in 2017, when Hurricane Harvey pumped a 4.5-foot deep river through their industrial kitchen. The current was so strong it knocked over 800 pounds of ice. Each time, concerned customers and the media have asked the Juckers, is this it? Will the beloved bakery close for good? Each time, against all odds, theyve been buoyed back into business with the help of two critical life rafts: the National Flood Insurance Program and U.S. Small Business Administration loans. Two things that Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations sweeping conservative blueprint for Donald Trumps second term, hopes to dismantle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weve already shared our pressing concerns about Project 2025s dangerous policy buffet a smorgasbord so transparently authoritarian even Trump has tried to distance himself from it. But nestled deep in the 922-page agenda is a nugget of commonsense criticism that is worth seriously engaging with. It represents the central dilemma that Houston, and other coastal cities like it, will have to grapple with to survive a new normal of extreme weather wrought by climate change. The NFIP was created six decades ago to provide Americans affordable flood insurance at a time when many private insurers were fleeing the market. Both the left and right have criticized the program for encouraging people to buy, build and rebuild in flood-prone areas. As Project 2025 points out, taxpayers have already bailed out the NFIP 16 times in 25 years, totaling $42 billion in loans and grants, and the program is currently $20 billion in the red. Clearly, Project 2025 architects argue, the NFIP must go. We agree something needs to change. We cant keep subsidizing properties that flood repeatedly and incentivizing people to keep building there. But in a state like Texas, where 1 in 6 people live in a flood hazard zone and 98% of the population lives in a community that participates in the NFIP, can we afford to get rid of what is often the only thing keeping small businesses afloat after disaster? Already, 43% of small and mid-sized businesses that close after a disaster never reopen and an additional 29% go out of business within two years, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This year, the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl were the final nail in the coffin for several of the 15 Houston-area restaurants forced to shut their doors some a few months after opening. The ripple effects of those losses on the local economy and the families whom the businesses sustained are devastating. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Without the NFIP, Three Brothers Bakery would be one flood away from closing permanently and leaving 75 people without a job, Janice told two editorial board members who met her at the Braeswood location a few weeks ago. That shop is the nerve center, servicing their three other locations in Memorial, Washington and Tanglewood. If that one goes, so do the other ones. Three Brothers Bakery on S. Braeswood took on four and a half feet of water in Hurricane Harvey flooding. Katrina Kidder When Harvey flooded their labyrinthine kitchen, filling their commercial mixing bowls and more than half a dozen industrial coolers with poopoo water, Janice said, they were overwhelmed. The smell of spillage from the wastewater treatment plant up the street prompted the unlucky staff member who discovered the damage to throw up. Sky-high stacks of flour were spoiled. Racks and racks of baked goods were trashed. The motors on three vans were completely shot. It was like cleaning up with toothbrushes, Janice said. Dina Rodas makes cupcakes at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. The Jewish bakery has survived four floods and two hurricanes, including Hurricane Harvey. Sharon Steinmann But the Juckers pride themselves on paying their people, no matter what. Its the number one lesson they teach other small businesses to prioritize. Armed with the funds to pay their employees overtime, they were able to reopen after only 17 days. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The insurance made all the difference, Thomas Baker, the shops manager of 14 years, told us. Those payments helped get us back up and running and we were able to maintain our legacy. He pointed to a photo above his office door frame. It was a portrait of Sigmund Jucker, one of the three Jewish brothers who originally founded the bakery after surviving the Holocaust and fleeing Poland in 1949. Today, it is still a staple among many Jewish families and institutions breaking challah together every Friday evening to mark another week. Its a community that understands disaster better than some, with many Meyerland-area families themselves facing repeat floods. The financial precarity of all these disasters and loans even lost the bakery its kosher certification in 2019. We reached the point where we had to ask the question: Will we be a closed kosher bakery permanently closed or a bakery that makes Jewish-style products? Jucker told the Jewish Herald-Voice at the time. We had to choose the latter. A baker makes Rugelach at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. Sharon Steinmann While Project 2025 raises important points about a well-intentioned program in need of reform, it is drastically shortsighted in its solutions. For both the NFIP and the SBA loan program without which Janice says Three Brothers Bakery would have gone broke three times the plan insists that privatization is the answer to reduce federal bloat. They seem to be unaware of the fact that private insurers arent exactly flocking to the flood insurance market, Rob Moore, a senior policy analyst for the environmental advocacy group NRDC Action Fund, said. Thats the very reason the program began in the first place. Already, our high-risk Houston area has prompted insurers to raise premiums to impossible highs, pricing out Houstonians who need insurance more than ever. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But where Moore agrees with Project 2025 is with the need to rethink the role of federal, state and local government in disaster recovery. States do need to shoulder a larger burden, he said. When states constantly rely on FEMA for smaller disasters, they leave the agency with fewer resources to respond to unprecedented events, such as in 2017, when FEMA cleaned up four major disasters simultaneously: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and the California wildfires. Moore pointed out Texas excruciating hesitation to dip into its Rainy Day Fund on literally the rainiest day possible, he said to fund Harvey recovery efforts. From our nearly three-hour interview with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management after Hurricane Beryl, its clear Texas is already moving away from dependence on FEMA for immediate aid. Janice still believes the state could do more to bring Texans relief. After the 2021 freeze, she helped push Texas lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 678, a framework for a small business disaster recovery loan program. She hopes to get it funded next session, allowing affected businesses to access bridge loans of up to $50,000 to pay employees and reopen after a disaster. Linda Connelly of Houston buys pastries at Three Brothers Bakery on South Braeswood in Houston, TX on August 9, 2024. The Jewish bakery has survived four floods, including Hurricane Harvey. Sharon Steinmann While we were speaking with Janice and Bobby, one customer, Linda Connelly, came over to thank them. She was touched by the Juckers' kindness during Beryl. They had opened their doors to Connelly and her family, who were without power, and gifted them apple pie and cinnamon rolls. These people are heaven, she said. Its fair to question whether we should prop up businesses that have flooded over and over again. And even to consider whether it might be cheaper in the long run to spend millions buying out or relocating flood-prone commercial properties. But tell that to the third, fourth and fifth-generation customers who cant imagine their neighborhood without that little corner bakery. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Media consulting firm Ormax Media has released the latest edition of Indias largest audience research to size the OTT universe in the country, titled The Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2024. Based on a sample size of 12,000 across urban and rural India, the research was conducted in June and July of 2024. Select findings of the report released by Ormax Media reveal that the Indian OTT audience universe is currently pegged at 547.3 million (or 54.73 crore) people. This translates to a penetration of 38.4%. The 13.8% growth in the universe vis-a-vis 2023 is entirely driven by the AVOD audience, which grew by 21%, while the SVOD segment witnessed a degrowth of 2%. The report defines an OTT audience who watched at least one online video (free or paid) in the last one month. The report breaks down this universe by gender, age, NCCS, pop strata, states, and cities. Speaking about the findings of the report, Keerat Grewal, Head of Business Development (Streaming, TV & Brands), Ormax Media, said, While the overall expansion rate of the OTT universe has stably been around the 13%-mark post-pandemic, this years report highlights the significant role of AVOD segment in expanding the universe. The growth is driven by AVOD audiences, with most of the new entrants into the category watching video content only on YouTube and social media. The stagnation in SVOD audience size is also reflective of the trend, whereby free content is driving OTT growth in small town and rural India. The report reveals that India has 99.6 million active paid (B2C) OTT subscriptions, a number very similar to last year. The average number of platforms subscribed to per paying audience member has come down from 2.8 to 2.5 in 2024, highlighting the waning need among audiences to subscribe to too many platforms. This years report also elaborates on various devices used by the OTT audience in India to watch online video content. Smartphone emerges as the most preferred device to watch online video content, with 97% of Indian OTT audience using it, and a sizeable 81% audience watching OTT content only on their smartphone. The connected TV audience base is estimated at 69.7 million. Elaborating on the significance of the report, Grewal said, This years report offers an in-depth look at the dynamic growth and future trajectory of the OTT landscape in India, that can help OTT platforms and agencies with growth strategy, acquisition and retention decisions, revenue planning and content strategy. We have also expanded the scope of this years report to provide an insight into devices of consumption, which will help in defining distribution strategy. This report stands as a testament to Ormax Medias ongoing commitment to providing insights that empower platforms, production companies, and agencies to enhance profitability through data and analytics. GRM Overseas, India's leading exporters of Basmati rice, and a leading player in the India's FMCG sector, is thrilled to announce the signing of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as its brand ambassador for Its Basmati Rice and Wheat Flour(Atta). Salman Khan's popularity, among people across GRMs target market geographies and demographics fit perfectly with 10X. Harnessing Salman Khans Stardom for Unprecedented Impact Salman Khan is not just a beloved actor; he is a cultural icon with a massive fan base spanning across India and beyond. His unparalleled popularity, coupled with his relatable and down-to-earth persona, makes him an ideal ambassador for GRM. Salmans influence extends beyond the silver screen, resonating with audiences across various demographics, from urban centers to rural heartlands. His widespread appeal ensures that GRM reaches every corner of the country. By partnering with Salman Khan, GRM is set to leverage his iconic status to further strengthen its brand presence and connect with millions of consumers globally. His association with GRM underscores the brands commitment to quality and excellence, making him the perfect face to represent their mission of delivering the finest products to households everywhere. "We are incredibly excited to have Salman Khan join the GRM family," said Atul Garg, Managing Director of GRM Overseas. "We found Salmans mass appeal and fanbase to be a perfect match for our 10X brand range of Basmati Rice and 10x Shakti range of Wheat Flour(Atta)." Salman Khans unparalleled fame and widespread appeal make him a household name across India and beyond. Revered by millions for his charisma and authenticity, Salmans influence reaches every demographic, creating a deep connection with audiences of all ages. His dedication to health and fitness is widely recognized, further solidifying his status as a role model for those aspiring to lead a healthier lifestyle. By associating with Salman Khan, GRM not only taps into his immense popularity but also reinforces its commitment to delivering premium, nutritious products that resonate with consumers. Salmans iconic status ensures that GRMs message of quality and well-being will reach and inspire a vast audience, making him an ideal ambassador to elevate the brands presence. Speaking on the association, Salman Khan said "I'm excited to partner with GRM, a brand that shares my belief in the importance of quality and authenticity. I believe we can inspire more people to make healthier, more conscious food choices in their daily lives. Looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us together." Both GRM and Salman Khan believe in the power of family, community and the impact of collective progress. Through his influence, GRM aims to inspire and engage consumers globally, encouraging them to be part of a movement that prioritizes sustainability and empowerment. John Saunders, CEO and Global President of FleishmanHillard under Omnicom PR Group, will be stepping down on October 1, with J.J. Carter taking over his role. At that time, Saunders will assume the position of chairman. Carter, at present the Global Chief Operating Officer and President of the Americas for FleishmanHillard, will be reporting to Omnicom PR Group CEO Chris Foster in his new capacity and join the global leadership team. Carter will continue to work from San Francisco, with no plans to relocate to St. Louis, Missouri, the place where Saunders is based, or to New York City. Saunders, originally from Dublin, Ireland, has led FleishmanHillard for nine years. He was appointed Regional President for EMEA in 2011, following his role as Regional Director for Europe, which he began seven years earlier. He led the foundation of Fleishman-Hillard Saunders in 1990. In 2023, Ciscos North America PR business was retained by the company which continues to work with pivotal clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, Philips, Samsung and PepsiCo. However, the firm lost major accounts like UPS and AT&T, with the latter choosing Jackson Spalding as its lead PR agency. Carter has been with FleishmanHillard since the year 2005, taking on several leadership roles before being named Global Chief Operating Officer and President of the Americas in 2016. Joy Personal Care, the Indian home-grown personal care brand, under the aegis of RSH Global, announced Medha Shankr, a national crush as its new brand ambassador. Known for her roles that celebrate determination, femininity, and simplicity, Medha represents todays young women. Her inspiring journey and relatable persona perfectly align with Joy Personal Care's commitment towards inclusivity and breaking stereotypes. A breath of fresh air in Bollywood, Medha's powerful performances and refreshing presence have captured the hearts of millions. Her strong connection with young people makes her the perfect face for Joy Personal Care, a brand that values individuality and self-care. Sunil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of Joy Personal Care (RSH Global), remarked, We are glad to on board Medha Shankr, a talented actor as our brand ambassador. Her refreshing approach and genuine charm align with our brands principles of authenticity and inclusivity. This association will help us forge a deeper connection with our audience. Poulomi Roy, Chief Marketing Officer of Joy Personal Care (RSH Global), added, Medha Shankrs vibrant persona and strong rapport with young women make her a perfect fit for an ambassador of Joy Personal Care. Her powerful on-screen presence and genuine connection with the audience make her an ideal ambassador. As a young, confident, and inspiring role model, Medha resonates deeply with the consumers. We are confident her involvement will greatly further our mission to inspire confidence and embrace natural beauty. Medha Shankr expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, I am thrilled to begin this new journey as Joy Personal Cares brand ambassador. Promoting the brand's core message of embracing inner beauty aligns perfectly with my values. We should all celebrate our unique beauty and feel confident in our own skin. Also Read: Joy Personal Care aims to democratise sports viewing: Poulomi Roy In 2023, the U.S. broke a world record for a single country's annual production of crude oil. And it appears on track to break that record this year. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Not much of a 'war' on oil Regarding Colin Allred tries to reassure oil and gas workers while also supporting renewable energy (Aug. 15): In the article referenced there is a quote from Sen. Ted Cruz with regards to the Biden administration: Theyve waged a war on U.S. oil and gas production. On March 11, 2024, the U.S. Energy Information Administration published actual data on annual crude oil production showing that we produced more oil than any other nation in history over the past six years. In 2023, the U.S. broke a world record for annual production of crude oil by one country. Forbes reported in April that the pace of daily oil production was even higher than the 2023 record year. Based on the political dialogue in some corners, this might be surprising. In fact, Drill baby drill appears to be exactly what is going on already. It sure doesnt look like the war on oil is hurting our domestic producers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, demand for gasoline cratered and so did the prices. Thats why gas prices in Texas briefly dropped as low as $1.57 per gallon. It wasnt some great stroke of genius by the prior administration but rather a consequence of a horrible situation that none of us want to go through again. Heres a fact: Gasoline prices here today are roughly the same as they were at the start of 2011. This despite the fact that our domestic production of crude oil has more than doubled over that time. Check the facts, listen to the rhetoric, decide for yourself what makes sense. Joseph Quinlan, Houston HISD tragedy Regarding Father of late HISD student says nurse did not know CPR (Aug. 16): I am appalled but sadly, not surprised, that a student died because a school nurse apparently did not know CPR. I have long wondered if school nurse is an accurate title and if they have actual nursing training. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Years ago, a school nurse called me to tell me that she thought my daughter had gangrene in her finger. What she had was a black fingernail where she had smashed it! No one should be called a nurse unless they have gone through nursing training, which includes CPR. Whatever their title, they should all be trained in CPR, which does not require a nursing degree. Experts will say that even if you do CPR improperly, it is better than nothing. But proper training is even better. Emily Murphy, Kingwood Tap Metro funds Regarding the editorial Show us the money. Whitmire should reveal how hell fix Houstons budget. (Aug. 15): The mayor has been voicing his solution since January: Metropolitan Transit Authority. By ending its pursuit of the University Bus Rapid Transit Line project, Metro doesnt have as much need to use its funding for capital expenditures. Major transit projects typically require years of planning and community engagement before spending money on construction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The mayor appoints five of the nine positions on Metros board of directors. The writing is on the wall that Metros general fund balance can be used by the mayor to help bridge any Houston budget gap that materializes in the near future. Metro has a AAA bond rating, and a $100 million transfer to the city wont change that. Art Smiley, Humble Trump is no Maduro Regarding the letter to the editor Trump is Americas Maduro (Aug. 16): I believe that Tom Hix needs to read up on right- and left-wing politics. Kamala Harris is a left-wing Democrat. Donald Trump is a right-wing conservative Republican. As a Democrat, Harris believes in more government control, higher taxes and large welfare and social programs. As a Republican, Trump believes in smaller government, and fewer regulations over the economy. How, then, does that put him in the category of a dictator? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Each party says terrible things about the other, but fact-checking would really be helpful. No, Mr. Hix, Trump should not be mentioned in the same breath as Maduro. Read up on what each of these candidates want for this country. Dont believe everything you read or hear. Rediscover the magic of Bollywoods golden era with the re-release of timeless classicMaine Pyaar Kiya (1989), marking the movies 35th anniversary. As part of our PVR INOX Timeless Hits initiative, these beloved films are returning to the big screen across 35 locations nationwide, offering you the chance to immerse yourself once again in their captivating romance, drama, and unforgettable music. Maine Pyaar Kiya became a cornerstone of Bollywood romance, introducing audiences to the heartwarming love story of Salman Khan and Bhagyashree. Blink Twice Step into the gripping world of psychological thriller, Blink Twice, Zoe Kravitzs fearless directorial debut that blends pulse-pounding suspense with biting social satire. When tech mogul Slater King (Channing Tatum) whisks cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) away to his private island, it feels like a dream come true. But as strange and unsettling events unfold, paradise quickly becomes a nightmare. Frida must unravel the islands dark secrets before its too late. Featuring a star-studded cast including Simon Rex, Alia Shawkat, and Christian Slater, Blink Twice is more than just a thrillerits a razor-sharp dissection of power, privilege, and the perilous games people play. Kravitzs daring vision combines high-stakes tension with sly humour, delivering a film thats as thought-provoking as it is exhilarating. As the story twists and turns, youll find yourself questioning whats real, all while being thoroughly entertained. Alien: Romulus The Xenomorphs are finally back in theatres for the first time since 2017, seven years after Alien: Covenant, with Alien: Romulus. This seventh instalment in the legendary sci-fi horror franchise bridges the gap between Ridley Scotts 1979 original and James Camerons explosive 1986 sequel, Aliens. Directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Scott, Alien: Romulus plunges a group of young space colonistsplayed by Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, and Archie Renauxinto a nightmare as they stumble upon a derelict space station in the darkest reaches of the galaxy. What they discover is the stuff of legend: Xenomorphs, the deadliest creatures in the universe, lying in wait. With stunning production design by Naaman Marshall, Alien: Romulus captures the gritty, lived-in feel of the original films and introduces fresh terrors that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. The film delves deep into themes of isolation, fear, and the dangers of unchecked corporate greed, making it a worthy successor in the franchise. Its another great film to transport you back as if you are watching an Aliens movie for the first time. Releasing in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, Alien: Romulus is set to reawaken the terror that made Alien an enduring classic. Harold and the Purple Crayon Some stories never lose their charm, and Harold and the Purple Crayon is among them. The beloved tale makes its colourful leap from page to screen, ready to enchant a new generation. The film, a delightful blend of animation and live-action, is set to charm audiences of all ages. Directed by Carlos Saldanha, known for his work on family favourites like Ice Age and Rio, this film marks the first-ever adaptation of Crockett Johnsons beloved 1955 childrens book. In this whimsical adventure, we follow the grown-up Harold, played by Zachary Levi, who discovers that his magical purple crayon can bring anything he draws to lifeeven outside the pages of his book! But as Harold enters the real world, he learns that his drawings can cause more mischief than he bargained for. Alongside a star-studded cast, including Lil Rel Howery, Jemaine Clement, and Zooey Deschanel, Harold must navigate the challenges that come with such a powerful tool, all while trying to save both his imaginative world and the real one from chaos. With a screenplay by David Guion and Michael Handelman, this lively adaptation is a heartwarming and humorous celebration of the power of creativity and imagination. Harold and the Purple Crayon promises to be a joyous and uplifting journey for the whole family, filled with laughter and inspiration. Fakt Purusho Maate (Gujarati) Fakt Purusho Maate is poised to be a must-watch family entertainer this week, bringing Amitabh Bachchan back to the big screen in a pivotal role as God. This sequel to the 2022 hit Fakt Mahilao Maate promises to entertain and spark conversations on gender equality and intergenerational conflicts. Directed by Jay Bodas and Parth Trivedi, the film weaves together humour and depth as it explores the sacred 16 days of Shraadh (Kaagvas) in a vibrant Gujarati setting. The story follows Purshottam, portrayed by Darshan Jariwala, who returns from the afterlife to meddle in his grandson Brijeshs (Yash Soni) love life. As Purshottams old-fashioned ideals clash with the modern values of Brijesh and his fiancee, played by Esha Kansara, comedic chaos ensues. The film cleverly uses magical realism to create a narrative that challenges traditional patriarchal views while embracing the complexities of contemporary relationships. With its mix of light-hearted comedy and profound themes, Fakt Purusho Maate has already generated a lot of buzz in the industry. Bachchans performance as God adds a layer of gravitas to this delightful exploration of the conflicts between tradition and modernity. Bollywood's favourite superstar, Sanjay Dutt, is back to set hearts racing, but this time, it's not on the silver screen. A long-standing connoisseur of Scotch and brand ambassador for The Cartel Bros, premium scotch whisky brand The Glenwalk, Sanjay Dutt announces the launch of the brands newest innovation: the Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale. This latest venture marks another milestone in their successful partnership as the actor introduces a refreshing twist on a classic. The latest addition to the Glenwalk family, the Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale, is a testament to the brand's commitment to innovation and health. Crafted with the finest natural ingredients and a unique blend of spices, this refreshing beverage delivers a bold ginger flavour without the guilt. Scaling new heights, the new range is now available at all retail outlets in Mumbai and is coming soon on quick e-commerce platforms. The 250ml bottle is perfectly sized for on-the-go refreshment, and its stylish design complements The Glenwalk's premium image. Talking about the new Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale launch, Sanjay Dutt says As someone who's always believed in a healthy lifestyle, I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of The Glenwalk journey. The Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale is a fantastic option for those who want to indulge in a refreshing drink without compromising on their health goals. It's a perfect fit for every season!" We're thrilled to introduce The Glenwalk range of non-alcoholic beverages and what better way to kick things off than with a refreshing Ginger Ale? Perfect for those seeking a healthy and flavorful alternative, this zero-calorie drink is ideal for anyone watching their intake without compromising on taste," says Mokksh Sani, the founder of Living Liquidz and co-founder of The Glenwalk Launched in June 2023 with brand partner Sanjay Dutt at the helm, The Glenwalk has leveraged the expertise of Cartel Bros spearheaded by co-founders Mokksh Sani, Jitin Merani, Rohan Nihalani, Manish Sani and their Chief Business Officer Neeraj Singh for its rapid rise in popularity across India. Talking about his journey with The Cartel Bros. and The Glenwalk, Sanjay Dutt shares "I've known Mokksh for years, and his passion for creating something extraordinary is infectious. When he first pitched the idea of The Glenwalk, I knew it was special. It wasn't just about creating a product; it was about building a lifestyle." Known for its innovative and high-quality drinks, this exciting new launch marks Cartel Bros.'s foray into the non-alcoholic beverage market. Talking about the new development, Jitin Merani, Co-founder of Cartel Bros. says, "With The Glenwalk, we're entering a new chapter at Cartel Bros. This launch reflects our commitment to providing premium beverages that cater to a variety of lifestyles. The Glenwalk Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale embodies our core values of innovation, quality, and health-consciousness. We can't wait to see how consumers embrace this refreshing addition to our portfolio." Sanjay's belief in The Cartel Bros. and The Glenwalk extends beyond the product itself. He sees it as a catalyst for positive change in India. "Our country is evolving rapidly, and The Cartel Bros. and The Glenwalk is right at the forefront of this transformation," he states. "With Mokksh's strategic brilliance and our shared vision, we're creating something truly special." As Sanjay Dutt continues to inspire millions with his on-screen charisma, his partnership with The Cartel Bros. promises to be a long-lasting and successful one. The Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale is just the beginning of an exciting journey. So wait no more! This season, ditch the complicated and embrace the simple pleasure of The Glenwalk Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale- because sometimes, the best things in life are simply good for you, and undeniably delicious. Try The Glenwalks Zero-Calorie Ginger Ale today! SBI General Insurance, one of Indias leading general insurers, strengthen its leadership team by appointing Monish Uprit as Regional Head West 2 and Preet Deep Singh as Regional Head North 1. This appointment is in line with the companys goal of bolstering its regional presence for expansion and growth. In their new roles, Uprit and Singh will lead and drive the West 2 and North 1 businesses respectively, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and meeting key operational performance benchmarks. Monish Uprit brings over 25 years of rich experience in the Insurance industry. Prior to joining the company, Uprit held pivotal roles at ICICI Prudential, TATA AIG, and Cholamandalam MS, where he demonstrated exceptional capability in driving business growth and operational efficiency. He is a Commerce Graduate from DAVV, Indore, and holds an MBA from the Institute of Management Studies, Indore. Preet Deep Singh brings with him over two decades of extensive experience in the General Insurance industry. He has previously held significant positions at esteemed companies such as Bajaj Allianz, Go Digit, and IFFCO Tokio, where he played a key role in advancing strategic initiatives and operational excellence. Mr. Singh, an Engineering Graduate from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a Post Graduate from the Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune. Commenting on these appointments, Rakesh Kaul, Chief Business Officer of SBI General Insurance, said, We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Monish Uprit and Mr. Preet Deep Singh to the SBI General Insurance family. Their extensive experience and profound knowledge of the General Insurance industry will be critical in driving our growth and strengthening our presence in the West 2 and North 1 regions. We are confident that under their leadership, our regional operations will achieve new milestones. Both Uprit and Singh will report directly to the Chief Business Officer and will be responsible for overseeing strategic and operational initiatives in their respective regions, further enhancing SBI General Insurance's commitment to providing exceptional insurance solutions and services to its customers. Future Generali India Life Insurance Private Ltd. has announced the appointment of Sunil Kapoor as Chief Risk Officer (CRO), effective from 29th July 2024. Kapoor has joined the leadership team to spearhead the Risk and Information Security Function. In his capacity as CRO, Sunil will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining robust risk management practices to augment the risk management framework of the company. With over two decades of experience in risk management, Sunil brings a wealth of expertise that will contribute to Future Generali India Life Insurances continued growth and success. He has held significant roles at renowned companies in the financial services sector, including SBI Capital Markets, HDFC Life Insurance, HDFC Pension Fund Management, IDFC Bank, and CCIL. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and an Associate Company Secretary (ACS). He also possesses the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) credential from Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), USA and the Diploma in Information Systems Audit (DISA) credential. Sunil Kapoor will report to Alok Rungta, Managing Director & CEO of Future Generali India Life Insurance who expressed, We are thrilled to welcome Sunil Kapoor to our leadership team. His extensive experience and deep understanding of risk management will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape of the insurance industry. We are confident that Sunils expertise will play a crucial role in driving Future Generali India Life Insurances strategic initiatives, ensuring robust risk management practices and reinforcing our lifelong commitment to our customers. Urban Company, Asias largest tech-enabled home services marketplace, is proud to announce the release of its first short film which celebrates the trades that sustain our daily lives. The inaugural short film, titled Flushback, takes viewers on a journey through the history of plumbinga legacy of which is deeply rooted in India's heritagewhile also highlighting the profound respect and dignity the plumbers deserve. The short film is set as an engaging conversation between a female customer and a plumber. While solving the problem the customer faces, the plumber takes the customer on a flashback, or as we call it flushback, of Indias water management marvels, starting 5000 years ago in the Indus Valley Civilization. The film not only brings dignity and pride to the plumbers profession but also elucidates how plumbing was the critical foundation for the formation of mankinds civilisation. In this 7-minute film, each important historical and technological innovation has been captured with a unique style of animation, music and treatment relevant to the contemporary style of the times. Flushback is more than just a look at the history of plumbing; its a powerful reminder of the skill, dedication and often-overlooked expertise that go into the trades that make life so convenient. In a world where the comforts of home are often taken for granted, this film encourages viewers to pause and reflect on the many hands that contribute to our everyday ease. By connecting the historical evolution of plumbing to the modern-day, Urban Company hopes to foster a deeper appreciation for the tradespeople who make our lives better. Flushback - A short film by Urban Company At the launch of the short film, Bhavya Sharma, Director of Communications & ESG, Urban Company, said, "Every profession, every trade has a rich history and an essential role in society. Through our first short film Flushback, we explore the fascinating and intricate history of water management systems and honor the skilled professionals who make our lives better every day. This film is an acknowledgment of their contribution, a spotlight on their craftsmanship, and an expression of our collective gratitude for the role they play in our everyday lives. " Kireet Khurana, Director & Founder, Climb Media, "Directing Flushback was challenging and fun. Making a film on the impact of plumbers in our society was a great opportunity to understand their importance. To make an engaging manner laced with humor was a greater delight. I am absolutely certain that it will inspire the viewers to look at plumbers in a different light, while also instill pride for every plumber about their noble profession." Also Read: Urban Company unveils third film in Dignity of Labour series Ushang Sheth has recently taken on the role of Head of Corporate Communications & PR at HDFC Securities. He began his career as a Research Trainee at Lotus Knowlwealth and later held a similar position at Reliance Mutual Fund. Ushang has also served as a Financial Service Advisor at Asit C. Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd., a Senior Research Analyst at CNBC TV 18, and a Principal Correspondent at Zee Media Corporation Limited. His career further includes roles such as Account Manager at Adfactors PR, Director - Banking & Financial Services at Genesis BCW, and Chief Manager - Group Corporate Communications at L&T Finance. A graduate of the University of Mumbai, Ushang brings over 14 years of experience in Corporate and Financial Services. He has a proven track record of driving growth in dynamic businesses through strategic communication, brand awareness campaigns, creative storytelling, and corporate reputation management. The US Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of Rahul Sharma as the new India-based Managing Director of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), effective August 20, 2024. He will lead a strong team of policy experts dedicated to the over 200 member companies of the Council, and to fostering the partnership and prosperity of both the U.S. and India. Alexander Slater, USIBCs current Managing Director, is returning to Washington, D.C., following USIBCs India Ideas Summit scheduled for September 12th in New Delhi. He will assume a new role as Senior Advisor to USIBC President and Ambassador (Ret.) Atul Keshap. We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Sharma to the USIBC family, said Ambassador Atul Keshap, USIBC President. Rahuls vast experience and proven track record in media, policy, and corporate advisory and communications will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the U.S.-India partnership and achieve our shared goal of $500 billion in trade. Rahuls globally recognized leadership and hands-on experience managing regulatory and policy developments will further enhance our ability to advocate for our members and build U.S.-India business and investment ties. With nearly four decades of experience, Sharma, a former journalist and newspaper editor, brings extensive knowledge of Indias business landscape to USIBC. He joins USIBC after six years leading APCO India, where he guided corporate clients, managed business and policy advocacy goals, and advised state governments on investment communications. Sharmas appointment comes as USIBC prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2025, marking 50 years of its role as the top business voice in the U.S.-India corridor. I look forward to my new role at USIBC and working with a unique team committed to enhancing and deepening business and strategic ties between the worlds two greatest democracies, said Sharma. Sharma, long recognized as a leading voice in Indias public affairs landscape, previously served as Deputy Secretary General for the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), where he was instrumental in driving the organizations membership growth. His journalism background includes roles with organizations such as Reuters, Hindustan Times, Khaleej Times, and The Economic Times. He is a founding member and past president of the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI). Sharma holds a masters degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a masters degree in international trade and economy from Flinders University, and a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. During nearly five years at USIBC in New Delhi, Alexander Slater has led USIBCs India team through a period of transformational growth. The Federal Council Bern, 21.08.2024 - On 21 August, the Federal Council decided to adopt further measures of the EU's 14th package of sanctions against Russia. These measures will take effect on 27 August. On 9 July, 69 individuals and 47 entities were already added to Switzerland's sanctions list. In response to Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, as well as Russia's continued destabilising actions that undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and security, the EU adopted new measures against Russia on 24 June as part of its 14th package of sanctions. Already on 9 July, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), in its capacity as the competent body, implemented sanctions on an additional 69 individuals and 47 entities. On 21 August, the Federal Council decided to adopt further measures of the EU's 14th package of sanctions against Russia. These include a clarification of the bans on Russian diamonds, making them internationally harmonised. The effective implementation of sanctions against Russia and international coordination are of great importance to the Federal Council. The Federal Council has also extended the deadlines for granting exemption permits with regard to the withdrawal of investments from Russia. The aim is to ensure that Swiss companies can legally terminate their business activities in Russia. The amendments will enter into force on 27 August. The 14th package of sanctions adopted by the EU on 24 June provides for a number of additional measures, which are currently being examined in detail. The head of the EAER informed the Federal Council about the measures at their meeting on 21 August. The Federal Council will discuss these measures in due course. Address for enquiries Enquiries from the media: EAER Communications info@gs-wbf.admin.ch +41 (0)58 462 20 07 Enquiries from businesses: sanctions@seco.admin.ch +41 (0)58 464 08 12 Publisher The Federal Council https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research http://www.wbf.admin.ch Delegates cheer during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Erin Hooley/Associated Press Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear at the Fiserv Forum during a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Jacquelyn Martin/AP Julian Castro, left, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, are seen during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Paul Sancya/Associated Press Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, speaks during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, walks during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley) Erin Hooley/Associated Press U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) speaks as House Democrats gather for an event on gun violence at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol. Alex Wong/Getty Images U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia speaks with U.S. Dept. Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres as Marshall Middle School students make their way to the building for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Vice President Kamala Harris campaign has fired up Black voters and Asian American communities in ways President Joe Biden was struggling with before he left the race for the White House. But Latino leaders in Texas and beyond say her appeal to their communities is deeper than people realize and has been years in the making. Its positioned her to improve on the sagging poll numbers Biden was facing with Latino voters just before he dropped out of the race in July. This isnt her first rodeo, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: These are the key Texas Democrats to watch at the DNC in Chicago Garcia said Harris for years has been working closely with her and other Latino leaders long before she became a presidential candidate. She has surrounded her campaign with important Latino advisors, including Californias Julie Chavez Rodriguez, her campaign manager, and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, who is one of the national co-chairs of her campaign. Escobar on Thursday will be prominently featured throughout the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, when Harris is scheduled to speak. Garcia herself is an advisor to the campaign and said she speaks to Harris' team at least once a week. Its clear we will have a seat at the table to craft public policy, Garcia said of a potential Harris administration. Houston has already seen signs of that. Back in November, Harris traveled to Garcias heavily Latino 29th Congressional District to address health care issues and education. Garcia said it was a clear signal that Harris gets that Latino voters are engaged on more than just immigration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres been limited public polling of Latino voters since Harris started running for president. But, what has been released suggests shes doing better with those voters already than Biden was earlier this summer. Biden won 63% of Hispanic voters in 2020 on the way to narrowly defeating Donald Trump. But in July, polling from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago showed only 36% of Hispanic adults had a somewhat or very favorable opinion of Biden. A separate August poll by Univision, which surveyed 1,100 Latino registered voters nationwide, shows Harris doing better against Trump than Biden was, with 53% of those voters picking her over former President Donald Trump. The Biden campaign knew they were struggling with Latino voters in swing states like Arizona and Nevada particularly. They started running Spanish-language ads earlier than ever in a presidential campaign, and also started doing more interviews exclusively with broadcasters like Univision. But it really wasnt moving the numbers with Latinos, and that was the problem, said Chuck Rocha, a national Democratic strategist from Tyler. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rocha said Harris may not be Latina, but her story has the potential to resonate with Latinos who are second or third-generation Americans. Harris' mother is originally from India and her father immigrated from Jamaica. Biden could talk about the immigrant experience, but with Harris, Democrats will be able to visualize it to Latino communities in a far more personal way. They can tell her story through the lens of her immigrant parents, Rocha said. That has the potential to be a powerful, aspirational message to Latino voters, who have always been Americans but may have deeper family roots abroad, Rocha said. Yet, Republicans and Donald Trump are convinced they are picking up more Latino support than ever. Trump did vastly better with Latino voters in places like Florida and South Texas than he did in his 2016 election and has been telling audiences at his rallies hell do even better with those voters this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To that end, his campaign has partnered with right-leaning conservative groups nationwide to reach Latino voters. That includes working with the America First Policy Institutes Hispanic Leadership Coalition, which is led by Bob Unanue, the CEO of Goya Foods. Unanue was a featured speaker during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month. The Latino community is diverse, but we are united in our values, Unanue said during his speech. Values that include an unwavering faith in God, an abiding love of family and a fierce work ethic. We want the freedom to worship, to love, and to work in a way that gives us purpose, gives us a reason to get up every day. The campaign has also launched a Latino Americans for Trump Coalition, and at his rally this summer in Nevada, he had four Latino immigrants speak to warm up the crowd before he took the stage. During his speech there, Trump talked about how border policies from the Biden administration were totally destroying our Hispanic population. Data from the Pew Research Center shows why Latino voters are so important this year. An estimated 36.2 million Latino voters are eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million in 2020. Nearly 15% of all voters in November nationwide will be Latino. While Republicans are making a play for that vote, Democrats are doing more to feature those voices during the four-day Democratic National Convention. On Monday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who at, age 33, leads the third largest county in the nation, spoke. On Wednesday night, Latino social media influencers Olivia Julianna, 21, and Carlos Eduardo Espina, 25 were preparing to take the stage. Julianna is from Houston and Espina is from College Station. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While those speaking roles and Harris advisors reflect Latino voices, it isnt just a recent thing, said state Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston. Harris has a long history in California politics, rising from San Francisco district attorney to state attorney general before becoming a U.S. senator. Being from California, you can see shes very sensitive and aware of Latino culture, Alvarado said. Alvarado said she saw that first hand in 2005 at a swearing-in ceremony for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, that citys first Latino leader. Alvarado said she first met Harris, who was still the San Francisco district attorney, at that event. She said that proved right away that Harris understood how big of a moment that was for Latino leaders well beyond California. On Monday afternoon, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, posted a picture of Green Acres Cafe being a part of the Taste of Americas Cities in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. The post instantly went viral amongst Birminghamians. People were confused because the branding thats associated with the iconic restaurant -- the brown paper bag, fried chicken, and Black servers, were not present. Not to mention, the signage was red instead of green, and they were only serving fried green tomatoes. My Green Acres has never been served that way...Where is my greasy brown paper bag, user Pasocca Simone asked. Where is the lady that yell out my number when the order is ready?! user Mirandal Kendricks said. Im confused, someone please explain, user Kimberly Webster Grant said. Greg Gratton, owner of Green Acres told AL.com that a representative from Taste of Americas Cities contacted him to let him know that Woodfin recommended the restaurant be a part of the lineup in the DNC event. Once the post went viral, the mayor reached back out to Gratton to make sure he was still OK with the picture being posted. I looked at it, and I saw the Green Acres name on a red banner, instead of a green banner, Gratton said. So I told him to leave it up, because I felt like that would represent Green Acres in Chicago, from when Green Acres was first started in 1946. I wasnt worried about the colors. But thats when everybody started saying somebody bought Green Acres. Tomeka Bell, the CEO of Green Acres, took to Facebook Live on Tuesday morning to address the comments and let the people know what was going on. Number one, we have not sold the legacy to anyone, nor have we franchised in Chicago, although the original location started in Chicago, Bell said in the video. No we have not gotten rid of the brown bag. We still have our whole fresh fried chicken wings, all the way, fried green tomatoes. The Taste of Americas Cities was an event held on Monday at the DNC as part of an event put on by the Democratic Mayors Association. Green Acres Cafe has been a staple in Birmingham since 1950 known for serving fried chicken wings, fried fish, fried green tomatoes, and getting it served all the way, with fries, topped with salt, pepper, ketchup, hot sauce and white bread. Throughout the years, theyve had several locations, but their most popular store opened in the Historic Fourth Avenue Business District in 1990. Only one real-life location still exists from filming Gone With the Wind and it draws more than 100,000 tourists each year, including some actors from the movie who visited before their deaths. It is known simply as the Old Mill and is located in a public park in North Little Rock, Ark. It can be seen briefly in the opening credits sequence of the 1939 film but some visitors are surprised to learn that the old mill is not a mill at all its a sculpture, as are most structures in Pugh Park. See the films opening here. Artist Dionico Rodriguez, who sculpted in concrete, could make sculptures that realistically simulated wood, mushrooms, trees, bricks, iron and all kinds of materials. The Arkansas Parks and Recreation website says: Rodriguezs secret techniques were so detailed and exacting that you can identify the species of trees in most of his work, adding not even his assistants knew all of his secrets. This fantastical bridge was made of concrete by Dimonico Rodriguez in Pugh Park in North Little Rock, Ark.Kelly Kazek Visitors can go inside the mill, even up the stairs, and look around. There is no entry fee. Its an amazing structure, arrived at by crossing a small concrete bridge made by Rodriguez to look like wood. A few yards away, across a stream, youll find a larger, fantastical bridge with concrete forming a tunnel of logs and twigs. Children will love crossing it and searching for other Rodriguez sculptures hidden in nature. The parks address is 3800 Lakeshore Drive, North Little Rock, Ark. The Old Mill was built in 1933 to resemble a 19th century grist mill. It is actually a sculpture made of concrete in North Little Rock, Ark. It appears in the opening credits sequence of "Gone With the Wind."Kelly Kazek In Gone With the Wind The mill, built in 1933, was likely chosen for an appearance in Gone With the Wind because it was designed to look like an abandoned grist mill from the Civil War era. The website says it was made to look like an 1880s mill but it is based on earlier structures. Neither the stone mill building, nor the general layout is a reproduction of any particular mill, but is a familiar design of early Arkansas, designed to fit the contour of a rough area, the website says. Pugh Park was established by local developer Justin Matthews in 1931. He conceived the idea for the grist mill replica to honor Arkansas early settlers. Matthews builder, Frank Carmean, designed the mill and Rodriguez was hired to create it. It was never a working mill. The mill, completed in 1933, is intended to appear abandoned absent of doors and windows due to thieves or decay just as old mills that were in service in the early 1800s had become by the 1930s, the website says. It also says, it is believed to be the only remaining structure from the movie. Over the years, the mill was visited by Rand Brooks, who played Scarletts first husband Charles Hamilton, and Ann Rutherford, who played Carreen OHara, in the film. The bridge, arch and "log" in front of the Old Mill in North Little Rock, Ark., shows Dimonico Rodriguez's skill with concrete sculptures. The Old Mill is the only known surviving structure seen in "Gone With the Wind."Kelly Kazek The park today The Old Mill was gifted to the City of North Little Rock by the Justin Matthews Company in 1976. In 1991, the city decided to renovate its popular attraction. They found the perfect person for the job Carlos Cortes, Rodriguezs great nephew and the son of Rodriguezs assistant, Maximo Cortes. Rodriguez died in 1955. The Old Mill, along with other structures in the park, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its a good day to take a listen to the podcast. We have discussion about Delta 8 -- what it is and how it has caused legal trouble for people even if its legal. The report follows below. Thanks for reading, Cruisin to Seattle Carnival Cruise Line is offering a unique cruise out of Mobile beginning in 2026. It will require a time and money investment, by the way. But AL.coms Lawrence Specker reports that the Carnival Spirit will shove off from Mobile on April 12, 2026, and end up in Seattle 16 days later. Sixteen days. Columbus probably got antsy after 16 days at sea. The ship will spend the summer cruising from Seattle to Alaska, then return to Mobile in October. The ship takes 5-, 6-, 8- and 12-day cruises while its working out of Mobile. The cruise from Mobile to Seattle will include a stop in Cartagena, Colombia; a trip through the Panama Canal; and visits to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As for cost, if youre two people staying in an interior room itll run you just over $3,000. More Turmoil in Tarrant He didnt get arrested last week for allegedly blocking necessary information from the town clerk, but Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton is heading to court anyway, this time to face an impeachment lawsuit, reports AL.coms Joseph D. Bryant. Five residents of the town filed the lawsuit, alleging willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency, and other offenses involving moral turpitude. The accusations describe a corrupt, inept administration and includes allegations that Newton has used his office to pay family members and benefit his own company. Newton called the lawsuit frivolous, and said it was brought by supporters of the city council. Relations between the mayor and council have been contentious for years. Scott Morro is the attorney who filed the unusual impeachment lawsuit on behalf of the five citizens. It is unusual, but its part of the constitution, he said. So its a bold move, its a rare move, but in this city its a necessary move. Anti-crime measures in Birmingham A couple of new measures are being taken to help discourage or fight crime in Birmingham. The Birmingham City Council has signed off on an agreement with the Birmingham Board of Education to share video taken by cameras on school property, reports AL.coms Greg Garrison. BPD has been increasing its access to cameras throughout the city, and now police will able to tap into areas around school buildings. And the city has also launched a program called Project Safe Streets that impedes access to neighborhoods, reports AL.coms Alaina Bookman. This one inevitably came with disagreement among residents. It involves placing barriers at entry points to a neighborhood to target speeding, shootings, theft, prostitution and violent crime. Currently the barriers have been placed throughout the East Lake neighborhood. Quoting You were able to show youre not afraid of him. You would challenge, and he got to show he will stand up for his players. Terry Saban to Paul Finebaum (according to Finebaum) after he and Alabama football coach Nick Saban engaged in a famously intense exchange at the 2016 SEC Media Days. More Alabama News On the Podcast We talk with reporter Amy Yurkanin, who has done reporting on Delta 8, hemp, and the trouble a pregnant woman found herself in after using a legal product. You can find Down in Alabama wherever you get your podcasts, including these places: Lawyers for an Alabama Death Row inmate set to be executed in November said the states process for nitrogen hypoxia executions is a set of suggestions and customs, changeable at any time, and asked a federal judge to halt an execution set for this fall. Carey Dale Grayson, 49, will be put to death on Nov. 21 at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Hes set to be the third execution this year using nitrogen gas. The first was Kenneth Smith. Smith was executed in January and was the first nitrogen hypoxia execution in the country. The execution quickly became controversial, with Smith writhing on the gurney for several minutes. In to court records filed late Tuesday, Graysons lawyers asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction barring the state to execute Grayson. Rather than investigating what went wrongas other states have done following issues with executions(Alabama has) chosen to ignore clear and obvious signs the current protocol contains major problems that will result in more unconstitutionally torturous executions if it continues to be employed, new court filings say. Alabamas present method of using nitrogen for executions does not work the way (the state) claim(s), and carries an unacceptable risk of conscious suffocation, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The lawyers said the state has made unwritten alterations to the heavily redacted protocol, doesnt use qualified people throughout the procedure to monitor medical equipment, and havent revealed what they conceded in a confidential settlement with another prisoner earlier this month. In other words, this is hardly a protocol. It is a set of suggestions and customs, changeable at any time, and neither this Court nor Mr. Grayson knows exactly what Defendants will do when executing Mr. Grayson. Attorneys representing the state have said Smith held his breath for several minutes after the nitrogen began to flow through his gas mask, causing the physical reaction. Graysons lawyers included Smiths autopsy report in court filings. Their medical expert, a longtime anesthesiologist, read the autopsy and concluded Smith suffered from negative pressure pulmonary edema. According to the expert, that condition occurs when inspiration is attempted against an upper airway obstruction, leading to fluid being drawn from blood vessels into the alveoli. That conclusion support(s) the conclusion Mr. Smith was suffocated while conscious, in violation of the Eighth Amendment, the lawsuit says. The states process for nitrogen executions creates a risk of unconstitutional pain, the expert said. The autopsy notes Smiths lungs did have evidence of fluid and blood. Graysons lawyers, along with lawyers for Alan Miller-- who is set to be executed using the same method in September-- have argued Smiths mask didnt fit properly, allowing oxygen to seep in. Graysons lawyers said in court records the mask did not work as (the state) represented... It does not inherently produce an airtight seal, said Graysons lawyers Tuesday. It must be fitted to the person wearing the mask and tested as dictated by the manufacturer. That is critically important because, when oxygen leaks into the mask during the execution, breathing air comes into what is supposed to be a closed system, prolonging the execution, and suffocating the prisoner. Grayson was convicted with three other men for the brutal Feb. 22, 1994 slaying and mutilation of Vicki Lynn DeBlieux. His medical expert said, in court records, that the state should do a physical examination of inmates prior to executions to identify any upper airway obstructions that could inhibit his ability to breathe in the nitrogen gas. He also said the state should provide some type of pre-hypoxia sedative. The filing repeats earlier claims that Assistant Alabama Attorney General James Houts is involved in the training for prison officials on using masks. In fact, the only person (Graysons lawyers are) aware that is involved in the training is Assistant Attorney General James Houts, a scuba hobbyist and private pilot employed by Defendant Marshall. His job, crucially, is related to the fit of the mask. A former University of Alabama student charged with multiple sex crimes including the rape of another student has been granted bond but must stay away from campus, the victim and her family and friends. Gambill Colvard Gentry, a 23-year-old from Davidson, N.C., was arrested last month on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and four counts of first-degree voyeurism. Two of the charges are Class A felonies, and the other four are Class C felonies. The sexual assault, according to court records was captured in photos and videos reportedly taken by the suspect. He was initially denied bond. Gentry has been banned from the campus, authorities said. The victim is an acquaintance of Gentry and a current UA student. A Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit investigator previously testified for the prosecution at the hearing. The defense called as a witness a Birmingham therapist who works with sexual addicts and offenders. Attorneys for Gentry Tommy Spina, Brett Bloomston and Ben Preston sought bond for Gentry, saying he is not a flight risk and is willing to be electronically monitored. Tuscaloosa County District Judge Joanne Jannik denied Gentrys bond request, noting was no way to reasonably assure the victim in this case will be safe from the defendant. The order noted that Gentry traveled to New York to visit the victim after being asked by the victim not to do so. Testimony also showed, the judge previously said, that he has harassed the victim and made threats to the victim. A second bond hearing was held Wednesday morning before District Judge Bradley Almond, who granted Gentry a $60,000 cash bond. Gentry will be on electronic ankle monitoring but is allowed to leave Alabama to receive inpatient treatment at an undisclosed facility. He is prohibited from attending any University of Alabama events at any time and at any location, cannot have contact with the victim, her family, or her friends. Gentry, if allowed to have a cell phone in treatment, must install an accountability app, according to the judges order. On behalf of our client and his family, we are exceptionally grateful to all parties involved to have reached an agreement to have the opportunity to address all the underlying issues that gave rise to the behavior resulting in our clients arrest, his attorneys said in a statement to AL.com. The investigation began last month when the victim told authorities she met Gentry at a bar, woke up the next morning with no memory of the night before, and suspected that she had been assaulted, said Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy. 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 has been in custody since July 25. 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. Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz is speaking for the first time about the couples yearslong struggle with infertility and clarifying that they used a common treatment called intrauterine insemination to start their family not in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which has become a national flashpoint in the debate over reproductive rights. Our fertility journey was an incredibly personal and difficult experience, she said in a statement. Like so many who have experienced these challenges, we kept it largely to ourselves at the time not even sharing the details with our wonderful and close family. The family decided to start sharing their struggles with infertility earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF should be considered children. Several IVF clinics in Alabama immediately suspended treatments in response to the ruling, and Gov. Tim Walz started to talk about the couples struggles to conceive their daughter Hope in speeches and conversations with the press. Walzs governor campaign put out a fundraising blast saying they used I.V.F. to start a family. After seeing the extreme attacks on reproductive health care across the countryparticularly, the efforts in Alabama that jeopardized access to fertility treatmentsTim and I agreed that it was time to formally speak out about our experience, Gwen Walz recently told Glamour magazine. Walz has continued to talk about their experience on the national stage as he campaigns as the vice presidential nominee alongside Kamala Harris. In his debut as her running mate, he told a crowd in Philadelphia that the issue of IVF treatments is personal for me and my family. Many news outlets, including the Star Tribune, have reported the family relied on IVF to conceive, and national infertility groups such as Resolve put out statements after Walz was announced as the vice president nominee that he conceived his children through a challenging IVF journey. They clarified that statement Monday after Gwen shared in more detail her experience using intrauterine insemination to get pregnant. This deeply personal information was only recently clarified, the organization said in a release, adding that the conversations the family has sparked around fertility treatments have still made millions of would-be parents across the country feel seen. Walzs political opponents are accusing him of intentionally misleading the public about the issue, which is the center of a heated debate nationally over reproductive rights. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance posted a recent video on X where Walz said my kids were born through IVF and said the governor lied about the procedure. Who lies about something like that? In statements, the Harris campaign has said the Walzes had their daughter, Hope, through reproductive health care like IVF. Mia Ehrenberg, a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson, said the governors previous comments about IVF reflect that the governor talks how normal people talk. He was using commonly understood shorthand for fertility treatments. Around one in six couples experience infertility, or difficulty conceiving after a year of unprotected sex, according to the World Health Organization. Some choose to seek treatment, which can range from medications to procedures that are costly but can increase a couples changes of getting pregnant. Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a less invasive fertility procedure that involves placing sperm directly into a womans uterus to increase the chances of fertilization. Unlike IVF, the IUI procedure doesnt involve frozen embryos, which the Alabama high court ruled should be considered children. Fertility clinics in Alabama feared they could be sued if embryos were destroyed. The Walzes struggled for seven years to conceive their first child. In his State of the State address earlier this year, the governor said the anxiety and frustration blotted out the sun. What those judges did was a direct attack on my family, he said. My children. Gwen and I will not forget it. We will not forgive it. Gwen said the only person who knew what they were going through was a next door neighbor and nurse who helped her administer the shots needed as part of the IUI process. She would rush home from school and the neighbor would give her the shot so they stayed on track, Gwen said. Their daughter is now 23 years old. The couple also have a son, Gus, who is 17. Many of our closest family and friends were surprised when we shared these experiences so many years later, she said. Studies have shown that many women with infertility struggle to share their experiences with family and friends. But Gwen said opening up about their experience taught us that there is always hope and we hope other families find solace in our story. Since then, I have been greatly touched by the women who have shared their stories with me. _____ 2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and ominous. But a moment of the former presidents speech caught the internets attention and continues to make its rounds. Obama: The people who will decide this election are asking a very simple question, who will fight for me? Whos thinking about my future? About my childrens future? About our future together? One thing is thing is for certain, Donald Trump is not losing sleep over that question. Heres a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually been getting worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala. He added: Theres the childish nicknames. The crazy conspiracy theories. This weird obsession with crowd sizes. It just goes on and on. wow this clip has really mushroomed on social media https://t.co/bBvdQ1EqJy George Conway (@gtconway3d) August 21, 2024 Barack Obama made a gesture with his hands and looked down at them after he delivered the weird obsessions with crowd sizes line, drawing laughs from the audience. Ok this is a perfect comedic delivery. pic.twitter.com/7ZOUaG9j19 Jason Kander (@JasonKander) August 21, 2024 I cannot believe this moment happened pic.twitter.com/u14mY9GD9E Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 21, 2024 Obama, the first Black president in U.S. history, insisted the nation is ready to elect Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and would be the nations first female president. The fiery messages from two of the Democratic Partys biggest stars underscored the urgency of the moment as Harris works to stitch together a broad coalition in her bid to defeat Trump this fall. The vice president is drawing on stars like the Obamas and other celebrities, officials from the far left to the middle, and even some Republicans to boost her campaign. And while the theme of the night was a bold vision for Americas future, the disparate factions of Harris evolving coalition demonstrated, above all, that they are connected by a deep desire to prevent a second Trump presidency. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Presbytery of South Alabama, a regional branch of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is downsizing its office space, selling its headquarters on the Eastern Shore Parkway in Daphne. The building had been the presbytery office since it was built in 1994, said the Rev. Bob Madsden, who is the regional presbyter, or top executive for the South Alabama presbytery, formerly known as the Mobile Prebytery. The presbytery includes 21 churches with about 3,000 members, including the Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairhope. We decided that we had more space than we needed, so we decided to convert the building into capital that can be invested, and the proceeds from those investments can be used to support our ministries in new and creative ways, Madsden said. The building was listed at a price of $699,500 on July 17. It currently has a pending contract on it. A potential buyer is doing their due diligence, Madsden said. There is not an awful lot on the market in Daphne thats similar. The presbytery staff is in the process of moving to rooms at the Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church. The presbyterys library of research material and curriculum has been offered to area congregations, Madsden said. Were trying to get everything into homes where things will be used in furtherance of similar types of work, he said. The presbytery approved the plan to sell the building at a meeting in June, Madsden said. We presented the proposal to list the building for sale then, he said. Speaking at the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, former First Lady Michelle Obama warned that a Trump victory in November could mean the end of in vitro fertilization. Its his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make peoples lives better, Obama said. Because cutting our healthcare, taking away our freedom to control our bodies, the freedom to become a mother through IVF like I didthose things are not going to improve the health outcomes of our wives, mothers, and daughters. Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday issued a similar warning, telling people to look up what happened in Alabama. Duckworth told Trump to stay out of our doctors offices and while youre at it, out of the Oval Office, too. Cause if they win, Republicans will not stop at banning abortion. They will come for IVF next. Theyll prosecute doctors. Theyll shame and spy on women. After a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling in February, Trump said he would strongly support the availability of IVF and called on lawmakers in Alabama to preserve access to the treatment that has become a new flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election, The Associated Press has reported. The court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. That led to some Alabama clinics and hospitals pausing IVF services. By Matt Brown, Associated Press ATLANTA Every Monday evening, the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA basement becomes a sanctuary for men who, local leaders say, have too often been denied one. The Black Man Lab, which for nearly a decade has sought weekly to create a safe, sacred and healing space for Black men in metropolitan Atlanta, regularly gathers more than 100 men to pray, meditate and talk through challenges and triumphs they are facing and learn from peers and elders. Its almost a communion, said Carttrell Coleman, a visual artist from South Fulton, Georgia, who has attended the weekly meetings for seven years. Its an opportunity for us to share our voices and get resources. The networking is always a good thing. Its a fellowship, of sorts. One recent meeting in the immediate aftermath of President Joe Bidens suspension of his reelection campaign took on special weight as attendees considered the prospect of a Black woman winning the presidency. The candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris has refocused attention on Black men, a demographic that Democrats and Republicans view as persuadable but whose multifaceted experiences and political preferences often go unaddressed in public debate. Harris campaign has also reignited discussions amongst Black men about their influence in this election. Black men are the target, and we hold the keys to the kingdom. This is our moment, said Lance Robertson, executive director of the Black City Councilmen of Georgia, during the meeting. The Black man has built America. Now its time for the Black man to save America. Black male voters are traditionally one of the most consistently Democratic leaning demographics in the nation. This year, however, both major parties view Black men, especially those under the age of 40, as attainable voters. Whether Black men turn out in high numbers and to what degree they maintain traditional support for Democratic candidates may prove decisive in November. To be frank, I think early on in this process a lot of Black men viewed this election with much skepticism and dread, said Bishop Reginald Jackson, who presides over all 534 African Methodist Episcopal churches in Georgia. But since the change in the Democratic ticket, there has been a turnaround. I think they feel they have something that they can support. I think a lot of issues which made a lot of them skeptical are being addressed. At the Black Man Lab event, the men present came from all walks of life. Attendees ages ranged from 8 to 86, with multiple pairings of fathers, grandfathers and grandsons telling the group about the unique circumstances each generation faces as Black men in America. Black voters have historically prioritized policies on civil rights and economic mobility, leading to overwhelming support for Democrats. But how those concerns translate into political preferences has shifted as traditional ties to institutions like the Black church have frayed for some younger Black Americans. The Black church, in a lot of respects, has been a turnoff for the Black man, and were only now working to address the need and correct it, Jackson said. For many younger Black men, advocates stressed, issues like wealth creation, entrepreneurship, police reform and anti-discrimination policies in the workplace are top of mind. We want to see jobs and opportunity for Black men, especially, said Andre Greenwood, chair of the YMCA that hosts the Black Man Lab event. Greenwood, who supports Harris, said economic messages will be most important to Black male voters. Harris entrance into the presidential race has unleashed a flurry of organizing among her Black male allies. A day after Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, a virtual conference tailored for Black men garnered more than 53,000 attendees and raised more than $1.3 million. The event, organized by Win With Black Men, a collective of Black male-led groups, has hosted regular meetings every week since then to engage organizers targeting Black men. Up until this point, these folks were not really engaged with this campaign season, let alone volunteering for outside organizations. I think what were seeing now is a massive level of organic energy that you cant deny, said Quentin James, founder of the Collective PAC, a Democratic political action committee that supports Black candidates. Win With Black Men said it would direct the raised funds to organizations nationwide for Black male engagement. More than 150 groups have applied for support. James stressed that while the recent fundraising windfall is notable, the Harris campaigns own engagement effort with Black men may not be enough unless it is paired with robustly funded outside groups that have longstanding trust in local communities. Harris has also revamped her outreach to Black men. The campaign believes it has a winning message for Black mens priorities. Its wealth and its health, Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright said of the message. Seawright leads the Democratic National Committees Chop It Up town halls for Black men at barbershops and other venues in battleground states this year. He noted that Black men arent monolithic and added that it is a mistake for campaigns to assume we only care about criminal justice reform. The culminating effort also aims to address longstanding skepticism among many Black men about the political system, which is seen as discriminatory and unresponsive to their interests. Others have tackled potential hesitancy among men about electing a woman to the nations highest office. Republicans, too, see an opportunity to make inroads with Black men precisely because of those longstanding frustrations. Donald Trump often speaks of his interest in garnering greater Black voter support. Black Republicans, including Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas, have hosted a Congress, Cognac, and Cigars event series in cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Black men have been taken for granted by the Democratic Party for years, but President Trumps message is resonating at historic levels because he is doing the work, said Janiyah Thomas, Black media director for the Trump campaign. Marcus Robinson, a senior spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, called Republican outreach strategy hot air, racially charged rhetoric and offensive stereotypes, from questioning Vice President Harriss identity to claiming Black voters should relate to Trump because he is a convicted felon. For many attendees at the Black Man Lab event, the reinvigorated presidential race is an opportunity to make sure their interests are addressed at the highest levels of government. I was in the street doing wild stuff and this saved my life, said Damon Bod, an exterior house technician from Atlanta, of his experience with the Black Man Lab event. Bod said he lost his entire immediate family to violence and that the event provided him counsel and a community. He said he would support Harris in the election because the men who supported him felt she would advance Black mens interests. Ive been looking at it and hopefully shell do a bit of good. My brothers have said she will, people who know me. But only God knows, Bod said. 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. Students from mainland, Taiwan discuss journalism in all-media era Xinhua) 09:59, August 21, 2024 HOHHOT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A cross-Strait journalism camp for university students opened on Tuesday in the city of Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with approximately 200 students from both the mainland and Taiwan in attendance. The students are from 10 universities on the mainland and eight universities in Taiwan. The camp, the 30th of its kind, will focus on opportunities and challenges for future journalists on both sides of the Strait in the era of all-encompassing media. The 11-day event will be held in Inner Mongolia and Beijing, and the students will live, study and take part in various activities, including cultural research, lectures, media organization visits and short video production. First held in 2004, the location of the journalism camp has alternated between the two sides of the Strait, covering most of the major journalism schools on the mainland and in Taiwan. It has become an important platform for exchange and communication between journalism students from both sides of the Strait. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The clean energy electric truck from Tesla, the Semi, hit the headlines once more as one was involved in a nasty crash along California's I-80, which led to the highway's closure for almost an entire day on Monday Monday. After the crash, the electric truck caught fire and burned throughout the day, which led to the decision to close down the road for around 16 hours after the accident occurred. Tesla Semi Crash: Electric Truck Burned Along California's I-80 KCRA 3 News first reported the incident on Monday. According to the report, a Tesla Semi crashed into a tree along California's Interstate 80 (I-80) near Nevada at around 3 a.m. local time. It was also revealed that after the crash, the Tesla Semi caught fire, which led to long hours of efforts to extinguish the flames by responding firefighters. It was reported that the firefighters on the scene used up thousands of gallons of water to extinguish the flames and cool the Semi's batteries down to around 100 fahrenheit. This is said to be the batteries' manageable temperature. It has been noted that this Semi does not have a trailer and its power cells were the only ones burning. I-80 Closed For Almost 16 Hours Because of Semi Crash While this accident started at around 3 a.m. on the I-80, it was only around at around 4 p.m. that firefighters were able to control the flames. By then, the Semi returned to a manageable temperature, which allowed the authorities to safely move the vehicle. However, I-80 was not reopened to the public until 7 p.m., 16 hours after the accident took place. After the Semi's battery cells burnt out, the crew transported the destroyed electric truck to Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada. Tesla's Electric Vehicles and Their Flammability Electric vehicles are highly flammable if it is caught in a crash or an accident, especially when the incident causes damage to their battery pack, which is usually located underneath the vehicle. Tesla is known for using lithium-ion (Li-On) materials for its batteries, and it contains flammable electrolytes that can lead to fire incidents almost immediately after a crash. Many crash incidents involving electric vehicles, including Tesla cars, have been notorious for involving fires after the accidents take place, and they typically get out of hand fast. However, it should be noted that crashes are not the only causes of fire incidents involving Tesla's electric vehicles (EVs) as there was a case of "spontaneous" combustion on a brand-new Tesla Model S Plaid. This incident took place in 2021 and claimed the life of an executive. Regular ICE cars are also known for catching fire, but not a lot are caused by its batteries, which are mostly small compared to what electric vehicles have in them, particularly as these are the main source of power. For a massive and heavy vehicle like the Tesla Semi, crashes may lead to a fire incident, and the recent one that took place along California's I-80 is an example of it. Related Article: Tesla Model S Burst Into Flames Due to Battery's 'Spontaneous' Combustion Red, white, and blue balloons and streamers filled the room as the crowd waived signs and American flags. That spectacle was not the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. This is a guest opinion column Hundreds of students from a variety of family backgrounds with individual needs cross school thresholds daily across Alabama. Understanding that education is only part of a students well-being, educators and schools are encouraged to provide opportunities for every student. This means considering a students needs holistically. For example, if a student comes to school hungry or in a state of hypervigilance due to abuse, bullying, or other trauma, she will have a difficult time paying attention and learning. Such needs must first be addressed before the student can be expected to function appropriately in a classroom environment. While we encourage educators and schools to approach students holistically based on needs, we dont ask for the same from our outdated education funding system. This system determines how much money each school district receives from the states education budget. It is a system driven by numbers rather than students unique needs. It also lacks transparency and does not allow schools to adjust how they spend money to address their students needs. VOICES for Alabamas Children (VOICES) has been researching child well-being and advocating for policies to improve the lives of children and their families for more than 30 years. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every child in Alabama is safe, healthy, educated, and financially secure, resulting in strong families and communities. Our Alabama Kids Count Data Book is the most comprehensive and trusted source for Alabama child well-being data and guides our policy and advocacy work. Data published in the 2023 Alabama Kids Count Data Book shows low student academic achievement. During the 2022-2023 school year, only half of Alabamas fourth-graders and 21% of eighth-graders were proficient in math. That same school year 54.6% of fourth-graders and 50.6% of eighth-graders were proficient in English language arts. While student achievement is low for all student groups, students who perform the best are those whose families (and communities) can provide the things they need to thrive. Some students such as rural students, students with disabilities, and students from low-income communities are disproportionately affected by the achievement gap and are more likely to attend schools with less funding and fewer resources. Groups of students who are disproportionately affected in Alabama include: 44% of Alabama children who live in rural counties 18.3% of our states children who experience food insecurity 29,210 children who received mental health services for serious emotional disturbances (in 2022) More than 1 in 5 Alabama children (22.3%) living in poverty. Investing in public education is a good idea and a crucial step toward building a better society and a stronger economy. Research demonstrates that individuals who receive a quality education are more likely to secure stable jobs, contribute positively to their communities, and avoid reliance on public services. By providing better education, we can reduce crime rates, improve public health, and create a more prosperous society for everyone. Despite the proof that investment in education is beneficial, Alabama ranks 39th in the nation in the amount of money spent per pupil. The states average was $14,402 in FY2022, which was $4,009 below the national average. Only 2.5%, or $183 per student per year, of state education funding is dedicated to supporting students in poverty, students with special education needs, and English learners. This is why VOICES is proud to be one of the 30 statewide coalition members of Every Child Alabama. Together, we are advocating to modernize Alabamas student funding formula to ensure that every child has the resources they need to reach their full potential. It is past time to implement a student-weighted education funding formula so that Alabama can ensure all school districts receive proportionate funding and more flexibility to address the individual needs of students in their communities. Rhonda Mann is the executive director of VOICES for Alabamas Children, a nonprofit, nonpartisan childrens advocacy organization that speaks for the well-being of Alabamas children through research, public awareness and advocacy. History is a nightmare from which Northern Ireland is trying to awake. The hundreds-of-years-old rift between nationalist Catholics -- who want a united Ireland -- and Protestant Unionists -- who wish to remain part of the United Kingdom -- has its origins in the Ulster Plantation when England divvied up land in the northeast of the island to loyal subjects from northern England and Scotland to help mollify the historically quarrelsome region. Most are familiar with the most recent flareup in the region, the 30 years of conflict known as The Troubles, which formally ended in the late nineties, but the conflict continues to smolder, with traditions passing down the tales of turmoil on both sides of the issue. On August 3 in Belfast, that long-standing tension took a symbolic pause when anti-migration activists gathered across the UK to protest the stabbing deaths of three little girls in Southport, England. Interestingly, for pro-immigration globalists, the event was an unwelcome detente. The enemy of my enemy is my friend That day in Belfast, anti-immigration protestors from the Republic of Ireland flew the Irish tricolor flag alongside local loyalists flying the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom; in fact, the nationalists from the Republic of Ireland at the rally were also said to have been the most virulent. What started as a largely peaceful gathering eventually devolved into attacks on foreign-owned shops and migrant hotels. Later that day, the nationalist flagbearers were seen drinking with loyalists in a downtown pub. According to a BBC article, one bystander at the protest summed up the gathering of nationalists and loyalists as: Divided by politics, united by racism. On finding out about the banners, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris said Leave our flag alone. For John Barry, a Catholic professor at Queens University Belfast writing in New Lines magazine, the provisional alliance was too much as well: People who wanted the reunification of Ireland, who had traveled from Dublin to express their strong anti-immigrant feelings, were standing shoulder to shoulder with people with anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiments, including a convicted loyalist paramilitary killer, and were later that evening feted as heroes in a local loyalist pub, after the pogroms and violence. While a loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson was quoted in an article in the Belfast Telegraph saying: It strikes me therefore as somewhat of an absurdity that some of those from within unionism and loyalism, who are legitimately concerned about the traditional fabric of areas and communities being eroded, appear to see it as fruitful to make common alliances with those who are aggressively and passionately devoted to Irish nationalism. On the other hand, an article in Unherd presented a contrary opinion: This is the best thing that ever happened in this country, one protestor from Drogheda, in the Republic, draped in an Irish tricolour told me, Now we can come together against the real enemy. Indeed, protestors from the Republic, at the front of the crowd, were by far the most vigorous and aggressive in confronting the counter-protestors on the other side of police lines, themselves seemingly mostly drawn from Northern Irelands Catholic community. Look at you all, one Dubliner, standing in front of a Coolock Says No banner, shouted at the pro-migration protestors, who were waving Palestinian, LGBTQ+ and trade union flags, you dont even have one fucking tricolour, no Union Jack, nothing from this island. Much has been made of the root cause of the anti-migration protests in the UK and Ireland, the incident in late July when the 17-year-old son of a Kenyan immigrant stabbed three little girls to death, injuring others. Before the details of the killer were release, online rumors were rife with accusations that the killer was a Muslim migrant just off the boat. In fact, he is a natural-born Brit and a Christian -- while still one could argue that he is in fact a product of Britains immigration policies. Xenophobia or Common Sense? What the Numbers Say Despite Brexit and ongoing voter sentiment against unfettered migration, consecutive prime ministers have lacked the political will and follow through to crack down on migration. This has led to an influx of non-UK and non-EU migrants who have proven difficult to assimilate into society, with many bringing hegemonic (e.g., jihadist) and violent beliefs and taboo sexual practices with them from Islamic countries, leading to racial tension, knifings, and other crimes as well as grooming gangs that have been systemically molesting young British girls. The year ending June 2023 saw 1.2 million migrants to the UK. Of those, 968,000 were non-EU nationals. The Republic of Ireland, known for its lily-white population, quaint rural villages, and great craic, is experiencing similar anti-migration sentiment. For example, the attempt of the Irish government to house so-called asylum seekers in the Coolock suburb of Dublin led to recent anti-migration riots. In fact, cross-border activities are on the rise. Further anti-migration activities are expected to further culminate in a Dundalk Says No rally in the Irish border town of Dundalk. For the year ending April 2023, the Republic of Ireland saw 141,600 immigrants -- a 16-year high -- of which 81,100 were from countries other than the UK or EU countries. Conversely, the numbers for Northern Ireland are surprisingly low. As Barry also reported in New Lines magazine: It is plain to see that the riots in Belfast were based on lies, because the focus of the anger was immigration, while Northern Ireland actually has very little: 3.4% of the 1.8 million inhabitants in the north of Ireland belong to ethnic minority groups, and as of March 31 this year, 2,748 people were in receipt of asylum support -- the lowest number of any U.K. region and down from 3.030 in March 2024. Its a nonissue and yet it fueled attacks on people and property. According to the 2021 census, approximately 6 percent of the population was born outside the UK or Ireland; and 97 percent identified as white. It Aint Much, But Its Something Globalist and progressive outrage at the mixing of the flags in Belfast underscores the presence of two different worldviews at work in the UK and Ireland. For one, the liberal elite dismiss the riots as far-right racism and hooliganism. For example, an op-ed in the Economist asked how to deal with the uprising. Their conclusion: Punish the thugs. Stand up for immigration. And improve local services. And politicians have been calling for summary trials, long sentences, and draconian crackdowns on social media posts, including prison terms. Meanwhile, the largely working-class anti-immigration protestors are fed up with being labelled racist thugs when all they want, arguably, are good jobs and safe neighborhoods and kids. The people of Northern Ireland have enough to deal with. Still reeling from 30 years of The Troubles, many are trying to do whatever they can to integrate the Catholic nationalist and Protestant loyalist communities to keep the nightmare of history at bay. Of course, violence and hooliganism are tough to defend -- and were not defending them here. But if speaking out against migration brings the two sides together, so be it. Trying to make the best of the situation instead of outright dismissing the participants are racist thugs might be a move in the right direction. Image: Vector Portal Yesterday, I had the tremendous pleasure of hearing James Lindsay speak at a Moms for Liberty event. Typically, the speech was a guided tour of leftism through a brilliant and informed mind. Lindsay focuses on education because that has been the lefts main (and very successful) avenue of attack for decades, but he also provides an overview of how leftism works. One of Lindsays most important points is about the word queer, which extends far beyond bizarre sexuality. If you understand that word, you also understand why a Biden-Harris Department of Energy official has called for queering nuclear weapons. Its not that she wants to have sick sex with them; its that she wants to destroy Americas nuclear arsenal capabilities. Image by Andrea Widburg As James Lindsay explains, the word queer is much bigger than homosexuality, although it was introduced into mainstream America through the gay liberation movement. In their important and accessible book, The Queering of the American Child: How a New School Religious Cult Poisons the Minds and Bodies of Normal Kids, Lindsay and his co-author Logan Lancing explain what the word queer means in the American neo-Marxist lexicon. After discussing the words history, they sum it up this way: Queer Theory is a radical ideology that uses activism (queering) to convince people that nothing is normal or natural. It specializes in convincing people that sex, gender, and sexuality are social (political) constructsfabrications invented and sold as the truth by dominant classesbut those categories are not limiting factors. Queer Theorys activity is to deconstruct the very concept of normalcy. [snip] Queer Theory broadly argues that society is a prison constructed by dominant classes who artificially label some things as normal, legitimate, or true for their own benefit. (Emphasis in original.) Everything normal, accepted, and traditional, no matter how useful its been in creating the most prosperous, liberty-based culture in the history of humankind, must be overthrown. When it comes to sex, queer identity means an identity opposed to the heterosexual norm that has dominated humankind since our simian ancestors came down from the trees and the monogamous norm thats been a part of the Judeo-Christian morality that defines Western culture. So, what does it mean when a Department of Energy official wants to queer Americas nuclear weapons system? Were about to find out if Kamala Harris gains the Oval Office because a Harris-Biden official has called in the past for queering nuclear weapons: A recent hire at the nuclear security wing of the Department of Energy has previously called for disarmament policies which reduce or eliminate nuclear weapons arguing that advancing queer theory was essential to that agenda as well as important to Americas national security. The Biden-Harris administration announced Sneha Nair had been appointed as special assistant at the National Nuclear Security Administration in February 2024. Nair believes in eradicating purported White supremacy in the nuclear field as well as queering nuclear weapons as part of a diversity, equity and inclusion push she believes is essential for deterring threats to nuclear energy facilities in the U.S. Finally, queer theory informs the struggle for nuclear justice and disarmament, she wrote last year. Queer theory helps to shift the perception of nuclear weapons as instruments for security by telling the hidden stories of displacement, illness, and trauma caused by their production and testing. The linked Fox News essay has more information about Nairs ideas. It also explains that Nair came from something called the Stimson Institution, which receives substantial funding from George Soross Open Society Foundations and Qatar. Unsurprisingly, Nair thinks its just awful that the government keeps people with foreign ties out of our nuclear energy program. The gist of Nairs argument is that white people, especially men, need to be marginalized in the nuclear energy program because their viewpoints make it impossible to understand how power operates and who the real threats are to America (hint: those white men are the real threats). The American nuclear program needs to abandon the concepts of merit and loyalty to America in favor of promoting people of color, minorities, and women, all of whom have a more nuanced and appropriate understanding of nuclear power. Most importantly, they are willing to reject the idea that having a bigger arsenal deters Americas enemies. If you werent scared of a Harris administration before, I certainly hope you are now. The Jewish identity, uniquely, is racial, religious, and cultural. In the Venn diagram that Kamala Harris professes to love so much, these three identities can, but dont have to, overlap. Some of the most antisemitic people in the world have been genetically Jewish (e.g., Karl Marx and George Soros). Many genetic Jews who are not religious still cherish their racial and cultural identity. And then theres Doug Emhoff, a genetic Jew who is divorced from both religion and culture but whom the Democrats just trotted out at their convention to hide the antisemitic stench hanging over their party. There shouldnt be any question anymore about the antisemitism that lies at the heart of the Democrat party. And yes, there are antisemitic Republicans, but theyre pathetic, fringy figures. They dont sit in Congress (Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Im looking at you), and theyre not Kamala Harriss Jewish liaison. Nor are they turning out in the tens of thousands on campuses across America and right outside the Democrat convention in Chicago: Pro-Palestine protestors (rioters) just marched towards Chicago police officers at the Israeli consulate and engaged ATTACKED them. Follow me here and @TodayisAmerica for live coverage pic.twitter.com/P7vHoT71Oi Cam Higby (@camhigby) August 21, 2024 This open antisemitism creates a problem for the Democrats. While Jewish numbers are relatively small compared to other parts of the Democrats constituency, theyre important to the party. (See, e.g., Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rahm Emanuel, Jon Stewart, Rob Reiner, and a score of other high-profile Jewish Democrats.) Jews are reliable voters, generous donors, and successful academic and media indoctrinators. So far, Jews have tolerated the Harris-Biden administrations equivocation regarding Israels existential war against Hamas and the other Iranian proxies arrayed against it on every border. They dont seem to mind that the administration hasnt thrown all its moral support behind Israel, something that would have seen Israel defeat Hamas within a month. Theyre okay with the equivocation, the weapons withholding, and the millions in dollars and food that ended up supporting Hamas. However, except for the most antisemitic Jews, most Jews have one limit: The fear of the Nazis lies at the center of every Jewish psyche. For now, leftist Jews, too foolish to realize that antisemitism is integral to leftism (see, e.g., Karl Marx), still believe that the Democrat party is their bulwark against antisemitism in America. The risk for Democrats is that Jews, even the most passionate ones, may finally become afraid of the Democrats rising antisemitism. Once that happens, their lizard brains will tell them to run. For now, the Democrats believe that Kamalas husband, Doug Emhoff, is their ace in the hole to placate worried Jewish Democrats. After all, they reason, if the woman in the Oval Office has a Jewish husband, how antisemitic can the party be? The answer to that question can be seen in England, where Keir Starmer, the new Labour Prime Minister, who has a genetically Jewish wife, heads a government that wants an arms embargo against Israel. On the left, even genetically Jewish spouses are meaningless. Thankfully for the Dems, few American Jews know whats happening in England. Thus, last night, they trotted out Doug Emhoff to reminisce about how Jewish he is. Just listen to the Jewish schmaltz (syrupy grease) Emhoff is spreading, a bad actor repeating someone elses words: Doug Emhoff is proudly placing his Jewish identity at the DNC! From reaffirming his and VP Harris commitment to fighting antisemitism, shouting out his Hebrew school, and bragging about Harris mean Passover brisket, its refreshing to see a proud Jewish top official. pic.twitter.com/NNszpWr5XH Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 21, 2024 While we know that Emhoff is genetically Jewish and probably has a cultural connection, the truth is that whether Emhoff went to Hebrew school or still goes to synagogue, nothing touches him. We know this because this faker couldnt even get the Passover story right. Passover is the central story of Judaism because it is when God did the miracles that rescued the Jewish people from slavery. He capped these miracles by handing down the moral code that has held them together as a people for over 3,000 years. And then theres the Hanukkah story, which happened over a thousand years later. That story retells how a small band of Maccabees prevailed against all odds to defeat the overwhelmingly powerful Syrian Greek occupation. In Emhoffs perverse retelling, though, the Jews cowered in the darkness, hiding from their enemies: The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has always been one of hope and resilience, Emhoff, who is Jewish, wrote on X. In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding. No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning, he added. During those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions. Thats why Hanukkah means dedication. It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in the oil, each other, and their Judaism. In these dark times, I think of that story, Emhoffs post concluded. Emhoff deleted the tweet, having revealed that his Judaism was, at best, performative and bore no relationship to his culture, faith, values, or knowledge. Sadly, I suspect that most of the Jewish Democrats I know will be thrilled by Emhoffs nudge-nudge-wink-wink Jewish identity. Theyll think it means all is right with the Democrat party, never realizing that Emhoff is the court Jew, performing for the King even as the Kings army slaughters Jews and drives the survivors from the land. Image: YouTube screen grab. The stench of cognitive dissonance wafting from the Democratic National Convention in downtown Chicago is heavy. Last night, the audience of Democrats went from uproariously cheering for Bernie Billionaires Are Evil Sanders when he called for a communist economy instead of one that only supports the billionaire class, to immediately erupting in applause for J.B. Busting at the Seams Pritzker (the man was literally one deep breath or gout-y hors doeuvre away from his suit button exploding into kingdom come) when he bragged about being an actual billionaire, apparently unlike Donald Trump. Here is a side-by-side video montage of the two sloppy Democrats: Bernie: Billionaires are bad *One speaker later* JB Pritzker: Take it from a billionaire... LOL pic.twitter.com/rACATnUoA6 Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 21, 2024 From Peter the Great in the comments: Yeah, inherited all of it and ate half of it. Fact-checker verdict? Mostly true. (Pritzker was looking exceptionally large on stage, a rotund blob of blue suit with little hands poking out at the arm cuffs and blubbery head on top; in fact, if you couldnt see his burrito back-of-the-neck roll and turkey caruncle yourself, you might think he were wearing a fatsuit.) Now, Im not really quite sure what Pritzker is even talking about since Trump is actually a billionaire, plain and simple, but nonetheless, there is a major difference between the two, and one thats worth noting, and Peter the Great beat me to it. J.B.s granddaddy, and other family members before J.B. are the ones who earned that money, not J.B., hes merely a fortunate beneficiary of generational wealth. In fact, any money that he has made himself has come on the backs of taxpayers. But Trump? Trump wheeled and dealed in the private sector his whole life, and when he finally did get into government, he donated his salary! The left loves to rag on Trump, diminishing his business prowess by denigrating him for coming from money, but then what does that say about J.B.? Why the cheers? What is impressive about being born into wealth? Did J.B. have anything to do with that or is that pure providence? What is impressive though is turning a few million into billions, which is exactly what Trump did. There are a lot of wealthy people who were fortunate enough to be born into similar circumstances, but how many of them multiplied that wealth 1,000-fold? Not only was it the Sanders and Pritzker contradiction though, but MichaelI mean Michelle Obama too. Michelle, who with Barack has a reported combined net worth of $70 million and owns several multi-million dollar mansions in some of the most exclusive and ritzy enclaves in America, took the stage and talked about folks who took more than they needed. Sounds strikingly similar to a well-known line from a lesser-known work of Karl Marx, that is his 1875 Critique of the Gotha Programme: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! Certainly Michelle isnt talking about us now is (s)he? Oh yes (s)he is. Now, Im all for the rich enjoying the fruits of their labor or that of their family, but thats not exactly how the Obamas got all that money. Back to Pritzker though, who also said this: Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity. This is coming from the governor of the failed state of Illinoisso whats Pritkzer rich in then? Even more stupidity? I mean, how do you break a state so badly? Corruption? Artery-clogging plaque? Visceral fat? Taxpayer money? Sweaty palms? Wickedness? All of the above? Theyre both billionaires but only one man is a towering 63 while the other is a squatty 59 (a stature only humiliating because of his obesity), and only one man has a supermodel for a wife while the other has a Muenster, who strangely, actually looks like a relative of Herman Munster. Jealous much? Image: YouTube video screen grab. Is the Democrat party a political party, or an organized crime cartel? This description of what they really did to the Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. campaign by RFK, Jr.'s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, left even RealClearPolitics founder Tom Bevan reeling: Shanahan describes how the RFK, Jr. campaign ended up being a spoiler, or marginalized, candidacy because of all the nasty, underhanded, and questionably legal maneuvers the Democrats did to them, nonstop. And she believed they could have been a winner without such underhanded doings. ...I did not put in tens of millions of dollars to be a spoiler campaign. I put in tens of millions of dollars to win, to fix this country, to do the right thing. I will say that ClearChoice, this PAC, this DNC-aligned PAC, that was created specifically to take us out has spent millions of dollars to take us out. They have unfortunately turned us into a spoiler. And, we don't want to be a spoiler, we wanted to win, we wanted a fair shot. The DNC made that impossible for us. They have banned us, shadowbanned us, kept us off stages, manipulated polls, used lawfare against us, sued us in every possible state, they've even planted insiders into our campaign to disrupt it and to create actual legal issues for us. The extent by which, the sabotage they've unleashed on us, it's mind-blowing, I mean, we're still learning new ways they have sabotaged us. I really wanted a fair shot at this election, and I believed in the America, that I, a little girl, pledged allegiance to. And that is not where we are at today and it's not because of the Republican Party taking us out. It is exclusively because of the Democratic Party taking us out and I am so disappointed I ever helped them. I am so disappointed that I helped Chuck Schumer in that Georgia runoff secure a majority. It's probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Based on this kind of behavior, I would like to know if the break-ins and potential assassination attempts against RFK, Jr., reported with application after application for Secret Service protection, had anything to do with these dirty tricksters, too. Was someone trying to scare RFK, Jr., or do something worse? Based on the other crap described, I think it's a legitimate place to look. It also makes me wonder at why RFK, Jr.'s requests for Secret Service protection were denied by Biden, King Rat of the Democrats, against all precedent, and no one could understand why. RFK, Jr., after all, has a history of assassinations in his family, and was able to show that break-ins and security lapses had happened, yet the answer from Joe was always 'no.' It made no sense. He eventually got the protection he asked for but only after the assassination attempt against President Trump. Even if these Democrats weren't involved in those vile acts, what Shanahan described was sordid enough -- shadowbans, lawfare, ballot disqualification, spies, saboteurs. This isn't a party about ideas, it's about brute force. It doesn't want to win elections, but secure an Escobar-like power at any price, as happened in Colombia. Yet Eddie Haskell-like, it continually babbles about "democracy." Maybe the question should be raised about breaking up this lawless party given its lawless nature. At a minimum, Congress should hold hearings. And the Trump Republicans should welcome them into the fold the way big ships rescue lifeboats for this election. This is about saving democracy and a two-party system. With Democrats gone, in coming years, they can be the liberal party and the Trumpsters can be the conservative party, with honorable competition of ideas, not the dirty Democrat deeds we see now. This shouldn't be what politics in a free society is about. Image: Twitter video screen shot Elon Musk spotted this video on X (Twitter) featuring Lee Hsien Loong, the recently retired prime minister of Singapore, and couldn't help sharing: Wisdom is a good word for it, because left unsaid, it's also about experience. Who is Lee Hsien Loong? He's the senior, or emeritus, prime minister of Singapore, the third in the nation's history, and the son of Singapore's founding father, the great Lee Kuan Yew. Suffice to say, he had a wise father to start. But he had his own achievements, and on his watch, from 2004-2024, Singapore seriously prospered -- see here: This is the man who is behind Singapore's incredible growth, who uplifted Singapore from poverty to richest nation in the world. Singapore GDP per capita: 1970: $926 2000: $23,853 2010: $47,237 2022: $82,808 Global Index (@TheGlobal_Index) August 21, 2024 I lived in Singapore from 1996 to 1998 before he became prime minister, and it was plenty prosperous then. It's now four times wealthier. Obviously, it's not exactly like our system in that being on a small island, it's kind of a one-party system, it could use a freer press, and it tends to clamp down on dissent. But economically, it's one of the world's freest countries, and it goes out of its way to ensure that all its residents have access to high quality education and opportunities. Heck, it's one of the world's cleanest countries, too, spic and span. As Lee Hsien Loong discusses wokedom, the idea of racial grievance groups getting offended at every statement and everyone walking on tenterhooks as a result, his disdain is obvious. That's because Singapore's experience counters that in spades. Because hard as it is to believe now, Singapore was not always the economically free, prosperous, and sparking clean country it is now. It actually used to be the opposite -- a stinking port town full of race riots, crime, communists, hookers, trash, and chaos. It was so bad it got thrown out of the Malayan Federation in 1963 for this reason, and Lee, being the top elected official from Singapore in the Malayan Federation, a post-colonial cobbled nation from the British empire, ended up the country's first prime minister. He wrote in his memoirs that he was absolutely terrified at his city being cut loose by what became Malaysia. It didn't turn out as bad as he thought it would -- in fact, it was a blessing in disguise, because Singapore had him leading it. In Singapore, Lee and the others knew all about race chaos, being a tiny nation of about 4 million people with four different cultures, three kinds of Chinese nationalities -- the elegant, educated Teo Chew, the middle-of-the-road Hokkien, and the rough nomadic Hakka (of which Lee was one), the Malays, the Tamil Indians, and the remaining British remnants. Lee sought to keep a multicultural emphasis as a means of keeping the peace, as Wikipedia notes, but it was accompanied by a hardcore rule of law and equal justice under the law approach, which was the style of Lee, whose education at Cambridge University made him a lawyer. Lee was all about rule of law and equal treatment under rule of law. Multiculturalism could not work any other way. Equal opportunity, not equal results, and Singapore is still permeated with this mentality. Lee started out with a largely Fabian socialist orientation, but died in what we would recognize as a conservative, a veritable soulmate of Ronald Reagan, a close ally whom he openly admired, based on his ferocious fealty to rule of law, which made the kind of multiculturalism seen in Singapore (they did adopt the common language of English to ensure locals could understand each other) possible. So now that Lee Hsien Loong sees wokery up close, he can see where the problems are, his tone suggests in fact that he's utterly amazed that any nation could be so stupid as to adopt this idea, making a nation "not robust" as he put it. He's pretty well steeped in a country that rejected it. The U.S. would do well to learn from this intelligent man and take a look at the Singapore experience, which teaches a lot about why wokedom leads to disaster. In the meantime, the video is great. Image: Twitter screen shot Ever since Google announced the Circle to Search feature, there has been massive hype around it. Initially, the feature was available to flagship smartphones from Google and Samsung. However, Samsung gradually made the feature available for the older Galaxy phones from 2021 as part of the Galaxy AI update. Sadly, the Galaxy S21 FE was one such model that didnt get the Circle to Search for unknown reasons. No worries, that has changed now. Galaxy S21 FE gets the magical Circle to Search feature bundled with August 2024 security update This week, the Circle to Search was made available for the Galaxy S21 FE as part of the August 2024 security update. So, if you are a Galaxy S21 FE user who has been waiting to experience the magic of AI, this is your time. For the uninitiated, the Circle to Search is an exciting AI feature that enables you to get information about any visual element you see on a website, photo, or video. All youve to do is long-press the home button or gesture handle when you spot something interesting. The best part is that the feature runs Google Search as soon as you circle or highlight the element. That too, without having to leave the app youre using. Handy, right? Lets not forget that the Circle to Search feature also replaces the Google Assistant on Samsung phones with Galaxy AI support. The latest update has rolled out in Vietnam but soon it will be available for other markets too It is worth noting that the latest update for Galaxy S21 FE also bundles the August 2024 security patch. It fixes 50 security vulnerabilities in Samsung One UI as well as Android. The latest Galaxy S21 FE update that brought Circle to Search was rolled out initially in Vietnam. However, we expect the update to make its way soon to the other regions as well. Whenever it comes your way, dont forget to Download and Install the update from your devices settings. First, head over to Settings > Software update. Next, follow the on-screen instructions to update your Galaxy S21 FE to enjoy Circle to Search. Google will have to face a class-action lawsuit regarding its data collection practices, a federal appeals court has decided. The search giant had managed to get the case dismissed by a lower court in 2022. Google will have to face an old data collection lawsuit again Google will have to once again fight a class action lawsuit that questioned its data collection practices. At the heart of the lawsuit is Google Chrome and its Sync feature. Several litigators had pulled Google to court claiming Chrome collected user data without their consent. Filed way back in 2020, the lawsuit alleged Google collected data from Chrome users, while completely ignoring the Sync features settings. Chrome Sync saves bookmarks, passwords, open tabs, and other data to your Google account. It gives Chrome users quick and easy access to this information when signing into Chrome on multiple devices. Ninth Circuit revives Google Chrome data collection class action https://t.co/3dDYDXZ6fx Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) August 20, 2024 The lawsuit alleged Chrome intentionally and unlawfully collected and delivered a lot of information without explicit permission of the users. Google argued users consented to data collection by accepting the companys privacy policy when installing Google Chrome. The lower court accepted this argument and dismissed the case. However, a federal appeals court has reversed the lower court ruling. Judge Milan D. Smith Jr. reportedly observed that Judge Gonzalez Rogers didnt consider whether users understood this agreement. Consequentially, the judge has asked the lower court to reconsider the entire case. In other words, Google will have to present a more convincing argument. Moreover, the case now appears to hinge on users reading and understanding the lengthy terms and conditions, particularly regarding privacy policies. Will Chrome allow data access without turning on sync? Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda has expressed concern about the reversal of the lower courts decision. However, he claimed the company is confident it is in the right. We disagree with this ruling and are confident the facts of the case are on our side. Chrome Sync helps people use Chrome seamlessly across their different devices and has clear privacy controls. It is interesting to note that the Circuit Judge reportedly implied Googles policies lack focus in his ruling. Here, Google had a general privacy disclosure yet promoted Chrome by suggesting that certain information would not be sent to Google unless a user turned on sync. A reasonable user would not necessarily understand that they were consenting to the data collection at issue. Google has revised the conditions for using the Sync feature. Users no longer have to turn on the feature to access their previously saved information. However, Castaneda stressed that the two matters arent related. In a similar case, Google confirmed it would delete or anonymize data Chrome had collected when users were browsing with Incognito mode turned on. Products featured in this Yahoo article are selected by our shopping writers. We will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Save on a new suitcase at Argos. (Argos / Yahoo Life UK) Planning a last-minute getaway? Off on a staycation? New job requires more travelling? Well, good thing Argos has launched a suitcase sale, slashing the price of a number of big-name luggage brands including IT and American Tourister, as well as a selection of Argos own-brand cases, too. That's right, you can now save up to 50% off a brand-new cabin case, underseat bag, medium or large suitcase if you buy from Argos right now, but you'll have to act fast, because some designs have already sold out. Browse luggage at Argos Shop cabin cases Shop suitcases Shop luggage sets Whether you're looking for something with lots of room to check-in at the airport, a small underseat roll-on that's great for commuting, or a classic cabin you can take practically anywhere, Argos has plenty of options to choose from. Keep reading for an edit of our favourites. Top picks from Argos suitcase sale IT IT Luggage World's Lightest 2 Wheel Cabin Suitcase 23 45 Save 22 Dimensions: H55 x W39.5 x D19 (cm) Recommended by a huge 94% of shoppers who have purchased it, this case is described by one shopper as the "lightest case" they've ever bought, with various others also impressed by its maneuverability and lightness. Different to usual cases, this pick comes with a wide comfort handle that lays flat for stress-free packing. 23 at Argos Rock Rock Allure Rose Pink Cabin Case 40 80 Save 40 Dimensions: H56 x W39 x D23 (cm) This cabin case stands out for its brushed metallic-look finish and sturdy design. As for features, it comes complete with a push-button handle, eight smooth rolling 360-degree wheels, a TSA combination lock and fully lined interior with a mesh divider section. 40 at Argos This article was originally published on Yahoo Life UK. Brandon Sklenar has defended the women involved in It Ends With Us, amid controversy around the film. The US actor, who played Atlas Corrigan in the Colleen Hoover adaptation, addressed all this stuff swirling online amid speculation of a potential rift between director Justin Baldoni and producer Blake Lively who co-led the cast. Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance and for women choosing a better life for themselves, Sklenar wrote in a statement on Instagram. Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about. It is, in fact, the opposite of the point. What may or may not have happened behind the scenes does not and hopefully should not detract from what our intentions were in making this film. Rumours regarding the alleged fractured relationship between Lively and Baldoni began around the films release at the beginning of August. The film tells the story of Lily Bloom (Lively) as she falls in love with Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) before reconnecting with her first love (Sklenar) amid a backdrop of domestic violence. Sklenar said it was disheartening to see the amount of negativity being projected online. This film is meant to inspire. Its meant to validate and recognise. Its meant to instill hope, Sklenar said. Its meant to build courage and help people feel less alone. Ultimately its meant to spread love and awareness. It is not meant to once again, make the women the bad guy, lets move beyond that together. Blake Lively and Isabela Ferrer attending the UK gala screening for It Ends with Us at Odeon Luxe, central London. Picture date: Thursday August 8, 2024. Sklenar asked for those thinking about spreading hate on the internet, to ask yourself who its helping. He concluded the post, writing: Lets be a part of something better together. A part of a new story being written for women and all people everywhere. Lead with love and please be kind. Coldplay have performed a Taylor Swift song during their show in Vienna. Swift had been scheduled to play at the Austrian capitals Ernst Happel Stadium in early August, but the three sold-out shows were cancelled after police uncovered an alleged plot by suspected terrorists. The British bands frontman Chris Martin joined forces with opening act Maggie Rogers to perform Swifts 2008 hit Love Story, according to videos circulating on social media. Taylor Swift performing at her first London concert at Wembley Stadium, during the Eras Tour (Ian West/PA) The Coldplay cover, during their Music Of The Spheres wold tour, appeared to be a nod to Swift fans who had missed the opportunity to see the pop superstar perform live. The alleged foiled terrorist attack came days after an attack in Southport in which three young girls were killed in a mass stabbing at a holiday club Swift-themed event. Grammy award winner Swift paid tribute to the victims, saying she was completely in shock after the horrendous trauma. The cancelled Vienna dates formed part of the European leg of her Eras Tour, which concluded on Tuesday. Swift made Wembley Stadium history as the first solo artist to perform eight times in a single tour. The billion-dollar tour took fans through her back catalogue, including hits from albums 1989, Red, Midnights and her latest chart-topping 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department. England midfielder Conor Gallagher has completed his move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge, has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish outfit after the clubs agreed a reported 33.7million fee. Gallaghers future had been the subject of speculation for some time as he entered the final year of his contract and with it unclear how he fitted into new manager Enzo Marescas plans. Thank you, and good luck, Conor. pic.twitter.com/LZundZneOl Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 21, 2024 A statement from Atletico read: Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of Conor Gallagher, who has signed for the club until 2029. Gallagher had been a regular in the Chelsea side over the past two seasons after loan spells at Charlton, Swansea, West Brom and Crystal Palace earlier in his career. He made 95 appearances for the Blues, scoring 10 goals, and also captained the side on a number of occasions last season. He was also part of the England squad which reached the final of Euro 2024 this summer. A post from Chelsea on X read: Thank you, and good luck, Conor. Gallagher sent a departing message to the Blues on Instagram. To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true. Its been an absolute honour every time I put on the shirt, and it was a dream come true to captain the team on many occasions, he said. I loved every moment. These memories will last forever. I appreciate all the love and support from the fans. Hearing the chant of my name at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you displayed meant the world to me. Thank you for everything. I wish the club all the best for the future, and I hope to see you all soon at Stamford Bridge. Boccia champion David Smith is raring to go for Paris but feels Adam Peatys near miss at the Olympics proves how difficult it is to win gold at three successive Games. The 35-year-old travels to the Paralympics as Britains most successful player of the boules-like sport and looking to defend the individual BC1 title he claimed in Rio and retained in Tokyo. Swimmer Peaty last month fell agonisingly short in his attempt to achieve a similar feat in the 100m breaststroke after he was forced to settle for joint silver in the French capital behind Italian Nicolo Martinenghi. Adam Peaty was unable to clinch a third successive Olympic gold (Martin Rickett/PA) This time around, Im probably not going in as the absolute favourite, as maybe I was in Tokyo, Smith told the PA news agency. There are probably about five or six athletes that could quite easily challenge in the BC1, which is probably the first time ever its been that competitive thats exciting. Ive medalled at every tournament for the last four years. I feel like it would be wrong for me not to expect that, I guess. But Im not putting myself under (the pressure of) I must win it. To go three in a row, Adam Peaty showed how hard that is to do. David Smith is Great Britains most successful boccia player (Tim Goode/PA) Ive got bags of energy so well see what that turns up and as long as I can play well and put on a show for the crowd then Ill be relatively satisfied. Im in a good place and raring to go. Smith has won five medals across four Paralympics, beginning with team gold in 2008 in Beijing followed by two silvers at London 2012. The Eastleigh-born athlete, who recently regained world number one status, faces stiff competition in his quest to add to the medal tally from the likes of Thailands Witsanu Huadpradit, Muhamad Syafa of Indonesia, Dutchman Daniel Perez and Portuguese player Andre Ramos. If anything, Im probably more driven than I was when I started, said Smith. Back in Beijing, I was probably a little bit like a happy amateur: lots of talent, probably not so directed. Im probably in a space now where I feel like Ive mastered my craft and I know what I need to do. The field has tightened up. Theres a lot more density at the top. Im just trying to keep my head above the water. Smith was selected as ParalympicsGBs closing ceremony flagbearer following his exploits in Tokyo, an experience he rates as the pinnacle of his career. Great Britains David Smith sported a red and blue mohawk in Tokyo (Tim Goode/PA) He sported an eye-catching red and blue mohawk back then but remained tight-lipped when quizzed on his hairstyle of choice this time around. Its all booked in but not reveals yet, said Smith. Im keeping it as modest as possible until the last possible moment partly because I dont want the colour to wash out before the closing ceremony. Youll find out soon enough. A retired accountant who killed a lifelong friend and left another paraplegic after colliding with their motorbikes during a road trip to Scotland has been spared jail and told to live his life anew by a judge. Paul Shrubsole, 60, trembled in the dock as the judge told him he was being given a chance to live in a way your friends and victims cant, more than three years after a fatal accident caused when his attention lapsed behind the wheel. The court heard Shrubsole, from Essex, has not driven since July 24, 2021, when he used hands-free to make a call while driving on the M74 in South Lanarkshire and collided with Julian Wiseman, 57, and Paul Allum his lifelong friends from Kent University, one of whom was his best man. The three men had travelled from the south of England when Shrubsoles concentration lapsed as traffic slowed and he called one of his travel companions striking the two motorcyclists with his Nissan Qashqai. Defending, Tony Graham KC told the court Shrubsole voluntarily surrendered his driving licence following the crash, describing him as an unremarkable man with an unblemished driving record and no previous convictions. Mr Wiseman died at the scene, while Mr Allum suffered spinal cord injuries which left him in a wheelchair, the court heard. Shrubsole was convicted of causing death by careless driving following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Mr Graham said: On July 23, 2021, three men who had enjoyed four decades of friendship set off to enjoy what should have been a holiday, what should have been an enjoyable road trip, what should have been the first proper relief after lockdown. Julian Wiseman died and Paul Allums life changed forever. Nothing I can say and nothing my lord can do will restore Mr Allums health or bring Mr Wiseman back to life. Paul Shrubsole, 60, leaving the High Court in Glasgow after sentencing (Andrew Milligan/PA) The crash happened at 30-40mph, and would have likely caused only bodywork damage had Shrubsole struck another car, the court heard. Mr Graham said: If Mr Allum and Mr Wiseman had not been on motorbikes, the chances are that motorists would have exchanged details. The consequences would have been nothing more than an increase in excess. The court heard Mr Allum had supported Shrubsole throughout the court case, and was coping with remarkable fortitude with his injuries. Mr Wiseman was described as a rare force of life who was adored by his fiancee, their son, a huge friendship group and former students, the court heard. Shrubsole, who is a married father, has no intention of driving again, according to his defence. Mr Graham urged a community sentence be imposed, describing Shrubsole as respectable and adding: He has never been a burden on the state. Sentencing, Judge Lord Arthurson said: I have read moving statements by Mr Wisemans fiancee and son which reflect the talent and energy of his adult life. He was a rare and wholly genuine lifeforce. Mr Allum suffered a spinal cord injury and is paraplegic, and now depends on a wheelchair and requires the support of two carers. Mr Allum appears to be coping with remarkable fortitude and strength of character. That fortitude extends to his continued support for you in this case. Rarely have I seen such a broken man in a court room. There is no public benefit of sending you to prison. You are of good character. You have not driven since this terrible incident and do not intend to drive again. He imposed a two-year community payback order and 300 hours of unpaid work, as well as a disqualification of five years, passing further responsibility to Basildon Crown Court in Essex. Lord Arthurson said: Mr Shrubsole, you should regard this sentence as an opportunity as your friends and victims cant you have a chance to begin your life anew. I suggest you dedicate the years of this order to helping others and rehabilitating yourself. Im telling you the opportunity is there to be grabbed by you. A Jupiter-bound European spacecraft made history as it briefly returned to Earth in a flawless fly-by. The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) performed a risky manoeuvre known as gravity assist, coming just 4,250 miles (6,840km) above the planets surface on Tuesday at 10.56pm UK time. The tricky move the first ever fly-by of its kind saw the spacecraft use the moon and the Earths gravity as a natural brake to slow itself down and send it towards Venus. This technique allows Juice to take a shortcut to Jupiter through the inner solar system and save precious fuel, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). Ignacio Tanco, ESAs spacecraft operations manager for the mission, said: The gravity assist fly-by was flawless, everything went without a hitch, and we were thrilled to see Juice coming back so close to Earth. The Juice spacecraft flew past Earth at 10.56pm UK time (Juice/European Space Agency) The spacecraft first flew past the moon at 10.15pm UK time, increasing its speed by 0.9km/s relative to the sun to pivot towards Earth. The Earth fly-by then slowed down Juice by 4.8 km/s relative to the sun as it zoomed above South-east Asia and the Pacific Ocean, sending it towards Venus where it will perform another gravity assist next year. These manoeuvres are expected to save the mission 100150kg of fuel, the ESA said. Mr Tanco said: Thanks to very precise navigation by ESAs Flight Dynamics team, we managed to use only a tiny fraction of the propellant reserved for this fly-by. The spacecraft flew past the moon at 10.15pm UK time (Juice/European Space Agency) This will add to the margins we keep for a rainy day, or to extend the science mission once we get to Jupiter. A scientific camera called Janus snapped images during the fly-bys of Earth and the moon. Claire Vallat, ESAs Juice operations scientist, said: The timing and location of this double fly-by allows us to thoroughly study the behaviour of Juices instruments. It happens early enough in Juices journey that we can use the data to prepare the instruments for arrival at Jupiter. And given how well we know the physical properties of Earth, the moon, and the surrounding space environment, its also the ideal location to understand how the instruments respond to a real target. An artists impression of the Juice spacecraft cruising towards the moon and the Earth (European Space Agency) The mission launched in April 2023 on a 4.1 billion-mile journey to Jupiter which will take more than eight years. Onboard are 10 scientific instruments, including from the UK, which will investigate whether the gas giants three moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede can support life in their oceans. The Venus fly-by is expected to take place in August 2025, which will send Juice back out towards Earth. The spacecraft will fly past its home planet again in September 2026 and January 2029, gaining two more boosts before arrival at Jupiter in July 2031, the ESA said. Five bodies have been found inside the wreck of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily but one person remains missing, officials have said. Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicilys civil protection agency, told the PA news agency that searches have finished for the day on Wednesday and will resume on Thursday morning. He confirmed that of the five bodies found, only four had been recovered, and the whereabouts of the missing sixth person remains unknown. Members of the public and media watch as a body bag is brought ashore (Jonathan Brady/PA) Technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the people unaccounted for after the yacht, named Bayesian, sank at around 5am on Monday. Identities of the recovered bodies have not been confirmed by authorities, despite local and international media reporting some had been identified. Body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello on Wednesday afternoon, with the process of bringing the fifth body to shore being described by Mr Cocina as ongoing. He said there will be an investigation in due course, but the priority is finding the missing. As the body bags were taken back to the port, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting, and one bag was seen being put in the back of an ambulance. The missing also included Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda. (PA Graphics) Inspections of the yachts internal hull took place on Wednesday morning. A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also arrived in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking. The MAIB is looking into what happened because the Bayesian was flying a British flag, it is understood. The Italian coastguard said the MAIB is not involved in the search for the missing people and has not been requested to assist. A helicopter was drafted in to help the search effort as divers from the local fire service entered the water with torches attached to their headgear. A police boat and divers also entered the water on Wednesday afternoon. (PA Graphics) Fire crews said they had been accessing the vessel through natural entrances, without making openings. Remotely controlled underwater vehicles have been used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search, the coastguard said. The Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at about 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm. Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian coastguard, previously said the missing tourists were feared dead. The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres (164ft). Fire crews described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. (PA Graphics) Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat. Survivors have been recuperating at a hotel complex in Porticello, where authorities were gathering witness statements. The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynchs acquittal in a fraud case in the US. The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion US dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. The Financial Times reported that Mr Bloomer appeared at trial as a defence witness for Mr Lynch, while media reports suggest the pair are close friends. In a separate incident, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in his US fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. A great white shark swimming in shallow water Mark F Lotterhand via Shutterstock Ever since Jaws put millions of moviegoers off of ocean swimming in 1975, people have feared great white sharks as the powerful apex predators that they are. While some of these fears are overblown, and the likelihood of actually getting bitten by one is very low, most people would think twice before going anywhere near a great white, to say the least. But even the most powerful predator can find themselves in dire straits, and that's what happened when a great white shark washed up on a Nantucket beach on Friday. Luckily, a few brave Good Samaritans managed to set aside their fears and stepped in to save the day! According to the Nantucket Current (@nantucketcurrent), the beached shark was discovered on Nantucket's Low Beach by Liza Phillips, who was visiting from California with her family and friends. At first, Liza thought she was looking at a beached whale, but as she and her group approached, they realized they were standing face-to-fin with a great white shark. Related: Father and Son's Encounter with Massive Great White Shark Leaves People Shocked Initially, the group was stunned, and they anxiously waited to see if the great white would right itself and get back in the water. But as the stranded shark continued to flounder helplessly on the sand, Phillips realized that they were its only hope of survival. "It was so helpless, we were thinking it was going to get back in itself but it was completely beached," Phillips told the Nantucket Current. "We said we have to step up and try to help. Definitely, there was some adrenaline involved." Despite the danger of approaching the flailing shark, Phillips and her friend Ted Rock carefully rolled it deeper into the water. At first, things looked grim as the shark flipped helplessly to the side. But with a few last pushes, Phillips and Rock managed to move it upright, and it finally swam back into the sea. Phillips never expected to take on the role of shark savior when she hit the beach that day. Now, she'll have an incredible story to bring back with her to California. "Touching a great white? That's not even something you put on a bucket list because it's just so unbelievable," Phillips marveled. Saving a Stranded Shark While shark beachings aren't very common, they can happen when a shark is injured, sick, or gets stressed or disoriented while swimming in shallow water. Unlike beached whales and dolphins, which can potentially survive on land for an hour or more, sharks need a constant flow of water past their gills to breathe. Without it, most will die within minutes. If you were to encounter a beached great white, National Geographic first recommends tossing water on the shark's body to get it as wet and oxygenated as possible. The next step is getting it back into water deep enough to flow past its mouth and gills so that it can breathe again and, hopefully, regain enough strength to swim forward on its own. Depending on how sick or injured the shark is, survival is still not guaranteed, but at least it'll have a fighting chance! What Phillips and her friend did was very brave and potentially saved the shark's life. However, New England Aquarium shark expert John Chisholm told Boston.com that their rescue was a dangerous one - not just because of the bite risk, but also because of potential injuries from the shark's rough skin and thrashing tail. It takes true courage to put oneself on the line to help an animal in need like Liza Phillips did. Still, if you ever end up assisting a shark rescue yourself, please take care and stay safe! 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. Relatives of Humza Yousaf who live in the Gaza Strip have had to flee their home again, the former first minister has said. The cousin of his wife Nadia El-Nakla was told to evacuate Mr Yousafs father-in-laws house with her children amid the Israel-Hamas war. Ms El-Naklas cousin Sally, her husband and four children had been staying at the house in Deir al Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip. Their previous home in another part of Gaza had been destroyed earlier in the war. Mr Yousafs parents-in-law were trapped in Gaza when the fighting broke out after the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla were able to return to Scotland in November after being allowed to pass through the Rafah crossing, but other members of Nadia El-Naklas family remain in the Palestinian enclave. Posting on X, Mr Yousaf said: Nadias cousin & family told to evacuate my father-in-laws house in Gaza where theyre taking refuge. No Hamas. Just innocent men, women & children now looking for a cart for their possessions, hoping to survive another day. Somehow, the world watches on, incapable of humanity. Nadia's cousin & family told to evacuate my father-in-law's house in Gaza where they're taking refuge. No Hamas. Just innocent men, women & children now looking for a cart for their possessions, hoping to survive another day. Somehow, the world watches on, incapable of humanity pic.twitter.com/9IvYAR80wY Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) August 21, 2024 The SNP former first minister shared an Instagram story posted by his wife. She wrote: My cousin Sally is in Gaza she has evacuated/been displaced more than 10 times. Her flat in Hamad city was destroyed and she had been living at my dads house in Deir Al Balah. Yesterday her husband had an operation. She has 4 kids. Today my dads house and my extended family received an evacuation order. They have no place to go. Sally is looking for a cart to carry blankets! My heart is (broken) May God protect them. Another post on her Instagram referred to targeting of the house. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated during the conflict and Gazas health ministry says more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. Renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty has died at the age of 80. Her family said she died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Co Donegal. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty wrote several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. Irish president Michael D Higgins said McCafferty had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and had a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. For example, Nell knew that standing behind the rituals of courts and unfortunate defendants, there was always a complex story which she had a gifted empathy to understand. In her column, In the Eyes of the Law, she opened peoples eyes to the operation of the District Court and its interaction with those who found themselves before it. Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to McCafferty as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Stormont First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Farewell, Nell. Talented. Feminist. Fearless. Nell McCafferty lived and worked every day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Most often, the powerful didnt like it. Thats how how she knew she was doing the right thing. Her writing and campaigning helped pic.twitter.com/Ro6pjkce9I Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) August 21, 2024 Mary Lou McDonald said McCaffertys writing helped change Ireland for the better. The Sinn Fein leader posted on X: Farewell, Nell. Talented. Feminist. Fearless. Nell McCafferty lived and worked every day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Most often, the powerful didnt like it. Thats how she knew she was doing the right thing. Her writing and campaigning helped to change Ireland for the better. She will be deeply missed. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a lifelong member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. In a piece published in the Irish Times earlier this year to mark McCaffertys 80th birthday, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins hailed her enduring courage as a writer. Those who have had Nell as a friend and an ally are very fortunate in their being given the gift of experiencing humanity in all its possibilities and vulnerabilities, and delivered as she did it with a sense of humour that paid tribute to the authenticity of her Derry upbringing, he wrote. Irelands president has led tributes to renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty, who has died at the age of 80. The celebrated writers family said she died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Co Donegal. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said McCafferty had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and had a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Nell McCafferty https://t.co/IlvxH3OsnK President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 21, 2024 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. A requiem mass will be held at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in the city, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. Absolutely Fabulous star Jane Horrocks has said death has become more taboo in recent years and needs to be talked about. The British actress, 60, is an ambassador for the UKs leading end of life charity, Marie Curie, and has helped to launch its Diary Of A Wardrobe auction, which has seen celebrity donations from the likes of model Kate Moss, Dame Julie Walters and Dame Shirley Bassey. Speaking about the charity, she told the PA news agency: We dont talk about death enough, and its (Marie Curie) all about living and prolonging life. And people dont talk about the inevitable that is going to come to us all at some point in our life. And I feel it should be talked about more and possibly not feared in the way that the Western world seems to fear it. She continued: Its (death) got more taboo, I think, as time has gone on, with medication, with the intervention of medication to prolong life. The actress has been working with Marie Curie for years and said it is a great charity as families are very much included in the death process. Horrocks was working with them when her mother died but had not asked for help at the time, which she said she would have done in hindsight, as she found the handling of her mothers death brutal. She said she was asked to leave the room so the carers could prepare her body following her death, and found it really hard. We stayed a very short time, and then it was home and I wasnt present when my dad died but it just felt a bit brutal, actually, very brutal, she said. June Whitfield, Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks attending the premiere of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie (Ian West/PA) And I really struggled with that and if somebody had said, Listen, rigor mortis (stiffening of the body) is not going to set in for a while so you dont need to be frightened about that, you can sit with her for as long as you want. You can sit with her all night if you wanted to and wed be fine with that. But that didnt happen. I just think theres lots of myths surrounding death that people pass on, people say, Oh, theyre turning yellow now. And that process takes a while. Its not immediate and I just think its all full of myths and fear and horror. And actually, when my mum did pass, it was a very beautiful thing, it was very gentle. I know people might have other experiences than I experienced with my mum, but that was my experience. And it just did feel like she just faded away and it wasnt horrific at all. It was just the way that it was dealt with that was not very inclusive or compassionate, Id say. I wish Id have talked to Marie Curie about about this before my mum did die, she added. To raise money for the charity the actress hatched a plan for an auction, which she came up with when she was clearing out clothes from her house. I then thought, Oh, its quite a small auction if its just my clothes, she said. So then me and the people at Marie Curie reached out to many other people. Horrocks said the auction is special as the items will be personalised and come with an added extra like a message or photograph from the celebrity. Items being sold include a bronze coloured dress worn by Horrocks when she sang with Robbie Williams at Londons Royal Albert Hall, Christian Louboutins donated by Moss, a coat worn by Dame Emma Thompson, and Daniel Craigs bloodied shirt from a production of Macbeth. The Diary Of A Wardrobe Auction is being held on September 19 at 2pm in Surrey and live internationally online with bidders able to register on the Ewbanks Auctions website. Kirstie Allsopp has questioned if parents being fearful of their children exploring the world is due to the 24-hour news coverage and a belief that the world is a worse place. The Location, Location, Location presenter, 52, received mixed opinions online after revealing she allowed her 15-year-old son to go interrailing across Europe with his 16-year-old friend this summer. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Wednesday, Allsopp said she agreed to it as she feels he is a very sensible young man, but admitted she struggled emotionally as she missed him over the summer break. Reflecting on how perspectives have changed on allowing young people freedom, she said: In previous generations, people did things far younger. We are looking at a mental health crisis with young people. A lot of people are talking about it and writing about it. Kirstie Allsopp said she did not want her son to be left behind by his peers (Ian West/PA) We have to ask ourselves how much of this is because of our fear and our worry, and how much of our fear and worry stems from 24-hour news and a lot of belief that the world is a worse place? She pointed out her elders had taken on major pursuits as teenagers, including her father-in-law joining the Arctic convoys of the Second World War aged 16, her mother-in-law going to university in South Africa aged 15 and her father joining the army at 17. The discussion came about after Allsopp shared on X, formerly Twitter, that her son had just returned from three weeks of interrailing, travelling through Europe usually via train, with his friend. She wrote: For obvious budget reasons, inter-railing isnt on the cards for everyone, but in this increasingly risk-averse world its vital that we find any ways we can to give our children the confidence that only comes from trusting them. Of course I missed spending the summer with our son, but Im so proud of him & my loss is nothing compared to his gain & the encyclopaedic knowledge he now has of the differences between one McDonalds & another, if were afraid our children will also be afraid, if we let go, they will fly. Her post sparked a conversation online with some criticising her for letting him go while others praised her decision. Discussing her decision on Radio 4, Allsopp also she did not want her son, who is young for his school year, to be left behind by his peers. Hes 16 today and hes a summer-born child, so hes very young for his year, she said. My little boy has returned from 3 weeks inter-railing, hell be 16 on Wednesday so he went with a mate whos already 16 due to hostel/travel restrictions, but they organised the whole thing; Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Marseille, Toulouse, Barcelona & Madrid 1/3 Kirstie Allsopp (@KirstieMAllsopp) August 19, 2024 As any parent of a summer-born knows, theres always this dilemma that their friends will turn key ages before them, and do you hold them back simply because of the number of days in a year? Or do you say Yes, you can do what your cohort is doing. So, I think thats the first thing. She continued: Its strange to say I didnt struggle with it on a practical level, because he came to me with a proposal, hes a very sensible young man, hes never been in trouble at school, and so when he said, I want to do this, I thought, Right, okay, good on you. I struggled on an emotional level that I knew Id be not seeing him for quite a lot of this summer. Hes only got two more years at school and then hell probably go to university ,and then hell be away. So, as a parent, its always that thing of Oh, I want to be with my child, or is it good for them to do their own thing? Allsopp, who is mother to sons Oscar Hercules and Bay Atlas with husband Ben Andersen, also noted parents worry about different things and, for her, her fear is her children travelling in cars with new drivers and drugs, rather than travelling. Asked if she would have treated a daughter the same way, she said she would as her parents treated her the same way as her brother. Obviously, girls face different dangers. Statistically, actually, boys are more at danger from violent attacks from strangers, she said. The dangers that girls can come across, as we all know, are often from people they know. Five bodies have been found in the search for six missing people after a luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the Sicilian coast, the head of Sicilys civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina said. It comes after the body of man believed to be the boats chef, Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan man, was recovered near the yacht on Monday. Among those missing are British tech magnate Mike Lynch after the Bayesian sank at around 5am local time on Monday when it was moored half a mile off the coast of Porticello. The cruise was reportedly a celebration of Mr Lynchs recent acquittal on fraud charges in the US. British technology tycoon Mike Lynch is missing after the luxury yacht, Bayesian sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily (PA Media) Who is involved and why were they there? Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah who had recently finished her A-levels and was bound for Oxford University remain missing. Also unaccounted for are Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley and insurance company Hiscox, and his wife Judy, a psychotherapist; and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer from Clifford Chance and part of the legal team representing Mr Lynch, and his wife Neda, who reportedly runs a luxury jewellery line. The body of a man believed to be chef Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan man working onboard, was recovered near the yacht. Fifteen of the 22 people onboard including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat. The Telegraph reported Mr Lynch had guests from the legal firm that represented him and his own company to join him on the voyage. Among others rescued were Charlotte Golunkski and her one-year-old daughter Sophie. Ms Golunkski kept her daughter alive by holding the girl over her head in the water. Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer (Morgan Stanley International Bank/PA) How did the boat sink? Italian authorities said stormy conditions caused the yacht to sink, but investigations are continuing. It is believed the luxury vessel may have been hit by a water spout, a rotating column of wind that forms over a body of water and is often likened to a tornado. According to the US National Ocean Service, tornadic weather spouts have the same characteristics as a land tornado and are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, high winds and seas, large hail and frequent dangerous lightning. What search and rescue efforts are under way? Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicilys civil protection agency, told the PA news agency that four bodies have been recovered and that efforts to bring a fifth to shore are ongoing. In the afternoon, body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello, where dozens of emergency services staff were waiting. (PA Graphics) Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian coastguard previously said the missing tourists were all feared dead. Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. Italys fire brigade said it developed a plan to enter the wreckage of the Bayesian, which is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres. It described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search, the Italian Coastguard has said. Divers reached parts of the vessel through the gap, the Giornale Di Sicilia reported on Tuesday. If you manage to get inside, you understand there is a world of objects. So, getting inside and descending into the compartment below from the stairs that are narrow and going into all of the cabins is a really hard and difficult job, fire department diver Marco Tilotta told the Reuters news agency, according to the BBC. We are not stopping. We have resources, manpower and means. Our goal is to find all the people who are missing, so that is our job. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors trapped inside the wreck. (PA Graphics) The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside, he said. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. Who is Mike Lynch? The British multimillionaire, from Suffolk, owes his fortune to software firm Autonomy, which he sold to Hewlett-Packard for billions in 2011. He graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. He is married to Angela Bacares and they have two daughters. He has a reported net worth valued at around 852 million, according to The Independent. His business ventures led him to once being dubbed Britains Bill Gates, but also landed him in legal trouble. (PA Graphics) Autonomys sale was dogged by fraud claims, and he faced civil action in the UK before being extradited to the US to face criminal charges. In June, he was cleared of 15 fraud charges after allegations that he inflated Autonomys worth. What do we know about the Bayesian? The 56-metre sailing boat was launched by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, according to the company website. It was once called the Salute, but was later renamed after Mr Lynchs PhD thesis on statistical theory by mathematician Thomas Bayes. Media reports suggest the yachts owner is listed as Revtom Ltd, a company owned by Mr Lynchs wife. Who was Stephen Chamberlain and how is he connected to the incident? Mr Chamberlain was an associate of Mr Lynch and stood trial for fraud alongside him after Autonomys sale. Days before the yacht disaster, Mr Chamberlain died after being hit by a car while out jogging. Stephen Chamberlain was killed whilst out running on Saturday in the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire. (Cambridgeshire Police) Mr Chamberlain, Autonomys former vice president of finance, was cleared of all charges by a San Francisco court in June. Relatives said in a tribute released through police that he was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible, they said. A 29-year-old man who rode a childrens scooter before throwing it at a hotel housing asylum seekers and telling a police officer to f*** off has been jailed. Scaffolder Perrie Fisher was also seen riding a bike wearing an England flag before throwing it in a skip, and throwing bicycle wheels at the walls of Potters International Hotel as part of a crowd of around 200 people in Aldershot on July 31. The Farnham man was arrested at Gatwick airport on return from his Dubai holiday on August 19 after he did not appear at magistrates court following the incident. He was brought before Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to violent disorder and a bail act offence. Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday heard how 85 families were living in the hotel and there were people inside the accommodation in great fear of what was going to happen to them. Basingstoke Magistrates Court in Hampshire (Andrew Matthews/PA) Around 1,900 worth of damage was also caused from the disorder after a small group of protesters got into the hotel car park at around 6.40pm and more and more joined them. Judge Nigel Lickley KC described how Fisher threw the childrens scooter with force at the hotel and there was a loud bang and cheering from the crowd as a result. The bikes had been provided for the hotel residents to use, the court heard. Prosecutor Tim Devlin said a large crowd started shouting illegals out, we want our community back and f*** off. He added the police were massively outnumbered and the situation was rapidly getting out of hand. In mitigation the court heard the act was out of character for the new dad who felt remorse for what he had done. Sentencing Fisher, Judge Lickley said the occupants of the hotel were the real target of Fishers actions which were fuelled by hostility over race and religion. The sole purpose of activity, of which you were one, was to intimidate and frighten the occupants of the building, he said. The mob you were part of was very intimidating. He added that while Fisher had asked for his court hearing to be adjourned before going on holiday he showed a cavalier attitude to the courts and serious offence you faced by missing his court date. Fisher was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment for both offences. He will be released from prison after serving half of his sentence and will spend the rest on licence, the judge said. Fisher has received the longest sentence within the Wessex region, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. CPS Wessex deputy chief crown prosecutor, Sophie Stevens, said: Fishers part in the violent disorder seen in Aldershot has not only endangered vulnerable individuals but has also disrupted the peace and security of our communities. Todays sentence underscores the severity of his actions and should serve as a deterrent to those who may consider engaging in such unlawful behaviour. A man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a woman found dead at her home in Co Londonderry. Sophie Watson, 57, was found unresponsive at the property in Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt on Sunday afternoon. She had suffered a number of stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrzej Pajaczkowski, 43, also of Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt, appeared before a district judge on Wednesday morning via video-link from the Serious Custody Suite at Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast. Bearded and wearing a grey custody tracksuit, the Polish national spoke briefly at the outset of the short hearing to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood the charge against him. Magherafelt Magistrates Court, sitting in Londonderry courthouse, heard that the accused, who was assisted during the hearing by a Polish interpreter, had lived in Northern Ireland for the last 20 years. The accused appeared from Musgrave Police Station, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) A detective constable told district judge Oonagh Mullan that she could connect the accused to the charge. Pajaczkowskis defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna noted to the judge that his client had replied not guilty after being charged. He made no application for bail but said such an application may be made at a later point. We are conscious of ongoing police inquiries in the area, said Mr McKenna. We also require some investigation of bail address issues and I also want to obtain some medical evidence before progressing the bail application. Your worship will have noted the not guilty reply after charge this will be a complicated and complex investigation. The judge remanded the accused in custody to appear before the same court, via videolink, on September 18. Detectives have said they are continuing their inquiries into the murder and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward to them or anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers. The family of renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty have said they are humbled and comforted by the tributes following her death. The celebrated writer, 80, died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Fahan, Co Donegal following a long illness. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty, who was raised in Derrys Bogside area, authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. McCafferty had previously been in a long term relationship with fellow author Nuala OFaolain, who died in 2008. A statement from McCaffertys family to the PA news agency concluded with Goodnight Sisters the phrase she used to sign off at the end of TV appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings. There arent words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell, said the family. We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day. We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led the tributes, describing McCafferty as a writer who had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Nell McCafferty https://t.co/IlvxH3OsnK President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 21, 2024 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. A requiem mass will be held at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in the city, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. Businessman John Margerison (left) has sent concerns notices to Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten. Composite: AAP The attorney general has approved legal assistance for Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten in relation to defamation threats by a business associate of the former Liberal minister Stuart Robert. On 12 August Mark Dreyfus approved assistance in relation to a defamation claim made against the prime minister on 23 July and for defamation claims on 23 and 25 July against Shorten, the government services and national disability insurance scheme minister, according to documents tabled to parliament. Guardian Australia understands that both relate to concerns notices sent by lawyers acting for the businessman John Margerison. Guardian Australia has not seen the defamation concerns notices sent to Albanese and Shorten and it is not known what statements they relate to. The approvals cover their legal costs, any damages or costs that may be awarded against them, and a reasonable amount to settle proceedings. Dreyfus wrote that in both cases he was satisfied the proceedings relate to the actual or alleged performance of the applicants ministerial duties and the applicant acted reasonably and responsibly in relation to the matter. The approval of taxpayer-funded legal assistance follows the revelation in parliament on 12 August that Margerison had sent concerns notices to the Labor MP Julian Hill. Hill told parliament the concerns notice related to a number of publications, including an official media release of the audit committee and a video of me answering a question in question time and tabled what he said were copies of the publications named in the concerns notice. On 14 August that issue was referred by the House of Representatives to the privileges committee, to assess Hills claim it could amount to a contempt of parliament. In November 2022 Shorten asked Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Agency to investigate allegations that Robert had provided private advice to a lobbying firm pursuing lucrative government contracts. Last year the audit committee heard allegations that the lobbying firm Synergy 360 proposed a structure that would benefit Robert financially, including a plan to transfer shares to United Marketing, a company controlled by Margerison. Robert has rejected the allegation in the strongest possible terms and said there was zero evidence for it. He said he had never part-owned any company that ever received anything from Synergy 360. He has denied any wrongdoing and said that departmental procurement was conducted with the highest levels of probity. Lawyers representing Robert have described the release of the allegations as egregious and an abuse of privilege. In September the audit committee recommended the matter be referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for consideration. At that time, Hill noted that Robert, his longtime friend, business partner and political fundraiser Margerison and others strongly deny any improper conduct. The Nacc has not made any public comment on the referrals. Guardian Australia contacted Albanese, Shorten and lawyers acting for Margerison in the Hill matter for comment. A supporter of Move Forward protests outside parliament in Bangkok after Thailands constitutional court banned from office its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat. Photograph: Wason Wanitchakorn/AP People in Thailand are accustomed to sudden changes of government brought on by military coups, numbering more than a dozen since the 1930s. But in the past two decades, they have increasingly seen such changes imposed by the courts, which have ousted four prime ministers and dissolved three election-winning political parties, often on narrow technical grounds. Now anger along with a sense of resignation is brewing over the perceived heavy-handed involvement of Thailands nine-member Constitutional Court in the countrys fractious politics. Related: They are trying to exterminate us: Thailands banned political leader speaks out The courts presence in political life has become so significant that experts say it has replaced King Bhumibol Adulyade who died in 2016 as the ultimate political arbiter in Thailand. Anger flared on 7 August when the court dissolved the reformist Move Forward party (MFP), which won the most parliamentary seats in the 2023 election but was blocked from taking power, and whose progressive leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, has been banned from running for office for 10 years. A week later, the court removed prime minister Srettha Thavisin for an alleged ethical violation regarding the appointment of a cabinet member. He has been replaced by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest prime minister in Thai history and a member of the prominent Shinawatra political family. On Tuesday, Pita said that despite his ban and the break-up of Move Forward, his resolve to one day lead Thailand and enact major reforms was unbroken. We confuse movement with progress, he told Reuters. Its almost like were going around in circles and were thinking were going somewhere, but actually were going nowhere. He told the news agency that elected politicians needed to reform institutions such as the courts to guarantee their independence and accountability to the public. Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, human rights associate at Fortify Rights, worries that these actions part of what she characterises as a decade-long trend of judicial overreach will breed cynicism and discourage Thais from engaging with politics. Theres a feeling of hopelessness and numbness that drives people further away from involvement in politics and drives away trust in a functional democratic society, she says. Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a professor at Kyoto Universitys centre for south-east Asian studies, said he believed people have been left with less respect for and confidence in the judicial system, while the courts involvement in politics poses an existential threat. In any other country when you talk about the collapse of key institutions, one may collapse but the country survives, like France with the monarchy, he says. But in a country where the justice system collapses, it cant survive, and thats what I fear with Thailand. I think the judiciary is on the brink of collapse because of its politicisation. Yangyuenpradorn and Chachavalpongpun are far from alone in their concerns. On Monday, 134 Thai academics and legal scholars issued a statement condemning the courts recent decisions. They argued that the constitutional court had overstepped its jurisdiction in an approach that conflicts with the principle that laws restricting individual rights should be interpreted narrowly and with great caution. The court has not publicly responded to the recent criticisms against it. Reform of the political system, including the judiciary, was a key policy of Pitas now defunct party. Yangyuenpradorn hopes the Peoples party the party that the remaining Move Forward MPs have regrouped under will preserve it as a policy. Democracy will be unable to truly take root in Thailand until a consensus is reached on the courts overreach, political science researcher Napon Jatusripitak says. In what kind of democracy is a court given the power to disfranchise 14 million voters by dissolving their chosen party and unseat a democratically elected prime minister, all within one week? Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report Chinas president, Xi Jinping, and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, meeting at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden has approved a US nuclear strategy to prepare for possible coordinated nuclear confrontations with Russia, China and North Korea, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the White House said the president approved the plan earlier this year and it was not a response to a single country or threat. The spokesperson Sean Savett said that while the specific text of the guidance is classified, its existence is in no way secret. The guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, nor threat. The Times reported that the deterrent policy takes into account a rapid buildup of Chinas nuclear arsenal, which will rival the size and diversity of the US and Russian stockpiles over the next decade. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has threatened to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. According to research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China had an estimated 500 nuclear warheads in January, up from 410 in January 2023. The US and Russia have more than 5,000 warheads each. But Chinas arsenal is thought to be expanding at a much faster pace than any other countrys. The US-based Arms Control Association said it understood US nuclear weapons strategy and posture remained the same as described in the administrations 2022 nuclear posture review, and there had been no reorientation away from Russia and toward China. Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said that while US intelligence estimates suggested China might increase the size of its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia currently had about 4,000 nuclear warheads and it remains the major driver behind US nuclear strategy. Biden approved the revised strategy called the nuclear employment guidance in March, according to the Times, but an unclassified notification of the policy change has not yet been presented to Congress. After years of nuclear arms reduction efforts, the administration has been signalling willingness to expand the US arsenal to counter China and Russias nuclear strategies more recently. In February, the US warned allies that Russia could be planning to put a nuclear weapon into space. On Tuesday, a retired senior colonel in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, Zhou Bo, published a piece in Foreign Policy arguing that the US and China could still cooperate on nuclear diplomacy. Zhou said that it is impossible for Beijing to stand by idly in the face of deteriorating relations between Russia and the US, but that there was space to strengthen the policies governing the control of nuclear weapons stockpiles. Zhou argued that nuclear-armed states should declare a no first use policy, as so far only China and India have done. Related: Global spending on nuclear weapons up 13% in record rise On Tuesday, the Times reported that two senior administration officials had earlier been permitted to allude to the revision in US nuclear strategy without disclosing its existence. In June, Pranay Vaddi, a senior director of the national security council, warned that absent a change in nuclear strategy by China and Russia, the US was prepared to shift from modernisation of existing weapons to expanding its arsenal. Vaddi also alluded to the highly classified document, saying it emphasised the need to deter Russia, the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] and North Korea simultaneously. The last major nuclear arms control agreement with Russia, New Start, which sets limits on intercontinental-range nuclear weapons, expires in early 2026 with no subsequent agreement in place. China and Russia are now more politically and economically aligned. Last month, Chinese and Russian long-range bombers patrolled together near Alaska for the first time and held live-fire exercises in the South China Sea. The second US administration official permitted to refer to the document, Vipin Narang, an MIT nuclear strategist who served in the Pentagon, said earlier this month that Biden had issued updated nuclear weapons employment guidance to account for multiple nuclear-armed adversaries and for the significant increase in the size and diversity of Chinas nuclear arsenal. It is our responsibility to see the world as it is, not as we hoped or wished it would be, the Times quoted Narang as saying. It is possible that we will one day look back and see the quarter-century after the cold war as nuclear intermission. Ron Holland designed the superyacht that sank on Monday and will likely be questioned by investigators The designer of Mike Lynchs superyacht Bayesian is likely to be contacted by British investigators. The vessel was designed by Ron Holland, a naval architect, who now lives in Vancouver. Gavin Pritchard, a retired Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) inspector, told The Telegraph that Mr Holland would, in the normal way, be contacted by the MAIB as its investigation into the sinking gathers pace. Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily in the small hours of Monday morning with 22 people aboard including its owner, Mr Lynch, the millionaire tech entrepreneur. Mr Pritchard, a Royal Navy officer who was a principal marine accident investigator, said the priority of the MAIB would be to secure perishable evidence. He said: Theyll be wanting to interview survivors, get some electronic data, which would be things like radar tracks of the vessel or voice recordings of radio calls. Superyacht Bayesian before it sank. The immediate priority of the MAIB will be to secure 'perishable evidence' from the incident - costanostrayachtsupply.com/PA Bayesian sank while on a celebration cruise organised by Mr Lynch. He had organised the trip to mark the end of more than a decade of legal wranglings over his 2011 sale of Autonomy, the British tech company, to Hewlett Packard for $11 billion. MAIB investigators would be working closely with their Italian counterparts to find out why the yacht sank, Mr Pritchard said. Right now its on-site evidence collection. They want to see what the wreck looks like, and theyll want to interview the people who were on board. Thats why the MAIB will want to look at the vessel using either [a remotely operated vehicle] or divers, or will want to have a look and see what the positions of watertight doors, hatches and windows were. Itd be important to state that [the MAIB] doesnt attribute blame, added Mr Pritchard, who ran one of the branchs four investigative teams before his 2022 retirement. One of the first questions that accident investigators ask is has anything like this ever happened before? And I have to say, having observed this tragic event, I honestly cant think of anything similar to this. He said that the key question for the MAIB would be finding out why Bayesian sank as quickly as it did reportedly within 60 seconds of a tornado or waterspout passing over the yacht. Thats the question that the investigators will have to answer: Why did it sink so quickly? Thats the key one, in my mind, for two reasons, said Mr Pritchard. First is that that is a lesson that will be more widely applicable to lots of other ships ships should not sink quickly. And the second point is that all vessels, from even small boats right up to supertankers, are all equipped with watertight doors [and] watertight windows, and theyre designed to withstand the risk of flooding, whether thats flooding coming into the hull or down-flooding with water that gets on top of boats. Italian investigators are examining the wreck, which currently lies in about 50 metres of water just off Porticello harbour in northern Sicily, to see if any portholes or windows were open. Air temperatures at Palermo airport, some 12 miles west of the sinking site, were reported as around 27-28C until the hour that a storm passed through the area at about 5am local time on Monday. Mr Pritchard said that focusing on the cause of the sinking, including any role played by the Bayesians mast at 237ft-high, the second tallest aluminium mast in the world would help the MAIB identify lessons for the wider maritime world about safety aboard sailing yachts. I dont think it would be completely wrong at this stage to say because it had the most enormous mast second biggest mast in the world its vulnerable to being blown over because its [been caught in] an extreme meteorological event, said the retired investigator. Referring to the 16-year-old yachts age and seeming lack of involvement in any previously reported safety incidents, he added: The design of that boat will have been perfectly safe. Its been checked and double-checked. And theres all sorts of audits and checks that are done on these vessels. So its, you know, itd be wrong to speculate that somehow the design of the vessel was unsafe. Id say its vulnerable, because somehow the waters got in and it should have had watertight doors shut. Mr Holland could not immediately be contacted for comment. Mike Lynch likened his court case to a near-death experience - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg When the foreman of the jury read out the not guilty verdict in a San Francisco courtroom on June 6, not only did Mike Lynch and his wife sitting in the front row of the gallery burst into tears, so did the defendants lawyers. There was not a dry eye on our crowded side of the courtroom, said Chris Morvillo, a key member of Lynchs legal team, in a recent interview. The outpouring of emotion was an indication of the intense pressure that the whole group had been under leading up to and during the 12-week case. But it also illustrated the closeness of the bonds forged over the 13 years in which a tightly-knit group fought to clear the tech billionaires name. I know for sure that I will never forget the dramatic moment the words not guilty rang out in the courtroom, said Morvillo back in June. I will also never forget the trust and confidence that Mike placed in his legal team. One of the best-known and most controversial figures in the UK technology sector, Lynch was the co-founder of Autonomy, a software business he later sold for 8bn, and Darktrace, a multi-billion pound cyber security company. For years, the entrepreneur, a Cambridge graduate and computer science expert, had been dogged by allegations of fraud and wrongdoing. Sometimes described as the UKs answer to Bill Gates, he suffered an ignominious extradition to the US in 2023, frogmarched from his Suffolk home in handcuffs, to face charges he had falsely boosted its revenues to defraud US tech giant HP (Hewlett-Packard), which bought Autonomy in 2011. But now the 59-year-old was free. The holiday on Lynchs superyacht, the Bayesian, which ended in tragedy when it sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning, was a chance for the tech entrepreneur to mark the start of a new chapter in his life, to reward some of those who had stood by him including Morvillo and plan his next steps. Reid Weingarten, another member of Lynchs legal team who wasnt on board, has confirmed the the outing was in part intended as a celebration of the acquittal. This was the beginning of a new life for Mike, former cabinet minister Lord Deben, a friend of Lynchs, said on Wednesday. He made such a contribution to Britain. His companies have put British IT in the forefront, and he was going to do it again. It was not to be, however. On Wednesday afternoon, diving teams recovered four bodies from the sunken yacht with local authorities saying they included Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah. The survivors of the disaster include Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter. Golunski had been an employee at HP at the time of its takeover of Autonomy and spent more than a decade working with Lynch at Invoke Capital, a company he founded to invest in and advise European technology companies. She was quoted in Italian media as describing Lynch as an extraordinary person. Her husband, James Emslie, was also on the boat and survived. Emslie also worked at HP and later became the first sales employee at Darktrace, in 2013. Those still missing include Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a City veteran who had known Lynch for years, and his wife Judy. The chairman of FTSE 250 insurance firm Hiscox and former chairman of Morgan Stanley International was appointed to Autonomys board of directors by Lynch in 2010. In that role, Bloomer was responsible for providing oversight for crucial checks on Autonomys books which were later called into question by HP. The US tech giant accused Lynch of masterminding a scheme to pump up the revenues of the firm, inflating its sales through so-called round trip transactions. However, Bloomer provided evidence as a defence witness in both a $5bn civil fraud case brought against Lynch by HP in the UK and the US criminal trial. He told the US court that Lynch didnt come to the audit committee and was mostly interested in the strategy, new products, new areas to look at claims which backed up Lynchs account that he was not across the details of individual deals at Autonomy. Chris Morvillo, Charlotte Golunski and Jonathan Bloomer were three of Lynch's loyal team and all on board the Bayesian with him when it capsized - Patrick McMullan via Getty | Facebook | Hiscox/PA Wire Also present on the Bayesian were members of the entrepreneurs legal team, key advisers who had helped him avoid decades behind bars. One was Ayla Ronald, a 36-year-old senior associate at Clifford Chance who had acted for Lynch on multiple cases. She survived with her partner, Matthew Fletcher. But among the missing is Morvillo, a veteran partner at Clifford Chance and star litigator in New York, and his wife Neda. It was Morvillo who decided to put Lynch up on the witness stand during the closing days of the trial, which many considered a high risk legal gambit. Mike is a fantastic communicator and we knew he would make a terrific witness, Morvillo said in an interview with Law.com in June. In a recent interview, Lynch described his feelings on hearing the verdict. When you hear that answer, you jump universes, he told the Sunday Times. If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of life as I have known it in any sense. In that instant the entrepreneur had gained the opportunity for a fresh start. Had he been found guilty, Lynch faced up to 25 years in prison. Given his age and a serious lung condition, he didnt expect to ever walk free. He likened the court case to a near-death experience: That is very much how I handled it. Its bizarre, but now you have a second life. The question is, what do you want to do with it? Those who know how he operates think its likely he would have been bouncing possible answers to that question off the inner circle he assembled on his 56-metre sailboat. Lynch had said that one of his main priorities after being acquitted was to get some much-needed rest. But those close to him say he found it impossible to put his brain into neutral and couldnt stop himself dreaming up new schemes. I was due to meet up with him in the next week or two to discuss future plans but I know he was full of ideas, said one close adviser. Among those plans he has talked about are a lobbying effort against the one-sided extradition treaty between the UK and the US, which he understandably felt incredibly passionate about. David Davis, the Conservative MP who had taken an interest in Lynchs ordeal and developed a close relationship with him, told The Telegraph the entrepreneur was preparing to campaign against the Blair-era agreement, having met him for lunch shortly after his return to the UK. On Wednesday evening, Davis said of his friend: The battle in America frankly required balls of steel a very strong degree of nerve to take on. Most people who fight those battles lose them. He knew that. The chances were against him, he did it anyway. He was outraged that the extradition treaty led him to being trotted off the US for what most people would not consider to be justice. He was very determined and very brave. When he came back he was determined to do something to correct this treaty. One adviser described Lynch as 'an aggressive businessman' - Yui Mok/PA Wire Lord Deben added: We are not going to let this issue escape. We have got to change the law. This must never happen again. One thing we can do for the whole family is to see this law rescinded. Lynch had also said he wanted to fund a British equivalent of the Innocence Project, the US non-profit organisation dedicated to helping free those who have been wrongly convicted, along with other philanthropic work. In his interview with the Sunday Times, the 59-year-old had said that hed also been grappling with some big Saint Peter questions that might get posed when he eventually found himself in front of the Pearly Gates. Lynch also had plans to invest in the tech scene. But few doubt he wanted to gestate new companies of his own. One passion project that had already taken shape for Lynch, who was quite deaf and relied heavily on lip-reading, was developing artificial intelligence that would allow hearing aids to filter ambient noise. People complain that the UK doesnt produce any big tech companies, said one adviser. There have only been a handful that could go toe-to-toe with those born out of Silicon Valley and Mike founded two of them: Autonomy and Darktrace. And the second of those he founded when he was on parole and focused on winning his legal cases. Imagine what he could have done if able to fully focus on business once again. This is a sentiment shared by Richard Holway, a leading expert on the UK tech scene and a longstanding friend of Lynch and with whom he corresponded throughout his legal ordeal: I just dont know how he withstood the strain. I could not have done so. Mike was a unique British tech talent. Goodness knows what he could have achieved next. The seeds of Lynchs legal nightmare were sown in his crowning achievement: selling Autonomy, the tech company he founded in 1996, to HP for more than 8bn 13 years ago. A year later the US computing firm took a $8.8bn writedown on its acquisition, saying it had discovered serious accounting improprieties at the UK company. The US company essentially accused Lynch of cooking the books in order to make the sale. The truth of that accusation has been disputed and fought over in courts on both sides of the Atlantic for the best part of the years since, during which Lynch was plunged into legal purgatory but fiercely defended by his allies. He was an aggressive businessman and quite hard work at times, said one adviser. But he was fiercely clever, a proper scientist, a proven entrepreneur and a motivational manager. Thats a rare combination and inspired a lot of respect. People tended to follow him from company to company because he was a successful guy who knew how to win. Having founded Autonomy in 1996, Lynch had long maintained a circle of close allies and business confidents some of whom stayed with him across multiple companies and worked with the entrepreneur for decades. These included Stephen Chamberlain, who was later accused and acquitted alongside Lynch in the US. In a bizarre twist of fate, compounding tragedy upon tragedy, Chamberlain was hit by a car and killed while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible, his family said. Chamberlain's last moments were registered on Strava, an app that was tracking his run - X Many of those who worked at Autonomy for Lynch in the late 2000s such as Sushovan Hussain, Andrew Kanter and Nicole Eagan went on to take up senior roles at his later firms, such as Darktrace or Invoke Capital. Poppy Gustafsson, who joined Autonomy as a relatively junior accountant in 2009, later rose to become chief executive of Darktrace, a FTSE 100 business now valued at 4bn. Lynch was the founding investor in Darktrace and closely involved in its early development. At times Lynchs loyal followers raised eyebrows and attracted suspicion. In a 2022 judgement finding he had defrauded HP, a High Court judge described some of his closest Autonomy colleagues as a cabal, formed of lieutenants [who] would not have done anything of which they thought he might disapprove. Lynch had reportedly planned to appeal the ruling. HP sought to prove he had ruled with a culture of distrust and paranoia, while the US government insisted he was the driving force behind a massive fraud and a controlling, dominating, intimidating boss. In one colourful email revealed in the civil case, Lynch wrote to a sales representative threatening to squeeze down the telephone line to tell him directly how the f--- I feel about this. Indeed, Lynch appeared to revel in this reputation as a ruthless leader albeit with his tongue firmly in cheek naming rooms at his headquarters after James Bond villains and keeping a tank of piranhas in the office. Yet friends of Lynch argue the loyalty of his business associates was genuine, and while the entrepreneur may have been a demanding boss, he was generous both at work and in his personal life. They say it was typical of the man that he would invite lawyers and staff who had supported him during his trial on to his yacht to celebrate with his family. Holway said Lynch was an enthusiastic backer of the Princes Trust technology group, and that every time you asked Mike to do something for the charity he would assist. He said Lynch was one of those people who inspired huge loyalty among his co-workers. Holway, who criticised the decision to extradite him to the US in a series of blog posts for Tech Market View, said the entrepreneur always messaged to thank me every time I posted my views. He added: My very last message from Mike was to arrange for us to have lunch at Wiltons next month to celebrate his acquittal in the US. Executives in Britains tech sector who knew Lynch also pointed to him as a towering figure who helped elevate the industry, building multiple successful companies despite the legal campaign against him. Mike is a rare figure in British tech. He cared deeply about the UK tech scene and encouraged many founders to follow in his footsteps. Its so sad that tragedy struck so soon after he had cleared his name in the US, said Brent Hoberman, the founder of Lastminute.com, who knew Lynch for many years. Davis noted the bitter irony that the disaster struck aboard a yacht called the Bayesian named for the statistical theory Lynch mastered as part of his PhD at Cambridge in the 1980s a precursor to modern AI technologies. The name of his yacht Bayesian is all about conditional probability, he said. The probability of these three events is so improbable, it is hard to calculate. Less so the acute sense of loss felt this week. In a LinkedIn post soon after Lynchs acquittal, Morvillo paid tribute to his client, his team and also his family: None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. The post ended with the words: And they all lived happily ever after. Kamala Harris at a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday night. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images Away from the deafening roar of the party faithful that nightly fills the Democratic national convention in Chicago an urgent question is being asked behind the scenes: how can the party convert the energy that has exploded around Kamala Harriss belated candidacy into actual votes on election day? All eyes are on the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, where the identity of the 47th US president is likely to be settled. The outsized significance of the three states in the race is evident in the scramble of the presidential candidates to woo them. Harris and her running mate Tim Walz took a cut from the convention on Tuesday to dash to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a campaign rally Harriss third visit to the critical battleground state this month alone. The same day, Donald Trump sprinted to Livingstone county, Michigan, having paid his second visit to Pennsylvania on Monday in as many days. At the convention, breakfast meetings staged by the local parties of the blue wall states have been bombarded by Democratic aristocracy, among them Walz, the governor of Minnesota chosen by Harris to be her running mate. He made a surprise visit to the Wisconsin and Pennsylvania breakfasts on Monday, telling them that his mission was to fight for politics with a sense of dignity, with a sense of kindness, with a sense of joy. Under Americas arcane presidential system, the 44 electoral college votes commanded between the blue wall states have been what it took in recent presidential cycles to tip a candidate over the 270 votes to win the White House. These rust belt states were reliably Democratic until Trump and his narrative of the forgotten man broke through the wall in 2016, taking all three by the narrowest margins. Joe Biden took them back in 2020. But their political allegiances remain fickle, and the 2024 election looks set once again to be coming down to the wire. Recent polls from the New York Times-Siena College, as well as trackers from fivethirtyeight.com and realclearpolitics, all show Harris surging from Bidens shaky standing before he stood aside. But her improved strength against Trump is still within the margin of error, and as Harry Enten of CNN reminds us, polls in 2016 consistently underestimated Trump in the blue wall states in his battle against Hillary Clinton. The good news for Harris is that the burst of excitement around her sudden emergence as nominee appears to be having an impact on the ground. In Wisconsin, which Biden won by barely 20,000 votes in 2020, more than 40,000 people have signed up as Democratic volunteers since the ticket switched to Harris. Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic party, told the Guardian that every single metric that we can track is going up. He noted that for each of the last six presidential races, the result in his state came down to less than one percentage point. He said: We have had more volunteers sign up since Kamala Harris became our nominee than the margin of victory in 2016 and 2020. Energy is through the roof, in every part of the state. The challenge facing Wikler, in common with other Democratic leaders across the rust belt, is as he puts it, turning enthusiasm into work. There are millions of people who have barely begun to tune into this election, and they are the ones who might go either way or sit out election day and having direct conversations with them is key. A half of all Wisconsinites live in communities of fewer than 15,000 people. To reach them, the party has developed an elaborate network over the past seven years based on neighbor-to-neighbor teams. Reproductive rights are likely to feature heavily in the tussle for Wisconsins 10 electoral college votes. Surveys suggest that abortion is the top political issue for 15% of voters here, rising to 30% of Democrats. For Wikler, such concern is not surprising Wisconsin had a near total abortion ban for 451 days after the US supreme court overturned the right to an abortion. So this is not academic, he said. In Michigan, which Biden won by 154,000 votes in 2020, 60,000 people have been registered to vote since the Harriss propulsion to the nomination. Here, too, the party is attempting to maximise turnout in the big urban centers of Detroit and Flint, where the Democratic base is concentrated, as well as extend deeper into rural areas. Garlin Gilchrist, the lieutenant governor of Michigan, said that the Harris campaigns recent rollout of a new economic approach billed as the opportunity economy was a message that would fly in his state. Were going to bring down costs, were going to make drugs more affordable, were going to give you a pathway to purchase a home thats what people need to hear. Its a message that says, Im with you. In Michigan, however, Democratic organizers are also facing blowback from voters over Bidens staunch support for Israel amid its retaliatory war with Hamas in Gaza, which has claimed more than 40,000 Palestinian lives. Dearborn is the largest city in the US with an Arab majority, with more than half of its 110,000 population with roots in the Middle East and North Africa. More than 100,000 people voted uncommitted in Michigans Democratic primaries in February. Gilchrist said he was heartened by a recent brief meeting between Harris and Walz and leaders of the uncommitted movement at a rally in Detroit. Theres a willingness to build that relationship that is going to lead to figuring out how we can move forward together, he said. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, a state which Biden won by 80,555 votes in 2020, Democrats are looking to sustain the Harris enthusiasm wave through November. Morgan Overton is vice-chair of the Democratic party in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, which covers Pittsburgh and surrounding suburbs. With a population of 1.2 million, the city increasingly matches Philadelphia as critical in determining the outcome of presidential elections. Overton said that she was consumed by the question of how to keep current energy levels elevated as what she called a generational election approaches. I dont want my future descendants looking back on this year and asking, Why didnt you do enough?, she said. Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay have gone head-to-head with rival restaurant empires and petty insults for the past 10 years - DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES Gordon Ramsay has admitted that his wife is a fan of Jamie Oliver and cooks his recipes at home. Ramsay, who has been locked in a decade-long quarrel with the fellow TV chef, lamented his wife Tanas choice of cookbook at home while speaking on the Dish podcast. Despite claiming to have buried the hatchet, the chefs have never been able to resist the occasional jab at each other. Ramsay addressed his wifes partiality to Olivers cookbook collection on the podcast hosted by Angela Hartnett, a fellow cook and friend, and Nick Grimshaw, the broadcaster. Discussing the stress of cooking, Hartnett said: If you see Tana when Ive been around for supper, shes so relaxed. Because why should she switch, shes got five kids, shes got him [Ramsay] hanging around trying to interfere, and shes just out and she just cooks something everyone wants to eat, like a great lasagne or a brilliant shepherds pie. Shes amazing. Ramsay responded: Yeah and theyre all Jamie Oliver recipes. Do you have any idea how hard that is for me? Oliver, 49, and Ramsay, 57, have never shied away from discussing their fallouts publicly and the latter took to TikTok over the weekend to provide an update. A fan had asked Ramsay if he thought about Oliver when he listened to Charli XcXs latest song, Girl So Confusing. The song presents an unfiltered insight into the long-standing feud between Charli and fellow artist Lorde. In response, Gordon held up and hid behind a copy of Jamies Italy, saying: Come on guys, that is old news, I love Jamie! The feud began in 2009 when Oliver criticised Ramsay for comparing Tracy Grimshaw, the Australian journalist, to a pig. Ramsay apologised for his comments, but not without dismissing Oliver as a one pot wonder. This criticism prompted Oliver to retaliate by mocking Ramsay for having Botox. In 2010, Oliver told the Mirror: If I was to choose between Gordon Ramsays cookbook or Tana Ramsays, it would be Tanas every time. In my opinion, her books are a damn sight better than his. Ramsay reignited the feud at the grand opening of his Bread Street Kitchen in Hong Kong in September 2014. A few months earlier, Oliver opened a restaurant in the same city but had given the celebration a miss. Ramsay told CNBC: Two British chefs, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, rubbing shoulders together in Hong Kong. At least Im here, I came to my opening, right? If youre going to open a restaurant in Hong Kong, at least turn up. Ramsay with his wife Tana - DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES The tension spilled over in March 2015 when Oliver, speaking at the Sydney Opera House, said: Gordon will do anything to try and take the p out of me because he is deeply jealous and cant quite work out why I do what I do and why he cant do that. He is too busy shouting and screaming and making our industry look like a bunch of shouters and screamers. Hes just a ranter, hes paid to rant. Hes paid to shower negativity and all his proteges dont talk to him because hes like that and its a shame. However, Olivers restaurant empire collapsed in 2019, with almost 1,000 jobs lost and 22 of his 25 restaurants shuttered amid a downturn in the casual dining sector. Oliver's restaurant empire collapsed in 2019 - TRISTAR MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2019, Ramsay said: I dont think anyone likes to revel in that kind of failure. Bottom line is, hes a great guy and a great chef and it was sad to see him disappear overnight but we had a drink and it was a tough time, like it is for all of us out there. Yeah [I called] straight away. Ramsay added that the families had a barbeque together while on holiday in Cornwall in 2018. Ramsay and Tana, 49, married in 1996 and have six children. Republican attorney generals have emerged as major allies of the oil industry on litigation to beat back climate change lawsuits and environmental rules. Photograph: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images A powerful group that boasts 28 Republican attorney generals, including many who have sided with oil and gas firms to block states seeking compensation for weather disasters caused by climate change, has raked in millions of dollars from fossil fuel giants and a dark money fund tied to Federalist Society co-chair, Leonard Leo. The Republican Attorneys General Association (Raga) has roped in about $5.8m from oil and gas giants and their allied lobbying groups since Joe Biden was elected president in 2020, campaign finance records show. Further, Raga has received a whopping $18.8m from the Leo-linked Concord Fund since 2014 when the dark money non-profit first registered with the IRS, according to the liberal leaning Center for Media and Democracy. During the first half of 2024, the Concord Fund was the largest donor to Raga, plowing $2m into the groups coffers. The Concord Fund, formerly called the Judicial Crisis Network, spent millions of dollars supporting Donald Trumps three conservative supreme court nominees and is led by Leos longtime close associate Carrie Severino. Related: Survivors of climate disasters demand US inquiry into big oils climate crimes Labelled by watchdogs and critics as a pay to play operation for often supporting lawsuits by major donors, Raga has garnered six figure checks from fossil fuel giants such as Koch Industries, which is chaired by billionaire Charles Koch, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. While oil and gas monies have been pouring into Ragas coffers, Republican attorney generals have emerged as major allies of the oil industry on litigation to beat back climate change lawsuits and environmental rules Raga, which bills its mission as Defending the Rule of Law. Keeping America Safe, drew fire during Trumps fight to thwart Biden from assuming office when an affiliate, the Rule of Law Defense Fund, spent $150,000 on robocalls to boost attendance at Trumps January 6 rally. The robocalls urged patriots to come to the rally and said: We will march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal. Launched in 1999, Raga has raised and spent tens of millions of dollars to help elect conservative attorney generals including many who have filed corporate-friendly litigation. Key Democrats in Congress and energy analysts voice sharp criticism of Ragas role in defending fossil fuel interests at a time when climate-related disasters are rising, and Raga is raking in millions of dollars from oil and gas interests and dark money groups Raga is one tentacle of the effort by rightwing billionaires and the fossil fuel industry to capture our courts and government to the benefit of big corporate interests, Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Democratic senator, said. With big oil facing the possibility of real accountability in honest courtrooms, obedient Raga attorneys general are rushing in to provide taxpayer-funded legal services for their polluter funders. Its a corrupt scheme. Energy experts too see GOP attorneys general working in tandem with the oil industry to block major environmental rules. Red state AGs are trying to put up a brick wall against important new environmental regulations, Michael Gerrard, who heads the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, told the Guardian Since the beginning of the Obama administration, everything that Democrats do to curb fossil fuel emissions or fight climate change is challenged by red states and industry. Gerrards point is underscored by several recent legal moves by Republican attorneys general who belong to Raga and have been busy this year filing legal actions to defend fossil fuel interests in key battles. In late May, for instance, 19 Raga members asked the supreme court to halt actions by Democratic attorneys general in five states including California, Connecticut and Minnesota which brought cases in state courts seeking billions of dollars in damages from oil and gas companies due to climate change-related weather disasters such as wildfires, severe storms and floods. The Raga members argument, which experts have said is unusual, comes as dozens of local and state governments have filed lawsuits that allege fossil fuel businesses for years deceived the public about their products risks which contributed to climate crisis. The Republican attorneys general argue only federal agencies can regulate interstate gas emissions and that the state suits will increase costs for consumers in other states. They do not have authority to dictate our national energy policy, Steve Marshall, the Alabama attorney general, said in a statement announcing the 19 state lawsuit. If the Supreme Court lets them continue, California and its allies will imperil access to affordable energy for every American. Earlier in May, 27 Republican attorneys general and industry trade groups filed lawsuits to block the Environmental Protection Agency from going forward with a new Biden administration rule that requires coal-fired power plants and new natural gas plants to make large scale reductions in carbon emissions. The EPA rule, which had just been approved in April, requires existing coal-fired plants and many new ones to cut their emissions by 90% by 2032 which could require billions of dollars in new expenditures. Furthermore, this April, 20 Republican attorneys general filed a petition asking the supreme court to intervene in a major lawsuit brought by Honolulu against Sunoco and slated to go to trial later this year that seeks billions of dollars in damages from major oil companies for misleading the public about climate crisis-related disasters. The move by the Republican attorneys general came as several oil and gas giants including the powerful American Petroleum Institute filed similar petitions with the high court. The growing volume of litigation by GOP attorneys general attacking environmental rules and trying to thwart climate change lawsuits, dismays energy experts and watchdog groups. What the oil industry is trying to do is to block efforts to hold them accountable for their actions, and undo the laws that would hold them accountable, said Joe Romm, a senior research fellow at the University of Pennsylvanias Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media. The oil industry is a lot like their pal Donald Trump. They both believe they should be above the law. Long time Raga watchers concur. It should come as no surprise that state attorneys general whose electoral campaigns are buttressed by the fossil-fuel funded Raga are using their public offices to attack efforts to mitigate climate change despite how rising temperatures are harming their states, said Lisa Graves, the executive director of the progressive watchdog group True North Research and the co-founder of Court Accountability. More broadly, Graves lambasted Raga as a pay-to-play group that has received millions via Leonard Leo, the rightwing lawyer who orchestrated the packing of the US supreme court. In a similar vein, Jim Jones, the former Republican Idaho attorney general, told the Guardian last year that he was troubled by Ragas conservative direction. Theyve become political operatives instead of the people in their states to safeguard the rule of law. They seem to be pandering to rightwing extremist groups to gain office in the first place and then to retain office. A giraffe in Nairobi national park, where Kenyas expanding capital is fragmenting and degrading wildlife habitats. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters Over the next 50 years, people will push further into wildlife habitats across more than half the land on Earth, scientists have found, threatening biodiversity and increasing the chance of future pandemics. Humans have already transformed or occupied between 70% and 75% of the worlds land. Research published in Science Advances on Wednesday found the overlap between human and wildlife populations is expected to increase across 57% of the Earths land by 2070, driven by human population growth. You have places such as forests where there are virtually no people, where we will start to see some more human presence and activities, and interactions with wildlife, said Neil Carter, the principal investigator of the study and an associate professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Michigan in the US. People are increasing their pressures and negative impacts on species, which is something that weve seen already for many years. It is part of the cause of the biodiversity-loss crisis that were in, he said. As humans and animals share increasingly crowded landscapes, the bigger overlap could result in higher potential for disease transmission, biodiversity loss, animals being killed by people and wildlife eating livestock and crops, the researchers said. Related: Death tolls mount as elephants and people compete for land in Sri Lanka Biodiversity loss is the leading driver of infectious disease outbreaks. About 75% of emerging diseases in humans are zoonotic, meaning they can be passed from animals to humans, and many diseases concerning global health authorities including Covid-19, mpox, avian flu and swine flu likely originated in wildlife. Understanding where people and wildlife will overlap is key to preventing the acceleration of viral spillover from wildlife, said Kim Gruetzmacher, a wildlife conservation veterinarian and researcher, who was not involved in the study. The vast majority up to 75% of emerging infectious diseases (which can lead to epidemics and pandemics) stem from non-human animals, the majority of which originate in wildlife, Gruetzmacher said. It is not the wildlife itself which poses a risk, but our behaviour and specific contact with it. To forecast future overlap between humans and wildlife, researchers at the University of Michigan compared estimates of where people are likely to inhabit land with the spatial distribution areas of more than 22,000 species. The expansion of human and animal overlap will be most concentrated in regions where human population density is already high, such as India and China, they found. Agricultural and forest areas in Africa and South America will also experience substantial increases of overlap. However, in some regions the human-wildlife overlap was projected to reduce, including across more than 20% of land in Europe. The research can guide policymakers to avoid the human and wildlife conflicts and focus more on the conservation of species richness, said Deqiang Ma, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan Institute for Global Change Biology. Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at the UK centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who was not involved in the study, said it gave a broad picture overview of whats happening and what could change, but more research was needed into what kinds of species and how are we going to interact, and what kind of repercussions does it have. Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on X for all the latest news and features Member for Moreton Graham Perrett has decided to retire: Im just young enough to get another career doing something else. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian After almost two decades as a federal Labor MP, Graham Perrett has decided to retire, setting up a battle in his marginal Queensland seat. The longtime Labor left warrior and author known for his morning walk playlists, committee work, white line fever in MP sporting matches and jovial nature told Guardian Australia it was just time. I ran in 2004, unsuccessfully, so it has been 20 years of this stuff and it is just time to move on to another challenge, the 58-year-old said. Im just young enough to get another career doing something else. So its time to give someone younger, give someone else a go. Reflecting on his career, Perrett said people shouldnt underestimate the influence of backbenchers or those on committees whose work is often unheralded but can bring about real change. I think marginal seat members who speak to their leaders make for better governments because you say this is what people care about in the marginal seats and theyre the people whose minds can be changed by circumstances, rather than rusted on to either party, he said. Related: Labor MP calls for Order of Australia to be stripped from undeserving dead recipients So I think that is crucial and I think Ive spoken up judiciously. Ive certainly felt that Ive been listened to. Perrett made the decision to walk away in recent weeks, ahead of the Greens announcement it had recruited the 35-year-old social worker and organiser of the Justice for Palestine group, Remah Naji, as their candidate. Perrett knows Naji, a Palestinian-Australian. Like Queensland Greens firebrand Max Chandler-Mather, Naji used to be a Labor member. She used to work on my campaigns. Ive door-knocked with her, he said. Asked about Labor members turning to the Greens, Perrett said people had their own motivations. He said hed seen how perfect can be the enemy of the good and that good government is about progressive, gradual, real change. And if you look back for the last 130 years, all of that in Australia has been delivered by the Labor party. I mean theres a time when [the Greens] need to accept that the good things that come from institutional government of locking in [change], rather than having policies unpicked by the Tony Abbotts of this world. Perrett said the Greens come in and think that this is some low-hanging fruit that is their right, because they think weve done all the hard work for them. But theres a little bit of fighting to be done in the trenches. Moreton, Queenslands most culturally diverse electorate, has long been on the Greens hitlist but Perrett said he and Labor had fought off many challenges since he took the seat from the former Liberal MP Gary Hardgrave in 2007. Perrett surprised most political watchers by holding on in the 2013 swing against Labor, despite his slim margin. Ive seen more safer seats than Moreton fall by the wayside in 2013 about 13 or 14 seats with bigger margins than mine fell away, whereas Moreton had a swing to it. Related: Veep stars respond to Australian MP who knocked himself out laughing at episode He said there is a bit more work to do but Ill be doing my darndest to make sure that Moreton stays in the hands of the Labor party. As long as Moreton remains a marginal seat, Perrett said he believes Labor values will mean the party continues to hold it. Its the most multicultural electorate in Queensland, which is a significant thing in terms of the diaspora you have to be able to speak to, he said. There are significant Chinese community, Taiwanese, Korean, Muslim communities from around Africa, north-east and south and the Vietnamese community. So lots of different communities to speak to. Then youve got some of the wealthier parts of Brisbane and some battle areas of Brisbane industry belts. Youve got to be nimble, prepared to get out and talk to people about whats important to them. Cost of living and education and health were the things I was retailing 20 years ago and theyre still pretty important things in my electorates. The former Queensland Labor state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell is expected to win preselection to replace Perrett, but the decision is yet to be finalised. Michelle Obama told Democrats at Chicago's United Center that 'hope is making a comeback' - J. Scott Applewhite Click here to view this content. Michelle Obama has declared that hope is making a comeback after Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden as the Democrats candidate. In a fiery address to the partys national convention in Chicago, the former First Lady rallied voters behind the 59-year-old Ms Harris shortly after she formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday night. Mrs Obama, 60, speaking in her home city, said there was something wonderfully magical in the air since Ms Harris replaced Mr Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket last month. America, hope is making a comeback, she said to a rousing reception from thousands of Democrats at the United Center. She described Ms Harris as more than ready for this moment and said the vice-president was one of the most qualified people ever to seek Americas highest office. In a nod to the historic nature of her White House bid, she said Democrats could not afford to get a Goldilocks complex, adding: We cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected. The former First Lady said Kamala Harris was 'more than ready for this moment' - Andrew Harnik Mrs Obama went on to warn that Donald Trump, the Republican candidate who was her husband Baracks successor in 2017, would attempt to distort the truth in a thinly-veiled reference to his racially-charged comments about his opponents. My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this, she said. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be black. Referencing Trumps claim that illegal immigrants were taking black jobs, Mrs Obama quipped: Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs? The comments prompted roar of laughter from the crowd. Click here to view this content. The former First Lady, who remains one of the Democrats most popular figures, repeatedly skewered the Republican candidate in her address, but rarely mentioned him by name. She described how most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward, or benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth in a withering rebuke of the 78-year-old former president and property magnate. Her address came amid reports the Obamas were instrumental in backing calls for Mr Biden, the man who was her husbands deputy for eight years, to withdraw from the race. There is no other choice than Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, she told the audience, describing how the party had embraced a renewed sense of hope. Ms Harriss entry into the race has dramatically shifted the polls, which had Mr Biden on course to lose before his exit on July 21. She now holds a narrow lead over Trump in several swing states. But Mrs Obama warned that while Ms Harris and her running mate Mr Walz were packing arenas and folks are energised, they faced an uphill battle against those desperate for a different outcome. She warned that, with just two and a half months until election day, we cannot afford for anyone to sit on their hands and wait to be called upon, adding: There is simply no time for that kind of foolishness. In a grim portend of what a second Trump term would bring, she described him doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies, gutting our healthcare, taking away our freedom to control our bodies and banning our books. She then introduced her husband, who is still among the countrys most popular politicians. He delivered the keynote address on the second day of the four-day Democratic convention, saying that America was ready for a new chapter. Click here to view this content. Tuesdays programme also featured a speech by Doug Emhoff, who is hoping to take on Mrs Obamas former role as the first spouse. The second gentleman introduced himself to the public and described Ms Harris as a joyful warrior but tough as nails. Click here to view this content. Teenagers who fail GCSE maths and English tend to face worse health outcomes and are more likely to be engaged in criminal behaviour, the Exeter University study shows. Photograph: David Davies/PA The government has been urged to reassess what a social mobility expert has called the national scandal of teenagers leaving school without GCSE passes in English and maths despite multiple retakes. Ahead of this summers GCSE results being published on Thursday, Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said his research suggested too many young people lacking the qualifications had lower chances of future success and increased reports of poor mental and physical health. Its a national scandal that every year a fifth of teenagers fail to master the basic GCSE grades in both English and maths needed to function and flourish in life. Our research reveals the dire individual consequences of this academic failure, Elliot Major said. Related: GCSEs should be branded separately in England, Wales and NI, expert says Without basic grades in both English and maths, the odds of success are stacked against you: it doesnt just impact on your academic prospects but has wider life consequences for health and criminality. Students in England who fail to gain at least a passing grade 4 in maths or English GCSEs are required to be reexamined in the subjects while they remain in education, but pass rates remain stubbornly low among those resitting. Last year just 16% of students resitting GCSE maths in England passed with at least a grade 4, while 26% did the same in GCSE English. Elliot Major said: We also need to review our national resits policy to identify best practice so more students are able to secure their grades second time round. In a new working paper, academics from Exeter and University College London tracked 11,500 pupils in England who first sat GCSEs in 2016-17. It found that those who failed were more likely to have longstanding illnesses, behaviour problems or to have attempted suicide, compared with others their own age. Elliot Major said that by the ages of 17 and 18, those who did not pass English and maths were also twice as likely to be cautioned by the police, by 12% to 6%. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, told PA Media earlier this month that she was considering the future of the resits policy. I do want to make sure that all young people have got a really firm foundation in English and maths because that is the springboard for the rest of their lives, Phillipson said. Elliot Major said: We need an urgent review of why so many pupils end up without basic grades after a decade of schooling, assessing how we can better diagnose and help four- and five-year-old children falling behind. The stress of studying for exams was reinforced by a new survey published by the Association of School and College Leaders, which found that more than three-quarters of teachers saw pupils with mental health issues relating to GCSE anxiety in the past academic year. Pepe DiIasio, ASCLs general secretary, said that reforms to the content and structure of GCSEs since 2015 had made the exams more challenging. It is clear that the current high-stakes, end-of-course exam model is causing significant stress and anxiety among students, which is unacceptable, DiIasio said. The survey also found that 58% of teachers said that parents had contacted their school because of worries about how their child was coping with exam pressure, while 65% said they knew of students not attending school due to exam anxiety. While only 9% of teachers backed scrapping GCSEs, 31% said they wanted fewer papers sat for each course. Analysis by ASCL found that a student taking a typical set of GCSEs would spend a total of 33 hours sitting exams. Barack Obama gives his memorable address at the convetnion in Boston in 2004. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images From skinny kid with a funny name to elder statesman: Barack Obama, the former US president, will be the headline speaker at the Democratic national convention in Chicago on Tuesday 20 years after he first burst on to the national political scene. Obama, a state legislator from Illinois, was days from his 43rd birthday and months from being elected to the Senate when he was given a slot at the partys 2004 convention in Boston. Rising star to woo voters with upbeat keynote speech, was the Guardian headline on 27 July 2004. Related: DNC 2024 live: Barack Obama to headline day two and Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders and Doug Emhoff also to speak Obama brought Democrats to their feet with a plea for hope and unity. Two decades later, America is more divided than ever, but on Tuesday the first Black president, back in his home city, will make the case for party nominee Kamala Harris to become the first woman and first woman of colour to win election to the White House. The president will talk again in personal terms about what it takes to be president in this moment and what hes prepared to do and that this is an all-hands-on-deck moment, where we all have to get involved, Valerie Jarrett, a former senior adviser to Obama, said at an Axios House event in Chicago on Tuesday. One of the lessons we certainly should have learned: its not just enough to elect a president. You also have to stay engaged throughout the term of your presidency. Sometimes you elect a president and you go, OK, Im done, and you go back to your jobs, and thats not the way democracies work. Michelle Obama, the former first lady, who is popular enough in her own right that some Democrats floated her as an alternative to Joe Biden, will be speaking on Tuesday night as well. Jarrett, chief executive of the Obama Foundation, added: Our democracy has been under threat and under attack and it is up to us to be those active and engaged citizens to ensure that we get back on track. I think thats part of the message youll hear from both of them tonight. So be there or be square. Back in July 2004, in a 16-minute speech, Obama framed the presidential election, talked up nominee John Kerry and told his origin story as the son of a Black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. He told delegates: Lets face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. Obama did not dwell on policy, but his sweeping indictment of divisive politics struck a chord. There is not a liberal America and a conservative America there is the United States of America, he said. There is not a Black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America theres the United States of America. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope? Joel Rubin, a Democratic strategist, recalled: It was such a wonderful moment. It was an inspiring moment. It was like a moment to feel truly patriotic and proud to be part of a political party that wanted to bring back the country together. It spoke to the power of our country as a unified people. Two and a half years later, Obama reprised that theme when he launched his presidential campaign before thousands of supporters gathered outside the Illinois capital of Springfield. His campaign motto was hope and change. Yet the flipside of hope was fear, an emotion that Republican Donald Trump was able to exploit to win the White House in 2016. After eight toxic years, the young Obamas dream of a genuinely united nation seems as elusive as ever. Rubin, a former Obama administration deputy assistant secretary of state, added: He diagnosed the problem in America right now. One speech never fixes a country. Its part of a process. What you do is you elect leaders who have a commitment to that kind of vision and, unfortunately, we regressed in 2016 because we had Donald Trump come in committed to the opposite vision by not healing but destroying and magnifying difference rather than unity. But the message for the Democratic convention today is similar to the Obama message of unity and forward purpose. Since leaving the White House, Obama has given powerful speeches as a surrogate for Hillary Clinton and Biden during their presidential runs. On Tuesday, Obama will set the stage for another historic candidate, delivering a forceful affirmation that Harris is the right leader for the moment, according to an adviser. The Rev Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist who also spoke at the 2004 convention, said: The historic nature of this convention is not lost on any of us, but especially those of us who grew up in the civil rights movement. Last night, we felt the clear through-line from Fannie Lou Hamer in 1964, Shirley Chisholm in 1972, the Rev Jesse Jackson in the 1980s, and Barack Obama in 2008. I think that will be felt as much when Obama takes the stage here in his home town. I cannot help but think of when I ran for president in 2004 and met briefly with him before each of us spoke. It was clear that night that he struck a tone with the nation one that still resonates with many of us 20 years later. Obama will also honour the legacy of Joe Biden, who served eight years as Obamas vice-president. Biden will not be in the hall to see his former running mate speak, as he departed Chicago after delivering his own speech. Media reports suggest that Biden is still needled by the role that Obama along with party leaders Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer played in pressuring the 81-year-old to not seek re-election due to concerns over his mental capacity. Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, told a CNN-Politico Grill event on Monday: Im not going to give my private conversations with the former president. Thats up to him to decide. But we had a number of serious discussions. Democratic convention highlights: Click here to view this content. Barack Obama hailed a new chapter for America under Kamala Harris as he praised selfless Joe Biden for stepping aside from the presidential election. In an address to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where his wife Michelle also spoke on Tuesday, Mr Obama returned to his campaign message of hope in an appeal to the party to work hard for Ms Harris. The former president, 63, hinted at his concerns about Mr Bidens age as he portrayed Ms Harris as a younger and more dynamic candidate, and compared Donald Trump to an inconsiderate neighbour using a leaf-blower. We dont want four years of bluster and bumbling and chaos, he said. Weve seen that movie before and we all know that the sequel is usually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. Mr Obama praised Mr Biden, his former running mate, for putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country by stepping aside on July 21 to make way for Ms Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket. He was one of several Democratic grandees to push Mr Biden privately to stand back from the race, amid polling that showed he would likely lose to Trump. History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger, Mr Obama said on Tuesday. I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend. Both Michelle and Barack Obama delivered powerful speeches on Tuesday night - MANDEL NGAN The speech came on the second day of the convention, where party delegates held a symbolic roll call to demonstrate their support for Ms Harriss campaign. The vice president herself will speak on Thursday night as she formally accepts the nomination. In his speech, Mr Obama described Ms Harris as a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion, who was not born into privilege and actually cares about what other people are going through. Contrasting her with Trump, Mr Obama recounted her career as a prosecutor and described her as a civic-minded public servant who understood the concerns of ordinary voters. We cant just point to what weve already accomplished, he said. We cant just rely on the ideas of the past. We need to chart a new way forward to meet the challenges of today. And Kamala understands. Both Obamas stressed that the election is likely to be close in some states, urging Democrats to do something and volunteer to help the partys ground operation ahead of polling day on November 5. Mrs Obama said the result would be decided by a handful of votes in every precinct. The former First Lady said 'hope is making a comeback' - EVA HAMBACH They also criticised Trump, who previously promoted the theory that Mr Obama was not born in the United States, sparking a decade-long feud. Heres a 78 year old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago, Mr Obama said. It has been a constant scream of gripes, and grievances. And thats actually been getting worse, now hes afraid hes going to lose to Kamala. He added that Trump had a weird obsession with crowd sizes, while gesturing suggestively with his hands to indicate a few inches, and said he saw political power as nothing more than a means to his ends to help his rich friends. I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbour who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day, he said. From a neighbour, thats exhausting. From a president, its just dangerous. Mr Obama reused some of the themes of his own presidential campaigns, focussing on a positive message about Ms Harris and chiding the crowd for booing Trump: Dont boo vote. Delegates chanted his old campaign slogan: Yes we can. But his 35-minute address also reflected his more recent thinking on Americas damaged social fabric, which has been the topic of his latest writing. We live in a time of such confusion and rancour, with a culture that puts a premium on things that dont last: money, fame, status, likes, he said. We chase the approval of strangers on our phones. In that space between us, politicians and algorithms teach us to caricature each other and troll each other and fear each other. He said that Ms Harris would bring about a restoration of what Lincoln called, on the eve of the Civil War, our bonds of affection...an America that taps what he called the better angels of our nature. Thats what this election is about, he said. And I believe thats why, if we each do our part over the next 77 days if we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we listen to our neighbours, if we work like weve never worked before we will elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States, and Tim Walz as the next Vice President of the United States. Read below for all the news from the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night. 05:03 AM BST Thats all for now Thanks for following our live coverage of the Democratic national convention. This live blog is now closed, but well be back tomorrow for day three of the event. 04:43 AM BST Obama issues rallying cry as he finishes speech If we knock on doors, if we make phone calls, if we talk to our friends, if we work like weve never worked before, if we hold firm to our convictions, we will elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States, Barack Obama says in a rallying cry to the assembled Democrats. We will elect leaders up and down the ballot who will fight for the hopeful, forward-looking America we all believe in. Mr Obama concludes: Together we too will build a country that is more secure and more just, more equal and more free. So lets get to work. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. 04:39 AM BST We yearn for an America where we work together Barack Obama says the presidential election is an opportunity to restore unity to the US after years of political polarisation. As much as any policy or program. I believe thats what we yearn for, a return to an America where we work together and look out for each other, he tells the convention. A restoration of what Lincoln called on the eve of civil war, our bonds of affection, an America that taps what he called the better angels of our nature. That is what I believe this election is about. 04:30 AM BST The two-decade relationship between Obama and Harris Barack Obama has known Kamala Harris for two decades. The pair began their political careers at similar times, mixing in overlapping Democratic social circles. As president, Mr Obama inadvertently shone a national spotlight on Ms Harris when he referred to her as brilliant, dedicated, and by far, the best looking attorney general in the country. The comments, made during a San Francisco fundraiser in 2013, ignited a sexism storm. Mr Obama later called Ms Harris to apologise. 04:28 AM BST Obama: Democracy isnt just a bunch of dusty laws Issuing a defence of democracy, Barack Obama says: I think most Americans understand that democracy isnt just a bunch of abstract principles and and dusty laws in some book somewhere. Its the values we live by. Its the way we treat each other, including those who dont look like us or pray like us or see the world exactly like we do. Former President Barack Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention - AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite He urges Democrats to stay away from thinking that the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side, adding: After a while, regular folks just tune out, or they dont bother to vote. We need to remember that weve all got our blind spots and contradictions and prejudices, and then if we want to win over those who arent yet ready to support our candidates, we need to listen to their concerns and maybe learn something in the process, Mr Obama says. 04:22 AM BST Yes, she can Yes, she can, Barack Obama says, adapting his old campaign slogan for Kamala Harris. The crowd takes up the chant. 04:20 AM BST Kamala is the neighbour rushing over to help Barack Obama praises Kamala Harris and says she is the neighbour rushing over to help rather than the neighbour running the leaf-blower. Former US President Barack Obama arrives onstage after his wife and former First Lady Michelle Obama introduced him - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion, he says. As you heard from Michelle, Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what shes got, and she actually cares about what other people are going through. 04:18 AM BST Obama: Trump only cares about power The truth is, Donald Trump sees power as nothing more than a means to his ends, Barack Obama continues. He wants the middle class to pay the price for another huge tax cut that would mostly help him and his rich friends. He killed a bipartisan immigration deal written in part by one of the most conservative Republicans in Congress, that would have helped secure our southern border. Because he thought trying to actually solve the problem would hurt his campaign. Later in the speech, he claims that Trump has got pretty stale. 04:16 AM BST Trump is like a neighbour running his leaf-blower Turning to Donald Trump, Barack Obama says: Heres a 78 year old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his gold escalator nine years ago. It has been a constant stream of rights and grievances... Childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes. It just goes on and on and on. The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbour who keeps running his leaf-blower outside your window every minute of every day. That gesture when Barack Obama talks about Donald Trump's "weird obsession with crowd sizes" pic.twitter.com/XQpVWskEyg The Recount (@therecount) August 21, 2024 04:07 AM BST Obama pays tribute to his brother Biden Barack Obama pays tribute to Joe Biden, saying the decision to select him as his running mate was one of his best decisions. Mr Biden has made the same comment about Kamala Harris. Joe and I come from different backgrounds, but we became brothers, Mr Obama says. What I came to admire most about Joe wasnt just his smarts, his experience, it was his empathy and his decency and his hard earned resilience, his unshakable belief that everyone in this country deserves a fair shot. He adds: History will remember Joe Biden has an outstanding president who defended, democracy, at a moment of great danger. And I am proud to call him my president, but I am even prouder to call him my friend. 04:05 AM BST Crowd chants yes we can as Obama soaks up applause The crowd is chanting yes we can at Barack Obama as he stands on the stage and absorbs their applause. I dont know, but Im feeling fired up, he says. Im feeling ready to go, even if I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama. 04:05 AM BST A political homecoming for the Obamas This is something of a political homecoming for the Obamas. Michelle Obama is a proud product of Chicagos Southside. It was from this city that Barack Obama launched his historic White House bid in 2007. Former first lady Michelle Obama takes the stage during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention - REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz In the crowd that chilly February day was one Kamala Harris, an early endorser of the young Illinois senators candidacy. Tonight, hes repaying the favour as he tries to rally the public behind Ms Harris. 04:01 AM BST Democrats cannot get a Goldilocks complex about Harris Michelle Obama has urged Democrats not to be complacent about electing Kamala Harris as she issued a rallying cry for the new presidential candidate, There are still so many people who are desperate for a different outcome, who are ready to question and criticise every move Kamala makes, who are eager to spread those lies, who dont want to vote for a woman, she said. So no matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle. Former first lady Michelle Obama speaking during the Democratic National Convention - AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite In what appeared to be a plea for party unity, Mrs Obama added: So folks, we cannot be our own worst enemies. Because the minute something goes wrong the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. And we cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala, instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected. 03:57 AM BST Obama skewers Trump - while barely using his name Michelle Obama has repeatedly skewered Donald Trump without having to use his name too often. She describes how most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward, or benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. The crowd is lapping it up. The applause deafening at times. 03:56 AM BST Trump feels threatened by successful black people Mentioning Donald Trump for the first time, Michelle Obama says that he tried to demonise her and her husband, the former US President Barack Obama. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us, she says. His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be black. 03:53 AM BST Obama hearkens back to Clinton convention Michelle Obama says of Kamala Harris: She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. It is a line with some context. At the 2016 convention, her husband Barack Obama described Hillary Clinton as more qualified than anybody to hold Americas highest office. I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman - not me, not Bill, nobody - more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America, he said. 03:52 AM BST Obama: Trump fails forward and is a whiner and cheater Michelle Obama is taking a number of swipes at Donald Trump without mentioning the Republican by name. Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open to others, the former First Lady said. She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention - EVA HAMBACH/AFP via Getty Images If we bankrupt the business or choke in a crisis, we dont get a second, third or fourth chance. If things dont go our way, we dont have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. 03:50 AM BST Electric atmosphere as Michelle Obama talks The atmosphere in the room as Michelle Obama speaks is absolutely electric. The crowd is oscillating between wild applause and complete silence as she pays tribute to her mother, whom she said died recently. She drew a comparison between the life of her mother and Kamala Harriss mother, and praises Ms Harris for her work and allegiance to this nation. We all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life, she says. 03:50 AM BST Harris is one of the most qualified people to seek the presidency My girl, Kamala Harris, is more than ready for this moment, Michelle Obama told the Democratic national convention. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency, and she is one of the most dignified. Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama speaks during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention - REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid A tribute to her mother, to my mother and to your mother too, the embodiment of the stories we tell ourselves about this country. Her story is your story. She added: No one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American. No one. 03:47 AM BST Michelle Obama: Hope is making a comeback America, hope is making a comeback, Michelle Obama tells the crowd in Chicago as she takes the stage in her hometown. Its a catchy line, and a bit of a theme of this convention. Earlier Doug Emhoff spoke of Kamala Harris as a happy warrior. The crowd in Chicago is on its feet as Michelle Obama takes the stage at the DNC pic.twitter.com/nMcDEYcVpf Rozina Sabur (@RozinaSabur) August 21, 2024 Tim Walz has spoken of putting joy back into politics. The Democrats are focused on the power of running a positive messaging campaign. Mrs Obama describes it as a contagious power. The exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day, she says. 03:41 AM BST Michelle Obama heads onto the stage Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, got a rapturous reception from the crowd in Chicago as she walked onto the stage. Former first lady Michelle Obama speaking during the Democratic National Convention - AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite 03:40 AM BST Obamas up next Tonight well hear from two figures who are not just the Democrats best speechmakers, but possibly the best political speakers in the country. Barack Obamas oratorical talents were crucial to the popularity of his presidency. Michelle Obamas 2016 convention speech moved the audience to tears. In 2020, figures suggest it was Mrs Obamas virtual address that drew more eyeballs than any other speaker. It remains to be seen whether shell outshine her husband tonight, but both Obamas are likely to bring more star power than every other figure well see on stage this week - including its keynote speaker, Kamala Harris. 03:40 AM BST Harris still makes time for calls with stepchildren Doug Emhoff highlights the virtues of his beautiful, blended family, describing how his two children refer to Kamala Harris as Momala. He reveals that despite becoming the Democratic presidential candidate in the last month, she still makes time for phone calls with his children while taking a respite from the campaign trail. Shes always been there for our children, and I know shell always be there for yours too, he says. Whether intended or not, the comments offer a rebuke to JD Vances comments about childless cat ladies, whom the GOP vice presidential candidate suggested dont have a direct stake in Americas future. 03:39 AM BST I learned what drives Kamala Doug Emhoff is also offering an intimate insight into Kamala Harris, describing how they met after being set up on a blind date. She still plays the first voicemail he left her on their anniversary each year, he says. As I got to know her better and fell in love fast - I learned what drives Kamala, he says. Its what youve seen over these past four years and especially these past four weeks. 03:37 AM BST Emhoff talks about Harris relationship with stepchildren Those of you who belong to blended families know that they can be a little complicated, Doug Emhoff continued. But as soon as our kids started calling her Mommala I knew wed be okay. Kamala Harris has previously been attacked as one of a bunch of childless cat-ladies by JD Vance, the Ohio senator and Donald Trumps running mate. He added: Shes always been there for our children. And I know shell always be there for yours, too. 03:34 AM BST Emhoff recalls being set up with Kamala Harris Doug Emhoff recalled how he left a rambling voicemail for Kamala Harris when he was set up with her on a blind date. In 2013 I walked into a contentious client meeting. We worked through the issue. And by the end of the meeting the now, happy client offered to set me up on a blind date, which is how I ended up with Kamala Harriss phone number, he told the convention. Now, for generations, people have debated, when to call a person, youre being set up and never in history has anyone suggested 8:30am? And yet, thats when I dialled. I got Kamalas voicemail and I just started rambling. 03:30 AM BST Has Emhoff been taking tips from Michelle Obama? Were hearing from the man who became Americas first ever Second Gentleman. Doug Emhoff, husband of Kamala Harris, is now hoping to take on another history-making title: the First Gentleman. US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Perhaps he solicited some tips from Michelle Obama backstage on how to navigate the role of spouse to the most scrutinised politician on earth. 03:29 AM BST Emhoff gets huge reaction from Chicago crowd Doug Emhoff just got a huge reception from the crowd in Chicago. The delegates on the convention floor here are waving red signs that say Doug. Hello to my big beautiful blended family up there, he says to his family members watching from a box. My mother is the only person in the world who thinks Kamala is the lucky one, to marry me, he jokes. 03:29 AM BST My mother thinks Kamalas the lucky one My mother is the only person in the whole world who thinks Kamala is a lucky one for marrying me, Doug Emhoff said, in a line that drew a laugh from the crowd in Chicagos United Centre. I love you so much, Mr Emhoff said, addressing his wife directly. Im so proud of how youre stepping up for all of us, but thats who she is - wherever shes needed, however shes needed, Kamala rises to the occasion. 03:26 AM BST Doug Emhoff makes his way onto the stage Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman and Kamala Harris husband, has made his way onto the stage and will shortly begin his speech. 03:23 AM BST Republican mayor: Weve become a cult of Donald Trump The Republican party has been reduced to the cult of Donald Trump, a Republican mayor has told the Democratic national convention. John Giles, the mayor of Mesa in Arizona, said: Trump doesnt know the first thing about public service like a child, he acts purely out of self interest. Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles speaking during the Democratic National Convention - AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite He continued: My hero [Arizona senator] John McCain taught us to put country over party, and thats how vice president Harris and Governor Walz will lead. I have an urgent best message for the majority of Americans who like me are in the political middle. John McCains Republican Party is gone, and we dont owe a damn thing to whats been left behind. 03:17 AM BST Protesters detained by police as clashes break out Pro-Palestine protesters have been detained by police outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago as clashes broke out between officers and demonstrators. A man wearing a press helmet is taken into custody by police near the Israeli consulate in Chicago - AP Photo/Noah Berger A large crowd is reported to have remained in the area as the confrontation died down, with protesters shouting slogans including: Free, free Palestine. It is unclear how many protesters have been detained. More than a dozen were arrested by police as activists marched on the convention centre and pushed through a security perimeter. 03:13 AM BST Democrats risk missing Obama due to queue chaos Democrats risk missing Barack Obamas keynote speech this evening because of chaos in the security queues outside. The line outside Chicago's United Center tonight is even worse than yesterday. I saw 2-hour wait times on average. Maybe that's why Biden went so late last night. He wanted to give people a chance to hear his farewell. #DNC2024 https://t.co/aIWoVo2jwI Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) August 21, 2024 There have been issues on both evenings of this convention with huge lines outside the United Centre, after protesters forced tighter security measures on the nearby streets. Frank Luntz, the American pollster, said some people are waiting two hours to get in. Anyone joining the queue now might miss all of the speeches. 03:01 AM BST Pictures: Democrats celebrate as Harris confirmed as nominee A delegate wearing an "Obama" hat attends the second day of the Democratic National Convention - ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Delegates cheer during the ceremonial roll call vote on the second day of the Democratic National Convention - ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images New York delegation members hold pictures of New York Governor Kathy Hochul during the ceremonial roll call - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images 02:49 AM BST Trump is rich in only one thing - stupidity Illinois governor JB Pritzker brought the house down with a quip that makes a virtue of his immense fortune. Discussing Donald Trumps claims of huge wealth, he says: Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing - stupidity. Mr Pritzker was considered a strong contender to be Kamala Harris running mate. His delivery tonight is a reminder of just how deep the current Democratic bench is. 02:48 AM BST Illinois governor: Americans dont want Donald Trump JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, fired out a series of attacks Donald Trump when he took to the convention stage. Americans dont want to be forced to drive 100 miles to deliver a baby because of draconian abortion law shut down the maternity war, he said - one of several criticisms of Trump this evening on abortion rights. Americans with LGBTQ kids dont want them facing discrimination at school because the state sanctioned it, Mr Priztker continued. Americans want to go to their neighbourhood grocery store and not have to worry about some random guy open-carrying an AR-15. The semi-automatic rifle was used by a would-be assassin to shoot at Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania in June. The Illinois governor claimed that Kamala Harris wanted to create a country with a little serenity, the serenity that comes from a balanced chequebook, an affordable grocery bill and a housing market that has room for everyone. If theres one thing I know about Donald Trump, hes not bringing anyone any kind of serenity, he added. 02:44 AM BST Sanders fails to work crowd into a frenzy Ive seen a fair few of Bernie Sanders speeches, but this is the Vermont senator at his least energetic. The 82-year-olds trademark angry tirades were missing from this address, and he isnt working the crowd into a frenzy the way Ive seen him do many times before. Is this a sign the party has moved on from the days of the Bernie Bros? 02:40 AM BST Sanders: We must end horrific war in Gaza Bernie Sanders pressed Kamala Harris to guarantee access to life-saving drugs if she wins the White House in November. Joe and Kamala may made sure that no senior in America pays over $35 a month for insulin. We need to make sure that reality is true for every American, he told the Democratic national convention. Bernie Sanders, Independent from Vermont, speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images I look forward to working with Kamala and Tim to pass this agenda. Mr Sanders got his biggest cheer of the night when he declared: We must must end this horrific war in Gaza, bring home the hostages and demand an immediate ceasefire. 02:35 AM BST Delegates losing interest during Sanders speech Bernie Sanders is now addressing the crowd at the DNC, where delegates appear to be losing interest and chatting among themselves after a fiery roll call. The last time Mr Sanders was at a DNC, he had just dropped out of the 2020 Democratic primary and endorsed Joe Biden. There was a scramble on the convention floor to decide what would happen to the delegates who had voted for him, and there was more than a little hostility between their campaign teams. The veteran Vermont senator was one of the voices who came out with concerns about Mr Biden in the weeks before he stood down. Now, hes speaking full-throatedly in support of Kamala Harris. 02:34 AM BST Too many Americans are struggling Bernie Sanders, the independent Vermont senator, paid tribute to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris record before pivoting to an attack on oligarchs. When the political will is there, Government can effectively deliver for the people of our country. And now we need to summon that bill again, because too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by, to put food on the table to pay the rent and to get the health care they need. He added: We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the billionaires. 02:26 AM BST Schumer: Trump peddles anti-Semitism Chuck Schumer told the convention that he was the highest ranking Jewish elected official in American history and accused Donald Trump of pushing anti-Semitic tropes. I want my grandkids and all grandkids to never, never face discrimination because of who they are, the New York senator said. But Donald Trump, this is a guy who peddles anti-Semitic stereotypes. He went to accuse the Republican of fuelling Islamphobia, claiming: His prejudice goes in all directions. 02:23 AM BST Republican strategist: Harris is no communist Ana Navarro, on stage now at the DNC, is rejecting the communist label Donald Trump and other Republicans have tried to stick on Kamala Harris. Navarro, a Republican strategist and native of Nicaragua, says she saw the perils of communism first hand under Daniel Ortega. In a bit of unfortunate scheduling, following Navarro shortly on stage is one Bernie Sanders, a progressive senator who once defended the strongman. 02:22 AM BST Newsom swamped by delegates as he leaves convention floor Gavin Newsom is getting swamped by delegates and journalists as he tries to get off the convention floor during Chuck Schumers speech. He appears to have stopped to give an interview to a TV reporter right in front of the stage where Schumer is speaking. 02:21 AM BST Trump return would mean American carnage, warns Schumer There will be American carnage if Donald Trump returns to the White House, the most senior Democrat in the Senate has claimed. Chuck Schumer told the Democratic national convention: This November, we can choose a brighter, a fairer, a freer future, or we can relive the dark night of Trumps American carnage. Only one candidate will move America forward, Kamala Harris. 02:17 AM BST Newsom making a forceful pitch for cabinet position Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, appears to be making a forceful pitch for a cabinet position in a future Harris administration as he represents California at the DNC roll call. Gavin Newsom speaks alongside California delegation as they cast their vote during the ceremonial roll call vote on the second day of the DNC - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Mr Newsom and Kamala Harris have run in the same political circles for years. The pair are sometimes described as frenemies on account of the perceived rivalry between the two young Democratic stars as they worked their way up the ranks in Americas largest state. 02:15 AM BST Harris hails freedom and optimism as she accepts nomination I thank everyone there and here for believing in what we can do together, Kamala Harris said as she accepted the Democratic partys nomination. We are so honored to be your nominees. This is a people-powered campaign, and together, we will charge a new way forward. A future for freedom, opportunity, of optimism and faith. So to everyone in Chicago and across America, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, and youre going to hear from our wonderful second gentleman [Doug Emhoff] shortly. Ill see you in two days, Chicago. 02:12 AM BST Harris addressing DNC from Wisconsin Kamala Harris is making surprise speech to the Democratic national convention, speaking virtually from a rally in Wisconsin after she was confirmed as the partys presidential candidate. 01:54 AM BST Harris: Trump will face consequences for attacking abortion rights Kamala Harris is expected to go after Donald Trump on abortion rights at a rally in Wisconsin today, after the former president said he had no regrets about the overturning of Roe v Wade. She will tell supporters in Milwaukees Fiserv Forum: Yesterday, when he was asked if he had any regrets about ending Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump without even a moments hesitation said no. No regrets. Thats because he hasnt had to face the consequences. Women and families have. Well, we will make sure he does face the consequence at the ballot box this November. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gestures during a campaign rally at Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 01:44 AM BST The Daily T: Can Kamala beat Trump? As the Democratic National Convention kicks off, Harris has broken with tradition to take to the stage before her big speech on Thursday, stealing President Bidens moment in the spotlight. Its a signal that its well and truly the Kamala show. Kamal and Sunday Telegraph Political Editor Camilla Turner chat to US Editor Tony Diver to ask the question on everyones lips - can she beat Donald Trump? 01:41 AM BST A uniquely American blend of politics and celebrity There is a different tenor to tonights programme. The crowd is far more fired up. Theyve also all been handed remote-controlled LED wristbands, so there are plenty of flashing multi-coloured lights throughout the arena. There are also plenty of musicians and celebrities both appearing on stage and in the crowd. Its a uniquely American blend of politics and celebrity. 01:39 AM BST Harris crosses delegates threshold to rubber-stamp candidacy Kamala Harris has now crossed the threshold of 2,350 delegates to become the Democrats presidential candidate for the 2024 election. The vote is simply a rubber-stamp - she had already been confirmed at a virtual roll-call earlier this month. Kamala Harris reacts as she holds a photographer's camera while flying on Marine Two, on her way to O'Hare International Airport, Chicago - KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images 01:26 AM BST Party atmosphere at DNC as DJ blasts out dance music Each state has been given its own theme song as delegates cast their votes for Kamala Harris, creating a party atmosphere on the convention floor. Sweet Home Alabama played while Alabama voted, while Florida was assigned Tom Pettys I Wont Back Down - a song often used at campaign events by Ron DeSantis, the states Republican governor. Eminems Lose Yourself was blasted out for Michigan, which has just voted. 01:19 AM BST Harris campaign using Republicans to court independent voters The inclusion of Donald Trumps one-time White House communications director in tonights programming is part of a deliberate strategy by Democrats to court independent voters. Stephanie Grisham is one of a number of Republicans who will address the Democratic national convention here in Chicago. We are also due to hear from other prominent conservatives, including Mike Pences former national security adviser and a former GOP congressman, later in the week. The Republicans Against Trump movement proved effective in the 2020 campaign, and Kamala Harris will need to replicate its success and appeal to a significant number of Republican and independent voters if she is to prevail in November. 01:15 AM BST Awkward evening ahead as Michael Cohen turns up in press stand We just had a surprise performance in the convention hall from Lil Jon, the rapper. But hes not the only unexpected guest. Ive been surprised to find myself sitting next to Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who turned on his own boss during the Stormy Daniels trial that ended in Trumps conviction. Cohen is here as a journalist, producing his own podcast. He wasnt interested in talking about the case and said he wouldnt answer any of my questions which might make this an awkward evening for me from here on. 12:58 AM BST Roll call to anoint Harris as Democratic nominee begins The roll call that will designate Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate for the 2024 election is now underway. This part of the convention is symbolic, as Ms Harris - who is currently campaigning in Wisconsin - has already been selected in a virtual vote. Jewel Cannada-Wynn of Pensacola, Florida arrives to the second day of the Democratic National Convention - Alex Wong/Getty Images 12:40 AM BST Grisham: I wanted my speech to turn Republicans against Trump Stephanie Grisham, a former top aide to Donald Trump who spoke at the convention this evening, told CNN that she had done her job if just a few Republicans or independents turned against her former boss. She is one of several Republicans who are speaking tonight, in an overture by the Harris campaign to conservatives who have been isolated by Trumps brand of politics. Kyle Sweetser, former Trump voter, was one of the first people to take to the stage, while John Giles, the Republican mayor of Mesa in Arizona, will be among the final speakers tonight. 12:30 AM BST Harris and Walz arrive in Wisconsin Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have landed in Milwaukee ahead of their rally at the Fiserv Forum this evening. 12:11 AM BST Trump mocks his own supporters, says former aide Donald Trump has no empathy or morals and calls his supporters basement dwellers, one of his former top advisers has claimed. Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary, told Democrats in Chicago: Trump mocks his supporters - he calls them basement dwellers... He has no empathy no morals and no fidelity to the truth. He used to tell me, It doesnt matter what you say, Stephanie - say it enough, and people will believe you. Ms Grisham said she had been part of the Trump family but resigned following the storming of the Capitol by Trumps supporters on Jan 6, 2021. I couldnt be part of the insanity any longer, she said. 11:49 PM BST Harris has JFKs energy and vision Kamala Harris has John F. Kennedys energy, vision, and optimism for the future, his grandson told the Democratic national convention. Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former US President John F. Kennedy, speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Jack Schlossberg continued: Like President Kennedy, Vice President Harris has dedicated her life to public service. She believes in America like my grandfather did, that we do things not because theyre easy, but because they are hard. 11:47 PM BST Jimmy Carter is holding on to vote for Harris, says grandson Jimmy Carter, the 99-year-old former US President, is holding on until November despite his failing health so that he can vote for Kamala Harris, his grandson has said. Jason Carter told the convention: His legacy is measured by the lives he has touched and the good he has done. Kamala Harris carries my grandfathers legacy. Jason Carter, grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images She knows what is right, and she fights for it. She understands that leadership is about service, not selfishness, that you can show strength and demonstrate decency, and that you can get a whole lot more done with a smile than with a scowl. Pawpaw is holding on. He is hopeful, and though his body may be weak tonight, his spirit is as strong as ever. My grandfather cant wait to vote for Kamala Harris. 11:43 PM BST Sanders to take on oligarchs and price gouging in DNC speech Bernie Sanders will talk about on progressive economics when he addresses the convention around 2am BST (9pm ET), according to excerpts from his remarks. The Vermont senator, who sits as an independent, is expected to say: When the political will is there, government can effectively deliver for the people of our country. We need to summon that will again - because too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by - to put food on the table, pay the rent, and get the health care they need. These oligarchs tell us we shouldnt tax the rich; we shouldnt take on price gouging; we shouldnt expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision; and we shouldnt increase Social Security benefits for struggling seniors. Well Ive got some bad news for them. That is precisely what we are going to do, and were going to win this struggle because this is precisely what the American people want from their government. 11:33 PM BST Second day of DNC begins The second day of the Democratic national convention has officially begun. One order of business tonight will be a roll-call that ordains Kamala Harris as the partys presidential candidate - a purely ceremonial function, because she has already been confirmed by a virtual vote. 11:28 PM BST Harris: We are moving forward with this election This November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people: we are moving forward. pic.twitter.com/Zeqyqe55qc Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 20, 2024 11:24 PM BST Everything you need to know about the 2024 US election Donald Trump will face Kamala Harris in the 2024 race for the White House after an eventful start to the campaign. Joe Biden pulled out of the race after intense pressure following his disastrous first debate with Trump. The first TV debate between Ms Harris and Trump is due to take place on September 10, a few days before states with the longest in-person polling periods open for early voting. But, the 2024 timetable is also complicated by the blizzard of litigation faced by Trump, who has had to juggle campaigning with a series of court appearances. Read the full explainer from Rozina Sabur, our deputy US editor, here. 11:18 PM BST Where is Kamala Harris? While Democrats congregate in Chicago for the second night of their convention, Kamala Harris will be campaigning in a neighbouring state. The vice president will be joined by her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz, for a rally in the battleground state of Wisconsin. Recent state-wide polls have put Ms Harris several points clear of Donald Trump. The pair will address supporters in Milwaukees Fiserv Forum, where the Republican national convention was held last month. 11:14 PM BST Excerpts released from Doug Emhoffs speech Kamala Harris is a joyful warrior and as tough as it comes, Doug Emhoff will say in his speech tonight when he pays tribute to his wife. Kamala is a joyful warrior, he is expected to say when he takes to the stage at the Democratic national convention in Chicago. He will add: Heres the thing about joyful warriors: Theyre still warriors. And Kamala is as tough as it comes. 11:09 PM BST Obama pays tribute to Bidens resilience Barack Obama paid tribute to Joe Biden for his resilience and unshakable belief after the US President passed the torch to Kamala Harris last night. What I admire most about Joe is his decency, his resilience, and his unshakable belief in the promise of our country, Mr Obama said of his former running mate. What I admire most about Joe is his decency, his resilience, and his unshakable belief in the promise of our country. Over the last four years, those are the values America has needed most. I am proud to call him my president, and I'm so grateful to call him my friend. pic.twitter.com/7eI4pc5VOQ Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 20, 2024 Over the last four years, those are the values America has needed most. I am proud to call him my president, and Im so grateful to call him my friend. Mr Biden is reportedly frustrated with Mr Obama for not backing him when he came under pressure from Democrats to drop out of the presidential race last month. 10:53 PM BST Obama will be the nations explainer-in-chief Barack Obama will act as the US explainer-in-chief and put the Democrats on an election footing when he addresses the convention tonight, his former campaign manager has said. Jim Messina, who guided Mr Obama to victory in the 2012 general election, also suggested that Donald Trump would struggle against Kamala Harris in a presidential race because he was an old guy going up against a young challenger. Barack Obama has sort of become the explainer in chief role to the country to explain the moment theyre in, he told Fox News. And I think thats the transition to this general election that were seeing tonight. He added: Americans are optimists. They want to hear about the future. They dont want to hear about the past. And thats exactly the problem Donald Trumps going to have, because hes now the old guy in this race against the young challenger. And so now hes in that same role. And its a difficult role. 10:45 PM BST Who is scheduled to speak at the DNC tonight? Barack Obama, the former US President, and Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, are scheduled to address the Democratic national convention tonight. Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman and Ms Harris husband, will talk about his wife while she campaigns in Milwaukee in the battleground state of Wisconsin. Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, and Bernie Sanders, the independent Vermont senator and a former contender for the Democratic presidential candidate, are also expected to make remarks. The schedule also features the grandsons of two presidents: Jason Carter, whose grandfather is Jimmy Carter, and John F. Kennedys grandson Jack Schlossberg. 10:37 PM BST 13 people arrested at DNC protests on Monday More than a dozen people were arrested at pro-Palestinian protests outside the Democratic national convention on Monday, Chicago police have said. Some 13 people were detrained for offences including criminal trespass, resisting and obstructing, and aggravated battery of police officers - which means causing serious bodily harm. We are not going to tolerate vandalism and violence in our city, Superintendent Larry Snelling said. 10:34 PM BST Pictured: Trumps former fixer spotted at DNC in Chicago Michael Cohen, former attorney for Donald Trump, stands in front of a sign with a picture of Kamala Harris - REUTERS/Vincent Alban 10:27 PM BST Welcome Hello and welcome to the live blog. Benedict Smith here. Well be bringing you all the updates from the second day of the Democratic national convention, where both Barack Obama, the former US president, and Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, are scheduled to speak. Palestinians heading for the so-called humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi after an IDF evacuation order this month. Photograph: Habboub Ramez/Abaca/Rex/Shutterstock Thousands of people facing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have been forced to abandon plans to comply with Israeli evacuation orders telling them to move to a designated safe humanitarian zone because there is no space for them there. At the weekend the Israeli military told residents of multiple neighbourhoods in and around the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah to leave their homes before planned attacks and go to the narrow strip of coast around the small town of al-Mawasi that was designated earlier in the war to receive displaced people. My uncles and father tried to find a new safer place to move our family to but their efforts did not succeed yet as all spaces within the safe zone are occupied, said a 34-year-old woman who has been living with 16 relatives on the edge of the designated safe area, who did not want to be named. Related: My family has fled Rafah for yet another safe area. By now we know there is no such thing | Mohammed Al Khatib Humanitarian officials confirmed the overcrowding in the humanitarian zone was dissuading those given evacuation orders by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from leaving, despite the dangers of remaining. Theres just no space and people know that, so they stay where they are. You cant get hold of tents, so even if you found somewhere, it would be difficult to get any shelter, and conditions there are terrible, said a UN official based in Gaza. Some people refuse to move [to al-Mawasi] because they just dont want to leave their homes but most because theyll have nowhere to live if they go there. The vast majority of Gazas population has been displaced, often multiple times, and 86% of the territory has been put under evacuation orders by the Israeli military, according to the UN. Israeli officials say the orders are aimed at reducing civilian casualties and blame Hamas for using people as human shields. Several hundred thousand people have packed into al-Mawasi since the beginning of the conflict despite minimal provision there of even basic services. Water supply is inadequate, there is almost no sanitation, healthcare is rudimentary and infectious diseases are on the rise. Aid groups fear the outbreak of diseases such as polio. The situation there is just getting worse and worse, the UN official said. A UN bulletin published on Monday said that since the start of August the Israeli military had issued nine evacuation orders that were affecting an estimated 213,000 people across Gaza. The bulletin said the population of Gaza, which was 2.3 million before the war, was increasingly concentrated within the Israeli-designated zone in al-Mawasi, with 30,000 to 34,000 people crammed into each square kilometre, compared with an estimated 1,200 people per square kilometre before October 2023. Since a reduction ordered by Israeli military last month, the area of the humanitarian zone has shrunk by a fifth, to 40 sq km just 11% of the Gaza Strip. This reduction in space, combined with overcrowding, heightened insecurity, inadequate and overstretched infrastructure, ongoing hostilities, and limited services is exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation for the hundreds of thousands of people forced to live inside it, the UN said. The IDF said the reduction was because the eastern part of the zone had been used for significant terrorist activity and rocket fire toward the state of Israel. The adjustment is being carried out in accordance with precise intelligence indicating that Hamas has embedded terrorist infrastructure in the area defined as the Humanitarian Area, it said. On Monday, the IDF retrieved the bodies of six hostages held in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict from a tunnel that it said was under an area previously designated as part of the humanitarian area. A series of airstrikes within the humanitarian zone have also convinced many people in Gaza who receive evacuation orders that they are better off remaining where they are. One airstrike in al-Mawasi in July may have killed Mohammed Deif, the most senior Hamas military commander in Gaza and one of the architects of the attacks into southern Israel that triggered the conflict, but also caused at least 92 deaths and wounded more than 300, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. No place is safe, said Yussef Abu Taimah, from the town of al-Qarara in Khan Younis, as he prepared to relocate his family for the fourth time after the Israeli order. Some cannot move to al-Mawasi or anywhere else because they have no fuel. Siham Bahgat, 24, said her family of eight had tried to flee their tented camp on the edge of the humanitarian zone on Monday afternoon after they heard shooting nearby. We loaded all our important stuff but we could not get very far because we ran out of petrol, which has been very difficult to get for months, so we decided to stay and sleep the night where we were, she said. The Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and 250 hostages being taken to Gaza by the militant Islamist organisation. Israels retaliatory military offensive has so far killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the territorys health ministry. Capturing megafauna, like woolly mammoths, 13,000 years ago, might have relied on enticing the animals to charge on to sharp pikes driven into the ground. Photograph: Andrew Nelmerm/Getty Images/Dorling Kindersley When it came to taking down giant animals, prehistoric hunters would quite literally have faced a mammoth task. Now researchers have shed fresh light on how they might have done it. Experts studying sharp stone points made by the Clovis people, who lived in the Americas from about 13,000 years ago, say that rather than hurling spears at enormous animals such as giant bison, mammoths or ground sloths, the tribes could have planted their weapons point-up in the ground to impale charging creatures. We are only now recognising that people in many cultures have hunted or defended against megafauna with planted pikes for thousands of years, said Dr Scott Byram of the University of California, Berkley, a co-author of the study. He added that hunters using pikes often encouraged large game to charge at them, and a planted pike could produce far greater force than a hand-thrust or thrown spear. It follows that pikes would have been preferred against aggressive megafauna, he said. Writing in the journal Plos One the team note that while Clovis points are well known, no intact weapons have been found, so exactly how the points were used is unclear. However, they point out that historical sources including paintings of boar hunting and descriptions of bear, lion and jaguar hunts depict people using piercing weapons braced against the ground when hunting hefty animals, while that approach has also been used for defence against predators and against charging warhorses in military battles. To explore the idea that Clovis people could have used their stone points in a similar way, the team conducted experiments using replicas of what they believed the weapons might have looked like, with the stone point held by lashings between a wooden pole and bone rod. The team found a sharp Clovis point could pierce cow hide with relatively light force, but would break if it was dropped point-down on to an oak plank at high force (representing an encounter with bone). However, the team found they could adjust the lashings so that these broke apart in the latter scenario, releasing the point without breaking it but potentially allowing the pike to plunge deeper into an animal. Byram added that the shape of certain Clovis points would have made for very effective pike tips, and such an application could explain the discovery of complete Clovis points with unbutchered mammoth remains. The team are now planning experiments involving something akin to a replica mammoth a block of ballistics gel mounted to a moving object with large mass in order to understand how the outcome might change if the impact does not only involve a force acting in a head-one direction. Prof Metin Eren at the Kent State University anthropology department in the US, who was not involved in the work, said it was not the first time that archaeologists had proposed a pike use for Clovis points. But he added: Of course the major problem is that archaeologists have never discovered any sort of Clovis wooden spear or dart shaft, much less any hard evidence that spears were actually used in a pike-like fashion. We really need to make sure our conclusions dont outrun our experiments, and, more importantly, the actual archaeological record. Roy Minton - Eugene O'Hare Ror Minton, the playwright, who has died aged 90, wrote the screenplay for the 1979 feature film Scum, directed by Alan Clarke, one of the most important and controversial works in British cinema history. A grim Borstal drama, Scum was originally filmed in 1977 for the BBCs Play for Today strand. To protect against possible trouble Minton undertook extensive research to establish the authenticity of the brutal world it depicts, including visits to Feltham young offenders institution and lengthy interviews with former Borstal inmates and prison officers. An ex-prison service officer was recruited to act as adviser on the production. The film focused on three young offenders, Carlin (Ray Winstone), Angel (Davidson Knight) and Davis (Julian Firth), who arrive at an unnamed Borstal and whose lives are made intolerable by the staff and a trio of inmates who collaborate with the warders to maintain a brutal regime of intimidation. While Carlin ascends the ladder of power, which affords him some protection, Angel is subjected to violence and racial abuse, and, most shockingly, the sensitive Davis is raped by three other boys while working in the greenhouse, and later commits suicide in his cell. Scum (1979): l-r, Davidson Knight as Angel, Julian Firth as Davis and Ray Winstone as Carlin - Allstar Picture Library Limited/Alamy The BBC version of Scum was completed in 1977 and was ready for transmission. Its producer, Margaret Matheson, had highlighted the most controversial scenes for the attention of senior staff and nobody had commented. When she wrote the billing for Radio Times, however, Bill Cotton, newly appointed controller of BBC One, and the Corporations director of programmes, Alasdair Milne, decided that Scum was too controversial to be broadcast. Then Margaret Matheson took the brave, or possibly foolhardy, decision to show the film to the press, driving the cans of film to a preview theatre in Soho. At the showing, Minton distributed a closely-typed four-page hand-out in which he dubbed the production the Billy Cotton Banned Show, accusing the BBC of misappropriating public money, exercising dangerous and secretive censorship, and branding him a liar; he called on Milne and Cotton to defend their decision publicly. Minton maintained that every incident in the play was based on an actual occurrence in a Borstal institution, to which BBC sources objected that even if the incidents portrayed were inspired by real events, they had not all happened in one Borstal, nor in a single year, as suggested in the film. Despite the ensuing furore, Margaret Matheson kept her job and, undeterred, Clarke and Minton bought the rights to Scum. Two years later, with many of the same cast, they turned it into a raw, hard-hitting masterpiece of modern British cinema. But the film spelt the end of a productive relationship between playwright and director. Minton, a confrontational personality, had apparently been affronted when Clarke tried to alter his script and was angered by changes made in the film version, including the decision to drop a homosexual relationship between Carlin and another inmate. When in 2009 Mark Kermode made a documentary about the film for Radio 4 it was clear that Minton still carried the resentment with him, insisting he had been betrayed and saying he faked a reconciliation at Clarkes deathbed in 1990. Meanwhile, no doubt helped by its notoriety, Scum became a box-office hit. The controversy over the film is thought to have been instrumental in persuading Margaret Thatchers government to introduce what became the 1982 Criminal Justice Act which abolished the Borstal system in the UK. The son of a miner, Minton was born Roy Davies in Nottingham on August 28 1933. He briefly went down the pits himself, before going to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London to train as an actor, adopting Minton as his stage name. In 1963 he made a brief appearance on Coronation Street as a policeman and also had roles in Television Playhouse, The Wednesday Play and The Gamblers before deciding to become a full-time writer in the late 1960s. He went on to write dozens of television plays, an early example being Sling Your Hook (1969), broadcast on the BBCs Wednesday Play strand. Described by its producer, Irene Shubik, as a seaside postcard come to life, it drew on Mintons own background in a story of a bus excursion to Blackpool by a group of Nottingham miners, only one of whom, for various reasons, makes the return journey home. But he became best known for his collaboration with Alan Clarke. Their first work together, broadcast in Rediffusions Half Hour Story slot in 1967, was The Gentleman Caller, in which two brothers find ways to convince a social security snooper that they have a genuine claim to benefits. Their other collaborations included Stand by Your Screen (LWT, 1968) starring John Neville as Christopher Gritter, a young man who revolts against the suburban conformity of his parents and refuses to participate in the big bad world by living behind screens in their living room. Funny Farm (Play for Today, 1975), starring Tim Preece as a nurse in a mental hospital, highlighted societys neglect of the mentally ill. After his collaboration with Clarke came to an end, Minton went in to write the screenplay for Scrubbers (1982), a film focusing on female Borstal inmates, directed by Mai Zetterling. However Minton angrily dissociated himself from the finished product, complaining that his screenplay had been savaged without his knowledge. The production, he said, was arguably the worst film ever made. Minton, who had a brief stint as resident dramatist at the Nottingham Playhouse, continued to write, though in later life he largely turned his back on the theatre and television business. In 2008, in what seems to have been his first and only blog, he wrote: I have written four novels, an autobiography, film scripts, stage and television plays, stage musicals, short stories and filthy ditties... However, due to the deadening, ignorant state of the powerful, I have for years refrained from putting my work on the market place. The only reason I carry on is because writing is what I do. A few years ago he collaborated with the Irish actor, playwright and screenwriter Eugene OHare on writing a stage version of Scum, but as OHare recalled: In the end our friendship became the dominant thing and our desire to pitch our stage script didnt feel important any more. [Mintons] company was a lot like his scripts; provocative, irreverent, shrewd, clever, wildly funny, and above all deeply compassionate. Mintons archive, including the only printed copy of a huge autobiographical novel, is in the permanent collections department of Nottingham University Library. Roy Minton is survived by his long-term partner Jeanette and by two sons. Roy Minton, born August 28 1933, died August 17 2024 Click here to view this content. Drone strikes hit Moscow overnight in what was described "one of the largest" carried out by Ukraine Russian authorities have closed airports in two cities in Russias Far North amid fears of further Ukrainian drone strikes. All flights were cancelled and the airspace restricted over Murmansk, which hosts a military airbase, and Apatity. Both Arctic cities have been largely untouched by the war so far. Such measures are usually taken by Moscow in the event of expected or incoming Ukrainian drone attacks. It comes after Kyiv launched what Moscows mayor described as one of the largest aerial attacks against the Russian capital since war broke out in February 2022. Some 45 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, and 11 destroyed over the Moscow region, Russias ministry of defence claimed. 03:34 PM BST Thanks for following todays live blog Thank you for following todays live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. 03:28 PM BST Russian soldier blows up military base before defecting to Ukraine A Russian soldier blew up his assault units headquarters before escaping and defecting to Ukraine, Kyiv has revealed. The soldier, an FPV drone pilot identified only by his call-sign Silver, said the operation was meticulously planned with Ukraines military intelligence and the Freedom of Russia Legion, a pro-Kyiv Russian partisan group. Footage showed the moment Silver threw a grenade into a basement where his commander and fellow officers were sleeping, before he disappeared amidst the confusion. The defecting soldier then crossed the frontline and surrendered to Kyivs forces. Kyiv claimed on Tuesday that the former Russian soldier has provided valuable intelligence on Moscows positions and offensive plans. Silver said he had become disillusioned with Russias war in Ukraine and other crimes carried out by his command, including extrajudicial executions, beatings and extortion against both civilians and soldiers within his unit. Russian soldier blows up military base before defecting to Ukraine 03:17 PM BST Modi arrives in Poland ahead of Ukraine trip Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, has arrived in Warsaw, Poland, ahead of his trip to Ukraine later this week. Mr Modi will hold talks Thursday in Warsaw with Polands prime minister Donald Tusk and president Andrzej Duda, which are expected to focus on security and the war in Ukraine. Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, during a news conference with Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's prime minister on Tuesday - Bloomberg 02:39 PM BST Six children in hospital after Russian strike on eastern village Six children were left in hospital after a Russian attack on a village in eastern Ukraine. A childrens cafe was reportedly hit in the strike, which occurred in the village of Malokaterynivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on Tuesday. Yurii Borzenko, chief physician of Zaporizhzhia Childrens Hospital, told Radio Liberty: Three children are in hospital with concussion of moderate severity without blast injuries. One girl is here with mine-blast damage to the soft tissues of her left shoulder. She had a surgery today, she is conscious and talking now. And one more child has neurosurgery and is in the operating room now. The aftermath of the Russian attack on a children's cafe in the settlement of Malokaterynivka - National Police in Zaporizhzhia 02:16 PM BST The Kremlin is sending teenage cannon-fodder to Kursk If the Kursk incursion was intended to draw Russian troops away from the battle front in Ukraine, it has failed so far, writes David Axe. As a strong Ukrainian force including some or all of at least half a dozen brigades pushes deeper into Kursk on the 15th day of the invasion on August 21, its apparent the Kremlin is resisting the urge to redeploy a lot of big regular formations to the oblast to meet the Ukrainian advance. Instead, its sending conscripts: young draftees with only cursory training, little heavy weaponry and dubious leadership. These conscripts arent lasting long in combat. Read the full story here. Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to troops during his visit to the Chechen Republic - Shutterstock 02:04 PM BST Pictured: Russian helicopter fires towards Ukrainians in Kursk Russian Mi-35M helicopter fires towards Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location in border region - Rusian Defense Ministry Press Service 01:37 PM BST Russia and Ukraine heading for stalemate, says Pentagon Neither Russia nor Ukraine have the resources to mount major offensives in the next six months, the US Defense Intelligence Agency said in a new report. The report, which covered the three months up until June 30, suggested Ukraine is only able to hold defensive positions. The assessment was made prior to Kyivs daring invasion into Russias Kursk region two weeks ago. Meanwhile, US intelligence said it believed Russia does not have adequate resources to threaten a deeper advance into Ukrainian-held territory, such as Kharkiv city. Ukrainian troops fire a "Giatsint-S" 152mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions in Donetsk region - Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade 01:10 PM BST Russia experiences mass disruption on Telegram and WhatsApp Russia has recorded mass disruptions on Telegram and WhatsApp, its state telecommunications monitoring service said on Wednesday. The cause of the mass disruption is not yet known. Russian media report outages of Telegram, WhatsApp messengers, as well as problems with access to Wikipedia, Skype and other apps and websites. Earlier, Russian authorities slowed down YouTube and reportedly tested completely blocking its work in Russia. pic.twitter.com/7oWmMDZS2O Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 21, 2024 12:59 PM BST Kursk pontoon bridge destroyed using US-made rocket systems, says Kyiv Ukrainian forces destroyed pontoon bridges and engineering equipment using US-made Himars rocket systems in Russias Kursk border region, Kyiv said on Wednesday. It is the first official recognition by Ukraine that Western weapons have been used as part of its invasion. At least three bridges were damaged or destroyed along the River Seym since Kyivs unprecedented invasion was launched two weeks ago. Where do Russian pontoon bridges disappear in the Kursk region? Operators...accurately destroy them, Ukraines Special Operations Forces said on Telegram messenger. This satellite photo shows a pontoon bridge across the Seim River between the town of Glushkovo - Planet Labs PBC 12:41 PM BST Ukraine launches largest drone attack on Moscow Ukraine targeted Moscow in one of the largest drone strikes ever launched by Kyiv against the capital, Russian officials said on Wednesday. Eleven drones were destroyed over the Russian capital and its surrounding areas overnight, the defence ministry said. This is one of the largest ever attempts to attack Moscow with drones, Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, said. Mr Sobyanin confirmed no damage or casualties had been reported. Kyiv rarely targets Moscow with drones, with Russia last claiming to have defended a strike back in May. It comes as Ukraine continues its daring invasion into Russias Kursk border region, where it claims to have captured up to 35 km of land across more than 90 settlements. 12:37 PM BST Kursk invasion exposing Russian personnel shortages, says MoD Ukraines Kursk invasion has exposed Russian personnel shortages, the UK Ministry of Defence suggested on Wednesday. Its latest intelligence update stated that Russian troops have been pulled out of high priority areas. Not only that, specialists have been used in infantry roles, which the MoD said makes it more difficult to retake territory in Kursk. The high casualty rates that result mean that Russia needs to continuously replenish front line infantry personnel, which will almost certainly continue to limit Russias ability to generate higher capability units, the update read. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 21 August 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/RuyUBJmVx3#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/gpmQHF0fEe Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) August 21, 2024 12:12 PM BST Watch: Military footage shows Ukrainian forces fighting in Kursk region New footage released by Ukraines military on Tuesday showed its forced fighting in Russias Kursk region. In a video briefing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines Army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported fighting in the area of Malaya Loknya, about 11.5 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. He added that he hoped the fighting there would allow Kyivs military to capture many prisoners. Click here to view this content. 12:05 PM BST Russia says captured another village in east Ukraine Russias army have captured another village in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, where it is advancing even as Kyiv mounts a major counterattack into Russian territory, it said Wednesday. In a daily briefing, Russias defence ministry said its troops had captured the village of Zhelanne, which lies between the frontline cities of Donetsk and Pokrovsk. It comes amid claims by Russia that it had captured a string of towns and villages in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. 10:47 AM BST Ukraine parliament votes to join International Criminal Court Ukraines parliament will join the International Criminal Court which prosecutes serious crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity, it voted on Wednesday. Parliament adopted the ratification of the Rome Statute, opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Telegram, referring to the courts founding treaty. 10:26 AM BST Watch: Ukraine destroys bridge over the Seym River in Kursk Ukrainian forces have destroyed three permanent bridges over the Seym River in Kursk over the past six days, as well as an unknown number of pontoon crossings built by the Russians to replace the bridges. Russian troops south of the Seym in Kursk, to the west of Ukrainian forces in the Russian region, are reliant on these bridges and crossings for vital supplies. It comes as Ukraines incursion into western Russias Kursk region entered its third week yesterday. The move could potentially trap Russian forces between the river, the Ukrainian advance and the Ukrainian border. Satellite photos by Planet Labs analysed by the Associated Press confirmed a bridge in the town of Glushkovo had been destroyed. A Russian military investigator said Ukraine had totally destroyed one bridge and damaged two others in the area. Russian military bloggers and several high-profile pro-war Telegram channels in Russia claimed the third bridge had been targeted and damaged, according to the Associated Press. Ukrainian SOF in concert with Defense forces successfully destroyed pontoon crossings in Kursk region. Moreover, russian field ammunition depot, EW vehicle as well as 152 mm howitzer were damaged. pic.twitter.com/VjMzIdLFvr SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) August 21, 2024 10:08 AM BST Moscow comes under one of largest Ukrainian drone attacks yet, Russia says Moscow has suffered of the largest barrages yet by Ukrainian drones yet, Russia has said, adding that it destroyed all of them. Some 45 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, Russias ministry of defence said. It said 11 were destroyed over the Moscow region, 23 over the Bryansk region, six over Belgorod, three over Kaluga and two over Kursk. This was one of the biggest attempts of all time to attack Moscow using drones, Moscows mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram. Mr Sobyanin said all the drones were destroyed because strong defences had been created around the capital. The governor of the Bryansk region, Alexander Bogomaz, said there was a mass attack on his region but 23 drones were destroyed. Firefighters work at a site of an infrastructure facility hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine - REUTERS A burning children's cafe hit by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Malokaterynivka, Zaporizhzhia region - REUTERS 09:47 AM BST Ukraine downs 50 out of 69 Russian drones overnight Ukrainian forces destroyed 50 out of 69 attack drones launched by Russia during an overnight strike, Kyivs military said on Wednesday. The air force said another 16 drones were likely downed by electronic warfare during the attack, which also included two ballistic missiles and one cruise missile - saying it shot down only the latter. One drone entered Ukraine from Belarus and another had returned to Russia, the military added. 09:19 AM BST Kremlin believes Kursk invasion will last months - report Moscow believes Kyivs assault on Kursk will last for months, officials have reportedly told Russia media. Officials interviewed by Meduza, a Russian outlet based in Latvia, said the estimate is quite optimistic if everything goes well. The Kremlin has also reportedly readopted measures used during the Covid-19 pandemic, in which citizens were told to prepare for a new normal. People walk near a banner with an advertising poster calling for military conscription in Moscow - Shutterstock 08:58 AM BST Kyiv strikes S-300 missile system in Russias Rostov region Ukraine claimed on Wednesday that it struck an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in Russias southern Rostov region overnight. The attack took place near Novoshakhtinsk, according to Kyivs General Staff, who said the system had been used to attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Explosions were observed at specified targeting points, the General Staff said on Wednesday. The accuracy of the strike is being assessed. 08:45 AM BST Pictured: Fires in Kursk region along River Seym Fires have been seen burning along the River Seym in the Kursk region just days after Kyivs forces bombed three crucial bridges. The satellite image, captured on Tuesday, shows fires near the village of Krasnooktyabrskoe, which is just outside the area Ukraine claims to control in Kursk. Fires near the village of Krasnooktyabrskoe in Russia's Kursk region - Planet Labs PBC 08:30 AM BST Kyiv continues to make advances in Kursk Ukrainian forces have continued to make advances in Kursk over the last few days, military analysts have suggested. Kyiv has also focused on destroying pontoon bridges over the River Seym after three crucial crossings were destroyed by Ukraine over the weekend. At least one pontoon bridge has been destroyed, according to the Institute for the Study of War. NEW: Ukrainian forces continued attacking throughout the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on August 20 and recently made additional advances. Kursk Tactical Updates (1/11) pic.twitter.com/b0KC6HZrL0 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) August 21, 2024 08:13 AM BST Nato countries failing to fulfill pledges to Ukraine - report Several Nato countries have failed to fulfill pledges reportedly made to Ukraine at last months Washington summit, according to US media. At least five air defence systems that were promised have not been delivered to Kyiv, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky called out the UK, US and France over their slowing support. There are no vacations in war, the Ukrainian president said on Sunday, adding: Decisions are needed, as is timely logistics for the announced aid packages. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, attends a meeting with manufacturers in the framework of the Made in Ukraine - AFP 07:50 AM BST Pictured: Putin inspects Nato weapons Vladimir Putin has been pictured inspecting what Russia describes as Nato military trophies captured in battle. Vladimir Putin, accompanied by head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, inspects Nato weapons captured in the battles in Ukraine - Pool Sputnik Kremlin 07:43 AM BST No peace negotiations until complete defeat of Ukraine, says Russia Ukraines invasion into Kursk means there will be no peace talks until Moscow completely defeats Kyiv, the deputy head of Russias security council said on Wednesday. Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram: The empty chatter of intermediaries that no one had appointed about the wonderful peace is over. Everyone understands everything now, even though they do not say it out loud. He added: There will be NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL THE COMPLETE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY! A Ukrainian serviceman patrols an area in the controlled by Ukrainian army town of Sudzha, Kursk region - REUTERS 07:30 AM BST Moscow airports back to normal after drone strike Moscow airports returned to normal operations on Wednesday after temporary restrictions were in place overnight at three of the citys airports. Temporary restrictions were in place at the Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports from 2.31am Moscow time (11.31pm UK time) until 6.30am, the aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said. There were no restrictions at the major Sheremetevo airport. 07:26 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage. Were bringing you the latest updates from the Ukraine war. A convenient way to scan and pay or a shoplifter's dream? Self-checkouts are under increasing scrutiny - SolStock Self-checkout shoppers have admitted they use the tills to steal from stores, according to a major poll. One in eight adults (13 per cent) said they had selected a cheaper item on a self-service till than the one they were buying, according to the poll of 1,099 adults by Ipsos. It is known within the industry as the banana trick because it is thought to be so common. It is so-called because it often consists of putting an item through a self-checkout as a cheap fruit or vegetable product and walking out with a much more expensive product. This is the first time, however, that pollsters Ipsos have quantified the extent of the scam. If applied to the entire UK adult population, it would mean six million people have taken advantage of self-checkouts to steal from shops. It comes as shoplifting has hit a record high with a record 443,995 offences in the year to March, a 30 per cent increase and equivalent to 50 offences every hour. Retailers say that shoplifting is now so widespread that it is adding at least 6p to every store transaction by customers owing to the cost of the 1.8 billion stolen each year and the extra 700 million being spent by retailers on security measures. Eight per cent of the adults questioned admitted they had taken something from a shop up to the value of 10 without paying. Thirteen per cent said they had taken something from a shop that was worth up to 1. The banana trick is when a customer at a self-checkout puts through an item as a cheap fruit or vegetable then walks out with a much more expensive product - Digital Vision /Tang Ming Tung More than a quarter (26 per cent) said they did not believe that shoplifting goods worth under 10 should be an offence, and almost half (47 per cent) believed the same about stealing goods valued under 1. A similar proportion (48 per cent) said they did not believe the banana trick putting a cheaper item through the till should be treated as a criminal offence. The apparent increase in such thefts stems from a 50 per cent rise in the number of self-checkout machines in UK supermarkets from 53,000 to 80,000. In the US, stores have started to rip many of them out and return to staffed checkouts. Some in the UK such as Booths have removed self-service checkouts although this is largely to do with customers finding them slow and frustrating to use. Last November, Archie Norman, the chairman of Marks & Spencer, said that shoplifting was becoming more common among middle-class customers because of faulty checkouts. With the reduction of service you get in a lot of shops, a lot of people think, This didnt scan properly, or its very difficult to scan these things through and I shop here all the time. Its not my fault, Im owed it.... You see it with the self-checkouts, theres a little bit of that creeping in, Mr Norman said. There has been a 50 per cent rise in the number of self-checkout machines in UK supermarkets from 53,000 to 80,000 - Alamy /Kathy de Witt More than a quarter (26 per cent) of those polled by Ipsos admitted they had accidentally not paid for an item when shopping. A third (34 per cent) thought such behaviour was acceptable and 71 per cent said they did not believe it should be a criminal offence. The poll also found that almost one in five (19 per cent) also admitted to fare evasion, defined as using public transport without purchasing a ticket. Eight per cent had taken food from a shop without paying for it and 9 per cent had eaten food or drink themselves without paying for it. Click here to view this content. Hannah Shrimpton, the Ipsos head of crime, cohesion and security said the majority of the public still believed even low-value shoplifting was wrong even if there was a minority which admitted to it. While a quarter of Britons admit to unintentionally failing to pay for an item, with a third finding this acceptable, the overwhelming majority think intentional theft is unacceptable, even of low-value items, she said. This suggests a clear distinction in public perception: accidental oversights are seen by a minority at least as forgivable, and by most as not worth criminal sanction, while deliberate theft, regardless of value, faces strong disapproval. Cary Cooper, a professor of organisational psychology at Manchester Business School, said the cost of living and risk-taking were often drivers for shoplifting along with a belief by people that they could beat the till and sneak through items for free, as it were. He said the stores were paying the price for removing human contact, adding: I think we have lost the whole concept of being consumer friendly. We are not interested in that, whether for insurance or online banking. Patty perfection: Beefy Boys' grass-fed, dry-aged Hereford beef, daily-baked buns, with American cheese (for that classic burger taste) Have we reached peak burger? Ever since Gourmet Burger Kitchen sizzled onto the scene in 2001, turning the grab-and-go meal fix into something with a serious side order of sass, the burger has kept on reinventing itself. Its been plump and pinkish, jaw-defyingly tall, healthily lettuce-wrapped, truffled, a two-meat hybrid, vegan, or the latest must-have smash. Theres even a national day for burgers, 22 August, and this most democratic of foods will no doubt be celebrated at Meatopia, the annual festival of all things barbecue at Londons Tobacco Dock next week. Weve been waiting for the burger bubble to burst, but it refuses to, says Anthony Murf Murphy, co-founder of The Beefy Boys, a trio of burger joints in Hereford, Cheltenham and Shrewsbury. Now, its all smash burgers, but give it a couple of years and something else will trend. Murphys book, The Beefy Boys: From Backyard BBQ to World-Class Burgers, landed last week; its a pacy feast of a cookbook that tracks the story of four tong-wielding pals who make burgers so good grass-fed, dry-aged Hereford beef, daily-baked buns, American cheese for the classic burger taste (but hold the tomatoes; too watery) that they compete in, and win, global competitions. Chef Anthony 'Murf' Murphy's burgers are so good, he wins international competitions That world stage is key. Every culture has the concept of a burger, says Mursal Saiq who founded Cue Point with her partner and fellow chef, Josh Moroney. At their lively, inclusive spot near Elephant & Castle in south-east London, the pair blend Saiqs Afghan and Moroneys British-Guyanese heritage to create halal smash burgers laden with cucumber, dill pickles, burger sauce and American cheese. George Wood at Brix and Bones, Norwich, agrees: Burgers are part of all our lives, says the self-styled head fire-starter whose menu centres on meticulously sourced and aged meat cooked over flames. Its only in recent years that chefs have taken things to new heights. Indeed. McDonalds posted its first drop in sales in three years last month, as the cost-of-living crisis collided with a price-rise (in 2020 a Big Mac was 2.99; its now 4.69), but new burger places are still opening. Top catering butcher, Philip Warren, has moved to bigger premises, turning its Launceston shop into Native Burger bar; Copenhagen smash hit, Gasoline Grill, is popping up at Londons Standard hotel until 15 September; and French brand, Junk, makes its UK debut in Soho next month. Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton has swapped fine dining for laidback eaterie Mary's, which includes a 10-seat burger bar Even Jason Atherton is embracing the patty. His Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant, Pollen Street Social, closed in July to be replaced by an informal restaurant, Marys, which includes a 10-seat burger bar. The first 14 smash burgers were flipped last week and will be on the menu until December when works start on a permanent burger restaurant, Meat and Two Veg. Chef Mauro Colagreco may have topped the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants list, but that doesnt stop him offering a burger at Saison, his Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in the luxurious Raffles London at the OWO hotel. People asked for it, he says, so we responded. The 34 burger is made from Hereford beef topped with streaky bacon, gherkin, lettuce, and Ashcombe cheese. Burgers are eaten all over the world. Why shouldnt they have a place in a refined environment? Six of the best burger experiences according to chefs These chefs, experts at live-fire cooking, share their best burger experiences, and tips for burger perfection this Bank Holiday weekend. Chill the drinks and grab your tongs! George Wood, head chef, Brix and Bones, Norwich The beef is the hero for me. Always choose high fat content because its the melting fat that binds the meat and gives that lovely crust and layers of texture and flavour. My best ever? The aged cheeseburger at Whole Beast [Sam and Alicja Bryants residency at The Montpelier pub, Peckham]. Its made with Norfolk wagyu mixed with dry-aged rib cap, which has loads of marbling. They press the meat hard, but its not quite smashed. Then its American cheese, bread and butter pickles, diced onion and fermented chilli burger sauce. One of those rare food moments that almost brings a tear to your eye, it tasted so good. Whole Beast's aged cheeseburger is made with Norfolk wagyu mixed with dry-aged rib cap Georges tip Roll a ball of beef, then put it into a hot cast-iron skillet and only then press it. If you shape the meat too much beforehand you can lose texture; its like over-working dough. brixandbones.com Stu Deeley, head chef, Smoke at Hampton Manor, Solihull Check out The Meat Shack in Birmingham city centre. Paul and Cats burgers are as good as Ive had anywhere. They get the ratios and seasoning right every time, and every bite is as delicious as the first. Thats a skill. Go for the Dutch Piggy a good char, then they flip, add Edam cheese and streaky smoked bacon, pickles and sauces, top with the bun. Their blue cheese sauce is my favourite, and the bread is like milk bread, bouncy and light. Stus tip Make a good sauce with plenty of acidity. I make one with mayo, confit garlic, ketchup, gherkins, paprika, a bit of chilli, pickle juice and mustard. It does the trick on the home barbecue! hamptonmanor.com/smoke/ Melissa Thompson, barbecue expert and food writer One of the best burgers Ive ever had was at Dannys Burgers in Bristol. It was their take on an Oklahoma smashed burger where fresh onions are smashed into the patty as the meat is pressed into the grill, making the beef and onion as one. It had the perfect crust, the taste of lovely dry-aged beef shone through, and it was all brought together with American cheese because a burger isnt the time to get fancy with cheese. Pickles too, for hits of acidity. I prefer a simple burger which means the basics the beef, bun and accompaniments need to shine. And this one shone brightly. No time to get fancy: Danny Burger's take on an Oklahoma smashed burger does the basics brilliantly Melissas tip Dont overlook the sides when you barbecue. Make a couple of salads, at least one featuring grilled vegetables such as courgettes, and a fresh sauce to bring everything together. Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook by Melissa Thompson (Bloomsbury, 26) is out now Mursal Saiq, chef and co-founder Cue Point London I cant get Smash N Slide burgers out of my mind. Its a takeaway on an industrial estate in Northolt, a lockdown project run by husband and wife Zubair and Shanaz Rahim. Three patties, onions, cheese, pickles, perfect seasoning and a stunning crisp edge every time. Amazing. So simple, so tasty, zero gimmicks. The beef is native-breed, grass-fed and halal. I dont get there as often as Id like but I honestly cant stop thinking about them. All hands on deck: Smash N' Slide's epic three patty burger Mursals tip Pay attention to your fire. Set up a decent castle with wood, get it burning before you add charcoal, and get it really hot before grilling. cue-point.co.uk David Carter, chef-founder, Smokestak, London I grew up in Barbados where Chefette is a local fast-food brand its quarter-pounder has legendary status around the island. And its certainly my earliest burger memory. Word has it that by two years old I could dunk a whole one. A good burger? You need a damn good bun and a damn good patty made with proper meat from a proper animal, with proper dry-ageing. For me it needs to be a one-hander, not too fiddly or everything just spills out. Bleecker Burger nails it mines a bacon double cheeseburger [the current National Burger of the Year]. Bleeker Burger 'nails it' with their bacon double cheeseburger Davids tip Use a flat-top griddle so the burger can sizzle and caramelise in its own fat while crisping the edges. Im all for char, but what you gain in smoke you lose in fat, texture and browning. smokestak.co.uk Anthony Murphy, co-founder, The Beefy Boys, Hereford/Shrewsbury/Cheltenham My favourite burger memory is the Double-Double Animal Style at In-N-Out Burger at Big Sur. It was 2016, I was on my honeymoon in California. OK, its not the most gourmet burger, but Ill never forget it. Two patties, two slices of cheese thats the double-double bit and its animal-style because they caramelise the onions, add extra spread (like thousand island dressing) and mustard-fry the patties for fantastic caramelised flavour. Incredible. Murfs tip Steam! Cook the burger patty, then place the bun lid with the cheese on top of the patty. Keep it on the griddle, spray water onto the plate next to the burger, and cover with a pan lid to create a burger sauna. The cheese melts, the bun warms up, it makes all the difference. thebeefyboys.com The Beefy Boys: From Backyard BBQ to World-Class Burgers (Quadrille 20) is out now A Swedish brown bear in its natural habitat. Conservationists argue that the hunting quotas are in breach of EU law. Photograph: Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock Sweden has issued licences to kill 20% of its brown bear population in the countrys annual bear hunt, which begins today, despite concerns from conservationists. Officials have granted licences for just under 500 brown bears to be culled by hunters. That equates to about 20% of the total population, according to official figures, and would bring the number of bears in Sweden down to approximately 2,000 a drop of almost 40% since 2008. The high number of licences issued has alarmed conservationists, who say large predator populations in Europe could face collapse in some countries without proper protection. It is a pure trophy hunt, said Magnus Orrebrant, chair of the Swedish Carnivore Association. Wildlife management in Sweden is about killing animals instead of preserving them to the best of our ability. Brown bears were hunted almost to extinction in Sweden in the 1920s, but thanks to careful management the population recovered to a peak of about 3,300 in 2008. Over the past five years, however, increasing numbers of bears have been hunted, culminating in a record 722 killed last year. This year, licences to shoot 486 bears have been issued, and a further indeterminate number could be shot where bears are assessed to be a threat to farm animals. In November 2022, a new law gave local hunting associations more power to oversee the management of large predators, including bears. In recent years, hundreds of wolves and lynx have also been culled, fuelling ecologists concerns. Magnus Rydholm, communications director for the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, said: We are only following the directive of the Swedish governments wildlife policy. It is all about a balance between humans and the large predators. Thats why the bear hunt starts tomorrow. But some hunters have expressed concerns over the declining number of brown bears. Anders Nilsson, a hunter in Norrland, in north Sweden, said: There are those within the hunting community that are concerned about too many bears being killed off. Related: Hundreds of lynx to be hunted in Sweden following biggest ever wolf cull If hunters continue to kill bears at a similar rate next year, the country will be only one annual hunt away from the minimum number of 1,400, considered necessary by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to maintain a viable population. Brown bears are a strictly protected species in Europe, and conservationists argue that the high hunting quotas are in breach of the EU habitat directive, which says deliberate hunting or killing of strictly protected species is prohibited. Under EU rules, this prohibition can be lifted as a last resort to protect public safety, crops or natural flora and fauna. Researchers are concerned that the brown bear is heading the same way as the moose population in Sweden, Orrebrant says, which has declined by 60% since the end of the last century. Conservationists argue that a larger bear population would make Sweden a more attractive destination for ecological tourism, which would bring in more revenue than selling hunting licences. Orrebrant said: Because the hunters killed off too many moose, the bear is now suffering for it. NSW police are appealing for information as the investigation into the death of Xiaoting Wang (pictured) continues. Composite: AAP/Supplied A University of Sydney student who was found dead in an apartment in the citys inner west last week has been identified as a 21-year-old woman from China. New South Wales police are appealing for information as homicide detectives continue their investigation continues into the death of Xiaoting Wang, who was found inside an apartment in Burwood with stab wounds. Another 21-year-old Sydney university student from China was also found dead in the courtyard of the apartment complex, however police are yet to identify the man. Supt Christine McDonald said Wangs death had deeply affected the community, and that a vigil would be held for her in Burwood next Tuesday. There are many people in the Burwood and wider Sydney community who have been affected by the death of Xiaoting, McDonald said. She, like many international students, came to this country for education and opportunity, and for her life to end like this is tragic. I urge anyone affected by the deaths to attend a vigil, which is being held later this month, to support each other through this time. Police were called to the courtyard of the building last Monday after reports of concern for someones welfare. There, they initially found the body of the 21-year-old man. After a crime scene was set up and police commenced an investigation, they then discovered Wangs body inside the apartment. A second crime scene was established at the unit which underwent forensic examination, police said. In a press conference shortly after the bodies were found, McDonald said it was too early to say yet whether the incident was a murder-suicide or domestic related. Residential properties at a construction site near Aylesbury I can remember as a young person being drawn to Margaret Thatchers Conservative Party by its crystal clear values. I saw a party that was unashamedly ambitious for our country and believed in aspiration, opportunity, low taxes, property ownership. It was a prospectus which appealed to me as someone starting out in life and looking to make something of myself. Today there are precious few young people being drawn to the Conservative banner in the same way. The Partys reliance on older voters has been a common thread in political commentary for a long time, but the general election this year has shown we simply cannot continue like this. Our failure to reach younger voters is now an existential threat to us. According to YouGov, just 8 per cent of 18 to 30 year old voters backed the Conservatives in the July election. The median age of a Tory voter was 63. We cannot hope to build an effective electoral coalition which can win us a majority at a general election if we continue to limit our appeal to the over 60s. There is much talk about which groups of voters the Party should be focused on winning back Reform voters, Lib Dems, the Red Wall but we are not talking enough about the generational challenge. For me, that should start with showing younger voters our values and, crucially, how those values can make a tangible difference to them. Most young people are like I was back in the 1980s they are aspirational, they are willing to work hard and think people should be rewarded for doing so, and they want the opportunity to own their own home and start building a family. They share conservative values, but they are not voting Conservative. There is no single policy that will solve this issue; it will require a determined focus on winning back younger generations through everything we say and do. But as a start, we could look at ways to use the tax system to send an unequivocal message to younger voters that the Conservatives are on their side. One way of doing that could be through what I am calling the Headstart. When you start your first job, the first 5,000 of National Insurance you pay would go not to HMRC but into a savings pot of your own. This could be a Lifetime ISA account where funds can be used to go towards a deposit on your first home. If not used for a house purchase, the money would be invested and grow over time as the start of your retirement pot, showing young people the value of saving, the magic of compound interest and of course the value of tax cuts. This is, of course, not a solution to the wider issues in our housing market. We need to reform our planning system and build more homes. Supply is crucial. But this would give young people an immediate head start. Unlike other attempts to give first time buyers a helping hand, like stamp duty relief or mortgage guarantee schemes, which also provide demand side assistance, this would be structured as a tax cut which people have to work for. It could be a way of illustrating to young workers the value of lower taxes and property ownership. We will never rebuild the broad-based support we need to win the next election without a compelling offer to all generations. And we need a big bold offer to younger generations covering a number of policy areas. Id like to bring the average age of a Tory voter right down to 41, the UK average age, so we are truly representing the nation we seek to serve. The decline of Conservative support among the young is not an inevitability just look at what Pierre Poilievre has achieved in Canada. But if we fail to address it, our Party will struggle to recover. Rt Hon Mel Stride is Conservative MP for Central Devon and a candidate for the partys leadership Donald Trump on Tuesday at a campaign stop in Howell, Michigan. Photograph: Nic Antaya/Getty Images Donald Trump has pledged to shield police officers from legal accountability if he is re-elected as president after falsely claiming the US is in the grip of a wave of violent crime that he blamed on the Black Lives Matter movement and people crossing the Mexican border. Related: DNC 2024 live: Barack Obama to headline day two; former aide says Trump has no fidelity to truth Speaking to police officers in Michigan on Tuesday, the former president sought to pin responsibility for the imagined crisis on his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, whom he characterised as among Marxist district attorneys with a record of being anti-police and pro-criminal during her term as the district attorney in San Francisco in the 2000s. At the same time, Trump lamented his own legal difficulties, including his criminal convictions for fraud in New York and other looming prosecutions. They go after guys like me, but they dont go after guys that kill people, he said. Flanked by local sheriffs in Howell, a small city in greater Detroit where a group of white supremacists marched last month chanting We love Hitler, we love Trump and carrying signs reading White Lives Matter, Trump painted a picture of Americans living in fear of leaving their homes because of crime. Its just insane, but you cant walk across the street to get a loaf of bread. You get shot, you get mugged, you get raped, you get whatever it may be, he said. The former president claimed that this alleged crime wave materialised when Joe Biden and Harris took office. Since Comrade Kamala Harris took office, her administrations crime statistics show shes presided over a 43% increase in violent crime. These are all government numbers, he claimed. In fact, official statistics show that violent crime is at an almost 50-year low in the US. Nonetheless, Trump pledged to crack down on local Marxist DAs who refuse to enforce the law while, he said, ruining the lives of police officers for doing their jobs. Over the past four years, the Marxist left has waged a vicious war on law enforcement in our country. Theyve taken away the dignity and the spirit and the life of some of these police officers, and thats why you see it the crime is so out of control in our country, he claimed. Trump said that the police have a lot of difficulty with the laws of our land. Were going to get rid of that difficulty, because they shouldnt have difficulty, our police, he said. Trump added: Were going to be guaranteeing immunities. The former president accused Harris of a pro-crime, anti-police record. She repeatedly endorsed defunding the police, he said. If she ever had a chance, she would do whatever she could to defund the police because thats where her spirit is, thats where her heart is, and we cant have a president like that. In 2020, then senator Harris gave support to the defund the police movement in the wake of a white police officers murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Harris said at the time that it was right that BLM questioned the amount of money spent on militarising police departments at the expense of social services, housing and education This whole movement is about, rightly, saying we need to take a look at these budgets and figure out whether it reflects the right priorities, she told the radio programme Ebro in the Morning. The former president also claimed that Harris bore responsibility for a rise in shoplifting as Californias attorney general a decade ago. She came up with a concept of, $950 and below you dont even get prosecuted. So guys are walking into stores with calculators to figure [it] out, he said, to the evident amusement of the police officers around him. Did you know that they have calculators adding it up? They want to make sure theyre under $950, but it didnt matter, because they didnt prosecute the ones that went over either. In fact, there is no such policy in California and the accusation appears rooted in a ballot measure passed by voters in 2014 that reclassified some thefts and misdemeanors. Trump blamed much of the imagined increase in crime on people crossing the Mexican border, for which he also blamed Harris as the supposed border tsar, even though immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than US citizens. He also claimed that some Latin American countries are exporting their criminals to the US. We have criminals from all over the world pouring into our country right now, he said. However, Trump was upset about at least one instance of prosecutors upholding the law. Were not getting justice in New York, he said of his own conviction over paying hush money to an adult film star. The former president is also facing criminal prosecutions over his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, the storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021, and his handling of classified documents. Anytime I fly over a state, they indict you. Got indicted more than the great Alphonse Capone, he told the police officers, to laughter. It wont have escaped even the most casual observer that Russian tyrant Vladamir Putin is having a disastrous summer. The highly successful Ukrainian incursion into the Russian territory of Kursk has cast doubt on his ability to maintain the control which is essential to his grip on power. Now that Ukrainian forces hold more than 1,250 square kilometres of Russian territory a psychologically damaging situation which has not occurred since the Second World War Putins worries will only have been magnified by successful drone strikes overnight and this morning on Moscow itself. In a rare admission of failure, Russian authorities confirmed that Ukraine launched over 45 separate drone sorties into Russian territory over the early hours of Wednesday. These, crucially, included at least 11 drone strikes on Moscow. This was one of the largest drone strikes on the capital since Russia widened its war on Ukraine in February 2022. Todays strike is on a par with the May 2023 attack, when at least eight drones were destroyed over the capital in an attack that Putin said was Kyivs attempt to scare and provoke Russia. Quite how Ukraine can further provoke a country which has invaded it, occupies around 18 per cent of its territory, and has committed war crimes including the forced deportation of children into Russia, is a mystery. But Ukraine most certainly has scared the Russian population. This is a very smart tactic by the Ukrainians, who increasingly overcome their disadvantages in manpower and conventional munitions by exploiting gaps in Russian defences. Todays drone operations resulted in all three of Moscows major airports shutting down, causing widespread travel disruption. Wealthy Muscovites far removed from the carnage and brutality of the Donbas woke up this morning to a real bombardment, and the terrifying noises and experiences of air defences shooting down drones over their leafy capital. It was either by design or delicious coincidence that Moscow was under attack as Putin was returning from his visit to Chechnya, demonstrating further the incapability of the Russian intelligence services and again further eroding Putins position in the eyes of his people. The level of psychological damage done to Muscovites, who largely view Putins war in Ukraine as removed from their day-to-day business, has now been reinforced. After the attack last year, they were assured that it wouldnt happen again and Putin said he knew what needed to be done to strengthen Moscows defences. Now it has happened again and Putin is exposed as incompetent. This matters, as so far Putin has been at pains to spare the residents of the main Russian cities Moscow and St Petersburg from the horrors of the war in order to maintain their support. With these strikes, Ukraine lets the Russian middle classes and oligarchy know that they cannot sit the war out as spectators. Ukraines recent battlefield successes on land and now in the air demonstrate a remarkable performance by Ukrainian military intelligence, and an ability to reach past what has often been viewed as a largely stagnant and transparent battlespace. It had been thought that modern battlefield sensors and satellites left little room for surprise. The Ukrainians are increasingly discrediting that viewpoint, and deserve much credit for this. Addressing Chechnyan troops destined for the meat-grinder front line in the Donbas, Putin declared yesterday that Russian forces (and their Chechen mercenaries) are absolutely, absolutely invincible. Putin should know by now, however, that in war there are no absolutes. And in the war that Ukraine is now waging against the Russian aggressors, even pampered Muscovites are beginning to wake up this reality. The state government spent $3.3m to upgrade card readers across Victorias Myki transport ticketing network due to the 3G shutdown, documents reveal. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP The Victorian government was forced to spend $3.3m on short-term upgrades to the ageing Myki public transport ticketing system to be 4G-compatible because the new system would not be ready before the 3G network shuts down, data obtained by Guardian Australia reveals. A new $1.7bn Myki ticketing system is due to begin testing in parts of regional Victoria later this year ahead of a 2025 launch, following extensive delays in the project stemming from choosing the contractor to roll out the system. Related: Optus and Telstra delay 3G network shutdown until October Initially, the Victorian government suggested the new system would be in place by the end of 2023. Guardian Australia previously reported other proposals put to the Victorian government claimed to have been able to deliver the new scheme earlier than 2025. The delays in modernising Victorias public transport ticketing system to allow credit card and iPhone payments, among other improvements, meant taxpayer funds were spent to keep the older Myki system running until the new one is operational. As a result of Telstra shutting down its 3G mobile network now scheduled to cease operations at the end of October $3.3m was used to upgrade card readers across the rail, tram and bus network to 4G to keep operating, Guardian Australia has learned. The upgrade, described as a short-term measure to ensure service continuity, was completed in October last year. In April, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning refused to provide the figure for how much the upgrade cost, instead pointing to $543m in funding allocated in the most recent state budget for ticketing system improvements as part of the overall $1.7bn Myki upgrade. The card readers will be overhauled when the new ticketing system is rolled out from next year. It was necessary to complete these upgrades as soon as possible to ensure the retirement of the 3G network would have no impact on the public transport network, a Victorian government spokesperson said. We will replace more than 23,000 devices progressively over the coming years to unlock new payment options. The opposition, however, said the money could have been spent on improvements for the system. Related: We will now reach the 21st century: Victoria to overhaul Myki system with new ticket operator Each dollar wasted by this government for incompetence is a dollar not able to go back into the system to improve it, the shadow minister for public transport, Matthew Guy, said. The New South Wales government provided similar information in a submission to the federal parliamentary inquiry examining the shutdown of the 3G networks, stating $20m had been invested to transition all 15,000 transport and road operations services on 3G, including traffic signage, operational systems and buses. Optus and Telstra voluntarily delaying the shut down of their 3G networks by two months this month in part due to hundreds of thousands of non-phone devices like smart meters and medical alert systems not yet being upgraded. In a response to the parliamentary inquiry this week, the federal Albanese government indicated the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, was still assessing whether to use her powers to further delay the 3G shutdown amid these concerns. Crane worker Visa requirements for skilled workers in engineering and IT coming to fill jobs in Britain could be tightened up as part of efforts to boost homegrown talent, the immigration minister has suggested. In an article for The Telegraph, Seema Malhotra said the two sectors had been recruiting heavily from abroad for too long when they should be drawing from a growing pool of homegrown talent. She blamed the last government for failing to boost UK skills, saying engineering was the starkest example where the number of work visas for overseas recruits had doubled, while the number of apprenticeships had nearly halved from 45,180 in 2017 to 25,080 in 2022/23. How was that possible in the country of Brunel, Hardwich and Watt? Why werent ministers doing everything in their power to train up a new generation of engineers to fill these posts here in Britain? she said. That was not just a failure on immigration policy, but on skills and the economy too. This was why the Labour Government had asked its migration advisory committee (MAC) to investigate how engineering and IT firms, which account for a sixth of all overseas skilled worker visas, could be weaned off their reliance on migration to the benefit of domestic workers. Options could include raising the minimum salary threshold for overseas workers in these sectors or restrictions based on regions of Britain where salary levels and labour force shortages vary. We must deliver these reforms to bring order to the immigration system, and rebuild faith that the system is once again working in our national interests, said Ms Malhotra. Visa numbers expected to fall Her comments come ahead of figures, published on Thursday by the Home Office, which are expected to confirm skilled worker and student visas have fallen by a third in the past year after a series of measures including a higher salary threshold and curbs on the number of dependents. An analysis by The Telegraph showed that the number of visa applications for study and work, including dependants, fell from 541,200 in the first seven months of last year to 353,300 in the same period this year. Net migration the number entering the UK minus the number leaving hit a record high of 764,000 for the year ending December 2022 before falling to 685,000 in the year ending December 2023. Labour has adopted all of the measures to cut migration introduced by the Tories apart from halting plans to raise the current 29,000 a year wage threshold for Britons to bring a family member from abroad until a review of the policy is complete. Ms Malhotra said, however, that the restrictions represented little more than a sticking plaster solution to a much wider problem, which we can no longer afford to ignore. The real challenge for the economy and the immigration system is to deal with the root cause compelling so many businesses to recruit internationally the underlying skills shortages here at home, she said. Radical options to reduce net migration Before the election, Sir Keir Starmer also floated more radical options to meet his pledge to reduce net migration which are still being developed in Government. Under the proposed legal changes, bosses who break employment law for example by failing to pay their staff the minimum wage would be banned from hiring workers from abroad. Training would also be linked to immigration, so sectors applying for foreign worker visas must first train Britons to do the jobs. At the Home Office, we are determined to reform the immigration system so that it is properly working for our economy too. A disparate, disconnected system of the kind we inherited is doomed to fail, said Ms Malhotra. So we will ensure that the independent migration advisory committee, Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council and the DWP are all working together to ensure our policies and decisions on immigration, skills and growth are all properly intertwined. Immigration needs to be properly controlled By Seema Malhotra Immigration has always been important to Britain, but it needs to be properly controlled and managed so the system is fair, and works in our countrys best interests. The last Tory government gave us the worst of all worlds; ramped up rhetoric on the one hand with a lack of proper controls or sensible immigration plans on the other. As a result, net migration under the Conservatives trebled in the four years after 2019, reaching a new record high, and largely driven by a huge increase in work visas. Lack of domestic training for occupations ranging from healthcare to IT meant employers having to increase their dependence on overseas recruits instead. Even worse, the Tories introduced a new rule that meant employers recruiting for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List were able to pay overseas workers less than the going rate a direct incentive to recruit from abroad and undercut local wages. The Labour Party called for them to reverse this for years, but they left it until their final few months in office to act. For me, the starkest evidence of the Tory failure lies in engineering, where in recent years the number of work visas for overseas recruits doubled, while the number of completed apprenticeships for young Britons nearly halved. How was that possible in the country of Brunel, Hardwich and Watt? Why werent ministers doing everything in their power to train up a new generation of engineers to fill these posts here in Britain? That was not just a failure on immigration policy, but on skills and the economy too. This Government wont carry on in this shambolic and self-defeating way. Break down barriers to opportunity During the election campaign, Keir Starmer pledged to get a grip and bring net migration down, with a major overhaul of the skills and employment system linked to firm visa controls so the immigration system works properly for our country. Thats why we will continue with the changes belatedly introduced last year ones we called for and supported at the time, including raising the skilled worker salary threshold and ending the unfair discount which meant employers could pay migrants less than UK workers. We will also continue to restrict the right of some overseas students and care workers to bring dependents to the UK. But on their own, these changes represent little more than a sticking-plaster solution to a much wider problem, which we can no longer afford to ignore. The real challenge for the economy and the immigration system is to deal with the root cause compelling so many businesses to recruit internationally the underlying skills shortages here at home. For too long, young people have been let down by a skills system that is too fragmented and doesnt meet the demands of the current labour market. As part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity, we will change this. The Tories never developed the skills strategy needed to create a workforce to allow Britain to lead in the sectors of the future, leaving us behind many other OECD countries. They never grasped that we cannot grow our economy and ensure opportunity for all without investing in human talent. The Secretary of State for Education is already turning this around, establishing Skills England to repair our broken skills base, identify training gaps and plans, and creating the skilled workforce of tomorrow here in the UK. And the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is driving through new plans to get more people back into work. At the Home Office, we are determined to reform the immigration system so that it is properly working for our economy too. A disparate, disconnected system of the kind we inherited is doomed to fail. So we will ensure that the independent migration advisory committee (MAC), Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council and the DWP are all working together to ensure our policies and decisions on immigration, skills and growth are all properly intertwined. Draw from homegrown talent To forge the best path forward, we need a comprehensive understanding of the reasons why key sectors have been reliant on migration for so long and how we might be able to shift this to benefit domestic workers. The Home Secretary has asked the MAC to look immediately at two sectors IT and engineering which have been recruiting heavily from abroad for too long, to advise on what needs to change. These sectors are vital to the UKs economic growth and national infrastructure. They should be drawing from a growing pool of homegrown talent. We must deliver these reforms to bring order to the immigration system, and rebuild faith that the system is once again working in our national interests. Migration is a huge part of our national story. For generations, people from all over the world have come here to study and work. They have fallen in love, built families and contributed to the social and economic fabric of our country. But the last Government lost control of the system and allowed work visas to become a cheap, unfair, and unsustainable alternative to training our own workforce. The untenable situation has gone on for long enough only a serious approach from a serious government will suffice. Two drug smugglers jumped into the water in a bid to avoid being caught with 39 million of cocaine after they were chased by Border Force officers. Bruce Knowles, 55, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, were intercepted by officials near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk with 350kg of cocaine in the hull of their boat. Investigators believe Knowles, from Dereham, and Gumrukguoglu, from the Netherlands, travelled towards French waters to pick up the drugs from a larger ship, before bringing them back to the UK. Footage released by the National Crime Agency (NCA) shows Gumrukguoglu leap from the vessel and swim towards the beach. The pair had initially stopped when the Border Force cutter moved in but Knowles restarted the engines of the rigid-hulled inflatable boat and tried to flee. Knowles and Gumrukguoglu initially stopped... - National Crime Agency ...but then restarted the engine and continued to flee The boat was grounded on the beach and officers moved in to arrest Knowles, after he also jumped overboard in a bid to escape during the incident on June 24. Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Police pursued Gumrukguoglu after he fled from the beach, arresting him later that day in Wrentham, Norfolk. Knowles jumped into the water as he tried to escape officers - National Crime Agency The boat was towed to a harbour in Lowestoft where it was searched by NCA officers, who found the haul of 39 million in drugs hidden under tarpaulin. Both men were interviewed and gave no comment, but were subsequently charged with importing a controlled drug. They pleaded guilty to the offence at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday and will be sentenced later this year. Lydia Bloomfield, the NCA branch commander, said: Knowles and Gumrukguoglu knew they were going to lose a huge quantity of drugs when they were intercepted at sea by our Border Force colleagues. Both were working for a wider organised crime group, who will now feel the effects of a loss of this amount. Sally Hawkyard, the Border Force deputy director, said: Our Border Force officers played a pivotal role in detecting and seizing millions of pounds worth of cocaine, which ensured that these two men were brought to justice. We remain committed to stopping illegal drugs from entering the country, where they ruin lives and fuel organised criminal gangs. Border Force will continue to work tirelessly to keep the public safe and our borders secure. Germany's Braunschweig F260 warship (left) moored alongside HMS Belfast at London Bridge - ELLIOTT FRANKS Click here to view this content. The German navy has made its presence known in London by blaring out the Darth Vader theme as one of its warships advanced up the River Thames. Londoners looked on as the German warship was towed slowly past Butlers Wharf on the South Bank near Tower Bridge. The Braunschweig F260 ship played the Imperial March track from the Star Wars saga as it floated by. In footage of the arrival, sailors can be seen on deck dressed in light blue shirts, dark trousers and navy blue life jackets. A German navy spokesman told The Telegraph: The commander can choose the music freely. The choice of music has no deeper message. The Braunschweig F260 is the lead ship of the German navys latest Class K130 corvette fleet. Tower Bridge opened to allow the warship through and go alongside the HMS Belfast on Friday. The ship, which was commissioned in 2008, has since left London and was moored in Plymouth on Wednesday morning. A spokesman for the German Embassy in London said: The commander of the corvette FGS Braunschweig is a big Star Wars fan and an admirer of the legendary musical scores of John Williams. He chooses a different Williams tune whenever his ship is visiting a foreign harbour. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has announced 'strong and clear steps' to boost border security Yvette Cooper has announced a raft of strong and clear steps to boost the UKs border security and curb illegal immigration. These included deporting more people over the next six months than since Theresa May was prime minister, expanding detention capacity by reopening closed centres, and hiring new caseworkers to track down illegal immigrants. The Government has touted the measures as a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity. But the data show they are but a drop in the ocean. Migrants are removed from a Border Force vessel off the coast of Dover in March 2023 - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe The number of asylum applications refused or withdrawn hit 68,564 over the 12 months to March 2024, a threefold increase on the previous year and the highest number since 2003. Unless the people affected appeal on humanitarian grounds, they are liable to be removed from the country by the Home Office. The Home Secretarys goal of getting enforced returns back to 2018 levels will tackle little more than a tenth of the problem. Not-so-record-breaking returns Ms Cooper claimed that over the next six months, she hoped to achieve the highest rate of removals since 2018, in order to reverse the damaging drop in enforcement under the Tories. This would entail beating the previous six-month highs, of 13,410 in 2018 and the most recent record of 14,703 set between October 2023 and March 2024. These figures refer to the sum total of enforced and voluntary returns over two successive quarters. But even that is a low bar both early 2024 and 2018s records are well below the 24,503 high of the past two decades set in early 2012. In reaction to the announcement, Dr Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the Migration Observatory, told Radio 4: If we look at enforced removals, last year there were 6,000 and in 2018 there were 9,000 so this would require 3,000 more, a 50 per cent increase, which sounds achievable. But, as Dr Walsh went on to explain, this was not exactly a particularly commendable goal either. Looking at enforced removals alone, in 2018 there were 9,236 the lowest annual total since comparable records began in 2004. The 2004 beginning of the series is also its height: there were a record 21,425 removals under Tony Blairs Labour government more than double the Home Secretarys plan. Questionable small-boats progress Labour sources have claimed the Governments approach to stemming Channel crossings is already working, with fewer migrants reaching UK shores in the six weeks since the election than during the same period last year and in 2022. But transparency data on small boats activity released by the Home Office discloses this to be a highly selective analysis. A total of 5,000 migrants crossed the Channel during the first 42 days Sir Keir Starmer was in No 10 from July 5 to Aug 15. Migrants are brought in by Border Force on Aug 14, some of the 5,000 who crossed the Channel from July 5 to Aug 15 - Jordan Pettitt/PA This is indeed 6.7 per cent lower than the 5,357 arrivals over the same period in 2023, and dramatically lower than the 7,407 in 2022. However, across his first six full weeks in office Monday to Sunday, starting July 8 migrant arrivals were higher than last year in three, or half, of them. The sum total across the period is also higher than last year, by 5,514 to 5,371. Dwarfed detention capacity An extra 290 detention spaces are to be created at the former immigration removal centres at Campsfield in Oxfordshire and Haslar in Gosport to support the higher pace of removals. Campsfield House closed in 2019, but at its peak in 2016 it housed 256 detainees. Haslar shut in 2015 and did not hold more than 164 people at any point. Some 290 detention spaces are to be created at the former immigration removal centre at Campsfield in Oxfordshire - James Allen/Campsfield The Government is also said to be studying options for further expansions of detention capacity, currently at 2,300. The latest figures show that as of March 31 2024, 1,913 people were in immigration detention centres across the country. While this was 20 per cent higher than on the same date in 2023, the tally is yet again dwarfed by the less recent past. On Dec 31 2014, the Home Office was housing 3,462 people. Some 200 people came to the UK via small boats on Monday alone, and almost 750 arrived just last week. The total number of migrants crossing the Channel for the year is now beyond 20,000. An arson attack on a restaurant in Co Antrim, which is believed to have been racially motivated, has been condemned as deplorable. Muslim Out was daubed on a wall of the Railway Bar and Steam Dining bar and restaurant complex on the Ballyclare Road area of Newtownabbey of which just a shell is left. In a statement on Facebook, the business said they are shattered and deeply saddened to see it destroyed. North Belfast MP John Finucane described the incident as deplorable. In a statement, police said they received a report at around 1.50am on Wednesday that the premises had been set alight. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended and dealt with the fire, which is being treated as deliberate ignition, they said. Inquiries are continuing and at this stage, the incident is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. The remains of a bar and restaurant in Newtownabbey following an arson attack which police are treating as hate crime (Rebecca Black/PA) Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to the incident, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 68 21/08/24. In a statement on Facebook, the Railway Bar and Steam Dining announced the closure of the business. Our establishment, once a place of joy and community, has fallen victim to a devastating act of organised hate, they said. This venue was more than just a business; it was a piece of history, a place that brought people together and created lasting memories. We are shattered and deeply saddened to see it destroyed. It is heart breaking to see this chapter end in such a tragic way. No matter our skin colour or background, we all share the same goal: to make a living, provide for our families, and offer a space where people can enjoy their time together. As a young Nepalese-British individual, born into a Hindu family, raised and educated in Belfast, I never imagined that my skin colour and religion would make us a target for such a hateful act. My sole intention was to run a business, provide jobs, and make a modest living. Unfortunately, the reality we faced was beyond anything I could have imagined. While this has been a painful experience, I sincerely hope that this crime marks the end of such hatred. The world is vast and full of hope, and we must continue to look forward. North Belfast MP John Finucane (Liam McBurney/PA) North Belfast MP John Finucane described the attack as sickening and deplorable. He added: This business operates to serve our community and employ workers. It is totally unacceptable that it has been targeted in this way. These disgusting and disgraceful attacks which are fuelled by racism, hatred and discrimination have no place in our inclusive and forward-looking society. Those intent on causing hate and stirring up division must face the full force of the law, and I would appeal to anyone who may have information on this incident to bring it forward to police. Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has toasted Brazils decision to grant special protected status to Scotch whisky during a visit to a distillery. Brazils legal recognition of Scotch whiskys special status, which happened during the UKs pre-election period in June, is expected to gives distillers better access to South Americas largest economy. The Geographical Indication will make it easier to tackle counterfeits and give distillers the confidence to increase their exports to the country and could be worth around 25 million over five years, the Department for Business and Trade said. Jonathan Reynolds hailed the move during a visit to Glengoyne Distillery in Killearn on Wednesday (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Reynolds visited Glengoyne Distillery in Killearn, north of Glasgow, on Wednesday to celebrate the move. The Trade Secretary said: Scotch whisky is one of Scotlands finest products and is in high demand across the globe. This Government is committed to maximising Scotlands potential, and todays announcement gives Scottish distillers the confidence they need to export to one of the worlds largest economies without having to compete with fake knock-offs and pale imitations. Businesses who export more are better off, and removing trade barriers like this will unlock more global markets and drive economic growth across the UK. The minister signed a cask after sealing it by hammering in a cork during his distillery visit (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mark Kent, chief executive at the Scotch Whisky Association, said: As the first foreign product to be granted Denomination of Origin status in Brazil since 2019, Scotch whisky now sits beside Tequila, Cognac and Champagne with special legal protection. This is fundamental to ensure that millions of Brazilians can have confidence in the quality and history of what theyre buying. Exports of UK products with a Geographical Indication are estimated to be worth more than 6 billion per year. Scotch exports alone were worth 5.6 billion in 2023, accounting for 74% of Scottish food and drink exports and 22% of all UK food and drink exports. Search for six people missing in sunken superyacht enters third day The search for six people rescuers fear are trapped inside a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily is entering its third day. The Italian Coastguard has not ruled out the possibility that those missing, including technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank. Among those missing are also Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Jeremy Bloomer, Jonathan Bloomers twin brother, told the BBC: Its a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we dont know. Its still wait and see, so fingers crossed. The body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the Bayesian superyacht, the Italian Coastguard told Sky News. Gareth Williams, a friend of the chef, told the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit. Another friend, Eli Fuller, told the outlet Mr Thomas was friends with everybody, always positive and sought after in his profession. Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at around 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm. Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said the six missing tourists were feared dead. Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. Italian emergency services heading towards the area off the Sicilian coast where a luxury yacht sank in a tornado (Jonathan Brady/PA) He told the PA news agency: We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea. Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. #Porticello #Palermo, riprese alle 8 di #oggi le immersioni dei #sommozzatori speleo dei #vigilidelfuoco per le ricerche dei 6 dispersi. Complesso lingresso nello yacht, in atto la pianificazione per aprire accessi piu agevoli e ispezionare linterno [#20agosto 11:00] pic.twitter.com/QRTdGtO8r2 Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 20, 2024 Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco said it is developing a plan to enter the wreckage of Bayesian, which is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres. It described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors trapped inside the wreck. The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside, he said. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. A sign the rescuers may be looking for is a banging noise at regular intervals. This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year. But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict. Of the 22 passengers and crew onboard, 15 including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat. The Mirror reported Ms Bacares is in a state of shock and sadness as she awaits news of her husband. She has reportedly been joined by the couples elder daughter who was not aboard the boat. More of the yachts rescued crew members were named by the Italian Coastguard on Tuesday, with Leo Eppel and South African nationals Leah Randall and Katja Chicken all confirmed as having been on board. Survivors are recuperating at a hotel complex in Porticello where authorities are gathering witness statements. The Telegraph reported authorities are investigating whether hatches left open by crew members contributed to the sinking, as well as what onboard measures were taken in preparation for the storm. The ships captain James Calfield, 51 told Italian media: We didnt see it coming. Mr Lynch, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of conducting a massive fraud relating to the 11 billion US dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. (PA Graphics) The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal. The Financial Times reported that Mr Bloomer appeared at trial as a defence witness for Mr Lynch, while media reports suggest the pair are close friends. A spokesperson for Morgan Stanley said the bank was shocked and saddened while Clifford Chance said it was a tragic incident. David Tabizel, Mr Lynchs Autonomy co-founder, told Sky News: Im just heartbroken for him and his family and I hope theres a miracle about to occur. If anyone has the resilience to survive this he does. And I hope hes found an air pocket. Mr Tabizel added: He has been one of the most influential, intelligent and most honourable human beings I have ever had the honour of knowing. The former school of Mr Lynchs daughter has said its thoughts are with their family and everyone involved. A spokesperson for Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said: We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates. Ed Llewellyn, British ambassador to Italy, met some of the survivors of the sinking at a hotel. Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer (Hiscox/PA) Ayla Ronald, a New Zealand national working at Clifford Chance, survived the ordeal. Her father Lin Ronald confirmed to the Telegraph she had been invited aboard as a thanks for assistance in Mr Lynchs recent court case. Another of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Emsley, told la Repubblica she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning. Charlotte and Sofia were treated in hospital, as was Sofias father, James Emsley. Stephen Chamberlain died after being hit by a car (Cambridgeshire Police/PA) In a separate incident, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in his US fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. In a statement released through Cambridgeshire Police, Mr Chamberlains family said: Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible. Watch: 'I travelled to 16 cities in 6 months using just 11.5 days of annual leave' How much time we can spend away is often dictated by the holiday allowance we have left, but a woman has shared how she managed to travel to 16 places in six months using just 11.5 days of annual leave. Ella Brown, 24, from Hockley, Essex, didn't want her job in PR to get in the way of her time off, so decided to meticulously plan her trips away to really make the most of her annual leave. In the first six months year she has managed to visit 16 destinations, including Croatia, Sorrento in Italy and Munich in Germany, by using the Easter and late May bank holidays and cramming in short breaks over weekends. Brown got the travel bug after taking a gap year in September 2021 and spending three months in America. When she returned to start work in September 2022 she still wanted to still carry on travelling and looked at guides on how to maximise her 25 days off a year. Ella Brown pictured (right) on the South Italian coast and (left) at the Hungarian Parliament Building. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) She initially started looking at dates in December 2023 and planned to fly out to Malaga, Spain, in January 2024 with her boyfriend, Sam, 24, a physiotherapist, using a half day on a Friday and flying back on Sunday. But their flight got diverted on the way back and they ended up spending a day in Paris and using one extra annual leave day. "We made the most of it," she says. "Malaga was incredible. The UK is depressing as a place in winter and it's nice to get a bit of winter sun." In March the couple went to Nantes, France, for a weekend, using no annual leave. "It cost us 170 each for everything," she says. Brown, 24, on her sixth month trip around Europe. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) Brown went away with her family in April over the Easter weekend, taking four days of annual leave. "We did an inter-railing trip," she explains. "We did Rome, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Capri in Italy. "I did love Sorrento," she continues. "We stayed at an Airbnb on a lemon farm." Using just one more day of her annual leave, Brown then went to Zadar, Croatia, for a girls weekend. "It's one of my favourite countries," she says. "It's absolutely beautiful." Brown and her boyfriend also booked five days off for a 10 day trip, using another bank holiday, and travelled around Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt, Munich and Nuremberg. "Hallstatt is the village which inspired Frozen," she says. "It was a hectic 10 days but we saw so much. "We were getting up early and going to bed late. "As soon as you get a focal point in Europe it's so easy. "Some of the trains were cheaper than my daily commute costs." Brown has been travelling with her boyfriend, Sam. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) Brown has also booked nine days off for a trip to Turkey in August and has three days annual leave already taken off for a trip to Mallorca in October. She now has three annual leave days left which she may save for a trip to Australia in January. After carrying two days holiday over from 2023, Brown started the year with 27 annual leave days and also took half a day for a hen do and a day to go and see Taylor Swift. As well as making the most of her annual leave Brown believes travelling doesn't have to be the financial drain some think. Brown collecting oranges in Italy. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) "You can do it for a lot cheaper than people realise," she explains. "We noticed if me and my boyfriend were are home for a weekend we spent 100 to 150 on dinner, brunch, shopping," she says. "That money would pay for us to spend in a different country. "It's a nice way to continue see the world and making the most of weekends and time off," she says of her travels. "I'll click on anywhere on my chosen dates on Skyscanner and it will come up with all the solutions." Brown at the Colosseum in Rome. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) Brown also recommends trying destinations you might not have considered. "Don't turn your nose up at places you might not know," she advises. "You don't realise how many lovely cities there are until you go there. "I look at the time to see where I could strategically book dates. "This year is the first year I've really planned out what I wanted to do. "It's all quite logical. "There is no point putting your love of travel on hold for work." Places Ella has been to this year Malaga Paris Nantes Rome Sorrento Positano Amalfi Capri Zadar Budapest Bratislava Vienna Salzburg Hallstatt Munich Nuremberg Turkey Brown doesn't want her job to get in the way of her love of travelling. (Ella Brown/SWNS) ((Ella Brown/SWNS)) Brown's tips for making the most of your annual leave Plan around bank holidays and weekends to maximise annual leave - "Even though you can maximise using bank holidays you should still be considerate of colleagues" Be as flexible as possible with your destination Book the earliest flights out you can to get more time at a destination Pick a base and travel around to different cities while there Use your weekends for short, budget trips Go out of season for cheaper flights and costs Follow Ella on TikTok and Instagram @thatgingerabroad Additional reporting SWNS. Travel: read more Shan Hanes in Morton County Jail, Kansas. The former CEO of a small Kansas bank was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for looting the bank of $47 million which he sent to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scammers who had duped him in a pig butchering scheme that appealed to his greed, federal prosecutors said. The massive embezzlement by ex-CEO Shan Hanes in a series of wire transfers over just eight weeks last year led to the collapse and FDIC takeover of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart, one of only five U.S. banks that failed in 2023. Hanes, 53, also swindled funds from a local church and investment club and a daughters college savings account to transfer money, purportedly to buy cryptocurrency as the scammers insisted they needed more funds to unlock the supposed returns on his investments, according to records from U.S. District Court in Wichita, Kansas. But Hanes never realized any profit and lost all of the money he stole as a result of the scam. Judge John Broomes on Monday sentenced Hanes to 293 months in prison 29 months more than what prosecutors requested after he pleaded guilty in May to a single count of embezzlement by a bank officer. During the sentencing hearing, I called his actions pure evil, said Brian Mitchell, who for years was Hanes next-door neighbor in Elkhart, a town of 2,000 or so people in southwestern Kansas, north of the Oklahoma panhandle. Mitchell, whose farm and movie theater chain businesses banked at Heartland Tri-State, said there were around 30 shareholders in the bank who attended Hanes sentencing, more than a year after their stock value was wiped out in the failure. More from CNBC Starbucks new CEO will supercommute 1,000 miles from California to Seattle office instead of relocating No empathy, no morals: Three-time MAGA voter, former Trump aide on why they back Harris Fed minutes point to likely rate cut coming in September There were people who lost 70, 80% of their retirement as a result of Hanes actions, Mitchell told CNBC on Wednesday in a phone interview. One local woman is struggling to afford a nursing home for her 93-year-old mother, while another woman cant retire now because of the crime, Mitchell said. Mitchell, who was not a shareholder but who belonged to the investment club victimized by the CEO, said Hanes showed little, if any, remorse for his actions, despite hearing victims tell the judge about the effects of his crime. Shan was facing the judge, and he just looked over his left shoulder for a second, and didnt make eye contact, and said, Sorry, Mitchell recalled, describing the scene in the courtroom. And that was it. But Hanes had a look of absolute shock on his face when Broomes imposed the stiff sentence and ordered the former bank chief taken into custody immediately, Mitchell said. Mitchell said that for years he considered Hanes a good guy, who like other people in Elkhart pitched in to help others in the small community when they needed help, and preached at his local church. Hanes also testified several times before Congress about community banking. But prosecutors and bank regulators said that Hanes, who has three daughters with his school teacher wife, began stealing after being targeted in a pig-butchering scheme in late 2022. That scheme was described in a court filing as a scammer convincing a victim (a pig) to invest in supposedly legitimate virtual currency investment opportunities and then steals the victims money butchering the pig. Hanes, who had served on the board of the American Bankers Association, and been chairman of the Kansas Bankers Association, in December 2022 began making transactions to buy cryptocurrency, which appeared to be precipitated by communication with an unidentified co-conspirator on the electronic messaging app WhatsApp, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. To date, the true identity of the co-conspirator, or conspirators, remain unknown, the filing notes. Hanes initially used personal funds to buy crypto, but in early 2023 he stole $40,000 from Elkhart Church of Christ and $10,000 from the Santa Fe Investment Club, according to prosecutors and a defense filing. He also used $60,000 taken from a daughters college fund, and nearly $1 million in stock from the Elkhart Financial Corporation, his lawyer said in a filing. In May 2023, he began to make wire transfers from Heartland Tri-State Bank to accounts controlled by scammers, at first with a $5,000 transfer. Two weeks later, on May 30, Hanes wired $1.5 million and a day after that, he sent another transfer of the same amount the following day, filings show. Three days later he directed two wire transfers totaling $6.7 million to be sent by the bank to the crypto wallet, and a whopping $10 million less than two weeks later, and another $3.3 million days afterward. Hanes told bank employees to execute the wire transfers, and made many misrepresentations to various people to get access to the funds so they could be transferred, prosecutors wrote. Heartland Tri-State employees circumvented the banks own wire policy and daily limits to approve Hanes wire transfers, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. We believe that the CEOs dominant role in the bank and prominent role in the community contributed to a reluctance on the part of Heartland employees to question or report the alleged fraudulent activities earlier, that report said. Prosecutors wrote that the series of 11 wire transfers from Hanes to the scammer illustrate a common pattern in pig-butchering schemes. First, there is an initial investment followed by another transaction required to secure or guarantee those funds, prosecutors wrote. Further investments may be made, but always require another need for funds, to guarantee or unfreeze the earlier transfers. This pattern is clearly represented in the defendants embezzlement. Mitchell confirmed that to CNBC, saying that he got a call from Hanes at 7:40 a.m. on July 5, 2023. He said, Brian, I need your help, and youre the only guy who can help me, Mitchell recounted. Mitchell, who had survived prostate cancer two decades ago, said he thought Hanes was calling him to say that he had the same type of cancer. But when Mitchell showed up at Heartland Tri-State to meet Hanes, before the bank had officially opened to customers that morning, the CEO told him something much different and stranger. The first thing he says is, Brian, I need to borrow $12 million for ten days, and Ill give you $1 million for loaning it to me, Mitchell recalled. Im sitting there and I said, am I in a bank in Elkhart, Kansas, or in an alley with a loan shark in Chicago. When he asked Hanes what he wanted the money for, Hanes pulls out his phone and acts like hes logging in and he shows me this account that has $40 million, $42 million, Mitchell said. He said, Brian, Ive got this money and its in cryptocurrency, and I need $12 million to help verify the funds. Hanes then hold him he had been in touch with a banker in Denver named Jim and another guy in Oklahoma and they had invested in crypto held in Coinbase accounts, where they had made a lot of money, Mitchell said. I told him, Youre in a scam, dude. Youre in a scam, Mitchell said. I stopped him and said, Is this bank money youre playing with? And he said, No, Brian. Hanes kept telling him he needed the $12 million to activate the funds he had already transferred to the crypto account, which he said was in Hong Kong, Mitchell recalled. I said, Get on a plane, go to Hong Kong, hire an interpreter, and go get a bank check for the funds supposedly held there, Mitchell said. Then I said, Im not going to loan you the money. I said, Youre in a scam, walk away. But later that same day, after Mitchell rebuffed his entreaties, Hanes had bank employees wire $8 million to the scammers accounts, prosecutors said in a court filing. Two days after that, Hanes had employees wire the scammers another $4.4 million. In the meantime, Mitchell, who was unaware of those transfers during that period, said that after meeting with the CEO he was worried that Hanes would get access to customers deposits at the bank and transfer the $12 million that he had asked for. We kept checking our lines of credit, Mitchell said. The next week, I was in the bank, and one of the employees caught me, she just looked so stressed, Mitchell said. The woman told him that Hanes had wired money out of the bank. I said, Dont say another word to me... Ive got to talk to a board member, Mitchell said. And I talked to a board member that night, and he went to talk to an attorney that night, Mitchell recalled. Hanes was fired within days. About two weeks later, on July 28, 2023, Heartland Tri-State was closed by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Shareholders were wiped out, but depositors did not lose any money, as Dream First Bank, National Association, of Syracuse, Kansas, assumed all deposits. Heartland Tri-State, had nearly $140 million in total assets and $130 million in total deposits as of the prior March. Word quickly spread that a scam had led to the banks failure. But Hanes remained uncharged until last February, when he was charged by federal prosecutors with embezzlement. He was separately charged in Morton County, Kansas, state court by the county attorney in a 28-count complaint related to looting the bank. Hanes was under house arrest until his sentencing in federal court this week. I talked to him last month when he was out mowing his yard, Mitchell said. Hanes, who had traveled at one point to Perth, Australia while being scammed to try to recover the funds he transferred, told Mitchell that he believed there had been a way to recover the money up to the point he was arrested. He said ... If I just had another two months I could get the money back, Mitchell recalled. Mitchell said that at Hanes sentencing, Judge Broomes asked Hanes several questions about his actions, but, He didnt really have any good answers. Broomes later looked at the victims in the courtrooms gallery before announcing Hanes sentence. He said ... I want you to forgive Shan. I know that hes hurt you, I know this, but I want you to move on, and I want you to find some joy in your life. Let me discipline him, Mitchell recalled. Broomes also told Hanes that although several people had noted how intelligent the former CEO was, If you were that intelligent you would have stopped this, Mitchell recounted. Hanes lawyer John Stang, who did not respond to a request for comment, in a sentencing submission wrote, Mr. Hanes made some very bad choices after being caught up in an extremely well-run cryptocurrency scam. He was the pig that was butchered, Stang wrote. Mr. Haness vulnerability to the Pig Butcher scheme caused him to make some very bad decisions, for which he is truly sorry for causing damage to the bank and loss to the Stockholders. Kansas U.S. Attorney Kate Brubacher, in a statement, said, Hanes greed knew no bounds. He trespassed his professional obligations, his personal relationships, and federal law. Not only did Shan Hanes betray Heartland Bank and its investors, but his illegal schemes also jeopardized confidence in financial institutions, Brubacher said. It's a happy day for the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck, North Dakota and one of their donkeys. The mama donk has given birth to the perfect newborn a baby boy named Roger. Zoo officials say they've been waiting for months for Roger's arrival. A new baby is always something to celebrate. Speaking with KXNET, zoo employee Brent Weston told them that they'd been anxiously awaiting for the birth to happen. "This is probably the most anticipated event of the summer," Weston explained on August 19. "Our mom, Patty, has made us wait, but there is a new baby donkey, a boy named Roger. Roger was just born a couple of days ago." Mom Patty was in labor for hours before little Roger entered the world finally. "Its been very busy over here," Weston said. "I mean, its always busy in this petting zoo area, but the donkeys have definitely been getting more attention." "Like I said, its been very anticipated," he added. "Shes made us wait. She started showing signs that the baby could be coming any time now a month or two ago. And yeah, we just come in every morning and asked, Is it here yet?'" Thankfully, Roger didn't make his mama wait any longer and he was eventually born. According to the zoo's website, Roger and Patty are both miniature Donkeys. These Donks are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. "While these animals are quite common in the United States, they are extremely rare in their native lands, even being on the verge of becoming extinct," they note. Making Roger's birth all the more special. Most mini Donkeys are 36 inches tall at their withers (that's the spot between their shoulders). And they have a pretty long lifespan too. Most of these animals can live to at least 30 years old. One mini Donkey even lived until it was 47 years old. Many mini Donkeys live on farms in the United States where they act as "watch Donkeys" for the property. This means they keep an eye out for predators who target sheep and goats. This is usually because Donkeys naturally don't like dogs or their much scarier relatives wolves and coyotes. As for Roger, it seems as if the newborn is adjusting to life at the Dakota Zoo easily. Although Weston said that the baby has been known to get a case of the "zoomies" every now and then. Guests can visit Roger, and the zoo's many other residents, from 10 to 6 daily at the Dakota Zoo. 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. CHICAGO Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating if saboteurs placed bugs in a breakfast buffet prepared for delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. "Multiple unknown female offenders are alleged to have entered a building...and began placing unknown objects onto tables containing food," the convention's information center said in a statement. "The offenders are believed to have then left the area. One victim was treated and released on-scene. Along with CPD, FBI-Chicago is assisting in the investigation." One witness told USA TODAY the creatures appeared to be crickets while other reports suggested maggots. The incident took place at Fairmont Hotel, where delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota are staying. More: Dozens arrested near Israel's Chicago consulate as Dems pick Harris "We were all coming down to breakfast, and there were these two women who had hidden themselves in the bathroom," Indiana delegate Karen Tallian told USA TODAY. "And they ran out and threw maggots into the breakfast buffet." Tallian, a retired state senator, said friends who reached the dining room ahead of her had witnessed the contamination. The incident was the most recent example of ongoing efforts to disrupt the convention, including multiple bomb threats at hotels where delegates and other attendees are staying. Fox32-TV reported that the threats were made against at least three hotels. "We ran out every single threat yesterday and they are continuing to come in today," Derek Mayer, the deputy Secret Service special agent in charge, said at a Wednesday morning briefing. What's true and what's false? Sign up for USA TODAY's Checking the Facts newsletter. More: Fashion at the DNC: After speech, Michelle Obama's outfit has internet buzzing No one claimed responsibility for the breakfast buffet outrage. Last month, maggots and other insects were reportedly released at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Chicago has seen nightly protests during the convention by organizations seeking an end to the Gaza war and an end to U.S. military support for Israel. "All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy," Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Barloga said. "We thank the security team for responding swiftly. What's true and what's false? Sign up for USA TODAY's Checking the Facts newsletter. More: Fact-checking DNC Day 3: See what Tim Walz, Bill Clinton get right and wrong The incident occurred around 6:45 am. "We can confirm that a group of individuals caused a disruption at a DNC-related breakfast event at our hotel this morning. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement," Fairmont Chicago officials said in a statement. "Our team acted immediately to clean and sanitize the area, ensuring that the event could continue without further incident. We maintain the highest standards of food safety and cleanliness throughout our property and have strict protocols in place to handle any disruptions." By the time she arrived for breakfast at 7:45, Indiana State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, said, "there was all new food out." The investigation was first reported by WGN. Contributing: Medora Lee, USA TODAY; Brittany Carloni, Indianapolis Star This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI investigating insect incident at Dem breakfast in Chicago Animals are amazing. They constantly surprise us or maybe we just need to stop underestimating them all the time. Just look at two horses who were pasture mates in the past, but were sadly separated. That is until recently, when the two horses saw each other again. And their reunion is bringing everyone to tears. Zazu and Lightning were once thick as thieves. But that all changed when Zazu was brought to a new home. We all know how it feels when your bestie moves away. But these two weren't destined to be apart forever. In a heartwarming video online, it shows the day that Zazu and Lightning saw each other again. Would they recognize each other? Would they get along? The tension was palpable. Related: 6-Month-Old Horse Desperately Tries to Make Friends With the 'Boss Mare' in Adorable Video Zazu was hanging out in his new pasture when his caretaker surprised him with a visit from Lightning. "We just took Lightning in as a lease horse," they explained in the footage. The two immediately recognized each other. Lightning even nickered, which is a horse's way of asking you to come closer. The two took off together, stopping to snack on hay together. "That is so cute!" their caretaker praised. We're incredibly touched by the reunion. People in the comments section were absolutely emotional too. "One of the hardest thing about keeping horses is losing their friends," one person pointed out. "And just like that Lightning went from a lease horse to a permanent horse," someone teased. While another commenter made a very good point. "It makes me so happy and so sad at the same time," they wrote. "Sad because of how humans move animals around without thinking of their emotions. Its clear theyre happy to be reunited," they added. How Horses Communicate Horses obviously can't tell us when they're happy. But they do express themselves. You just have to speak their language. The most obvious horse noise that you're probably familiar with is neighing. But what are they actually saying? A neigh is a horse's way of checking in. It's like them saying "how are you?" It's also how they find the rest of their herd. Squeals are a different story altogether. That means their space has been invaded and is a warning to their fellow horses. Horses also have a tendency to snort. It's not exactly clear why they do this, although researchers in France believe it's their way of showing they're content. You can also take a look at your horse's ears and eyes if you want even more information on how they're feeling. The more time you spend with horses, the more you'll be able to read their feelings. Although we can all easily tell that Zazu and Lightning are as happy as can be. 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. At least four people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded in a Birmingham, Alabama, shooting. A man is in critical condition after a 2-year-old accidentally shot and injured him in Virginia, police said Wednesday. The man had "placed his handgun on a nearby chair" and was getting ready to leave the house in Petersburg Monday morning around 9:50 a.m. when the nearly 3-year-old toddler got hold of it and "accidentally discharged the firearm, shooting the victim," Chesterfield County Police Department said in a news release. The victim was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, police said. A department spokesperson told USA TODAY Wednesday morning the victim's status remained critical. Victim is boyfriend of child's mother No one else in the house, including the child, was injured in the incident, as per the police. While the victim's identity has not yet been released, police said the victim is the boyfriend of the child's mother. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man shot by toddler in accidental shooting at Petersburg, VA home: PD Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told hostage families Tuesday that a cease-fire deal may not be reached and that the Israeli military will not relinquish control of the Gazan-Egyptian border, a key demand of the Hamas militant group. The Hostages Families Forum quoted Netanyahu as saying Israel "will under no circumstances leave the Philadelphia axis and the Netzer Corridor" and that he was "not sure" a deal could be struck. The group accused Netanyahu of refusing any hostage deal. "There is no hope and no heroism in a 'firm' stand that will result in the continued death of all the abductees," the group said in a social media post. "The Israeli government abandoned the abductees on 7.10 and is now abandoning them for good." The Biden administration has been promoting a bridging proposal amid hopes a deal could be hammered out by week's end. After Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel could accept the plan in principle, Hamas released a statement dismissing the plan as little more than a list of Israel's demands. Hours later, President Joe Biden accused Hamas of "backing away" from a deal. Hamas expressed "great astonishment and disapproval" for Biden's claim, blaming the "complete American bias toward the Zionist occupation and the full partnership in the aggression and war of genocide against defenseless civilians in the Gaza Strip." Israel accepts truce plan: US urges Hamas to do the same Developments: Delta Air Lines on Tuesday extended suspension of flights to and from Israel from Aug. 31 to Sept. 30. Earlier, American Airlines extended its flight suspensions until March 29, 2025. Tehran supports any move to end the war in Gaza and help its people but "does not consider the U.S. actions sincere," Iran's Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Alimohammad Naini said. Members of CODEPINK, a feminist, anti-war organization demanding a cease-fire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel, hold signs at Union Park during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. Israel, US blamed for airstrike deaths Gazas Government Media Office condemned Israeli airstrikes on a school and two other locations within several hours Tuesday that it said killed at least 25 Palestinians. At least 12 women and children perished when the Israeli military conducted a strike on a school Israel said was serving as a Hamas command and control center. The military said it took several steps to ease the risk of harming civilians at the Mustafa Khaft School compound in Gaza City but accused Hamas of "brutally exploiting" the civilian population by operating within schools and other public buildings. The airstikes, which also blasted a market in Deir el-Balah and a mobile phone charging point in Khan Younis, wounded dozens, Al Jazeera reported. We hold the Israeli occupation and the American administration fully responsible for the catastrophic and dangerous consequences of these ongoing massacres," the media office said in a statement. Israeli opposition leader: Netanyahu sabotaging talks Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid led a chorus of opposition to Netanyahu, accusing him of trying to derail the cease-fire talks. Others involved in the talks also complained, telling Israel's Kan public broadcaster they believe Netanyahu intentionally derailed the negotiations by telling some hostage families that Israel would not relinquish control of the Gaza-Egypt border under any circumstances. Such a pronouncement was sure to be rejected by Hamas, they said. Lapid said Netanyahu's tactics could be fatal to the hostages still held in Gaza. "Enough with the briefings, enough with the tweets, enough with the rhymes in front of cameras," Lapid wrote in a social media post. "All of Netanyahu's attempts to sabotage the negotiations should stop. Deal now, before they all die." Cause of death for latest recovered hostages unclear Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said he remained determined to bring home all the hostages, from those alive to get medical treatment and counseling to those dead to bury. Hagari declined to say how many hostages were still alive. When asked whether the six bodies of hostages recently recovered were victims of friendly fire, he said army forces would investigate the precise circumstances of their deaths. "We will not give up on any of them," he said, calling it a moral obligation. "But we will not be able to bring back all of them in rescue operations." Israeli expert: Latest turn in talks a win for Israel A former Israeli Intelligence official and regional analyst says Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's rejection of the U.S. cease-fire proposal provides Netanyahu with "maneuvering space" while crippling Irans ability to retaliate against Israel. Avi Melamed, author of Inside The Middle East: Entering A New Era, told USA TODAY the Biden administration blaming Hamas for the failure to consummate a cease-fire deal clears the way for continued U.S. military aid. It also allows Israel to continue the war in Gaza and to attack Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon with little concern that either Iran or Hezbollah would risk a bold counterstrike that could draw the U.S. directly into the fray. "Unless Sinwar compromises, its unlikely a deal is immediately within reach," and Israel will continue its unrelenting offensive, Melamed said. Blinken meets with Egypt's El-Sisi Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Tuesday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, thanking him for his role in trying to mediate a cease-fire. Blinken stressed the importance of working together to prevent regional escalation of violence, the State Department said in a statement. The Egyptian state-run media said El-Sisi emphasized to Blinken that a cease-fire in Gaza must mark the beginning of broader international recognition of an independent Palestinian state and the enforcement of the two-state solution. Israel and Netanyahu, however, have repeatedly rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty. Body of war hero among hostage remains retrieved by Israel Israel retrieved the bodies of six hostages from the Gaza Strip, the military said Tuesday. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the bodies of Yagev Buchshtab, Alexander Dancyg, Abraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell and Chaim Peri were recovered by Israeli soldiers from tunnels under the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Zahiro Shahar Mor, the nephew of Munder, said Israeli authorities had "torpedoed" proposals that could have brought the hostages safely home. "My uncle was a war hero who lived his whole life building the country," Mor said. "Hamas took him but the continuous abandonment is on the hands of the Israeli government." Israeli officials say 109 hostages are believed to be held in Gaza, although many of them are thought to be dead. Threatening words: Hamas, Iran vow to respond to killing of Ismail Haniyeh Iran retaliation could be delayed There could be a long wait for Iranian retaliation against Israel for killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran three weeks ago, said Naini, the Revolutionary Guards spokesperson. "Time is in our favor and the waiting period for this response could be long," Naini said. Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed after attending an inauguration ceremony for the new Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas and Iran immediately blamed Israel, which has pledged to take down Hamas leaders responsible for the Oct. 7 attack that left almost 1,200 people dead and about 250 taken hostage. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh's killing. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war: Netanyahu says cease-fire may not happen By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - A federal judge in California on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit accusing social media platform X of forcing out workers with disabilities after Elon Musk took over the company and barred employees from working remotely. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in San Francisco said the plaintiff in the 2022 proposed class action, Dmitry Borodaenko, failed to show how Musk's mandate to return to the office specifically impacted employees with disabilities. The judge gave him four weeks to file an amended lawsuit including more detailed claims. Borodaenko, a former engineering manager and cancer survivor, claims he was fired shortly after Musk acquired X, then called Twitter, for refusing to report to the office during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit claims X violated a federal law requiring employers to accommodate workers' disabilities. Musk said in a memo to the company's staff in November 2022 that employees should be prepared to work "long hours at high intensity" or quit, and later tweeted that it was "morally wrong" to work from home. Martinez-Olguin on Wednesday said the ban on remote work did not amount to disability discrimination. "Borodaenkos theory improperly relies on the assumption that all employees with disabilities necessarily required remote work as a reasonable accommodation," Martinez-Olguin wrote. A lawyer for Borodaenko did not immediately respond to a request for comment. X responded to multiple requests for comment with emails stating "busy now, please check back later." The lawsuit is one of several that former employees filed in the months following Musk's $44 billion acquisition of the company and the ensuing layoffs of about 75% of its workforce. Other cases accuse Twitter of not giving employees and contractors advance notice of layoffs, failing to pay billions of dollars in promised severance, and disproportionately targeting women and older workers for job cuts. X has denied wrongdoing. Some of those cases have been dismissed, prompting appeals from the plaintiffs that are pending. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and David Gregorio) Mpox has been making headlines ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global health emergency last week. Considering that, its totally fair to have questions about the virus, including its symptoms. The form of mpox thats currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and several other African countries is different than the type that has been circulating in the U.S. at very low levels since 2022. Still, the type of mpox thats currently spreading in Africaknown as clade Ihas been detected in Sweden, raising concerns that it may continue to spread outside of Africa. Clade I mpox has not been detected in the U.S. so far and infectious disease doctors are generally not worried about mpox causing a pandemic. But its also natural to have questions, especially given how much chatter it's gotten lately. With that in mind, heres what you should know about the symptoms of mpox. Meet the expert: Infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. What are the first symptoms of mpox? Mpox doesnt cause any symptoms at first, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Once youre infected, the virus has an incubation period of three to 17 days, where you'll likely feel fine. From there, you may develop flu-like symptoms. The first symptoms are fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, and swollen lymph nodes, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. The CDC says you may also experience these symptoms: Exhaustion Headache Respiratory symptoms (including a sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough) Rash After the flu-like symptoms show up, people with mpox usually get a rash on the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals, per the CDC. The rash can look like pimples or blisters, and can be painful or itchy. It also may go through several stagesincluding scabsbefore it heals, according to the CDC. How is mpox treated? The current standard treatment for mpox is an antiviral medication known as tecovirimat, but its not always used. Most people do not need treatment for monkeypox, Adalja says. However, tecovirimat is given to those severe disease or who are immunocompromised. Recent research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the drug did not reduce the length of time children and adults had mpox lesions during a clade I infection. But Adalja says that doesnt mean that tecovirimat is ineffective. The cases of mpox that are occurring in the United States currently are clade II, he points out. (And tecovirimat has been found to be effective against this clade.) Also, the study did show a trend towards benefit in severe clade I infection. Meaning, if you become seriously ill with mpox, tecovirimat should be able to help. What should I do if I suspect I have mpox? If you develop a rash and flu-like symptoms in the United States right now and havent recently traveled to areas in Africa where mpox is circulating, the odds are pretty low that you have the virus. Still, its possible to contract the virus in the U.S. If someone suspects they may have mpox, they should seek medical attention and reduce close contact with others until seen by a medical professional, Adalja says. You Might Also Like TODAY In an age of text messages and emails, it might seem a bit dated to drop a letter in the mailbox. But there are still plenty of reasons to send mail the old-fashioned way. For instance, a wedding or other invitation is best received via snail mail because while a text or evite is pretty much instantaneous, its not quite the same as getting an official hard copy to have on hand. And while birthday wishes are meaningful no matter how theyre conveyed, getting a funny or sweet card in the mail is an especially thoughtful way to recognize someone special. The same goes for a Christmas or sympathy card. If youve got something to send and are wondering how to properly address an envelope, were here to offer some assistance. Addressing an envelope takes some thought to do it properly, according to Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert at the Protocol School of Texas. I always use the name of the person, including an honorific when appropriate, Gottsman tells TODAY.com. Do not abbreviate the city and state for a formal envelope and make sure and include a return address. But thats just the beginning. Read on to learn, step-by-step, how to correctly address an envelope along with some additional guidance on using labels and other helpful tips. How to address an envelope How to address an envelope (TODAY / TODAY) Write the return address in the top left corner. Write the recipient's address slightly centered on the bottom half of the envelope. Place the stamp in the top right corner. There are two addresses that are typically seen on the envelope, but only one is technically required: the recipient's. The sender's address isn't necessary, but it is recommended. If there are any mistakes that prevent the delivery of the letter, the lack of a return address means the post office will be unable to send it back in order to fix any problems. How to write the sender's (return) address How to write a return address (TODAY / TODAY) Start with your full name. Write your street address on the next line. Use two lines, if needed. Follow that line with the city, state and ZIP code of your address. How to write the recipient's address How to write an address (TODAY / TODAY) For informal letters, follow the same format as the sender's address. If sending a letter to someone at a specific business, the first line should be the company's name. In the next line, follow "ATTN:" or "c/o" with the individual's name. If the letter is not to someone at a specific business, the first line should simply be their name. The next lines two should be the street address, city, state and ZIP code. How to format military addresses (APO, FPO, DPO) How to format a military address (TODAY / TODAY) Even though they follow the same format as regular addresses, military addresses don't use the city and state names that many are used to. The city name will be either APO (Air/Army Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office) or DPO (Diplomatic Post Office). For the state, AA (Armed Forces America), AE (Armed Forces Europe) and AP (Armed Forces Pacific) are used, depending on the duty station. The ZIP code is the same, but sometimes the extra four number code is required for delivery. How to write an international shipping address How to write an international shipping address (TODAY / TODAY) If sending a letter to an overseas address that isn't military, the address format typically stays the same just with the addition of the country name as the last line. Some countries place the ZIP code in front of the city and country but it varies from country to country, so just check to be sure. How to find the "ZIP+4" code If you're unsure of the extra four-number code, USPS has a ZIP code lookup tool on their website. Choose to look up the ZIP code by address and enter all the required information. Press "Find" and USPS will give you the ZIP+4 code. How many stamps to use and mailing costs How many stamps should you use (TODAY / TODAY) Placing the stamp on a envelope is easy, it simply goes in the upper righthand corner. Knowing which stamps and how many to use can be the tricky part, however. In July of 2024, a postage rate change went into effect leading to new pricing on sending mail. For a standard 1-ounce letter being mailed in the U.S., the price of a postage stamp is now 73 cents. Square, oversized and oddly-shaped envelopes start at $1.19. Standard, rectangular postcards cost 56 cents to mail. On a standard letter, each additional ounce over 1 ounce requires additional postage of 28 cents per ounce. Purchasing Forever stamps is always a good idea because even when stamp prices increase, they remain usable regardless of how much new stamps cost, which is why they're known as "Forever" stamps. Sending a 1-ounce letter internationally, including Canada, Great Britain and more than 180 other countries, costs $1.65. For larger envelopes, postage prices will vary depending on weight, size and destination. Global Forever stamps are available for purchase and work just like the U.S. ones; once purchased, they remain usable indefinitely, even if prices increase. With the appropriate stamp, accurate addresses for both the sender and the recipient, and the right placement of all three on the envelope, your letter is ready for mailing. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Tuesday inspected Chechen troops and volunteers readying to fight Ukraine, the Kremlin said, in what was Putin's first trip in 13 years to the North Caucasus republic. The previously unannounced trip to the mostly Muslim republic that is part of Russia comes as Moscow fights to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk region two weeks after they smashed through the border in the largest invasion of Russia since World War Two. "As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible," Putin told troops at the Russian Special Forces University, a training school in Chechnya's Gudermes, according to a transcript on the Kremlin's website. "It is one thing to shoot at a shooting range here, and another thing to put your life and health at risk. But you have an inner need to defend the Fatherland and the courage to make such a decision." The foreign occupation of Russian land has been an embarrassment for Putin and his army, even as Russian forces continue their gradual but steady advances on the frontline in eastern Ukraine. Kadyrov, sanctioned by the United States in 2020 and in 2022 for alleged human rights abuses and mobilising Chechen troops to fight Ukraine, told Putin at a separate meeting on Tuesday that Chechnya had sent more than 47,000 troops since the start of the war to fight Ukraine, including about 19,000 volunteers. Kadyrov has often described himself as Putin's "foot soldier." When asked by a journalist whether "Putin's foot soldiers" like Kadyrov justify his trust, Putin said "If I had more of these foot soldiers, I would be very happy, but even one such foot soldier is worth a lot", reported the RIA agency. BESLAN AND KURSK Before heading to Chechnya, Putin visited for the first time in at least 16 years the town Beslan in North Ossetia. The 2004 school siege by Islamic militants there left more than 330 dead in what has been the bloodiest incident of its kind in modern Russian history. Among those killed were 136 children, Putin said at a meeting in Beslan with the mothers of the children killed in the attack. "This tragedy will remain an unhealed wound in the historical memory of all of Russia," Putin said, according to the transcript published on the Kremlin's website. But he also added that Russia continues to face enemies that try to destabilise the country. "And just as we fought terrorists, today we have to fight those who commit crimes in the Kursk region, in Donbas," Putin said, referring to Ukraine's surprise incursion into the Russian territory and the broader Donbas region in Ukraine's southeast, which Russian forces partially control. "We will punish the criminals. There can be no doubt about this." (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates and Michael Perry) Congressional Republicans have ordered Columbia University to hand over all records related to recent conversations among high-level administrators about antisemitism on the New York City school's campus. In a legally binding request on Wednesday, North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx demanded to see any communications about antisemitism between the university's former president and other top campus officials since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. A former college administrator who is a major critic of higher education, Foxx accused the school of not sufficiently cooperating with legislators' efforts to understand what prompted some Jewish students and staff to feel unsafe as anti-war protests overtook the campus last spring. The subpoena came nearly a week after the university's president resigned under internal and external pressure prompted by her handling of student protests. Minouche Shafik, a former World Bank executive and Columbia's first woman president, was only a year into the job and stepped down just before the start of a new academic year. Columbia president resigns: Minouche Shafik steps down months after protests over the Israel-Hamas war In a statement, Columbia spokesperson Ben Chang said the university has complied with lawmakers' requests and is dedicated to combating all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism. "We have provided thousands of documents over the past seven months in response to the committees dozens of ongoing requests, and we remain committed to cooperating with the committee," he said. Zachary Schermele covers education and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In antisemitism probe, GOP congresswoman subpoenas Columbia Ukraines bold military incursion into Russia has caught President Vladimir Putin off guard and impressed NATO countries, but U.S. officials are concerned that if the operation continues, Kyivs forces could be stretched too thin. Russia, so far, has struggled to organize an effective response to the Aug. 6 surprise Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, which has forced it to divert some troops from Ukraine to shore up its defenses inside Russia itself, according to three U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter. But the number of troops that Russia has had to withdraw from Ukraine is not significant, said one of the U.S. officials, and it remains unclear if the Russian military will be forced to scale back its presence along front lines near Kharkiv or elsewhere. So far, Russia has yet to mobilize enough combat power to retake the territory captured by Ukraine. U.S. officials and military analysts warn that there is a risk that Ukraines supply lines could be overextended as it tries to sustain troops fighting inside Russia as well as fend off Russian assaults across eastern Ukraine. Its a concern, said one U.S. official. As Ukrainian troops push forward inside Russia, including attacks on key bridges leading into the area, Moscows forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine, near the city of Pokrovsk. U.S. officials say the precise objectives of the Ukrainian offensive inside Russia remain unclear, including whether Kyiv intends to hold on to captured territory indefinitely to use as a bargaining chip in potential peace negotiations, or pull back into Ukraine. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that the Ukrainians clearly have compelled the Russians to struggle in their response. It has certainly demonstrated the creativity and the battlefield prowess of the Ukrainians, Ryder said. But when it comes to what their longer-term objectives are, thats something that were still discussing with them. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, on Monday about battlefield dynamics, Ukraines ongoing operations, and Ukrainian reconstitution and training efforts, the Pentagon said in a statement. Soldiers at the Ukraine-Russia border checkpoint in Sudzha, Russia, on Aug. 16. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that the offensive is aimed at creating a buffer zone along Ukraine's border to protect it from Russian aerial bombardment and wear down Russias military. In a speech, Zelenskyy said the offensive has shown that Russias threats of retaliation amount to bluster and that Ukraines supporters should ease restrictions on the use of Western-made weapons. We are witnessing a significant ideological shift the naive, illusory concept of so-called red lines regarding Russia, which dominated the assessment of the war by some partners, has crumbled these days somewhere near Sudzha, Zelenskyy said, referring to a town in western Russia now occupied by Ukrainian troops. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had seized more than 480 square miles and 92 settlements in Russias Kursk region. But it is unclear whether they can hold the territory for an extended period. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a U.K.-based think tank, said that if Ukraine tries to retain control of the captured area inside Russia, its troops would soon be vulnerable to heavy Russian air and ground attacks. The challenge is that it looks like the Ukrainians might be about to consolidate and dig in, Savill said. Once they do that, and their rate of advance has slowed, they will become a target. And so the question for them is, how long are they planning to endure? If Ukraine tries to hold on to territory around Kursk for several months, that is going to be tough just to logistically supply that in the face of Russian air attack, added Savill, a former senior official in the U.K. ministry of defense. But Savill said there was a chance that Ukraines assault in the Kursk region could force Russia to bolster its ranks and pull out large numbers of troops north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which has been under intense pressure from Russian forces for months. Savill, other former officials and analysts have said Ukraines incursion was designed to change perceptions of the war in the Kremlin, inside Ukraine and among Western allies. They have shown that they go on the attack. They can pose a threat, he said. They have probably changed calculations in Moscow about the extent to which it needs to defend more effectively along the whole line. Taylor Swift has broken her silence on the alleged terrorist plot thwarted at her canceled Vienna shows earlier this month. The pop star, who performed the last of five shows at London's Wembley stadium Tuesday, paid tribute to the end of the European leg of her Eras Tour in an Instagram post Wednesday. In a lengthy caption, she let fans know that it was for their safety that she waited until this moment to address the Vienna situation. "Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows," Swift wrote in the caption. "But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives." She continued: "I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together. I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us." "Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows," she wrote. "In cases like this one, silence is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when its right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that." What happened? Everything to know about arrests, Swift's past security concerns Three people have been arrested in relation to the suspected terrorist plot that had been planned for one of Swift's Vienna shows on Aug. 8-10. The suspects are an 18-year-old Iraqi national, a 19-year-old Austrian living in a town near the Hungarian border, and a 17-year-old boy hired by a company that was to provide services to the Ernst Happel Stadium. On Aug. 7, the three scheduled shows at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium were canceled after the Vienna Federal Ministry of the Interior officials confirmed arrests were made in relation to "planned attacks at major events." These were the first shows to be canceled on the tour, which launched in March 2023. The Eras Tour is nearing its end after a year and a half and nearly 130 shows. Swift will return to North America in the fall and winter to perform in Miami (Oct. 18-20), New Orleans (Oct. 25-27), Indianapolis (Nov. 1-3), Toronto (Nov. 14-16, 21-23) and Vancouver (Dec. 6-8). Latest on Vienna concerts: US confirms role in identifying alleged terrorist plot Read Taylor Swift's full statement on canceled Vienna shows: "In summation," her Aug. 21 Instagram caption began. "We have officially wrapped the European leg of The Eras Tour. With it came the most passionate crowds Ive ever played for, new traditions in the show, and an entirely new era added in. It was a more hectic pace than wed done before, and Im so proud of my crew/fellow performers for being able to physically perform that show and build our massive stage, take it apart, and make magic with so few days in between for recovery and travel. Theyre the most impressive people I know and Im so lucky they gave The Eras Tour their time, their energy, and their expertise. "Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions. Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. "I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together. I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us. "Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows. "In cases like this one, silence is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when its right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. "And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there. Our reporter's view: Ed Sheeran joins Taylor Swift onstage for epic triple mashup "We had some EPIC surprise performances from my long time friends @teddysphotos, @florenceandthemachine, and @jackantonoff. Performing Florida!!! with Flo for the first time was unforgettable and Ed took me right back to our old Red Tour memories. It was the most dizzying honor to become the first solo artist to play Wembley 8 times in one tour. "To the fans who have seen us this summer, youll always have the most sparkling place in my memories. You were a dream to perform for, dance with, and share those magical moments with. Well see you all again when we resume The Eras Tour in October, but for now we get to take a much needed rest. Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. May it continue" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Swift breaks silence on Vienna terrorist plot: Full statement Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here. With mpox cases on the move after a surge in cases in Africa, travelers may fear risks to their health. The disease formerly monkeypox has been on the rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries. The first case outside Africa was detected in Sweden last week. The type circulating there known as clade I is different from clade II, which has been in the U.S. after a global outbreak in 2022. A new variant, clade Ib, appears to be more transmissible and deadly. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. But travelers dont need to be too concerned yet. I think they ought to note this, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert and professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told USA TODAY. I dont know that they should be worried about it. What is mpox? Mpox is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People usually get mpox through contact with the skin lesions or bodily fluids of infected wild animals in Africa (alive or dead) or humans, including respiratory secretions, or through contact with materials contaminated with the virus such as bedding clothing, and sex toys, the health agency said on its website. The virus can also be contracted during sex or other close contact. Headache, muscle aches, rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever are among the common symptoms. At least a dozen African countries with outbreaks have seen more than 2,800 confirmed cases this year and over 500 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. There are more than 17,000 suspected cases across the continent. Should travelers be worried about mpox? Schaffner recommended travelers going to African countries where the virus has been circulating get vaccinated before they go given the highly communicable nature of the new strain. The CDC has a Level 2 advisory in place for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries, warning travelers to practice enhanced precautions. I think if youre traveling to other countries at the moment, theres essentially no risk, Schaffner added. Thailand has detected an mpox case in a European man who arrived from Africa last week and is awaiting test results to determine the strain, a disease control official said Wednesday. Though clade II cases in the U.S. have primarily been seen among men who have sex with men though anyone can become infected Schaffner said the clade I cases circulating in Africa appear to be more generally distributed. How can travelers protect their health? Travelers who got vaccinated for mpox in the wake of the 2022 outbreak dont need a booster at the moment, according to Schaffner. It looks as though your protection will still be viable, and so that's a very good thing, he said. The CDC also recommended travelers to the DRC or neighboring countries avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of mpox and wild animals such as rats, squirrels and monkeys living or dead. Visitors should also steer clear of meat or products derived from wild animals, including lotions, creams and powders, and avoid contaminated materials. Schaffner said hotel bedding and other linens are safe, provided theyre appropriately laundered. Travelers who get a new, unexplained skin rash should immediately seek medical care. Schaffner said infectious disease experts expect further spread of mpox to other countries and recommended travelers stay tuned for developments. The world is a very small place, he said. These viruses travel with us. They don't need passports. Contributing: Pararat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um, Reuters Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Should I travel amid mpox outbreaks? What to know. NEW YORK (AP) A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined with moderate confidence that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. I think this (report) is crucial in our understanding of this risk, said Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who has studied the effect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their children. She called it the most rigorously conducted report of its kind. The long-awaited report released Wednesday comes from the National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It summarizes a review of studies, conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, that concludes that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in kids. The report did not try to quantify exactly how many IQ points might be lost at different levels of fluoride exposure. But some of the studies reviewed in the report suggested IQ was 2 to 5 points lower in children who'd had higher exposures. Since 2015, federal health officials have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, and for five decades before the recommended upper range was 1.2. The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5. The report said that about 0.6% of the U.S. population about 1.9 million people are on water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher. The findings from this report raise the questions about how these people can be protected and what makes the most sense, Malin said. The 324-page report did not reach a conclusion about the risks of lower levels of fluoride, saying more study is needed. It also did not answer what high levels of fluoride might do to adults. The American Dental Association, which champions water fluoridation, had been critical of earlier versions of the new analysis and Malins research. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman late Wednesday afternoon emailed that the organizations experts were still reviewing the report. Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in water and soil. About 80 years ago, scientists discovered that people whose water supplies naturally had more fluoride also had fewer cavities, triggering a push to get more Americans to use fluoride for better dental health. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first U.S. city to start adding fluoride to tap water. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market several years later. Though fluoride can come from a number of sources, drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say. Officials lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels in 2015 to address a tooth condition called fluorosis, that can cause splotches on teeth and was becoming more common in U.S. kids. Separately, the Environmental Protection Agency has maintained a longstanding requirement that water systems cannot have more than 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter. That standard is designed to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a potentially crippling disorder which causes weaker bones, stiffness and pain. But more and more studies have increasingly pointed to a different problem, suggesting a link between higher levels of fluoride and brain development. Researchers wondered about the impact on developing fetuses and very young children who might ingest water with baby formula. Studies in animals showed fluoride could impact neurochemistry cell function in brain regions responsible for learning, memory, executive function and behavior. In 2006, the National Research Council, a private nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., said limited evidence from China pointed to neurological effects in people exposed to high levels of fluoride. It called for more research into the effect of fluoride on intelligence. After more research continued to raise questions, the National Toxicology Program in 2016 started working on a review of the available studies that could provide guidance on whether new fluoride-limiting measures were needed. There were earlier drafts but the final document has repeatedly been held up. At one point, a committee of experts said available research did not support an earlier draft's conclusions. Since fluoride is such an important topic to the public and to public health officials, it was imperative that we made every effort to get the science right, said Rick Woychik, director of the National Toxicology Program, in a statement. Malin said it makes sense for pregnant women to lower their fluoride intake, not only from water but also from certain types of tea. It might also make sense to have policy discussions about whether to require fluoride-content on beverage labels, she said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice presidential nominee, made a pitch to supporters of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after Kennedys running mate suggested the two campaigns may join forces. Ive never talked to RFK about this, but my pitch to him and to a lot of his voters would be, the Democratic Party of my grandparents that supported his uncle, John F. Kennedy, for president has been completely abandoned by the modern leadership of the Democratic Party, Vance said Wednesday on Fox Newss Fox And Friends. Vance said he thinks it would be good for former President Trumps campaign to team up with Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan. He criticized the current Democratic Party, contrasting it with Democrats from years ago who he said cared about strong borders, American manufacturing and strong national security. This modern Democratic Party is focused on division. Its focused on putting people into racial and gender buckets and then using those divisions for political power, and it doesnt believe in anything common sense like American manufacturing or a strong American border, Vance said. Kennedys long-shot campaign is waning as support for Trump and Vice President Harris has swelled at their respective nomination conventions in recent weeks. Shanahan, Kennedys running mate and a political newcomer, strongly implied on a podcast Tuesday that the campaign could come to an end soon to support Trump. We are taking a very serious look at making sure that the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November, she said. Shanahan said the Kennedy campaign has two options: It can stay in the race but run the risk of a Harris presidency by pulling votes away from Trump, or it can walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump. Vance said he believes the Democratic Party has gone so far in the leftward direction that Kennedy wouldnt be welcome, should his campaign end and he want to join Harris. He said he hopes Kennedy endorses Trump and joins their effort, because this [is] about saving the country, Democrat or Republican. Its about saving the country through common sense. And unfortunately, theres only one political party that really represents common sense anymore. Its Donald J. Trumps Republican Party, Vance said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A long-awaited moment brought a flood of joyful tears to 5-year-old Cataleya when she finally met her baby sister. Cataleya had been dreaming of having a sister since she was just 3 years old. When her mom, Indhira Ferreira, and dad, Daniel Perez, shared the news of their pregnancy, Cataleya's happiness was so overwhelming that she cried tears of joy. But nothing could have prepared her for the incredible emotions she felt when she met her little sister, Valeria, for the first time at a hospital in Lancaster, California. Their bond has been amazing from the start, said Indhira. Cataleya loves helping with Valeria - whether its fetching diapers or assisting with bath time - its the cutest thing ever! Watch the video above to see Cataleya meeting and holding her baby sister for the first time! Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch this little girl's happy tears when she meets a newborn sister 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. by Arundathie Abeysinghe The number of women seeking work abroad continues to rise: from 40 percent in the pre-pandemic period to 46 percent in 2023. The main destination remains the Middle East, where they find employment mainly as domestic workers. The government is trying to reverse this trend, but still more than a thousand choose to expatriate every month. Colombo (AsiaNews) - A study conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has revealed that the number of Sri Lankan women seeking employment abroad has increased by 2 percent since 2023. In fact, the figure rose to 46 percent in 2023, while it was about 40 percent in the pre-Covid-19 pandemic period. Since 2022, the Colombo government has promoted overseas employment as a response to the worst economic crisis the island nation faced during the post-independence era. However, the decision has proven to be a double-edged sword: since most women who leave for overseas employment are under the age of 45, the choice to expatriate has proven to be one of the key factors in contributing to declining fertility rates. According to data provided by the United Nations International Migrant Stock, there are currently about 214 million international migrants in the world, representing 3.1 percent of the global population. A large proportion of these, the study continues, come from Sri Lanka and are employed as domestic workers in Middle Eastern countries such as the U.A.E., Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon. The island is also one of three Asian countries, along with the Philippines and Indonesia, where women seeking work abroad make up between 60 and 70 percent of legal migrants. Most of these women are employed across the border as domestic workers. Since the 1980s, Sri Lankan women choosing to migrate in search of work have surpassed those of men, and the main destination has been the Middle East. Medical counselors Samantha Jayatissa and Nilanthi Gamage explain to Asia News that most of these women are married and have at least one child. They have left their children with elderly parents or their husbands, while some women are newly married and childless. Sometimes, some female workers are not married. Among the reasons for migration, the experts continue, are poverty, domestic violence or alcohol and drug addiction of the spouse resulting in their choice to leave the country. They work for several years abroad and by the time they return home, their childbearing age has dropped. This situation is widespread in both urban and rural areas. Domestic policy experts and scholars agree that most Sri Lankan women seek work abroad as a source of income that would help them shed debt burdens and alleviate financial difficulties at home. Their hope is to return as soon as possible, but often behind this decision to return are almost no plans as far as their long-term economic sustainability is concerned. In fact, they rarely see the need to reintegrate as they do not understand the economic and labor market conditions until they try to reintegrate into their usual life back home. The most distressing situation occurs once they return home, when they lose hope of bearing children and starting a family, having reached the age of 50. Most families in urban and rural areas are disappointed by this situation. This has also affected the demographic condition of the country. According to senior officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (Slbfe), unskilled and low-educated women have outnumbered men and other categories of skilled workers seeking work abroad in recent years. In addition, these migrant women-comprised largely of domestic workers-have taken on another percentage of inward remittances. Recently, but extremely belatedly, the problem of women between the ages of 21 and 40 (of childbearing age) seeking work abroad has attracted the attention of policymakers. However, there is no immediate and viable solution to the problem, while the exodus continues with at least 1,000 to 1,200 female workers seeking work abroad each month as caregivers or domestic workers. Today's news: Pakistani Shiite pilgrim bus overturns in Iran, 28 dead; Total sentences of 4.4 million years in prison for Uyghurs in China; One year after Fukushima water release begins, South Korea discloses that no radioactivity hazards in its sea and fish; Ukrainian parliament bans activities of Orthodox Church linked to Moscow Patriarchate. INDIA-MALAYSIA India and Malaysia revived their relations with the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to New Delhi. Relations had soured in 2019 when then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad condemned Modi's choices on Kashmir and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. We have decided that we will elevate our cooperation to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday after the talks. PAKISTAN-IRAN A bus carrying Pakistani Shiite pilgrims has overturned in central Iran, killing 28 passengers and injuring 23 others. The accident occurred in the central Iranian province of Yazd and was caused by a technical defect in the bus' braking system. Millions of Shiite Muslims are currently taking part in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq's Karbala governorate. CHINA Uyghurs imprisoned by China in the western region of Xinjiang have been sentenced to a total of 4.4 million years, according to a report by Yale University's Genocide Studies Program. The figure highlights the scale and severity of the Chinese government's crackdown on the mostly Muslim Uighurs since 2017, when thousands of Uighurs and other Turkic minorities were herded into re-education camps and prisons. SOUTH KOREA-JAPAN Radioactivity levels in the waters around the Korean peninsula have never exceeded the safe limit since Japan began releasing treated water from its Fukushima nuclear power plant a year ago. The Korean government said this today, drawing an initial balance. In 12 months, South Korea has completed 49,633 tests on radioactive levels. There has not been a single case that has passed the radioactive safety criteria in tests on our waters, on our fisheries, Vice Minister Kim Jong-moon said. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia has introduced a new investment law in an effort to attract foreign direct capital, simplify financial processes and continue to diversify its economy away from oil. The new law also allows foreign investment in the country's special economic zones without. Only sectors related to national security will be restricted to Saudi nationals. UKRAINE-RUSSIA The Verkhovnaja Rada in Kiev approved by 265 votes out of 450 a law banning the activities of religious associations in Ukraine that have ties to Russia, primarily the Orthodox Upz Church, whose communities will be given nine months to break all relations with Moscow, which according to President Zelenskyj uses the Church to threaten independence. RUSSIA The vast majority of taxi drivers in Russia will not be able to work as of September 1, as they have not received the new type of work permit, introduced mainly to weed out illegal migrants, with a new insurance policy will liability to passengers, and the association of 2.5 million taxi drivers has appealed to the government. In his weekly Wednesday catechesis, recalling today's feast of St. Pius X, Francis addressed a thought for all catechists and catechists: They work so hard, in some parts of the world they are the first to carry out the faith: may the Lord give them courage. The invitation to continue praying for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine and other war-torn parts of the world. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to spread the good odor of Christ in the world. Pope Francis explained this today while addressing the faithful present in the Paul VI Hall for the weekly Wednesday audience. Continuing the cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Holy Spirit, Francis commented on Jesus' words, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me (Lk. 4:18). In the baptism in the Jordan River, the pontiff commented, God the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit,' that is, He anointed Jesus as King, Prophet and Priest. In fact, with fragrant oil kings, prophets and priests were anointed in the Old Testament. In the case of Christ, instead of physical oil, there is spiritual oil, which is the Holy Spirit; instead of symbol there is reality. Jesus, the pope continued, was filled with the Holy Spirit from the first moment of his Incarnation. That, however, was a 'personal grace,' incommunicable; now, instead, he receives the fullness of the gift of the Spirit for his mission which, as head, he will communicate to his body which is the Church. Therefore, the Church is the new 'royal, prophetic and priestly people.' The Hebrew term 'Messiah' and the corresponding Greek term 'Christ,' both referring to Jesus, mean 'anointed one.' Will our very name 'Christians' be explained by the Fathers in the literal sense of 'anointed in imitation of Christ? Besides through the wind, then, the Spirit is also symbolized by oil. What does this teach us? The pope responded by quoting the Holy Thursday Mass oration during which the bishop, consecrating the oil known as Chrism, says referring to those who will receive the anointing in Baptism and Confirmation, May this anointing penetrate and sanctify them, so that, freed from their native corruption and consecrated temple of his glory, they may spread the fragrance of a holy life. We know that, unfortunately, sometimes Christians do not spread the fragrance of Christ, Francis commented, but the bad smell of their own sin. This, however, should not distract us from the commitment to realize, as much as we can and each one in his own environment, this sublime vocation of being the good odor of Christ in the world. The fragrance of Christ is given off by the fruits of the Spirit, which are 'love, joy, peace, magnanimity, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control' (Gal 5:22). If we strive to cultivate these fruits, he concluded, then, without our being aware of it, someone will feel some of the fragrance of Christ's Spirit around us. Greeting then the groups of pilgrims present, he took the opportunity of today's feast of St. Pius X to address a thought to all our catechists and catechists: They carry on so much work, he said, in some parts of the world they are the first to carry on the faith. Let us pray today for the catechists: may the Lord make them courageous and may they go forward. Finally, the pope also renewed today his invitation to continue to pray for peace: Let us not forget the martyred Ukraine that is suffering so much, let us not forget Myanmar, Su Sudan North Kivu and so many countries that are at war. Let us pray for peace. And let us not forget Palestine and Israel, may there be peace. Chinese Paralympics delegation to leave for Paris on Wednesday Xinhua) 10:01, August 21, 2024 BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Paralympic delegation will leave for Paris on Wednesday in two batches, which was announced at a motivational conference held here in Beijing on Tuesday, with all delegation members' taking part. At the conference, Cheng Kai, leader of the Chinese Paralympics delegation, also the president of China's Disabled Persons Federation, stressed that the delegation members are supposed to be self-disciplined, to have the will to fight and the faith to win, and are expected to make all-out efforts to finish their tasks and to create new glorious moments in Paris. Cheng also encouraged the athletes to be free from arrogance and rashness, to make persistent efforts to exceed themselves, and to show the world how brave the Chinese delegation is. He warned them to make sure the gold medals they win are ethical, high-minded and clean, and advised them to take the chance to make more friends worldwide. The Paris 2024 Paralympics, to be held between August 28 and September 8, will be the 11th Summer Paralympics that China participates in. Established on August 16 in Beijing, the Chinese Paralympics delegation consists of 516 people. Among them, 284 are athletes, including 126 males and 158 females, with an average age of 25.8. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) by Gianni Criveller A new book presented today at the Rimini Meeting recounts the reality of the island from the faces of its people and the missionary experience of the St. Charles Borromoeo Fraternity. Extracts from the preface, written by our editorial director: In Taiwan we experience many things that seem to us like pages from the Gospel. At the Rimini Meeting - the Italian summer kermesse of Communion and Liberation - the session Stories of Rebirth in Taiwan is being held this afternoon. Speakers include Fr. Donato Contuzzi, missionary of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo, Fr. Gianni Criveller editorial director of AsiaNews, and Xu Yahan, a young Taiwanese convert to Catholicism, to present the book The Cross and the Dragon, in which Tempi journalist Leone Grotti recounts the reality of Taiwan from the experience of the missionary presence of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo. The volume - published by Cantagalli and arriving in bookstores in Italy later this month - includes a preface by Father Criveller, from which we publish excerpts below. Taiwan is indeed a very beautiful place: even the ancient name -Formosa- by which it was known in the West until a few decades ago says so. For the public it remains a mysterious place: many know its name, but would not know where to place it, or say anything more about it. Some know about the high-tech products-particularly microchips-that have flooded international markets. It is worth getting to know Taiwan by stepping out of stereotypes: it is the best place for those interested in the traditional culture, religions, and folklore of the Chinese people. (...) Taipei does not only have tall skyscrapers, subway lines and shopping malls. There are still the small streets of working-class neighborhoods, where there is a small temple and devotional altars at every turn. Modernity has not abolished traditional religion; on the contrary, the enrichment of the people has made it possible to restore ancient temples and multiply opportunities for worship. (...) Catholics in Taiwan are free and in dialogue with believers of other religions. The Church has played the role of bridge-church to China, a mission that is now very difficult because of political developments on the Mainland. The challenge of multiculturalism, multi-religiosity, secularization, and the unresolved relationship with Beijing constitute major challenges that believers face with their own weak strengths and some apprehension about the future. (...) The reader of this book will, I think, be able to agree that Taiwan cannot be regarded as just a problem-almost a troublesome one-to be solved in the complicated Chinese chessboard. Taiwan is much more than that: with the practices of freedom and democracy, it has opened a way and a hope for the Chinese nation and also for the Chinese Church. (...) The political tensions of recent years and the increasingly frequent and threatening military exercises frequently bring attention back to Taiwan, which we hear about only in connection with China's possible reunification action and as an object of tension over control of the Pacific Ocean. But Taiwan deserves instead to be known and appreciated for what it is. And the people of Taiwan deserve to be heard. This is another reason why reading this book is very important: it gives us an inside view of a very special, precious surprising piece of Taiwan. In these pages Taiwanese people have a face, a name, a story to tell. Reading the book you have in your hands was, for me too, a heartening experience. I recognized in it places, people, events, moods, aspirations and difficulties that I myself, in my own small way, experienced during my four years on the island (1991-1994). I was at the beginning of my missionary life among the Chinese people: the feelings, challenges and hopes of the missionaries of the Saint Charles Fraternity were also mine. I also found in the book a communion of missionary vision. For years I have been teaching, in Hong Kong and Italy, Theology of Mission, and I continue to reflect on the mystery of mission. In Taipei I had met young people who, attending Fujen Catholic University, had adhered to the gospel of Jesus. I interviewed them in order to understand that mysterious and fascinating event that goes by the name of conversion, namely the acceptance of Jesus as the heart of life. In my readings of missionary history in Taiwan and China, I found that frequently the beginning of people's conversion is 'by grace received': a healing or the resolution of family difficulties or other helpful benefits. Converts with less than spiritual motives are called 'flour Christians' in Taiwan; 'rice Christians' in Hong Kong and China. Opponents of Christianity accuse them of converting to get material help from missionaries. Yet missionaries must always exercise charity in imitation of Jesus the good shepherd. Conversion is not the goal of aid, but the generous willingness to succor human frailties can generate, in those who accept the gift, a desire to know Christ, the cause that drives missionaries to give their lives. And we know that from children and grandchildren of rice and flour Christians have arisen vocations and witnesses of faith even to martyrdom. The dynamic of conversion, often described in this book, is always marked by grace and deserves respect, even when apparently the motivations are not only spiritual. So much is experienced in Taiwan that seems like pages of the Gospel to us. The outcome of mission is not measured by worldly success and numbers, but rather by the quality of the Gospel witness of those who welcome Christ. I find very beautiful what Fr. Silanos experienced, One of the greatest gifts I was given in Taipei is to be able to participate in the gaze with which Christ looks at these people and of the method he uses: patience. A phrase that makes me think of the testament of Christian De Charge, the prior of Tibhirine. Martyrdom will finally allow him to plunge my gaze into that of the Father, to contemplate with Him His children of Islam as He sees them, all illuminated by the glory of Christ. Taiwan shows us very eloquently what is true everywhere: Jesus does not meet in masses. He stands at the door and knocks. Relationship is central to the missionary dynamic, and each person is to be welcomed and accompanied as a precious gift. From this personal relationship comes friendship. A theme in my opinion that is fundamental to our existence as men and women disciples of Jesus. The theme of friendship, one of the best ways to describe mission, emerges almost on every page in this book. Benedict XVI had wonderful words to describe the Christian fact as friendship with Jesus, and mission as the sharing, the gift of this friendship with others. The community of Jesus' disciples is built on plots of friendship. Matteo Ricci, the great missionary to China, titled his first book in Chinese Of Friendship-a theme that united the gospel, Chinese culture, and Christian humanism. There is no greater love than one who gives his life to friends: Jesus did it; missionaries do it. The work of Christ, our peace, is to break down the divisive wall of enmity. The experience of friendship creates the movement that moves hearts and draws people to Jesus. Doctrines and reasoning are also important steps for adherence to faith: but people are touched in their hearts when they encounter friendship. In the five Confucian social relations, which are the Chinese ethical basis, friendship is the fifth virtue, but the only elective one, that is, based on free choice. And therefore it is the most important, the most human, the one that most corresponds to the dignity of people created in the image of God. Friendship means freedom and gratuitousness, that is, the gift of self. From friendship comes happiness: If there were no amicitia in the world, wrote Matteo Ricci, there would be no happiness. I really liked the reference to happiness in reading the book. Christianity was born on Easter morning from a proclamation of joy. If Christians and missionaries do not bring joy into people's lives, then they are not evangelical: we are all destined for happiness. The book is a valuable testimony that mission is missio Dei - God's work, even before missionaries. Mission certainly changes, but it never dies, because it comes from God. And missionaries are disciples who seek to take on the same gaze as God. Taiwan is the beautiful island today because God is at work there. This account, very well written and full of evangelical authenticity, is precious evidence of that. Pictured: a Stations of the Cross celebration in Taipei with the missionaries of the St. Charles Borromeo Fraternity. 21 August 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more In a significant development for regional energy markets, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are poised to formalize an "Operation Agreement" between the Nakhchivan State Energy Service and the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIASH). This upcoming agreement, reported by Azernews via the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, aims to streamline and expand energy exchanges between the two nations. The planned agreement marks a crucial step in deepening the energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye. The discussions leading up to this agreement have addressed several technical and operational aspects, including the transmission and distribution substations on both sides of the border. Key considerations have been the current condition of the power transmission lines, the precise locations of the meters, and the application of relay protection systems. This comprehensive approach is expected to enhance the reliability and efficiency of energy flows between the two countries. The European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO) has granted approval for specific energy transmission parameters under this agreement. ENTSOs endorsement allows for the export of 75 megawatts from Turkiye to Nakhchivan, with the Turkish side operating in passive island mode. Conversely, Nakhchivan will be permitted to import 40 megawatts while in passive island mode. These stipulations are designed to ensure stable and balanced energy exchanges, mitigating risks associated with grid imbalances and operational disruptions. The anticipated agreement holds several economic implications for both Azerbaijan and Turkiye. For Azerbaijan, which has been investing in its energy infrastructure and seeking to increase its role in regional energy markets, this agreement represents a significant boost. It not only diversifies its energy export opportunities but also strengthens its position as a critical player in regional energy security. For Turkiye, the arrangement provides an opportunity to optimize its energy exports and manage its grid more effectively. The ability to export surplus energy to Nakhchivan can help Turkiye balance its energy production with demand, potentially leading to increased revenue from energy sales and enhanced grid stability. The agreement could also have broader implications for regional energy cooperation. By solidifying the energy link between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, it may encourage other neighboring countries to explore similar collaborations. This could pave the way for more integrated regional energy markets, fostering greater energy security and economic stability across the area. The forthcoming "Operation Agreement" between the Nakhchivan State Energy Service and TEIASH is poised to enhance energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye significantly. With the backing of ENTSO and a detailed operational framework, this agreement promises to bolster energy security, optimize resource use, and strengthen economic ties between the two nations. As the finalization of the agreement approaches, stakeholders on both sides will be keenly observing its potential to transform regional energy dynamics. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 16:22 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more What sort of impressions did the state visit of President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan create in the region? What did the Foreign Ministry of Armenia mean by its implicit response to Lavrov's criticism? Good-faith support of Russia in the peace talks, or being a mediator as a third party? What are the common interests of the West and Russia in opening the Zangazur corridor? On August 18-19, the state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan was marked by very important events. During the meeting, documents intended to develop friendship and cooperation, as well as trade relations and investment, were signed between the two countries. Russia is the largest country in the region, and Azerbaijan attaches great importance to strengthening relations with its northern neighbor, Russia. Azerbaijan, which regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union, further developed its relations with Russia. Most recently, on February 22, 2022, a declaration of alliance consisting of 43 articles was signed between Baku and Moscow. The documents signed within the framework of President Putin's visit to Baku completed some provisions of the declaration of alliance. Reasons for strengthening Baku-Moscow relations In 2020, Azerbaijan's retaliatory measure against the Armenian offensive signaled a victory that could end the 30-year occupation. However, there were certain obstacles in the course of the war, which Azerbaijan could overcome only thanks to its political superiority. Russia's good move in not preventing Azerbaijan's military operations and anti-terrorist measures against separatist groups in Garabagh in 2023 contributed to the quick end of the Garabagh conflict. In addition, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Garabagh in 2024 earlier than the time specified in the agreement has once again demonstrated the official Kremlin's special attitude towards Azerbaijan. Subtle moments that bring Russia closer to Azerbaijan The 4-year period from 2020 until now is of exceptional importance in the history of Azerbaijan. During this time, in addition to the solution of the Garabagh conflict, Moscow's interest in opening communications over Zangazur and reaching a peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku has been the best reflection of the geostrategic realities formed in the region. In the literal sense of the word, Russia sees Azerbaijan as a beacon in the South Caucasus against the backdrop of the worsening of relations with the West and Armenia. In this regard, the state visit of President Putin to Baku can be evaluated as the official Kremlin considers Azerbaijan its most reliable ally. Russia is already loyal to the issue of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and it lambasts the Westernized Armenia that avoids peace talks and refuses to participate in the bilateral platform. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's last statement accusing the Armenian side of sabotaging the negotiation process was a message for both the West, which plays the role of influence, and Yerevan, which is unable to fulfill its promise. Considering the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, it seems that the Pashinyan administration, which is loyal to the dictates of the West, completely rejects Russia's participation in the negotiation process. But what is the main premise of Russia's proposal for peace talks? Is it to mediate in the process as a third party, or is it just a good-faith contribution that Moscow wants to make to the peace process as soon as possible? Certainly, Azerbaijan is currently on the side of conducting negotiations on a bilateral platform. Because the participation of the third party in the negotiations causes certain contradictions and slows down the processes. Here, the national interests of the mediating parties impact the two parties reaching a common agreement. But Putin's proposal is different from the West's attempt to intervene, and he seems to be more in favor of stability in the region. Converging interests in the Zangazur corridor Recently, interest in the opening of the Zangazur Corridor has begun to be felt more in the position of both the West and the Russian side. Both the war with Georgia in 2008 and the sanctions imposed by the West after the war with Ukraine led to the narrowing of Russia's transport opportunities, as well as the interruption of its direct relations with Armenia and Europe. The closure of the railway through Abkhazia and the serious problems on the Upper Lars highway have cut ties with Armenia, Russia's most important ally at the time, and reduced its hopes for it. Due to all these reasons, Russia is interested in opening both the North-South Corridor and the Zangazur Corridor and expanding the transport opportunities for the country. In addition, the opening of the Zangazur Corridor provides Russia with a direct connection to Iran via Nakhchivan and through the North-South Corridor from Astara. Although Iran, in turn, does not take a positive approach to the opening of the Zangazur Corridor, the geostrategic realities in the region have softened Tehran's position somewhat. Even the fact that the West has started military exercises in Armenia does not worry Iran as much as before. So every problem is feasible and has a solution. If Iran, standing rigid with its conservative approach and no-trespassing red line, is changing today, then there can be no problem in opening the Zangazur Corridor. The only problem is that Armenia will understand how much it can benefit from the opening of the Corridor and at the same time it can get great chances in the region with the thawing of the ice with Ankara. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Preparation for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), set to take place in Baku this November, is advancing across multiple fronts, Azernews reports. According to the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company, the technical testing phase has commenced to guarantee the smooth operation of information and communication technologies (ICT) systems during the event, adhering to UNFCCC protocols and standards. This testing phase, known as the Proof of Concept (PoC), began on August 19 at the Baku Stadium, the event's venue. The initial day saw representatives from the COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and the UNFCCC inspecting existing systems within the venue's infrastructure. They toured two database centers as well as aggregation and communication rooms. Over the course of three weeks, the PoC phase will rigorously assess the security, functionality, and effectiveness of the network and services designated for the climate conference. This includes evaluating ICT and wireless network security, simulating the accreditation process, and conducting cybersecurity tests. These evaluations are critical for identifying potential risks and ensuring that technical preparations address any issues that may arise during the event. The PoC phase, running until September 8, will also involve relevant staff from partner and contractor companies responsible for operations at the venue. Upon completion, the PoC will confirm the readiness and operational status of the ICT infrastructure for COP29. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 11:17 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and China from January to July this year has witnessed significant growth, Azernews reports. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 21 August 2024 17:36 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, announced on X that there have been talks about bringing Starlink's satellite broadband service to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. These discussions occurred during a meeting in Baku with Rebecca Slick Hunter, Starlink's Director of Global Licensing and Market Activation, who is visiting the city. Last year, a cooperation agreement was signed between Azerbaijan's Space Agency, Azerkosmos, and the US company SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation). The contract was signed by Samaddin Asadov, Chairman of the Board of Azerkosmos, and Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. The agreement stipulates that Azerkosmos and SpaceX will collaborate on distributing SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellite internet service in Azerbaijan. Starlinks satellite internet, which has already been successfully tested in Azerbaijan by Azerkosmos, will be available to users at sea, on land, along railways, and in remote work and information centersessentially in areas with insufficient internet coverage. Samaddin Asadov expressed his enthusiasm for partnering with a leading global technology company like SpaceX. As a partner in providing Starlink internet services, we will enhance our advanced satellite technology offerings at sea and on land, overcoming the limitations of traditional telecommunication infrastructures, said Asadov. During the meeting, Gwynne Shotwell highlighted that this partnership represents a significant step towards the sustainable development of space collaboration between Azerbaijan and SpaceX. She also praised the International Astronautical Congress set to take place in Baku as a major global initiative and announced that SpaceX will be participating in the event. Starlink, a SpaceX initiative led by Elon Musk, seeks to deliver high-speed internet to remote and underserved regions globally using a network of low-Earth orbit satellites. The company SpaceX aims to provide internet access to every point on Earth through its Starlink satellite network. SpaceX began launching satellites into orbit in 2018 and has deployed over 4,000 satellites to date. These small satellites, produced in the USA, weigh between 230 and 260 kg and are expected to have a service life of 7 years. The Starlink satellites are placed in orbits at altitudes of 540 to 570 km above the Earth's surface, which is considered low Earth orbit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijani cinema art will be showcased at the 5th - Lendoc Film Festival (LEFF) to be held in Russia on August 23-27, Azernews reports. Lendoc Film Festival is an international film festival held in St. Petersburg since 2020 on the basis of the Lendoc Open Film Studio The event is aimed at supporting and developing interest in the cultural and ethnic wealth and diversity of the regions of Russia, CIS countries and neighboring countries, as well as creating joint film projects. The festival guests are expected to include representatives of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iraq, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. On August 27, the jury, which includes heads of federal channels, digital platforms, film distribution companies, as well as heads of state film enterprises of the CIS countries, will conduct the pitching of joint production projects. The presenter of the pitch will be Ivan Kudryavtsev, director of cinema channels of Digital Television JSC. In the final pitching, contracts will be signed on the co-production of winning projects that will receive producer support. Lendok film studio also prepared a series of round tables and master classes with the participation of film industry professionals for young filmmakers and guests of the festival. Among them, Ali Khamrayev's master class, "The road to the debut" and "Documentary films in the broadcasting era: what films are needed today?" The festival program also includes round tables and creative meetings with producer and cameraman Alexander Rubanov. In the festival's three competition programs - fiction, non-fiction and Lendocstart student film competition, the jury and audience will evaluate 36 films, including a number of world and Russian premieres. Screenings will take place in Lendok Cinema Studio, Aurora, Dom Kino and Rodina cinemas, Lenfilm cinema center and Capella. In 2024, the festival announced an international competition for the second time, and the organizers received over 700 applications from Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Spain, Italy, Israel, and Argentina. The Lendocstart student film competition is taking place for the first time this year and includes 14 screenplays in two blocks divided into six feature films and eight documentaries. All festival screenings are free for spectators, and registration is available on the website from August 14. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 14:42 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more Azerbaijan will call for a ceasefire at COP29, Azernews reports, cioting Deputy Minister of Energy and the Secretary of the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP29) to be held in Baku this November, Elnur Sultanov as he said during interview to Anadolu Agency. He stated that the main topic of COP29 will be climate change, and that the agenda will also include a call for developed countries to provide more support to developing nations, as climate change most severely impacts Africa. Sultanov noted that Armenia has also been invited to COP29. "We expect around 80,000 guests. Invitations have been sent to all the worlds presidents, and ministers from more than 50 countries are expected to attend, with this number likely to increase. COP29 will be unlike any other event Azerbaijan has hosted so far. We will lead the climate discussions and showcase Azerbaijans hospitality. There is no chance of COP being unsuccessful." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan constantly makes intensive efforts to establish peace and security in the South Caucasus and the world in general. Our country continues to contribute in this direction. Azerbaijan's pragmatic foreign policy, good-neighborly relations with neighboring countries, and efforts to expand the format of the alliance, strategic partnership, and cooperation are noteworthy. In this context, the strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are developing in an upward direction. Azernews reports that these views were voiced by political commentator Sahil Karimli in his statement to AZERTAC. Emphasizing that Azerbaijan-Russia relations are currently at the level of alliance, S.Kariml said that Azerbaijan, in addition to contributing to peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus, is making constant efforts to expand trade relations with its neighbors and raise import-export relations to a high level. Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Azerbaijan, conducting various negotiations, establishing contacts, and exchanging a number of documents during the visit are clear proof of this. "It is known that Azerbaijan always attaches importance to issues of security, import-export operations, and economic cooperation in the region, and in recent years there has been close cooperation with Russia in all fields. Our relations in the political, military, and humanitarian fields are at a high level. Azerbaijan's support to the countries of the region in oil and gas projects, and its location in the area where transport, communication, and energy corridors pass, also have a positive effect on the development of this cooperation on the rising line. It should be emphasized that Azerbaijan has close relations with the West, Europe, and the CIS members, including Russia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's farsighted foreign policy and visionary diplomatic course is based on the fact that we cooperate with both Europe and Russia in parallel. Our country contributes both to oil and gas projects and to the establishment of economic and political relations", Karimli added. According to the political commentator, today there are a number of projects with Russia in the field of oil-gas and transport communications, where the special role of import-export operations is evident. There is a deep cooperation between the two countries in the direction of the introduction of Azerbaijani products to the Russian market and vice versa, the supply of Russian products to our country, and mutual investments. In addition, Karimli believes that after the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijan, the cooperation between Baku and Moscow will expand further. As President Ilham Aliyev repeatedly emphasized, Russian-Azerbaijani relations should be an example for many, and all the countries of the region should continue cooperation in the direction of the policy of good neighborliness. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 10:41 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company has announced a new global television program to broadcast daily updates during the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azernews reports. The "Daily Show" will provide comprehensive summaries of conference activities, making vital information accessible to a worldwide audience. Broadcasting live from a studio at Baku Stadium, the event's venue, the program will air through various television networks, online streaming platforms, and official COP29 channels. The show will feature interviews, expert analyses, and updates, offering viewers an in-depth look at the conference proceedings. Mukhtar Babayev, the designated President of COP29, emphasized the importance of the program: "As the impacts of climate change become more pronounced globally, the need for clear and accessible information grows. Our goal is to present climate action in a more understandable and engaging format, addressing concerns about rising temperatures and potential solutions. This daily program is a key step toward achieving that objective." The "Daily Show" will be produced by the British media company Hi Impact, renowned for its expertise in high-quality broadcasts. To maximize outreach, the COP29 Operating Company is exploring partnership opportunities for the project, with partner selection ongoing until the end of September. Final decisions on partnerships will be made by the COP29 Presidency and the UNFCCC. For further details and to apply as a project partner, visit the COP29 official website. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 12:52 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office (CMO), Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, is on a visit to Brazil, Azernews reports. As part of the visit, Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade participated in the G20 Interfaith Forum held in the capital city, Brasilia, where he met with the Forum's President, Kol Durham. The meeting emphasized the importance of involving religious leaders in cooperation with political figures and governments and expressed satisfaction with the effective continuation of dialogue. It was noted that the main topics of the G20 Brazil Summit included food security, environmental protection, peace-building, relations between wealthy and impoverished countries, human trafficking, and modern slavery. The necessity for religious leaders to provide spiritual assessments on these issues was highlighted. During the Forum, Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade met with various figures, including Muzaffar Kamilov, advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, Zuhair al-Harisi, Secretary-General of the KAICIID International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Elder Ahmed Salem Korbitt of the Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the USA, Rodrigo Vitorino Souza Alves, head of the G20 Brazil Local Organizing Committee, Omar Rapozo, rector of the Sacred Heart Redeemer, Sheikh al-Mahfud bin Bayyah, Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum in the UAE, among others, to exchange views on the Forums topics. In his address at the Forum, Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade spoke on the topic "Let Us Forget No One: Partnership for People and Planet." Expressing gratitude for the invitation to the G20 Interfaith Forum during Brazil's presidency, Pashazade emphasized that in the modern era, where threats and dangers to human life on our shared planet are increasing, it is a global necessity to enhance joint efforts by political, social, and religious leaders. He stressed that manifestations of xenophobia, hate speech inciting ethnic, religious, and racial discrimination, and attempts to clash civilizations must be resolutely condemned by the international community. He highlighted issues threatening humanity such as ecological and war crimes, ecosystem destruction, soil degradation, scarcity, food insecurity, and famine. He commended the Forum for promoting peace and security, calling for an end to conflicts and inequalities, and focusing on crucial issues such as hunger, poverty, food security, environmental protection, religious freedom, and the rights of children, women, and youth. He emphasized that all traditional religions advocate for mercy and respect for the environment and warn of the calamities, crises, and trials that would otherwise occur. Sheikh-ul-Islam Pashazade informed the Forum participants that the ecological crisis and the consequences of climate change will be discussed at COP29 in Baku this November, where religious leaders will actively participate in the moral assessment of climate issues. The CMO Chairman also noted that Azerbaijan, which has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty recognized by the international community, is currently implementing peaceful reconstruction projects in the liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, addressing the consequences of ecocide and urbanization, and striving for peace and progress in the region. Sheikh-ul-Islam praised Brazil's honor of hosting the G20 Summit and COP30, and characterized the cooperation platform of COP chairing trio consisting of the UAE, Azerbaijan, and Brazil as a significant event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has added a remarkable exhibit to its rich collection, Azernews reports. Collector Khoja Abasi, a member of the Azerbaijan Literary and Cultural Society- Isq Yol residing in Berlin, has donated Garabagh carpet Achma-yumma, woven in Shusha in 1825. This stunning carpet is a feast for the eyes, adorned with intricate geometric and floral motives as well as stylized human and zoomorphic images, demonstrating the cultural heritage of Garabagh region. The vibrant patterns also reflect the craftsmanship of the artisans of that era. At the event marking the donation, Khojat Abasi expressed his joy and fulfillment in realizing a long-held dream, by returning 199-year-old exquisite work to his native land. The Carpet Museum director Amina Malikova expressed deep gratitude to Khojat Abasi for his noble initiative and for donating such a rare and exceptional piece of craftsmanship to the museum. In her speech, Amina Malikova emphasized the importance of Achma-yumma carpet, highlighting its original composition, harmonious color palette and the richness of its ornamental designs. Malikova underlined that this remarkable art piece will take a worthy place in the exposition of the museum's branch in Shusha, a city with centuries-old culture and history, located in Azerbaijan's Garabagh region. By showcasing this unique treasure, the museum aims to honor its heritage as well as promote the enduring legacy of Azerbaijani craftsmanship for generations to come. Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets. Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out. The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions. In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art. In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy. The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch. For four years, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards. The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 20:28 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Iran and Permanent Representative to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Ali Alizadeh met with Asad Majid Khan, the new Secretary General of the organization in Tehran, Azernews reports, citing the post shared on the Embassy's official X account. The post reads: "I am Pleased to meet with the new Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), dear Dr. Asad M. Khan. We exchanged views on further strengthening the role of the ECO and continuing Azerbaijans active cooperation and contribution within the organization." Further to the post, the Ambassador said that he congratulated and wished success to the new SG on his endeavors. Pleased to meet with the new #Secretary General of the #Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), dear Dr. Asad M. Khan. Exchanged views on further strengthening the role of the #ECO and continuing #Azerbaijans active cooperation and contribution within the organization. pic.twitter.com/1yjA3BXzSD Ali Alizada (@Ali_F_Alizada) August 21, 2024 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre Germany on Tuesday summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin to protest the closure of a German language school in Tehran, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Shafak. We condemn the actions of the Iranian security authorities against the German Language Institute in Tehran. This cannot be justified by anything. The Iranian ambassador is summoned to the Foreign Office. We call on the new Iranian government to allow teaching to resume immediately, an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Language exchange is the basis of mutual understanding. The institute is a popular and recognized meeting place where people put a lot of personal effort into language acquisition under difficult conditions. The institute's employees are very committed to their work, which is also intended to strengthen the connection between people in Iran and Germany, the official added. Iranian authorities have closed the German Language Institute (DSIT) in Tehran. Security forces had sealed off the building in the north of the capital, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported, citing eyewitnesses. Pictures were reportedly shared on social media showing a large police presence in front of the language school. Authorities justified the move by citing violations of Iranian laws, according to the Misan justice portal. Two "illegal" facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany have been closed, it said. The German language school was founded in 1995 by the German Embassy in Tehran and offers language courses at levels A1 to C2, with certificates recognized in Germany. It is self-funded through language courses and exam fees and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut. The language school currently employs 85 teachers, according to the German Foreign Ministry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 10:07 (UTC+04:00) New Jersey Senator Bob (Robert) Menendezs Senate career came to a close Tuesday, capping roughly five decades in Democratic politics that took him from the local school board to chair of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, just over a month after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges, Azernews reports, citing apnews. On July 16, a New York court found Bob Menendez guilty of a total of 16 counts, including bribery, financial fraud, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent. His arrest is scheduled for October 29. Menendez faces 222 years in prison. Menendez's wife, Nadine of Armenian origin, was also charged with the listed items. However, her trial was postponed indefinitely due to her illness. Menendez signaled his resignation would take effect at the end of the day Tuesday in a letter last month to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who said Friday hes tapping a former top aide to succeed the three-term incumbent. Besides, George Helmy will succeed Menendez until the November election results for the Senate seat are certified late in the month, the governor said. At that point, Murphy said Helmy would resign and hell name the winner of the election to the seat. The stakes in the Senate election are high, with Democrats holding on to a narrow majority. Republicans have not won a Senate election in Democratic-leaning New Jersey in over five decades. His resignation also comes as Democrats gather in Chicago for their national convention to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to be their standard bearer nationally in November. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 21:22 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Mobile operator Vodafone plans to enter the Uzbek market. This was announced by entrepreneur Farkhod Mamatjanov at a meeting with the president held on August 20 in Nukus, Azernews reports. Farkhod Mamatjanov is the founder of the textile company UzTex Group and the main shareholder of InfinBANK, and also owns a number of other businesses. He noted that his structures have begun cooperation with the British operator Vodafone, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, in order to introduce 5G Standalone mobile communications in Uzbekistan. "We have privatized the Perfectum company. After conducting research inside the bank, we came to the conclusion that in order to reach private entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, a high-quality Internet is needed. In partnership with Uzcard, we have launched a revolutionary plan the creation of Vodafone. If everything goes according to plan, the launch will take place next year," Mamatdzhanov said. The entrepreneur added that the Finnish company Nokia will participate in the project as a supplier of equipment and technologies. He stressed that the supply of equipment has already begun, and installation work is actively underway. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 21 August 2024 19:51 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Chinese authorities will investigate subsidies for dairy products imported into the country from the European Union, Azernews reports. The inspection will be carried out on the basis of an application submitted at the end of July by two Chinese associations in charge of issues in the field of dairy industry production. In this regard, on August 14, Chinese government consultations with the EU took place, at which this problem was discussed. The investigation will be conducted until August 21, 2025 and may be extended for another six months. It will affect Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Romania, the Czech Republic and Croatia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz After two woke curricula were presented to the Beaufort County School Board, one in social studies and one in math, the three conservative school board members launched an effort to reform the curriculum process. One objective was bringing in genuine parent involvment in the process and the other was to give board members more involvement in choosing the curriculum. It was always an uphill process due to the six board members who are little more than rubberstamps for superintendant, Matthew Cheeseman, a California liberal. In the end, it was Cheeseman who read off what he would accept, gutting much of what the conservative board members had tried to do. Cheeseman's language was likely either written or influenced by the Durham liberal Democrat activist who Cheeseman had brought in as the school board attorney. A big thing lost was meaningful parent involvement in the curriculum process. This is important because recently polling shows 71% of North Carolina parents are concerned about political indoctrination of their children in the public schools. Under the Cheeseman language, there will be a window dressing of parents chosen and directed by school administrators as part of the curriculum committee. The original draft had called for a community standards committee of one parent from each school board district chosen by the board to give their input on whether a proposed curriculum met local community standards. Teaching of cursive writing, multiplication tables, and America's founding documents and founding fathers was also cut by Cheeseman. When the process started the curriculum policy had a weak reference to founding documents, but even that has now been deleted. The conservative board members had tried to insert robust language on teaching each of these things. Cheeseman also deleted even a general reference to curriulum respecting local community standards. Instead, he inserted strong language to demand adherence to the standards of the ultra-liberal state school board and DPI, who are the sources of the very political indoctrination opposed by parents. The new curriculum policy did make a few steps forward. The language from the conservatives that allows the board to have approval of the curriculum committee members, give direction to the curriculum committee, and to be given three proposals to consider instead of a single proposal to rubberstamp as the process had worked was allowed by Cheeseman. Another advance that was less than desired was in keeping the board informed on what the curriculum development committee was doing. Cheeseman also rewrote that language to make a central office staff member responsible for that, but the central office staff member designated has a history of not being forthcoming with the school board. That staff member had falsely told the school board that the recommended Savvas woke social studies curriculum was the only one approved by DPI. He also falsely told the school board that the Bridges math curriculum was "not Common Core" only to have to reverse himself at the next meeting after board members and community members had researched it and found out that it was Common Core. The problem with the state school board was illustrated a couple of years ago when its ultra-liberal majority appointed by Gov. Cooper rammed through a woke state social studies curriculum. This was vigorously and vocally opposed by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who serve on the state school board by virtue of their offices, but they were outvoted by Cooper's ultra-liberals. It is that woke agenda that Cheeseman demands we follow. This all adds up to a crying need to replace Cheeseman's flunkies on the school board this November and get some new members who will stand up for parents and our local community. A prevalent issue in healthcare for several years has been increased strain on physicians, hospitals and other healthcare workers and ASCs may be the solution. Becker's connected with Beth LaBouyer, RN, executive director at the California Ambulatory Surgery Association, to discuss multipronged benefits ASCs offer to hospitals. Editor's note: This response has been edited lightly for length and clarity. Question: What are some key ways ASCs can alleviate the burden on hospitals, particularly in terms of patient volume, resource allocation and specialized care delivery? Beth LaBouyer: There is still a high volume of ASC-eligible cases that are being handled in hospitals unnecessarily those need to be shifted to ASCs. Because ASCs focus on certain surgery types, they can structure scheduling in a way that optimizes time in the operating rooms and reduces turnover time between surgeries. This allows more cases to be done more quickly, which reduces patient wait times and alleviates the burden on hospitals. In particular, there is an important opportunity to address outdated policy limitations in California that restrict cardiology procedures. Already, CMS has approved 23 cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention procedures to be payable in the ASC setting and these are being performed safely in ASCs across the country. In fact, a recent study by ECG of claims data from 2022 and 2023 suggests approximately 10% of CATH and PCI procedures are being performed in the ASC setting. But California law must be updated to allow these procedures to be done in California ASCs. That is important because of three factors: Demand. The demand for cardiac care in the U.S. continues to rise as more patients are screened and treated for cardiovascular disease. Timeliness of care. Research shows that the length of time between initial patient outreach to a cardiologist to the time of a patients CATH or PCI procedure in California can be as long as five months. Cost savings. The cost of these procedures are 36-47% lower in an ASC when compared to the hospital outpatient department Medicare rate, and it is expected that the cost savings is even greater for commercial payers. As more cases are safely migrated to ASCs, there will be increased opportunities for cost savings and greater access to care. A physician who was practicing in Salt Lake City has pleaded guilty to distributing oxycodone outside of medical practice in what the Justice Department called a "sex for scripts" scheme. An investigation found that David Rodriguez, MD, prescribed oxycodone to a patient 15 times between May 2018 and January 2019, even though the patient had been a patient of the physician only from 2013 to 2014, the Justice Department said Aug. 19. When the patient returned to see Dr. Rodriguez in 2018 for pain treatment, he did not ask the patient about her current medical history nor ask what controlled substances she might be taking despite clear indicators she was using illicit drugs, the release said. The patient requested an oxycodone prescription at the first appointment and Dr. Rodriguez provided the first of 15 prescriptions at a high dosage. Dr. Rodriguez provided his patient his Snapchat information and began sending her nude pictures, the release said. "The patient believed this to be a 'sex for scripts' trade, where if she engaged in sexual behavior, Rodriguez would write her prescriptions for oxycodone," according to the release. In 2018, the patient filmed her appointments with Dr. Rodriguez, which included him inappropriately touching the patient and other sexual activity. After the sexual activity concluded, Dr. Rodriguez wrote the patient a prescription for oxycodone. Dr. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million, the release said. A physician is being sued for allegedly stealing trade secrets, including patient information, after leaving a Milford, Conn.-based practice. In a suit filed Aug. 16 in New Haven Superior Court, OB-GYN Physicians and shareholder Kay Kourounis, MD, filed a suit against Novo Women's Health, a practice started by Aubrey Rauktys, MD, in 2021, Law360 reported Aug. 19. The suit alleges that Dr. Rauktys started the company after leaving her position at OB-GYN Physicians and solicited employees and hundreds of patients to come to her competing business, breaking her covenant to not solicit patients or workers. The suit also alleges she continues to use third-party credentials to download patient lists and materials even though her own access was revoked. The suit accuses Dr. Rauktys of "intentionally, unethically, recklessly, unscrupulously engaged in deceptive acts, in bad faith and with sinister motives" for financial gain, interfering with Dr. Kourounis' relationship with patients and causing substantial business losses. Additionally, although Dr. Rauktys was barred from practicing within 10 miles of OB-GYN Physicians' principal place of business in Milford during her employment or for a year after she left, her original place of business was only a mile away. Novo Health is accused of violating Connecticut trade secret protection and unfair trade practices laws. The complaint also demands an independent accounting of Novo Health's business transactions and an injunction against using the trade secrets. OB-GYN Physicians is also asking for Dr. Rauktys and Novo Health to make a public apology and retract all alleged falsehoods made about the plaintiffs, along with damages and royalties on Novo Health's profits from the trade secrets. Neither Dr. Rauktys nor her attorneys immediately responded to Law360's request for comment. Becker's has reached out to Dr. Rauktys and her attorneys and will update this story when more information becomes available. Houston-based National Interventional Radiology Partners and its physician CEO Andrew Gomes, MD, have agreed to pay $8.8 million to resolve allegations they illegally paid physicians kickbacks for clinic and ASC referrals. Beginning in 2015, Dr. Gomes allegedly established a number of clinics throughout Texas to treat peripheral arterial disease. He raised capital for these clinics from physicians with practices that would provide a strong Medicare referral patient base, the Justice Department said. Dr. Goes pitched to the physician investors that they could ensure high returns on their ASC investments from referring significant numbers of patients, adding that more patient referrals would lead to more revascularization surgeries and higher profits. Dr. Gomes also told the physicians that once the ASCs were open and profitable, they could be sold. The whistleblower in the suit, who filed his complaint in 2018, will receive nearly $1.7 million in the recovery. The Callahan (Fla.) Town Council has deferred a vote on a new medical office building until Sept. 3, according to an Aug. 20 report from the Jacksonville Daily Record. The town's commissioner told proposers that she wanted to see a 3D rendering of the facility before voting. The towns planning and zoning board has recommended approval of the 6,600-square-foot facility, according to the report. Ground is expected to be broken on the facility in 2024, and it will include 11 patient beds. A tenant for the new facility has not yet been named. As Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has sold off hospitals in 2024, its Conifer subsidiary has struck contracts to provide revenue cycle management services for the offloaded hospitals. Conifer has also extended an existing partnership with a health system in 2024. Here are five RCM partnerships that Conifer made or extended this year: 1. On Aug. 5, Conifer lined up a 10-year contract to provide services to five Alabama hospitals Tenet plans to sell to Orlando (Fla.) Health. The deal is expected to close in the fall. 2. Orange, Calif.-based UCI Health on March 26 completed a deal to acquire Dallas-based Tenet's Pacific Coast Network, which includes four hospitals in Southern California and their associated outpatient locations. Tenet CEO Saum Sutaria, MD, said on the company's Feb. 8 earnings call that the deal also includes a contract for Conifer services. 3. Tenet and Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health announced Feb. 29 that Conifer will enter into an agreement to provide hospital and physician revenue cycle services for Adventist. Adventist also signed a definitive agreement to purchase two California hospitals from Tenet, which was finalized March 29. 4. Conifer and Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health extended their partnership through a new multiyear deal on Feb. 5. Conifer will continue to provide Dartmouth Health with comprehensive RCM services that include patient access, financial clearance, coding and patient financial services. 5. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health completed its deal to acquire three South Carolina hospitals from Tenet on Feb. 1. As part of the deal, Conifer entered into a new and expanded 15-year contract to provide RCM services to the three hospitals and related operations. Jellico (Tenn.) Regional Hospital is one step closer to reopening after the Jellico Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 3-2 to install Community Hospital Management LLC as the new operator of the city's hospital, the LaFollette Press reported Aug. 20. CHM CEO Kim Haverly told the publication she hopes to reopen Jellico Regional as a critical access hospital by January, but the timeline will depend on CMS' credentialing process. A previous motion to give control of the hospital's operations to Jamestown, Tenn.-based Phoenix Rural Health failed after a 2-3 vote. PRH was founded in 2019 to save struggling rural hospitals and had planned to reopen Jellico Regional as a rural emergency hospital. "We get the Becker's Hospital Review newsletter sent to us almost daily and Tennessee is the second-largest state in the country for rural hospital closures," Ms. Haverly told the LaFollette Press. "When we saw that Jellico was closing back in March, we knew that we needed to be an advocate for the community. We've been pursuing it pretty heavily since May." CHM plans to survey residents in the community to see what type of services they would like to have at the hospital. Becker's has reached out to the hospital's administrators and the mayor's office and will update this story as more information becomes available. After a $3 million collaboration, Cleveland Clinic is set to become a shareholder in Strolll, a software that uses augmented reality to help people with Parkinson's disease. Cleveland Clinic will acquire a stake in Strolll through an exclusive software license agreement, according to a news release Strolll shared with Becker's. Additionally, as part of this new agreement, Strolll will integrate a digital therapeutic module called Dual-task Augmented Reality Treatment (DART), developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers, into its platform. DART aims to assist the nearly 80% of Parkinson's patients who experience falls annually due to difficulties with postural instability and gait dysfunction. According to the release, patients using the DART platform wear augmented reality glasses, and complete a series of tasks that challenge both their body and mind. The platform simultaneously measures their gait and cognitive performance throughout the training. After the initial integration of the DART platform, Strolll will also establish its U.S. headquarters on Cleveland Clinic's main campus in Cleveland. Matthew Banks, CEO of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Ala., has stepped down from his role. Mr. Banks is no longer with the organization, a hospital spokesperson said in an Aug. 20 statement to Becker's. He stepped into the role in July 2022, succeeding 15-year CEO Pam Hudson, MD, according to a news release from the hospital. Before joining Crestwood Medical Center, Mr. Banks was CEO of Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, Miss., for four years, the 2022 release said. Both hospitals are part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. Marlow Levy, RN, was named president of two Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic hospitals, effective Sept. 4. Mr. Levy will lead Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa., and Saint Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Del., according to an Aug. 20 news release from the health system. He most recently served as vice president of operations at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health since 2022. Mr. Levy has also previously worked at Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Health and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, the release said. Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, based in Newtown Square, Pa., is part of Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health. It is not unusual for hospitals and health systems to hire external candidates as CEOs, particularly in recent years. One reason an external candidate might have a competitive advantage over an internal candidate is previous CEO experience, Michelle Johnson, senior partner at executive search firm WittKieffer's healthcare practice, told Becker's. "I think when there is less of a margin for error, organizations sometimes put a premium on that 'been there, done that' level of expertise and experience," Ms. Johnson said. Sometimes an organization is in need of a fresh perspective or there is a mandate for change, which naturally lends itself toward external consideration, she said. A potential concern when hiring outside CEOs is that stakeholders might not know exactly how a new hire will lead. Internal candidates can have the advantage of already understanding the constituencies, communities and local market dynamics, Ms. Johnson said. However, internal candidates also tend to need more leadership development through mentorship and support, she added. Phil Wright, CEO of Memorial Regional Hospital South in Hollywood, Fla., stepped into the role in October. He brought more than 25 years of leadership experience to the role, previously having served as chief business development officer and COO of AdventHealth Ocala (Fla.), formerly Munroe Regional Medical Center. Building relationships and gaining trust with staff and stakeholders were the most important factors in guiding a smooth transition to the new organization, Mr. Wright told Becker's. Listening done through town halls and meet and greets was the best way to achieve those goals, as it provides a greater understanding of concerns, strengths and weaknesses to inform future decision-making, he said. Mr. Wright prioritized this for the first three to six months, then developed strategic ideas and a vision for where the organization should go based on those previous conversations. It is a formula that has worked for him in the past, he said. "And hopefully along the way, there are a few quick wins that you can obtain while you're in the new position that help with trust-building, so people see that you're engaged and really tuned into what's happening with the organization," Mr. Wright said. He also noted that it is necessary for new CEOs to understand their unique situation, given that CEOs are brought in externally for various reasons. "Knowing the assignment, knowing the culture of the organization, the history of the organization, and having a clear understanding of what it is that the organization wants from you as a CEO is pretty important," Mr. Wright said. A Texas federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction blocking the implementation of the Federal Trade Commission's noncompete ban, which would have invalidated tens of millions of existing noncompete agreements and prohibited employers from entering into or attempting to enforce any new noncompetes. In an Aug. 20 ruling, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown said the FTC's noncompete ban is "unreasonably overbroad without a reasonable explanation," siding with tax preparation company Ryan LLC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, both of which argued that the FTC lacks authority to implement rules defining unfair methods of competition. Ms. Brown temporarily blocked the ban in July, but her Aug. 20 decision makes that injunction permanent across the U.S. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals filed an amicus brief in July urging the court to vacate the final rule. The hospital groups had pushed the FTC to limit the reach of its authority specifically for the healthcare industry. Pointing to hospitals registered under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code claiming tax-exempt status as nonprofits, the AHA argued that these entities are outside the FTC's jurisdiction a claim the FTC refutes. AHA General Counsel and Secretary Chad Golder described the noncompete rule as a "breathtaking assertion of regulatory power" by three unelected commissioners who "did not attempt to understand the disruptive impact it would have on hospitals, health systems and the patients they serve." "We are pleased that Judge Brown vindicated what the AHA predicted when this unlawful regulation was first released the 'only saving grace is that this rule will likely be short-lived, with courts almost certain to stop it before it can do damage to hospitals' ability to care for their patients and communities,'" Mr. Golder said in an Aug. 20 statement shared with Becker's. U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne Clark also said the ruling was a "significant win" in its fight against government micromanagement of business decisions. "A sweeping prohibition of noncompete agreements by the FTC was an unlawful extension of power that would have put American workers, businesses and our economy at a competitive disadvantage," Ms. Clark said in a statement. "We remain committed to holding the FTC and all agencies accountable to the rule of law, ensuring American workers and businesses can thrive." The FTC told Becker's it is "disappointed" in the court's decision, which does not prevent the agency from addressing noncompetes through case-by-case enforcement actions, but it is considering a potential appeal. In a phase 3 trial spanning three years, weekly injections of tirzepatide reduced the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 94%, Eli Lilly said Aug. 20. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient of diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medication Zepbound, also led to an average weight loss of 22.9%. About 1,030 adults who have prediabetes or are obese or overweight took the therapy for 176 weeks, and the drugmaker said its safety and tolerability profile was consistent with past research. Mounjaro and Zepbound are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides (GIP). Mounjaro and other GLP-1 medications approved for Type 2 diabetes might affect the growing prevalence of the condition between 2012 and 2022, the overall prevalence of diabetes increased by 18.6%, a recent study found. Here are three other updates on GLP-1s: 1. An emerging concern Because of medication costs and side effects, some patients are breaking open their GLP-1 pens with the intent of spreading out their doses. "There's a lot of desperation that we're seeing in our practice, and people looking for all kinds of workarounds," Laura Davisson, MD, director of medical weight management at West Virginia University Health Sciences in Morgantown, told The Atlantic. Physicians and pharmaceutical companies advise against rationing these medicines. 2. Compounded GLP-1s So far in 2024, U.S. poison control centers have answered 159 calls involving compounded GLP-1 medications. In 2023, there were 23, according to The New York Times. In July, the FDA issued a warning about overdosing on these medicines, reporting some hospitalizations after patients self-measured doses and healthcare providers miscalculated doses. Despite the potential risks, the market for compounded formulations continues to grow and some physicians are becoming more comfortable with them. Sesame, a healthcare marketplace company backed by General Catalyst and a Costco partner, now offers a weight loss program for $249 a month. The service includes an initial video consult, lab work and follow-up appointments as needed, and four semaglutide injections per month. Ozempic and Wegovy, the brand names for semaglutide, can cost up to $1,300 per four-week supply. Hims & Hers Health also sells compounded semaglutide. In a recent regulatory filing, the telehealth medication company disclosed its acquisition of a 503B compounding outsourcing facility in July. WeightWatchers is weighing the possibility of selling compounded GLP-1 medications, according to a Bloomberg report. The company is also planning layoffs of an undisclosed number of employees, including 40% of its leadership. 3. Adherence Doug Langa, executive vice president of North America operations and president of Novo Nordisk, said the average duration of Wegovy use is about six months. In an Aug. 7 earnings call, Mr. Langa said this low adherence is due to supply constraints. Research from Truveta, an EHR analytics company, highlighted more factors playing into discontinuation. In a study of 96,544 patients who initiated GLP-1 use, 46% of patients with Type 2 diabetes and 65% without Type 2 diabetes stopped within a year. The opposite trend is appearing in cardiology, according Jeffrey Wessler, MD, a cardiologist with New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health. "People want to take it," Dr. Wessler told Becker's. "It is really transforming how I think about managing an early stage cardiometabolic patient." Truveta analysts found that discontinuation was tied to higher weight loss, high income and an absence of gastrointestinal adverse events. Access barriers also played a role, and there are large economic and racial disparities with respect to those receiving these medications, according to The Washington Post. Jeffrey Shuren, MD, retired as director of the FDA's medical device division in July. Now, his ties to the industry are being questioned. Dr. Shuren's wife, Allison Shuren, represented medical device manufacturers as a lawyer with the Arnold & Porter law firm in Washington, D.C., during Dr. Shuren's FDA tenure, according to The New York Times. Here are six takeaways from the Times' investigation: BrewDog is opening its first bar in Northern Ireland A Scottish brewing giants plans to open its first bar in Northern Ireland has generated excitement among fans, as it confirmed it will open its first outlet here in Belfasts new Grand Central Station. In 2021 BrewDog hinted it was eyeing up Belfast among around 40 new pub locations, with one large bar already in Dublin as well as dozens across the UK. However, the popular brand is well used to its share of past controversies. The companys laddish humour and disruptive marketing provoked a backlash when it was founded by James Watt and Martin Dickie back in 2007. A series of blunders and scandals have dogged the indie firm since then, with accusations of transphobia, a fall out with the UKs alcohol trade group and allegations of plagiarism. As early as 2009 it became embroiled in a row with the advertising standards agency after the Portman Group a social responsible body for alcohol promotion in Scotland branded the company as grossly irresponsible for calling one of its products Speedball. The term is also used to described the combination of heroin and crack cocaine. Shortly afterwards, BrewDogs Tokyo beer was taken off the shelves for breaking the code on minimum mandatory standards for drinks marketing. Criticism didnt stop the brand opening the doors of its first pub in Aberdeen a year later as prestigious industry awards poured in. In 2010 BrewDog provoked anger from animal welfare activists after 12 bottles of its 55% The End Of History ale were packaged inside the bodies of taxidermied squirrels and other wildlife. Campaigners condemned the use of shock tactics to get attention as terribly out of date when it involves exploiting or degrading animals. Read more BrewDog opening first Northern Ireland bar The firm was accused by the Portman Group of encouraging anti-social behaviour and binge drinking with The Dead Pony ale advertising campaign. Even a successful demonstration calling on MPs to review a 300-year-old licensing law that dictated beer could only be served in third, half or full pint measures was soured over the brewers decision to employ a dwarf to stand outside parliament for a week holding a sign in what it dubbed the worlds smallest protest. Mr Watt advocated for free speech and artistic expression in 2013 after the Advertising Standards Agency cautioned against using foul language to promote the brand online in particular the inclusion of words such as motherf****er, tits and b******s We dont believe in mindless censorship, the co-founder said in defence. As for the ASA those motherf*****s dont have any jurisdiction over us anyway. Subsequent scandals include the not for gays packaging of the brands Hello My Name is Vladimir product, taking a swipe at Russias ban on homosexual propaganda in the run up to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Thousands of people signed a petition in 2015 opposing BrewDogs funding ad Dont Make Us Do This... Equity for Punks which featured both co-founders in a red light district setting dressed in drag. The skit was branded transphobic due its offensive caricatures. Mr Watt and Mr Dickie changed their first names to Elvis by deed pole in 2016 to end a legal battle with the Elvis Presley Estate. The row started with the launch of Elvis Juice a grapefruit-infused IPA in 2015 when the official estate of the King of Rock n Roll filed a lawsuit alleging trademark infringement. Earlier this year, Mr Watt stepped down as CEO following a string of other controversies including a solid gold promotion in 2021 which forced him to pay 500,000 to the winners of a competition described as misleading by the ASA. A number of winners complained after discovering unique cans placed in some packs were gold-plated. Despite Mr Watt retaining over a fifth of the firms shares, his decision to step aside has been hailed as the beginning of a new era. Time will tell. Communal space at Bradbury Place, Elkstone's first development of student accommodation in Belfast The Murray's Exchange site where a new block of student accommodation is to be built, close to the transport hub Around 870 student rooms are to be built on the site of an old tobacco factory in Belfast, the location for the citys newest university housing plan. Murrays Exchange, where Murrays Tobacco Factory once stood, is the third major development of student accommodation in Belfast from Irish investor Elkstone. Elkstone said the scheme would address demand for student accommodation, with an estimated shortfall of 6,000 rooms even after developments in the planning system at present are complete. The 870-room block will be next to the citys Grand Central Station, the biggest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland. The development at Murrays Exchange is to include single bedrooms with ensuite bedrooms, along with shared kitchen, living and dining space, and self-contained studios with private kitchens. There will be facilities such as a gym, cinema room, study room, and a social hub. Part of the old tobacco factory was listed and developed for office accommodation. However, the rest of the site has not been used since it was vacated following the closure of the factory nearly 20 years ago. Ciaran McIntyre, Elkstone co-founder and head of real estate, said: Whilst Murrays Exchange was constructed in 1900, a large part of the site has laid vacant for almost 20 years. Our plans to develop a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme would not only assist in bolstering the supply of much-needed student beds in the city, but would also assist in revitalising the rich history of the development site. With the adjacent transport hub at Grand Central Station set to bring a new dimension to the area, the PBSA scheme will deliver a wide range of economic and community benefits, including increased footfall, more employment opportunities, and enhanced activity for surrounding businesses. Located close to both Queens and Ulster Universitys Belfast campus, Murrays Exchange is an exciting proposal for Belfast that will allow students to reside in modern, city centre facilities. Ciaran McIntyre, Elkstone A spokesman said more information would be provided in the next few weeks, as a community consultation takes place. In May, Elkstone announced a new 850-room development of student accommodation at 39 Corporation Street, on the edge of the city centre and close to the Ulster University campus. Elkstone has already built student accommodation in locations including Stoneybatter Place, Dublin, Queen Street, Galway and Copley Court in Cork The company is launching its first Belfast scheme, the 20m Bradbury Place development, next week. Communal space at Bradbury Place, Elkstone's first development of student accommodation in Belfast Other developments are taking place in the city centre in anticipation of the arrival of students after the summer holidays. A major health facility which will cater to the city centres growing population won planning approval last week. Healthworks on Great Victoria Street is being developed by OConnor McCann (OCMC) to include occupational health services, pharmacies and GP practices. OCMC said the development would serve the growing inner-city population around Weavers Court, and students living between Queens University in south Belfast and Ulster University in the north of the city. Around 5,000 student accommodation units have been built in Belfast in 12 developments since 2016. Another 1,200 beds are due to be completed this year, with around 4,000 units in the planning process. But in a submission to Belfast City Council, the universities said another 6,000 rooms will still be needed in Belfast by 2030. Watch: Huge explosion as army deals with WW2 bomb in Newtownards Taylor Swift says scrapping Vienna shows over terror plot filled her with fear (Liam McBurney/PA) Taylor Swift has said an alleged terror plot which led to the cancellation of three Eras Tour shows in Vienna filled me with a new sense of fear. The pop superstar had been scheduled to play at the Austrian capitals Ernst Happel Stadium in early August, but the sold-out shows were cancelled after police reportedly uncovered a plot by terrorists. Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating, 34-year-old Swift said in a post on Instagram. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. Swift said she was heartened by the love and unity she saw from fans who banded together after the news broke. I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us. Swift also addressed online criticism for not issuing a statement after the Vienna shows were cancelled. Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows, she said. In cases like this one, silence is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when its right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. The cancelled Vienna dates formed part of the European leg of her Eras Tour, which concluded on Tuesday in London. Swift made history as the first solo artist to perform at Wembley Stadium eight times in a single tour, a record previously held by Michael Jackson for his Bad Tour in 1988. Taylor Swift described breaking Wembley records as a dizzying honour (Liam McBurney/PA) It was the most dizzying honour to become the first solo artist to play Wembley eight times in one tour, Swift said. The US singer said she felt a rollercoaster of emotions walking on stage in London, with five shows closing the tour in the last week after three in June, but described it as a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance, she said. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there. Swift described performing new track Florida!!! with Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine as unforgettable, while bringing Ed Sheeran on stage took me right back to our old Red Tour memories. Taylor Swift performs on stage with surprise guest Ed Sheeran (Natasha Leake/PA) He previously performed on her The Red Tour, which ran from 2013 to 2014, and in 2022 he re-released The Joker And The Queen as a duet with Swift. Swift signed off the post, writing: To the fans who have seen us this summer, youll always have the most sparkling place in my memories. You were a dream to perform for, dance with, and share those magical moments with. Well see you all again when we resume The Eras Tour in October, but for now we get to take a much needed rest. Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. The family of renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty have said they are humbled and comforted by the tributes following her death. The celebrated writer, 80, died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Fahan, Co Donegal following a long illness. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty, who was raised in Derrys Bogside area, authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. McCafferty had previously been in a long term relationship with fellow author Nuala OFaolain, who died in 2008. A statement from McCaffertys family to the PA news agency concluded with Goodnight Sisters the phrase she used to sign off at the end of TV appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings. There arent words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell, said the family. We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day. We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led the tributes, describing McCafferty as a writer who had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. 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 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. 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 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult 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 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. 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 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. 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 National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. A requiem mass will be held at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in the city, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. I was standing in Ukraine in a graveyard not far from the front line, and all these fresh graves with all the flowers on them and Im just saying to myself, whats this all about? Belfast International Airport has revealed that last month was the busiest July ever recorded at the airport. It said over 700,000 passengers jetted off to 70 destinations, with almost 6,000 flights recorded as the peak school holiday period got underway. The busiest day was July 14 and saw over 26,000 passengers travelling through the airport. Dan Owens, chief executive officer of the airport said: This year we expanded our range of routes and frequencies for the summer period, which have helped drive the July figures we are releasing today. "All of our airlines have added new destinations to our route portfolio including Malta, Bodrum, Tunisia and Larnaca which indicates that there is clear demand to travel to a wide range of destinations. The most popular destination in July was Palma in Mallorca, with 40,000 passengers heading to the Spanish hotspot. This comes despite the region continuing to be hit by anti-tourism protests. The protests which have seen thousands of locals take to the streets have highlighted growing concerns about overtourism in the Balearic Islands, with demonstrators marching through the streets in Palma de Majorca holding anti-tourist signs, and even incidents in Barcelona where residents squirted diners in tourist areas with water guns during a protest against mass tourism. Other popular destinations from Belfast International included Faro, Paris and Dalaman in Turkey. The data also states that reportedly 90% of passengers waited for less than 15 minutes to get through security. The airport was also recently given a good rating by the Civil Aviation Authority for the services it provides to passengers with reduced mobility. Dan Owens continued: Our continued growth reflects the strategic focus we have on improving the overall customer experience as well as on increasing connectivity and choice. Our journey to transforming the passenger experience is well underway with one year of our 100m five-year investment plan almost complete. This investment will see the opening of our new security search hall in the coming weeks as well as further upgrades to terminal facilities, commercial areas, seating and gate areas and a new duty free and hospitality offering. An inquest into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe was set to commence in September (Family Handout/PA) The coroner who was due to hear the inquest into the death of schoolboy Noah Donohoe has stepped down from the case. Belfast son who stole from 82-year-old mum to pay off drug dealers is jailed: This was a shameful offence Almost 10,000 children have been registered for Northern Irelands Childcare Subsidy Scheme within a fortnight of it opening. The 25m scheme was announced in May and includes a 15% childcare subsidy on top of the 20% granted by the UK government. Education minister Paul Givan said he is encouraged by the uptake of the scheme. The families of these children will see their childcare bills reduced from September 2024, he said. I have stated that making childcare more affordable was one of my top priorities, and I am pleased that this scheme is about to deliver on that commitment for hard-working families across Northern Ireland. My intention was to have the scheme operational by September this year and am delighted that we are on track to do so. The subsidy can be offered by registered childcare providers who are signed up to the Tax Free Childcare (TFC) scheme and can register a child below primary school age. This includes daycares, playgroups, childminders and Approved Home Childcare (AHC) providers. The Minister continued: I am grateful for the excellent work of our delivery agent, Early Years Organisation for helping us achieve this and to other partners who have helped to promote the scheme and support its rapid roll-out. I specifically want to pay tribute to the 1280 childcare providers, including daycares, childminders, playgroups and Approved Home Childcarers who have so far signed up to offer the scheme to their parents. He said: Although the closing day (20th August) has just passed for guaranteeing timely September payments, registration remains open for both providers and parents and I would encourage anyone who has not yet signed up, to do so as soon as possible. Early Years Organisation will continue to process these as they receive them. A mother living in Craigavon has said she and her partner are experiencing an impossible situation after their one-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening genetic condition. Fourteen-month-old Robyn Neville Quinn was diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome in March, an immune disorder so rare in females that it affects one in one billion baby girls. Her parents, Meagan Quinn and Adam Neville (both 25), are originally from Co Laois but now live in Northern Ireland. Robyn Neville Quinn in hospital (Photography by Anna) Though Robyn was born healthy, her parents noticed a small rash appear on her body in the weeks after her birth. Meagan and Adam took their child to hospital, where at first the rash was dismissed as a cows milk allergy. But the young couple persisted, insisting it was more than that. The parents have now turned to crowd fundraising in an appeal to raise money to help Robyn receive life-saving surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Robyns birth was normal; she was discharged within a couple of days, Meagan recalled. But I just started to notice, in the first couple of weeks, that she wasnt very well very tired, very sick looking, just not herself. Thats when we were told it was a cows milk allergy and that she needed to be closely watched. She just came out in this huge rash. But A&E would tell us it was that, or eczema, but I actually thought it could have been meningitis and I demanded a blood test. I knew there was more to it. I knew the rash was causing bruising. Thats when we were told the platelets in her blood were around six, when theyre supposed to be in the hundreds. Robyn Neville Quinn, who has Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (Photography by Anna) Robyn received the diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome after extensive genetic testing in London, which took around six months to complete. The syndrome is commonly found in boys, as its carried by one X chromosome, and almost never in girls, who have two X chromosomes. The disorder is described as a rare, abnormal immune system function which causes an immune deficiency, eczema and a reduced ability to form blood clots essentially meaning that Robyns immune system is completely compromised. Robyn soon started to build antibodies against her platelets, which means her body was fighting off the blood, continued Meagan. Its really bad if her body continues to fight transfusions, because she will eventually stop accepting them. Were just heartbroken over it all, especially because were so far away from our family as well; we dont get much help. It has been really hard on us. Its an impossible situation. Why us? Why Robyn? That is all we ask ourselves, because its so rare. And no one is able to give us proper answers because they dont know. Meagan and Robyn (Photography by Anna) Robyns compromised immune system means that, despite being an active one-year-old, she is not able to enjoy the same activities as fellow children her age. She is very tired and has very little energy and appetite, explained Meagan. But because her immune system is compromised, we have to keep her sheltered. She cant go swimming or to soft play, which is unfortunate but its the only way we know we can keep her safe. Its intended that Robyn will receive a stem-cell transplant which will rebuild her immune system. Robyn (Photography by Anna) Meagan described the operation as life-saving for her baby daughter, adding: Its the only treatment for her condition, so we have to go for it. We have to make sure she is OK. Robyn needs a better life, and if this continues she could die, simply because her blood wont make platelets. I didnt know anything about stem cells, and it really highlighted the importance of the Bone Marrow Registry, because its such a simple task that could save someones life, like Robyns. But once she receives it, she, all being well, will be cured of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome which will be amazing. She will receive a whole new immune system because of the transplant, added Meagan. Robyn (Photography by Anna) The couples family have since launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with costs accumulated with the transplant, which will hopefully take place in October, such as flights and accommodation. They are unaware of how long they will need to stay in England following Robyns transplant, as recovery times from stem-cell transplants which takes blood stem cells donated from a person and inserts them into anothers bloodstream can vary. Work-wise, its been really hard on us, Meagan said. I havent been able to return and we dont know what the outcome or recovery of the transplant will be, so we dont know how long were going to need to be with Robyn in London. Read more One-in-a-billion wee star Robyn needs our help To donate or find out more about Robyns journey, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/arer84-robyns-journey Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 21st August 2024 The scene on the Ballyclare Road, Ballyclare as an earlier fire at premises in the had reignited. The restaurant has suffered significant damage following a racially motivated arson attack. Picture by Matt Mackey / PressEye The scene on the Ballyclare Road (Picture by Matt Mackey / PressEye) The burnt out restaurant on the Ballyclare Road. Picture by Peter Morrison Left: The attack on the Railway Bar and Steam Dining restaurant on the Ballyclare Road in Glengormley. Right: The NIFRS extinguishing the blaze. The burnt out restaurant on the Ballyclare Road. Picture by Peter Morrison A bar-restaurant in Co Antrim is to close after being targeted by arsonists in what police are treating as a racially-motivated hate crime. Parts of the Ballyclare Road were closed in the early hours of yesterday as firefighters tackled the blaze at the former Railway Bar and Steam Dining restaurant near Newtownabbey. Photographs from the scene showed damage on the roof and exterior walls. Watch: Firefighters battle arson attack at Co Antrim Indian and Nepalese restaurant Racist graffiti was sprayed on a wall by the arsonists The restaurant recently rebranded as an authentic Indian and Nepalese eatery, with a takeaway service only opening days ago. In a post on social media, the bar's management announced that "with a heavy heart" they were closing their "beloved" business. "As a young Nepalese-British individual, born into a Hindu family, raised and educated in Belfast, I never imagined that my skin colour and religion would make us a target for such a hateful act," the post said. It added: "Our establishment, once a place of joy and community, has fallen victim to a devastating act of organised hate. "This venue was more than just a business; it was a piece of history, a place that brought people together and created lasting memories. "We are shattered and deeply saddened to see it destroyed. Your favourite local pub, a place that brought so much happiness to so many, has been brought to its knees." Left: The attack on the Railway Bar and Steam Dining restaurant on the Ballyclare Road in Glengormley. Right: The NIFRS extinguishing the blaze. The attack has been widely condemned. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the attack was sickening and deplorable. The racist attack on a business in Newtownabbey in the early hours of this morning was absolutely sickening and deplorable, he said. "This business operates to serve our community and employ workers. It is totally unacceptable that it has been targeted in this way. These disgusting and disgraceful attacks which are fuelled by racism, hatred and discrimination have no place in our inclusive and forward-looking society. Those intent on causing hate and stirring up division must face the full force of the law, and I would appeal to anyone who may have information on this incident to bring it forward to police. The burnt out restaurant on the Ballyclare Road. Picture by Peter Morrison DUP MLA Pam Cameron condemned the attack on the business. There can be no justification for attacking any property and particularly for the sinister graffiti that was sprayed onto the building. The owners of the restaurant have been working hard to build up their business and contribute to the local community. Their efforts are a world away from those with nothing to offer but hate, destruction and chaos. We will continue to stand with all those who want to build a better Northern Ireland, and particularly with those who feel fearful because of recent attacks such as this, she said. The PSNI said the fire was being treated as deliberate. At around 1:50am, it was reported that a property was set light in the area. Graffiti was also reported on the premises following the incident. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended and dealt with the fire, which is being treated as deliberate ignition, a spokesperson said. The scene on the Ballyclare Road (Picture by Matt Mackey / PressEye) Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, the incident is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. The Ballyclare Road remains closed as a fire at the premises has reignited. Anyone with any information in relation to the incident can contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 68 21/08/24. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The arrest is in connection with a shooting in May last year. PSNI stock image: Aodhan Roberts A 50-year-old man who was today arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by police investigating the INLA has been released on bail pending further inquiries. The incident in question took place on Antrim Road on May 31, 2023, when four masked men entered a property, and another man was shot in the back and legs. The injured man, who is in his 40s, was taken to hospital while another man at the property was left shaken but uninjured. Detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force carried out the investigation, searching a property in north Belfast on Wednesday morning. A PSNI spokesperson said: A 50-year-old man arrested today, Wednesday 21st August, on suspicion of attempted murder, by detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force investigating criminality linked to the north Belfast Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), has been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries. The investigation continues. Speaking following the incident, Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin condemned the shooting. There is no place for guns on our streets," she said. This reckless attack has caused disruption for residents and left people living in the nearby flats traumatised. Anyone with information on this attack should bring it forward to the PSNI. Residents return to their homes after experts successfully deal with 83-year-old device Army and police deal with bomb which was discovered on a building site in the Rivenwood housing development area of Newtownards, Co. Down. Pic: Presseye A still from doorbell footage issued by Graeme Stewart of the controlled explosion of a WW2 bomb in Newtownards, Co Down, on Tuesday. Pic: PA Residents who were forced to relocate from their homes due to the discovery of a World War II bomb were allowed to return after a controlled explosion was carried out on the device in Co Down. Minimal damage was caused to nearby properties in the Rivenwood area of Newtownards when the explosion occurred yesterday. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the scene at 3.38pm on Monday as experts successfully completed what police described as a highly complex operation. PSNI Superintendent Johnston McDowell thanked those affected by the operation as he confirmed residents could return home yesterday evening. He also praised the Armys 321 EOD and search squadron as he confirmed the munition was an air-dropped SC-500 German bomb believed to be around 83-years-old. But [it] still posed a significant risk to public safety, even after all this time, he added. The Ards and North Down District Commander had previously warned residents who refused to evacuate their homes that there was a risk of death or serious injury. Occupants of over 400 homes within a 400m exclusion zone were forced to flee the area on Saturday. Army and police deal with bomb which was discovered on a building site in the Rivenwood housing development area of Newtownards, Co. Down. Pic: Presseye James Fraser, the developer of the site, said there are no reports of broken windows but solar panels have been damaged on some properties. But residents may have to shell out for the repairs from their own pockets. Joan McCabe (63) has spent days worrying about the new house she is due to move into next month it is situated right beside where the 1,100lb bomb was found. The Rivenwood resident is now waiting to find out the extent of the impact of the controlled blast. I know there is damage to solar panels and roof tiles, but Im still not allowed in to see it, she said. Im not sure about structural damage and will need to wait for it to be assessed. But at least its still standing. Litigation expert William McSorley said house insurance policy providers often include a war exclusion clause which can affect coverage. The partner at Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors referred to the notable case of Allianz Insurance plc v University of Exeter, when the court ruled that damage from a controlled explosion of a WWII bomb was not covered due to the clause. The war exclusion clause typically excludes coverage for damage occasioned by war, which includes unexploded bombs from WWII, Mr McSorley told the Belfast Telegraph. Therefore the resulting damage in Newtownards may not be covered by standard home insurance policies. Its always best to review your specific policy details or consult with your insurance provider to understand the exact coverage and any exclusions that may apply. Mr McSorley encouraged affected homeowners to consider seeking legal advice after they have exhausted efforts through the insurance route. The Ministry of Defence will have to show that they have taken the appropriate safety precautions to minimise the damage caused. Footage of a huge explosion as army deals with WW2 bomb in Newtownards Prior to police confirming that the device was to be dealt with on site, efforts were underway to rescue abandoned pets. Lost and Found Pets Ards & North Down had been contacted by a distraught resident who was forced to leave their beloved rabbit behind at the weekend. Andrea Mammus, from the group, said the woman was understandably denied access when she tried to return to the property and that talks had been underway with police to help get the animal into the care of someone who had volunteered to look after it. We have now had over 800 offers from people willing to foster animals, she told this newspaper. We were trying to get to this rabbit and were aware of a cat that was left behind. We had carers arranged for both. Anyone who asked us for help, we have been able to help. Ms Mammus said all animals will be returned to their owners as soon as they are told the area is safe for them to return to. The controlled explosion was carried out following lengthy discussions with ATO specialists about whether the bomb should be removed instead. The operation was expected to take more than five days to complete but great progress on the mitigation stage meant the situation developed faster than anticipated. The family of renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty have said they are "humbled and comforted" by the tributes following her death. The celebrated writer, 80, died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Fahan, Co Donegal following a long illness. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on women's rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Women's Liberation Movement (IWLM). Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty, who was raised in Derry's Bogside area, authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. A statement from McCafferty's family concluded with 'Goodnight Sisters' - the phrase she used to sign off at the end of TV appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings. "There aren't words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell," they said. "We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day. "We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters." Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the city's Connolly station. McCafferty had previously been in a long term relationship with fellow author Nuala O'Faolain, who died in 2008. Irish President Michael D Higgins said Ms McCafferty was a pioneer in her work over many years. It is with great sorrow that so many people will have learnt of the death of Nell McCafferty, he said. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected." President Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be Nells friends and said she will be deeply missed, especially by those who experienced her enduring strength, courage, warmth and humour. May I express my deepest condolences to Nells family, colleagues and many friends, he added. First Minister Michelle ONeill described Ms McCafferty as a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society, she added. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty and was an important figure during the peace process. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. The SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described Ms McCafferty as an icon. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said. Taoiseach Simon Harris described her as "fierce, fearless and fiery". A Requiem Mass will take place at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church in Derry city followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. Four bodies were brought to shore by rescue teams on Wednesday (Jonathan Brady/PA) Five bodies have been found in the search for six people missing after the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily. The islands civil protection agency confirmed on Wednesday that four out of the five bodies have been recovered and a sixth person remains unaccounted for. It comes after the body of a chef on the superyacht, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered on Monday. (PA Graphics) The identities of the bodies found on Wednesday, and the remaining missing person, have not been confirmed but the group of six unaccounted for after the yacht sank are Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda. Here, the PA news agency details what we know of those who were on board. Recaldo Thomas The first body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the Bayesian superyacht, the Italian coastguard told Sky News. In a tribute shared on Tuesday, Gareth Williams, a friend of Mr Thomas, told the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit. Mr Thomas grew up in Antigua and spent his time there during the off-season, Mr Williams said. Another friend, Eli Fuller, told the outlet Mr Thomas was friends with everybody, always positive and sought after in his profession. Mike Lynch Mike Lynch (Yui Mok/PA) British technology tycoon Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, and made his name as one of Britains most influential entrepreneurs. In June, the 59-year-old was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal. He was made an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006. That same year, he was appointed to the board of the BBC, and was later elected to then-prime minister David Camerons council for science and technology in 2011. David Tabizel, Mr Lynchs Autonomy co-founder, told Sky News on Tuesday: He has been one of the most influential, intelligent and most honourable human beings I have ever had the honour of knowing. Ruth Leigh, a neighbour of Mr Lynch from Pettistree in Suffolk, said on Tuesday: Once a year hed host a party on the lawn and wed all go to it. Hes just a really nice person. I know that sounds a bit trite, but for a man in his position with every right he could have been quite lofty but he wasnt, he got involved. (PA Graphics) He used to come and speak at the church in the village on Remembrance Sunday. He was a very charitable man, he gave a lot of his time and effort which was good. We just had an incredibly high opinion of him. Hannah Lynch The 18-year-old daughter of Mr Lynch had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at Oxford University. A spokesperson for Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, where Hannah was a former pupil, said on Tuesday: We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates. Jonathan Bloomer Jonathan Bloomer (Hiscox/PA) The Morgan Stanley International bank chairman is a prominent businessman who holds a number of boardroom roles after an extensive career in financial services. He was the chief executive of global finance group Prudential between 2000 and 2005, and is chairman of Morgan Stanley International as well as Hiscox and property business SDL. Mr Bloomer was among those to give evidence as a defence witness for Mr Lynch, and media reports suggest the pair are close friends. Aki Hussain, group chief executive of Hiscox, said in a statement on Tuesday: We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation. A spokesperson for Morgan Stanley said on Tuesday: We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular the Bloomer family, as we all wait for further news from this terrible situation. (PA Graphics) Judy Bloomer Mr Bloomers wife Judy is a respected psychotherapist. Chris Morvillo Mr Morvillo, a partner at law firm Clifford Chance, represented Mr Lynch during the long-running criminal fraud trial where he was eventually cleared of all charges. A spokeswoman for Clifford Chance said on Tuesday: We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with our partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing. Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident. Neda Morvillo Mr Morvillos wife Neda reportedly runs a luxury jewellery line. Italian emergency services prepare to head toward the area off the Sicilian coast where the search continues six tourists missing after a luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Sicily. (PA Wire) British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five others are missing, feared dead after their luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the Sicilian coast. The luxury vessel named the Bayesian was moored half-a-mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank around 5am local time on Monday. Rescue efforts are currently underway, with Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard telling PA news agency authorities believe the missing six people are likely to be trapped inside the boat. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly, he said. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. The cruise was reportedly a celebration of Mr Lynchs recent acquittal of fraud charges in the United States. Who is involved and why were they there? Technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hanna who had recently finished her A-Levels and was bound for Oxford remain missing. Also unaccounted for are Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley and insurance company Hiscox, and his wife, Judy, a respected psychotherapist; as well as Chris Morvillo, a lawyer from Clifford Chance and part of the legal team representing Mr Lynch, and his wife, Neda, who reportedly runs a luxury jewellery line. The body of a man was recovered near the yacht, believed to be that of chef Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan man working onboard. Fifteen of the 22 people onboard including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat. British technology tycoon Mike Lynch is missing after the luxury yacht, Bayesian sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily (PA Media) The Telegraph reported Mr Lynch had guests from the legal firm that represented him and his own company to join him on the voyage. Among others rescued were Charlotte Golunkski and her one-year-old daughter Sophie. The brave mother kept her daughter alive by holding her over her head while she was in the water. How did the boat sink? Italian authorities have reported bad stormy conditions that caused the yacht to sink, but investigations into the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain ongoing. It is believed the luxury vessel may have been hit by a water spout, a rotating column of wind that forms over a body of water and is often likened to a tornado. According to the US National Ocean Service, tornadic weather spouts have the same characteristics as a land tornado and are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning. (PA Graphics) What search and rescue efforts are underway? Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said the six missing tourists were feared dead. Asked about their likelihood of being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. Italian emergency services headed out to sea towards the area off the Sicilian coast, where the search continues for six missing tourists. (PA Media) Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco said it developed a plan to enter the wreckage of Bayesian, which is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres. It described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Firefighter divers reached parts of the vessel through the gap, Giornale Di Sicilia reported on Tuesday, but are yet to make it to the cabins. If you manage to get inside, you understand there is a world of objects. So, getting inside and descending into the compartment below from the stairs that are narrow and going into all of the cabins is a really hard and difficult job, fire department diver Marco Tilotta said per Reuters news agency, according to the BBC. We are not stopping. We have resources, manpower and means. Our goal is to find all the people who are missing, so that is our job, Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors trapped inside the wreck. Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer is one of six people missing (Morgan Stanley International Bank/PA) The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside, he said. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. Rescuers could be looking for signs of life including banging noises at regular intervals. Who is Mike Lynch? Mike Lynch, the British billionaire and tech entrepreneur, owes his fame and fortune to software firm Autonomy, which he sold to Hewlett-Packard for billions in 2011. Hailing from Suffolk, he graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Mr Lynch is married to Angela Bacares, with whom he shares two daughters. The father-of-two has a reported net worth valued at around 852 million, according to the Independent. 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 His business ventures led him to once be dubbed Britains Bill Gates but also landed him in legal trouble. Autonomys sale was wrapped in fraud claims, and he faced civil action in the UK before being extradited to the United States to face criminal charges. In June, he was cleared of 15 fraud charges after allegations he inflated Autonomys worth. What do we know about the Bayesian? The 56-metre sailing boat was launched by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, according to the company website. It was once called the Salute, but was later renamed after Lynchs PhD thesis on statistical theory by mathematician Thomas Bayes. Media reports suggest the yachts owner is listed as Revtom Limited, a company owned by Mr Lynchs wife. Who was Stephen Chamberlain and how is he connected to the situation? Stephen Chamberlain was an associate of Mike Lynch and stood trial for fraud alongside him after Autonomys controversial sale. Days before the yacht disaster, Mr Chamberlain died after being hit by a car while out jogging. Stephen Chamberlain was killed whilst out running on Saturday in the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire. (Cambridgeshire Police) Mr Chamberlain, Autonomys former VP of Finance, was cleared of all charges by a San Francisco court in June. Relatives of Mr Chamberlain said in a tribute released through police that he was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible, his family said. Disorder broke out in various locations in the UK in the wake of the Southport killings, including in Middlesborough, pictured (Owen Humphreys/PA) A Pakistani web developer is facing a criminal charge over claims he helped spread misinformation about the accused Southport attacker. Farhan Asif, 32, has been charged with cyber terrorism after false claims quickly spread online that the suspect was a Muslim immigrant to the UK, when in fact he was born in Wales and comes from a Christian family. Pakistani police announced the charge on Wednesday, and said that Asif claimed he was not the original source of the false information, but reposted it from social media. 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 After three little girls were murdered at a holiday club in Southport on July 29, false rumours including a fake name for the suspect spread on X, formerly Twitter, appearing to originate from an apparent news website called Channel3 Now. The sites editor-in-chief posted an apology July 31 for the misleading information published in a recent article on our website, Channel3 Now. We deeply regret any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. The false details spread quickly online in the UK, with riots breaking out in various locations. There were also anti-racist counter-demonstrations attended by thousands of people. Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency, which deals with cyber-terrorism, has taken over the investigation. In Pakistan police charge suspects with offences, and they are indicted later. Trouble flared as the anti-immigration protest descended into violence in Rotherham on August 4 (Danny Lawson/PA) Federal investigators were given a day to question Asif by a court on Wednesday, and he is due to appear in court on Thursday when investigators are expected to seek more time to quiz him. Hundreds of people have so far been charged in the UK following the widespread disorder. On Wednesday, the latest batch of defendants to appear in court included men accused or convicted of unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham. The unrest outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4 left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured, and saw attempts to storm the building and set it on fire. Railway engineer Morgan Hardy, 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham, is accused of throwing chairs, fencing and a fire extinguisher at police guarding the hotel, and denies violent disorder. Former soldier Peter Beard, 43, of Becknoll Road, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting pushing aggressively at the line of officers. The disorder saw missiles thrown at police and attempts to storm the building (Danny Lawson/PA) The father-of-three, who undertook tours of duty in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, was told by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC: Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful and, in many respects, astonishing. Passing sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, the judge heard how Beard served in the Royal Green Jackets between 1998 and 2003, and said he was astonished that the defendant had become involved as he had been on the receiving end of public order incidents as a peacekeeper. A 27-year-old man who threw a wood panel onto a fire outside the hotel admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Thomas Birley his offending is unquestionably the most serious of all those he has dealt with in the last fortnight in relation to the rioting outside the Holiday Inn Express, at Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4. Birley, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, who also admitted violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, will be sentenced on September 6. Elsewhere Jake Lowther, 20, of Abrams Fold, Banks was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institute for throwing stones at police in Southport. Trouble flared during a protest in Southport (Richard McCarthy/PA) Liverpool Crown Court heard that he picked up two pieces of brick or stone from a broken wall and threw them towards police, with one hitting a riot shield. A number of people involved in the Southport disorder were jailed on Wednesday, including father-of-three Luke Moran, 38, who was sentenced to three years after trying to smash a police van window. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the officer inside, Pc James Hayes, feared for his life as Moran used a large piece of concrete to hit the carrier three times. Cocaine addict Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Preston Grove, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder and criminal damage, for throwing items at a police van and kicking the vehicle. The court heard he had been convicted of a racially aggravated common assault in 2016 after telling a traffic warden he should return back to his own country. Thomas Whitehead, 53, was arrested on a plane at Manchester Airport after his picture was circulated by police as part of the mob that had gathered outside the towns mosque. Officers walk past a burnt out police vehicle in Hartlepool (Owen Humphreys/PA) The father-of-three was sentenced to one year and eight months for violent disorder for throwing items at police. Manager for a scaffolding firm Nicholas Sinclair, 38, of Bury Road, Birkdale, was seen in footage throwing bricks at the officers, and was jailed for two years and four months for the same offence. In a separate case, a man who live-streamed disorder outside an asylum hotel was warned to get a lawyer and that he is in a serious position by Judge Maurice Greene at Manchester Crown Court. Aaron Johnson 32, of Criterion Street, Stockport, admitted inciting racial hatred by using racist language in a live stream broadcast to millions of people from outside an asylum hotel in Stockport on August 5. He will be sentenced on September 19. Declan Dixon, 22, of Salisbury Avenue, Hindley, Wigan, was jailed for 18 months at Teesside Crown Court for throwing a missile towards police on July 31 in Hartlepool. Declan Dixon (Cleveland Police/PA) The electrician, who told police he had been present out of curiosity, had admitted violent disorder and possessing cocaine. Michael Stevenson, 34, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, who tried to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in the town, was jailed for 26 months. Scaffolder Perrie Fisher, 29, who rode a childrens scooter before throwing it at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot and telling a police officer to f*** off, was sentenced to 29 months. An audit found a raft of security failings at a scandal hit jail after a prisoner allegedly escaped, according to a report (Lucy North/PA) An audit found a raft of security failings at a scandal hit jail after a prisoner allegedly escaped, according to a report. HMP Wandsworths Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said a security audit identified 81 points of failure and resulted in long overdue upgrades being made to CCTV cameras which had not worked for over a year. Daniel Khalife is accused of fleeing custody in September last year while being held on remand over spy charges. He allegedly strapped himself underneath a food delivery lorry and was arrested a few days later. The former soldier denies all the charges against him and is due to stand trial in October. The prisons watchdog called for the category B Victorian jail in south-west London to be put into emergency measures after deeply concerning inspection findings in the wake of the alleged incident. Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor wrote to then justice secretary Alex Chalk in May to issue an urgent notification for improvement. Earlier this month the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced it would be redirecting 100 million from across the prison service to spend over five years on bringing in urgent improvements as well as sending in extra specialist staff after the full details of Mr Taylors inspection were published, laying bare a shocking level of chaos at the prison with staff unable to account for prisoners during the working day. The latest findings from the IMB, published on Thursday, described Wandsworth as a failing prison which was constrained by staff absence and hindered by underfunding and lack of support from the prison service. Its report said the alleged escape led to multiple reviews and action including previously unavailable funding being made available for security improvements and significant investment in a bid to stop illicit items being brought into the prison. The security audit was carried out in November while an internal review completed in December made 39 recommendations, the report said. The MoJ is yet to publish these documents or confirm whether any disciplinary action has been taken. Court artist sketch of Daniel Khalife (Elizabeth Cook/PA) The extra funding allowed long overdue upgrades and repairs of the prisons antiquated CCTV systems, according to the IMB. This included a new system installed in May this year in the visits hall to replace an old system which had not been functioning for over a year. This immediately led to an increase in the number of illegal passes detected. While the IMB made up of volunteers tasked by ministers to scrutinise conditions in custody welcomed the improvements in security at the gate and reception, it warned it was possible the measures led to an increase in drone activity, with 261 instances noted during the reporting period, with such activity relatively rare in the previous year. The IMBs annual report for 2023-24 concluded the prison which is since under new leadership was not safe, with close to 1,000 assaults recorded either between prisoners or on staff, and it was alarmingly easy for prisoners to get hold of contraband with cell searches finding phones, drugs, makeshift weapons and alcohol. The shortage of experienced staff with almost half having been in their job for less than a year undermined attempts to make the prison run effectively and staff absence often reached 50%, it said. IMB chairman Matthew Andrews said: For HMP Wandsworth and the men whose treatment we monitor, this year has been as bad as any in our memory and, by many measures, worse. The recently released report from His Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons was highly critical but said little that surprised us. Many of the same issues had been raised in previous IMB annual reports and ignored by the Ministry of Justice. Previously Mr Taylor described his inspection of Wandsworth as catastrophic and symbolising the problems that characterise what is worst about the English prison system. He told how security remained a significant concern at the prison but said failings were evident in almost all aspects of the prisons operation as he highlighted how an action plan made in the wake of the last escape in 2019 had not been completed and that prior to the latest alleged incident security procedures had been neglected for a considerable time. The security audit resulted in the prison being handed the lowest grade of unsatisfactory and while there was a clear vision of what was needed to address concerns, the pace of improvement was slow, he said. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: The new Government inherited a justice system in crisis and has been forced to take action and get a grip of the situation across the prison estate, so we can lock up dangerous offenders, protect the public and make prisons safer for hard-working staff. Earlier this month, the new Lord Chancellor announced that the Prison Service is deploying extra specialist staff and will redirect 100 million to be spent over five years at HMP Wandsworth to ensure immediate action is taken to improve conditions. The UK is falling behind other high-income countries due to long waits for hospital care, a new report suggests. The Health Foundation said that the UK is among the poorest performing countries when it comes to hospital-based care. A decade ago, the UK was one of the best nations for people seeing hospital specialists in less than four weeks. But it slipped from being one of the better-performing nations in 2013 to one of the worst in 2023, according to new analysis by the think tank. The Commonwealth Funds International Health Policy Survey, which has been running for nearly two decades, saw adults from 10 high income countries, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the US and the UK, asked about their experiences using a range of services including hospital care, GP support and dentistry. The 2023 survey saw 21,000 people were asked their opinions including 3,361 adults in the UK. Analysis of the data by the Health Foundation found that the UK has some of the longest reported waiting times to see a specialist and, alongside Canada, has the largest proportion of people waiting one year or more for an appointment. The latest official figures show the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen for the third month in a row. An estimated 7.62 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of June, relating to 6.39 million patients up slightly from 7.60 million treatments and 6.37 million patients at the end of May. (PA Graphics) The list hit a record high in September 2023 with 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients. Some 2,621 patients in England had been waiting more than 18 months to start routine treatment at the end of June and there were 58,024 patients who had been waiting more than 65 weeks to start treatment. A total of 302,693 people in England had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment at the end of June. And some 302,693 people in England had been waiting more than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment at the end of June, down slightly from 307,500 at the end of May. The Government and NHS England have set the ambition of eliminating all waits of more than a year by March 2025. The Health Foundations analysis found that the UK is among the better-performing countries for people reporting access to same- or next-day GP appointments. But the survey also highlighted concerns about access and cost of dentistry. (PA Graphics) The findings suggest that pressures on health systems are not unique to the UK, but the cumulative impacts of the pandemic and below-average spending growth have left UK health services in a more precarious state than those in most other surveyed countries, according to the the Health Foundation report. Ruth Thorlby, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: These findings show the UK consistently coming near the bottom of the pack on peoples experience of healthcare compared to other high-income countries. It sheds yet more light on just how much work the Government has to do to get the NHS back on its feet. The combined effect of the pandemic and below average spending growth has left the NHS in a fragile state. The Government is right to prioritise bringing down waiting lists, but that can only be done with a concerted effort to improve primary care and ensuring good coordination between hospitals and GPs. National and local health leaders also need to be vigilant against creeping costs denying people access to healthcare. Nowhere is this more apparent than dental care where too many people are avoiding treatment due to costs. If these trends continue, the risk is that more and more people, particularly from deprived communities, will delay seeking care, which could store up more health problems in the future. There are no quick fixes, but the NHS can recover with the right mix of policy change, innovation and investment. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: We inherited a broken NHS and it is unacceptable that so many people are waiting longer than needed for care. It is our mission to get the health service back on its feet and build an NHS fit for the future. We know that waiting lists are too high, and it is one of the reasons the Health and Social Care Secretary ordered a full independent investigation into the state of the NHS to lay bare the scale of the problem. We will tackle head on the biggest issues gripping the NHS by delivering an extra 40,000 appointments every week and learning from good practice across the country, taking the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS. Conservative former health secretary Victoria Atkins, who now serves as shadow health secretary, said: Despite our progress in tackling the longest waits in England, Labours failures in Wales and the SNPs in Scotland have dragged Britain down the international rankings. Kamala Harris rallied thousands of voters at a rally in the arena where Republicans held their convention last month. While the Democratic National Convention continued in Chicago, the partys presidential nominee told a rally in Milwaukee in the battleground state of Wisconsin that she was running a people-powered campaign. Together we will chart a new way forward, the Vice President said in remarks that were partially broadcast to the convention. A future for freedom, opportunity, of optimism and faith. Joined in Milwaukee by running mate Tim Walz, she drew attention to Republican rival Donald Trump saying on Monday he had no regrets about appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade and ended the constitutional right to abortion. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appear at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Thats because he hasnt had to face the consequences, she said. Women and families have. Well, we will make sure he does face the consequence at the ballot box this November. They seemingly dont trust women. Well, we trust women. She argued that Mr Trump threatens the values and freedoms that Americans hold dear and said someone with his record should never again have the opportunity to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States. As they awaited the speech, her supporters listened to the roll call at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago which confirmed Ms Harris nomination. She was officially nominated earlier this month in a virtual roll call of delegates. Via a video link she told the convention: I thank everyone there and here for believing in what we can do together. She told supporters in Milwaukee that there was a contrast between herself and Mr Trump: one vision focused on the future and another focused on the past. We know this is going to be a tight race until the very end, she said. We have hard work ahead of us but we like hard work. Hard work is good work. And with your help, this November we will win. She wrapped up her roughly 25-minute remarks in Milwaukee with one of the signature call-and-response mantras of her campaign: When we fight, we win. Supporters arrive before Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Texas Democrats used their roll call moment in Chicago to bring light to the issue of abortion rights, with TV actress and Texas native Eva Longoria introducing former Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. Kate Cox, who was denied emergency abortion care by the Texas Supreme Court, told conventiongoers about her experience after the overturning of Roe v Wade. Because of these abortion bans I had to flee my home, Ms Cox said in an emotional moment. Theres nothing pro-life about letting women suffer and even die. She added that she is now pregnant and her baby is due in January, in time to see Ms Harris sworn in as president. Mr Trump told a rally in Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday that Ms Harris was the ringleader of a Marxist attack on law enforcement across the country. Kamala Harris will deliver crime, chaos, destruction and death, he said in one of many generalisations about an America under Ms Harris. Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump is to speak at a rally, his first since narrowly surviving an attempted assassination when a a gunman opened fire in Pennsylvania last month (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Donald Trump rallied against vice president Kamala Harris approach to national security in North Carolina in his first outdoor rally since narrowly surviving an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last month. The world is on fire, and Kamala and Biden have marched us to the brink of World War III, Mr Trump said, blaming the current White House for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal and wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. Supporters arrive to hear Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speak (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Mr Trump spoke from a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass at the rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame. Storage containers were stacked around the perimeter of the space to create additional walls and block sight lines, and snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft were sitting behind the podium and a large American flag was suspended from cranes. The event, billed as being focused on national security issues, is part of Mr Trumps week-long series of counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention, which is underway in Chicago. Allies have been urging him to focus on policy instead of personal attacks as he struggles to adjust to running against Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. On Tuesday night, the convention showcased a double dose of Obama firepower, as the former president and former first lady assailed Mr Trump, calling him out repeatedly by name. Michelle Obama said of Mr Trump: His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black. She also referenced a comment he made in a June debate, asking: Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been visiting battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the primaries (Evan Vucci/AP) Barack Obama mocked Mr Trumps obsession with his crowd sizes and called the former president a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. Mr Trump briefly addressed the criticism, asking the crowd if theyd seen the speech by the man he continues to call Barack Hussein Obama. He was taking shots at your president. And so was Michelle. You know, they always say, Sir, please stick to policy. Dont get personal. And yet theyre getting personal all night long, these people, he said, asking: Do I still have to stick to policy? Mr Trump was joined on Wednesday by his running mate, JD Vance, who cast Ms Harris as a candidate selected by power brokers instead of voters and lambasted her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz before Mr Trump took the stage. That included continuing to hammer Mr Walz for, at times, mischaracterising his service record as an Army National Guard member, as well as his retirement from service before his units deployment to Iraq. What wont Stolen Valour Tim Walz lie about? Mr Vance, who served four years as a Marine, asked the crowd. The former president has spent the week visiting battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the Republican primaries. Security gets in position prior to Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trumps speech (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Reflecting the importance of North Carolina in this years election, the trip is Mr Trumps second to the state in just a week. Last Wednesday, he appeared in Asheville, North Carolina, for a speech on the economy. Mr Trump won North Carolina by a comfortable margin in 2016. The state delivered the former president his closest state-wide margin of victory four years ago and is once again considered a key battleground in 2024. Before Mr Trump arrived, his plane did a flyover of the rally site and the gathered crowd erupted into cheers. Lisa Watts, a retired business owner from Hickory, North Carolina, who was attending her fifth Trump rally, said shes feeling very positive about the race. A month ago they never spoke her name and now shes like, quote quote the saviour for the country, Watts said of the vice president. I dont think that her record proves that she is ready to run this country. Ms Watts said she does not think Mr Trumps chances of winning are much different now from when Mr Biden was the Democratic nominee. I think the Democrats are going to try to do everything they can to keep her up on that pedestal, she said, predicting the hype around Ms Harris will fade. UPDATE: This story was updated Sept. 16 to correct the actual sale price. SHEFFIELD The 85-acre Option Institute campus has sold for $5.35 million to a pair of Deutschebank executives looking for a new business venture and a slower pace of life. Andrew Murray and James Davies plan to relocate to the campus with their respective families within the next four weeks. Over time, they plan to restore and transform the campus and its centerpiece 1880 manor house into a wellness center immersed in nature. Since 1983, Option Institute founders Barry and Susan Kaufman have held workshops on the property to help families of children with autism "to live their very best life" as part of the Son-Rise Program and the Option Institute International Learning Training Center. The sale, the couple said, was something they never planned for, but the pandemic changed their business model so much so that keeping the large campus no longer made sense. Under the name Olifi Properties, Murray and Davies bought three parcels on Undermountain and County roads in Sheffield and in Salisbury, Conn., as part of the deal. As Murray and Davies considered exiting banking and their next steps following their high-powered careers in New York and London, Murray suggested they look to the Berkshires. He grew up in Westchester County and skied Jiminy Peak and Catamount as a child. When real estate broker Lance Vermeulen showed Murray and Davies the Option Institute property in April, Murray said both he and Davies were drawn to the natural features on the site the mountainous terrain, the pond, streams as well as its proximity to the Appalachian Trail. The listing at Elyse Harney Real Estate refers to the campus stunning distant views. At that time, the property was listed at $7.5 million, less than half the original 2020 listing price of $16 million. The Kaufmans said they never anticipated selling the property. After doing a yearslong search, they bought the property in 1983 after Susan Kaufman saw a postage stamp-sized ad for the property in a newspaper. "We spent six years looking for a property and talking about all the details of what we'd do when we got the property," Susan "Samahria" Kaufman said. Barry "Bears" Kaufman said the two built up the campus. "We built it as if it was a forever place for us," he said. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person programming both on campus and around the world, forcing the couple to pivot to online programming. Still in operation, the Option Institute has a staff of about 28 running mostly online programs from the institute and across the world. The Kaufmans, now in their 80s, are among the teachers but no longer at the helm. Under the auspices of the Option Institute, the 85 acres has 12 structures with an auditorium, group meeting areas, breakout private offices, a fitness center, a pondside cottage, a dining hall with commercial kitchen, and more than 56 guest rooms. Murray said he and his husband, Chris Murray, hope to have a child within the next year through a surrogate. They, along Davies, his wife, Olivia Scanlon, and their 7-year-old daughter, all plan to live on the Connecticut portion of the property in separate homes. The transaction was compressed, Murray said, based on the sellers desire for a quick closing. Real estate agent Juliet Moore represented the property for the sellers with Elyse Harney-Morris at Elyse Harney Real Estate. There was plenty of initial interest, Moore said, particularly among hotels, but a complicating factor was that the campus is suited to a commercial use but is zoned residential. The number of buildings and the amount of infrastructure also contributed to the complexity. We had such a positive experience with everybody on both sides, Moore said, who praised the work of the Kaufmans on the campus, saying they assisted 45,000 people since founding the institute in 1983. The Kaufmans still run a scaled-down Option Institute across the street from the 45-acre campus. Murray said hes been embraced warmly already in the Berkshires and that the two intend to invest "a significant amount relative to the purchase price" of the property. Weve been very committed to this new venture together, Murray said, adding that both Davies and he are looking forward to spending more time in nature and community as well as learning the land they've just purchased, which they have not yet hiked in its entirety. "We felt so welcome by the local community," he said. "Were just excited to get up there and get to know more people." I often can only consider the needs that are right in front of my face. Sometimes that is very purposeful; because we live in such a loud world, I need to quiet those voices that want to distract me by pulling me towards focusing on problems I cant fix. I intentionally lean into my little world seeking to be faithful in my little. But in my efforts to protect my sanity, I cannot forget Gods call to care for and spread the good news of Jesus to the nations (Matthew 28:1820; Acts 1:8). The nations feel far, their needs hard, and we also have so many issues right here. How can we be worried about the unreached people of the world? Yet, sharing the good news is very close to Gods heart. It matters because God needs us for the good news to be shared across the globe. Thankfully, missions can be something we engage in with more ease than we might expect. So much of the American church is so focused on our projects here that even the smallest shift towards global missions can make a massive impact on more of the world. Supporting Global Missions Financially Matters We know that only 0.1% of all Christian giving is directed toward mission efforts in the 38 most unevangelized countries in the world. A vast majority of mission giving goes towards those who are already a part of the Christian church. In general, American Christians give about 95% of their offerings to home-based ministries, leaving global missions vastly underfunded and undervalued in our faith communities. An easy way to expand your participation in Gods call to spread the gospel is to expand the ways you give your money. We live in a part of the world where we are blessed with much, so we are expected to give with a great level of generosity. We do not want to give blindly, however so many missions organizations and individuals that are willing to dedicate their lives to mission work cannot expand because they are not well funded. Loving our global neighbor well can begin with us prioritizing giving to those who are called. Connect with a work that overlaps with your life. Do you know a church that invests in a specific community in a different part of the world? Do you really love a particular type of food or learning about a specific culture? Is your heart moved by the idea of undernourished children? Lean into those places of interest and ask God to reveal a way to invest in making a difference through those who work in these places for Gods glory. Pray for the Global Church We read the psalmist call for Gods glory to be declared among the nations and his great works to be seen among all peoples (Psalm 96:3). We serve a great and glorious God who spurs us to pray that the whole world would bow in worship. There is such beauty when those from different places and backgrounds come together in unity to worship the one true God! As we see the nations worship, we see a more complete picture of Gods beloved bride. This bride is not called to be a western, white, or rich one. It includes people from every tongue, tribe, nation and culture. Such unity is more stunning than we could ever imagine. Seeing the world come to Jesus should excite our hearts as its the best glimpse we have of Heaven while here on earth. While we may not all have the chance to go and share the good news in Iraq or other closed nations, we can pray for God to reveal himself powerfully in these places. The exciting truth is that God is showing up in power across the globe and really when we join in prayer, we get the privilege to become a part of this exciting reality. My brother recently spent time in Iraq praying and sharing with native Christians from the area. They shared reports of meeting a man with a face of fire in visions, and they responded by giving their lives in service to him. They are meeting Jesus through divine encounter. Gods grace is so abundant and his love is unfailing. He is being revealed in every part of the globe and when we join in praying for the nations, we join in His glory, which is being revealed through good works across the nations. Go When You Can The small Christian college I went to required every student to take a cross cultural trip. This was an intentional requirement, so that students would graduate with a broader, more gracious view of the world we live in, the world God created. In your life, the same push to discover God in a different place opens your eyes and heart to parts of God that are undiscoverable as a middle-class American church-goer. Going is about sharing and praying and giving in a place that needs the hands and feet of Jesus to show up. But it's also about seeing God with fresh eyes as we realize he is alive and active across the world. God wants to give us a greater view of who he is, how he loves, and what the church is called to be. If you can, go to give, to learn, and to see God in a new way. Resources to Learn More David Platt is a wonderful teacher who helps us catch the vision of our global God. Stratus is a resource he points to that helps us learn about the global church. Learn more about missions work though AGWM. Maps Global works to train and send groups to unreached areas of the world with the mission of sharing the Gospel. Convoy of Hope offers practical support and shares Gods love with people groups across the globe. These are just a few to get you started! There are so many ways to get involved in what God is doing across the globe. Lets be a people of God that love beyond reason, seeking that Gods Kingdom will come and will be done across the globe as it is in Heaven. Photo credit: Getty Images/steve007 Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram. 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. China helps African nations reduce debt pressure Xinhua) 10:04, August 21, 2024 BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China has been helping African countries alleviate debt pressure through multiple channels, a commerce official said Tuesday. Under the framework of the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative, China has played an active role in helping relevant nations reach debt suspension agreements, Shen Xiang, director of the West Asia and Africa Department under the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference. Under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework, China has canceled the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans that were due to mature by the end of 2021, Shen said. Chinese financial institutions and enterprises have engaged in investment and financing cooperation with African countries based on market principles and international rules. They fully respect the will of African nations and take into consideration their actual needs. Moreover, China never attaches any political conditions, which has earned widespread appreciation from African nations, he said. Commercial bonds and multilateral debts accounted for 66 percent of Africa's external debt, while China-Africa bilateral debt only represented 11 percent of Africa's total external debt, Shen said, citing statistics compiled by the IMF. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five others are missing, feared dead after their luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the Sicilian coast. The luxury vessel named the Bayesian was moored half-a-mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank around 5am local time on Monday. Advertisement Rescue efforts are currently underway, with Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard telling PA news agency authorities believe the missing six people are likely to be trapped inside the boat. Advertisement Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly, he said. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. The cruise was reportedly a celebration of Mr Lynchs recent acquittal of fraud charges in the United States. Who is involved, and why were they there? Technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hanna who had recently finished her A-Levels and was bound for Oxford remain missing. Advertisement Also unaccounted for are Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley and insurance company Hiscox, and his wife, Judy, a respected psychotherapist; as well as Chris Morvillo, a lawyer from Clifford Chance and part of the legal team representing Mr Lynch, and his wife, Neda, who reportedly runs a luxury jewellery line. The body of a man was recovered near the yacht, believed to be that of chef Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan man working onboard. Fifteen of the 22 people onboard - including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat. Advertisement British technology tycoon Mike Lynch is missing after the luxury yacht, Bayesian sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily (PA Media) The Telegraph reported Mr Lynch had guests from the legal firm that represented him and his own company to join him on the voyage. Among others rescued were Charlotte Golunkski and her one-year-old daughter Sophie. The brave mother kept her daughter alive by holding her over her head while she was in the water. How did the boat sink? Italian authorities have reported bad stormy conditions that caused the yacht to sink, but investigations into the exact circumstances of the tragedy remain ongoing. Advertisement It is believed the luxury vessel may have been hit by a water spout, a rotating column of wind that forms over a body of water and is often likened to a tornado. According to the US National Ocean Service, tornadic weather spouts have the same characteristics as a land tornado and are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning. (PA Graphics) What search and rescue efforts are underway? Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said the six missing tourists were feared dead. Asked about their likelihood of being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. Italian emergency services headed out to sea towards the area off the Sicilian coast, where the search continues for six missing tourists. (PA Media) Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco said it developed a plan to enter the wreckage of Bayesian, which is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres. It described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Firefighter divers reached parts of the vessel through the gap, Giornale Di Sicilia reported on Tuesday, but are yet to make it to the cabins. If you manage to get inside, you understand there is a world of objects. So, getting inside and descending into the compartment below from the stairs that are narrow and going into all of the cabins is a really hard and difficult job, fire department diver Marco Tilotta said per Reuters news agency, according to the BBC. We are not stopping. We have resources, manpower and means. Our goal is to find all the people who are missing, so that is our job, Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to finding survivors trapped inside the wreck. Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer is one of six people missing (Morgan Stanley International Bank/PA) The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside, he said. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. Rescuers could be looking for signs of life, including banging noises at regular intervals. Who is Mike Lynch? Mike Lynch, the Irish-British billionaire and tech entrepreneur, owes his fame and fortune to software firm Autonomy, which he sold to Hewlett-Packard for billions in 2011. Hailing from Suffolk, he graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Mr Lynch is married to Angela Bacares, with whom he shares two daughters. The father-of-two has a reported net worth valued at around 852 million, according to the UK Independent. His business ventures led him to once be dubbed Britains Bill Gates but also landed him in legal trouble. Autonomys sale was wrapped in fraud claims, and he faced civil action in the UK before being extradited to the United States to face criminal charges. In June, he was cleared of 15 fraud charges after allegations he inflated Autonomys worth. What do we know about the Bayesian? The 56-metre sailing boat was launched by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, according to the company website. It was once called the Salute, but was later renamed after Lynchs PhD thesis on statistical theory by mathematician Thomas Bayes. Media reports suggest the yachts owner is listed as Revtom Limited, a company owned by Mr Lynchs wife. Who was Stephen Chamberlain, and how is he connected to the situation? Stephen Chamberlain was an associate of Mike Lynch and stood trial for fraud alongside him after Autonomys controversial sale. Days before the yacht disaster, Mr Chamberlain died after being hit by a car while out jogging. Stephen Chamberlain was killed whilst out running on Saturday in the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire. (Cambridgeshire Police) Mr Chamberlain, Autonomys former VP of Finance, was cleared of all charges by a San Francisco court in June. Relatives of Mr Chamberlain said in a tribute released through police that he was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible, his family said. A broken-hearted family are desperate to trace a phone belonging to their loving father who collapsed whilst in Cork city centre on Tuesday and died in hospital as it contains irreplaceable family photographs. The family of Kieran O'Donovan from Glamire, Co Cork are keen to find the iPhone as it stores priceless family shots from over the years. Advertisement Mr O'Donovan's daughter, Karen, made an emotional appeal for help via The Opinion Line on Corks 96FM. She said that her father, who suffered from a heart complaint, parked his car on Wellington Road in Cork city around 4pm on Tuesday. Mr O'Donovan went down a hill by York Street in order to get to MacCurtain Street. When he got to the bottom of the hill he collapsed. A passerby went to his assistance and paramedics were at the scene within minutes. Advertisement They administered emergency medical attention. Mr ODonovan was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH). However, tragically he was pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at the hospital. All of his possessions were accounted for including his car keys. However, Karen said that his iPhone, which was in a navy case, was missing. Advertisement It is understood Mr O'Donovan had the phone with him at the junction of York Street and MacCurtain Street. Family members and emergency services carried out a trawl of the area involved but no trace of the phone was found. Karen is hoping that her appeal will result in the phone being returned to the grieving family. "It is much more than a phone - that is all we care about, just finding it. We just want his phone back as it has everything, all the pictures of his grandchildren everything. It would have been somewhere between the bottom of York Street up as far as the post office. Gardai say he got into difficulties at the bottom of York Street and that he tried to go in to an apartment block that had an open door to get help and thats probably where he lost the phone. Karen has urged anyone with information on its whereabouts to text Corks 96FM on 083 3969696. Activist Majella Beattie, of Care Champions, has said that the family of a non-verbal woman who was subjected to inappropriate contact by another resident in a HSE-run facility have called for the other resident to be removed. A review by the HSE found that there was a failure to implement safeguarding measures at the facility where one resident touched the breast of another resident who is immobile. Advertisement A report into the incident in June last year revealed that there had been a failure to implement and review safeguarding measures following a previous incident in 2014. The family of this lady are very much traumatised. They very much talk about their daughter being unable to protect herself, and relying on others for all her care. It is very difficult for them to live with the fact that their daughter has been harmed twice by the same person., she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. They are very much aware that Resident B also has a disability and is also entitled to the support they need. But they do not believe that their daughter should have to live in the same home as the person who harmed her. This family wants Resident B to be removed so that their daughter can live safely in her home. The problem is the ongoing trauma to this young lady because she is so vulnerable, and has no way to protect herself. This young man with his disability, she will hear him, she will see him. And they don't want her to be re-traumatised. Advertisement 2014 report In a previous incident in 2014, Resident B kissed Resident A and touched her breast. Following that incident, a report stated that due to Resident As disability, reduced inhibition and communication problems, she would be "very vulnerable to inappropriate advances from male residents who suffer from acquired brain injury with impaired cognitive function and executive dysfunction". The 2014 report made recommendations to prevent the risk of a similar safeguarding incident happening again. However, the latest review revealed no staff member recalled safeguarding plans being discussed or that they were informed of the 2014 incident. Minister of State Ann Rabbitte has expressed disappointment that the first time she heard of the case was from the media. Advertisement I'm hearing it for the first time this morning, she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Ms Rabbitte said she had an email ready to send to the HSE, and she was disappointed that she had not been informed of the incident and the report. She said she had no doubt that it was very distressing for the family of Resident A, but also for the family of Resident B. There had been other stories like this, she said which was why Bernard Gloster had made safeguarding one of his priorities. It felt like there had been a complete failure or breakdown of procedures in this case, said Ms Rabbitte. It was important to ensure the development of a safeguarding culture with increased visibility and understanding of safeguarding in the care system where people are in the care of the State, she said. An application has made to the High Court for an injunction preventing a site in Coolock being used to house persons seeking international protection. Three members of the public, Melissa Kelly, Amanda Farrelly and Alan Croghan are seeking orders including an injunction restraining the former warehouse for Crown Paints in Coolock, being developed into units to house mainly Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in their home country with Russia. Advertisement The proceedings are against several respondents including the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth Roderick O'Gorman, Dublin City Council, the Chief Superintendent of Coolock, and Townbe Unlimited Company, which it is claimed is the leaseholder of the site. It is understood that other parties may be added to the proceedings. Representing themselves they claim that the decision to allow the site to be converted into housing for refugees is unlawful and should be halted on grounds including that there was, in breach of planning laws, a failure by the authorities to enter into a process of public consultation regarding the proposed development. Speaking on behalf of the respondents, Ms Kelly told the court that she also believes the decision to develop the site into accommodation for international protection seekers is also unconstitutional. Advertisement She argued that they were also entitled to an injunction because of the "public unrest" over the proposal and that it may cause "serious harm" to those living in the locality. The site has been the scene of violence and unrest. Several gardai were injured and there were arson attacks on a Garda car and a digger. Fireworks were aimed at lines of Public Order Unit gardai, while glass bottles and rocks were also thrown. Over a dozen people were arrested and were subsequently charged with public order offences. Advertisement The matter was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy during Wednesday's vacation sitting of the High Court. The judge said that he had some knowledge of the situation having made orders in July restraining persons unknown from attending at or engaging in violent behaviour at the site. The judge said that he was not prepared to grant an interim injunction ex-parte basis, on grounds including that the applicants had delayed in bringing their action. Some of the matters raised by the applicants, the judge added, were simply not capable of being decided by a court of law. Advertisement However, the judge said that they had raised some issues in their application that did merit a response from the respondents. On that basis alone, the judge said that he was prepared to grant the three applicants' permission on an ex-parte basis to serve short notice of the injunction application on the respondents. The judge adjourned the application to a date later this month. Wednesday's application is the latest proceedings to come before the court in respect of plans to develop into 500 modular units primarily for Ukrainians do not have suitable accommodation in Ireland. Last month Mr Justice Mulcahy granted various orders in favour of Townbe and developer Remcoll Capital Limited, restraining persons unknown from engaging in any threatening or intimidatory behaviour towards their employees at the site. The court also made orders restraining any trespass at the site. Minister of State Ossian Smyth has expressed amazement at reports of plans to postpone the Residential Zoned Land Tax. I was amazed to read this. I didn't see that coming at all, he told RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show. Advertisement Just to be clear, obviously we have a housing crisis. And yet Ireland is a country that has a lot of land. And so part of the Housing for all Strategy three years ago was that we passed a law which said that people, if they were found to be hoarding land, land that's both zoned for housing and provided with services that they would have to pay a tax. The idea was when we passed that law, we said, anybody who owns this land, you've got two years, to get ready. In other words, you got two years to either start building on the land, or to dezone the land, or else if you don't want to do that, sell on the land, if you don't want to build on it, you can pay the tax. So that was basically the idea in 2021, 2023 came around, time to pay the tax. And the government decided to give people an extra year because they weren't ready. So we pushed it forward to three years. So now here we are three years later. "I opened the newspaper the other day, and it says some politicians are thinking that we should do it another year. And I just thought that's the last thing that we should be doing right now. Advertisement Mr Smyth denied that the government had made a decision on the issue. It isn't the government. The government has already made a decision about this and has passed a law. So we have a policy. We have a law. The suggestion of deferring the tax for a further year was not something with which he could agree, he said. We've now gone through the exercise of mapping out the country and finding where are these land banks that are both zoned for residential housing and ready to build on, provided with services. And it turns out that there are 6500 hectares and it's enough land for 220,000 homes. So it would be absolutely transformative to provide that housing. These figures have been published and were available as every local authority had been obliged by law to publish a map indicating what land was available zoned for housing but had not yet been built upon. Advertisement So we're holding back. If we don't go ahead and do this we're holding back housing for 220,000 families. All the political parties are agreeing that we need to build 50,000 homes a year. Why would we delay this for a year? That's not the right answer. The majority of the land involved was not agricultural, he added. It was land outside of towns. Or State owned. Deferring the entire tax for a year because you found some hard cases that are the minority of people is not the right answer. So if there are people who want to come, if there are a proposals to identify somebody who is a hard case, who's being treated unfairly and that they need to have some kind of a pay off or an exemption, that's fine. "But what we're not going to do is defer tax for a year. I would never accept that that's not going to happen. Advertisement That suggestion, that the whole tax will be deferred for a year, 220,000 people are going to be denied their housing because a minority of people are being unfairly treated. The Green Party was open to finding a solution, he said. This was the case with all laws if it was found that there was a difficulty for some people who were being unfairly treated. Farmers who had land that had been zoned for housing, could apply to have it dezoned, he said. We can we can find a solution to this problem. And if there's somebody in some particular situation which is really unfair, I'm sure we can find a way around this. "But what we are not going to do is get rid of land hoarding tax, which could provide housing for 220,000 families simply because there is a small number of undefined cases. President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty, who has died at the age of 80. The celebrated writers family said she died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Co Donegal. Advertisement The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Derry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Advertisement Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said McCafferty had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and had a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Nell McCafferty https://t.co/IlvxH3OsnK Advertisement President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 21, 2024 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Advertisement Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Advertisement Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner - the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon - Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. A man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a woman found dead at her home in Co Derry. Sophie Watson, 57, was found unresponsive at the property in Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt on Sunday afternoon. Advertisement She had suffered a number of stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrzej Pajaczkowski, 43, also of Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt, appeared before a district judge on Wednesday morning via video-link from the Serious Custody Suite at Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast. Bearded and wearing a grey custody tracksuit, he spoke briefly at the outset of the short hearing to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood the charge against him. Magherafelt Magistrates Court, sitting in Derry courthouse, heard that the accused, who was assisted during the hearing by a Polish interpreter, had lived in Northern Ireland for the last 20 years. Advertisement The accused appeared from Musgrave Police Station, Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. A detective constable told district judge Oonagh Mullan that she could connect the accused to the charge. Pajaczkowskis defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna noted to the judge that his client had replied not guilty after being charged. Advertisement He made no application for bail but said such an application may be made at a later point. We are conscious of ongoing police inquiries in the area, said Mr McKenna. We also require some investigation of bail address issues and I also want to obtain some medical evidence before progressing the bail application. Your worship will have noted the not guilty reply after charge this will be a complicated and complex investigation. Advertisement The judge remanded the accused in custody to appear before the same court, via videolink, on September 18th. Detectives have said they are continuing their inquiries into the murder and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward to them or anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers. A mother of a little boy suffering with a life-threatening curve on his spine, shared a heartbreaking video of her son struggling in pain, and pleaded with Taoiseach, Simon Harris, to help her son receive the urgent care he so desperately needs. In 2017, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison were told by doctors that their baby son Harvey would require urgent scoliosis surgery as his lungs and heart were already starting to be crushed by his twisting spine and ribcage. Advertisement Last February, Harveys parents shared a video of Harvey struggling to breathe due to his complex health needs. However, seven years after Harveys doctors warned that controlling his scoliosis was life or death, Harveys mother informed the Taoiseach in an email that Harvey is still awaiting the life-saving surgery. In 2017, Mr Harris, then the Minister for Health, told parents of children waiting years for scoliosis surgery that they would wait no longer than four months for the procedures, but this has not happened, and prolonged scoliosis surgery waiting lists continue due to inadequacies in the health system. You continually tell families like ours that you care, and you have been promising to fix this since 2017. 2017 was the year we were told that Harveys ribs were crushing his lungs and controlling his scoliosis was life and death. Here we are in 2024 and nothing has changed..., states Ms Sherratts email to the Taoiseach. Advertisement Ms Sherratt stated she is incredibly concerned for Harvey who is now eight and half years old. Harvey has Spina Bifida and scoliosis which in itself is challenging, but when those conditions are coupled with a lack of access to therapy, and incredibly long wait lists for urgent and life changing surgeries, then it becomes impossible to adequately care for your child, wrote Ms Sherratt. Harvey had an Xray in January 2024 that showed his scoliosis curve is at 110, if you have read in to scoliosis then I am sure you are aware how this is at a point where it is detrimental to his health and quality of life, Ms Sherratts email continues. Ms Sherratt sates that Harvey was listed for urgent surgery in February 2022 after repeated pneumonia infections, however Harveys surgeon has not been available for surgery and 30 months later he (Harvey) is still only on the surgical list...as he does not have a surgeon willing to operate.. Advertisement Ms Sherratts email informed the Taoiseach that a Paediatric Spinal Taskforce, established last January by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to address the scoliosis surgery waiting lists crisis, and which has met three times, has not made contact with my family, nor is there any details online of how to contact them to enquire as to when your child will finally be treated. Ms Sherratts email also highlighted delays in the long-awaited new Childrens Hospital, as well as how the result of a HSE investigation into where funding for scoliosis surgery was actually spent is not known. Here we are in 2024 and nothing has changed except...longer wait lists, more children waiting, a still not complete hospital, and funds not being spent as intended and no answers yet as to where the money *we* fought for went. You say you care but your actions have left us feeling anything but, Ms Sherratt states. Advertisement She also informed the Taoiseach that her five-year-old daughter Lyla is facing open heart surgery next month and this is just more stress and concern that we do not need. Another summer has just passed and Harvey has spent the majority (of it) in his room, often needing to go back in to bed because he is in so much pain, Ms Sherratts states. Is that the life you think the children of Ireland deserve? Would you accept that if it was your own child? Can you imagine being told your child has a potentially life threatening condition but that it will be years before it would be treated?, she asked. We need actual action, not more empty promises...We need contact details and open dialogue with the task force so that we can actually feel its existence. We need answers as to where the funding for scoliosis and spina bifida services went. Most of all, these children need to get their quality of life back before their whole childhood passes. I look forward to hearing from you, Ms Sherratts email concludes. The Department of the Taoiseach has been asked for a response. The States prison watchdog has repeated its call on the Irish Prison Service (IPS) to intensify its efforts to physically prevent contraband from entering the countrys prisons following another suspected death of a prisoner who had consumed illicit substances. The Office of the Inspector of Prisons recommended that the IPS should also intensify its interactions with An Garda Siochana to develop a multi-agency written strategy to tackle the problem of drugs and other prohibited materials getting into prisons. Advertisement The call for greater measures to prevent and detect contraband in prisons follows the death of a prisoner a few hours after reports he had consumed drugs and home-made alcohol in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin three years ago. In a report into the death of the 34-year-old remand prisoner on August 12th, 2021, the OIP noted the governor of Cloverhill acknowledged that it was the second death in the prison that year in which contraband appeared to have been a factor. The prisoner identified only as Mr E had been remanded in custody three months earlier while awaiting trial on drug charges which was listed for hearing on August 24th, 2021. He was sharing a cell with two other prisoners at the time of his death. Advertisement One of them told OIP investigators that Mr E told him that he had acquired 5-10 tablets known as zimos (a slang word for benzodiazepines) in the yard from another prisoner that afternoon. The deceased told his cellmate that he had already consumed four zimos while he was in the yard. A couple of prisoners who played cards with Mr E later that evening said he was in good form before all inmates were locked in their cells for the night. OIP investigators were also informed that there were four litres of hooch or illicit alcohol in their cell. Advertisement They were told that the three prisoners, including Mr E, drank about two litres between them, with one prisoner claiming it had quite an effect". Both of Mr Es cellmates reported that he was slurring his speech at 11.30pm when he was placed in a chair near air vents to try and sober him up. One prisoner said he decided to sit up all night to make sure Mr E was OK. He reported that the deceased was snoring loudly at one stage but did not find that unusual. Advertisement The other cellmate woke at 3.30am and told Mr E who was still sitting in a chair to go to bed. He recounted how he helped Mr E into the toilet where he threw up. He told the OIP staff that he placed the deceased in the recovery position in the lower bunk because he was concerned Mr E might fall from the top bunk. The other prisoner said he placed a mattress on the floor to prevent Mr E from hitting the ground in case he fell out of his bed. Advertisement The two other prisoners spoke at 5.30am before falling back asleep in the belief that Mr E was OK as he had not vomited since 3.30am. One of them said they noticed soiled bed clothes in the lower bunk when they woke at 7am and realised that Mr E had been ill again. He began CPR on Mr E at 7.03am after hearing him making a gargling sound but was unresponsive when called. The other prisoner started banging on the cell door to raise the alarm. Report The report noted that prison officers found Mr Es cellmates in a panic, stating: Hes after getting sick and we cant wake him. A nurse who attended the deceased said he was unresponsive and cold to the touch with dry blood visible on his face and on the bed clothes. The OIP observed that paramedics called to the prison had ceased resuscitation efforts on Mr E at 8.05am, and he was formally pronounced dead an hour later by a doctor. The prison watchdog noted that Cloverhills chief nurse officer had raised concerns about the length of the waiting list for drug counselling at a critical incident review meeting held on the day after Mr Es death. The meeting was told that an extra 18 prisoners had been added to the list that day. The OIP noted it had made the same recommendations in its report into the other suspected death of a prisoner from taking drugs in Cloverhill in 2021, which was published earlier this month. In its recommendations, the OIP urged the prison authorities to use technological measures to prevent and detect contraband in prisons. It also called for any strategy to tackle the problem to also contain measures to prevent exploitation and coercion being used to bring drugs and other illicit substances into prisons. The IPS said it accepted the recommendations and their implementation was ongoing". Drug Strategy The IPS said it had published a new Drug Strategy in 2023 with a renewed focus to address substance abuse in prisons. It claimed engagement with gardai had resulted in 75 arrests at Wheatfield/Cloverhill prison complex over a 13-year period to mid-March 2024. The OIP report also noted that Mr Es family criticised how they found out about his death via a phone call rather than in person. However, the IPS said its protocol was for a prison chaplain to contact the next of kin by phone if they could not attend the home of the deceased family person. In the case of Ms E, it explained that the chaplain had not attended the home because of Covid-19 restrictions and that it was practice to contact families by phone at the time. As part of International Beatleweek, that celebrates The Beatles in Liverpool, we take a look at how the renowned pop band not only changed the landscape of music, but fashion too. The Beatles entered the Sixties dressed as teddy boys and left as mop topped, sharply suited heart-throbs. Advertisement The Beatles early Teddy Boys image of the Fifties was drastically different to what they later cultivated (Alamy/PA) After an infamous trip to Hamburg, Germany, the bands manager, Brian Epstein, decided to dress the band in matching made-to-measure suits. These suits, often in dark hues and paired with ties and crisp white shirts, were meticulously crafted to present a unified, polished image, says London-based fashion expert Fausta Urte Geigaite, this bespoke elegance set them apart, offering a fresh, accessible look that appealed to both the youth and the establishment. Advertisement The Beatles became known for cosmopolitan suits and slick mop haircuts (Alamy/PA) Although the suits were a way to tidy their appearance, the band themselves were quite mischievous, and in a way The Beatles were the perfect contradiction. Clean cut in their appearance but rebellious in their nature; the bands fashion helped appeal to both parents and teens. As the band grew so did their styles. Psychedelia became a pool of inspiration for liberals and free thinkers of the decade. Influenced by fin de siecle Art Nouveau, Victoriana and circus imagery psychedelias diverse sources found a direct parallel with The Beatles fashion and musical eclecticism. Advertisement The Beatles new colourful and avant-garde style was exhibited on their album cover art (Alamy/PA) The bands music began to implement heavily effected sounds, Eastern intervals and avant-garde tape looping. Visually, the four grew out their mop haircuts and wore brightly coloured military suits, famously exhibited on the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. Advertisement The Beatles wore brightly coloured military uniform on the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover (Alamy/PA) By the mid-Sixties, each band member had developed their own iconic style. John Lennon was known for his minimalist and sometimes unconventional style, which included round wire-rimmed glasses and Nehru jackets. John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, were renowned for being the most liberal of the group (Alamy/PA) Advertisement Paul McCartney was more polished and conservative, sticking with the sharp suits of the early Sixties, whilst George Harrison had an eclectic style, playing with traditional Indian prints, silk and denim. Paul McCartney didnt stray far from Brian Epsteins early style transformation (Alamy/PA) George Harrisons hippy haircut and moustache became emblematic of his style paired with Eastern textiles (Alamy/PA) Ringo Starr had a more casual and laid-back approach to fashion, often appearing in simple jackets, trousers and T-shirts. He later became known for his distinctive earring and sunglasses. Ringo Starr later became known for his small round glasses and peace emblems (Alamy/PA) Most of these iconic elements have not been lost to history. Their ability to blend sophisticated, tailored outfits with elements of avant-garde ensured their style legacy, says Geigaite. In 2024, Sixties fashion has come swinging back, with the revival of quilted print jackets, mod shift dresses, Mary Janes and acidic suits. The returning styles show the enduring legacy that The Beatles helped cultivate with their experimental and eclectic style. The Beatles bright and bold approach continues to inspire suit tailoring from Gucci to Saint Laurent (Alamy/PA) The bands influence on fashion remains palpable even today. From their initial tailored suits inspiring countless reinterpretations in menswear, to the resurgence of Western boots echoing the Cuban heel worn by the band members, later being dubbed the Beatle boot. Designers often reference the eclectic and bold aesthetic of their later years in collections that celebrate individuality and breaking the norms, says Geigaite. In essence, The Beatles taught us that fashion, much like music, is a platform for personal expression and cultural dialogue. How to get the modern look (Nobodys Child/PA) Nobodys Child Cream Palermo Mini Shift Dress (Cotton Conscious/PA) Cotton Conscious Block Print Quilted Cotton Jacket Blue (Next/PA) Forever Comfort Ankle Western Cowboy Boots, Next (Debenhams/PA) House of Holland Pink Flame Clashing Colours Blazer, Debenhams The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported more than 1,000 new mpox cases in the last week up to Tuesday as African health authorities asked for desperately needed vaccines to help fight its growing threat on the continent. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreaks in Africa a global emergency. Advertisement Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms such as fever, chills and body aches, and mostly spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse. A girl suffering from mpox walks past a treatment centre in Munigi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Moses Sawasawa/AP) People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals. Advertisement While mpox has been reported in 12 of Africas 54 countries during these outbreaks, the vast central African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded by far the most cases this year. Out of a total of 18,910 cases in 2024, 94% or 17,794 were in the DRC, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said, with 535 of the 541 deaths reported. The figures are likely to be an underestimate, as only about one in five suspected cases in the DRC are being tested for mpox. Africa CDC director-general Dr Jean Kaseya said many affected African countries had limited testing and surveillance capabilities. Advertisement Over the last seven days, the DRC recorded 1,030 of the 1,405 new cases in Africa, according to statistics provided late on Tuesday by the Africa CDC. Only 16% of the cases have been confirmed by virus tests, but the infections meet the agencys definition of the disease. The rising mpox case count in Africa and a new form of the virus identified in the DRC that might be more easily transmitted led the WHO to declare it a global health emergency last week. A young girl suffering from mpox waits for treatment at a clinic in Munigi (Moses Sawasawa/AP) Advertisement Some hope this will encourage donors to share vaccines and other help to curtail the outbreaks in Africa before cases spread internationally as Sweden recorded a case of the new mpox variant first seen in the DRC. The WHO has previously said its past efforts to raise donations for mpox failed to elicit even a single donor dollar. Dr Kaseya said that his organisation had received a pledge of 215,000 mpox vaccines from the European Union and the vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic, which were due to arrive in the next few days. Advertisement The United States aid agency said it had donated 50,000 other doses of the same vaccine to the DRC. Japan has also donated some doses to the DRC. But Africa is likely to need much more. The DRCs health minister said his country alone needs three million vaccine doses to end the outbreaks there, which have spilled into at least four nearby African countries. A 2022 global mpox outbreak in more than 70 countries was shut down in the space of months with vaccines and treatments made available in rich nations, but hardly any doses reached Africa. A health worker attends to an mpox patient at a treatment centre in Munigi (Moses Sawasawa/AP) It had been spreading largely unnoticed for years in Nigeria and elsewhere before it sparked international concern. Since then, the virus has continued to steadily sicken people in the DRC, with few effective containment efforts. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the global response to the 2022 outbreak, calling it unfair as treatments and vaccines were made available to rich Western nations while Africa was given little support. In a statement, he urged the international community to guarantee equitable access to mpox diagnostics and vaccines this time. Mr Ramaphosas comments evoked memories of Africas anger at largely being shut out of vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic. Then, Africa received doses much later than richer countries and had to pay more in some cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommended last week that travellers to mpox-affected areas see if they might be eligible to get vaccinated, in a move that could increase pressure to secure mpox shots. Dr Kaseya said mpox was now growing and spreading while countries waited for doses. While the DRC was clearly the country causing the most concern, he said it was noticeable that cases in nearby Burundi had more than doubled to 572 in a week. Dr Kaseya also asked for solidarity from the international community in dealing with mpox and specifically urged against any Covid-like travel bans being placed on African countries that would isolate them as the disease is not as easily transmissible. Dont punish Africa, he said. We need you to provide appropriate support. This vaccine is expensive. A TV documentary is set to follow the trial of UK child serial killer Lucy Letby. The two-part Channel 4 series will examine the case of former neonatal nurse Letby, who was convicted last August of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others between June 2015 and June 2016, the broadcaster said. Advertisement Letbys trial ran for 10 months from October 2022 to August 2023, with a retrial ordered after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on one count of attempted murder of a baby girl. Child serial killer Lucy Letby was sentenced to 15 whole life orders following the deaths of multiple babies at the Countess of Chester neonatal unit (Cheshire Constabulary/PA) Last month, the 34-year-old was found guilty of the attack on the newborn infant during a night shift in the Countess of Chester hospitals neonatal unit in February 2016. Advertisement Letby was sentenced to 15 whole-life orders making her only the fourth woman in UK history to be told she will never be released from prison. Channel 4 said the documentary currently titled The Trial Of Lucy Letby is in pre-production and does not yet have a release date, but it will have a feature-length theatrical release. It is to be directed by Emmy award-winning and Bafta-nominated filmmaker Daniel Bogado. The British-Paraguayan documentary maker was the former series editor of Unreported World Britains longest-running foreign affairs strand on Channel 4. Advertisement He also directed 9/11: One Day In America, which marked two decades since the attacks and was nominated for a Bafta, while his 2014 documentary Nigerias Hidden War also won an Emmy for best investigative journalism. Michelle Obama tore into Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, criticising his character and racist attacks that have targeted her and her husband Barack in the past. "His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black," she said of Mr Trump. Advertisement She also taunted Mr Trump for his reference on the campaign trail to "Black jobs," which he claims are being taken by migrants crossing into the US away from Black Americans. "Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs?'" Ms Obama asked, drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd. World How Obama boosted Harris and continues to shape th... Read More The former first lady was speaking in support of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who will formally accept the party's nomination for president at the convention and, if elected, would be the first Black and South Asian person to become president. Michelle Obama also drew a contrast with Mr Trump and most Americans who don't grow up wealthy like Mr Trump, whose father was a real estate investor. "We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth," she said. "If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we dont get a second, third, or fourth chance," she said. "If things dont go our way, we dont have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead." Search crews have carried out further inspections of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily as the hunt for six people feared trapped in the vessel continues. The Italian Coastguard has not ruled out the possibility that those missing, including technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank. Advertisement Among those also missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Advertisement Inspections of the yachts internal hull took place on Wednesday morning. A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have arrived in Porticello, where they are expected to look at the site of the sinking. The MAIB is looking into what happened because the yacht Bayesian was flying a British flag, it is understood. The Italian Coastguard said the MAIB is not involved in the search for the missing people and that it has not been requested to assist. Advertisement Fire crews from the Vigili del Fuoco said they have been accessing the vessel through natural entrances, without making openings. Remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search, the Italian Coastguard has said. Mr Bloomers twin brother, Jeremy Bloomer, told the BBC: Its a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we dont know. Its still wait and see, so fingers crossed. Advertisement Italian emergency services head towards the area off the Sicilian coast where the luxury yacht sank in a storm (Jonathan Brady/PA) The body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the Bayesian superyacht, the Italian Coastguard told Sky News. Gareth Williams, a friend of the chef, told the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit. Another friend, Eli Fuller, told the broadcaster Mr Thomas was friends with everybody, always positive and sought-after in his profession. Advertisement Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at around 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm. Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the six missing tourists are feared dead. Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. #Porticello #Palermo, riprese alle 8 di #oggi le immersioni dei #sommozzatori speleo dei #vigilidelfuoco per le ricerche dei 6 dispersi. Complesso lingresso nello yacht, in atto la pianificazione per aprire accessi piu agevoli e ispezionare linterno [#20agosto 11:00] pic.twitter.com/QRTdGtO8r2 Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 20, 2024 He told the PA news agency: We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. The wreckage of Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50m (164ft). Fire crews described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer in mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors trapped inside the wreck. He said: The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside. But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict. Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat. The Mirror reported that Ms Bacares is in a state of shock and sadness as she awaits news of her husband. She has reportedly been joined by the couples elder daughter who was not on board the yacht. (PA Graphics) More of the vessels rescued crew members were named by the Italian Coastguard on Tuesday, with Leo Eppel and South African nationals Leah Randall and Katja Chicken all confirmed as having been on board. Survivors are recuperating at a hotel complex in Porticello, where authorities are gathering witness statements. The Telegraph reported that authorities are investigating whether hatches left open by crew members contributed to the sinking, as well as what onboard measures were taken in preparation for the storm. The ships captain, James Calfield, 51, told Italian media: We didnt see it coming. The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynchs acquittal in a fraud case in the US. The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion US dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer is among those missing (Hiscox/PA) The Financial Times reported that Mr Bloomer appeared at trial as a defence witness for Mr Lynch, while media reports suggest the pair are close friends. A spokesman for Morgan Stanley said the bank is shocked and saddened, while Clifford Chance said it was a tragic incident. David Tabizel, Mr Lynchs Autonomy co-founder, told Sky News: Im just heartbroken for him and his family and I hope theres a miracle about to occur. If anyone has the resilience to survive this, he does. And I hope hes found an air pocket. The former school of Mr Lynchs daughter, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said its thoughts are with their family and everyone involved. Stephen Chamberlain died after being hit by a car (Cambridgeshire Police/PA) One of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Emsley, told Italian newspaper la Repubblica she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning. The pair were treated in hospital, as was Ms Emsleys father, James Emsley. In a separate incident, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in his US fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. Former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in speeches at the Democratic National Convention. Mr Obama wrapped up the second night of the convention in Chicago, praising the Vice President and her running mate Governor Tim Walz while taking aim at Republican rival Donald Trump. Advertisement The former president called Mr Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. Former president Barack Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention (Paul Sancya/AP) Advertisement We dont need four more years of bluster and chaos. Weve seen that movie and we all know that the sequels usually worse. For all the energy and memes and rallies of the campaign, he said, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country. Make no mistake, it will be a fight, he said. For all the incredible energy weve been able to generate over the last few weeks, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country a country where too many Americans are still struggling and dont believe government can help. Advertisement He praised President Joe Biden and his decision to withdraw his candidacy for a second term. Former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as he is introduced during the Democratic National Convention (Brynn Anderson/AP) History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger, Mr Obama said as the crowd chanted, Thank you, Joe. Advertisement I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend. Former first lady Michelle Obama told the convention something wonderfully magical is in the air. Its the contagious power of hope, she said. America, hope is making a comeback. She tore into Mr Trump, who has long attacked the first black president and first lady, before harkening back to a recent comment the Republican nominee made about preserving so-called black jobs. Advertisement Former first lady Michelle Obama addresses the convention (Brynn Anderson/AP) His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be black, he said. Whos going to tell him that the job hes seeking might be one of those black jobs? She warned that Mr Trumps policies and rhetoric only makes us small. And let me tell you going small is never the answer. Going small is petty its unhealthy and, quite frankly, its unpresidential, she said, calling Ms Harris and Mr Walz good, big-hearted people. In an appearance perhaps intended to needle Mr Trump, his former press secretary Stephanie Grisham now a harsh critic of her former boss also took to the convention stage earlier in the evening. She said Mr Trump has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth. I love my country more than my party, she said. Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people. And she has my vote. Senators Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, and Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent beloved by progressives, praised Ms Harris. I look forward to working with Kamala and Tim to pass this agenda, Mr Sanders said. And lets be clear. This is not a radical agenda. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who would become the nations first gentleman if his wife wins the presidency, shared personal details about their relationship with Ms Harris their cooking habits, their first date and her laugh, which is often mocked by Republican critics. You know that laugh. I love that laugh, Mr Emhoff said as the crowd cheered. Her empathy is her strength. Among the celebrities appearing at the convention on Tuesday night were director Spike Lee and actors Sean Astin, Eva Longoria and Wendell Pierce. Before JD Vance began his rapid rise to vice presidential candidate, he co-founded a Silicon Valley-backed donor organisation to finance right-wing news stories, voter turnout operations and election polls with a goal of spreading US president Donald Trumps brand of nationalism, according to previously unreported documents on the group. Founded in 2019, Rockbridge Network seeks to influence US politics through a centrally controlled network of right-wing political groups backed by some of the same deep-pocketed tech investors who helped bankroll Mr Vances political rise. Advertisement The existence of Rockbridge and Mr Vances link to it have been previously reported. But three internal Rockbridge documents reviewed by Reuters and half a dozen sources familiar with the group reveal the scale of its ambitions, its roughly $75 million budget for 2024 and its role in seeking to influence Novembers presidential election. Rockbridge showcases how Mr Trumps selection of Mr Vance as his running mate could empower a new set of Republican businessmen: heavyweight tech investors who favour far-reaching de-regulation. Many want to weaken the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates Wall Street, and reduce oversight of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Their financial backing of Rockbridge illustrates Silicon Valleys growing influence in conservative politics and marks an evolution from more traditional deep-pocketed Republican activists, whose political networks have lost influence since Mr Trump took over the party. Super PAC Rockbridge oversees five political groups and one super PAC focused on financing right-wing investigative reporting, underwriting polls, turning out voters in battleground states and spurring churchgoers into political activism, according to a seven-page Rockbridge prospectus issued to donors ahead of an April retreat in Palm Beach, Florida. Super PACs short for political action committees can spend unlimited amounts of money to campaign independently for candidates. Advertisement Mr Vance, identified in the prospectus as Rockbridges co-founder, appears to retain no formal relationship with the group. He maintains informal ties to it, however, and spoke to more than 100 of its members and donors gathered at its bi-annual retreat in April, according to an attendee and a memo outlining the events agenda. A longtime associate of Mr Vances, Republican businessman Chris Buskirk, is Rockbridges other founder. Rockbridge Networks donor outreach is run by Rockbridge Network LLC, a for-profit Delaware company that helps manage donations for the networks political groups. Its owners are not identified in corporate records. Two Rockbridge officials, who handle donor contacts and donations, are also members of Mr Vances current fundraising team, according to two of the internal documents and a campaign official. Many of Rockbridges donors support Mr Vance politically. Advertisement A spokesperson for Mr Vance declined to comment about Rockbridge. The Trump campaign did not respond to questions about the networks role and its links to at least two of the campaigns staffers. Hillbilly Elegy Mr Vances poor, unstable upbringing in Ohio led to his best-selling 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and the Trump campaign is hopeful his story will resonate with working-class voters. We need a leader who is not in the pocket of big business, but answers to the working man, union and nonunion alike, Mr Vance said in his July 17th acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. His resume also includes a degree from Yale Law School and a lucrative career as a San Francisco Bay Area-based venture capitalist. The Rockbridge network he co-founded draws heavily from the elite worlds of tech and investing. A number of high-profile Silicon Valley venture capitalists and crypto investors have thrown their support behind Mr Trump. Advertisement Conservatives in the tech industry have said they are concerned about the Biden administration's crackdown on crypto and cautious approach to artificial intelligence. Rockbridge hasnt disclosed its financial backers and isnt required to reveal them under campaign-finance laws. But according to two sources with knowledge of Rockbridge, they include Peter Thiel, a German-born libertarian billionaire who poured millions into Mr Vances 2022 US Senate race. Its members also include venture capitalist Blake Masters, a Thiel protege and former candidate for US Congress in Arizona, and investor Omeed Malik, a former Democrat who now backs conservative-friendly companies, the sources said. Right-wing activist and heiress Rebekah Mercer, a major donor to Mr Trump, is also a backer. Advertisement Spokespeople for Mr Thiel and Ms Mercer did not respond to requests for comment. Mr Masters did not respond to requests for comment. Since being selected by Mr Trump as his running mate last month, Mr Vance has held rallies in battleground states and headlined fundraisers, including one in Silicon Valley. His debut has sometimes been shaky, notably due to his unearthed 2021 comments about "childless cat ladies," a jab seen as misogynistic and discriminatory to people without children. Recruiting churchgoers, investing in media Reuters reviewed two documents distributed to donors who attended Rockbridges April retreat in Palm Beach. A five-page memo details the three-day meetings agenda. A separate seven-page prospectus explains Rockbridges political vision and projects. Reuters also obtained an invitation sent to donors for a private dinner in Dallas last month to discuss Rockbridge. All three documents are labelled "confidential". The prominence of the guest speakers at the Palm Beach gathering underlined Rockbridges influence. Mr Trump himself spoke by video from New York, where he was on trial in his hush-money case at the time. Trump campaign co-chair Susie Wiles gave a presentation during a section titled Winning the White House". Influential conservative legal figure Leonard Leo and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a Trump donor, also spoke, according to the memo. Mr Leo did not respond to questions sent to him at the Federalist Society, the conservative legal group he heads. Mr Johnson didn't reply to questions sent to him via the New York Jets. Rockbridge, according to the documents, consists of a cluster of smaller groups, none of which appear to have their own websites or much of a public footprint. It has 150 to 200 members and has a 2024 budget of between $70 million and $80 million, the source familiar with the group said. The cost of membership ranges from $100,000 to $1 million, according to the Rockbridge prospectus. Two Rockbridge groups Virginia-based Better Tomorrow and Washington-based Over the Horizon focus on get-out-the vote operations, according to the documents. They are helping Mr Trump and Mr Vance in seven swing states, the source familiar with the group said. The two groups, plus a newly created, Buskirk-led super PAC first revealed by The New York Times, will have a total of around 5,000 people in the field seeking to drive turnout, the source added. Another Rockbridge group, Faithful in Action, has more than 160,000 members, according to the prospectus. Its mission is to recruit churchgoers into political activism, the prospectus said. It was incorporated in 2023 in Wyoming, and state records show its president is Buskirk. Reuters was unable to independently confirm its size or current activities. Efforts to influence journalism Rockbridges efforts to influence journalism are led by Firebrand Action, incorporated in Virginia in 2022. State records list Firebrands president as Buskirk and its secretary as James Blair, a member of Mr Trumps campaign staff and a former deputy chief of staff for Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Mr Blair resigned from Firebrand in the spring before joining the Trump campaign, said a source familiar with his role. Rockbridge funds reporting published by aligned media outlets, the prospectus said. Reuters was unable to identify any articles or media outlets backed by the group. Firebrand and Revitalization Partners, a charitable investment account, are both listed in the prospectus as supporting investigative journalism and public polling that has been included in the go-to RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight polling averages for political races. The document didnt name the polls involved. RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight did not respond to requests for comment. Rockbridge has also served as an incubator for new ventures. At a 2022 Rockbridge summit, Buskirk, investor Mr Malik, hedge fund heiress Ms Mercer and former Arizona congressional candidate Mr Masters started discussing how to finance a parallel economy of conservative businesses, one attendee said. That would eventually become 1789 Capital, a $150 million Palm Beach-based venture capital firm owned by Mr Buskirk, Mr Malik and Ms Mercer, the source added. Last year, 1789 Capital announced its first investment: $15 million into conservative TV personality Tucker Carlsons newly formed company Last Country Inc". In April, at a fireside chat with more than 100 prospective Rockbridge donors at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Mr Vance sat across from Mr Buskirk in an armchair, according to an attendee and the memo outlining the agenda. Vance against support for Ukraine The source said Mr Vances speech went hard on his key policy planks: reluctance to take on Russia in Ukraine; false claims that Mr Trump won the 2020 election; and an emphasis on what Mr Vance deems family values such as the importance of marriage and children. Mr Vance and Mr Buskirk were introduced to each other by Mr Thiel and first met in San Francisco following Mr Trumps 2016 election victory, according to the source familiar with Rockbridge. At the time, Mr Vance was working for Mr Thiels venture capital firm, Mithril Capital. Mr Vance and Mr Buskirk launched Rockbridge in 2019 as an informal network to replace the current Republican ecosystem, the prospectus said. Mr Vances ascension to the presidential ticket has attracted more donor interest in Rockbridge, said two sources familiar with the group. On July 25th, 10 days after Mr Vance was picked, an invitation went out to several Republican donors for a private dinner and discussion about Rockbridge Network in Dallas, according to an invitation seen by Reuters. Donald Trump has spoken from behind bulletproof glass at his first outdoor rally since last months attempted assassination. During an event in North Carolina focused on national security, he blamed President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, while returning repeatedly in his remarks to the Democratic gathering in Chicago, where speakers have condemned Mr Trump as a threat to the country should he return to the White House. Advertisement The former president, now the Republican nominee, asked the crowd at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame whether they had seen the speeches given on Tuesday by former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Barack and Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention (Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle/AP) He was taking shots at your president. And so was Michelle. You know, they always say, Sir, please stick to policy. Dont get personal. And yet theyre getting personal all night long, these people, he said, asking: Do I still have to stick to policy? Advertisement Mr Trump, who is facing Ms Harris in the November election after Mr Biden stepped aside, spoke from behind a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass which formed a protective wall across the stage part of ramped-up security measures aimed at keeping him safe after the attack by a gunman in Pennsylvania on July 13. Storage containers were stacked around the perimeter to create additional walls and block sight lines. Snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft were sitting behind the podium and a large American flag was suspended from cranes. The event was part of Mr Trumps week-long series of counter-programming to the Democratic National Convention, which is under way in Chicago. Allies have been urging him to focus on policy instead of personal attacks against Ms Harris as he struggles to adjust to Mr Bidens departure from the race. The second night of the Democrats convention on Tuesday was a highly energised affair that featured speeches from both Obamas, who went after Mr Trump in biting terms. Advertisement His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be black, Mrs Obama said. Donald Trump arrives at the campaign rally in North Carolina (Julia Nikhinson/AP) Mr Obama mocked Mr Trumps obsession with his crowd sizes and called him a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Advertisement Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. After mentioning the Obamas early in his speech, Mr Trump came back to the former presidents comments. He was very nasty last night, he said. I try and be nice to people, you know. But its a little tough when they get personal. He then asked the crowd whether he should listen to advisers who he said have told him: Please, sir, dont get personal. Talk about policy. Advertisement Should I get personal or should I not get personal? he asked. The crowd overwhelmingly chose the former. Mr Trump described Ms Harris as the most radical left person ever to run for high political office in our country, and said the woman he now calls Comrade Kamala will destroy the country if she is elected to the White House. While he has acknowledged the race is closer than before Mr Biden dropped out, his aides believe Ms Harris remains relatively unknown and efforts to highlight her past statements and the positions she took in previous races will turn off swing voters after her honeymoon period ends. Mr Trump repeatedly referenced the Biden administrations withdrawal from Afghanistan, and said that, if he wins, he will ask for the resignation of every senior military official who was involved. He pledged to get critical race theory and transgender insanity the hell out of our US armed forces. During his administration, he instituted a Pentagon policy that largely barred transgender people from serving in the military, which Mr Biden reversed. Our warriors should be focused on defeating Americas enemies, not figuring out their genders, he said. JD Vance speaks during the campaign rally (Julia Nikhinson/AP) If you want to have a sex change or a social justice seminar, then you can do it somewhere else, but youre not going to do it in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force or the United States Marines. He also pledged major investment in the armed forces and said he would launch the largest peacetime recruitment drive in the nations history. Were going to make it so hot that Im going to want to resign and join the military, said Mr Trump, who received a series of deferments, including one attained with a physicians letter saying he suffered from bone spurs in his feet. He was joined on Wednesday by his running mate JD Vance, who cast Ms Harris as a candidate selected by power brokers instead of voters and condemned her vice presidential pick, Minnesota governor Tim Walz, before Mr Trump took the stage. He accused Mr Walz of mischaracterising his service record as an Army National Guard member, as well as criticising him for retiring from service before his units deployment to Iraq. What wont Stolen Valour Tim Walz lie about? Mr Vance, who served four years as a marine, asked the crowd. Donald Trump rallied against vice president Kamala Harris approach to national security in North Carolina in his first outdoor rally since narrowly surviving an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last month. The world is on fire, and Kamala and Biden have marched us to the brink of World War III, Mr Trump said, blaming the current White House for the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal and wars between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Supporters arrive to hear Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speak (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Mr Trump spoke from a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass at the rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame. Storage containers were stacked around the perimeter of the space to create additional walls and block sight lines, and snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft were sitting behind the podium and a large American flag was suspended from cranes. Advertisement The event, billed as being focused on national security issues, is part of Mr Trumps week-long series of counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention, which is underway in Chicago. Allies have been urging him to focus on policy instead of personal attacks as he struggles to adjust to running against Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. On Tuesday night, the convention showcased a double dose of Obama firepower, as the former president and former first lady assailed Mr Trump, calling him out repeatedly by name. Michelle Obama said of Mr Trump: His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black. Advertisement She also referenced a comment he made in a June debate, asking: Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been visiting battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the primaries (Evan Vucci/AP) Barack Obama mocked Mr Trumps obsession with his crowd sizes and called the former president a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Advertisement Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. Mr Trump briefly addressed the criticism, asking the crowd if theyd seen the speech by the man he continues to call Barack Hussein Obama. He was taking shots at your president. And so was Michelle. You know, they always say, Sir, please stick to policy. Dont get personal. And yet theyre getting personal all night long, these people, he said, asking: Do I still have to stick to policy? Mr Trump was joined on Wednesday by his running mate, JD Vance, who cast Ms Harris as a candidate selected by power brokers instead of voters and lambasted her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz before Mr Trump took the stage. Advertisement That included continuing to hammer Mr Walz for, at times, mischaracterising his service record as an Army National Guard member, as well as his retirement from service before his units deployment to Iraq. What wont Stolen Valour Tim Walz lie about? Mr Vance, who served four years as a Marine, asked the crowd. The former president has spent the week visiting battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the Republican primaries. Security gets in position prior to Republican presidential nominee former president Donald Trumps speech (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Reflecting the importance of North Carolina in this years election, the trip is Mr Trumps second to the state in just a week. Last Wednesday, he appeared in Asheville, North Carolina, for a speech on the economy. Mr Trump won North Carolina by a comfortable margin in 2016. The state delivered the former president his closest state-wide margin of victory four years ago and is once again considered a key battleground in 2024. Before Mr Trump arrived, his plane did a flyover of the rally site and the gathered crowd erupted into cheers. Lisa Watts, a retired business owner from Hickory, North Carolina, who was attending her fifth Trump rally, said shes feeling very positive about the race. A month ago they never spoke her name and now shes like, quote quote the saviour for the country, Watts said of the vice president. I dont think that her record proves that she is ready to run this country. Ms Watts said she does not think Mr Trumps chances of winning are much different now from when Mr Biden was the Democratic nominee. I think the Democrats are going to try to do everything they can to keep her up on that pedestal, she said, predicting the hype around Ms Harris will fade. Jermaine Bollinger - "Cre8ion" | INOV8 Public Relations NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (August 20, 2024) - Jermaine Bollinger, a seasoned artist in the Christian music industry, is excited to announce the release of his latest single, "Love," featuring Little Egypt Worship, to Christian radio. The track is the newest offering from Bollingers album Cre8ion and exemplifies his unique blend of contemporary Christian music, infused with a deep passion for faith and artistry. "Love" is a powerful anthem that challenges the listener to reflect on the true meaning of love as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. With evocative lyrics like "So you say, 'Love,' but do you say it like He displayed it?" Bollinger's songwriting encourages believers to go beyond superficial expressions and embody the transformative power of love in their everyday lives. The collaboration with Little Egypt Worship adds a dynamic layer to the song, blending harmonious vocals and heartfelt worship that resonates deeply with listeners. Produced by Bollinger at his own Salvation Studios, "Love" showcases his extensive musical expertise, honed over years of experience as a multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer. Bollingers training under industry legends such as Todd Herreman, who has worked with the likes of Prince and Michael Jackson, is evident in the polished production and intricate soundscapes of the track. Jermaine Bollinger is no stranger to success in the Christian music scene, with a remarkable track record that includes twenty #1 singles and nominations for prestigious awards. His previous hits, such as "Hallelujah" and "I Belong To You," have established him as a formidable presence in Contemporary Christian music. With "Love," Bollinger continues to build on this legacy, offering a song that not only inspires worship but also challenges believers to live out the true essence of love. As "Love" makes its way to Christian radio, Bollinger hopes the message of the song will resonate with audiences across the country, inspiring them to reflect on their understanding of love and to live out their faith with renewed passion. "Love" is currently available on all major streaming outlets. Watch the Lyric Video: https://youtu.be/uGFweuIPTWU Connect with Jermaine Bollinger: https://www.jermainebollinger.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jermaine.bollinger https://www.instagram.com/jbcartunes86/ https://twitter.com/jbcartunes https://www.youtube.com/@jbcartunes https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NE1JESbK4TI4PaLdDMztH Improving Australias biggest pizza chain from the inside out will be the legacy of Dominos Pizzas new chief executive officer Kerri Hayman, as the business hopes to convince investors it is firmly back on a path of growth. Hayman, who started with the business 36 years ago as a pizza maker and last week took over the top job from her brother, group CEO and managing director Don Meij, signalled her intention to invest in training store workers to instil a culture of obsession with quality and boost pizza sales. Don Meijs sister Kerri Hayman is the new chief executive of Dominos Pizza, Australia and New Zealand. When you have an obsession with the basics on making a great product, youre going to do well. When you focus on your team members and get them to fall in love with the job, youre going to do well, she said. We get really nerdy with the things that we do in store. A simple thing like putting sauce on a pizza, how hard can that be? Well, looking at the tool we use to do that and making it easy for the team member to use, make it a training tool Theres a lot that goes into it, more than what you probably think. In a significant legal development, a federal judge has ruled against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in a case involving pro-Palestinian demonstrations that allegedly created a hostile environment for Jewish students. The ruling, issued on August 14, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over free speech and campus safety. The case centered around a series of protests organized by pro-Palestinian student groups on the UCLA campus. These demonstrations, advocating for Palestinian rights, reportedly led to the creation of "Jew Exclusion Zones," areas where Jewish students felt barred unless they denounced their faith or views supporting Israel. This prompted allegations that the university failed to protect their rights and ensure a safe learning environment. The judge's decision was a preliminary injunction mandating UCLA to ensure Jewish students have equal access to campus facilities and activities. The ruling requires that if Jewish students are blocked from accessing specific programs or areas, UCLA must also restrict access for all students. Pro-Palestinian groups, such as Amnesty International at UCLA, have expressed concerns, arguing that the protests are a crucial part of advocating for Palestinian rights. They emphasize the importance of peaceful protest without fear. Meanwhile, Hillel at UCLA, representing Jewish students, welcomed the court's decision, highlighting the need for a safe and inclusive campus environment. Legal experts, including those from the UCLA School of Law, have noted the broader implications of this ruling. Eugene Volokh, a distinguished professor of law, emphasized that the decision underscores the delicate balance between protecting free speech and ensuring equal access to educational opportunities. He highlighted that while universities must allow for diverse viewpoints, they also have a constitutional obligation to prevent discrimination based on religious beliefs. This ruling has sparked a wide array of reactions. Supporters argue that it underscores the importance of balancing free speech with student safety, while critics claim it could have a chilling effect on campus activism. UCLA, in response, has stated its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and is reviewing the court's decision to determine its next steps. The implications of this ruling extend beyond UCLA, as universities nationwide grapple with similar issues. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how institutions address conflicts arising from campus protests and demonstrations in the future. Observers are closely watching how UCLA will implement changes to ensure compliance with the court's decision while maintaining its commitment to free expression. Personal stories from students affected by the protests reveal the human impact of the conflict. Yitzchok Frankel, a third-year law student and one of the plaintiffs, expressed relief at the court's decision, stating, "No student should ever have to fear being blocked from their campus because they are Jewish." This sentiment reflects the broader concerns of Jewish students who have faced intimidation and discrimination, seeking a safe educational environment. Many are worried that China is making way more than the world needs. From electric vehicles to solar panels, plunging prices at home and abroad are igniting a new round of trade wars. Even Beijing is concerned: In a top-level meeting late last month, policymakers pledged to curb vicious competition among businesses. Industrial overcapacity has flared up in recent months. There isnt enough global demand to absorb all the lithium batteries, solar modules or steel that Chinese factories can produce. But this is happening at the painful expense of corporate profits. More than half of industry supply in solar, EV, steel, and construction machinery isnt making money, a sharp deterioration from a year earlier, according to Goldman Sachs. Xi Jinpings government has less sway in sectors where overcapacity is the most acute. Credit: AP Even those producing consumer staples are not spared. Fresh milk, for instance, is caught in its longest price slump in 14 years, exacerbating a deflationary gloom thats enveloping the economy. Weve been here before. China went through an extended producers deflation between 2012 and 2016, caused by the same problem. As the economy slowed, the utilisation rate in the steel and coal industries contracted from 79 per cent and 90 per cent in 2010 to 70 per cent and 65 per cent in 2015, according to the International Monetary Fund. Back then, excess capacity was also an international issue. About half of the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against China in 2016 were related to steel. It all started with a seemingly innocuous joke. During a dinner to celebrate the Rural Womens Awards in Parliament House on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dropped an off-script remark about a discussion with Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto concerning beef exports. When we had dinner beautiful Australian beef not the live export we made sure it was dead. Its fair to say the rather limp gag failed to land. Despite the joke not making it into the version of the speech distributed to media, it was quickly swooped on by the federal opposition, and some farmers groups, who are very upset about the governments decision to ban live sheep exports. The industry is aware of bad behaviour and is slowly changing, says the owner of Maggies Snacks and Liquor. Sexual harassment and gender-based violence has reached endemic levels. Bars are common sites of abuse but fine-dining restaurants are not immune, and cultural change is urgently needed. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A Herald and Good Food investigation reveals a top Sydney restaurant group allegedly ousted female staff after they reported sexual assaults and encouraged on-duty sex and drug use. See all stories . Late nights, gendered power imbalances and the ubiquity of alcohol conspire to make hospitality one of the least friendly industries for women working in front-of-house service positions. This has been thrown into sharp focus with explosive news that one of Sydneys top bar and restaurant groups, Swillhouse Group, owners of Le Foote, Restaurant Hubert and four other venues, faces claims it pushed female staff out of the company after they reported sexual assaults, encouraged staff to have sex with customers and take drugs while on shift, and discriminated against women. Exclusive Sex, sleaze and Swillhouse: The sinister side of the glitzy hospitality scene As long as theres alcohol and ego in hospitality, there are always going to be problems with people being inappropriate, says Kaidee Grzankowski, a 24-year veteran of the industry who is now a co-owner of Maggies Snacks and Liquor in Melbournes Brunswick East. The behaviour is not changing, she says. The industry is more aware of it. We are speaking about it, we are acting on it more quickly, but it still goes on. Grzankowski, who started working in restaurants at 14 (she is now 38), says she has been sexually assaulted in the workplace and not believed when she spoke up about it. I was conditioned to accept that speaking out was causing trouble, she says. If anything happened, whether it was a customer or staff member or even a boss touching us or saying something inappropriate, it was, Keep your head down, keep your mouth shut and crack on, no matter what. Its a toxic culture, and its beyond time for it to change. Advertisement Kaidee Grzankowski, of Maggies Snacks and Liquor in Brunswick East, says change is overdue. The data backs her up. In 2023, United Workers Union released a study called Hospos Harassment Problem. Hospitality has a systemic sexual harassment and gender-based violence problem that has reached endemic levels, the report says. Its survey of South Australian workers found that 47 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment at work, and 58 per cent of these reported that the perpetrator was a supervisor. The victims are much more likely to be women or non-binary, and the skewing of the industry to young, migrant, casual workers further increases the likelihood of them experiencing harassment. Its not just an Australian problem. In the United States, more sexual harassment claims are filed in the restaurant industry than in any other, where as many as 90 per cent of women and 70 per cent of men reportedly experience some form of sexual harassment, states a 2018 report from Harvard Business Review. Claire Van Vuuren, of Bloodwood in Sydneys Newtown, wants to create an atmosphere of inclusivity. Steven Siewert Claire Van Vuuren is the chef and owner of Bloodwood in Sydneys Newtown and a founding board member of the mentoring and support organisation Women in Hospitality. Advertisement I dont put up with any bad behaviour, and I always promote inclusivity, she says. I want to create an environment where everyone is comfortable. Shes disappointed that men still dominate the ranks of business owners and head chefs. I thought by 2024 that it would be 50-50, she says. Van Vuuren is no fan of television shows such as The Bear, which has won multiple Emmys for its portrayal of a restaurant under immense pressure. The verdict: What do Aussie chefs really think of hit TV show The Bear? That doesnt help the situation, she says. That kind of yelling: I was tense the whole time. Its sad that people are idolising a male chef that isnt dealing well with their stress levels. Evil Thoughts bar, which opened in Brunswick in April 2024. Morgan Kilgariff opened Evil Thoughts bar in Melbournes Brunswick in April, partly because shed had enough of being an employee in toxic workplaces. Now 29, she has worked in hospitality since she was 18. Advertisement In my first job, my supervisor a married man with two kids sent me unsolicited pictures of him in bed, she says. Before I got the courage to speak up, I was worried that this is the guy who does my roster, this is the guy that pays me. When I did tell someone, he locked me in a room and screamed that Id ruined any chance he had for a promotion. Its a toxic culture, and its beyond time for it to change. Kaidee Grzankowski, Maggies Snacks and Liquor In other workplaces, she was unsupported when reporting assault. Being assertive routinely resulted in being told she was too dramatic and emotional and should consider medication. In a busy pub, while collecting glasses one shift, she was deliberately shoved by a male customer and ended up on the floor covered in broken glass. Her male boss reprimanded her. For women, I dont think the industry is ever going to change, she says. You always end up the villain if you speak up. I am not going to work for a man again. Kilgariffs experiences reflect the research. Not So Hospitable is a University of Melbourne study based on information gathered by South Australian sexologist, researcher and former hospitality worker Jamie Bucirde. The report says the service mantra the customer is always right is dangerous for workers. Advertisement The prioritisation of customer satisfaction and venue profit over the safety and dignity of hospitality workers underscores a troubling cultural norm within the industry, it says. In 2023, the University of Newcastle published a study called Gender, sexual harassment, and violence in the hospitality industry, based on interviews with workers in Melbourne and Newcastle. The research drew a connection between femininity norms and harassment, especially for waiters and servers. Gender norms related to femininity (such as creating a friendly, welcoming and fun atmosphere) are central to the working practices expected from women, queer and non-binary workers, says the report. These same gender norms also informed frequent instances of being sexually harassed at work by customers. Women were also called upon to manage difficult patrons. Gendered associations which position femininity as a caring capacity associated with managing complex interpersonal relations create situations of significant potential harm for workers, the Newcastle study found. Men are often situated in positions of power within the industry, and support the careers of other men even when they engage in abusive behaviour. University of Newcastle study Bars are common sites of abuse but fine-dining restaurants are not immune, with some customers assuming their money buys them more than food and wine. Tamara, a respondent to the University of Newcastle study, outlined a situation in which a male customers napkin twice ended up on the floor. He asked her to bend down to pick it up, and got annoyed when she brought him a new one instead. Advertisement Turning to the WA Supreme Court, where Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Leanne Close has told of her shock after discovering she was in the middle of a potential crime scene midway through a meeting with Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds about Brittany Higgins alleged rape. While giving evidence in the former defence ministers defamation suit against Higgins, Close told the court she texted Reynolds to arrange a meeting at her ministerial office on April 4, 2019. Linda Reynolds in the Senate last week. Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald It was there that Close informed Reynolds she and her colleague were there to discuss an alleged sexual assault, which prompted Reynolds to request her chief of staff Fiona Brown join them. But Close told the court it wasnt until she was inside the office that she became aware that was where the alleged incident had occurred. Senator Reynolds pointed to the couch and said, it happened right there, Close told the court. I was shocked ... I was thinking, were sitting in the middle of a potential crime scene that hasnt been examined, and I was concerned about the security implications of two staff having sex on a couch in the office, and that they had been intoxicated. I didnt understand how they obtained access and the security implications of that, let alone a young woman being found on that couch. Loading While poring over contemporaneous notes that have since become evidence in the defamation trial, Close recalled her concern for Higgins welfare as Reynolds told her the former staffer did not wish to report the incident over fears for her job. Close told the court she was equally concerned about the fact the office had since been cleaned. The meeting with the AFP occurred just three days after Reynolds and Brown met with Higgins in the same office regarding what was then being treated as a breach of parliamentary security. When grilled by Reynolds lawyer Martin Bennett, Close conceded she was unaware at the time that other AFP personnel knew about the security breach as early as March 28, 2019, and that police had offered Higgins assistance after lodging a complaint on April 1, 2019, which she ultimately opted not to pursue. Higgins alleged she was raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann at the office in Parliament House on March 23, 2019 after a night out. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence since his 2022 criminal trial was aborted. However, the Federal Court found the rape allegation to be true on the balance of probabilities in a separate action Lehrmann is now appealing. Police are concerned a man who allegedly lured a young boy from a Sydney train station and raped him at knifepoint in a park may have preyed on other children. Malik Ahmad, 33, was refused bail on Wednesday after he allegedly approached the 13-year-old who was waiting at Mount Druitt train station just after 1am last Thursday. The boy was allegedly lured away from Mount Druitt train station and attacked in a nearby park. Credit: Google Maps He allegedly took the boy to a nearby park, where he threatened him with a knife and sexually assaulted him before leaving the scene in the white van. Police arrested Ahmad at Duke Street, Mount Druitt, on Tuesday. A woman has been killed every four days in 2024. We bring you stories of lives lost in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts. Xiaoting Wang was found dead in her Burwood unit. Credit: NSW Police Xiaoting Wang came to Australia seeking opportunities and a university degree. Instead, the 21-year-olds life was cut short her body and that of her boyfriends found at their Burwood unit block. On the morning of Monday, August 12, members of the public discovered the body of a 21-year-old man in a garden bed at a Conder Street unit block. It appeared he had leapt to his death. When police entered his apartment, they discovered the body of Wang, who lived in the same unit and studied with the man at the University of Sydney. Both were Chinese nationals. Police believe she had been stabbed to death inside the unit. Detectives are investigating if the incident is a domestic violence-related murder-suicide. Three men have been charged with attempted murder after an alleged home invasion in Brisbane this week. Armed with a gun, the trio reportedly forced entry to a property in Zillmere just after 8pm on Monday. A confrontation with a man followed. The weapon was fired multiple times before the alleged attackers fled in a white station wagon. No one was injured. The accused are a 25-year-old from Woodridge, 19-year-old from Springwood and 20-year-old from Browns Plains. Multiple other weapons and driving charges have been laid by police. The men were refused bail and will face Brisbane Magistrates today. Monash Council took Derrimut to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after an investigation found up to 440 members were being let inside the gym at one time more than double the 180 people allowed. However, tribunal member Dalia Cook made an interim order in May allowing the gym to have 295 members inside the gym between 7am and 6pm and 440 between 7pm and 7am. Resident Reynie Hafner is frustrated over cars lining the streets. Credit: Joe Armao Monash Mayor Nicky Luo said the council disapproved of the decision. The gym has hired security guards to manage patron numbers at peak times, meaning members can queue to enter. Cook said in her judgment: One practical challenge for the gym operator is that when it sought to restrict patron numbers in the past, this led to unruly behaviour by some patrons. Documents filed on behalf of council referred to at least one attendance by Victoria Police. After the gym opened, a childcare centre next door hired security and installed bollards to protect its parking spaces, as parents were unable to drop off and pick up their children. The council tried to resolve the issue by introducing new parking restrictions, including limits of 30 minutes in front of some businesses and 90 minutes on residential streets. But some locals say this only created new problems. Davis said: Our customers now are distracted, running in and out, moving their cars while they shop. Fellow trader Sally Smith, of Australian Lighting, said she was disappointed by VCATs decision and that the gym should not be allowed to have more than 180 members inside at any time. Were getting let down by the council, she said. Credit: The Age Davis also said the area was now riddled with turfed protein bar wrappers and drink containers: Im over it. A Derrimut Gym spokeswoman declined to answer specific questions from The Age due to ongoing VCAT proceedings. Derrimut Gym is committed to continuing to work productively with Monash City Council to ensure that any alleged issues are properly and expediently resolved for the benefit of local residents and businesses, she said. The matter will return to VCAT for a final enforcement order in November. Reynie Hafner, who lives a seven-minute walk from the gym, says she and other neighbours are frustrated by cars lining their streets and having to pay for parking permits. Were far enough away. You wouldnt think wed be impacted, but we are, she said. Hafner, who is a member of another 24/7 gym only 200 metres from Derrimut, questioned why the development was ever approved. Everyone is really pissed off. I blame the council completely, she said. Loading The situation is winding up gym members too. The club has received many negative reviews for overcrowding and lack of parking. Alana, who asked that her surname not be used, said she was seeking a refund for her 12-month membership. She said members who wanted to work out during peak times faced queuing for 30 to 60 minutes. Once inside the gym, she said, there were more queues for equipment. Its so crowded. You can wait 30 minutes for a squat rack. Ive never experienced anything like that before, she said. Everyone I know has had a parking fine and I felt sorry for adjoining businesses. Luo, the mayor, said she understood that the higher-than-expected number of patrons had affected locals. She said the council did not anticipate parking to be a problem, as the plan included 111 car spaces, half of which are shared. The gym was not required to build new parking. A significant issue here has been the ongoing non-compliance of the business with their planning permit. The council said it advertised the planning application in 2022 and received no objections. Fifty-three complaints about the gym and parking have been received since the club opened. The gym has submitted an application to permanently increase its patron numbers. Loading Higgins went on to explain how the support she received was limited to receiving a brochure for an employee counselling service with a month-long waiting list and that she was given the option of returning home, staying in Canberra or travelling to Perth to campaign alongside Reynolds ahead of the 2019 election. Despite having sighted a security report stating Higgins had been found partially undressed in her office, Reynolds testified that at the time of the meeting there was no allegation a sexual assault had occurred and that she would not have hosted the meeting there if she had known. Higgins partner, former press gallery journalist David Sharaz, first approached Maiden about the story in January 2021, writing a text message about a Me Too incident the Liberal Party had covered up. I am letting this be [Higgins] decision, but shes drafting a plan for you. She wants to do it in an election year, Sharaz wrote. Maiden confirmed Higgins later sent a document referred to as The Dossier, but rejected that it went by that name at the time and said that was something that entered the media lexicon afterwards. Journalist Samantha Maiden. The article would be published on news.com.au on February 15, 2021, with Maiden telling the court the timing was dictated by Higgins desire to have the story drop during a parliamentary sitting week. Higgins tell-all interview with journalist Lisa Wilkinson for The Project was aired later that evening. Maiden told the court Higgins gave her the impression her intention was altruistic and she wanted the story to have an impact. She was concerned it would be a one-day wonder. She wanted there to be an impact given what she saw as systematic failures [in the governments handling of the alleged rape], Maiden said. But Maiden labelled a text message she had received from Sharaz on the morning of publication hailing the article a f---ing scoop inappropriate. The court was then taken to a series of text messages between Maiden and senior Labor Party figures, including Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek, regarding questions to be levelled at Reynolds during question time. Maiden insisted there was nothing remarkable about the correspondence and dismissed any assertion she had acted as a conduit for the staffer or that Higgins had a plan to bring down the Morrison government. Reynolds lawyer, Martin Bennett, grilled Maiden about a text exchange between herself and Higgins in which Higgins told her she did not believe Reynolds should resign because she was just following instructions from the prime ministers office. Just having played my little part in your operation has been one of the greatest moments of journalism Ive ever had, Maiden texted Higgins. When asked what she had meant by operation, Maiden told the court she believed Higgins had shown great bravery at great cost to raise issues that had resulted in legal reform and improved parliament as a workplace. During cross-examination by Higgins lawyer, Rachael Young, SC, Maiden recalled a conversation in which Reynolds had told her she did not know whether the rape allegation was true, because she was not in the room. Loading Maiden also recalled being approached during Lehrmanns criminal trial by Reynolds long-time partner, Robert Reid, who she said was peppering her with questions about Higgins whereabouts. The Walkley Award-winning journalist is the latest person to give evidence in Reynolds defamation case against Higgins over a series of social media posts Reynolds claims accused her of mishandling the rape allegation and silencing victims of sexual assault. Reynolds has also argued Higgins and Sharaz engaged in a calculated and premeditated campaign to attack her via her political opponents and the media. Higgins is defending the allegations on the basis the substance of her posts was true. Several of Reynolds high-profile colleagues have been called to attest to the impact the saga had on her at the time, including former prime minister Scott Morrison and former foreign affairs minister Marise Payne. On Tuesday, Payne told the court she watched her colleague of more than 30 years struggle under the weight of mounting pressure from what she described as unprecedented questioning. Payne described seeing Reynolds shaking, breathing heavily, and gripping her desk in the parliamentary chamber after days of being aggressively targeted over the alleged rape before her public breakdown in late February 2021. Returning to the WA Supreme Court now, where an interview recording between journalist Samantha Maiden and Brittany Higgins played for the court showed how the former staffer felt her alleged rape in Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds ministerial office rendered her toxic to the government. Shortly after fronting court on Wednesday, Maiden was played portions of an hour-long interview with Higgins conducted at her home over dinner on January 21, 2019. Journalist Samantha Maiden. In the recording, the former staffer can be heard telling Maiden she felt like a problem for Reynolds during a meeting they had alongside chief of staff Fiona Brown in April 2019. That would be the sole meeting the trio had regarding a security breach, during which Higgins claims she was raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann following a night out on March 23, 2019. Lehrmann maintains his innocence. She was actually quite nice, [Reynolds] and Fiona I mean, Higgins could be heard saying. I didnt feel it was a fair conversation on the basis I had been terrified [ever] since, and I was very new. [Reynolds] didnt know me or like me really. I was just a problem for her. But Higgins told Maiden the nature of the discussion at that meeting was a blur she could barely recall because she was distracted by being within metres of the couch she had allegedly been assaulted and found partially undressed on. The meeting had been arranged by Higgins former press gallery journalist husband David Sharaz, with the court shown a text message from Sharaz indicating Higgins was drafting a plan for her regarding a Me Too incident that had been covered up by the party. Read more here. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has dared the construction union to bring on a High Court challenge to new laws designed to place scandal-plagued unions into administration, declaring the bill robust enough to withstand a legal challenge. The construction division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union has been rocked by a series of allegations, including corruption and infiltration by bikie gangs in the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt in the Senate at Parliament House. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The allegations prompted new laws from the Albanese government, which allowed the union to be placed into administration for up to three years and officials to be banned for life from working for it. A deal between Labor and the federal opposition on the laws was struck earlier this week, with some unions angered that the Greens did not moderate their demands and strike a deal with Labor to change some of the harsher measures. Ukraine has launched one of the largest ever drone attacks on Moscow, the citys mayor said, with Russian air defence units destroying at least 10 drones flying towards the capital on Wednesday. Some of the drones were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The city in the Moscow region is about 38 kilometres south of the Kremlin. The air defence systems of the Defence Ministry continue to repel enemy UAV [unmanned aerial vehicles] attacks, Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app at 4.43am on Wednesday (11.43am AEST). This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever. We continue to monitor the situation. I can still remember sitting in a youth hostel in Sydney, the soothing tones of the ABC announcer telling me Al Gore had won Florida and was all but certainly president-elect. Lets get something to eat, I told my partner. When we got back from our meal, the world had changed. How many people can remember the month in limbo that followed, or our new vocabulary of butterfly ballots and chads that were hanging, dimpled and even pregnant? The QAnon Shaman, Donald Trump, and the US Supreme Court. In the end, resolution came from the US Supreme Court, which voted 5-4 along partisan lines to end the Florida count and effectively award the presidency to George W. Bush, creating a popular sentiment that the election was stolen by Republicans. For the first time since 1888 when the Democrat Grover Cleveland suffered a defeat in between two victories the winner of the popular vote could not prevail in the United States Electoral College system. Every Australian who is looking to buy a home should first speak with a mortgage broker. Even if theyre not ready to buy yet, working with their broker to understand what is required to apply for finance and secure a home loan will ensure they are prepared throughout the property purchasing journey, Pannek said. JK Tyre & Industries is set to invest Rs 1.32 crore in acquiring a 26 per cent equity stake in Truere Galaxy Private Limited, a company focused on generating solar power. This strategic investment will involve purchasing 1.32 million equity shares at a face value of Rs 10 per share, the company said in an exchange filing on Wednesday. Truere Galaxy, incorporated only earlier this year in April, specialises in renewable energy through the installation of rooftop solar panels. The investment by JK Tyre aligns with its commitment to sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions. By securing a group captive power status, JK Tyre aims to source solar power for its operations, furthering its sustainability goals. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Truere Galaxy operates within the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sectors and is based in Bishrakh, Uttar Pradesh. The company, which has two directors, Narender Kumar and Pravin Gupta, is classified as a private entity with an authorised and paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh. JK Tyre plans to invest Rs 1,400 crore over two years Earlier this year, Anshuman Singhania, managing director of JK Tyre & Industries, told The Economic Times that the company is operating at 85 per cent of its available capacity. To meet the growing demand for its products, Singhania added that JK Tyre has embarked on a significant investment plan. The company is nearing the completion of an Rs 800 crore investment cycle to enhance capacity at its facilities. In addition, JK Tyre plans to invest a further Rs 1,400 crore over the next two years to expand production, particularly in the truck, bus, and passenger car radial segments, solidifying its leadership in the radial tyre market. JK Tyre profits up 37.41 per cent in Q1FY25 Financially, JK Tyre posted a strong performance in the first quarter (Q1) of the financial year 2024-25, with a 37.41 per cent year-on-year increase in profit after tax (PAT), reaching Rs 211.44 crore. However, revenue from operations saw a decline of 2.12 per cent year-on-year, totalling Rs 3,639.08 crore. Despite geopolitical challenges and rising ocean freight costs, the companys exports achieved double-digit growth during the quarter. JK Tyres subsidiaries, including Cavendish Industries Ltd and JK Tornel in Mexico, also made notable contributions to the overall revenue and profitability. Following its quarter results, the company said it was optimistic about the demand for tyres, driven by ongoing policy reforms and a sustained focus on infrastructure development. The companys strategic investments in capacity expansion and renewable energy are poised to strengthen its market position and support its long-term growth objectives. Leaders of various parties from the INDIA bloc posing together for a photo. (PTI) With just a month left for the much-awaited assembly elections in Jammu-Kashmir, all eyes are on whether the Congress-led INDIA alliance will present a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or take solo bids on the polls. On Wednesday (August 21), Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Imran Hussain said that the party has decided to fight the elections with full strength. The Aam Aadmi Party will contest the elections in Jammu and Kashmir with full strength. I appeal to the people here that they have given a chance to all the parties, this time they should give a chance to the Aam Aadmi Party, Hussain told media reporters, without once naming the INDIA bloc or any associated discussions over the alliance. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Assembly elections in Jammu-Kashmir are scheduled from September 18 to October 1 in three phases. The counting of votes will be done on October 4. Congress' exploring alliance in J-K polls? On Wednesday, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge are also set to embark on a two-day visit to J-K to check election preparations. Notably, on Monday, J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra had said that the party is open to talks to strike a "respectable alliance. However, he noted that the alliance would have a different criteria compared to the Lok Sabha elections. INDIA bloc was formed in June 2023 to bring down the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. While that did not happen, the Opposition grouping of nearly two dozen non-BJP parties managed to prevent the saffron party from scoring a full majority on its own. The most impact of the alliance was observed in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJPs tally dropped to half compared to its 2019 Lok Sabha seat score of 63. Regional INDIA bloc parties in J-K In Jammu-Kashmir, the regional INDIA parties are the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference party and the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party. To be clear, these parties did not contest the Lok Sabha polls together and pitied their candidates against each other in three of the five constituencies. Notably, neither party contested the Jammu seats -- Jammu and Udhampur, which were unsuccessfully fought by the Congress. On Monday, Congress Karra also said that both the regional parties have approached the Congress for an alliance in the coming polls. Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as Iron Man, but as Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom. The new role, revealed at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Hall H event, has shocked and bewildered the Marvel fans since. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Everyone was stunned and full of questions as a result of the unprecedented confusion brought about by this news. Many people wondered how the studio would deal with the fact that Tony Stark and Doctor Doom both look the same. At first, fans thought that Doom might be a Tony Stark gone berserk from another universe. However, RDJ has now confirmed that he is not Tony Stark but Victor Von Doom. Victor Von Doom: About the role of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom For those who are unfamiliar, Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr., dies heroically in Avengers: Endgame while defending Earth-616 from Thanos. One of the events that fans have looked forward to the most is his return to the role of Tony Stark. However, he returns as Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man. He now discusses his decision to play Victor Von Doom and clarifies that he is indeed portraying the character, putting the Tony Stark variant theory to rest. Comic Book Movie says that Robert Downey Jr. talked about how the idea of having him play Doctor Doom again in the MCU came about, how it was confirmed, and how it was carried out. He recalls how his desire to assist Bob Iger outside of the MCU and contribute to what was going on in the parks set the stage for everything else. The actor then talked about sitting down with Kevin Feige to talk about why he was wanted back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how to make the expectations worth it. Robert Downey Jr speaks about the role of Doctor Doom Robert Downey Jr. stated on how they arrived at the concept of Doctor Doom and how he is Victor Von Doom, Then we both realized over time that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guya very sophisticated creative thinker about how we can avoid going backwards, how we can avoid disappointing expectations, how we can continue to exceed expectations. And he brought up Victor Von Doom. I looked up this character and I was like, 'Wow.' Later, Kevin said, 'Lets get Victor Von Doom right. Let's get that right". Robert Downey Jr. further added, "So then I said to Kevin, 'Can I go talk to Bob Iger?' He goes, 'About?' I go, 'About everything.' I'd gone to Bob's house, and I don't know how to describe that experience. I've had a lot of really cool experiences, but I go to Iger's pad, we sit down, and he goes, 'I like it.' I was like, 'He likes it.' He said, 'Come by the Imagineering Campus.' Feige and I go to the Imagineering Campus, and you want to talk about two guys who are not easily impressedlet alone at the same time...I can't say too much, but whats going on there right now is so beyond my expectation of what was possible". More about the Doctor Doom in the MCU It is evident that the Avengers film Avengers: Doomsday is named after Doctor Doom; however, how will he enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe and eventually become the big bad who wreaks havoc in Doomsday? According to the recent rumours, he will be seen killing the entire Council of Kangs in the Fantastic Four post-credits scene, effectively saying goodbye to Jonathan Majors' antagonist and paving the way for Doom to become the next major antagonist. The court said the Task Force would also prepare an action plan to prevent gender-based violence and ensure a dignified working space for interns, residents, and non-resident doctors | (Photo: PTI) The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi on Wednesday requested resident doctors of the institute to resume their duties immediately so that patient care services are normalised. The doctors are protesting to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to patient care in the light of the murder and alleged sexual assault of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the West Bengal city of Kolkata on August 9. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp According to a release from the Office of the Director, AIIMS, "The undersigned along with the entire AIIMS family stands behind the cause of the safety of all healthcare professionals at AIIMS New Delhi & across the Country. However, as doctors, our supreme duty is also to ensure that the patients visiting our portals do not go unattended." "The Government of India is committed to the cause of healthcare professionals' safety unequivocally and the Hon'ble Supreme Court, while assuring affirmative action for ensuring safety of healthcare professionals, has requested all doctors to resume duties in the interest of patient care. Accordingly, the undersigned is kindly requesting the Resident Doctors of AIIMS New Delhi to resume their duties immediately so that patient care services are normalized," Prof M Srinivas, AIIMS Director said. It also said that a five-member committee has been formed to address any immediate concerns of the healthcare professionals of AIIMS, New Delhi. In a press release on Wednesday, the Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS, New Delhi said that they will provide OPD services from Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to patient care. "To express our solidarity with the residents of RG Kar MC & H, Kolkata, and to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to patient care, we will provide OPD services from Jantar Mantar starting from 11:00 am onwards. This move highlights our dedication to serving patients despite the current challenges" the release said further. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a 10-member National Task Force to make recommendations on the prevention of violence and safe working conditions for medical professionals. The task force includes Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, among others. Days after the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata sparked nationwide protests, the apex court suo motu took up the case and directed the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. The court said the Task Force would also prepare an action plan to prevent gender-based violence and ensure a dignified working space for interns, residents, and non-resident doctors. The top court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a status report on the status of the investigation in the rape case. The court asked the West Bengal government to file a status report on the mob attack incident in the RG Kar hospital on August 15. Opposition parties in Mahrashtra have given a call on Aug 24 to protest the Badlapur incident. Two girls, aged three and four, were allegedly sexually assaulted by a janitor in a girls' toilet in Maharashtra's Thane district. Protestors held a rail roko protest against the alleged assault of 2 kindergarten students at the Badlapur station. A day after the Supreme Court ordered the deployment of CISF at Kar Medical College and Hospital, a team of the central paramilitary force on Wednesday visited the state-run medical establishment and inspected the security arrangements. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) team led by a senior officer reached the hospital in the morning. They talked to the local police and hospital authorities about the security arrangements, an official said. The Kolkata Police has suspended three of its officers in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here last week, officials said. The suspended policemen include two assistant police commissioners, they said. The Kolkata Police has suspended three of its officers in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here last week, officials said. The suspended policemen include two assistant police commissioners, they said. A group of people had entered the medical facility and vandalised its emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store in the early hours of August 15. The violence at the state-run hospital took place amid midnight protests by women in various parts of West Bengal against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at the health facility. Three officers have been suspended... Two are assistant police commissioners and one is an inspector, an official said. Further investigation is underway. Senior doctors have been asked to report for duty in place of the junior medics at several hospitals, even as the state government urged the protestors again to resume work, officials said. "Our stir will continue until we ensure justice for our sister. We understand that patients are facing problems, but our demands are justified," a junior doctor told PTI. Resident doctors will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in a Kolkata hospital. Elective services in several government hospitals across the city have remained suspended due to the protests. AIIMS, GTB, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals have released individual statements urging participation in the silent protest. After the Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, the central government-run RML Hospital had called off the strike, saying, "The Ministry of Health and the Medical Superintendent's office have assured that all necessary permissions for enhanced security measures at medical institutions have been obtained with a 45-day timeline set for implementation." However, within an hour, the RML RDA clarified, "There was some miscommunication, and we apologize for the same. We want to clarify that we stand with our colleagues and other RDAs. We will make our decision only after there is a consensus among all RDAs, and the common decision of all RDAs will be our decision. We stand united." The apex court on Tuesday constituted a 10-member task force to formulate a national protocol to ensure safety and facilities for the doctors. It also requested the protesting doctors to end the strike, saying abstention from the work of doctors affects those segments of the society that are in need of medical care. FOCAC summit to elevate China-Africa ties in pursuit of modernization, shared future: envoy Xinhua) 10:05, August 21, 2024 ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 summit for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled for early September in Beijing, will inject vitality into China-Africa relations, jointly advancing modernization and building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Hu Changchun, head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU), said here Tuesday. Addressing a press briefing on the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the 2024 FOCAC Beijing summit, Hu said the upcoming FOCAC summit is expected to further deepen solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa. He said the summit will make new contributions to promoting global modernization and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Hu said the 2024 FOCAC Beijing summit will be an event to celebrate China-Africa friendship, explore cooperation, and chart the course for the future under the theme of "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." From Sept. 4 to 6, the forum will hold a series of activities including the opening ceremony, a welcoming banquet and a gala performance, high-level meetings, the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, and bilateral meetings. "China and Africa have always been focusing on cooperation to actively push forward the implementation of the outcomes of FOCAC, which has strongly promoted their common development, brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, and laid a solid foundation for the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future," Hu told reporters. He stressed that China, as "Africa's good friend, good partner and good brother," applies the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests as its Africa policy. "Over the past 11 years, China has stayed committed to these principles. Together with our African friends and drawing strength from the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, we have pressed ahead on the path of solidarity and cooperation, stood for justice amid shifting global dynamics, and looked out for each other in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic," Hu said. "We have taken China-Africa relations to new heights and entered the new stage of jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future." Responding to questions on the crucial role of FOCAC in terms of augmenting China-Africa relations, Hu emphasized that the close interaction between the two peoples has closely linked the Chinese dream and the African dream, writing the most vivid chapter of the China-Africa community with a shared future. Under the framework of FOCAC, people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa have become increasingly close and fruitful, and have been an important pillar of the common aspiration for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said. As of 2023, China has sent cumulatively 24,000 medical team members to Africa. A total of 45 medical teams are currently working at more than 100 sites in 44 African countries, according to the press briefing. Amid the ever-expanding China-Africa cooperation in capacity building and talent development, Hu said China has established 67 Confucius Institutes and 10 Confucius Classrooms in Africa. A total of 16 Luban Workshops have been set up in 14 African countries, while more than 80,000 African students are studying in China. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The father of the junior doctor murdered during a rest break at a Kolkata hospital has spoken of his daughters passion for medicine and the sacrifices their family made to support her dreams. We are a poor family and we raised her with a lot of hardship. She worked extremely hard to become a doctor. All she did was study, study, study, he told The Guardian. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The 31-year-old doctor, who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, had devoted her life to medicine a dream she pursued despite the odds. Her father shared the devastation that now engulfs their family. All our dreams have been shattered in one night. We sent her to work, and the hospital gave us her body. Its all finished for us. My daughter isnt coming back. Im never going to hear her voice or laugh. All I can do now is concentrate on getting her justice. The horrific crime, coupled with the perceived mishandling of the case by authorities, has sparked nationwide protests and strikes among doctors. The Indian Medical Associations head, Dr RV Asokan, expressed anguish over the incident, saying, We failed her in life but did not fail her in death a reference to the widespread outrage and ongoing strikes in response to her death. Tragic end to aspiration The young doctor, whose identity is protected under law, had always aspired to a career in medicine. She was one of the few who managed to secure a coveted spot in one of Indias medical colleges, an achievement made possible through her relentless hard work and the unwavering support of her family. She was my only child. We worked hard to make her a doctor I will never be happy again, a neighbour shared, recounting the grief-stricken words of the doctors mother. Dreams met with tragedy Her journey began at the College of Medicine & JNM Hospital in Kalyani, West Bengal, where she pursued her medical education. Her father, a tailor by profession, stretched every rupee to finance her education, driven by her ambition and their shared hope for a better future. Remembering the day she confided in him about her dream to become a doctor, her fathers voice broke with emotion. She said: Papa, its a good thing to become a doctor and help others. What do you think? I said: OK, do it. Well help you. And look what happened, he lamented. Remembering the struggles Her dedication to her studies and her desire to make a difference in the world fuelled her fathers determination to expand his tailoring business. Despite their modest means, they managed to improve their financial situation. When she expressed concerns about the safety of her long bus commute between the hospital and their home, her father borrowed money to buy her a car. At first, she told me to wait, she said we couldnt manage the EMIs and she didnt want to overburden us. But then she found the bus ride so tiring after a long shift that she agreed to the car, he recalled. Her humble beginning Her parents, who still reside in the lower middle-class suburb where she grew up, had recently renovated their home in her honour. The brass nameplate at their door bore her name, proudly prefixed by Dr. The entire neighbourhood has been in shock since the news of her death spread, and the disbelief lingers. The girl has gone now, said a neighbour. But well stand by her parents so they dont feel alone. Safety betrayed at hospital The crime has also shaken the medical community and the public, especially given that it occurred within the hospital a place she and her family believed to be safe. Like all parents, we worried about her safety but only while she was travelling. The moment she reached the hospital, we relaxed. She was safe. Its like when we used to drop her off at school once she was inside the gate, you feel she is safe, her father said. Doctors dedication remembered Colleagues and neighbours describe her as a dedicated young doctor who was determined to repay her parents sacrifices by providing them with a comfortable life. Her former teacher, Arnab Biswas, noted that unlike many young people who chose medicine for its earning potential, she treated it as a calling. Having witnessed Covid-19 patients struggling for breath, she chose respiratory medicine as her specialisation. As the protests continue, her family and community are left grappling with their grief and loss. Her neighbours, who consulted her for medical advice and admired her achievements, now yearn to find ways to support her grieving parents. One neighbour said, She was not just a doctor to us; she was one of our own. We will stand by her parents in this dark time. BEML has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia's largest rolling stock manufacturer, SMH Rail. This landmark agreement was formalized in the presence of Tengku Zafrul B Tengku Abdul Aziz - Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia during an event in Delhi. This strategic partnership marks a historic collaboration between India and Malaysia, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and address the growing global demand for advanced rail and metro rolling stock. Together, BEML and SMH Rail will focus on marketing, supply, and servicing of rail and metro rolling stock products, with a particular emphasis on markets in Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. 1. What's the Just Dial Ltd share price today? Just Dial Ltd share price was Rs 1,216.75 at 04:01 PM IST on 8th Oct 2024 . Just Dial Ltd share price was up by 6.34 % over the previous closing price of Rs 1,144.25 . Just Dial Ltd share price trend: Last 1 Month: Just Dial Ltd share price moved down by 1.77 % on BSE Last 3 Months: Just Dial Ltd share price moved up by 21.20 % on BSE Last 12 Months: Just Dial Ltd share price moved up by 62.86 % on BSE Last 3 Years: Just Dial Ltd price moved up by 21.70 % on BSE 2. How can I quickly analyse the performance of the Just Dial Ltd stock? The performance of the Just Dial Ltd stock can be quickly analysed on the following metrics: The stock's PE is 74.23 Price to book value ratio is 2.57 Dividend yield of 0.00 The EPS (trailing 12 months) of the Just Dial Ltd stock is Rs 16.40 3. What is the market cap of Just Dial Ltd ? Just Dial Ltd has a market capitalisation of Rs 10,347 crore. 4. What is Just Dial Ltd 's 52-week high/low share price? The Just Dial Ltd s 52-week high share price is Rs 1,384.00 and 52-week low share price is Rs 696.00 . 5. Is the Just Dial Ltd profitable? On a consolidated basis, Just Dial Ltd reported a profit of Rs 141.22 crore on a total income of Rs 367.44 crore for the quarter ended 2024 . For the year ended Jun 2024 , Just Dial Ltd had posted a profit of Rs 141.22 crore on a total income of Rs 367.44 crore. 6. Which are Just Dial Ltd s peers in the Others sector? Just Dial Ltd s top 5 peers in the Others sector are One 97, TBO Tek, Indiamart Inter., Just Dial, Easy Trip Plann., Le Travenues, MSTC . 7. Who owns how much in Just Dial Ltd ? Key changes to the Just Dial Ltd shareholding are as follows: In the wake of landslides in Sikkim, the Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government and said hydel projects in ecologically fragile regions have been coming up over the past few years without giving adequate thought to their cumulative environmental impact. The opposition party also asserted that dams on the Teesta river are the prime example of how ecology is being fundamentally altered with grave consequences for this and future generations. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp A massive landslide struck east Sikkim on Tuesday, damaging parts of a 510-mw hydroelectric project on the Teesta river. The landslide happened at Dipu Dara near Singtam in Gangtok district around 7.30 am, causing significant damage to the powerhouse of the Teesta Stage V hydroelectric project of the NHPC. In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said a series of landslide disasters in Sikkim has substantially damaged the Teesta V, a 510 MW hydel power station on the Teesta. This disaster comes on the heels of the Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) and riverine floods in the Teesta River basin in October 2023, which caused massive devastation in Sikkim and Kalimpong, West Bengal, he noted. The Union Budget, unveiled in July 2024, had a section dedicated to 'Irrigation and Flood Mitigation,' where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made the vague promise of "assistance" without any details of funds for Sikkim, he said. "In a classic case of the Government's confrontational federalism, the Budget was indifferent to the areas in West Bengal which were equally affected," Ramesh said. "The obvious vendetta politics aside, the Budget announcements were insufficient - what the entire region needs is for a development framework that centres ecological dimensions, the case for which has become apparent from the cascading series of disasters in the last year," the former environment minister argued. National Highway 10, the lifeline of Sikkim and Kalimpong, runs along the Teesta and has been in a precarious state with frequent landslides and closures, he pointed out. As of today, the NH has been closed for over a month, severely affecting trade, tourism, and more importantly, the security of these sensitive border areas of India, he said, adding these floods are an economic, social, and political disaster for these regions. These natural disasters, like the October 2023 catastrophe and the recent landslides, have become commonplace due to ecological destruction and unplanned constructions, Ramesh said. A spate of hydro projects on the Teesta River has caused the river to become more flood-prone, washing away sections of the NH10, the Congress general secretary said. As per the National Hydropower Development Corporation (NHDC), 47 hydropower projects are in different stages of development on the Teesta River in Sikkim and West Bengal, he noted. Of them, nine have been commissioned, work on 15 dams is going on and another 28 are in the pipeline, Ramesh said. The October 2023 disaster was provoked by the GLOF, but it only reached its catastrophic scales due to the failure of the Teesta-III dam, the Congress leader said. Amidst these hydel projects, IRCON has also undertaken tunnelling of this sensitive region for the Sivok-Rangpo railway line (14 tunnels), contributing to the region's increased vulnerability, Ramesh said. "The mismanagement in the debris disposal has also resulted in the riverbed level going up, making the region more flood prone," he said in his statement. Aside from this environmental catastrophe in the making, these projects have also been undertaken without local communities in mind, Ramesh argued. The people of Sikkim and Kalimpong have not gained from the hydro projects in terms of employment, share in power, or revenue generation, he said. No consultative process was undertaken with the local communities in advance of the railway line projects, he added. Ramesh further said that the recent experience has shown that this lack of consultation was a shortsighted decision. The authorities had dismissed members of the local Lepcha community when they challenged the Teesta V project's environment clearance in 2014, including on the grounds of the absence of studies on the potential impact of GLOFs on the project. "True to their warnings, the GLOF overtopped the Teesta V dam as well, causing damage to the project back in October. A few months later, landslides have now struck the same dam," he said. Hydel projects in ecologically fragile regions have been coming up over the past few years without giving adequate thought to their cumulative environmental impacts, Ramesh stressed. "Dams on the Teesta are the prime, but not the only, example of how - in the name of development - ecology is being fundamentally altered, with grave consequences for this and future generations," the Congress leader said. In mid-July, Sirisena reported to the court that he had already paid SLR 58 million and pleaded for six more months to pay the balance of 42 million | Image: Wikimedia commons Sri Lanka's former president Maithripala Sirisena has settled in full the SLR 100 million compensation for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 270 people, including 11 Indians, during his tenure. Sirisena, 72, was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay SLRs 100 million as compensation to victims for his negligence in preventing the country's one of the worst terror strikes despite having credible information of an imminent attack. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp His lawyers said the full payment of rupees 100 million was completed on August 16. Nine suicide bombers belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three Catholic churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, 2019, killing nearly 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injuring over 500. Sirisena was also the minister of defence at that time. The attack stirred a political storm as the then President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were blamed for their inability to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence being made available. In mid-July, Sirisena reported to the court that he had already paid SLR 58 million and pleaded for six more months to pay the balance of 42 million. A presidential panel of inquiry appointed by Sirisena after the attacks ironically found the then-president guilty of his failure to prevent the attacks. Trump supporters frequently create social media posts and memes using AI-generated images, some of which get shared by the former president. | (Photo: Reuters) Former President Donald Trump has been active on his social accounts as Democrats gather for their convention in Chicago, but some of his posts don't have much to do with reality. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, he posted a fake image of someone who looks like Vice President Kamala Harris addressing what appears to be a communist rally in Chicago with a depiction of a red banner with a communist symbol. That followed his repost of a phony video of himself dancing next to billionaire Elon Musk, one of his most vocal supporters. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Just before the convention kicked off, he reposted an image of Taylor Swift in an Uncle Sam outfit and accepted her endorsement for his campaign, which she had never given. They're the latest examples of how Trump is promoting images produced by artificial intelligence tools to attack his opponents or create illusions of support around his own campaign. It's in keeping with a long-standing strategy in which Trump amplifies messages from QAnon adherents to those who deny the results of fair elections -- to score political points and satisfy his base by promoting alternate realities. Some of the images and videos Trump has shared are cartoonish or obviously fake. Yet the rise in AI-generated content across political social media concerns experts who say it can be used to push more insidious and believable disinformation. As fake images, videos and audio clips created by generative AI models begin to saturate social media, they also risk eroding people's trust in what they see and hear. The AI-generated deepfakes of Taylor Swift are yet another example of AI's power to create misinformation that deceives and defrauds voters, said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, a progressive consumer rights advocacy group that has pushed for legislation to regulate AI. The potential harms to our society that could result from such misinformation, including abuses of our elections, are wide-reaching and immensely damaging. One AI-generated image in Trump's Truth Social post, shared on Sunday, showed women in Swifties for Trump shirts, a reference to the artist's devout fans. The fake image showing Swift dressed as Uncle Sam included text saying, Taylor wants YOU to VOTE for DONALD TRUMP. In his repost of the image, Trump added, I accept! One of the images Trump shared included a small satire label, though he didn't clarify whether he meant his post was in jest. Swift, who remains on her world tour and has a show scheduled Tuesday night in London, has made no endorsement in this year's U.S. presidential race. Her spokesperson did not return multiple messages seeking comment. To Republicans outside Trump's orbit, the focus on someone like Swift one of the most talked about artists in the world is all about garnering attention for Trump at a time when much of the focus is on Harris and Democrats. This is how he and the campaign can wrest back news cycles, said Doug Heye, a longtime Republican spokesperson and operative. "I hesitate to say to their credit, but I think we all know, if you want to be talked about, Taylor Swift is a great way to do it. A Harris spokesperson did not respond to questions about Trump's use of images generated by artificial intelligence. Trump supporters frequently create social media posts and memes using AI-generated images, some of which get shared by the former president. Before Trump shared the phony Swift images, his supporters had been creating and posting their own AI-generated videos and images of the pop star appearing to support Trump. They also shared numerous images of Harris dressed as a communist leader or addressing a Soviet crowd. Political operatives have long been concerned about what the rise in artificial intelligence could mean for elections. Some members of Congress have pushed for legislation to regulate the use of AI-generated images in politics, but no legislation to do so has gotten close to passing. The Federal Communications Commission has proposed requiring political advertisers to disclose their use of artificial intelligence in television and radio ads, but such a rule would not affect the social media platforms. While several social media companies have rules for labeling AI-generated content, they aren't always followed. Across platforms, misleading and lifelike images of both Trump and Harris amass millions of views, with some users not recognizing what they are seeing is fake. Given her influence and millions of fans, Swift has often become a trending political topic during election years. In 2020, she supported President Joe Biden, writing a month before the election that she was going to be cheering for then-vice presidential nominee Harris, this year's Democratic nominee, in her debate against then-Vice President Mike Pence. She also was openly critical of Trump ahead of the 2020 election, saying he had stoked the fires of white supremacy and racism. While she has remained on the sidelines so far this year, she has not escaped notice from prominent conservatives who worry about a Swift endorsement of the Democratic presidential ticket. Some of her supporters have responded to Trump's posts by taking to social media and declaring their intentions to vote for the former president. Trump's campaign is seizing on that support. Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesman, did not address the use of fake images in response to questions, but called Swifties for Trump" a "massive movement that grows bigger every single day. As Chinese inbound tourism gains momentum with the extension of its visa-free policy to more countries and the recovery of international flights, Alipay, the leading digital payment and lifestyle platform in China, now supports 16 languages on its App, further enhancing the travel experience of international tourists exploring China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821042872/en/ An international visitor paying with Alipay at a souvenir store in China (Photo: Business Wire) These languages include Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Turkish, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. This service upgrade enables international tourists, to explore China like a local with Alipay, using the language that they are familiar with. For example, Italian tourists can download the Italian version of the Alipay App and enjoy mobile payment services in Italian while making offline payments in China. They can also enjoy frequently-used travel services such as hailing cars, booking hotels and purchasing plane and high-speed train tickets on the Alipay homepage in their native language, thanks to the Apps embedded translation tool. Using the Alipay App has become increasingly popular for international visitors travelling within China as the countrys rich culture and history, stunning scenery, gourmet cuisine, modern transportation like high-speed trains, and convenient and secure mobile payment have become frequently enjoyed among international visitors. A study conducted by the Silk Road Research Institute of Beijing Foreign Studies University in June 2024 on international tourists' travel and payment experiences in China, found that international visitors are interested in trying local mobile payment methods like Alipay. The study revealed that 84% of those surveyed used at least one type of mobile payment in China. Among international travelers who used Alipay, nearly 97% would recommend it to their friends visiting China. Alipay has also recorded a surge in consumption from international tourists in China. The spending of international visitors in China using Alipay increased by eight times in the first half year of 2024 compared to the previous year. Since 2022, Alipay has partnered with international card networks to further enhance its payment services for international travelers. After downloading the Alipay app, international tourists can sign up and link their international credit or debit cards from Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club International to pay at the tens of millions of Alipay partner merchants across China, including restaurants, cafes, tourist attractions, shopping malls, street stalls and public transport. Alipay also collaborates with industry partners to offer international travelers with convenient travel services such as online translation, hotel booking, ride hailing, purchasing tickets to tourist sites, riding shared bikes and taking public transport. In addition to paying like a local with Alipay, international travelers can also use their home e-wallet to scan Alipay QR codes and pay across China through Ant Internationals Alipay+ solution. These 12 overseas e-wallets include AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Kaspi.kz (Kazakhstan), MPay (Macao SAR, China), Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), Hipay (Mongolia), NayaPay (Pakistan), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC Digital (Singapore), Kakao Pay (South Korea), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea) and TrueMoney (Thailand). About Alipay In the digital era, Alipay has evolved from a trusted payment tool to an open platform that connects businesses, institutions, service providers, and other partners with consumers. Alipay enables partners from various industries to offer safe and convenient payment options. It also enables partners to communicate and deliver different digital services to their customers in China through Alipay mini programs, lifestyle accounts and other tools. The Alipay platform has connected over 80 million businesses with more than one billion consumers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821042872/en/ A GRAIGUECULLEN family is facing an agonising ordeal as their beautiful four-month-old daughter and granddaughter battles a rare form of leukaemia in Australia. Little Fiadh Vicky Hoolan Derich is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy in a Melbourne hospital, her devastated parents Sara Hoolan and Nathan Derich along with grandparents Peader and Ruth Hoolan from Sleaty, Graiguecullen at her side. In a tragic twist of fate, Fiadh was diagnosed with leukaemia on the day her grandparents and aunt Laura arrived from Ireland to Darwin, Australia to meet their beloved granddaughter and niece for the very first time. What was supposed to be our first family holiday, and the first time my family got to meet our sweet little angel, quickly turned into what will eventually be at least a six-month hospital stay interstate, away from all our friends and family, said Sara. Fiadh was immediately rushed to Melbourne so the Hoolan family just managed to meet her for a few minutes on a Darwin runway just before her care jet flight departed for Melbourne. We got a call to say the Fiadh and Sara were being rushed to Melbourne and we could not change our flight plans. However, after three long flights, almost 36 hours because of stop-overs, we were rushed by some of Saras friends from the airport to go to the care flight jet, so we could get five minutes to see them, explained Peader. Not a nice way to get to meet your granddaughter. But I have to thank the care flight crew, who assured us they were in good hands, he added. Fiadhs diagnosis is a rare one, with only around one child in Australia being diagnosed each year. She began her intense chemo treatment immediately, with sickness and viruses almost inevitable as her little body continues to fight. A few weeks later, Peader and Ruth went to Melbourne for ten days to try to comfort and ease the burden on Sara and Nathan and to spend time with their beautiful granddaughter. They have a long, long hard time ahead. It looks like it will be another six months before they leave the wonderful hospital in Melbourne to return home to Darwin where they live, Peader told The Nationalist. Sara and Nathan will be watching their child in hospital until possibly February next year, a very draining experience for any parent to have to go through, he added. Saras friends in Darwin and the Irish community there have rallied to assist the family, supporting Peader, Ruth and Laura during their time in Australia and also setting up a GoFundMe page to support Fiadh at this very difficult time. It has been heart-wrenching watching such a little innocent thing being poked and prodded and going through what she has and we can only imagine what is ahead of us and her, Sara said in a post on Fiadhs GoFundMe page. Fiadh is such a strong little girl and is doing such an amazing job, still smiling and being her inquisitive little self every day, but she does have a long road ahead of her before she can even go outside, let alone get home. We know we still have a long way to go and it wont be easy being stuck in a hospital or watching our sweet little girl go through treatment for the next six months, especially being so far away from everyone and not being able to earn an income during this time, but it well and truly warms our hearts to know how many people are thinking of her and us through the whole process. It is hard to think that so many of her firsts will be in this tiny hospital room and knowing we cant take her pain away, but it will all be worth it when she comes out the other side, said Sara. The support we have and continue to receive has been overwhelming and will never be forgotten. Our sincerest gratitude to everyone. After three weeks, Laura returned to Graiguecullen, while Peader and Ruth are due to return home this weekend. We are in Darwin now and leave here on the 24th, so only a couple more days before we fly home. It is going to be a hard trip home leaving Australia. As I said earlier, we were looking forward to two months spending time with our precious grandchild, said Peader. Fiadhs condition was discovered when the three-month-old was having lower than expected weight checks over a few weeks and had very pale skin. Id like to let other parents be aware of Fiadhs condition and to warn other parents whose child is not putting on weight, has real pale skin and does not appear to be growing not to be afraid to seek medical help its better to catch this leukaemia early, he said. Peader offered a huge thank you from the Hoolan family and Saras friends in Darwin. A massive thank you to those who took the time and their hard-earned cash to donate to the GoFundMe page for little Fiadh and I know plans are in place to have a night out to raise money for the cause by the Irish community in Darwin, he said. We will continue to have everything crossed that all goes well and she comes out even stronger on the other side, and we are counting down the days til we can say our sweet little girl is cancer-free, said Sara. To support the family, go to www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-baby-fiadh-through-leukaemia-treatment. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Hospices are a beacon showcasing the best of humanity at a time when there is a lot of negativity and anxiety in the world, actor Brendan Gleeson has said. The Irish star, who has featured in films including The Banshees of Inisherin and In Bruges, is asking the public to support a nationwide fundraising campaign for hospices. The Oscar-nominated actor, who has fronted several campaigns championing hospices, said Irish people are generally good at confronting death. If you dont take on board how final death is, you dont really get a proper perspective on how delicious life can be, he told the PA news agency in Bewleys Cafe in Dublin city. The hospice movement generally has been a kind of a little bit of a beacon, in the sense that its given a degree of positivity to the way life is framed, which I find really refreshing. Both of Gleesons parents, Pat and Francis, spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin. The hospice found a way for me to be able to say goodbye to my parents in a way that seemed actually beautiful, he said. I found that a remarkable triumph over circumstance, and it gave me kind of a faith in the humanity it takes to make that happen, because it doesnt happen by mistake. He added: At the moment, I can have a chat at any point with the memory of when my folks were well and not fighting the last throes of life when they were in their fullness. So, I can have the conversation with those entities and so I feel theyre never really gone. With the hospice, you feel this is something thats perpetuating a feeling that goodness is paramount within this particular world and its very hard to keep that front and centre the way things are happening. Theres an awful lot of negativity, anxiety and a lot of it well-founded but its always been this way. Weve always been careering towards our own destruction and, at the same time, elevating ourselves beyond any other life form, and its just the human condition. So, I find tipping the scales on the good side is the hospice movement and I feel honoured to be a part of it. People who wish to register to host a coffee morning on September 26, or on a different date, can visit hospicecoffeemorning.ie or make a donation on the same website. Gleeson said it was exciting that an in-patient unit with 24 single rooms was planned for St Francis Hospice, which would offer more privacy to families and their loved ones. He said his father Francis spent time in a four-bed room: The conversation was a little inhibited; you are in hearing distance of others, trying not to earwig, and at the same time attempting an intimate conversation with your loved one in quite a loud voice. Because patients are at that stage, you have to speak fairly loudly. Single rooms make it so much easier. The Dubliner was speaking before travelling to Los Angeles ahead of the worldwide release of his latest work in Joker: Folie a Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Brendan Gleeson praised Joaquin Phoenixs performances as the Joker. Photo: Ian West/PA. He said he agreed to take part in the movie because he thought Phoenixs performance in Joker was one of the most remarkable things Ive ever seen. He said the actor inhabited this extraordinary place thats so conflicting, thats so sympathetic in some ways, and utterly repulsive in others. It took the idea of mental instability into a place where we have to accept some culpability when it gets out of control, and at the same time theres an element of wildness in that, where youre sort of saying, I dont know if anybody can contain whats been released now. He said it is increasingly difficult to get a storyline like that offered by the Banshees of Inisherin, as there is a trend of cinema emphasising visuals and action sequences. But he said that when done right, superheroes are just a different way of exploring the nature of humanity, and cited Heath Ledgers portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight as proper character study. Turning to the Phoenix Joker movies, he said: I was mesmerised by the first film and thrilled to be a part of the second. I havent seen it yet, but I just love the bravery of taking it on and bringing Lady Gaga into the mix, and having music as a part of it. I cant wait to see it, to be honest. Gleeson, who turns 70 next March, said that he is aware of his age, but said he was once told good health is a golden crown which only those who are ill can see. I try to keep an eye on the crown and as long as Im motoring around alright, I appreciate life. He told PA: I do think that curiosity, the maintenance of curiosity in the freshness of the world, and seeing the world again in the framework of how precious it is and how transient, if you can maintain it, then life keeps coming up with things that are wonderful. We all know it can be the simplest thing in the world. The mortality thing, I understand you do the math, as I say. But I feel in bonus country, in a way. Ive been allowed to see my kids grow up. Ive been allowed to see things through a little bit. Its all bonus country anyway. So we continue with the bonus country. Vivienne Clarke Activist Majella Beattie, of Care Champions, has said that the family of a non-verbal woman who was subjected to inappropriate contact by another resident in a HSE-run facility have called for the other resident to be removed. A review by the HSE found that there was a failure to implement safeguarding measures at the facility where one resident touched the breast of another resident who is immobile. A report into the incident in June last year revealed that there had been a failure to implement and review safeguarding measures following a previous incident in 2014. The family of this lady are very much traumatised. They very much talk about their daughter being unable to protect herself, and relying on others for all her care. It is very difficult for them to live with the fact that their daughter has been harmed twice by the same person., she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. They are very much aware that Resident B also has a disability and is also entitled to the support they need. But they do not believe that their daughter should have to live in the same home as the person who harmed her. This family wants Resident B to be removed so that their daughter can live safely in her home. The problem is the ongoing trauma to this young lady because she is so vulnerable, and has no way to protect herself. This young man with his disability, she will hear him, she will see him. And they don't want her to be re-traumatised. 2014 report In a previous incident in 2014, Resident B kissed Resident A and touched her breast. Following that incident, a report stated that due to Resident As disability, reduced inhibition and communication problems, she would be "very vulnerable to inappropriate advances from male residents who suffer from acquired brain injury with impaired cognitive function and executive dysfunction". The 2014 report made recommendations to prevent the risk of a similar safeguarding incident happening again. However, the latest review revealed no staff member recalled safeguarding plans being discussed or that they were informed of the 2014 incident. Minister of State Ann Rabbitte has expressed disappointment that the first time she heard of the case was from the media. I'm hearing it for the first time this morning, she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Ms Rabbitte said she had an email ready to send to the HSE, and she was disappointed that she had not been informed of the incident and the report. She said she had no doubt that it was very distressing for the family of Resident A, but also for the family of Resident B. There had been other stories like this, she said which was why Bernard Gloster had made safeguarding one of his priorities. It felt like there had been a complete failure or breakdown of procedures in this case, said Ms Rabbitte. It was important to ensure the development of a safeguarding culture with increased visibility and understanding of safeguarding in the care system where people are in the care of the State, she said. James Cox Immediate abolition of hospital car parking fees for those receiving cancer treatment is needed, a Fine Gael Senator has said. Senator Maria Byrne, Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on finance, said: "It is completely baffling that hospitals across Ireland continue to charge full parking fees to patients undergoing cancer treatments, with many offering no concessions whatsoever. This practice must end. Cancer patients already face immense challenges, and the last thing they should worry about is the financial burden of parking fees." Ms Byrne pointed to a "significant disparity" in parking fees at different hospital, along with how easily information can be accessed on concessions. "This lack of consistency leaves many patients in the dark, adding to the difficulties they face during an already challenging time. "This situation is yet another example of the day-to-day financial pressures on those battling cancer. Many have had to leave their jobs to focus on treatment and recovery, and we need to acknowledge the toll this takes." Ms Byrne added: "Being unwell is not a choice, and the financial burden experienced by cancer patients is unjust. Common sense and compassion must prevail - hospital car parks should not be profiting off those who have no choice but to be in the hospital for treatment." University Hospital Limerick is one of three public hospitals in Munster that offers free parking for cancer patients. Ms Byrne said this is a "positive step", but one that should be replicated nationwide. "Every cancer patient, regardless of where they receive treatment, deserves this basic consideration. "It's not just about fairness - it's about dignity. The Irish Cancer Society have done great work in highlighting this need and shown we have an opportunity here to do something simple yet profoundly impactful. Eliminating these fees would make clear that we stand with cancer patients in their fight. It's a small gesture that could make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it most." GERARD COUZENS An Irish teenager remained in intensive care in hospital in Majorca following a near-drowning at his hotel pool. The youngster was resuscitated on Tuesday afternoon after being pulled out of the water by lifeguards who initially assisted him before emergency responders took over. On Wednesday, sources at Manacor Hospital confirmed he remained in intensive care as it emerged the holidaymaker is 14 and not 16 as first reported. The source said: The outlook for this patient is unclear at the moment. He was admitted to the hospital just after 4.15pm yesterday and is still in intensive care. He was described as being in a very serious condition when he was rushed to hospital. The alarm was raised around 2pm on Tuesday. The drama happened at an all-inclusive hotel called Globales Bouganvilla in Sa Coma in eastern Majorca, near to the Love Island villa. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear. In June 2022, a six-year-old boy from north Belfast died following a pool incident while he was on holiday in Majorca. Corey Aughey was treated in intensive care at a hospital in the island capital Palma for three days before losing his fight for life. He had also been staying at a hotel in Sa Coma which was not named at the time. The Aughey family had only touched down in Majorca a few hours before the tragedy struck. Later the same month, an Irish seven-year-old died in hospital after being pulled out of the pool at HYB Eurocalas Hotel in the East Coast Majorcan resort of Calas de Mallorca. By Cate McCurry, PA Mobile phones could be banned in secondary schools under plans being considered by the Minister for Education. Norma Foley said she is looking into introducing a ban on mobiles in post-primary schools. The Department of Education published guidelines for parents last year, as part of an initiative to keep childhood smartphone free. The Fianna Fail minister is set to go further to reduce the use of mobile phones in schools. Speaking at Ardscoil Ris in north Dublin, Ms Foley said that the Government has done a huge body of work around mobile phones. Ive met with mobile phone providers, Ive met with the social media platforms and we will continue to educate both at primary and at post-primary, but I am now in a space where Im saying looking to introduce a ban on the mobile phone at post-primary, the Kerry TD said. Minister for Education Norma Foley, with Principal John McHugh, during a visit to Ardscoil Ris in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) I think were very conscious of the world in which we live. All studies, including, for example the United Nations study last year, telling us that mobile phones interrupt learning in a school environment. Obviously theyre a cause of cyber bullying and we know too the conversation, the integration, the community of conversation thats so important in school, is very much interrupted by the fact that students take out their mobile phones at different times. But I want to be clear, schools are doing a huge body of work on the ground in relation to this. All of them would have policies in relation to appropriate use of the mobile phone. But equally so, I meet principals who tell me, the mobile phone, even though students keep it in their bag, the beeping of it is an interruption to study. Its a continuous hum almost in the background. Im very clear that I think we need to establish in our schools a culture of non-acceptance of the mobile phone. Moving forward now with the band working with our schools on mobile phones, particularly in post primary, its not the issue really in the primary, in that theyre not using them particularly during school hours in the primary. David Raleigh A mother of a little boy suffering with a life-threatening curve on his spine, shared a heartbreaking video of her son struggling in pain, and pleaded with Taoiseach, Simon Harris, to help her son receive the urgent care he so desperately needs. In 2017, Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison were told by doctors that their baby son Harvey would require urgent scoliosis surgery as his lungs and heart were already starting to be crushed by his twisting spine and ribcage. Last February, Harveys parents shared a video of Harvey struggling to breathe due to his complex health needs. However, seven years after Harveys doctors warned that controlling his scoliosis was life or death, Harveys mother informed the Taoiseach in an email that Harvey is still awaiting the life-saving surgery. In 2017, Mr Harris, then the Minister for Health, told parents of children waiting years for scoliosis surgery that they would wait no longer than four months for the procedures, but this has not happened, and prolonged scoliosis surgery waiting lists continue due to inadequacies in the health system. You continually tell families like ours that you care, and you have been promising to fix this since 2017. 2017 was the year we were told that Harveys ribs were crushing his lungs and controlling his scoliosis was life and death. Here we are in 2024 and nothing has changed..., states Ms Sherratts email to the Taoiseach. Ms Sherratt stated she is incredibly concerned for Harvey who is now eight and half years old. Harvey has Spina Bifida and scoliosis which in itself is challenging, but when those conditions are coupled with a lack of access to therapy, and incredibly long wait lists for urgent and life changing surgeries, then it becomes impossible to adequately care for your child, wrote Ms Sherratt. Harvey had an Xray in January 2024 that showed his scoliosis curve is at 110, if you have read in to scoliosis then I am sure you are aware how this is at a point where it is detrimental to his health and quality of life, Ms Sherratts email continues. Ms Sherratt sates that Harvey was listed for urgent surgery in February 2022 after repeated pneumonia infections, however Harveys surgeon has not been available for surgery and 30 months later he (Harvey) is still only on the surgical list...as he does not have a surgeon willing to operate.. Ms Sherratts email informed the Taoiseach that a Paediatric Spinal Taskforce, established last January by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to address the scoliosis surgery waiting lists crisis, and which has met three times, has not made contact with my family, nor is there any details online of how to contact them to enquire as to when your child will finally be treated. Ms Sherratts email also highlighted delays in the long-awaited new Childrens Hospital, as well as how the result of a HSE investigation into where funding for scoliosis surgery was actually spent is not known. Here we are in 2024 and nothing has changed except...longer wait lists, more children waiting, a still not complete hospital, and funds not being spent as intended and no answers yet as to where the money *we* fought for went. You say you care but your actions have left us feeling anything but, Ms Sherratt states. She also informed the Taoiseach that her five-year-old daughter Lyla is facing open heart surgery next month and this is just more stress and concern that we do not need. Another summer has just passed and Harvey has spent the majority (of it) in his room, often needing to go back in to bed because he is in so much pain, Ms Sherratts states. Is that the life you think the children of Ireland deserve? Would you accept that if it was your own child? Can you imagine being told your child has a potentially life threatening condition but that it will be years before it would be treated?, she asked. We need actual action, not more empty promises...We need contact details and open dialogue with the task force so that we can actually feel its existence. We need answers as to where the funding for scoliosis and spina bifida services went. Most of all, these children need to get their quality of life back before their whole childhood passes. I look forward to hearing from you, Ms Sherratts email concludes. The Department of the Taoiseach has been asked for a response. Ellen O'Donoghue Journalist, author and women's rights activist Nell McCafferty has died at the age of 80. The Irish Times reports she passed away this morning at a nursing home in Co Donegal. She was born in Derry in 1944, and went on to co-found the Irish Women's Liberation Movement. Taoiseach Simon Harris led tributes to McCafferty, saying that she left Ireland "a much better place than she found it, and she played her part with spirit and style. "Nell was fierce, fearless and fiery. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it. "Her passion and wrath was not scattergun, it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore," the Taoiseach said. "As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion, but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. "In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this." In a piece published in the Irish Times earlier this year to mark McCaffertys 80th birthday, President Michael D Higgins hailed her enduring courage as a writer. Those who have had Nell as a friend and an ally are very fortunate in their being given the gift of experiencing humanity in all its possibilities and vulnerabilities, and delivered as she did it with a sense of humour that paid tribute to the authenticity of her Derry upbringing, he wrote. Journalist Mary Kenny founded the Irish Women's Liberation Movement with Nell McCafferty and others in 1970. She told Newstalk Nell's wit would never be forgotten. "I mean thats the thing about Nell, she had a modern sense of humour, so even people who were critical of her, perhaps, because she was so upfront, were completely disarmed by her charm and by how funny she could be, you know that very special Derry way, so indeed very, very sad. She had been unwell," Ms Kenny said. Irish Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time." Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. - Additional reporting PA By David Young, Grainne Ni Aodha and Cate McCurry, PA The family of renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty have said they are humbled and comforted by the tributes following her death. The celebrated writer, 80, died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Fahan, Co Donegal following a long illness. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Derry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty, who was raised in Derrys Bogside area, authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. McCafferty had previously been in a long term relationship with fellow author Nuala OFaolain, who died in 2008. A statement from McCaffertys family to the PA news agency concluded with Goodnight Sisters the phrase she used to sign off at the end of TV appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings. There arent words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell, said the family. We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day. We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led the tributes, describing McCafferty as a writer who had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Nell McCafferty https://t.co/IlvxH3OsnK President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 21, 2024 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion, but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner - the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous, and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon - Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long-time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. A requiem mass will be held at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in the city, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. Attock Cement sells additional stake in Iraq cement firm for US$5.85m ICR Newsroom By 21 August 2024 Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd, a Pakistan-based cement producer which manufactures ordinary Portland cement, sulphate-resistant cement, Falcon rock cement and Falcon block cement, has announced its sale of an additional stake in Saqr Al Keetan of Cement Production Co Ltd (SAKCPCL). SAKCPCL operates a 0.54Mta grinding facility in the Basra region of Iraq. Attocks stake (4,500,000 shares) in the Iraq-based company will be sold to an undisclosed acquirer for US$5.85m. Attock, a subsidiary of Pharaon Group, operates the 4.271Mta Hub Lasbela plant in Pakistan. Attock Cements 3Q24 report announced a 19.3 per cent increase in clinker production and a 10.7 decrease in cement production YoY. Published under Semen Indonesia International clinker exports to Taiwan up 80% Muriel Bal By 21 August 2024 PT Semen Indonesia International (SII) reported a significant increase in clinker exports to Taiwan in the first half of 2024. Clinker exports to Taiwan reached 0.564Mt, up 80 per cent YoY from 0.314Mt in the 1H23. The increase reflects the growing demand from Taiwans construction industry, which is increasingly reliant on Indonesian clinker. SII's President Director, Ridwansyah, stated that the rise in export volume to Taiwan is the result of hard work and collaboration among SIG, PT Semen Tonasa, and SII in providing high-quality products. "We are optimistic that this positive trend will continue and open up greater opportunities in the international market," he said. In addition to Taiwan, SII also exports clinker to China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Fiji, Australia and Benin. Published under Asia Cement (China) sees 1H revenue down 35% Muriel Bal By 21 August 2024 In its unaudited results for the first half of 2024, Asia Cement (China) Holdings Corp reported a revenue of CNY2689.4m (US$377.1m), down 34.5 per cent from CNY4105.1m in the 1H23. Gross profit fell 79.4 per cent to CNY133m in the 1H24 from CNY646m in the 1H23. The companys gross profit margin declined from 16 per cent to five per cent over the same period. The company posted a loss before tax of CNY223.6m in the 1H24, down from a profit before tax of CNY395m in the 1H23. Net loss for the 1H24 reached CNY411.2m, of which CNY404.9m was attributable to the owners of the company. In the 1H23 the company returned a net profit of CNY200.3m, of which CNY195.8m was attributable to the owners of the company. Published under Vitruvian Health Care System makes history by naming the first female CEO in the history of what is now Bradley Medical Center that has cared for the healthcare needs of the community for over seven decades.Lisa Lovelace, MBA, MA, was named president and chief executive officer of Bradley Medical Center on Aug. 1. Her leadership through this acquisition has been invaluable to our organization and her commitment to the Cleveland community has been evident throughout her career, said Jeff Myers, president and chief executive officer of Vitruvian Heath Care System.We are excited to see Bradley Medical Center evolve under the guidance of Lisa and the leadership team.Officials said, "Lisa is no stranger to Cleveland, as she is from Bradley County, graduated from Bradley County High School and then was proud to come back to Cleveland as a healthcare executive starting out at the Bradley Medical Centers Westside Campus. With over 26 years as a healthcare executive, she has been recognized as a leader people look up to and works to align with the team to solve problems. She has been recognized as a leader who helps grow and mentor those around her to help them reach their goals."In her role of assistant chief executive officer/chief operating officer at Bradley, she was one of the driving forces that brought growth in key specialty services such as cardiology, neurology and primary care, so that her family, friends and community neighbors had access to quality, compassionate care close to home. She is a true servant to her community, striving for excellence, for every person, every time, whether it is the employees, the medical staff, the volunteer or our patients."Even though Lisa has had the opportunity to work around the region as a healthcare executive, her heart remained in Cleveland as she continued to foster the community by serving on local boards such as YMCA board, the Family Resource Agency board as well as United Way, Funds Distribution and Existing Industry committees, and is a graduate of the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cleveland."Joining Ms. Lovelace will be Tammy Seay, vice president and interim chief nursing officer; Ernie Elemento, vice president and chief operating officer; Wes Griffith, vice president and chief financial officer; and Jeanette Fetter, vice president and chief quality officer.Officials said, "Tammy Seay DNP, RN, CNOR, vice president and interim chief nursing officer, has served over 28 years as a nurse and as an executive nurse leader, impacting organizational performance and promoting a culture of high quality, safety and team member engagement. Tammy is a familiar face to the newly named Bradley Medical Center as she previously served as the assistant chief nursing officer. Making the transition to vice president and interim chief nursing officer has been seamless. Through the acquisition, Tammys leadership was evident as she stood by her team to ensure safe, quality care as we crossed over and became Bradly Medical Center. Her drive for excellence was recognized when asked to be involved in the application of the Tennessee Center for Performing Excellence for her facility in Knoxville. Tammy is dedicated to leading change, motivating, and developing effective teams to implement long-term improvements to deliver exceptional service for our community."Ernie Elemento, MBA, vice president and chief operating officer, joins us from Hamilton Medical Center. He has over 20 years of executive leadership and 10 years of clinical experience when he practiced as a licensed physical therapist. This combination allows him the ability to help drive operational change with a true understanding of the needs of his departments. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership, strategic planning, patient and associate engagement, and physician partnerships. While at Hamilton, Ernie oversaw the Peeples Cancer Institute, Pharmacy, Imaging, Laboratory, Rehab, Hamilton Spine Health, and Sport to name a few. Ernies departments are already recognizing him for his contributions and support as evidenced by his leadership during the night of the acquisition. The mission to care for the Cleveland community is clearly of top priority for him and his departments."Wes Griffith, MBA, MAcc, vice president and chief financial officer, may be a name you have heard from before. Like Lisa, Wes was previously on the executive team and has come back to the Cleveland community. Wess expertise in financial operations will be valuable as we work to evolve and grow resources for Bradley Medical Center. Wes works directly with managers regarding any questions around financial objectives and goals. His leadership style has allowed many managers to grow stronger and more confident in their knowledge of their own departments financial goals, evidenced by receiving the Trusted Leader award back-to-back years in his previous facility."Jeanette Fetter, RN, MBA, vice president and chief quality officer, has over 40 years experience in Nursing and Management/Administration and is a native of Bradley County. She began her journey at Cleveland State Community College where she received her associates degree to start her journey as a healthcare executive. Jeanette has witnessed a lot of change during her 40-year career at our facility, but her commitment to her team, the patients and her community never has. This was never more evident than witnessing her leadership during the acquisition. She leads by example and is well respected amongst the healthcare community for her expertise in quality standards, The Joint Commission standards, and other regulatory standards. Many of her processes have been used in other facilities and recognized as best practices."I am proud of this team, and we look forward to serving with compassion to improve the health and well-being of our communities and be the model for excellence and service in health care, said Ms. Lovelace, president and chief executive officer Bradley Medical Center. A referendum may be held next March on changing the city charter to allow younger firefighters and those who live outside the city. Fire Chief Phil Hyman said when he joined the department recruitment "was solely by word of mouth." He said that "worked for years," but eventually recruitment numbers were so low that it was hard to get enough to hold an academy. Chief Hyman said recruitment has been enhanced with the hiring of a recruitment coordinator and other measures. But he said he favors allowing the department to take on new firefighters as young as age 18. He also said the city is missing out on many good candidates from Georgia and elsewhere because of a charter requirement that they live within the city. Voters would have to decide on approving the changes - probably at a referendum at the time of the next city election in March 2025. Crackdown on illegal currency trading in Macao sees 3 billion yuan seized Xinhua) 10:32, August 21, 2024 BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Police in China's Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces and Macao Special Administrative Region have seized foreign exchange worth 3 billion yuan (420 million U.S. dollars) involved in illegal transactions in recent joint operations, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on Tuesday. In two joint operations, 252 suspects were captured for illegally exchanging currencies and related unlawful acts, with 57 of them repatriated to the mainland by Macao police. An increasing number of individuals have conducted illegal trading in currencies in Macao in recent years, resulting in other crimes, such as fraud, robbery and human smuggling, posing a threat to public security and people's safety in the region, according to the MPS. Coordinated crackdowns launched by police from the mainland and Macao uncovered 19 criminal gangs in Macao, Nanchang of Jiangxi, and Zhuhai of Guangdong, with over 300 individuals involved. Taking orders from the gang leaders, the members performed various tasks, including withdrawing cash from banks, making contacts with illegal banks, and soliciting clients near casinos and hotels in Macao. The gangs were busted in joint operations under the direction of the MPS. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Collegedale Commission is taking action on issues at the Collegedale Airport that local pilots believe are overdue. Three pilots who have long had hangar leases there spoke at the Monday night commission meeting asking for the city to dedicate money for making certain safety improvements to the airport. The city has already appropriated $200,000 to begin needed work at the airport, though some of that is cosmetic. On Monday night the commissioners in a unanimous vote set aside another $296,390 into a restricted fund for the airport that will be added to original funding for safety projects. Airport Director Ryan Byford said that a capital improvement plan for the airport is being finalized that will help prioritize the projects. At the meeting, the municipal codes ordinance was amended regarding increasing permit, plan review, inspection and development fees. It has been 15 years since these fees were increased in Collegedale. The commissioners were told that this year, expenses exceeded revenue by $340,000 because all aspects of what it costs to run the city have increased including expenses such as salaries, benefits, codes enforcement operations, inspections and third party contracted attorneys and engineers, to name a few. The recommendation from Municipal Technical Advisory Services (MTAS) was to raise those fees up to similar rates charged by other municipalities in the surrounding area. The commissioners want to be pro-development but want to close the gap to stop losing money. That is expected to happen within two-five years with this move. The commissioners see the increased fees as one way not to over-burden city taxpayers. This is viewed as a good time to implement the increases in fees since it is before several planned large, new developments in the city have begun submitting permits. About a year ago, Collegedale received a grant that gives retention incentive grants of up to $10,000 in bonuses at specified longevity marks for officers. Police Chief Jack Sapp said this would only apply to five of the citys officers. The chief said that he had been approached by a business owner in the city who offered to donate $69,000 to the police department to be used as one time, $3,000 incentive bonuses to the other current full-time officers with at least one year of experience. City Attorney Sam Elliott said that the city is allowed to receive charitable gifts that can be used as the city sees fit. The vote was unanimous to accept this gift and use it for the police retention. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Collegedale Commission falls on Labor Day so will be moved to the following day, Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. UTC's Center for Urban Informatics and Progress will host the inaugural Chattanooga Connect conference Oct. 21-23 at the University Center on the campus of UTC. Chattanooga Connect will convene global industry leaders, policymakers, technologists, researchers to explore the future of urban transportation and cutting-edge advancements in digital infrastructure, AI, and connected and automated vehicles. Kristin White, deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, will provide the keynote address. Ms. White's leadership in transportation safety and innovation aligns with the event's focus on shaping the future of connected mobility and her remarks will offer insights into national policy developments and regulatory frameworks that are driving these revolutionary technologies. Other confirmed speakers and panelists include Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Laura Chace, president and CEO of ITS America. Additional speakers will be announced soon. Chattanooga Connect 2024 is an opportunity for researchers, industry partners, and policymakers who are passionate about the future of urban mobility, says Dr. Mina Sartipi, director of CUIP. Those who attend this event will be at the forefront of discussions that will determine where connected and automated vehicle technologies, AI, and smart city innovations go as we move forward. A smarter, more sustainable, more connected future starts here at Chattanooga Connect 2024. Additional speakers and panelists will be announced in the coming weeks. Registrations are open now and limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information visit go.utc.edu/Chattanooga-Connect Three people were displaced by a fire off of Rossville Boulevard Tuesday night. Chattanooga Fire Department Green Shift companies were called to the 2600 block of E 44th Street just before 6 p.m. Responding personnel spotted smoke on their way to the scene and found a working residential structure fire on arrival. All occupants had escaped the burning home safely. Firefighters made an interior attack on the fire and worked to get it extinguished. They also fought flames in the attic by accessing the roof. There were no injuries. The cause is under investigation. The Red Cross will be assisting the impacted residents. Mutual aid partners provided coverage at fire halls. Engine 14, Engine 5, Engine 9, Ladder 5, Squad 13, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, CFD Investigations, Hamilton County EMS and CPD were on the call. Signal Centers has hired Lesa Witt, a native Chattanoogan and lifelong resident, as the new director of the Imagination Library program. In her role, Ms. Witt will reach out locally to ensure all families know about the program that inspires a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, officials said. Statewide, she will work with the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network to ensure families in the Tennessee Department of Human Services' Child Care Certificate Program are enrolled. Officials said, "Research shows that early access to age-appropriate books sets children up for success in school and life. Nationally, the Imagination Library boasts 90 percent of parents that receive Imagination Library books for their children report an increase in their childs vocabulary. Meanwhile, a household with 25 age-appropriate books will see their children complete two more years of education than a household with zero books." Here at Signal Centers, we want to see kids succeed and grow into the best they can be, and the statistics tell us that process starts at an early age, said Donna McConnico, Signal Centers CEO. Thats why it was crucial for us to hire a strong director for our program, and we are pleased to have found that in Lesa Witt. Ms. Witt recently served as the program manager for Read20, where she enjoyed helping children reach their full potential by guiding them on their literacy journeys. She has worked in the nonprofit and educational sectors for more than 20 years, including with Chattanooga Room in the Inn, Hickory Valley Christian School, Siskin Childrens Institute, and McCallie School. Currently, she serves on the Soddy Daisy Library Read20 Advisory Board and Duoloyi Ministries Board. Through local program partner, Signal Centers, DPIL serves 13,000+ Hamilton County children each month. To ensure the program has staying power, Read20 recently gifted the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga with their endowment fund designating as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Endowment Fund. Gifts to the fund can be made by visiting the Foundations website. Additionally, the Governors Early Literacy Foundation matches every dollar donated. Meaning that with a gift of only $25, donors can purchase a years worth of books for a local child. Signal Centers, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) known for its statewide literacy efforts, has been a cornerstone of the Chattanooga community since 1957. The organizations comprehensive services include high-quality early childhood education, developmental therapies, independent living and employment support for adults, technology assistance, parental support, and professional training in the education field, all aimed at fostering lifelong learning and independence. The major funding partners who help make Dolly Partons Imagination Library possible locally include Robert Finley Stone Foundation, city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County government, Women of Distinction, and Governors Early Literacy Foundation. After several years of software development and programming, Sheriff Austin Garrett, the HCSOs Crime & Intelligence Analysis Unit, Information Services, and Public Relations personnel announce the release of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office's first public mobile app and online Crime Data Dashboard. The new Hamilton County Sheriffs mobile app can be downloaded for free and features information, real-time alerts, access to press releases, and links to services to help make the agency more accessible to the public. The Sheriffs App offers residents the ability to search for active warrants, request an incident report, deposit funds for inmates, and submit tips anonymously, including those pertaining to schools. The new app also allows citizens to download the annual report, view the agencys operational policies and procedures, learn about the Citizens Academy, DARE Program, view a contact directory of important county offices, and other items pertaining to public safety. The app can be downloaded from the Apple or Android Store for free by searching Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, Tennessee. The new and unique crime data dashboard is also free and is updated every 24 hours. The dashboard provides information on law enforcement-related calls specifically based off incident reports. The information displays general incident statistics as well as charts and graphs that visually represent current and historical crime trends. While many agencies can provide general statistics upon request, this new Public Crime Data Dashboard will allow citizens the opportunity to view, 24 hours a day, data broken down by crimes against persons, property and society. When utilizing the new dashboard, citizens can choose, based on their preference, any area of the county in the unincorporated areas via a map, street, or zip code where they wish to see crime data and the information will be mapped to the block range of where the incident occurred. Once a search has been made, the user will initially see hot spots on the map, however as the user zooms in they will be able to see the crime by type. The data shown will include incident reports taken within the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County. However, some incidents may be visible within a local municipalitys jurisdiction (e.g. Chattanooga Police Department) due to the fact HCSO personnel may have been the primary responding law enforcement agency to that specific incident or generated a report. Crime data can be selected by year or by specific month ranges, and the user will be able to utilize tabs located at the bottom left corner of the page to navigate to different categories of data and filters. The last tab, About the Data, offers viewers information on how the numbers are maintained, what types of crime are contained within the categories, and any specific disclaimers that our citizens need to be aware of as they use this important tool. This new dashboard will also serve as a resource for local realtors and families who are looking to move or relocate to Hamilton County and what types of crimes are occurring in various neighborhoods. "As your sheriff, I am committed to utilizing a data-driven approach to enhance our law enforcement operations," said Sheriff Garrett. "Our new app and online crime dashboard will increase transparency and provide the public with accurate, timely information about our services and crime occurrences in Hamilton County's unincorporated areas. I am proud of our HCSO staff, especially those in Information Services, the Crime Analyst Unit, and Public Relations, for their dedication in bringing both of these two valuable initiatives to life. Our agencys commitment to delivering premier law enforcement services is a testament to why your Sheriffs Office is leading the way." The Online Public Crime Data Dashboard can be viewed by visiting: https://www.hcsheriff.gov/crimedashboard. Please note, any data that is pulled by the app or the Crime Dashboard is subject to change based on the investigatory process, case disposition, or delays in the reporting process. For example, lab results can take several months to be received and can play a key part in the charging of a suspect, particularly pertaining to crimes of a sexual nature or involving drugs. Meghan Markle and Victoria Beckham were once quite close, but the two women allegedly had a falling out shortly after Meghan married Prince Harry. Now, some think Meghan has extended an olive branch. Meghan Markles fame skyrocketed the day her relationship with Prince Harry went public back in 2016. The two were introduced through a mutual friend, and after meeting on a blind date, they clicked instantly. A whirlwind romance turned into a 2018 royal wedding, and Meghan has made plenty of ultra-famous friends along the way. Still, Meghan isnt quite as close with some friends as she once was. Namely, Meghan and pal Victoria Beckham had an alleged falling out a while back, and it ultimately impacted Prince Harrys relationship with David Beckham as well. But the Duchess of Sussex might have just sent a subtle olive branch to her former friend. Meghan Markle wears a Victoria Beckham blouse while in Colombia in 2024 | Diego Cuevas/Getty Images Meghan Markle wore one of Victoria Beckhams designs during her Colombia trip Meghan and Victoria have not been close in quite some time, according to rumors. Long story short, Meghan and Victoria were friends; Victoria and David attended Harry and Meghans wedding in 2018. But somewhere down the line, Meghan supposedly became suspicious that Victoria and David were leaking stories about Harry and Meghan to the press. Harry, in turn, had an awkward phone call with David, and the friendship was effectively over. The jury is still out on whether all of that is true, but even if it really happened, Meghan seems to be over the drama. During her four-day Colombia tour with Harry in August 2024, Meghan was spotted wearing a top from Victorias fashion collection. It seemed to send the message that she wants to put the past behind her. Meghan Markle has a few close friends she keeps in her inner circle Meghan and Harrys move to the United States came with plenty of criticism. The two kept a close-knit circle and had falling outs with some other friends, but it shouldnt come as a surprise given they were embroiled in controversy whether they liked it or not. Of course, David and Victoria Beckham were two friends who reportedly saw distance with the couple. These days, Harry and Meghan keep a tight crew. Celebrities like Tyler Perry and Serena Williams have remained in the couples inner circle, while longtime friends like Jessica Mulroney have made their way out. Harry and Meghan recently embarked on a four-day trip to Colombia, where they talked about their philanthropic work, especially in the digital space. Its here that Meghan extended the subtle olive branch, but its unclear if things between the Sussexes and the Beckhams will improve over time. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently returned from a quick trip to Colombia, where they visited for philanthropic purposes. But 1 part of the couples trip cost nearly $2 million. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family back in 2020, so they have not taken any official royal tours since they performed duties on behalf of the family. However, 2024 seems to be the year of travel for Harry and Meghan; the couple made it to Nigeria back in May, where their trip had all the makings of a royal tour and they just returned from a high-profile Colombia trip that had the same feel. While Colombia seemed elated to welcome Harry and Meghan, the couples one request cost the government nearly $2 million. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Vizzor Image/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markles security cost $1.95 million Harry and Meghans Colombia tour stemmed from an invitation given to the couple by the countrys vice president, Francia Marquez. Harry and Meghan have continued their philanthropic work ever since leaving the United Kingdom more than four years ago, and Colombia wanted to have the couple to its country in order to speak about their work, offer insight, etc. around a number of issues theyve been involved with. Of course, most celebrities require security. And having never been to Colombia on an official visit, it comes as no surprise that Harry and Meghan wanted to make sure all the correct security measures were in place. However, that cost the government a pretty penny; according to Express, Colombia spent $1.95 million on security for the Sussexes from start to finish of their trip. Express also reports that a now-removed Colombian media article said Harry and Meghan needed around 3,000 police officers and soldiers for total protection, as well as a number of security elements like helicopters and protective dogs. The couple spent about four days overseas. Security has been a point of contention between Prince Harry and his family Harry and Meghan have not returned to the UK as a couple in quite some time. The two dont have the same level of security there as the other royals because they no longer hold their working royal titles, and Harry doesnt think its safe for them to travel to his home country with his wife and kids. Harry and his father, King Charles, have been at a stalemate over security for quite some time. Charles has not intervened in the British Home Offices decision to pull Harrys taxpayer security, which has only added to tensions between the father and son. Tensions have been high between Harry and the rest of the royals for years, and the security issues havent helped. Harry and Meghan likely wont return to the UK any time soon, however it seems that they are starting to do their own version of royal tours, having traveled to a couple of places this year on their own time. When a reactor at the Chernobyl power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, exploded in 1986, over 50 tons of toxic radioactive material was released into the air. The effects of the nuclear disaster could be felt all the way in France. For 10 days, the radioactive material continued to waft out of the plant. Months later, investigators decided it was time to explore the site. There, they discovered that a hot, lava-like blob of chemicals had burned its way down into the plants basement, where it had hardened into a solid mass. From then on, the mass was called the Elephants Foot because of its color and shape. It contains a mix of corium, uranium, and other radioactive materials. To this day, the Elephants Foot still radiates high levels of radiation. The explosion occurred during a safety test. The uranium core of reactor four of the plant overheated, reaching a temperature of more than 2,912 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme heat caused a chain of nuclear reactions, leading to an explosion that destroyed all 1,660 of the reactors pressure tubes. That resulted in a second explosion, exposing the radioactive core of the reactor. Hundreds of workers at the power plant were killed after being exposed to the radiation. Many even sacrificed their own lives to contain the explosion. Others fell ill with terminal diseases like cancer, and millions of people who lived near the blast were left with health issues. Even now, researchers are still studying the aftereffects of the Chernobyl explosion and how the Elephants Foot formed. When the reactor was blasted apart, a combination of heat, steam, and molten nuclear fuel gushed out through the concrete floor to the basement. Eventually, it solidified and became known as the Elephants Foot. At the time it was discovered, the structure was radioactive and searing hot. When it was first measured, it released almost 10,000 roentgens per hour, which meant that an hours exposure equated to four and a half million chest X-rays. A mere thirty seconds of exposure would have caused fatigue and dizziness, and more than five minutes would lead to death. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. New York, US (PANA) - Violence cost the world nearly $20 trillion last year, but investment in peace and conflict prevention has been steadily decreasing, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday The art world has long been a breeding ground for forgeries and fraud. Some fakes have been crafted so meticulously that they deceive even the best art experts. But what happens when these supposed masterpieces are finally revealed as mere copies? Many stories of forged artworks that were later exposed have surfaced in the past few decades. Here is one of the most recent. An art dealer was arrested by officials in France and Spain for trying to sell a fake Leonardo da Vinci painting. According to Spanish police, the dealer was a man in his 40s, and he had claimed the imitation piece was worth almost $1.5 million. After two years of investigative work, they were finally able to make the arrest. In 2022, the man attempted to bring the painting from Spain to Italy. But at the Modane border, about 75 miles from Milan, French customs officials confiscated it from his vehicle. Ultimately, it was insufficient paperwork that led to the end of this mans scheme. For any work of art that is older than 100 years, Spanish law requires an export license to be issued. The man had a license that claimed the painting was worth $1.4 million. It was a portrait of Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, an Italian military commander. Apparently, Leonardo had painted it while working for Duke Ludovico Sforza in Milan between 1482 and 1499. However, the license had been expired for several months, which meant the man had been smuggling the painting across borders. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News 7 pro-life activists convicted for abortion clinic blockade, face 10 years in prison Seven pro-life activists have been convicted of violating federal civil rights law and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act in connection with a 2020 abortion clinic blockade in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the convictions Tuesday against Calvin Zastrow, Eva Zastrow, Eva Edl, Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Joel Curry and Justin Phillips. The FACE Act subjects anyone who "by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person because that person is or has been" providing "reproductive health services" to federal charges. 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 addition to FACE Act charges, each defendant faces a "felony conspiracy against rights" charge. Edl and Idoni face additional charges in connection with an April 2021 abortion clinic blockade in Saginaw, Michigan. "These defendants orchestrated an unlawful clinic blockade and physically obstructed patients seeking access to their doctors, without regard to the serious medical needs of the women they blocked from accessing reproductive health care," said DOJ Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. "These defendants intentionally broke the law. One woman's fetus experienced fetal abnormalities and the defendants' coordinated campaign of physical obstruction posed a grave and real threat to her health and fertility." The Thomas More Society, a legal group representing Gallagher, seeks to have the "conspiracy against rights" charges against its client thrown out Tuesday. "Yet again, the Biden-Harris Department of Justice has decided to characterize the actions of peaceful pro-lifers as a felony 'Conspiracy Against Rights,' punishable by over a decade in federal prison," Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Steve Crampton said in a statement. "We are optimistic that our Motion to Dismiss the felony conspiracy charges will receive full and fair consideration by the Court," Crampton added. "We also believe that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Fischer v. United States confirms that the Department of Justice's novel strategy to inflict [maximum] pain upon peaceful pro-lifers by adding a charge of felony Conspiracy Against Rights cannot be squared with the law and we stand ready to make that case." As explained in a motion to dismiss filed on Gallagher's behalf on July 22, the June 28 Fischer decision determined that "the Sarbanes Oxley Act's prohibition on obstructing official proceedings must be narrowly interpreted to apply only to the impairment of the availability or integrity of documents, etc., for use in official proceedings rather than to any obstruction of an official proceeding in any manner." The motion also highlighted the Supreme Court's warning that a broad reading of the Sarbanes Oxley Act would effectively "criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison" and that a peaceful protestor could conceivably be charged under the law and "face a 20-year sentence." "The federal' conspiracy against rights' statute was enacted in 1870 primarily to stop the Ku Klux Klan's rampant violations of African Americans' civil rights," the legal document declared. The motion to dismiss noted that the statute prohibits "two or more persons" from "conspir[ing] to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States." The Thomas More Society maintains that a DOJ trial attorney was misguided in suggesting that the "conspiracy against rights" statute should be applied to FACE Act violations because they "are often planned and coordinated offenses that involve more than one subject." Prosecuting FACE Act violations under the "conspiracy against rights" statute elevates all violations committed from felonies to misdemeanors. The motion to dismiss characterized this use of the statute as running afoul of the penalties clearly laid out by the U.S. Congress in the law, which made perfectly clear that first-time nonviolent offenders would face misdemeanor charges as opposed to felony charges. If convicted under the "conspiracy against rights" statute, Gallagher and other defendants could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine. The defendants' "sentencing will take place at a later date." Home News Anti-Israel activists clash with police near DNC; over 70 arrested A few miles from where Vice President Kamala Harris was officially declared the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in Chicago, anti-Israel protesters burned the American flag and violently clashed with police in riot gear, ignoring calls to disperse. Police arrested over 70 people protesting outside of the Israeli Consulate in Chicago on Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago National Lawyers Guild. The demonstration at the consulate escalated after protesters attempted to break through a line of police, with some throwing signs at the officers or physically clashing with them. One of the groups responsible for planning the protest is believed to have ties to terrorist groups. 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 protesters assembled the same week as the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to express opposition to the United States' continued support of Israel amid its ongoing war to eradicate the terror group Hamas in Gaza following the deadly Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed. Behind Enemy Lines, a left-leaning group that advertised on Instagram plans to "Shut Down the DNC for Gaza," is one of the organizers of the protest, according to NBC News. In response to the arrests Tuesday, the group requested jail support for the activists it claimed were "brutally arrested" by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's "thugs." Behind Enemy-Lines accused the police of defending the "genocidal criminals" inside the DNC. Another group reportedly behind the protest, Samidoun, is tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. The PFLP has been on the list of terrorist entities under Canada's criminal code since 2003 and listed as a foreign terrorist group by the U.S. government since 1997. Israel and Germany banned Samidoun due to the group's alleged ties to terrorist groups, according to CIJA. The demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate began around 7 p.m. local time, according to NBC News. After several demonstrators violently confronted police, another group of activists emerged from behind a police barricade and heightened tensions. While officers tried to usher the protesters away from the consulate, the demonstrators spread out and began marching on several streets where traffic had not been blocked. Some of the activists reportedly descended on a taxi with passengers inside. Law enforcement definitively ended the protests at the corner of Monroe and Canal Streets before arresting the remaining protesters, NBC News notes. Journalist Andy Ngo shared the footage in a Tuesday X post showing activists wearing face masks, burning an American flag and chanting "Free Palestine!" A man from the crowd attempted to confront one of the activists burning the flag, who then shouted, "F this country! Burn it down!" Another video shared online by journalist Alexandre de Galzain shows anti-Israel activists fighting with police after officers arrested many of the protesters outside of the consulate during the evening. A separate video the journalist posted shows police arresting anti-Israel activists as some demonstrators screamed profanities at the police through a megaphone. The Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest said in a Tuesday statement that it was "appalled" by the violence that occurred in front of its offices. "This is anything but peaceful and completely contradictory to the spirit of the DNC," the consulate stated. "This vocal minority does not represent the vast bipartisan majority of Americans who stand strong in support of Israel." "It was incredibly heartwarming to see many Americans countering this hate in front of our office, echoing the strong bond between America and Israel," the statement added. The consulate expressed disappointment with Chicago Mayor Johnson for agreeing to the demands of the anti-Israel activists, accusing Johnson of failing to show support for the city's Jewish community. Johnson allowed the anti-Israel activists to set up a stage and sound system for their planned protests during the DNC. "Lastly, we are grateful to all the law enforcement officers who are out protecting the city during the DNC," the consulate added. "We applaud their self-sacrifice and countless hours of work to ensure the safety of all Chicagoans." The second day of the DNC saw law enforcement and U.S. Secret Service investigating bomb threats at several hotels on the Near West Side. Law enforcement looked into the matter and determined that the threats were not credible, reports Fox 32. Home News Christians in Pakistan reeling year after horrific attacks LAHORE, Pakistan A year after one of the worst attacks on Christians in Pakistan, Christians called for justice regarding the rioting in Jaranwala, as most of those arrested have been discharged or released on bail. More than 25 churches and 85 homes of Christians in Jaranwala were ransacked and looted on Aug. 16, 2023, by a frenzied mob of thousands of Muslims after two Christian brothers were accused of writing blasphemous content and desecrating copies of the Quran. The attack drew nationwide condemnation. Only a dozen suspects of the more than 300 people arrested are facing trials in an anti-terrorism court, said the chairman of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan, attorney Akmal Bhatti. 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 A majority of the suspects have either been bailed out or were discharged from the cases due to defective police investigation, Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News from Faisalabad. The attorney and political leader said that denying justice to Christians made a mockery of Pakistans constitution, which guarantees security and protection to religious minorities. The Jaranwala incident is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, he said. The governments failure to bring the perpetrators to justice shows its [lack of] interest in protecting religious minorities from future violence. Amnesty International found that of the 5,213 suspects, 380 were arrested, while 4,833 remained at large. Of the arrested suspects, 228 were released on bail and 77 others had the charges against them dropped, Amnesty stated, based on information from police after filing a Right to Information Request. Trials of suspects have not started, and about 40% of victims who lost property are still awaiting government compensation, according to Amnesty. Despite the authorities assurances of accountability, the grossly inadequate action has allowed a climate of impunity for the perpetrators of the Jaranwala violence, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director for South Asia, said in the statement. Blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan, and those found guilty of insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, can be sentenced to death. While authorities have yet to carry out death sentences for blasphemy, often the accusation alone can spark riots and incite mobs to violence. The two Christian brothers in Jaranwala were acquitted of the blasphemy charges earlier this year after an anti-terrorism court found that they had been framed by another Christian following a personal dispute. Ostracization Two Christian residents of Jaranwala said area Christians continued to face intimidation and exclusion after the Aug. 16, 2023, attacks. The situation has worsened as our Muslim neighbors and other people have stopped talking or doing business with us, Salim Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. I used to run a tailoring shop and had three or four Muslim apprentices, but after the incident my Muslim landlord told me to vacate the shop, and my staff also refused to work under me. He added that he was unable to provide for his family as he receives a fraction of the orders he used to get before the attacks. Resident Yaqub Gill said he was one of the complainants in the 17 private cases filed by Christians, along with five registered by the state. I was constantly threatened by local Muslims to withdraw my complaint, Gill said. I informed the police, but instead of taking action against those people, they framed me in a fake case. Christian residents are hard-pressed following the attacks, he said. A lot of our people worked in nearby factories but after the incident, many were fired from their jobs, Gill said. Those having small businesses have suffered financial losses because the local Muslims are not doing business with them. Soon after the police crackdown, Christians started getting threats from members of extremist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to withdraw from the cases, he said. Due to the threats, many Christians refused to stand as witnesses in court, leading to bails for the suspects, he said. Salman Farooq of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that among those bailed out in recent months were Younis Machhi, who made the announcement on the mosque loudspeaker for people to riot. Theres clear video evidence of Younis Machhi inciting the people to attack Christians, yet he, too, has walked free on bail, Farooq said. Almost all those who have been freed from custody have been hailed as heroes on their return. A fact-finding visit to Jaranwala found many Christians complaining of police detention and torture, Farooq said. Apart from this, the families have not been completely rehabilitated, and while the government promised compensation money, not every household has managed to acquire this because in some households there are multiple families staying after their homes were destroyed, and the less powerful residents of that household have not been able to take the money. At least 50 families have not received the money. When they go to the local administration, they receive no help, he said. He endorsed the claims of the two Christians that social relations between the Christian and Muslim community soured after the Jaranwala attacks. Christian workers are being fired from their workplaces, including factories in and around that tehsil and in Faisalabad as well, Farooq said. Children are facing discrimination in schools from other children as well. Its a sad situation. Church leaders and rights activists say that the governments failure to implement a 2014 landmark judgment by former Chief Justice Tassaduq Jillani has left religious minorities communities vulnerable to repeated acts of violence and persecution. The Jaranwala incident questions the effectiveness and enforcement of legal protections for minorities, said Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall. The state could have prevented the attacks in Jaranwala and other places if it had fully implemented Jillanis recommendations, he added. The judgment condemned violence against minorities and laid out comprehensive recommendations to protect minority rights and promote religious tolerance. These included creating a special police force for protecting places of worship, establishing a National Council for Minorities Rights, and reforming educational curricula to foster religious harmony. Despite the urgency of these recommendations, implementation has been sluggish and incomplete. Efforts to bolster security for places of worship have been inconsistent, and the nationwide establishment of a dedicated special police force as envisioned in the Jillani judgment remains unfulfilled. The senior church leader said he regretted that his demand for accountability from police and the administration was stonewalled by the Punjab government. We filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incident and hold the negligent officials accountable, but the provincial government fiercely opposed it, Marshall said. We feared that the suspects would not be prosecuted, and this is exactly what has happened. With the rise of threats from extremist groups like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, tensions demand immediate and decisive action by the government, he said. The path forward for Pakistan involves not just the protection of minority rights, but the promotion of an inclusive and tolerant society where all citizens can live without fear of persecution, Marshall said. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be dire. Pakistan must act now to ensure a future where all its citizens can live in peace and harmony. In 2023 alone there were at least 193 attacks on minorities, including assaults on individuals, properties and places of worship, according to the Centre for Social Justice. An increase in blasphemy cases has seen at least 350 persons behind bars in Punjab Province as of June, of which 103 were accused of blasphemy since January, according to the centre. There has also been an upsurge in killings related to blasphemy allegations in the past two years. At least six people were killed after blasphemy accusations in 2023, according to the report. Along with two extrajudicial killings, another three who were accused of blasphemy died in jail between June 2023 and 2024. Thus, a total of 11 individuals accused of blasphemy have lost their lives in the past 18 months, it stated. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News JD Vance accuses Andy Beshear of wishing rape upon his family members Republican vice presidential hopeful Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, has taken issue with comments made by Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear this week while attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. During the convention, Beshear was interviewed on the MSNBC program Morning Joe on Tuesday, claiming that Republicans were extreme on the abortion issue. Beshear alluded to comments Vance made in 2021 in which the bestselling Hillbilly Elegy author took issue with the idea that abortion could be justified in cases of rape. 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 Its not whether a woman should be forced to bring a child to term, Vance said, but whether a child should be allowed to live even though the circumstances of that childs birth are somehow inconvenient or a problem to society. "JD Vance calls pregnancy resulting from rape' inconvenient.' Inconvenience is traffic. I mean, it is, make him go through this," Beshear said earlier this week. "It is someone being violated, someone being harmed, and then telling them that they don't have options after that, that fails any test of decency, of humanity." Vance took to his X account to respond to the comment, calling Beshear a "disgusting person" for allegedly "wishing that a member of my family would get raped." William Martin, communications director for Vance, issued a statement in response to Beshear's remarks, calling them "disgusting" and "vile," adding that they "should not be tolerated in American politics." "We call on Kamala Harris to immediately repudiate Governor Beshear's comments and demonstrate that regardless of partisan disagreements, this kind of violent rhetoric has no place in our public discourse," Martin added, as quoted by The Hill. Beshear has denied the framing of his comments, explaining that "of course," he is not wishing harm on Vance's family. "It's ridiculous, but it's also deflection. JD Vance knows that he and Donald Trump are so wrong on this issue, and so he's trying to make himself the victim," said Beshear, according to The Hill. Beshear's comments come during the DNC gathering where Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to officially accept the presidential nomination of the Democrat Party. Many speakers at the convention have conveyed a pro-choice message on abortion and have supported legalizing abortion nationwide without any apparent restrictions on the procedure. For example, Hillary Clinton gave remarks on Monday evening in which she told convention attendees that, if elected president, Harris would "restore abortion rights nationwide." After the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, states have been able to enact restrictions on the legality of abortion. To make abortion legal nationwide, Congress must pass legislation or the Supreme Court must overturn its 2022 ruling. Home News Obamas, Doug Emhoff extol Kamala Harris as source of hope, compassion The second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, featured speeches from second gentleman Doug Emhoff, former first lady Michelle Obama and former President Barack Obama. The Obamas dedicated much of their time to ripping into former President Donald Trump, presenting him as a racist and a misogynist whose second term would be disastrous. Invoking themes of their 2008 campaign, the two also suggested Vice President Kamala Harris provides the hope that Obama himself promised. Here are three highlights from their remarks. 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 Home News Persecution watchdog calls for US sanctions on Azerbaijani torturers The persecution watchdog International Christian Concern has requested that the U.S. government impose sanctions on several Azerbaijani officials accused of torturing Armenian Christians. The request, based on findings from its investigation, invokes the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets individuals implicated in human rights abuses by freezing their assets and banning their travel to the West. The ICC said in a statement shared with The Christian Post that its extensive investigation, which analyzed sworn testimonies from victims held under Azerbaijani custody between 2020 and 2021, uncovered systematic abuses. The torture of Christian POWs was consistent and atrocious, stated ICCs lead investigator. Despite the complex backdrop of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, the collected evidence highlighted undeniable instances of religious persecution and severe human rights violations, ICC reported. 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 ICCs months-long investigation targeted officials and facilities involved in the abuse of POWs during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Sanctions were specifically requested against the Baku Pre-trial Detention Center, managed by the Ministry of Justice, and the Military Disciplinary Unit of the Baku Garrison, under the Ministry of Defense. ICC sought sanctions also against four leaders at these locations for their roles in the severe and routine mistreatment of prisoners. Armenia, the oldest Christian nation in history, sits at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, bordered by several nations hostile to its sovereignty, the watchdog explained. One of these is its eastern neighbor, Azerbaijan, an ethnically Turkish and predominantly Muslim country led by the longstanding dictatorship of the Aliyev family and President Ilham Aliyev. On Sept. 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a rapid military offensive to seize control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region predominantly inhabited by 120,000 ethnic Armenian Christians. Described by Baku as an anti-terrorist operation, the military assault led to the forced dissolution of the ethnic Armenian enclave, officially declared by Azerbaijan on Jan. 1. The U.S. Magnitsky Laws are an incredibly powerful and effective tool our government created in the Soviet era to target individuals in rogue states involved in human rights abuses, Jeff King, president of ICC, said. He added, Individuals involved in torture hide behind the state, which could care less about what the U.S. or the international human rights community has to say. The Magnitsky laws allow us to go after individuals they can no longer hide behind the State. King, however, acknowledged that while these laws are powerful, understanding how to work with the U.S. government to sanction individuals that persecute Christians is something that can take an organization years or decades to learn. The European Centre for Law & Justice has also accused Azerbaijan of conducting cultural genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh, documenting the systematic destruction of Armenian Christian heritage in that region. In a report, the ECLJ detailed extensive damage to religious sites and artifacts, a strategy aimed at erasing Armenian presence from the region. The ongoing destruction and falsification of historical ties by Azerbaijani authorities were sharply criticized by the ECLJ, calling for a stronger international response to preserve the regions cultural and religious heritage. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was a long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was recognized internationally as part of Muslim-majority Azerbaijan even though it had a majority Armenian population. It was controlled by ethnic Armenians as the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state not recognized by the United Nations. Before the recently concluded Paris Olympics, the Switzerland-based human rights group Christian Solidarity International had urged the International Olympic Committee to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan due to the ethnic cleansing of Armenian Christians in Nagorno Karabakh. CSI advocated for Azerbaijani athletes to participate only as neutrals, echoing broader calls to address atrocity crimes committed by nations. In letters to IOC President Thomas Bach and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, CSI sought collaboration between the IOC and the U.N.'s OHCHR to establish clear punitive criteria for countries involved in such atrocities. CSI President John Eibner accused President Aliyev of orchestrating a military invasion after imposing a severe blockade on Nagorno Karabakhs Armenian Christian community. He cited a Freedom House report claiming Azerbaijan implemented a systematic strategy to expel the ethnic Armenian population from the region, branding the act as genocidal. In its 2024 annual report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom highlighted increasing religious freedom violations within Azerbaijan. The USCIRF report, for the first time, recommended that Azerbaijan be listed as a country of particular concern, a designation reserved for nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom. This followed a trend of negative conditions post-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including threats to religious sites and discriminatory actions against Christian and Muslim communities alike. DNC 2024 Highlights, Gateway Church's New Scandal, Border Policies Responsible For Murder link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:45 07:45 Top headlines for Wednesday, August 21, 2024 In this episode, we discuss highlights from the Democratic National Convention, including the 92-page Democratic Party Platform, a gender-neutral prayer room, all-gender restrooms, and more. We delve into a new lawsuit facing Gateway Church in Texas over serious allegations of grooming and abuse. Additionally, we cover the House Judiciary Committee's report on the tragic murder of Laken Riley and its ties to current border policies, and more. ?Follow Us on Social Media ?Get the Edifi App ?Subscribe to Our Newsletter ?Links to the News Home Opinion Democrats' abortion agenda runs through battleground Pennsylvania In just a few short months, swing state voters will maintain or sway the reins of power in Washington. One area worth considering is how Democratic politicians have drifted away from areas of compromise on abortion and become increasingly hostile toward pro-life advocates, from the top of the ticket to candidates representing the pivotal battleground state of Pennsylvania. The animosity has been most evident with the partys presidential nominee. In her role as the attorney general of California, Kamala Harris was a proud co-sponsor of an act that forced pregnancy resource centers to offer women information about local abortion facilities. The resource centers fought back and successfully challenged the law on free speech grounds. Harris also used her attorney general position to punish an undercover journalist for publishing stomach-turning discussions with Planned Parenthood executives regarding the trafficking of body parts obtained through abortion procedures. She had the reporters home raided, and her office worked with Planned Parenthood on drafting legislation to make secretly recording conversations with healthcare providers a statewide crime. 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 As a senator, Harris was critical of a district court judicial nominee due to his membership with a service-oriented fraternal order opposed to a womans right to choose, implying that such knowledge would disqualify him from taking a seat on the federal bench. She also introduced an act that would have ended protections for doctors who declined to perform abortions for reasons of conscience. Harris opposed bills aiming to halt abortions performed after the gestational age when babies start to feel pain and those providing the same standard of care for survivors of botched abortion attempts as babies born prematurely. She also expressed resistance to a bipartisan amendment that prevented government funding of abortion. Representative Summer Lee of Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District has since echoed Harris call for taxpayers to fund abortion-related costs, including travel expenses, and to eliminate protections for babies born alive after failed abortion attempts. A member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, she has the goal of ensuring full abortion access at the federal level. Lees agenda includes ending the filibuster and expanding the Supreme Court until justices who will restore and further broaden the Roe v. Wade decision have the majority. Unlike fellow Squad members Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, who were ousted in their primaries, Lee fended off a more moderate challenger in April and plans to continue enacting radical policies if she survives Novembers general election. Also seeking to retain a congressional seat, Bob Casey has expressed his approval of an act co-sponsored by Harris that prevented reasonable abortion restrictions, such as parental notice and admitting privilege laws. Pennsylvanias senior senator has more gradually voted in line with Planned Parenthoods legislative goals over time, and he now holds a 100% score with the organizations action fund alongside his junior pro-abortion colleague, John Fetterman. Despite claiming to be pro-life, Caseys decision-making is a far cry from the values of his late father, who admirably took on the leading abortion organization in a case that produced the landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling. The senior senator is battling in a tough race this election cycle that will likely determine control of the upper chamber, and he has the endorsement of both Fetterman and the states governor. A vice-presidential finalist for the Harris ticket, Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit as attorney general that sought to end the religious exemption for a group of Catholic nuns from a contraceptive mandate that included paying for abortion-inducing drugs in employer health insurance plans. His office also turned a blind eye to legal and ethical concerns about gruesome fetal tissue research projects conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. Last November, Shapiros administration created a complaint form for the public to submit anonymous reports regarding deceptive conduct against the states pregnancy resource centers. The move came after the governor ended a longstanding contract funding a program offering classes and essential items, including diapers and formula, to new parents in need. Harris isnt slowing down her desire to nationalize abortion on demand, even collaborating with Planned Parenthood to offer free abortions at this years Democratic National Convention. She holds the distinction of being the first vice president to visit an abortion clinic as part of her Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour. She selected a clinic in a state with no restrictions on the procedure led by her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, who has been rightly criticized for repealing a Minnesota law against coercing women into abortions. Reproductive rights are a cornerstone of the Harris-Walz campaign, which has the financial backing of the abortion industry and its well-funded proponents. With full-fledged support from leading Democrats in the Keystone State, abortion without negotiation is a rallying cry at the expense of the unborn and the advocates who give them a voice. Home Opinion Why this Iranian American Christian woman will not vote for Kamala Harris Amid the Democratic National Convention taking place in Chicago, theres legitimate excitement seeing a woman heading a major political partys ticket this year. Women are being encouraged to vote for Kamala Harris as a woman. But as a Christian and an Iranian American woman, I will not be voting for Harris because she represents exactly the values that endanger women in the Middle East and around the world. And neither should you. For my first 33 years, I lived under the harsh rules of the extremist Iranian Islamic regime. I have countless scars from extremist Islam, including the torture and death of my husband, the breaking apart of my family, my arrest and imprisonment, misogyny in every aspect of life, and the execution of my closest friend. I am very grateful to the United States, my adopted country and home, for providing me all the freedom as a woman, free from fear, persecution, and discrimination. I appreciate all my freedoms in America, and I always celebrate seeing women being empowered, flourishing, and attaining the highest leadership positions. 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 However, being a woman is not a good enough reason to vote for a candidate, especially when such a candidate does so much harm to the well-being of hundreds of millions of women around the world. Theres no more vivid example of how Harris threatens women than by her support of the evil Islamic Republic regime, the enemy of women everywhere. When I emigrated to the United States after being sentenced to death by hanging in Iran for the crime of converting to Christianity, I thought that in America I would be safe to be a Christian and express my faith freely. After a few years and completing two degrees, I was shocked and disappointed to see how some American leaders endanger Americas core Judeo-Christian values. Americas misguided policies of appeasing Irans evil Ayatollahs, serve as useful idiots to the Islamic regime. Rather than holding the Islamic Republic regime accountable, many politicians have empowered and strengthened them. It is enraging to see that close advisors of some of our democratic leaders/politicians are agents of the evil Ayatollahs who have infiltrated American society, politics, and media to threaten America from within. Because I love America, its urgent to warn Americans about the importance of preserving our freedoms and values and exposing the lies of the Islamic regimes agents in our midst, especially those embraced by people like Harris. Too many times I have seen Harris speaking at events standing next to and being embraced by well-known agents of the Islamic regime. Any average Iranian knows the truth that Americans who support Harris must know; these agents pose a huge threat to America and the world, and of course women. Through these events, and her actions and record, Kamala clearly supports the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), hated by Iranians because of its treason to their own people. As a woman, how can Harris be so indifferent to the suffering of Iranian women who have been persecuted, abused, and murdered because of not having a proper Islamic hijab? One prominent example is Mahsa Amini who was murdered in 2022. Another recent example is Arezoo Badri who was shot by the regimes morality police just a month ago, and who is still fighting for her life. How can Harris close her eyes to the women whose faces were scarred permanently because of radical Muslims throwing acid onto their faces for not obeying the strict Islamic rules? How can she stand with exported agents of the Iranian regime in America, much less listen to their advice? How can she stand with and appease the enemies of our allies such as Hamas which massacred and kidnapped many innocent Israelis, and Americans? As a woman, how can her policies not reflect the simple truth that the savage Islamic terrorists responsible for killing, kidnapping, raping, sexually mutilating, and dragging the bodies of innocent women through the streets of Gaza are the enemies of all women? For decades, Iranians have been fighting against the Islamic regime. Now, by supporting the Islamic regime financially, the Democratic Party has emboldened it and its terrorist tentacles around the world, subjecting women to unspeakable horrors. If America does not wake up to stop appeasing the Islamic regime and all it represents, these threats to women here are not far away, and the only choice will be what color hijab to wear. Maybe. Women, and anyone who cares about our Judeo-Christian values would be foolish to vote for Kamala Harris. America needs a strong leader who will fight for America, for its core values, and for its future. Kamala Harris is not that person. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Continuous Israeli military evacuation orders in Gaza threaten already extremely vulnerable people in the enclave with further forced displacement, raising concerns that vital services could soon be cut off, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday Home News 11% of Protestants can't distinguish between Old, New Testaments More than one-tenth of Protestants cited a New Testament story when asked about their favorite Old Testament passage, according to the results of a new study. Lifeway Research released a report last week titled Protestant Churchgoer Views on Bible Stories based on responses collected from 1,008 American Protestant churchgoers in September 2023. The survey asked respondents Of all the stories found in the Old Testament of the Bible, which one is your favorite? A plurality of those surveyed (13%) identified the book of Exodus and its focus on Moses as their favorite part of the Old Testament. The story of Noah and the Ark was the second most popular, with 11% of Protestant churchgoers listing it as their favorite part of the Old Testament. 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 However, the share of respondents who enjoyed the story of Noah and the Ark the most was equivalent to the percentage who listed a New Testament story or book as their favorite part of the Old Testament. An additional 7% responded with none when pressed on their favorite part of the Old Testament, while 3% said they did not know. This means that only 79% of participants actually identified an Old Testament story or book when asked about their favorite part of the Old Testament. While churchgoers may open a Bible at church, at least 1 in 5 may not be familiar with how it is organized and what distinguishes the New Testament from the Old Testament, said Scott McConnell, CEO of Lifeway Research, in a statement shared with The Christian Post. Some of these attendees may have spent less time in the Bible while others may not know the Bible for themselves because someone else has always been their GPS for navigating it. Other books and stories widely embraced by Christians as their favorite parts of the Old Testament include the book of Genesis (10%), the story of David and Goliath (8%), the story of Adam and Eve (5%), the story of Job (4%), the story of Ruth (4%), the story of Joseph (3%), the story of Jonah (3%), the story of Daniel (3%), the story of Esther (2%), the story of David (2%), the book of Psalms (2%), the story of Cain and Abel (2%), the story of Abraham (1%), the story of Elijah (1%) and the story of Samson (1%). Less than 1% of respondents selected all remaining options as their favorite book or story in the Old Testament. The survey also examined churchgoers ability to recite or summarize some of the most notable Bible stories from memory. When it comes to the story of David and Goliath, 34% said they could tell it all accurately, while 39% insisted they could tell it, but some details might be missing or wrong. Twenty-three percent expressed confidence that they could only give a quick overview of the story, and 3% believed they couldnt tell any of it. Less than 1% asserted that it was not a Bible story. Slightly higher shares of respondents thought they could tell all (39%) or most (43%) of the story of Noahs Ark as the percentage of those surveyed who felt confident enough to only give a quick overview dropped to 17%. Just 1% said they couldnt tell any of it, while less than 1% didn't recognize it as a Bible story. There was much less confidence regarding the ability to recite all (24%) of the story of Daniel and the Lions Den from memory although the same percentage (39%) that thought they could summarize the story of David and Goliath accurately said the same about Daniel and the Lions Den. One percent contended that it was not a Bible story. Twenty-nine percent of respondents expressed confidence in their ability to tell all of the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, while 35% thought they could describe most of it. Twenty-six percent characterized their knowledge of the story as enough to give merely an overview, while less than 1% did not believe it was a Bible story. As for the story of Jonah and the big fish, a plurality (35%) told pollsters that they could tell most of it from memory, while 28% maintained they could tell all of it. Twenty-six percent viewed their knowledge of the story as enough to give a quick overview and 8% did not think they could tell any of it. Two percent of those surveyed could not identify it as a Bible story. While most of the survey dealt with respondents views about actual Bible stories, it included a question asking for their thoughts about a nonexistent Bible story: The story of Romulus and Remus. Only a plurality of those surveyed (39%) recognized that the fictional passage was not part of the Bible. By contrast, a majority of respondents seemed to think the Bible does contain the aforementioned book. Thirty-three percent of those surveyed said they couldnt tell any of it as 16% highlighted their ability to give a quick overview about the nonexistent passage, and 6% possessed an even higher degree of confidence that they could recall most of it. Just 1% proclaimed that they could recite Romulus and Remus from memory. The large number of churchgoers that readily admit they are fuzzy on some of the details of Gods interactions with the patriarchs helps explain the need for regular Bible teaching in churches, remarked McConnell. While recognizing the names of every person mentioned in the Bible may have little value, the Christian faith does place great value on recognizing biblical teaching from other voices because Jesus said He is the only way. Home News Are Church of England parishes dropping use of the word 'church'? CofE says rebranding claim is 'complete nonsense' The Church of England is pushing back on a report suggesting that dioceses are increasingly refraining from using the word church to describe new congregations and faith communities popping up. The Centre for Church Planting and Theology Research, which describes itself as an organization that exists to provide the church with quality theological reflection on the activity of starting new churches, for the benefit of the whole church, released a report titled New Things: A theological investigation into the work of starting new churches across 11 dioceses in the Church of England. The findings in the report are based on research conducted between November 2022 and June 2023 in 11 of the CofEs 42 dioceses. The research conducted for the report consisted of interviews with representatives of each diocese following their completion of a questionnaire. Based on the information gathered from the questionnaires and interviews, the Centre for Church Planting and Theology Research discovered that all 11 dioceses had started new things within the last 10 years, with around 900 new things (on the dioceses own terms) started. 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 report adds: 89% of these are integrated within the existing parish system rather than existing as stand-alone churches. Anecdotally, these new things were seen to be growing in perceived contrast to most inherited churches. This includes 40 new resource churches (brand new churches and churches becoming resource centers). The report further noted that new language has emerged in the CofE that involves abandoning the use of the word church in favor of terms like community and congregation. According to the research, Not one diocese used the term church in their main descriptor. Instead, the report stated, Almost all of the dioceses had chosen a descriptor that allowed for breadth in ecclesial form. The term worship was used in the main descriptor for new faith communities in six of the 11 dioceses examined, while two used congregation and seven used the term community. The report suggested that the word Church feels immediately restrictive and limiting because it seems [too] wedded to a particular form whatever the size and this form is likewise unobtainable for many of the things started. There is a lack of uniformity in our ecclesial descriptors, the report added. This both in terms used, and in the justification, explanation, and parameters of these. In this sense, each diocese is working with a unique ecclesiology; a way of addressing the question: what is a church? Some of the differences were stark. Especially when it comes to the issue of traditional ecclesial forms (worship, sacraments, etc.), with some dioceses recognizing these as central, and others less so. Still, the document stressed that a lack of uniformity does not mean a lack of precision or care. The embrace of terms other than church to describe places of worship is seen as reflective of a move away from the traditional understanding of what constitutes a church. A spokesperson for the CofE released a statement to Premier Christian News describing the idea that the Church of England has plans to drop the word church or that it is rebranding itself as complete nonsense. The denomination sought to clarify that the report looks at new initiatives mostly created by parish churches ranging from new youth groups or sport outreaches, right up to new congregations, with some of these not meeting in a church building and noted that they do not always refer to what is happening as new churches but are using a variety of terms. Noting that some people have claimed this means the Church of England has plans to drop the word church or is rebranding itself, the spokesperson insisted that It does not. While the report acknowledged uncertainty regarding whether it is possible to hold together the [Anglican denomination] if the local churches differ in their fundamental self-understanding, it concluded that the lack of uniformity did not result in dioceses engaging in practices that do not derive from the [CofEs] own tradition and forms. The report cited the embrace of new terms for churches as part of an effort to make the CofE a church where mixed ecology is the norm where every person in England has access to an enriching and compelling community of faith by adding new churches and new forms of Church to our parishes, cathedrals, schools and chaplaincies. As part of its vision strategy for the 2020s, the CofE hopes to start more than 10,000 new worshiping communities throughout the decade. While 900 such communities were established over the past decade, as recorded in the report, not all of them survived. Representatives from eight of the 11 dioceses studied reported that some of the new churches launched during this time now do not exist, due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns that worsened already declining attendance as the primary reason why many churches had shut down. The report did not highlight exactly how many newly formed congregations were closed in each diocese, only noting that one diocese saw 15 of 44 new things shut down as did seven of the 40 new worship communities formed in another. New worship communities formed in the CofE faced other challenges as well, specifically difficulty appointing leaders, divergence between the diocesan vision and the vision of leaders of the individual congregation and finding meeting places. Home News Biden-Harris border policies responsible for Laken Riley's murder at hands of illegal immigrant: report U.S. Border Patrol released the illegal migrant charged with killing Laken Riley one day after apprehending him, and despite multiple encounters with law enforcement after his arrival in the United States, Immigration and Customs Enforcement allowed the man to roam free, according to a congressional report. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement released an interim 8-page report Friday, asserting that Riley's death in February is a result of the border policies under the Biden-Harris administration. The Christian Post reached out to DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment on the report. Responses are pending. 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 Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student whose body was discovered on the University of Georgia campus. The man arrested for the 22-year-old woman's murder, Jose Antonio Ibarra, entered the country illegally through El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 8, 2022. According to the report, Ibarra was released into the U.S. one day after his apprehension because border patrol determined the migrant's release was warranted due to "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit." Ibarra reportedly lived "safely" in Ecuador from January 2017 through July 2022 before traveling to the U.S. While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited the Central Processing Center's detention capacity as the reason for Ibarra's release, the judiciary committee highlighted the agency's data showing it could have detained Ibarra. "As a result of his release, Ibarra was free to commit crimes in the United States, including allegedly kidnapping and murdering Laken Riley in Georgia," the committee and its subcommittee claimed in the document. Ibarra and his brother, Diego, had also previously been charged with shoplifting from a Walmart. An immigration attorney told Fox 5 in February the brothers were cited and released on the scene because shoplifting is considered a misdemeanor. In September 2023, The New York City Police Department arrested Ibarra for "acting in a manner to injure a child," which ICE later entered into its enforcement system, according to the House Judiciary report. On Feb. 26, four days after Ibarra allegedly killed Riley, the migrant's previous application for asylum remained pending. Despite encounters with law enforcement prior to Riley's murder, the report noted that ICE never filed a detainer against Ibarra until after the killing. "The information obtained by the Committee shows in stark terms the real-world consequences of the Biden-Harris Administration's failure to secure the border and enforce immigration law," the report stated. "Taken as a whole, the Committee's investigation into the criminal illegal aliens the Biden-Harris Administration has allowed to enter the United States exposes the widespread failure to adequately vet, apprehend, detain, and remove illegal aliens." "In some cases, the illegal aliens had committed crimes in their home countries but were nevertheless released from DHS custody," the document continued. "In other cases, the illegal aliens had criminal records or were gang members and were still released into the United States. In all cases, the illegal aliens went on to commit crimes in American communities ranging from murder and robbery to brutal assault." The committee report accused Senate Democrats of failing to consider H.R. 2, the Secure Border Act of 2023. The act would limit asylum eligibility to non-US citizens who arrive in the country through a port of entry, among other provisions. Democrats argued that the bill politicized a tragedy and is too broad in scope. "To secure America, the Senate must pass, and President Biden must sign into law, H.R. 2. In the meantime, the Committee and Subcommittee will continue to conduct vigorous oversight to inform legislative reforms to address President Biden and Vice President Harriss' dangerous immigration policies," the report stated. According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data from fiscal year 2021 through the middle of July 2024, the agency recorded over 52,000 arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds. Home News Chicago cardinal gives invocation at DNC despite promotion of abortion A Catholic cardinal delivered an invocation at the Democratic National Convention on Monday despite the Democratic Party's unapologetic embrace of abortion rights. Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago gave the invocation on the first night of the convention in Chicago, Illinois. Cupich did not address Democratic policies during the invocation, instead praying that God will "help us to truly understand and answer the sacred call of citizenship." He described the United States as "a nation composed of every people and culture united not by ties of blood but by the profound aspirations of life and freedom, justice and unbound hope." 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 "These aspirations are why our forefathers saw America as a beacon of hope," he added. "In every generation, we are called to renew these aspirations to reweave the fabric of America. We do so when we live out the virtues that dwell in our hearts but also when we confront our failures to root out ongoing injustices in our national life, especially those created by moral blindness and fear of the other." Cupich's appearance at the event comes as the Democratic Party Platform calls for codifying the now-overturned 1973 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide into federal law. Convention attendees have been encouraged to take advantage of a mobile abortion clinic parked nearby offering free abortion pills and vasectomies. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to moral law" and that "formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense." Cupich also prayed for "peace" and called on God to guide Americans as they seek to "forge this new chapter in our nation's history." He hopes it would be "rooted in the recognition that for us, as for every generation, unity triumphing over division is what advances human dignity and liberty." "Let it be propelled by the women and men elected to serve in public life who know that service is the mark of true leadership and let this new chapter of our nation's history be filled with overwhelming hope, a hope that refuses to narrow our national vision but rather, as Pope Francis has said, to dream dreams and see visions of what, by Your grace, our world can become," he concluded. Joseph Strickland, the bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas, called Cupich's speech "a missed opportunity to call the Democratic Party back from the abyss." "We will never have peace until we return to God and respect life," Strickland, who was removed by Pope Francis last year, stated in a social media post. Cupich has developed a reputation as one of the more liberal Catholic leaders in the U.S. Reacting to the declaration handed down by the Vatican late last year authorizing priests to bless same-sex couples, Cupich praised the development as "a step forward, and in keeping not only with Pope Francis's desire to accompany people pastorally but Jesus's desire to be present to all people who desire grace and support." Cupich was also one of 60 Catholic bishops who signed on to a letter calling on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to delay a debate about whether to move ahead with a draft document recommending the withholding of communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians. Cupich is not the only Catholic Church leader to give an invocation at one of the two major political parties' conventions this year. Archbishop Jerome Listecki of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee prayed on stage at the Republican National Convention, which took place in his city last month. Like Cupich, Listecki drew upon American history in his remarks, noting that "Our founding fathers held these truths self-evident, that all are created equal endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." After stating that "For 248 years, we have sustained this vision," Listecki explicitly endorsed the pro-life position by highlighting the need to "guard the dignity of every life from conception to natural death." Listecki prayed that God would "assist our elected officials and candidates always to protect our freedoms, to preserve our democracy and to govern fairly." He offered up specific prayers for first responders, members of the military, and the victim of a shooting at a rally for Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump. After leading the audience in a moment of silence for the shooting victim, Listecki asked God to "keep the United States of America in thy holy protection and incline the hearts of the citizens to a brotherly affection and love for one another through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen." Home News DNC features 'gender-neutral prayer room,' repurposed 'all-gender' women's rooms The Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, offered a "gender-neutral prayer room" with Islamic prayer mats and also appears to have repurposed several women's rooms at the venue as "all-gender." According to a DNC map of the convention at Chicago's United Center, one "all-gender restroom" is on each of the four levels of the arena that serves as home to the Chicago Bulls. However, a different map of the venue suggests they are typically women's restrooms. Other bathroom facilities that circle the arena are grouped in the typical fashion of men's and women's restrooms. 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 Washington Times correspondent Susan Ferrechio reported that a women's restroom in the nearby press filing center at Advocate Center had also been repurposed into an all-gender facility. The bathroom situation at the DNC comes as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate Gov. Tim Walz, faces scrutiny for signing a 2023 state education law in Minnesota that potentially mandated free tampons in public school boys' bathrooms. A "gender-neutral prayer room" is also provided on the concourse level of the United Center for the DNC, along with prayer rooms exclusive to men and women. Footage circulating on X showed that the curtained gender-neutral prayer room features Islamic prayer mats and a table with Clorox wipes, though no Christian or Jewish iconography is present. The DNC arena is outfitted with a gender neutral prayer room pic.twitter.com/oA9F18VLSE Brent Scher (@BrentScher) August 20, 2024 The set-up drew scorn on social media, with many on X mocking the Democratic National Committee for its apparent attempt to accommodate both gender ideology and Islam simultaneously. "This has to be a joke," journalist Miranda Devine tweeted. The 2016 Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also made headlines when it featured a women's room repurposed with a makeshift sign temporarily designating it as an all-gender restroom during the convention. A woman named Nikki Nice, who spoke to The Guardian at the time, noted that she and her friend shared the bathroom with Jesse Jackson, who emerged from a stall as they were coming in. "We were like: ''Ahhh,'" Nice said. "Just experiencing Reverend Jesse Jackson coming out of a stall that just speaks everything about what an all-gender restroom really is about. So I'll take that any day." Not all who used the all-gender restroom that year were happy about it, with one woman complaining to The Cut about urine on the toilet seats after men had used it. Other aspects of this year's DNC this year have raised eyebrows, including a Planned Parenthood van that is offering free vasectomies and chemical abortion drugs. Home News Fate of pastor, 13-year-old daughter kidnapped in Nigeria unknown after ransom payment ABUJA, Nigeria The whereabouts of a pastor and his daughter kidnapped in northwestern Nigeria were unknown after their captors threatened to kill them even after receiving a ransom payment. Isa Andrew, chaplain with All Saints Protestant Church of the Zamfara State Police Command, and his 13-year-old daughter, Grace Isa Andrew, were kidnapped from their home in Gusau on July 14. Relatives and friends had managed to pay a ransom of 6 million naira ($3,770 USD), only to have the captors threaten to kill him if they did not receive another 6 million naira along with three motorcycles by Aug. 15. Relatives received a video of the blindfolded pastor making an appeal for payment of the ransom, his daughter standing beside him with an AK-47 rifle strapped to her shoulder as a sign that she would be married off and made to join the assailants. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Pastor Andrew in the video identified himself as a pastor and chaplain who worked with the Interfaith Directorate of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), saying his daughter, Grace, was with him. He said that after they were kidnapped from their home, his family paid a ransom of 6 million naira, but that the captors upon collection demanded another payment of the same amount along with two Boxer motorcycles and a Honda motorcycle. We did all we could, we sold everything that we have; sold our properties, sold our car, sold our items; we took loans, my brother took loans, my wife took loans persons of goodwill also assisted us to raise the 6 million naira that was demanded, Pastor Andrew said. As it is, fellow Nigerians, I want to beg of you, I want to beg of our nations first lady, the mother of the nation, to please come to our aid. Shes the Esther of our time, please come to our aid. He said his daughter was being exposed to a lot of maltreatment, exposed to starvation, and that he was a diabetic whose health was deteriorating each day. Please come to our aid, assist us. We have been given from now up to next week Thursday, 15 August, 2024, otherwise I will be executed, and my daughter will be forcefully married out. Shes just 13 years of age, he said. Please help us. I need your help. The Lord bless you. The Zamfara State Police command confirmed the kidnapping of the pastor and his daughter in the wee hours of July 14. State Police Commissioner Mohammed Dalijan said 53 patrol vehicles had been deployed to various streets in Gusau. Gusau resident Timothy Soladoye obtained a copy of the video and confirmed that it was his pastor who was kidnapped with his daughter. We are still contributing for his release, Soladoye told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News before the Aug. 15 deadline. Please let us share and do something for their possible release before the said Thursday, 15 August. The video was widely circulated across social media platforms on Aug. 10. Gusau resident Emmanuel Bulus also sent out a plea. Isa Andrew is not only a dedicated civilian working with the Nigerian police but also serves as a chaplain in their church, Bulus said. My fellow Nigerians, I implore you, lets not allow this tragedy to unfold. We must rally together to save Isa and Grace and reunite them with their wife and mother and two other children. Pastor Andrew was reportedly abducted eight days after gunmen released parish priest Mikah Suleiman of St. Raymond Catholic Church Damba, who had been kidnapped for 16 days. In Open Doors 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria was ranked No. 6, as it was in the previous year. Nigeria remained the deadliest place in the world to follow Christ, with 4,118 people killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, according to the WWL report. More kidnappings of Christians than in any other country also took place in Nigeria, with 3,300. Nigeria was also the third highest country in number of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings such as hospitals, schools and cemeteries, with 750, according to the report. Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News Florida Supreme Court upholds financial impact warning on pro-abortion ballot initiative The Florida Supreme Court has upheld the inclusion of a financial risks warning as part of a state ballot question that could make abortion a constitutional right in the Sunshine State. Floridas highest court ruled 6-1 on Wednesday in Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc., et al v. Kathleen C. Passidomo, et althat the financial impact statement could remain, despite a pro-choice groups objections. The revised statement says that if the proposed amendment on the November ballot passes, it would result in significantly more abortions and fewer live births per year in Florida. 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 increase in abortions could be even greater if the amendment invalidates laws requiring parental consent before minors undergo abortions and those ensuring only licensed physicians perform abortions, continued the statement. An increase in abortions may negatively affect the growth of state and local revenues over time. Because the fiscal impact of increased abortions on state and local revenues and costs cannot be estimated with precision, the total impact of the proposed amendment is indeterminate. Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz, appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, authored the majority opinion, writing that the plaintiffs actively participated in the Estimating Conference process that they now challenge, without questioning or objecting to the Conferences authority to issue a revised financial impact statement on its own initiative. The record demonstrates that those who participated in the Estimating Conferences revision process, including the petitioners, understood that the Conference was acting on its own initiative, continued Muniz. Justice Jorge Labarga, an appointee of former Democrat Gov. Charlie Crist, authored a dissenting opinion, writing that the petitioners should not be precluded from their claim to extraordinary relief. As the sponsor of the amendment, Floridians Protecting Freedom was entitled to contribute to the process of reconsidering and revising the financial impact statement, Labarga wrote. Had the petitioners not engaged in the process, they would have lost their opportunity to participate and to potentially influence the finished product. Because they did participate, they are now penalized, and their arguments are deemed waived or forfeited. Labarga believes todays decision has significant implications beyond the present proposed amendment and related financial impact statement. Despite the majoritys focus on the actions of the Estimating Conference, make no mistake that todays decision opens the door to the legislative branch leadership to intervene in the citizen-driven constitutional amendment process even in the midst of ongoing legal proceedings such as were taking place here, he continued. The Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based Christian conservative legal organization, praised the court for upholding the warning on the ballot, believing that voters should be aware of the reported broad ramifications of the proposed amendment. Voters should understand that Amendment 4 will not only allow abortion up to birth for any reason, but will force Floridians to pay for abortion, and will place women at extreme risk by overriding every health and safety standard, said Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida denounced the ruling, believing the inclusion of the financial warning statement was anti-democratic. This ruling, allowing an unauthorized and unlawful financial impact statement to stand, is a direct affront to the rights of Florida voters, who deserve accurate and lawful information when making decisions on constitutional amendments, said Michelle Morton, staff attorney at the ACLU of Florida, in a statement. We are disheartened by the Florida Supreme Courts refusal to take action against the States politicization of these financial impact statements and flagrant bypassing of the judicial safeguards that are supposed to protect the integrity of our electoral process. Home News Gateway Church faces new lawsuit from woman who alleges she was abused at 13 Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, is facing a new lawsuit from a woman who alleges she was groomed and sexually abused at the age of 13 by an older participant in a youth group hosted by the church at King's University beginning in 2016. Julia Long claims in the lawsuit, cited by The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, that she regularly attended nighttime youth group meetings at the Southlake-based university as a teenager, which catered to some 200 members between 11 and 18. The lawsuit states that the group had little or no supervision by Gateway's counselors, pastors, leaders, chaperones or volunteers, which created an environment allowing then 17-year-old Gabriel Snyder to allegedly groom Long using "biblical beliefs and teachings of ... Gateway's pastor and ministers." 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 She alleges that Snyder, who is now 25 and imprisoned at the Hightower Unit in Dayton, Texas, for the sexual assault of a child in a separate case, convinced her that it was God's will that she submit to him as a female. Though Snyder has not been criminally charged in this case, Long alleges Snyder sexually assaulted her outside King's University at night multiple times beginning in December 2016 until February 2017 when she was 13. By that time, Snyder had turned 18. The lawsuit states that there were surveillance cameras above the areas where she was assaulted, but she didn't receive help from anyone. She is seeking more than $1 million for assault, negligence and damages. In a statement to CBS News Texas, Gateway Church said it takes abuse claims "very seriously" but is "unable to further comment regarding ongoing litigation at this time." The lawsuit follows the recent resignation of the church's founder, Robert Morris, who resigned amid allegations he sexually abused a 12-year-old in the 1980s. George Boll, Long's attorney, told the news outlet that his client decided to go public with her story and identity as part of her healing process. "This lawsuit is part of a healing process for her. She had the chance to be Jane Doe but chose not to because she was a victim here. This is part of her healing process," Boll said. In April, two months before Morris resigned over his allegation of child sex abuse, Gateway Church settled a lawsuit in which at least five Gateway Church pastors and a youth leader were accused of concealing the sexual assault of another minor by a church member. The initial lawsuit was filed in Tarrant County Texas in August 2020 on behalf of a minor identified as A.D. and her mother. Gateway Church, Denise Edwards and youth leader Logan Edwards were all named as defendants, along with Doug Vaughn and Gateway Church pastors Kelly Jones, Rebecca Wilson, Samantha Golden, Mondo Davis and Sion Alford. The plaintiffs in the case were both members of Gateway and sought damages of more than $200,000 but not more than $5,000,000. Gateway employees were accused of gross negligence and breach of their fiduciary duty to the plaintiffs as members. In settling the case on April 18, Gateway Church and its pastors admitted no liability and stated that they only settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount to "buy peace." In June, 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire reported that Morris began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, when she was just 12 years old. Morris was a married young adult traveling evangelist at the time. Clemishire says the abuse continued for 4.5 years before Morris' actions came to light. But he was later allowed to return to ministry. Clemishire contends that officials at Gateway Church were informed of her allegations against Morris for years. However, Executive Director of Gateway Media Lawrence Swicegood reiterated in a statement to The Christian Post that the current board of elders did not know that the megachurch founder had been accused of child sex abuse. "The Board of Elders called a special meeting and accepted the resignation of Pastor Robert Morris several weeks ago. Gateway Church is committed to protecting people first and foremost children and the most vulnerable. Abuse simply cannot be tolerated," he said. "The Board of Elders has retained the law firm Haynes and Boone, LLP to conduct a thorough and independent inquiry so that the facts can be understood. Even though this abuse occurred many years before Gateway was established, the Elders are committed to finding the truth and holding people accountable." Home News NYC grants Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine $1.5M The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by New York City to renovate a historic building on the church's 11-acre campus called Synod Hall to create a larger community center to help people in need. Thanks to the support of the New York City Council, the church's social service arm known as Cathedral Community Cares, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York will be better able to help the community's most vulnerable members with services like clothes, hot meals and a weekly food pantry. "It's a privilege to do this work," Thomas Perry, program director of Cathedral Community Cares, said in a statement. "Every morning, we get to come in and do everything we can to help other people, to make a positive difference in the world. Not everyone gets to do that. But that also means expansion is the next step. If we want to keep serving others, helping everyone who comes to us and not turning anyone away, we need to tackle this project of Synod Hall." 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 About 40% of the people served by Cathedral Community Cares are considered regular clients and another 60% are considered new or temporary. This cohort includes low-income New Yorkers, homeless or insecurely housed families, seniors, and people newly arrived in the United States. The Rev. Canon Eva Suarez said Cathedral Community Cares served 35,000 visitors last year, and she expects that number to grow. "New Yorkers from all walks of life are finding themselves in dire need of food, clothing, and access to social services," she said in a statement sent to The Christian Post. "Our current space is just too small to serve the diverse needs of our clients, or to welcome everyone who would like to volunteer." New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Council Member Shaun Abreu were noted among the key figures behind the grant. They pointed to the church's legacy of service to the community as a factor. "When it comes to getting resources to those who need it most, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine does a lot with a little space. This $1.5 million investment in Synod Hall will take the vital work they do to the next level, allowing for increased wellness and social services," Abreu said in a statement. "I couldn't be more excited to break ground on this project and support this new community hub as it uplifts Morningside Heights and all of Upper Manhattan for years to come." "Scripture tells us 'to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share,'" he added. "This is the driving force behind this renovation: to make sure no one goes unserved on our watch." Speaker Adams said this center at the cathedral and other places like it is critical to building a safe and healthy city. "[W]e must continue investing in their maintenance and expansion," Adams said. "I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this investment for years to come." The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine claims to be the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. It was originally built in 1913 by J.P. Morgan as a convention space for the Episcopal Church. Synod Hall was designed in the French Gothic Style by noted architects Ralph Adams Cram and Frank Ferguson. The renovation of the hall is expected to preserve the building's beauty and historical character, while increasing its usefulness as a community space. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The first food supplies destined for desperate communities in Sudans Darfur region have crossed the Adre border from Chad, after it was reopened this week by the Sudanese authorities following a six-month closure Home News Mercy Culture Church Pastor Landon Schott: Youre not a Christian if you vote for a Democrat Landon Schott, senior lead pastor of the multi-campus Mercy Culture Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, doubled down Tuesday morning on a controversial declaration made Monday that Americans who vote for Democrats aren't Christian. "I'm not a big Trump guy. I'm not a Republican but there is only one party that is standing up at their convention saying that 'we're going to overturn Roe v. Wade.' Listen to me very clearly. I know people don't like this because most people aren't pastored, most people aren't confronted spiritually, and most pastors just care if people show up and give. And if they show up and give, then they don't care," Schott said in an Instagram video. "I couldn't care less. I don't really care if you like me. I don't care if you go to our church. I care that you know God and that you're right with God. ... If you think that aligning with a party that is flippantly murdering children and celebrating it friend, you are not on the Lord's side," he added. 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 Schott planted Mercy Culture Church a non-denominational, charismatic congregation after he was blessed by controversial Gateway Church founder Robert Morris in 2017. He now leads seven campuses with thousands of followers, including an online operation and a Spanish-speaking flock. Pastor Tom Lane, a former executive pastor at Gateway Church who recently denied having any knowledge of child-sex abuse allegations currently being investigated against Morris, is an apostolic elder at Mercy Church. In his initial Instagram post on Monday, Schott branded the Democratic Party as "The Demon Party" and delivered his very blunt opinion about Christians who support the party. Citing Romans 1 and Revelation 3, he wrote: Ive been asked over and over Pastor Landon are you saying youre not a Christian if you vote for a Democrat? LET ME BE VERY CLEAR THAT IS CORRECT!! YOU ARE NOT A BIBLE BELIEVING, JESUS FOLLOWING CHRISTIAN IF YOU SUPPORT THE GODLESS ROMANS 1 EVIL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY! Please, stop pretending youre a follow[er] of Jesus. Youre simply a Luke-warm pretend Christian!!! Though he says he isn't a Republican and believes there are "evils on both sides," Schott stopped just short of endorsing the Republican Party. He listed the agenda of the Democratic Party, including the party's support for abortion, homosexuality and transgenderism. The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago, Illinois. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to accept the party's nomination to potentially become the first woman and the nation's 47th president on Thursday. "It blows my mind how people that think they are following Jesus can be aligned with worldly celebrities, wicked world leaders, demonically led politicians that defy God, that defy God's word, that don't want the Bible in school, that don't want anything to do with God in society, but you think that you're a Christian? You think that you're a follower of Jesus?" Schott asked on Tuesday. He addressed ongoing debates he has had with other Christians about issues like poverty, contending that Democrats aren't the only ones who care about the impoverished. "That's not true. And if you look at these cities they are being destroyed, all of their policies aren't working. The most devastated cities in America are Democrat cities because their policies don't work. It's mind-boggling," he asserted. The pastor responded to black Christians who say because they are black, they are "with her," referring to Harris. "It's the same thing that gay Christians do. You try to put an identity before your Christianity. A gay Christian? There's no such thing. There's no category. I'm a black Christian? I'm sorry, there's no such category. There's no such category as a white Christian," he added. "I pastor a very multicultural church. Maybe one of the most diverse churches in DFW. And they're there for one reason. It's not because I'm a white pastor or we have African American worship leaders. It's not because we even try to be diverse. It's because we built a church around the presence of God. Likeminded people who love God's word and love his spirit." Schott is far from the first pastor to make similar claims that Christians can't vote for Democrats. A church-state watchdog group filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service in 2022 over a sermon that controversial Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke preached suggesting Christians shouldn't vote for a Democrat. "Though Locke stated he was not a 'full-fledged Republican,' he clearly told his congregants to vote against the Democrats, from the pulpit of his church," reads the letter written by Ian Smith, an attorney with Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Pastor Alton R. Williams of World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church in Memphis made pointed comments during a recent sermon, saying that he couldn't vote for a party that is "for all kinds of sexual perversions." "I can't vote for a party that is going to accept transgenders going into women's restrooms," he added. "I can't do it. I can't go with a party that wants to cut little girls' breasts off to make them boys. I can't go with a party that says you can be a boy today and a girl tomorrow. ... I can't support a party that wants to remove God from its party platform. You in trouble when a nation forgets God." Home Opinion David French, Kamala Harris and the bizarre story of the failed messiah Shabbetai Tzvi As an unashamedly pro-life Christian who believes life begins at conception, New York Times journalist David French has announced that, Im going to vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 and ironically enough Im doing it in part to try to save conservatism. With all respect to Mr. French, with whom Ive dialogued privately about this, I find his position both indefensible and bizarre. For my part, I am no starry-eyed, adorer of former President Trump, for whom I voted twice. In June 2022, I expressed my preference for another GOP candidate rather than Trump. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe And on January 6, 2021, as the Capitol riot was taking place, I stated that Trump was morally responsible for the mayhem, not because he intended for it to happen but because of his irresponsible rhetoric in the previous months. In fact, Trump supporters who read my columns on a regular basis know that, to their dismay and even disgust, whenever I speak well of Trumps accomplishments, I offer a series of caveats and disclaimers. Still, no matter how much disdain French may have for Trump and his most ardent MAGA followers, I wholeheartedly reject the idea that a pro-life Christian can cast a vote for a candidate who is the most radical pro-abortion candidate in our nations history. To vote for her is to support the possible federalizing of something worse than Roe, not to mention packing the Supreme Court or changing it in other, irreparable ways. When it came to the ill-fated pro-life evangelicals for Biden, whom I also took to task, they naively felt that they could influence Mr. Biden to change his point of view. They were sadly disappointed and ultimately dismantled their website. Frenchs approach is somewhat different, arguing that there were fewer abortions under recent Democratic presidents than Republican presidents, as if voting for a pro-abortion candidate is the key to reducing abortions. For French, though, the ultimate goal is undoing the damage done to the conservative movement by Donald Trump, under whose leadership the GOP has now gutted its pro-life and pro-family platforms. And in order to hasten that change, French will vote for Harris. That leads me to the tragic story of the failed mystical Messiah Shabbetai Tzvi (1626-1676). Hailing from Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey), his Messianic claims ignited the Jewish world as he amassed a large following, including some of the leading rabbis of his day along with many wealthy and prominent Jews. Could Tzvi be the long-awaited deliverer? Confident in his mission and calling, he traveled to Constantinople, demanding that the sultan, the leader of the Ottoman Empire, acknowledge his kingship and rule. Instead, Tzvi was imprisoned, where his Messianic fame continued to grow as he entertained visitors from around the world. Eventually, the sultan had enough of all the drama, demanding that Tzvi convert to Islam or die. Shockingly, he chose to convert, justifying his actions with reference to rabbinic traditions connected with the coming of the Messiah. According to these traditions, the Messiah would come when the world was either totally righteous or totally unrighteous. Tzvi reasoned that, since the world did not prove worthy of accepting him, he would convert to Islam, thereby hastening the final apostasy. (What a convenient way to save his life.) Yet even that is not the end of the story. Some of his followers followed suit and also converted to Islam in an effort to hasten the redemption, actually forming a sect within Islam called the Donmeh a sect that apparently still exists to this day. These sectarians lived fully as Muslims but secretly practiced certain Jewish rites, along with reciting daily prayers in recognition of Tzvi as the Messiah. Truth really is stranger than fiction. Yet it was the story of Tzvis conversion to Islam that came to mind when I learned that French would be voting for Vice President Harris. To be sure, I do not equate his vote for Harris with a full-blown apostasy to Islam, as was the case with Tzvi. But the idea that, by voting for someone like Harris (something that, to my knowledge, French would never have countenanced before his Never Trump days), French would somehow help hasten the restoration of a truly conservative movement strikes me as similar to the logic of Tzvi. In the sarcastic words of Paul (which he quotes only to reject), Let us do evil that good may result (Romans 3:8). French wrote, Im often asked by Trump voters if Im still conservative, and I respond that I cant vote for Trump precisely because I am conservative. I loathe sex abuse, pornography and adultery. Trump has brought those vices into the mainstream of the Republican Party. I want to cultivate a culture that values human life from conception through natural death. Yet America became more brutal and violent during Trumps term. I want to defend liberal democracy from authoritarian aggression, yet Trump would abandon our allies and risk our most precious alliances. Obviously, I could push back against some of the broad strokes with which French paints here, also asking if he really believes that a Harris presidency would do more to stand with Israel, to stand against China, and to secure our borders. But as one who also grieves over the deleterious effects of the Trump presidency, in particular as his presidency negatively affected the witness of the Evangelical church, Im not here to defend Trump. I can only say that Frenchs defection to the Democratic side for the purpose of helping to restore a conservative GOP, even if his defection is only for one election, is eerily reminiscent of the spiritual descent of Shabbetai Tzvi. Had French simply encouraged Christians not to vote for Trump so as to pave the wave for his defeat, rather than casting a vote for the most left-leaning, pro-abortion candidate in our nations history, he would have made a much more credible case. The direction of the Starmer government bodes ill for orthodox Christians Tom Baldwin's biography of Sir Keir Starmer shows that the Prime Minister has the leadership ability to implement his left-wing agenda leading to further restrictions on Christian freedom of expression. Keir Starmer, The Biography reveals a leader with the capacity for the intellectual hard work required to master the details of government and the moral ability to inspire trust in his followers. Very arguably, the last Prime Minister to combine those two qualities was Margaret Thatcher until around 1989 when she started to alienate too many of her former followers among Conservative ministers and MPs. One anecdote from the biography by the Labour Party's former communications director who has been a senior journalist on The Sunday Telegraph and The Times stands out as an example of Starmer's leadership ability. Baldwin records testimony from Starmer's barrister colleague, Gavin Millar, who shared an office with him when they were tenants in the leftist Doughty Street Chambers in London in the 1990s. Millar recalled an occasion when Starmer was chairman of the chambers' management committee and was being deluged with complaints from lefty lawyers about the "nasty red" chairs and the cheap desks in their offices. Starmer sent a message to the entire chambers: "I would remind you all that we are human rights lawyers. We're here to defend the rights of vulnerable people to (the) best of our ability. We're not here to be concerned about the colour of chairs." Millar said he heard no more complaints after that. This may seem a trivial incident but what Starmer said then and the way he said it are the unmistakable marks of a leader. As a former vicar, I know how easily a trivial matter, such as the colour of the carpet in the church building, can obsess a group and spread like a virus. Good leadership as Starmer displayed on this occasion can save a peer group from itself and keep the organisation focussed on its central aim. Baldwin describes another example of Starmer's leadership ability in self-discipline under pressure at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool in October 2023: "As he began his leader's speech to a hall packed with almost three thousand people, a man climbed on to the stage, emptied a bag of glitter over him and shouted something about 'a people's house', before being dragged away." Baldwin observed that people watching the news that night would have seen how "the Labour leader stood his ground, locked his hand unyieldingly on that of the protester and stared straight ahead". Based on the evidence in Baldwin's book, published shortly before Labour won its massive General Election victory on July 4, I would suggest that in Keir Starmer the country has a real leader with the capacity to lead it in the direction he believes in. If he succeeds, I believe he would lead the country in the wrong direction from a Christian perspective. In his article for The Spectator in July, 'Does Keir Starmer's atheism matter?', former Catholic Herald editor Dan Hitchens described Starmer's reaction to churches that uphold the traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sexual ethics: "Good Friday, 2021, at Jesus House For All Nations church in Brent, north-west London. Face masked, head bowed, hands clasped, Sir Keir Starmer stands alongside Pastor Agu Irukwu. The pastor opens his arms to invoke Almighty God. "We hear Starmer in voiceover: 'From rolling out the vaccine to running the local food bank, Jesus House, like many other churches across the UK, has played a crucial role in meeting the needs of the community.' A nice video tribute for Easter, this. Good to see churches getting some recognition. A sign, perhaps, of the inclusive national unity a Labour government would foster. "By Easter Monday, Starmer has apologised, deleted the video and more or less vowed never again to darken the door of Pastor Irukwu, who, it has emerged, is an opponent of same-sex marriage. Whoops. Sorry. Didn't realise it was that kind of church." According to Hitchens, Starmer said: "It was a mistake and I accept that." The Starmer government's neo-Marxist assault on free speech flagged up when within weeks of getting elected when it put on hold the Conservatives' Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. This bodes ill for orthodox Christians. But if the Prime Minister ever thinks back to Communist Eastern Europe as a young socialist in the 1980s, he might remember that Christianity has a tendency to triumph over Marxism. Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has paid tribute to victims and survivors of terrorism just as the world marks international day which spotlights the issue each year 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. A sight loss charity formed by the merger of Vision Foundation and Fight for Sight last year has confirmed its name and published new branding. The merged charity will be known as Fight for Sight, and is led by chief executive Keith Valentine. Olivia Curno, the former chief executive of Vision Foundation, has now taken on a role as CEO of not-for-profit social care provider Elizabeth Finn Homes, which works in partnership with financial security charity Turn2us. 66,000 spent on rebrand Fight for Sight said it spent 66,000 working with an agency on the rebrand, including a brand narrative, its new logo and visual identity, and to ensure that the brand was inclusive and accessible. The charity, which recorded an expenditure of 4.35m in the year to March 2023, said the rebrand costs equate to 1% of its planned charitable spend for this year. Keith Valentine, Fight for Sights CEO, said the charity now has a bold brand underpinning our ambitions. The brand is aesthetic, accessible, and paired with a distinctive tone of voice, which denotes an optimistic future for us as a charity and, crucially, for everyone impacted by vision loss, he said. The logo resembles an eye and the eyelid below it. The eyelid curves upwards and resembles arms outstretched. Its new logo features a changed colour palette, dark navy and aqua, which provides AAA contrast accessibility. 30m spending plans The charity plans distribute almost 30m across scientific research and social change as part of its five-year strategy. Funding will not only focus on individual projects, but on scaling up and providing infrastructure for the most impactful work. Heather Giles, chair of Fight for Sight, said: The researchers we fund are at the forefront, making breakthroughs and discoveries that will help to better understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat eye disease. She added, on behalf of the trustees, Id like to thank everyone who has brought our ambition to life through this incredible new identity. Fight for Sight also rebranded in 2019 to focus on creating a movement, not a remote funding body after feedback from users and scientists. 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, It was 3 a.m. on Monday and Captain Karsten Borner and his crew were already awake, preparing for an approaching thunderstorm just off the Sicilian coast. Moored behind their schooner was a luxury yacht that carried tech tycoon Mike Lynch and a group of friends, family and advisers. Built to withstand hurricanes, the Bayesian was 56 meters (184 feet) long and worth an estimated 30 million ($39 million), making it one of the most capable high-endsailing vessels. At some point between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. the weather hit. Borner and his crew worked hard just to keep their ship, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, upright. Despite being anchored, he still needed to run the engine at full power just to keep it steady. There was a violent gust of wind and heavy rain, what Borner guessed was a tornado. Suddenly, the Bayesian was gone. She disappeared, Borner said. At first, he and his crew wondered if the yacht had simply left. Borners first mate insisted it had sunk. I said nonsense. Itssuch a big ship. I cant believe it. Three days later, Italian divers were still struggling inside the wreck of the Bayesian, about 50 meters below the surface. Of the 22 people on board, one was confirmed dead and six were still missing including Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer. The Bayesian had been cruising off the north coast of Sicily before mooring outside the port of Porticello, a small fishing village east of Palermo. The trip was meant to be a celebration, a family holiday to draw a line under a torrid period for Lynch. Only months before the disaster the 59-year-old had been potentially facing up to 25 years in a US prison. The entrepreneur had been fighting accusations that he duped Hewlett Packard Co. into overpaying for his software firm Autonomy Corp. In June, a San Francisco jury found him not guilty. Lynch was still fighting the Silicon Valley giant in a civil case in London, but he felt hed been given a second life. On the morning the Bayesian sank, local fisherman Fabio Cefalu had ventured out to sea. But he decided to turn around and head back to port. The water was becoming too rough. Half an hour later, the storm hit Porticello. The whole town was upside down, all tables and restaurants were upside down, said GiuseppeCefalu, Fabios brother who had remained on shore. A garbage skip was pushed into the middle of the street. The extreme event lasted 10 to 12 minutes, they said. At about 4:20 am, the Bayesian sent out a flare, said Fabio. The yacht took about 60 seconds to sink, according to what he saw and footage from a security camera. Porticello fishermen began athree-hour long rescue attempt on the urging of port authorities about 20 minutes later, Cefaluadded. They found mattresses, boat furniture, and what they believe is one of the four radar components of the ship. Next to where the Bayesian sank, Borner first saw the flotsam of ship parts, then a flashing light that drew them to a life raft. It was holding 15 people, including a baby. Four of them were wounded. Borners crew brought the rescued back to their ship and gave them dry clothes and towels, tea and coffee and some food. The sun had risen by the time the local coast guard arrived to retrieve the injured. Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares, didnt want to go, Borner said. He presumed she was still in shock. She stayed on our boat, he said. The yacht, built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi, launched in 2008 and was last refitted in 2020. According to its brochure, it had the worlds second-tallest sailing mast, at 72 meters high. Guests slept in luxury cabins clustered around the center of the yacht. It was capable of sailing vast distances, with a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles (4,140 miles). Prosecutors in Sicily have opened a probe into the sinking. Officials will examine whether the keel was lifted, which would make the ship more susceptible to tilting, before it flooded with water, a person familiar with the matter said. The prosecutors declined to comment. A keel would have prevented some of the tilting, with its weight designed to pull the boat upright, said Jae Jones, who was a principal inspector at the UKs Marine Accident Investigation Branch, or MAIB. It also acts as a break and reduces the rocking even at anchor. As the yacht was a UK-flagged vessel, MAIB sent four inspectors to Sicily to conduct a preliminary assessment, a spokesperson for the Department for Transport said. They arrived at the scene on Monday and have been speaking with the local authorities and emergency service crews to determine whether they need their own inquiry. The weather phenomenon that hit the ship is called a waterspout. Typically 2 to 3 meters in width, theyre not uncommon in Italy during the late summer, driven by the warm Mediterranean waters. Jones described it as like a swirling mass of wind and water going across the deck. Italy experiences more than 100 tornadic events a year, said Andrew Pedrini, a meteorologist at forecaster Atmospheric G2. Offshore marine spouts often go unreported, though. In coastal areas, a fierce wind can pick up then die down in seconds with little warning, according to a fellow captain of a super yacht, who asked not to be named discussing the tragic events. Commenting on whether the tragedy could have been foreseen, Salvo Cocina, head of Sicilys Civil Protection Agency, said only the level of probability could have been predicted. It was impossible to calculate when and where such weather would hit, he said. Warming seas have increased the severity of such events, Cocina added. For now, the rescue attempts are continuing in Porticello. Local media reported on Wednesday that small teams of divers have been able to access indoor sections of the boat. On shore, TV anchors from across the world have set up on a pier overlooking one of the emergency operation bases, right under a monument to the Virgin Mary, meant to protect sailors. Borner, the schooner captain, was concerned a part of the Bayesian was open, which could have explained how it sank so rapidly. It was one of his first questions to one of the crew members who were rescued. He said it was closed, said Borner. He himself was really surprised it had sunk so quickly. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. A plea deal struck with Boeing over a criminal charge related to software tied to two fatal 737 MAX crashes should be accepted, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday, after some relatives of the 346 people killed in two crashes called for it to be rejected. Last month, the planemaker finalized an agreement to plead guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge and pay at least $243.6 million after breaching a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. The government said the planemaker knowingly made false representations to the Federal Aviation Administration about key software for the 737 MAX. The Justice Department said in a court filing on Wednesday the deal is a strong and significant resolution that holds Boeing accountable and serves the public interest. It requires Boeing to accept the statutory maximum fine of $487.2 million, on top of the billions the company has already paid in connection with the 2021 deferred prosecution agreement and prior or ongoing civil lawsuits, the Justice Department said. The department rejected the victims families contention that Boeing should face much higher fines after the crashes in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019 killed their relatives. The government cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boeings fraud directly and proximately caused the 737 MAX plane crashes, the Justice Department said, adding it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the loss or gain from Boeings fraudulent activity exceeded $243.6 million. Related: U.S. FAA Requires Inspections of Boeing 787 Planes Following Mid-Air Dive Paul Cassell, a lawyer for some of the families, said in a court filing last month the fine of up to $487 million is inadequate or, at the very least, rests on misleading accounting and inaccurate accounting. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department has a separate ongoing criminal investigation into the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines ALK.N 737 MAX 9 in-flight door plug emergency and it noted the plea deal does not provide immunity for any other misconduct, including the Alaska Airlines incident. The plea deal agreed last month requires Boeing to spend $455 million to strengthen its compliance, safety and quality programs over three years of court-supervised probation and that will directly benefit the public by reducing the risk of the recurrence of Boeings fraudulent misconduct, the department said. Boeing will also face oversight from an independent monitor, it noted. U.S. District Judge Reed OConnor can also decide to require Boeing to pay restitution, which could include compensation to victims families beyond what many have already received in settlements or as part of $500 million for relatives under the 2021 agreement. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Jasper Ward; Editing by Eric Beech and Jamie Freed) A Mississippi poultry processing plant has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor that requires it to pay $164,814 in fines and put in place enhanced safety measures following the death of a 16-year-old boy at the facility. The agreement, announced Friday in a news release, comes after an investigation of Mar-Jac Poultry by the departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration into the death of an underaged worker who was pulled into a machine as they cleaned it July 14, 2023. Tragically, a teenage boy died needlessly before Mar-Jac Poultry took required steps to protect its workers, said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer in Atlanta. This settlement demands the company commit to a safer workplace environment and take tangible actions to protect their employees from well-known hazards. Enhanced supervision and increased training can go a long way toward minimizing risks faced by workers in meat processing facilities. Mar-Jac was aware of these safety problems for years and had been warned and fined by OSHA, yet did nothing. Hopefully, Mar-Jac will follow through this time so that no other worker is killed in such a senseless manner, Jim Reeves, an attorney for the victims family, told WHLT-TV. Related: Work Safety Group Releases List of Dirty Dozen Employers The victims family sued Mar-Jac Poultry MS, LLC, and Onin Staffing earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that Perez was killed due to Mar-Jac ignoring safety regulations and not turning off machinery during sanitation. The suit also claims Onin Staffing was negligent in illegally assigning the 16-year-old to work at the plant. Headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, Mar-Jac Poultry has raised live birds for poultry production since 1954 at facilities in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi for food service customers in the U.S and abroad, the DOLs news release said. A telephone call Friday to the company seeking comment about the settlement was not answered. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BMW is recalling 720,796 U.S. vehicles over concerns of a short circuit, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit, the NHTSA said. The recall includes some crossovers including the X1 and X5, along with some 5-series sedans among other models. Related: BMW, Venture to Recall 1.36M Cars in China Due to Airbag Risks Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield for free, the U.S. auto safety regulator said. The NHTSA also said that BMW was aware of about 18 customer complaints, concerns or field instances but has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this report in the U.S. (Reporting by Gursimran Kaur and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee) The Guardian, August 20, 2024 Relief set in the moment Hasina crossed the border into Iran. For two years, the Taliban barred the 24-year-old medical student from continuing her studies. Now, as part of a growing exodus of Afghan women who desperately want an education, Hasina is pursuing her degree in Tehran. I was terrified the Taliban would prevent me from leaving, she says. Last year, they stopped 100 female Afghan students boarding a flight to take up places at university in the United Arab Emirates where they had won scholarships. As a precaution, Hasina whose full name has not been given to protect her identity left Afghanistan with a tourist visa for Iran. She was accompanied by her father, they posed as a family going on a visit, but he returned home alone. Now, Hasina is enrolled at the Iran University of Medical Sciences in the capital, studying to become a surgeon. It has been more than 1,000 days since the all-male Taliban government shut the door on girls education beyond the age of 12 after their August 2021 government takeover. Neighbouring Iran which had previously denounced the Talibans ban on girls education has opened it. More than 40,000 Afghan students most of them women are now studying at university in Iran, according to the countrys deputy science minister for international affairs, Vahid Haddadi-Asl. More than 600,000 Afghan children are also enrolled in schools across the country, the Norwegian Refugee Council says, explaining that they can enrol in Iranian public schools regardless of their legal status because of a 2015 government decree. The busy streets around the university in central Tehran. More than 40,000 Afghan students, mostly women, are studying in Iran. Photograph: Stefanie GlinskiSince the Taliban came to power, the number of Afghan students has increased, Irans ambassador to Germany, Mahmoud Farazandeh, tells the Guardian. The issue of education, especially of women, is of great importance. The doors of Iranian universities are open to Afghan women and girls who have been deprived of education, he says. Accurate figures on the number of Afghans living in Iran are hard to come by many cross through unofficial border points, complicating documentation. Estimates suggest that about a million Afghans have fled to Iran since the Taliban takeover. Many Afghan families left to ensure their children went to school. At least 1.5 million girls in Afghanistan are still barred from education. With a shared language and many cultural similarities, Iran has become a last resort for many Afghan women determined to finish their studies. According to the World Bank, Irans female literacy rate sits at 85%, while Afghanistans reaches roughly 23% despite heavy investment in the education sector during the 20 years of the US-led invasion. Studying at a private university in Iran is not cheap, Hasina explains, saying she pays $4,500 (3,550) annually a discounted rate. Her family scrambles to raise the funds, but is determined to support her education. I miss my family and my home and I hope that one day I can go back; I hope the oppression women across our country face will end. Still, nothing can compensate for the years the Taliban has stolen from Afghan girls and women, including from me, says Hasina, adding that she is surprised to see how different things are in Iran. There are women everywhere here: professors, doctors, employees. It amazes me. Heather Barr, a director at Human Rights Watch, says there are no signs of any positive developments regarding education or womens rights in Afghanistan. The Taliban are intensifying their crackdown, sending the message that women shouldnt be educated and that extends to education outside Afghanistan as well, she says, adding that the Talibans ban has been denounced by the Muslim community, including Afghanistans neighbours Iran and Pakistan, two countries where many Afghan women now study. Many Iranians have voiced concerns over growing numbers of Afghans entering the country, with Afghans repeatedly reporting discriminatory and derogatory behaviour towards them. There have also been reports of pushbacks at the border. Still, Iran could benefit from the influx, as its population growth rate had dropped to 0.7% in 2022, down from 2.3% in 2015. Afghan students who have been accepted into universities additionally invest in the Iranian economy and could contribute to the workforce in the future. Farzaneh, 23, arrived in Tehran four months ago, accompanied by her brother. She is continuing her journalism studies at Allameh Tabatabai University, hoping to one day return home to cover Afghanistan. She pays about 800 (680) a year; funded by part-time jobs. Tuition fees in Kabul, where she previously studied, were lower, but when the Taliban took over Farzaneh was dismissed from classes. For two years she struggled to find a way to continue her studies this year she was finally accepted into university in Tehran. Most women just want to leave Afghanistan now to rebuild their destroyed dreams elsewhere. This is so painful to me. If the situation for women continues like it has, I dont have hope, Farzaheh says. Im studying to make my family my father proud, but I miss my friends and my home. I remember those days when we smiled and were happy together. These days are gone. Originally published by The Guardian on July 4,2024 CHICAGOIn 2018, John Russell was a Central Ohio farmer who unsuccessfully ran for Congress. But on Thursday, hell be speaking at the Democratic National Convention, using the same podium as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris. PAINESVILLE, Ohio Lake Erie Colleges Fall into Health Fair will be back in 2024, offering free health, wellness and lifestyle services at the one-day event. The health fair will take place Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 391 W. Washington St. in Painesville. Overflow parking will be available at the Garfield Center on Gillett Street. Attendees can access a comprehensive range of free services, including health screenings for cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, diabetes and BMI, as well as hearing and vision exams, dental checkups, womens health services, immunizations, CPR, first aid training and more. New this year is the Health Truck Park, an outdoor expansion that will host mobile healthcare units offering a variety of services from Central Outreach, Homeless Hookup, University Hospitals and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. In addition to health services, the event will provide resources for lifestyle health assessments, substance use support, sexual education, STD and HIV testing, aging services, and LGBTQ+ support. Visitors can also receive free items such as clothing, shoes, books, feminine products, hygiene supplies, food and even haircuts. Last year, the health fair provided approximately 1,400 services to more than 150 attendees. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on how to attend, volunteer or sponsor the event, visit the health fair website. This story was written with the assistance of AI. WASHINGTON, D. C. - Passing legislation through the U.S. Senate can take years. Scoring political points there takes a few minutes. Ohios JD Vance has had way more success with the latter than the former in less than two years as a U.S. Senator. The Cincinnati Republican hasnt passed any of his standalone legislation since taking office in 2023, but his use of the institutions bully pulpit to excoriate Democratic President Joe Biden and extoll GOP candidate Donald Trump delivered a huge prize last month: Trumps decision to make Vance his vice-presidential running mate. As the 2024 presidential election looms on the horizon, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has emerged as a pivotal issue, taking center stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this week. The topic has gained significant traction following recent events and policy proposals, highlighting its importance in the broader landscape of reproductive rights and healthcare access. The spotlight on IVF intensified in February when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered children. This controversial decision prompted some clinics in the state to temporarily pause IVF treatments, causing widespread concern and backlash. In response to the public outcry, Alabama lawmakers swiftly passed legislation to shield IVF providers from civil or criminal liability, allowing clinics to resume treatments. The Republican partys position on IVF and related issues remains complex and has been complicating the partys messaging on abortion. Many Republican policymakers, from state houses toCongress, believe that life begins at conception, arguing that fertilized eggs should be granted full rights and legal protections of human beings. The Republican National Committees 2024 platform, crafted in collaboration with the Trump campaign, supports states establishing fetal personhood through the Constitutions 14th Amendment. Former President Trump, however, has taken a more moderate stance. In an April 8 video statement, Trump said abortion legislation should be left to the states and expressed support for making it easier for families to have babies. He specifically stated, That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments, like IVF, in every state in America. Democrats have seized on the issue. After the Dobbs decision stripped away the federal right to abortion, backlash against the decision, including its potential consequences for IVF, have resulted in a wave of progressive victories. Since Dobbs came down, several states have put abortion on statewide ballots and become a central issue in key statewide races and now at the DNC and in the presidential race. Michelle Obama Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a powerful speech at the DNC on Tuesday, offering a scathing critique of former President Trumps policies and their potential impact on womens health and reproductive rights. In her address, Obama pointedly referenced her personal experience with IVF, stating, You see, gutting our health care taking away our freedom to control our bodies the freedom to become a mother through IVF, like I didthose things are not going to improve the health outcomes of our wives, mothers, and daughters. Gov. Andy Besheaer, Kentucky Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, speaking at the DNC on Tuesday, emphasized the importance of womens reproductive freedoms, including the right to pursue IVF treatments. In his address, Beshear stated, All women should have the freedom to make their own decisions. Freedom over their own bodies. Freedom about whether to pursue IVF. Freedom about whether to have children at all. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois The senator delivered an passionate speech, sharing her personal story of using IVF to have her daughters after struggling with infertility. Duckworth warned that Republicans might target IVF next if they succeed in banning abortion, urging voters to protect reproductive rights. My struggle with infertility was more painful than any wound I earned on the battlefield, declared Duckworth, who lost her legs in combat in Iraq,, emphasizing the personal nature of the issue. Social media influencer Nabela Noor Noor emphasized the essential nature of IVF for many women, stating, For many women, IVF is the only choice. That choice, and more, is at stake in November. Gwen Walz In a piece published in Glamour magazine this week, coinciding with the DNC, Gwen Walz, wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz, shared her personal experience with fertility treatments. Walz clarified that she underwent intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments, not in vitro fertilization (IVF), to conceive their son. Our fertility journey was an incredibly personal and difficult experience, she said, in discussing the IUI treatments. We hope other families find solace in our story. She said a neighbor who happened to be a nurse would come help with the shots I needed as part of the IUI process. Walzs account provides a firsthand perspective on the subject, offering insight into the experiences of individuals who have utilized such medical interventions to start their families. I am so grateful that we had access to reproductive technology, Walz stated in the article. The timing of this publication, during a week of heightened political attention, brings additional focus to the ongoing debate surrounding access to reproductive technologies. Michael Tyler, Harris-Walz communications director At a DNC media briefing on Wednesday, campaign spokespersons defended Gwen Walzs comments in Glamour and criticized the GOPs stance on abortion and IVF, framing Republican attacks on Walz, framing her as a liar, as insensitive to the personal struggles many Americans face with infertility. Frankly, I think its a little bizarre that JD Vance and Donald Trump want to attack the governor for experiencing something that other Americans have gone through themselves, said Michael Tyler, Harris communications director at the press briefing. Why it all matters The prominence of IVF at the DNC marks a significant shift in the reproductive rights debate, with far-reaching implications for the 2024 election and beyond. By focusing on fertility treatments, Democrats are broadening the conversation beyond abortion, potentially resonating with a wider range of voters who may not have strong opinions on abortion but care deeply about family planning. Theyre using personal stories and emotional appeals to connect with voters who may have experienced infertility or know someone who has. Meanwhile, Republicans, particularly Trump, are attempting to strike a balance between appealing to their conservative base and avoiding alienation of voters who support IVF and other fertility treatments. Making IVF an issue in this election really is smart of Democrats, because Republicans truly cannot agree on whether or not they support it and powerful anti-abortion groups generally do not many flat-out oppose it and want it banned, said feminist author and lawyer Jill Filipovic on X on Tuesday. So the GOP just wants to ignore the issue. The IVF debate draws stark contrasts between party positions, potentially influencing swing voters and energizing both Democratic and Republican bases, albeit for different reasons. Democrats emphasis on protecting access to fertility treatments positions them as defenders of reproductive freedom, while some Republican stances on when life begins raise complex legal and ethical questions about the rights of embryos. This divide is exemplified by initiatives like Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that proposes wide-ranging changes to federal agencies and policies if Republicans win in 2024, and includes regulating IVF at the federal level. As the political discourse around IVF continues to evolve, one unexpected outcome has been the increased visibility of those who have undergone fertility treatments. I do appreciate that this election cycle has made people very open about having IVF, said New York writer Ashley Reese via X on Tuesday. Shows that a lot more people do it than you think. Voice of America, August 20, 2024 Ayaz Gul Taliban morality police in Afghanistan said Tuesday that they had "seized and destroyed" more than 21,000 musical instruments over the past year as part of a crackdown on what they called anti-Islam practices. Officials of the so-called Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice discussed their annual performance at a news conference in Kabul a day after Taliban authorities publicly staged a mass burning of hundreds of musical instruments in the nearby northern Parwan province. The provincial moral police department also urged residents not to use musical instruments at weddings and other celebrations. Speaking in the Afghan capital Tuesday, ministry officials claimed to have destroyed thousands of immoral films and blocked many more from use on personal computers nationwide as part of societal reforms being undertaken by the Taliban administration. They did not elaborate on the nature of the films. The ministry said without discussing specifics that it had successfully implemented 90% of reforms across audio, visual, and print media in Afghanistan. Free media advocacy groups and local journalists say that Taliban leaders have significantly curtailed press freedom and access to information in the country. The Islamist Taliban revived the Ministry of Vice and Virtue to police public morality after retaking control of the war-shattered, impoverished South Asian nation three years ago when all U.S.-led Western troops withdrew from Afghanistan after their involvement in the war for almost two decades. The Taliban ministry has introduced strict guidelines for local media professionals, binding female presenters and guests to comply with an Islamic dress code on air requiring that only their eyes be visible. Women are prohibited from working on national radio and television stations, and dramas featuring female performers are banned. De facto Afghan authorities have also enforced strict gender-based segregation in workplaces at large. Meanwhile, Hibatullah Akundzada, the reclusive Taliban supreme leader, convened a meeting Tuesday of governors of all 34 Afghan provinces in the southern city of Kandahar and asked them to uphold sound Islamic governance, his spokesman said in a post-meeting briefing. Strengthen the Islamic framework, enforce Sharia law, and reinvigorate divine ordinances, Zabihullah Mujahid quoted Akhundzada as telling the meeting Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the minister of vice and virtue, was quoted by state media as saying on Monday that the Taliban are determined to implement Islamic Sharia and no ones pressure is acceptable in this regard. The morality ministry reported Tuesday that it also had dismissed more than 280 security force members for failing to grow a beard in line with the Talibans strict interpretation of Islamic law. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said last month that the Talibans morality police were contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among the people and identified the ministry as the leading violator of human rights in the Taliban government, which is not recognized by any country. The U.N. report noted that the activities of the de facto ministry have had negative impacts on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, with a discriminatory and disproportionate impact on women. The morality police department has banned womens beauty salons, prohibited females from traveling without a male guardian beyond 78 kilometers from their home limits, and banned them from visiting parks, gyms, and public baths. The Taliban have also banned school education for girls beyond the sixth grade, and many women are not allowed to work in public as well as private organizations, including U.N agencies. The U.N. Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization said in its new report last week that Taliban authorities had deliberately deprived 1.4 million girls of schooling since returning to power, putting at risk the future of an entire generation and making Afghanistan the only country in the world to deny girls ages 12 and older access to education. Taliban officials dismiss criticism of their governance as interference in the countrys internal matters and defend their policies, saying they are aligned with Afghan culture and Islamic law. During the previous Taliban rule in Kabul from 1996 to 2001, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue garnered notoriety for its arbitrary abuses. Particularly, women and girls were banned entirely from education and employment at that time. Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (40) 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) The class of 2025 is just starting their final year of college, but they're already sour on their job prospects after graduation. A majority, 57% of rising seniors, are pessimistic about their future job plans up from 49% last year according to a new report from Handshake, the college career resource, based on responses from 1,925 students graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2025 surveyed between June 14-July 5. Rising seniors say the tight job market is the No. 1 reason for their pessimism, with nearly 2 in 3 saying competition for entry-level jobs is a stressor in their overall post-grad outlook. Job creation has slowed on Handshake this year compared to 2023 levels, matching national patterns around job openings and hiring. As a result, class of 2025 students are applying to more jobs. Today's seniors have have submitted 24% more applications per job on average than the class of 2024 students at the same time last year. "I applied to more than 100 openings before I got my current internship. And I think applications for full-time jobs are starting very early," one class of 2025 finance major said, according to the Handshake report. "Some companies are already making offers to students graduating in spring 2025. I'm going through the process with one company right now and it's going well, but if that doesn't work out I'll start applying to as many jobs as I possibly can." Additionally, students say their concerns around student loan debt, November elections and generative AI are dampening their view of their post-college years. That being said, "While they are short-term pessimistic, they are still long-term optimistic about their careers," says Christine Cruzvergara, the chief education strategy officer at Handshake. "And so it's about helping them get over this initial hump. How do we just get them get started?" How to stand out in a competitive job market Cruzvergara says one of the best ways students can find their footing in a competitive market is to broaden the roles they're open to. Take a computer science student who originally wanted to work for a tech company, she says: "Tech jobs are down by about 20,000 [in July]. So instead of going into tech, you might consider, what other industries can I go into where I can still use my tech skills?" Many students who originally wanted to work for a tech company have pivoted to government and health-care jobs, according to Handshake data, which are known to be stable industries that are constantly hiring. "The second thing is to begin your networking and make sure that you're actually meeting people in your field, whether they have the job role that you want" or are in an industry that you're newly exploring, Cruzvergara says. That being said, she cautions against applying to jobs too widely. Doing so could lead to burnout. "Make sure you're very clear with yourself about what you're interested in, where your skill set lies and what types of jobs you're applying for," Cruzvergara says. "Once you've identified those, then by all means, apply to as many jobs as possible that meet that criteria." Mass applying haphazardly "will catch up with you later," she adds. "Even if you ended up getting an interview, you're probably not going to do a great job if you haven't given some of the things I just mentioned some thought. " Student loan payments are back on the table The job market isn't the only thing worrying the class of 2025. Federal student loans are back on the table after years of being on pause, and roughly half of today's college seniors say their college debt is a major source of stress. That share rises among women, Black students and first-generation students with student loans. Debt-burdened students are prioritizing workplaces that offer loan repayment support. Cruzvergara says more employers are now introducing the benefit as a result of young prospects pushing for it. Almost 9% of jobs posted on Handshake in the past year offered student loan repayment help as an employee benefit. It's most common among government jobs, where 18% of roles offer college debt assistance, followed by health care (14%), non-profits (9%) and education (6%). Students believe the November election will impact their careers College students are increasingly applying to government jobs because they offer job security; on the other hand, many are also concerned about how elected officials in government will impact their futures. Almost half, 46%, of class of 2025 students believe the election will impact their careers. It's worth noting that the survey closed in early July prior to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden ending his re-election campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris being named the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party. "This generation has been so specific about having value alignments around stability, the economy, climate change and mental health," Cruzvergara says, and students are highly aware of how each candidate could impact their lines of work in those spaces. Students understand that "regardless of what area folks go into, there will be some ripple effect" of how national policy impacts their jobs, she says. Long-term optimism U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought during a whirlwind trip to the Middle East to inject urgency into efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire deal, but departed the region on Tuesday with an agreement between Israel and Hamas still elusive. Blinken and mediators from Egypt and Qatar have pinned their hopes on a U.S. "bridging proposal" aimed at narrowing the gaps between the two sides in the 10-month-old war, after negotiations last week paused without a breakthrough. The deal "needs to get done, and it needs to get done in the days ahead, and we will do everything possible to get it across the finish line," Blinken told reporters in Doha before departing for Washington. A senior Biden administration official travelling with Blinken said the U.S. expects the ceasefire talks to continue this week. Blinken travelled to Egypt for talks on Tuesday with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and then to Qatar. After meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Blinken said Israel had accepted the proposal and urged Hamas to do the same. The Palestinian group has not explicitly rejected it, but says it overturns previously agreed terms. Blinken was asked in Qatar about Israeli troop withdrawal terms within the ceasefire framework and about an Axios report that quoted Netanyahu as saying he may have convinced Blinken that Israel should keep troops in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza. "The United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel," Blinken said. "More specifically, the agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations of (Israel Defense Forces) withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that. So that's as much as I know. That's what I'm very clear about." An aerial view of new BYD electric cars to be exported on a dock in Yantai in east China's Shandong province. The Chinese government on Wednesday hit out at the European Union over tariffs on electric vehicle imports, after the bloc lowered duties on several major electric automakers, including Tesla . A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson told reporters that Beijing continues to believe that the EU's probe into China's subsidies for its electric vehicle industry have come to "pre-set conclusions," adding that the bloc is promoting unfair competition. "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," the Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said, according to a Google translation. On Tuesday, the European Commission, the EU's executive body, lowered import duties on a number of electric vehicle manufacturers importing cars into the EU from China. It also set tariffs on Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker Tesla at 9%, below a previously anticipated 20.8% rate. These tariffs come on top of existing EU duties of 10% on battery electric vehicles imported into the region from China. Pictured are are crystals of the antimony ore stibnite (antimony sulphide). Universalimagesgroup | Universal Images Group | Getty Images BEIJING China's latest export controls has rattled insiders of the critical minerals industry, and some are concerned that Beijing will leverage its global supply chain dominance in unprecedented ways. China's Ministry of Commerce announced Aug. 15 that export controls on antimony would take effect Sept. 15. Antimony is used in bullets, nuclear weapons production and lead-acid batteries. It can also strengthen other metals. "Three months ago, there's no way [any] one would have thought they would have done this. It's quite confrontational in that regard," Lewis Black, CEO of Canada-based Almonty Industries, said in a phone interview. The company has said it's spending at least $125 million to reopen a tungsten mine in South Korea later this year. Tungsten is nearly as hard as a diamond, and used in weapons, semiconductors and industrial cutting machines. Both tungsten and antimony are on the U.S. critical minerals list, and less than 10 elements away from each other on the periodic table. "My sector is now thinking this is getting much closer to home than graphite," Black said, referring to China's previous export controls. Last year, Beijing, the world's largest graphite producer, said it would enforce export permits for the crucial battery material amid scrutiny from foreign countries worried about its dominance. watch now "I can't explain this move and I think that's what rattled a lot of people in this sector, my customers, and they don't have a plan B, which China is very aware of. There hasn't been one for 30 years," he said. "There's always been an equilibrium ... they were never weaponized because they could create this snowball of escalation," he said. China accounted for 48% of global antimony mine production in 2023, while the U.S. did not mine any marketable antimony, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's latest annual report. The U.S. has not commercially mined tungsten since 2015, and China dominates global tungsten supply, the report said. "I think it's the start of some export restrictions in a number of rare earths, minerals," Tony Adcock, executive chair of Tungsten Metals Group, said in a phone interview. He said he found it hard to believe that China would just restrict antimony. The way that the [Chinese Commerce Ministry] statement was written, we've extrapolated that to tungsten and other rare earths. It may not happen," Adcock said, noting that "tungsten is probably the highest economic importance." China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong reiterated to reporters Thursday Aug. 22 that the export controls on antimony were part of national security interests and not targeted at any country. Asked about whether tungsten would also be subject to controls, he only said in general terms that China would progress on export management in line with national rules and regulations. Tungsten's military importance The U.S. has sought to restrict China's access to high-end semiconductors, following which Beijing announced export controls on germanium and gallium, two metals used in chipmaking. While tungsten is also used to make semiconductors, the metal, like antimony, is used in defense production. watch now "China has a declining tungsten production, but tungsten is absolutely vital, far more than antimony, in military applications," said Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company. He expects China will put export controls on tungsten by the end of the year, if not in the next month or two. "During a situation where there's a bit of a race to secure metals in case there is some sort of flare up in tensions, frankly we talk about South China Sea or Taiwan, you want to have as much tungsten as you can," Ecclestone said. "But you also want people on the other side to have as least tungsten as you can engineer." The U.S. is already keen to reduce its reliance on China for tungsten. Starting in 2026, the U.S. REEShore Act prohibits the use of Chinese tungsten in military equipment. That refers to the Restoring Essential Energy and Security Holdings Onshore for Rare Earths Act of 2022. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party in June announced a new working group on the U.S. critical minerals policy. Ecclestone said that last week, the niche market of antimony trading noticed that the U.S. price for buying the metal from Rotterdam was exponentially higher than the price for delivery out of Shanghai. That's after antimony prices kept rising even after pandemic-related shipping disruptions ended, he said. "There's a suspicion that the Pentagon has been re-stuffing its reserves of certain metals, and most notably antimony because it needs antimony for munitions," said Ecclestone, who founded the mining strategy firm in 2003. The U.S. Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment. China is acting more in retaliation "against what it views as an intrusion into its national interests," Markus Herrmann Chen, co-founder and managing director of China Macro Group, said in an email. He pointed out that China's Third Plenum meeting of policymakers in July "put forward a completely new policy goal of better coordinating the entire minerals value chain, likely reflecting the further heightened supply importance of 'strategic mineral resources' for both business and geoeconomic interests." Emerging alternatives The former CEO of a small Kansas bank was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for looting the bank of $47 million which he sent to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scammers who had duped him in a "pig butchering" scheme that appealed to his greed, federal prosecutors said. The massive embezzlement by then-CEO Shan Hanes in a series of wire transfers over just eight weeks last year led to the collapse and FDIC takeover of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart, one of only five U.S. banks that failed in 2023. Hanes, 53, also swindled funds from a local church and investment club and a daughter's college savings account to transfer money, purportedly to buy cryptocurrency as the scammers insisted they needed more funds to unlock the supposed returns on his investments, according to records from U.S. District Court in Wichita, Kansas. But Hanes never realized any profit, and lost all of the money he stole, as a result of the scam. Judge John Broomes on Monday sentenced Hanes to 293 months in prison 29 months more than what prosecutors requested after he pleaded guilty in May to a single count of embezzlement by a bank officer. During the sentencing hearing, "I called his actions 'pure evil,' " said Brian Mitchell, who for years was Hanes' next-door neighbor in Elkhart, a town of 2,000 or so people in southwestern Kansas, north of the Oklahoma panhandle. Mitchell, whose farm and movie theater chain businesses banked at Heartland Tri-State, said there were around 30 shareholders in the bank who attended Hanes' sentencing, more than a year after their stock value was wiped out in the failure. "There were people who lost 70, 80% of their retirement" as a result of Hanes' actions, Mitchell told CNBC on Wednesday in a phone interview. One local woman is "struggling to afford a nursing home" for her 93-year-old mother, while another woman "can't retire" now because of the crime, Mitchell said. Mitchell, who was not a shareholder but who belonged to the investment club victimized by the CEO, said Hanes showed little, if any, remorse for his actions, despite hearing victims tell the judge about the effects of his crime. "Shan was facing the judge, and he just looked over his left shoulder for a second, and didn't make eye contact, and said, 'Sorry,' " Mitchell recalled, describing the scene in the courtroom. "And that was it." But Hanes had a look of "absolute shock" on his face when Broomes imposed the stiff sentence and ordered the former bank chief taken into custody immediately, Mitchell said. Mitchell said that for years he considered Hanes a "good guy," who like other people in Elkhart pitched in to help others in the small community when they needed help, and preached at his local church. Hanes also testified several times before Congress about community banking. But prosecutors and bank regulators said that Hanes, who has three daughters with his school teacher wife, began stealing after being targeted in a pig-butchering scheme in late 2022. That scheme was described in a court filing as "a scammer convincing a victim (a pig) to invest in supposedly legitimate virtual currency investment opportunities and then steals the victim's money butchering the pig." Hanes, who had served on the board of the American Bankers Association, and been chairman of the Kansas Bankers Association, in December 2022 began making transactions to buy cryptocurrency, which "appeared to be precipitated by communication with an unidentified co-conspirator on the electronic messaging app 'WhatsApp,' " prosecutors wrote in a court filing. "To date, the true identity of the co-conspirator, or conspirators, remain unknown," the filing notes. Hanes initially used personal funds to buy crypto, but in early 2023 he stole $40,000 from Elkhart Church of Christ and $10,000 from the Santa Fe Investment Club, according to prosecutors and a defense filing. He also used $60,000 taken from a daughter's college fund, and nearly $1 million in stock from the Elkhart Financial Corporation, his lawyer said in a filing. In May 2023, he began to make wire transfers from Heartland Tri-State Bank to accounts controlled by scammers, at first with a $5,000 transfer. Two weeks later, on May 30, Hanes wired $1.5 million and a day after that, he sent another transfer of the same amount the following day, filings show. Three days later he directed two wire transfers totaling $6.7 million to be sent by the bank to the crypto wallet, and a whopping $10 million less than two weeks later, and another $3.3 million days afterward. Hanes told bank employees to execute the wire transfers, and "made many misrepresentations to various people" to get access to the funds so they could be transferred, prosecutors wrote. Heartland Tri-State employees circumvented the bank's own wire policy and daily limits to approve Hanes' wire transfers, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "We believe that the CEO's dominant role in the bank and prominent role in the community contributed to a reluctance on the part of Heartland employees to question or report the alleged fraudulent activities earlier," that report said. Prosecutors wrote that the series of 11 wire transfers from Hanes to the scammer "illustrate a common pattern" in pig-butchering schemes. "First, there is an initial 'investment' followed by another transaction required to secure or guarantee those funds," prosecutors wrote. "Further 'investments' may be made, but always require another need for funds, to guarantee or unfreeze the earlier transfers. This pattern is clearly represented in the defendant's embezzlement." Mitchell confirmed that to CNBC, saying that he got a call from Hanes at 7:40 a.m. on July 5, 2023. "He said, 'Brian, 'I need your help, and you're the only guy who can help me,' " Mitchell recounted. Mitchell, who had survived prostate cancer two decades ago, said he thought Hanes was calling him to say that he had the same type of cancer. But when Mitchell showed up at Heartland Tri-State to meet Hanes, before the bank had officially opened to customers that morning, the CEO told him something much different and stranger. "The first thing he says is, 'Brian, I need to borrow $12 million for ten days, and I'll give you $1 million for loaning it to me,' " Mitchell recalled. "I'm sitting there and I said, am I in a bank in Elkhart, Kansas, or in an alley with a loan shark in Chicago." When he asked Hanes what he wanted the money for, Hanes "pulls out his phone and acts like he's logging in and he shows me this account that has $40 million, $42 million," Mitchell said. "He said, 'Brian, I've got this money and it's in cryptocurrency, and I need $12 million to help verify the funds.' " Hanes then hold him he had been in touch with a banker in Denver named "Jim" and "another guy in Oklahoma" and they had invested in crypto held in Coinbase accounts, where they had made a lot of money, Mitchell said. "I told him, 'You're in a scam, dude. You're in a scam,' " Mitchell said. "I stopped him and said, 'Is this bank money you're playing with?' And he said, 'No, Brian.' " Hanes kept telling him he needed the $12 million to "activate" the funds he had already transferred to the crypto account, which he said was in Hong Kong, Mitchell recalled. "I said, 'Get on a plane, go to Hong Kong, hire an interpreter, and go get a bank check' " for the funds supposedly held there, Mitchell said. "Then I said, 'I'm not going to loan you the money.' I said, 'You're in a scam, walk away.'" But later that same day, after Mitchell rebuffed his entreaties, Hanes had bank employees wire $8 million to the scammers' accounts, prosecutors said in a court filing. Two days after that, Hanes had employees wire the scammers another $4.4 million. In the meantime, Mitchell, who was unaware of those transfers during that period, said that after meeting with the CEO he was worried that Hanes would get access to customers' deposits at the bank and transfer the $12 million that he had asked for. "We kept checking our lines of credit," Mitchell said. "The next week, I was in the bank, and one of the employees caught me, she just looked so stressed," Mitchell said. The woman told him that Hanes had wired money out of the bank. "I said, 'Don't say another word to me... I've got to talk to a board member,'" Mitchell said. "And I talked to a board member that night, and he went to talk to an attorney that night," Mitchell recalled. Hanes was fired within days. About two weeks later, on July 28, 2023, Heartland Tri-State was closed by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Shareholders were wiped out, but depositors did not lose any money, as Dream First Bank, National Association, of Syracuse, Kansas, assumed all deposits. Heartland Tri-State had nearly $140 million in total assets and $130 million in total deposits as of the prior March. Word quickly spread that a scam had led to the bank's failure, but Hanes' involvement in it did not come to light for months. Hanes remained uncharged until last February when federal prosecutors accused him of embezzlement. He was separately charged in Morton County, Kansas, state court in a 28-count complaint related to looting the bank. Hanes was under house arrest until his sentencing in federal court this week. "I talked to him last month when he was out mowing his yard," Mitchell said. Hanes, who had traveled at one point to Perth, Australia while being scammed to try to recover the funds he transferred, told Mitchell that he believed there had been a way to recover the money up to the point he was arrested. Lil Jon performs during the roll call on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024. The Democratic National Convention changed its tune this election year, getting delegates joyfully dancing and singing as they nominated Vice President Kamala Harris to lead their presidential contest ticket. DNC musical host DJ Cassidy blasted a different song in Chicago's United Center as each state's delegation rose to cast their votes for the nomination roll call Tuesday night, boosting an already celebratory mood in the hall. Some songs featured the state's name in their title, including Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," Beyonce's "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" and The B-52s' "Private Idaho." Other songs were chosen due to the artist's home state: Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A" for New Jersey; Prince's "1999" for Minnesota; Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" for Indiana; and Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe," for Missouri. Rhode Island's delegation cast their ballots to the tune of "Shake It Off," by Taylor Swift, who owns a home in the state. When DNC Secretary Jason Rae asked Georgia's delegates how they cast their votes, Lil Jon an Atlanta native emerged from the stands to the roar of the crowd. The rapper sang his hit song "Turn Down for What," changing its lyrics to "Turn out for what," and led the crowd in chants of Harris' slogan: "We're not going back." The roughly hour-long roll call, normally one of the dullest segments of a party's convention, took social media by storm. Many compared it to the Republican National Convention's roll call in July, which was markedly quieter. "I'm sorry but this #DNC2024 roll call with DJ Cassidy, themed state music and party/club atmosphere is blowing the RNC's roll call out of the water," Meghan McCain wrote in a post on social media site X. "It looks like a giant party and celebration and everyone in that room looks like they're having a blast," wrote McCain, whose father, late Republican Sen. John McCain, was the party's nominee for president in 2008. The Lincoln Project tweeted, "Tired: RNC roll call. Wired: DNC roll call." The Democratic National Convention Committee published the setlist of 62 songs on Spotify, as requested by several social media posts. Unlike past conventions, Tuesday's delegate roll call was only ceremonial. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison announced earlier this month that Harris had secured the party's nomination after an online vote. Chinese embassy urges U.S., certain countries to stop provoking confrontation in South China Sea Xinhua) 11:22, August 21, 2024 MANILA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and certain other countries should stop provoking confrontation in the South China Sea and cease actions that undermine regional stability and exacerbate tensions, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines urged Tuesday. In a statement issued Tuesday regarding the Xianbin Jiao collision, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said that the United States and certain countries are not parties to the South China Sea issue and have no right to interfere in maritime matters between China and the Philippines. On Monday, two Philippine coast guard vessels, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao and, in disregard of China Coast Guard's dissuasion and warning, acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. "On the day of the collision, the U.S. State Department issued a statement, and Embassies of the United States and some of its allies in the Philippines also wasted no time in taking sides and making inflammatory statements, which raises questions about their underlying motives," the spokesperson said. The Chinese diplomat noted that spokespersons of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Coast Guard have issued statements on this incident, on-site video footages have been released, and the facts are clear and the truth is evident. "If they genuinely care about peace and stability in the South China Sea, why do they persist in sowing discord and fueling tensions?" the spokesperson said. The statement said that China is committed to handling maritime disputes with the Philippines properly through dialogue and consultation. "We hope the Philippines will honor its commitment, earnestly observe the understandings and arrangement reached with China, refrain from taking actions that may complicate the situation, and work with China to get the situation at sea under control." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) By SA Commercial Prop News Atlantic Leaf Properties CEO, Paul Leaf-Wright said the management is pleased with the results, which are in line with forecasts and keep the company on track to deliver the estimated full year dividend of 8.5 pence per share. UK-focused Atlantic Leaf Properties Ltd, says the referendum for Britain leaving the European Union (Brexit) could provide a golden opportunity for investors. Property funds in the UK have started selling flagship buildings inorder to provide liquidity to investors. Investors are more worried about properties in sectors thought to be vulnerable to Brexit, such as London offices. The referendum outcome, has sent property stocks in the UK such as Capital & Counties Properties, Capital & Regional, Intu Properties and MAS Real Estate, into massive sell-down on the JSE and London Stock Exchange (LSE). Also read: AUCTION Corporate disposal to hit the Auction block Local JSE-listed property counters with investments in the UK and greater parts of Europe were among the many casualties. Among those hit is Texton Property Fund, whose stock has fallen by 12.71%. Also in the firing line is Vukile Property Fund, with jittery investors sending the stock down by 4.12%. Vukile has a 26% stake in Atlantic Leaf worth around R700 million. Others included, Accelerate Property Fund's stock pulling back by 3.7%, Tower Property Fund at -3.37% and Attacq Limited at -4.02% The share price of other counters like sector heavyweight Redefine Properties, which is exposed to the UK and Germany through its 30.1% stake in JSE and LSE-listed Redefine International, and retail focused-Rebosis Property Fund, which holds a 62% stake in UK mall owner New Frontier Properties, have both recovered since June. Recently the Bank of England was warned of the possibility that commercial property funds may be suspended because of the rate of withdrawals prompted by the Brexit vote. READ: Brexit decision shocks rand-hedge real estate counters However, Atlantic Leaf said in statement that management believes the uncertainty created, could provide good acquisition opportunities for investors. On Tuesday, the Mauritius-based property investment group released its financial results for the first quarter of the year ending 28 February 2016. The company reported adjusted headline earnings per share of 2.34 pence per share for the three months ended 31 May 2016, up 33% from the comparative period in 2015. CEO Paul Leaf-Wright said said the management is pleased with the results, which are in line with forecasts and keep the company on track to deliver the estimated full year dividend of 8.5 pence per share. The company has had a busy start to the current financial year, with all acquisitions announced in the previous financial year having now been completed. Atlantic Leafs total property assets now stand at 264 million. In its 2016 full year results, the company also announced that it would be pursuing a migration of its listing from the AltX to the main board of the JSE. We are advanced in our plans to migrate to the main board and are liaising regularly with the JSE to satisfy their requirements to implement the move. We will keep shareholders informed of updates, Shaun Fourie, Head of Asset Management and Operations at Atlantic Leaf said. Ryan Salame, former co-chief executive officer of FTX Digital Markets Ltd., exits federal court in New York, US, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Ryan Salame, a former top lieutenant at the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, asked a New York federal judge Wednesday to void his guilty plea to campaign finance and money-transmitting crimes, saying prosecutors are reneging on a key element of his plea agreement. Salame's lawyers in a court filing said the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office, in an effort to get him to plead guilty last September, told the attorneys and Salame in April 2023 that they would stop investigating his domestic partner Michelle Bond for campaign finance violations if he pleaded guilty. "Considering Salame's manifest desire to protect Bond" who is the mother of his eight-month-old child "Salame responded by agreeing to enter into a plea agreement," the filing said. "Yet the Government failed to abide by its word, recently resuming its investigation into Bond and pursuing an indictment against her," defense attorneys wrote. The lawyers asked Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan for either an order setting aside Salame's guilty plea "on the basis of the Government's breach," or an order that prosecutors abide by their promise not to pursue criminal charges against Bond. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, declined to comment on Salame's filing. Salame is due to begin serving a 7-and-a-half-year prison sentence on Oct. 13. Salame also was ordered to pay more than $6 million in forfeiture and more than $5 million in restitution. In a social media post about the filing, Salame wrote: "It's all true but I just made a court filing I'm pretty nervous about because I know it means the most powerful body in the world is going to come at me and my loved ones again, but I'm hoping it encourages more people to be honest and tell the truth and expose un-American." Salame was not a cooperating witness in the criminal trial last fall of his former boss at FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of a massive fraud and conspiracy, and sentenced in March to 25 years in prison. The charges against Salame stemmed from his involvement in a multi-million dollar campaign finance scheme during his tenure at FTX. Bankman-Fried was allegedly also deeply involved in the campaign finance scheme. But prosecutors opted not to pursue similar charges against Bankman-Fried after he had already been convicted by a jury on seven counts related to securities fraud and money laundering. Three other cooperating witnesses who testified against Bankman-Fried at trial, and who pleaded guilty, are awaiting sentencing. They include Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, who at one time dated Bankman-Fried. Also convicted were former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh; and Gary Wang, the co-founder and chief technology officer of FTX. Singh and Wang will be sentenced Oct. 30 and Nov. 20, respectively. Ellison's sentencing has not been scheduled yet. Hedge funds' favorite stocks are beating the broader market due to the continuous strength of technology giants, according to Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street bank analyzed the holdings of 693 fundamentally driven hedge funds with $2.8 trillion of gross equity positions at the end of the second quarter, based on regulatory filings. It then compiled a basket of the most popular long positions, dubbed Goldman's "Hedge Fund VIP basket," consisting of 50 stocks that most frequently appear among hedge funds' 10 largest holdings. The VIP basket has outperformed the S & P 500 this year with a gain of 19%, compared to the S & P 500's 17% return. This Goldman portfolio has a long history of beating the market especially during elevated volatility, trouncing the S & P 500 in 59% of the quarters since 2001. "From an implementation standpoint, the Hedge Fund VIP list represents a tool for investors seeking to 'follow the smart money' based on 13-F filings," Goldman said. The VIP basket includes stocks from nine of the 11 S & P 500 sectors with real estate and utilities absent from the list. Technology stocks have the largest representation in the portfolio with a 24% weighting. Most of the "Magnificent Seven" megacap tech stocks Amazon , Microsoft , Meta , Google's Alphabet , Apple and Nvidia stood at the top of the list, the bank said. Tech shares have continued to power the bull market despite a short-lived pullback a few weeks ago. Meta shares have gained more than 50% this year, while Nvidia is up more than 158%. Uber , Taiwan Semiconductor , Hess and Eli Lilly were also among stocks that mattered the most to hedge funds in the second quarter, according to Goldman. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Jim Cramer's daily rapid fire looks at stocks in the news outside the CNBC Investing Club portfolio. Toll Brothers : The homebuilder reported better-than-expected earnings and the stock jumped roughly 6%. Jim Cramer said Wednesday it was a "remarkable quarter." There's a shortage of the kind of $1 million homes that Toll Brothers builds, Cramer added. The company has kept a lid on overbuilding and stands to benefit, he predicted. Target : Shares soared 13% after the big box retailer beat on earnings and revenue. "This was the first real upside surprise," Cramer said, reflecting on a quarterly miss earlier in the year that hurt the stock. Macy's : The department store chain lowered its full-year sales outlook and the stock sank 13%. "That was a disturbing one," Cramer said. "They had a really good quarter and they still guided lower." That means Macy's has little confidence in the rest of the year and ahead of back-to-school season, Cramer added. American Express : Bank of America downgraded the stock to a hold from buy. The stock fell 3%. The analysts cited muted consumer spending. BofA still likes it longer term, however. Cramer countered: "This stock has been downgraded the whole way [up]." He added that this is not the Amex of old and that wealthier younger people view it as "aspirational." Texas Instruments : The stock got an upgrade at Citi. Cramer said activist investor group Elliott Management has had a positive influence on the chipmaker when it comes to capital allocation. Shares rose 3%. Liquid natural gas is becoming a hot global commodity as China and India seek alternatives to coal and Europe turns its back on Russian energy due to the war in Ukraine. Global LNG demand is expected to grow 5% annually through 2034, according to a report published by Stifel Financial this week. By 2030, demand worldwide is forecast to reach 596 million metric tons, a 47% increase over 401 million metric tons in 2023. LNG demand has grown five times faster than oil over the past 20 years, according to the 90-page report. It is viewed as a "bridge fuel" between fossil fuels and renewables because it burns cleaner than coal and crude oil. Stifel recommends Cheniere , Chart Industries and Golar LNG as companies poised to grow as they build out LNG infrastructure to meet rising demand. Chart manufactures plants that cool natural gas into a liquid and warms it back into a gas after delivery. Based in Georgia, Chart could see high single-digit to low double-digit annual revenue growth over the next decade by providing "picks and shovels" to build out the LNG supply chain, according to Stifel. The investment bank has a price target of $199 for Chart, implying 71% upside from Tuesday's close of $116.48 per share. So far this year, Chart has fallen about 15%. Cheniere is an LNG export powerhouse with 45 million metric tons of annual capacity, representing 48% of the U.S total. The Houston-based company is planning to increase its LNG capacity to 75 million metric tons by 2031. Stifel has a stock price target of $204 on Cheniere, indicating about 11% upside from Tuesday's close of $183.07 per share. Cheniere has gained 7% this year and 15% over the past three months. Golar manufactures floating LNG facilities, essentially one-stop shops where natural gas is extracted, turned into a liquid and picked up by ships for delivery. The company has two operational units in Cameroon and Senegal with a total capacity of 5 million metric tons per year. Stifel's price target for Golar is $53 per share, suggesting 63% upside from Tuesday's close of $32.61 per share. Golar's stock has risen 42% this year, though shares have pulled back almost 7% this month. GLNG YTD mountain Golar LNG shares have outperformed the sector and the market in 2024. Microsoft did not specify the timing for a broader release for Windows computers that meet the system requirements for the Recall feature, which the company calls Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft unveiled this new class of Windows PCs from a variety of device makers that can run AI workloads and showed Recall running on them at an event in May . Recall takes screenshots of activity on screen so people can search for information they saw earlier. Security researchers quickly expressed concerns about the risks of Windows automatically capturing images, without users opting in. Researchers released open-source software showing how personal information might become easily accessible to attackers. Microsoft responded in June and said Recall would be turned off by default . It also committed to security enhancements for the feature. Microsoft said Wednesday it will release its controversial Recall artificial intelligence search feature for Windows users to test beginning in October. Microsoft corporate vice president of windows and devices Pavan Davuluri speaks about Recall during the Microsoft May 20 Briefing event in Redmond, Washington, on May 20, 2024. Device makers are keen on showing that people can run AI models on their local PCs, rather than relying on cloud-based servers from OpenAI or other companies to service their requests. Apple has released MacBooks that can run AI models, and Microsoft's newest Surface Pro is a Copilot+ PC that can also run local AI. Timing for the wide release of Recall might be critical. Consumers could be more interested in buying new computers during the holiday season if Microsoft brings Recall to all devices that support it by then. "With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot+ PCs for customers, we're sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October," Microsoft said in Wednesday's update to a June blog post. "As previously shared on June 13, we have adjusted our release approach to leverage the valuable expertise of our Windows Insider community prior to making Recall available for all Copilot+ PCs." Security has become a higher priority for Microsoft's rank-and-file engineers. In the current fiscal year that started July 1, the company will evaluate cybersecurity contributions in employee reviews that will factor into pay. The company promised to revamp security processes after a Department of Homeland Security report in April on China's breach of U.S. government officials' Microsoft-based email accounts raised several concerns. "We continue to prioritize security above all else," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told analysts on a July conference call. The fire service dive team leaves port heading for the dive site for the Bayesian off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on the third day of the search for six tourists missing after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored around half a mile off the coast. Five bodies have been recovered from the wreck of the superyacht that sank in a storm early Monday morning, according to NBC News and Sky News. Divers recovered four bodies Wednesday from inside the superyacht, Salvatore Cocina, director of the island's Civil Protection Agency, confirmed to NBC News. Cocina later told Sky News that a fifth body had been found and was being brought to shore. Rescue teams did not immediately identify the names or sex of the victims. The total number of victims now stands at six, after one person was confirmed dead earlier this week. One person remains missing. Specialist divers had warned that the operation to search for the missing passengers was proving challenging. Italian emergency services had gained access to some rooms on the ship, but were struggling to access sleeping cabins where those onboard may have been at the time of the disaster. This had prevented the divers from seeing if anyone is inside. The wreck is lying at a tilt at a depth of approximately 50 meters (164 feet), while narrow access points, thick glass windows, and a range of objects and electrical cables are obstructing access. Bank of America detailed a list of what it deems to be the most important stocks in the U.S. To create the list, the firm searched for stocks in the MSCI USA Index with a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion with an average daily trading volume of at least $100 million. The company then screened for importance, which calculates the volatility of relative return compared to the MSCI index over the previous decade. Bank of America also searched for earnings, price and news momentum, and ranked stocks via their ability to perform in an economic upturn and continue to offer long-term stable earnings growth. Here are some of the names that made the cut: It is no surprise that Bank of America included Nvidia in its screen. The artificial intelligence chipmaker has rallied 160% year to date as Wall Street ramps up bets on its long-term potential. The company is up 9% over the past month despite some recent volatility. Nvidia fell more than 5% in July and is on deck to report earnings later this month. Drugmaker Eli Lilly also met the screen's criteria. The company has made headlines this week on news that its weight loss drug reduced the risk of developing diabetes in a late-stage trial. Shares have rallied roughly 63% this year as Wall Street bets on its foray into the sector. "Magnificent Seven" stocks Apple and Tesla also made the cut. Apple shares have gained 17% year to date, while Tesla is down 10%. Earlier this year, Apple unveiled its long-awaited AI strategy , known as "Apple Intelligence." The tools are expected to help fuel an upgrade cycle in the new iPhone later this year. Meta Platforms was another member of the group. The social media stock has outperformed its peers over the past month, surging about 12%. Shares are up 50% this year. JPMorgan Chase , UnitedHealth and Exxon Mobil also made the list. watch now Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday night told the Democratic National Convention that "America is ready for a new chapter" and "we are ready for President Kamala Harris." "And Kamala Harris is ready for the job," said Obama, who preceded the vice president's Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, in the White House. Obama, who left office after two terms, blasted Trump as he contrasted the Republican with Harris. "This is a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago," Obama said, referring to Trump's announcement of his presidential candidacy in 2015 in Trump Tower in New York. "The childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and weird obsession with crowd size," Obama said, drawing widespread laughter from the convention audience in Chicago. "It just goes on and on." Former President Barack Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images But Obama argued, "Kamala Harris won't be focused on her problems she'll be focused on yours." "Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion," Obama said. The former president said that Harris, while working as a prosecutor in California, "stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse." Health-care marketplace Sesame on Wednesday announced a new clinical weight loss program that will help eligible consumers access compounded versions of Novo Nordisk 's blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy for $249 per month. Sesame allows patients to book and pay for appointments with doctors and specialists directly through its website, so it cuts out middlemen such as insurers. The company said it is adding compounded semaglutide the active ingredient in Wegovy and Novo Nordisk's diabetes injection Ozempic to its platform to help users safely access obesity and diabetes treatments at a time when many of the branded drugs are in short supply. Sesame already offers branded weight loss and diabetes drugs through its platform, including through a partnership with Costco . But the company's new program could serve as a more affordable weight loss alternative, as compounded medications are typically cheaper than their branded counterparts. Wegovy and Ozempic both cost roughly $1,000 per month before insurance, and most weight loss programs from competing digital health companies do not include the cost of those medications. "We are, based on this drug supply shortage, on behalf of American consumers, making a version of compounded semaglutide available to our users at [a] very accessible price point," Michael Botta, president and co-founder of Sesame, told CNBC in an interview. "In fact, we think it's probably the most affordable price point the consumer can find on an apples to apples basis." Wegovy and Ozempic are part of a highly popular class of weight loss and diabetes medications called GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down a patient's appetite and regulate their blood sugar. The treatments have exploded in popularity in recent years, and some analysts predict the industry could generate more than $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030. Supply shortages are one of the biggest hurdles for Novo Nordisk and its main rival, Eli Lilly, since spiking demand can make it difficult for many patients to find the treatments. When brand-name GLP-1 medications are in shortage, certain manufacturers can prepare compounded versions if they meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements. The lowest dose of Wegovy is in short supply, but all other doses of the drug and Ozempic are available, according to the FDA's drug shortage database. Compounded medications are custom-made alternatives to branded drugs designed to meet a specific patient's needs, such as not being able to swallow a pill or being allergic to the dye of a certain product. Those compounded drugs can be prescribed, made and dispensed under two sections of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. That law created two classes of compounding pharmacies. The FDA regulates so-called 503B pharmacies, which can make larger batches of medications without individual prescriptions. Meanwhile, 503A compounding pharmacies can create custom medications for individual patients and are largely regulated by states rather than the FDA. But both Wegovy and Ozempic are under patent protection in the U.S. and abroad, and Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly do not supply the active ingredients in their drugs to outside groups. The companies say that raises questions about what some manufacturers are selling and marketing to consumers. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have both stepped in to address illicit versions of their treatments, suing weight loss clinics, medical spas and compounding pharmacies across the U.S. over the past year. The FDA last month also said it had received reports of patients overdosing on compounded semaglutide due to dosing errors such as patients self-administering incorrect amounts of a treatment. Botta said Sesame initially "stayed very far away" from compounded medications because the company felt uncertain about their purity and quality. But he said the more Sesame learned about compounded versions of GLP-1s, the "more we see that they're effective, they seem to be quite safe. People tend to have a good experience taking them." Sesame then sent its teams to inspect several 503B compounding pharmacies. "What we decided to do was work with a compounding pharmacy that certainly meets our bar when it comes to inspecting their processes, their quality, their output," Botta said. The compounding pharmacy partnered with Sesame will manufacture prefilled, single-use syringes rather than a single vial of medicine that patients have to measure themselves. Botta said that could help patients "avoid the risk that comes from overfilling a syringe, over-injecting, taking too much overdosing on this medication." To participate in Sesame's new program, patients will have to fill out an intake form and select a health-care provider. They will have a consultation with the provider via video, complete some lab work and receive a prescription if the provider decides it is appropriate. Patients will be able to access ongoing consultations via video chat, as well as a nutrition, fitness and mindfulness content library. The content will not be immediately available upon the launch of the new program Wednesday, but Sesame said it will be live in about two weeks. Anyone who signs up in the interim will automatically get access to it when it is available, the company added. "There are millions upon millions of Americans who are struggling both with obesity itself and with all of the downstream effects of obesity," Botta said. "Being able to connect patients who otherwise are struggling with the supply shortage is something we think is worth doing." A floating apartment. A residential yacht. A holiday home that travels the globe. The World, a luxury liner, has many descriptions, but "cruise ship" is not one of them, said resident Jim Minarik. "The only thing that's similar between the world and a cruise ship is they float on the water," he said. "If our ship was a cruise ship, there'd probably be 1,500 passengers. When we're really busy, we have between 200 and 300." The World has 165 privately owned apartments, ranging from 290-square-foot studios to 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom residences. Minarik and his wife bought their apartment in 2020 with plans to spend one to two months a year on the ship. However, he said, they now spend up to half of the year on board. Many residents bring their own furniture and employ interior designers to decorate their apartments. Source: The World "We just found we love so much about the community, the way of travel it's very leisurely and comfortable," he said. "You're continuously seeing something new." Minarik said the couple were so enamored by the onboard experience that they eventually bought a second, larger apartment on The World, keeping the first apartment for family and friends. Life aboard the ship Like many cruises, The World has multiple restaurants and bars, yoga classes and a gym, two pools, a medical center and round-the-clock room service. But the similarities mainly end there. For starters, on this ship, the owners call many of the shots. "It's a democratic society on board," said Residential Director Eddie Wong. "They vote on things like the itinerary, they vote for refurbishments on the ship," as well as its board of directors. An outdoor pool sits quiet while The World was docked in Singapore in May 2024. Around 150 residents live on the ship during the year, though this number usually doubles during expedition trips and year-end holidays, said Residential Director Eddie Wong. Source: CNBC Itineraries change yearly, Wong said. The schedule for 2026 has been finalized, he said, and includes stops in Antarctica, French Polynesia and Easter Island, the latter of which he called "one of the most sought-after locations in the world." The World docks in around 100 ports per year, stopping for two to five days, rather than a few hours. "We'll pull into a port, like the Amalfi Coast," said Minarik. "We stay for three or four days, so we may not even get off on the first day we might just go off for dinner." The World creates photo books after its expedition trips, which in 2024 includes trips to Antarctica, Australia's Kimberley region, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Wong said. Source: CNBC Several owners live on the ship full time, but most come and go as they please, he said. After cruising from South America to South Africa, Minarik said, he and his wife disembarked in Cape Town and went on safari for two weeks, before heading home to Orange County, California. The friends they were traveling with caught back up with the ship, which by that time had moved up Africa's west coast, he said. The residents of The World Many owners are North American, said Wong. "But we have residents from around 20 different nationalities we have a lot of Australians on board" too, he said. Minarik, the former CEO of a large consumer electronics business, said owners have all had some level of financial success. "That's just a fact, but what's really interesting is everybody has a great story," he said. Purchase prices for residences range from $2.4 million to $15 million a figure which doesn't include quarterly maintenance fees, which can be around 10% of the purchase price annually. Maintenance fees come with $33,000 worth of food and beverage credits aboard the ship, but they also pay for crew, renovation and upkeep to the ship, which has a full-sized tennis court. Source: The World Yet money is not a big topic aboard The World, Minarik said. "There's definitely no keeping-up-with-the-Joneses because whether you're a multi-millionaire, there's plenty of billionaires," he said. "So what you talk about is your love of travel and the experiences." He said one of his friends from the ship is an 82-year-old guy who gives "more money than I could even imagine" to charity. What do they talk about? "Diving," said Minarik. A Champagne bar set up on Antarctica's Penola Strait. Source: The World Potential buyers are vetted, Wong said. In addition to financial and criminal checks, he said, buyers need two letters of recommendation from an existing resident. Every year, about 10% of residences go up for sale, a company representative told CNBC Travel. The average length of ownership is seven to eight years, Wong said. By that time, owners have seen most of the world several times over, he said. Others leave to be closer to specialized medical care or to spend more time with family. Minarik agreed that the biggest downside of ship life is time spent away from his children and grandchildren. He said he and his wife plan their lives to balance their love for family and exploration. Another drawback? Minarik said he can't bring his dogs on board. But "if I was to come up with anything other than you can't have your pets and your family, I'd be making stuff up," he said. Only ship of its kind? Wong said that while other companies have tried, The World is still the only ship of its kind. Residents can cook in their apartments using groceries bought in ports or in a store on board that stocks produce and gourmet items. Source: The World SC State University-enrolled small and minority farmers gather to celebrate accomplishments during the one-year commemoration of Climate-Smart Grown in SC program, at Camp Harry E. Daniels. The Climate-Smart Commodities Program dispersed over $850K in financial incentives to farmers. ORANGEBURG, S.C . SC State University Public Service & Agriculture (SC State PSA) commemorated its one-year partnership with Climate-Smart Grown in SC, a climate-smart commodities partnership with Clemson University, during a celebratory event for enrolled SC State University farmers on Thursday, July 25, at Camp Harry E. Daniels Conference Center, in Elloree, SC. The program recognized and celebrated SC State University enrolled farmers who have successfully completed the programs requirements for adopting climate-smart conservation practices, including growing cover crops, practicing prescribed grazing and nutrient management in beef cattle production and adopting no and reduced-tillage practices, while receiving technical support from SC State 1890 Extension ag agents. As part of the climate-smart commodities program, enrolled farmers received financial incentives based on the commodity grown, key designated climate-smart practices and the total acreage designated for that commodity and practice. SC State PSA to date has provided more than $850,000 in financial incentive payments to year-one enrolled farmers. Our one-year involvement program was a farmer-centered day, celebrating our farmers achievements and resilience while reflecting on the past activities and events that took place during the year-one implementation, said Dr. Chishimba Nathan Mowa, climate-smart commodities projects director for SC State PSA. We look forward to the future success of our program as we enroll more farmers throughout South Carolina for year two. Over 90 small-scale, under-resourced, and minority farmers throughout South Carolina attended the one-year commemoration event along with SC State 1890 Extension ag agents, Clemson University and SC State PSA project management and leadership team. The event featured two panel discussions that involved open and engaging conversations on the challenges farmers experienced during the program implementation and how the program can improve in year two. During the celebration event, six farmers received special recognition and acknowledgments for the performance/production of the best in leafy greens, peanuts, and beef cattle production. Jonathan Bennet and Louis Berry from Clarendon and Orangeburg counties respectively, received the first-ever Budding Farmer (youngest farmer) and Senior (oldest farmer) Climate-Smart Agriculture award. Farmers recognized during the event include: Louis Berry, Oldest Climate-Smart farmer, Beef Cattle Producer, Orangeburg County Jonathan Bennet, Budding Climate-Smart producer, Leafy green producer, Clarendon County Magaret Harrison, Climate-Smart Leafy Green Producer, Upstate William Weekley, Climate-Smart Leafy Green Producer, Calhoun Edie McFadden, Climate-Smart Beef Cattle Producer, Clarendon Robert Sprowl, Climate-Smart Cattle Producer, Greenwood Jason Waltz, Climate-Smart Peanut Producer, Calhoun County Dan Garrick, Climate Smart-Peanut Producer, Orangeburg County The climate-smart program gave me a great starting point, being a novice seeking guidance and getting my son established in farming operations and the industry, said Adrien Priester, a peanut producer. We came from a 30-year break into the farm service, so were restarting to get the next generation on the right path. When the climate-smart program became available, it was the pathway forward to allow us to start the process right and be more efficient as we move forward our farming operations. Climate-Smart Grown in SC has been a great asset to the farm, said Monique Daniels. The practices such as growing cover crops, no and reduced tillage, as well as mulching have preserved the soil through erosion control. These practices have had a great impact on my leafy greens, allowing me to grow them into a good crop and sell them at a higher market value. Going forward with Climate-Smart Grown in SC will have a great impact in 2025, and being able to enroll new farmers in the climate-smart programs will provide so many benefits to them." Climate-Smart Grown in SC, a $70 million grant awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in October 2022, is the largest public partnership grant in South Carolina. SC State University and Clemson University, the only two land-grant institutions in South Carolina, administer the program. The program provides technical and financial assistance to producers to implement climate-smart production practices, measure, verify and report carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions as well as develop markets and promote the results of climate-smart commodities practices and products. For more information on Climate-Smart Grown in SC program, contact Dr. Chishimba Mowa, climate-smart commodities projects director, at cmowa@scsu.edu or Dr. Atakora Williams, climate-smart program coordinator, at watakora@scsu.edu. China's steel industry has been struggling as the country's property sector remains in the doldrums and is unable to absorb excess capacity, industry watchers told CNBC. "Chinese demand has been a major disappointment for metals across the board," said Sabrin Chowdhury, head of commodities analysis at BMI, highlighting the slump in steel and iron ore in particular. "This is mainly due to the weak property sector in China. The property sector downturn is set to last several years, and that definitely does bode negatively for industrial metals that are required in infrastructure," she added. China is the world's largest producer of steel, accounting for more than half the world's output at over a billion tons a year. It is also the world's leading consumer of steel and iron ore, and prices for both materials have dropped as steel supply remains bloated amid weak domestic demand. China steel rebar prices are down over 20% year to date at 3,208 Chinese yuan ($450) per ton, data from financial information provider Wind showed. Prices of China iron ore, the key material for steel, have plunged over 28% so far this year, according to FactSet data. Ukrainian soldiers prepare a vehicle adapted to fire helicopter shells as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in the direction of Toretsk, Ukraine, Aug. 19, 2024. Ukraine carried out one of the largest-ever drone attacks against Moscow on Wednesday, as Kyiv continues to launch counteroffensives on Russian soil. Russia's Defense Ministry said it destroyed 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, of which 11were over Moscow, according to a Google-translated update on Telegram. "This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow with drones ever. We continue to monitor the situation," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a separate Google-translated Telegram post, after assessing the strikes resulted in "no damage or casualties at the site of the fall of the debris" in earlier updates reporting the offensives. Some of the drones were neutralized over Podolsk, a nearby city south of Moscow, the official added. Citing Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsiya, state news agency Tass said in a Google-translated report that airports in the Moscow region resumed regular operations after restrictions were briefly introduced during the night. CNBC has reached out to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting at Taj Exotic Hotel on October, 15, 2016 in Benaulim, Goa, India. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images News | Getty Images Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine on Friday is likely to be closely watched by New Delhi's long-standing ally, Russia. The trip comes as India looks to navigate alliances with arch enemies Russia and the West, as one of the few countries to have robust trading and diplomatic relations with both parties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 set off heightened global tensions, sanctions and animosity toward the Kremlin. Modi's government has looked to remain neutral throughout the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, but has been criticized for maintaining tight trade and diplomatic ties with Moscow. India has refused to condemn the war and has continued to buy discounted Russian oil, despite Western efforts to boycott such energy purchases, whose revenues fund the conflict. Now, India appears to be seeking closer relations with Ukraine through Modi's visit to Kyiv this week, which comes at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Modi's trip will be the first by an Indian head of state to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established over 30 years ago, when the European country achieved independence in 1991. Rick Rossow, chair in U.S.-India policy studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CNBC that "India clearly has a far deeper relationship with Russia" but wanted to build on fledgling bilateral relations with Kyiv. "For instance, in fiscal year 2021-22, India's goods trade with Ukraine was only around $3.4b [billion], compared to $13b with Russia. And Russia provided access to high-end weaponry which other major producers like the United States have only recently approved for export to India," Rossow said in emailed comments. "Following the invasion, India's imports from Russia have spiked dramatically, even as Russia has difficulties meeting defense export orders," he noted. "But India does have students studying in Ukraine, buys defense equipment from Ukraine, and Ukraine is among India's 50-largest trade partners," he said, concluding that relations between the two nations are "not insignificant." 'Landmark' visit Modi and Zelenskyy do not know each other well and only met twice in recent months, on the sidelines of this and last year's G7 summits in Italy and Japan, an Indian official noted when announcing the trip Monday. He described Modi's upcoming visit as a "landmark and historic." When they meet one-to-one on Friday, Modi and Zelenskyy are set to discuss "bilateral relations" and "multilateral cooperation," Kyiv said, while the ongoing war with Russia is also likely to dominate the agenda. "Bilateral relations" between Ukraine and India are certainly at an earlier stage of development than those between Moscow and New Delhi, with the latter duo now looking to deepen their established lucrative ties, particularly on the energy and trade front. Earlier, Modi's met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July, making his first visit to the Kremlin since 2019. During this engagement, Ukraine said Russia's military attacked a children's hospital in Kyiv, killing 41 people and injuring over 150 others. The assault drew worldwide condemnation, even as Russia denied carrying out the strike and stated, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian anti-missile fire was to blame. Following his meeting with Putin, Modi issued a statement in which he seemed to voice his disapproval of the attack, saying in televised comments that "whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives," according to a Reuters translation. "But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying," he added. Russia's President Vladimir Putin bids farewell to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia July 9, 2024. Gavriil Grigorov | Via Reuters Despite the comments, Putin and Modi were showed hugging during the visit, and the New Delhi leader was featured addressing his Russian counterpart as "dear friend," while extolling their "mutual trust and mutual respect." Their discussions, their respective governments said, led the leaders to pledge to deepen bilateral trade and cooperation in numerous areas, from agriculture to space, medicine and energy infrastructure. The fact that Modi's meeting with Putin coincided with the deadly hospital attack was widely seen as an embarrassment for the Indian prime minister, however. Ukraine heavily criticized the trip, with Zelenskyy saying it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day." Pragmatism or peace? India along with China, Turkey and several Middle Eastern countries is seen as one of the few international partners of Russia that could have a potential role as a future mediator between Russia and Ukraine, although Indian media cite sources saying the government is reluctant to intervene in such a capacity. A peace process between Moscow and Kyiv remains a distant prospect for now, with the war in an active phase and both sides distant over the terms of a potential cease-fire. Ukraine insists it will not negotiate until Russian troops leave its soil, while Moscow declared four Ukrainian regions to be Russian territory back in late 2022, and says it will not abandon these territories. Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold an informal meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on July 8, 2024. (Photo by Gavriil GRIGOROV / Sputnik POOL / AFP) (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Gavriil Grigorov | Afp | Getty Images Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. 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 ORANGEBURG, S.C. Christian Jones considers himself an extrovert, and he plans to use that personality trait to make his freshman year at South Carolina State University all it can be. I'm looking forward to a great experience, really to have fun and to see whats better for me, said Jones, a criminal justice major from Columbia, South Carolina. I'm really outgoing. I like to make friends. I'm just here for the experience. Jones is among hundreds of freshmen who arrived at SC State this week for the start of the Fall 2024 Semester. After arriving, freshmen learned about SC State traditions and dos and donts through the orientation process during Welcome Week. Joness father, Clinton Jones, gave his son advice in preparing for his first year of college. We are military, so this is his first college experience. We are happy for him, the elder Jones said. We want him to experience it, get his education first of all, and be focused. Stay focused, read your emails every day, keep God first, and stay out of trouble -- one day at a time, he said to his son. With classes set to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 20, SC State also welcomed back returning students this week. Students are excited to be back on campus, and they are looking forward to engaging in the HBCU culture. They are particularly looking forward to SC States Homecoming, which is set for Oct. 26. "I want to encourage all freshmen to stay true to who you are, Student Government Association Marketing Manager Xavier Mitchell-Brown said. Please go to class, join organizations, and just have fun. Do not be afraid to go out there to meet others. For more information about SC State and how to join Bulldog Nation, visit www.scsu.edu. ORANGEBURG, S.C. The South Carolina State University Foundation has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of South Carolina Student Loan Corporation (SCSLC), to provide scholarships to 17 deserving SCSU students who meet the university's requirements for financial support. Power:Ed and SC Student Loan Corp. are proud to support SC State University and its vital work to educate and build a skilled workforce in South Carolina, Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons said. Need-based scholarships can make all the difference in helping students complete their education and succeed in school, their careers and in life. High-achieving students at South Carolina State University face several disparities that prevent them from continuing their education. Some students are forced to disenroll due to their inability to pay student tuition. SC State is dedicated to eliminating the challenges dealt by poverty through tuition scholarships. Providing scholarships assists in equipping students with the opportunities needed to excel in their educational pursuits while preparing them for entry into the South Carolina workforce. Power:Ed has been a vital partner for SC State in recent years, SC State President Alexander Conyers said. The organizations generous support has helped the university retain students toward completing their degrees and fulfilling their promise as productive citizens. I thank Ms. Gibbons, Power:Ed and the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation for their support of SC State and our students, Conyers said. In FY 2023-24, Power:Ed awarded $1,000,000 in 25 grants to South Carolina education and career readiness nonprofit organizations, and the SCSLC philanthropy is committed to investing another million this fiscal year, starting with this grant to SC State. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is October 1, 2024. If you think about it in broad strokes, the hit British sitcom Derry Girls is strikingly similar to Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, with one obvious difference Derry Girls won an Emmy. When the British public broadcasting station Channel 4 premiered Northern Irish playwright and screenwriter Lisa McGees personal and punchy coming-of-age sitcom about life in her hometown of Derry during the turbulent mid-1990s, the channel probably didnt anticipate that Derry Girls would become their biggest comedy series since Father Ted, their last successful sitcom about Ireland in the 90s, and their first scripted international sensation to pair with The Great British Bake Off as their American-beloved megahits. Thankfully, the heart, humor and joyful chaos of Derry Girls translated well from Northern Irish to American English, and today, over two years after the series finale, Derry Girls is still one of the most streamed sitcoms on Netflix U.S. with the subtitles on. Don't Miss Unsurprisingly, there is a significant amount of fanbase overlap between Derry Girls and the top American sitcom about self-aggrandizing misfits causing trouble in a city that threatens to become a war zone at any moment. According to Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia Twitter, Derry Girls is the perfect show to watch if youre looking for a gender-swapped Always Sunny with a slightly less boozy setting: Fans of both shows may start to see some parallels between characters when the cast of Derry Girls and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are held up next to one another most obviously, the Irish (or British) equivalent of Sweet Dee is poor James, the punching bag of the group and the token gender outcast. That would mean that James often abusive cousin Michelle is Derry Girls Dennis, which is fitting concerning her ruthless pursuit of self-interest and her obsession with getting laid. Orla is Charlie, obviously, seeing as they both live in fantastical alternate realities and serve as the wild card of their respective gangs. Advertisement The fit for the last two core characters is a bit of a slant rhyme. We can say that Claire is Mac considering that theyre both the only gay members of their groups and that theyre usually the first to moralize. However, Erin doesnt feel like a perfect Frank, seeing as shes usually the last Derry Girl willing to get real weird with it and she isnt into Franks usual indulgences like guns, whoo-urs and hanging out under the bridge. But, ultimately, its the spirit of the shows that connects Derry Girls to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in their mutual audiences minds. Each episode is typically structured around the group trying to achieve a goal through an outrageous and likely illegal scheme, and it almost never ends with the characters getting what they want. However, Derry Girls tends to take a more empathetic approach to its characters lives, and empathy, even when its expressed eloquently, always feels a little bit out of place on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Advertisement Oh, also, Paddys Pub is an Irish bar, but the many crucifixes in Derry Girls are decidedly not dripping with blood. Artificial intelligence enthusiasts keep trying to bring The Simpsons to life through their soullessly generated slop, but their efforts will only ever pale in comparison to how one British TV channel put crooked smiles on so many Simpsons fans faces. The intro to The Simpsons is arguably the most iconic opening sequence in television history. While the signature opener has undergone many changes in the 35 years since the show began most for the worse the core montage has generally remained intact and incredible over so many seasons. So, when one Simpsons fan decided to introduce their own twist on the intro sequence with a live-action, A.I.-generated video that debuted Adam Sandler playing Homer, the Simpsons purists of the internet objected to the sacrilege in the strongest terms possible. Don't Miss The Simpsons by Adam Sandler went super viral on Simpsons Twitter with 30.5 million views, but it also inspired backlash among many A.I.-averse fans, one of whom pointed out that, when it comes to live-action Simpsons, Sky One did it first. The British television station Sky One, which was the home of The Simpsons throughout the 1990s and early 2000s as it aired daily episodes of America's greatest comedic cultural export, actually made two different live-action intros to promote its syndication deal with 20th Century Fox. The first live-action Simpsons intro, which Sky One debuted in 2000, celebrated the shows 10th anniversary. But because it was such a huge hit the first time around, Sky One decided to do an encore performance in 2006, thus giving the world two of the most loving live-action tributes to The Simpsons that only humans could create. Advertisement While the uncanny and near-but-certainly-not-lifelike appearance of The Simpsons by Adam Sandler will inevitably impress some fans on a technical level, theres an unmistakable difference in quality between the A.I. version and the real thing, lovingly and painstakingly planned and executed by living, breathing, die-hard Simpsons fans. Advertisement Advertisement Of course, the original poster of The Simpsons by Adam Sandler" didnt have to spend the likely tens of thousands of pounds that Sky One used to create such masterpieces. Sadly, real-life creatives like the ones who made these intros may still have to compete with A.I. artists who exert as much effort into completing their inferior projects as Homer's drinking bird. A not insubstantial number of former Saturday Night Live cast members have gone on to direct feature films. The latest example of this trend is Kyle Mooney, who is following up his acclaimed dramedy Brigsby Bear with the soon-to-be-released Y2K, which basically looks like if Stephen Kings Maximum Overdrive was a teen comedy (and also not powered by cocaine). But not every SNL alum has been quite so successful when it comes to the arena of filmmaking. In fact, some of Lorne Michaels former employees have helmed movie projects that were the cinematic equivalent of that one SNL episode hosted by Steven Seagal. Don't Miss Some of the worst movies directed by former SNL stars include Dan Aykroyds Nothing But Trouble It takes an especially terrible movie to make one feel any kind of sympathy for Chevy Chase. Written and directed by Aykroyd, 1991s Nothing But Trouble is a grotesque horror-comedy turd about two yuppies who get railroaded by an elderly small-town judge (played by Aykroyd in full Spirit Halloween makeup, complete with a dong-shaped nose for some reason). Its painfully unfunny, hopelessly boring and completely wastes an impressive cast, which also includes Demi Moore and the great John Candy (also Tupac, weirdly). ] Chris Rocks I Think I Love My Wife While his most recent film as a director, Top Five, wasnt bad, Rocks earlier effort, I Think I Love My Wife, was a sloppy remake of an acclaimed French film, all about a horny husband who desperately wants to cheat on his wife, but ultimately decides not to. What a hero. Incidentally this movie was written by Rock and Louis CK, two guys who probably shouldnt have been offering any sort of commentary on how to maintain a healthy marriage. Harry Shearers Teddy Bears Picnic Years after proving his directorial capabilities with the Martin Mull-hosted Cinemax mockumentary series The History of White People in America, Shearer made the less successful comedy Teddy Bears Picnic in 2002. Even with a cast featuring some of Shearers hilarious friends, like Bob Einstein, Fred Willard and Spinal Tap pal Michael McKean, this satire about an elite mens club retreat is a complete mess. Shearer reportedly self-funded the low-budget project using his Simpsons money. Thats why theres a Thank You to Rupert Murdoch at the end of the credits, Shearer explained in a 2002 interview. Its his money, he just doesnt know it. It just kind of flowed through me." What a pal! Comedian Rob Schneider showed up at the premiere of Adam Sandlers Netflix special Love You this week with a copy of his new book, You Can Do It!, firmly in his grip. Theres no better way to support a friends project than hopping on his platform to promote your own stuff. Speaking of self-promotion, Schneider used the red carpet to tell The Hollywood Reporter that hes killing it as a comedian these days, despite recently being kicked off the stage at events ranging from a hospital fundraiser to a gathering of Republican muckety-mucks. When people are yelling at him during sets, that simply means Im doing it right, he boasted. The thing about free speech is, free speech is all speech. Free speech isnt for the nice stuff. It isnt for the socially acceptable stuff. Free speech is the speech that challenges you. Free speech is the not-nice stuff. Easy speech or speech thats acceptable to everybody doesnt need any protection. Im there to challenge the audience. Don't Miss Do I need to free-speech mention that Rob Schneiders new free-speech book is about free speech? For more evidence that Schneider is doing it right, look no further than the statement issued by the Hospitals of Regina Foundation after potential donors walked out on jokes about vaccines, womens rights and the persecution of white men. We do not condone, accept, endorse or share Mr. Schneiders positions as expressed during his comedy set, it read. An unconditional apology was offered right after to our guests and our community. We reiterate this sincere and unconditional apology today, for any offense caused by Mr. Schneiders recent comedy set, at the Four Seasons Ball. The fact that a charity was appalled by Schneiders behavior just reinforces his bad-boy comedy credentials, he explained. People get upset about things now. And thats okay, he said. I think the more challenging the comedy is and society is, the more interesting the stand-up and art is going to be. When everythings smooth, art is boring. So the 90s could have been kind of boring, but this is a good time now, and its a challenging time. Advertisement Theres at least one person who isnt walking out on Schneider these days. Thats Sandler, the only guy outside of Tucker Carlson whos hanging out with the persecuted comedian in public. According to Schneider, heres how the Sandmans comedy invitation went down: SANDLER: Hey buddy, when can you come? SCHNEIDER: For what? SANDLER: Just can you come out here? Advertisement With no more charity or political events on his calendar, Schneider had plenty of time to drop by the taping of Sandlers special. The next thing you know, Schneider found himself on stage, no doubt holding up a copy of You Can Do It for the cameras. He always includes me, Schneider said about the guy who's cast him in at least 15 movies. Its a lovely thing. Elizabeth Wilson is an intern on the breaking news team. She is a rising senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in journalism with a minor in political science. She has lived in San Francisco for the past decade and is excited to join the breaking news team. Wilson was most recently a fellow for the CalMatters College Journalism Network, where she covered higher education policy. She previously interned at the San Luis Obispo Tribune. At her campus paper, Wilson is a data and investigations reporter. Her award-winning reporting has focused on student experiences with campus safety. In her free time, she enjoys walking around the city, watching nostalgic TV shows and finding new music. Northern spotted owls, two of which are seen here, are being pushed out of their habitat by invasive barred owls. Danny Hofstadter, Peery Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Lab, University of Wisconsin at Madison Jack Dumbacher recalled the somber silence after the shot. The wildlife geneticist had called out into the dark of the Klamath National Forest, mimicking the hoots of a barred owl, and lured a bird out of the shadows and into his colleagues flashlight beams. Dumbacher took aim and fired. On that night 15 years ago, Dumbacher was testing a theory that is now the basis for a controversial plan, expected to be finalized in the coming days or weeks, to protect the threatened northern spotted owl. The goal: reducing the population of its primary, and invasive, competitor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I remember watching the owl drop to the ground, said Dumbacher, who is curator of ornithology at the California Academy of Sciences. Its terrible to have to do this, but its also terrible to do nothing. Barred owls have expanded into West Coast forests over the last four decades from their native range in the northeastern United States. But where barred owls appear, the iconic and native northern spotted owl disappears. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to allow licensed professionals to kill, at most, 450,000 barred owls over 30 years in California, Oregon and Washington to protect not just the northern spotted owl but also the forest ecosystems where the threatened bird evolved. Kessina Lee, a state supervisor with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Oregon, which developed the plan, said her agency expects far fewer barred owls to actually be culled through the program. And that eye-popping number still only represents less than half of a percent of the global barred owl population. The program is voluntary for landowners, such as public land agencies, tribal governments and timber companies, and there is no associated funding. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A spokesperson for Sierra Pacific Industries, the largest private landowner in California, said the company oversees 1.5 million acres of commercial timberland in the state in which it is required to protect both the habitat of the northern spotted owl habitat and the California spotted owl, a close cousin native to the Sierra Nevada. The companys wildlife biologists have been studying the impacts of barred owl removal in collaboration with the service for several years to help determine the appropriate level of barred owl management needed to conserve spotted owl populations in the long term, the spokesperson said. Lee said that the services objective is to create sanctuaries where spotted owls can thrive without competition from the more aggressive and successful barred owl. Many barred owls will likely be left unharmed. Were really at a crossroads, Lee said. If we dont act now, we will only have barred owls on the landscape. Barred owls eat a broader range of prey, including rodents, salamanders, frogs and smaller owls. The northern spotted owl eats only rodents, primarily flying squirrels and wood rats. Scientists believe that the proliferation of barred owls threatens to knock western forest ecosystems further out of balance. Theyre out there hoovering up everything in the forest, Lee said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In experiments conducted over the last decades, scientists found that spotted owls returned to habitats when barred owls were removed. Opponents of the plan have argued its cruel. In a July letter, animal rights organizations Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy said the service was turning from protector to persecutor of American wildlife. Every sensible person wants to save spotted owls from extinction, but strategies that kill a half-million look-alike forest owls must be taken off the table in violating our norms about proper treatment of any native owl species in North America, wrote Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle. But many environmental groups support the proposal. Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, a nonprofit conservation group in Eureka, said that ensuring the northern spotted owl survives helps to safeguard forest ecosystems that have been severely harmed by human activity, including logging and development. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We humans caused this problem, so we have an enhanced moral obligation to try to prevent the extinction of the northern spotted owl, Wheeler said. The northern spotted owl has been nearly lost from forests in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, pushed toward extinction by the widespread logging of old growth forests. Their populations have also severely dwindled in its Northern California range spreading north of San Francisco. Marin County is a last bastion for spotted owls because barred owls have yet to proliferate there. Preventing further incursion is crucial, Dumbacher said. The plan also aims to protect the California spotted owl. Opponents of the plan have said authorities risk killing the wrong animal because spotted and barred owls are visually similar. Robin Bown, who is leading the services barred owl management program, said even novice birders can quickly learn to tell the birds apart. The permit will allow only trained and licensed professionals to hunt the owls. They will have to take certain measures to confirm owl species, by listening for the barred owls unique calls and confirming certain visual features. They will be required to take photographs and measurements of the owl, and then bury it near the area where it was found. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Barred owls are light gray in color with vertical brown stripes and a white face. They have a distinctive series of hoots, often described as sounding like: Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all? Northern spotted owls are a deep chocolate brown with horizontal white spots and have a brown face with a distinct white X around their eyes. Their calls include two or three short barking hoots followed by a louder sound like hooo-ah. If they cant be sure, they are to walk away, Bown said of the hunters. If the Fish and Wildlife Service moves forward with the plan, the agency also must acquire a permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to cull barred owls. Even then, the service must renew the program every three years to ensure the plan is working. As for Dumbacher, he said he understands those who are against killing one animal to save another. But he became convinced after seeing consistent data showing spotted owls returned to places where barred owls had been removed. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) on Wednesday abandoned its multi-year effort against Clearview AI, which it had ordered to stop collecting images of people in Australia after accusing the company of improperly grabbing images of faces from across the Internet. The OAIC decision went out of its way to not withdraw its accusations, and it even suggested that Clearview never stopped the practice, nor did it apparently delete images. But OAIC said that it decided it wasnt worth the resources to pursue given that Clearview is facing so many other investigations. We reiterate that the determination against Clearview AI still stands, Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said in a statement. I have given extensive consideration to the question of whether the OAIC should invest further resources in scrutinizing the actions of Clearview AI, a company that has already been investigated by the OAIC and which has found itself the subject of regulatory investigations in at least three jurisdictions around the world as well as a class action in the United States, Kind said. Considering all the relevant factors, I am not satisfied that further action is warranted in the particular case of Clearview AI at this time. Damon Roberts, 20, faces multiple gun-related charges in Alameda County Superior Court pertaining to the Aug. 1 shooting of Run Hua Kuang. Rafe Swan/Getty Image Run Hua Kuang was taking a nap after work in his Oakland apartment when a bullet fired from his neighbors unit pierced a wall and struck him in the head. The Aug. 1 shooting left the 33-year-old father on life support, according to his sister. Police allege Damon Roberts, who lives next door with his mother, fired the round. Roberts, 20, faces several gun-related charges in Alameda County Superior Court in connection with the shooting. On Wednesday, he appeared in court in a jail suit, but his plea hearing was postponed until Aug. 27. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His attorney was also in court but declined to comment on the case. The shooting occurred on East 19th Street near 23rd Avenue, according to the Oakland Housing Authority Police Department. Kuang, a delivery truck driver who immigrated to the U.S. from China in 2005, was shot as he took a nap after coming home from work, according to a GoFundMe page his sister created to raise funds for his family. The bullet pierced Kuangs headboard, struck his head and exited out his left eye, the page states. After the shooting, Kuang, a husband and father of two children, underwent a seven-hour surgery and was placed on life support, according to the page. The page describes Kuang as the sole provider for his family. His life was built upon being disciplined and devoted as a husband, father, and son, the page states. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An update on Kuangs condition was not immediately available Wednesday. Roberts was arrested Aug. 12 and booked into jail without bail. Roberts was convicted of robbery in Alameda County in 2021 and 2022. As a result of the two felony convictions, he was prohibited from having guns and ammunition. People eat dinner, wait for tables and drink at the bar at Sunset Reservoir Brewing Co. in 2015 in San Francisco. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Owner Hilary Passman, center, chats with relatives Zach Passman, right, and her uncle, Steven Passman, left, while her oldest daughter helps George Passman, 7, with a puzzle at Sunset Reservoir Brewing Co. in 2015 in San Francisco. Leah Millis/The Chronicle An Outer Sunset favorite for craft beer and artist performances will close at the end of the month. Sunset Reservoir Brewing Co., at 1735 Noriega St. in San Francisco, announced on Instagram that it will pour its last frosty Kolsches and hopped-up IPAs on Aug. 31. The post did not specify any motives behind the decision to end operations. We had an amazing decade of love, memories and award-winning brews. Over the next couple of weeks we hope to create a few more unforgettable memories with all of you, the message partially read. Owner Hilary Passman said she is closing the brewery to focus on her other company, Devils Teeth Baking Co., and its three locations including her downtown popup going permanent as part of the city-sponsored Vacant to Vibrant program. A downturn in business was not a factor in closing, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hilary Passman, owner of the Sunset Reservoir Brewing Co. in 2015 in San Francisco. Leah Millis/The Chronicle Passman said the space will have a new tenant, described as an experienced restaurateur who lives in the neighborhood, in the coming months. She declined to disclose any details of the incoming business. Change is hard, but change is good, Passman said. The bar opened in 2015 during a high time for craft beer in San Francisco. The opening garnered plenty of buzz, with hourslong waits. Since then, musical events and drag brunches were among the bar and restaurants regular fixtures, with customers biting into burgers, salads and tacos over pints. Passman believes the bar and restaurant was the first to do drag brunch in the Outer Sunset. We wanted to be like a European pub where anybody of any ilk was welcome to hang out, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Brewing staff have picked up several accolades at national brewing competitions, such as the U.S. Open Beer Contest, bringing back medals in 2021 and 2022 for their cucumber gose and English-style pale ales. A Patelco Credit Union Branch in Novato. Aidin Vaziri/The Chronicle The ATM at the Patelco Credit Union branch in Dublin in 2018. The credit union was hit by a major security breach in late June. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images This summer, Patelco Credit Unions half-million members lost access to most banking services for weeks after a huge ransomware attack. Now the credit union is saying members personal information was accessed in the breach. The notice of data breach, which is required by law, was issued late Tuesday by Patelco, the third-largest credit union in the Bay Area, with more than $9 billion in assets. It said that the June 29 ransomware attack involved unauthorized access to some of our databases. According to the statement, the credit union and external cybersecurity professionals conducted an investigation, which revealed that an unauthorized party gained access to our network on May 23, 2024, leading to access to the databases on June 29, 2024. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The databases accessed in the attack contained Patelco members information, the statement said: Following the investigation and a thorough review of the data involved, we confirmed on August 14, 2024, that the accessed databases contained your personal information. The investigation did not determine which specific data was accessed, Patelco said Accordingly, we are notifying individuals whose information was in those databases. A Patelco spokesperson reached by the Chronicle could not say how many members data may have been accessed. The information in the databases included the first and last names, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, date of birth and email addresses of current and former Patelco members and employees, the statement said. Not every data element was present for every individual, it said. The credit union is offering members 24 months of free identity theft protection and credit monitoring through Experian IdentityWorks. It also said members could place a security alert on their credit files or freeze them with the credit bureaus, and gave instructions for obtaining a free copy of their credit report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Patelco said members with questions or concerns can call a confidential toll-free response line at 833-251-9595 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some more ways to protect yourself: Use what the National Cybersecurity Alliance calls the core four best practices. They are: 1. Use unique passwords Dont use the same password for everything, especially not your main email account or your banking accounts. Dont use any of the 10,000 most frequently used passwords. 2. Use two-factor authentication wherever you can Multifactor authentication means youll have to wait a few seconds for a text or call to verify your identity before you can log in to your email or bank account. It adds a crucial extra layer of protection from thieves. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 3. Keep your phone and computer software up to date Make sure your phone and computer always have the latest software available. If youre not sure an update youre being offered is legitimate, search online to see whether theres been one recently. 4. Be aware of phishing scams and how to avoid them Dont tell someone your password or two-factor authentication code in an email or over the phone. Be wary of any text or email asking you for any personal information or offering a too-good-to-be-true job offer or investment opportunity. While a new biography claims the late Queen found President Trump 'very rude', what were her instincts regarding Vladimir Putin whom she met in 2003? Then home secretary David Blunkett, who was present with his guide dog during the official reception for the Russian tyrant, revealed: 'My dog barked very loudly [at Putin]. 'I did apologise to the Queen, saying, 'Sorry Your Majesty, about the dog barking'. She said, 'Dogs have interesting instincts don't they, Mr Blunkett?' A new biography claims the late Queen found President Trump 'very rude', what did she think of Vladimir Putin when he came to London in 2003? Putin came to Britain for a four-day state visit as Russian leader Queen Elizabeth II hosted President Vladimir Putin at Buckingham Palace in June 2003 Then home secretary David Blunkett (right) was present with his guide dog that barked loudly at the Russian president James Taylor's rendition of his 1971 hit You've Got A Friend dropped at Democratic Convention Ex-BBC correspondent Jon Sopel notes American star James Taylor's rendition of his 1971 hit You've Got A Friend was dropped at the Democratic National Convention, supposedly due to scheduling issues. Sopel points out: 'Which deprived Joe Biden from listening to the lyric 'when you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing, nothing is going right'.' Who thought it appropriate in the first place? Noises off for Duke and Duchess of Sussex Why do the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's videos have no sound, depriving us of eavesdropping on their chit-chat while on parade? Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole suggests: 'Perhaps to avoid instances such as the one when TV cameras (with sound) filmed them coming out of a door, side-by-side, and Meghan snapping at Harry, 'HAND!' obliging him to clasp hers for the camera.' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hold hands at an engagement while on their trip to Colombia Toyah Wilcox addresses morbid rumours So famous that Coronation Street called a character after her 'they had my blessing for that' upcoming Strictly contestant Toyah Willcox, 66, pictured, was asked in Uncut magazine if it was true that she once slept in a coffin. Singer-songwriter and actress Toyah Wilcox will appear on Strictly Come Dancing 2024 She replied: 'I tried. We lived opposite a funeral parlour, and we got on very well with them. They also had a morgue for people who'd just died. I remember once they said, 'did I want to come in and see Dick Emery?' Absolutely, no! Not right' Kamala inspires Loose Women's Kaye Kaye Adams, 61, of ITV's Loose Women, says on her podcast How To Be 60: 'Kamala Harris has really helped me rethink 60, cos she's 59 but in terms of the coverage of this election now she is the young buck, she's on TikTok, she's cool, she's happening. 'The energy around her is incredible. But she is nearly 60. It's all about framing, isn't it? Because she's been framed as young, she IS young and yet she's 59. 'And in another conversation you could think 'Oh God they're 59!' It is about just framing your thinking. Anyway that's my cod psychology.' And we're all the wiser for hearing it, surely! Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams says US presidential candidate Kamala Harris has taught her about how to be 60 Long live Kathy Lette! Highlighting a study in the BMJ stating Australians have the longest life expectancy, London-based Antipodean socialite Kathy Lette says in the Sydney Morning Herald: 'This has caused a bit of a kerfuffle among Britons, who don't like to think of Aussies as superior in any way.' A saucy 65, Kathy adds: 'My own maternal grandma lived to 101 and my beloved mum has just turned 93.' So irrepressible Ms Lette is due to be name-dropping for a good while yet! A popular bakery in Queensland has just taken the crown for the best sausage roll in the country. Kenilworth Bakery, on the Sunshine Coast, beat out fierce competition with their sausage rolls and were named the 'best in Australia' in the Wotif 2024 Uniquely Australia awards. The travel app's annual awards are across six different, distinctly Aussie experiences and are a guide to the nations best 'local gems'. The pastry institution behind the winning sausage roll is already famous for buns, pies and a viral 'coffee in donut' which fans line up for up for hours to get their hands on. But it's their 'impressively long' $25 one kilogram sausage roll (which also comes in a smaller size for $5) - that Aussies have driven for hours to try - that scored top marks in Wotif's most competitive category. Owner Jenna Sanders 'incredibly crafted' creation is a mammoth log of butter-kissed golden pastry encasing a perfectly rich savoury sausage filling. Ms Sanders spoke to FEMAIL and said that her 'secret family recipe' has been passed down through three generations and uses oats instead of just breadcrumbs. 'The oats soak up the flavour really well which is one of the many reasons why our sausage roll is so popular.' Wotif's Uniquely Australian Awards 2024 crowned Kenilworth Bakery on the Sunshine Coast as home to Australia's best sausage roll Jenna Sanders from Kenilworth Bakery won the award - which was the most hotly contested across all six Wotif categories, with the most Aussies voting The handmade sausage rolls are made with absolutely no machinery and are also baked fresh every day. If you manage to eat Australia's best sausage roll in one sitting - and all of the tomato sauce that it requires - the bakery will even give you your money back. But Kenilworth's head baker and owner thinks it's 'sacrilegious' to use any tomato sauce on a sausage roll: 'A good sausage roll doesn't need the sauce.' Jenna said that they sell about 2,000 of the popular rolls during a standard week, and even more during school holidays - and she is easily able to finish one of the 1KG rolls in one sitting. The popular bakery also enjoys a cult following for 'amazing' 1kg donuts, including the jam and cream and 'strawberry snake' - selling 5,000 every Saturday. Kenilworth Bakery beat out other finalists such as beloved SA baker Banana Boogie Bakery for the best sausage roll in the country according to Aussies voting in Wotif's 2024 annual awards The other bakeries in the running for selling the best sausage roll Bourke Street Bakery (NSW) Rolling Pin (VIC) Ben's Bakehouse (NT) Emu Lane (WA) Three Mills Bakery (ACT) Banana Boogie Bakery (SA) Summer Kitchen (TAS Advertisement Other state finalists in the best sausage roll category were Bourke Street Bakery (NSW), Rolling Pin (VIC), Ben's Bakehouse (NT), Emu Lane (WA), Three Mills Bakery (ACT), Banana Boogie (SA) and Summer Kitchen (TAS). Thousands of Aussies participating in Wotif's awards also voted across another five categories that included: Best Finger Bun, Best Hotel Bar, Best Surf Club, Best Lookout Point and Best Regional Museum. Cult Sydney foodie destination Humble Bakery in Surry Hills, took out the gong for Best Finger Bun in Australia for their Insta-famous iced-pink sticky buns. Other Wotif award winners were The Terrace Rooftop Bar (QLD) for Best Hotel Bar, Henley Surf Life Saving Club (SA) for Best Surf Club and Wineglass Bay Lookout (TAS) for Best Lookout Point in Australia. Travel expert Rebecca Hurley said the Uniquely Aussie Awards are all about spotlighting the country's best experiences and providing some travel-inspo ahead of the warmer months. The Terrace Rooftop Bar (QLD) won Wotif's Best Hotel Bar Wineglass Bay Lookout in Freycinet, Tasmania won Best Lookout Point in Australia 'With thousands of entries across the six categories, the awards show Aussies are eager to share their local travel favourites,' she said. 'However, it is the classic sausage roll which caused the most debate, earning the title of the most voted category by Aussies.' Those tempted to visit one of Kenilworth Bakery's locations might be convinced by one Aussie who endured a two hour trek just to sample the 'insanely good' treats. 'I have never been so impressed with a sausage roll. Awesome, made my day,' she said. Ask any woman over 40 on a dating app and she'll confirm this. A decent looking woman in midlife can pull a great-looking guy in his 20s or 30sbut not an out of shape 56-year-old, bald and beer-gutted, with numerous aches and pains. That guy still ticks the 'under 40' box as the cut off for women he wants to meet, curiously confident he will be attractive to this group. It's one reason why many midlife women are discovering the joys of dating someone much younger than them and there are many more. Two in five women on the dating app Feeld are now open to meeting members who are 15 or more years younger than them. US Census data shows the percentage of marriages between older women and younger men has grown in the past two decades: 14 per cent of marriages of women over 50 was to a partner younger by least five years. Not only is it easier for women to date younger men, those that do are happier. An American study of 300 women found women with a partner at least ten years younger are happier than those with partners their own age or older. Sex and relationships expert Tracey Cox (pictured) spoke to midlife women who choose to date younger men rather than their own contemporaries All hail Sienna We can thank celebrities for helping derogatory terms like 'cougar' and 'cradle-snatcher' applied to women who dated younger men but never the reverse to disappear. Cher's at it dating a 38-year-old at 78-years-old but then she's always been at it. (Good for her!) It's when respected actresses like Sienna Miller have a baby with a partner who is 15 years younger, that the taboo gets challenged. In a recent magazine interview, Sienna said younger men respect women more because they've grown up with a slightly more level playing field. Guess what? She's right. Actress Sienna Miller (left), 42, is in a relationship with actor Oli Green (right), 27 It takes a certain type Not all young men are open to dating women older than them: they tend to be self-assured, mature and confident enough to make unconventional choices. It's not just any woman who suits this arrangement, either. The type of woman who's inclined to go out with a younger man is usually better than average looking. Let's be brutally honest here: physical appearance is nearly always the initial attractor. These women don't necessarily look younger than their age, but they do have buckets of sex appeal. I interviewed a wide range of women (ranging in age from 46 to 61) who've dated a man at least ten years younger to find out what their experience was. Here's what I discovered. 'I thought I'd feel self-conscious naked, but he made me feel like the sexiest woman alive' Nicole, 51, has been dating men younger than her for more than six years. 'When people ask why I don't date men my own age, the answer is because they don't want to date me! 'Any female over 45 will share my frustration with how older men behave on dating apps. Well, the feeling is mutual now I've gone younger. It's a totally different experience and a lot more positive. 'The first young guy I went out with was also the only decent guy who responded to my profile. 'At first, I thought it was a joke why would a guy that young and good-looking want to date me? We arranged to meet, and I was convinced he'd either not turn up or run once he saw me in real life. He did neither. We had a brilliant evening and there was no pressure for sex at the end of it. 'I asked why he chose me over a younger woman, and he said he was tired of their "dramas and insecurity". Part of me bristled, aware I was guilty of both in my 20s as well, but it made me realise just how confident I was now compared to then. I could see the appeal of being with a woman who didn't cling or want commitment. One 51-year-old woman told Tracey Cox that sex with her younger lover was 'fantastic' (stock image) 'We had sex after date three (yes, that old rule stuck!) and it was fantastic. I thought I'd feel self-conscious, but I didn't. He made me feel like the sexiest woman alive. 'The oral sex he gave me was the best I've ever had. I couldn't get enough of him and we saw each other for four months. It ran its course after that: we still text but I don't want a serious relationship, just a bit of fun. 'Since then, I've dated three other younger men and each was an enjoyable, ego-boosting experience. 'I don't raise too many eyebrows doing what I do though I got a bit of resistance at the start from my daughter, who's 24. She was a bit funny about me dating men not much older than her. But now she knows I'm not going to marry one and make her call him 'Dad', she thinks it's liberating. 'My Mum wishes she could have her time over again so she could do the same and my Dad says men have been doing it for years, so why shouldn't women? 'My married girlfriends are deeply envious and want all the intimate details. I don't think I'll settle down with a much younger man but, who knows? Never say never.' Younger men are more appealing because... They look great Let's acknowledge the less woke but obvious appeal first, shall we? Youth is attractive physically. Young men are energetic, more muscle-bound and have penises that spring to attention within seconds. But while this is a definite plus, most of the women I spoke to say the following quality is what appeals more Data from the popular dating app Feeld reveals that two in five women are now open to meeting members 15 years (or more) their junior (stock image) They're more positive about life World weary, depressed at not having achieved what he'd hoped, feeling undervalued and judged by a woke world he doesn't quite understandThe 'grumpy old man' label fits a lot of older men. Here's why I love older women (by younger men dating them) Here's what younger men told me when I asked what they liked about dating older women. 'They're not hanging around waiting for a man to fill their life. You don't become her life, you become a part of hers. There's more freedom to be your own person.' 'Of course, older women are better in bed. They're less inhibited, more willing to try new things and ironically worry less about their bodies than younger girls do. They're more accepting of their flaws.' 'My girlfriend is 12 years older than me and it shows in all the right ways. She challenges me intellectually, provides a different perspective on life and she's wise. It's a hell of a lot more interesting than watching a young girl incessantly scrolling through Instagram.' 'There's no pressure to settle down and have a baby because she's done that already. The focus is on fun and sex not commitment.' 'Young women obsess about their looks and weight. It's exhausting constantly having to reassure them. Older women are more comfortable in their skin.' 'The sex is fantastic. Older women know what they're doing, they don't overreact when things go wrong, they take charge. They're also not scared to make the first move. They pick you up rather than the other way around.' Advertisement Younger men are less jaded. They're more fun, spontaneous, curious about the world and exciting. Their energy and enthusiasm for life is both refreshing and invigorating. The sex is better Many women in midlife experience a renewed sense of sexual freedom and confidence. They're more likely to take the lead and become the sexual aggressor than a younger woman - and less likely to lie back and let him do all the work. It's nearly always good news if the woman takes control because we focus less on intercourse. Sex becomes more about giving each other pleasure and enjoying the journey the only real way to ensure both of you have an orgasm during partnered sex. Young men have grown up with the 'she comes first' mantra, they know about the orgasm gap, what a clitoris is, where to find it and how to stimulate it. In short, they're more sexually savvy. The more a man knows about a woman's sexual response system, the better lover he will be. They've grown up in a more female-friendly, enlightened age It's not just the sexual messaging that's better, young men are less sexist. Their mothers invariably worked as well as their fathers; she might well have earned more than him. Today's young men grow up hearing terms like 'emotional intelligence' and 'self-care'. Men in their 50s can be oblivious to concepts like this. They're less likely to have done work on themselves; less open to new ways of thinking. The older women I spoke to say the younger men they've dated had an emotional intelligence and maturity they don't see in men their own age. They're not stuck in their ways Dating a younger guy often means you're introduced to new ideas, trends and perspectives. They're more flexible in their views and less set in their ways. Life is infinitely more interesting than existing with an 'It's-Thursday-so-it-must-be-egg-and-chips' man. There's less emotional baggage Fewer scars from past relationships means a less cynical view of life not to mention a healthier bank balance that hasn't been decimated by divorce settlements. Who would YOU rather date? The one who thinks all women are 'crazy b****es' or one who likes women? Viewers and critics alike have ardently praised a new BBC X-rated sitcom about a tetraplegic woman - which contains some very explicit sexual scenes for its representation of disabled storylines. Fans of the new hit show We Might Regret This have gushed about the 'funny, quippy and tense' programme which was created by Toronto-born artist Kyla Harris, who moved to the UK some 10 years ago. Kyla, who co-wrote and created the show with long-time friend Lee Getty, is a wheelchair user, who has some use of her arms. Though fictional, the series is inspired by some of the experiences shared by the two friends when Lee was working as Kyla's personal assistant (PA) some decades ago, a job she accepted not long after they met (which they now describe as a 'total risk'), but which ultimately yielded a strong bond. Lee does not appear onscreen, but Kyla does, playing a 30-something Canadian artist and tetraplegic Freya who has moved to London for 50-something lawyer Abe (played by Darren Boyd) with whom she's having a fast-moving relationship, with the two moving in together. Fans of the new hit show We Might Regret This have gushed about the 'funny, quippy and tense' programme which was created by Toronto-born artist Kyla Harris, who moved to the UK some 10 years ago. Kyla Harris (pictured, left) playing Freya in We Might Regret This with fellow actor Elena Saurel (who plays her friend and PA Jo) Social media has been impressed with not only the show's wit - as some have hailed it 'the BBCs smartest, sharpest sitcom since Fleabag' but its masterful handling of disabled love stories. 'It's about adult friendships, romance and it's done with a disabled lens,' one penned. 'I'm so freaking happy to see this on screen.' 'Interesting show!,' another added. 'There are some great well developed characters in it and I like how disability is incidental to the story and not the starting end of each plot point.' A third agreed, writing: 'You have no idea how long I waited for a story like that... with disability representation and romance.' Meanwhile critics have praised the show as a 'ribald disability romcom that knows no boundaries' as well as 'witty TV that is totally liberating to watch'. The Telegraph's Jasper Rees was full of admiration for the programme's punchy dialogue, while the Guardian was very positive in its review of the ensemble cast. Elsewhere, The Times celebrated the sitcom's laugh out loud moments while the Independent revered its handling of emotionally complex issues. The bold series immediately shows viewers that it is unafraid to push boundaries, with the first episode opening on a sex scene between Freya and Abe. However, the moment is ruined when a PA comes into the room. Fans of the new hit show We Might Regret This have gushed about the 'funny, quippy and tense' programme. Pictured: Kyla Harris and Darren Boyd Social media has been impressed with not only the show's wit - as some have hailed it 'the BBCs smartest, sharpest sitcom since Fleabag ' but its masterful handling of disabled love stories Within the first few minutes of the programme, the PA asks Freya invasive questions about whether she has sensation 'down there'. This is something that Kyla has experienced in her real life, as she discussed on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour. Speaking about how she hopes the programme may help people understand disability better, Kyla said: 'I am a wheelchair user...I need assistance with daily activities and personal care. 'So for instance, I need people to...open doors for me or help me pee, and so I'd have 24 hour care to assist with that.' She went on to explain the misconceptions, prejudice and ableism that affects disabled people evert day. 'We're hoping that We Might Regret This is an antidote to that,' Kyla continued. 'Lee was my personal care assistant on and off for 10 years.' In a BBC interview promoting the series, Kyla further explained this idea, saying: 'So much of what we see on screen about disability is made by non-disabled people, theyre often stories of tragedy or inspiration and really shape how people view disability - both for non-disabled people and how disabled people internalise stories about themselves. 'As disabled people are the most underrepresented group in front of and behind the screen, we really want to contribute to changing how people currently define disability and the disabled experience.' THE TELEGRAPH Rating: Giving it four stars out of five, Jasper Rees of The Telegraph enjoyed the show's punchy dialogue and unapologetic honesty. 'The writing, tangy and ribald, is at its most nakedly truthful when portraying what feels rooted in lived experience: when Freya embraces freedom in a motorised wheelchair, say, or when working as a model her disability is exploited by the able-bodied but empty-headed,' the critic said. 'As for the casual nudity, rare in television comedy, it looks like a defiant way of normalising disability. That, and all the touching scenes involving her urethra.' THE GUARDIAN Rating: The Guardian also awarded the sitcom four out five stars, calling it 'very funny' as well as cleverly written. Frances Ryan added that the show is equally strong in its stellar cast, who all perfectly land the dynamics between the characters. 'There is Abes soon-to-be ex-wife, Jane (played with fantastic dryness by Sally Phillips), and his wayward son,'the critic explained. 'Levi (Edward Bluemel), who is busy trying to get into bed with Jo. Some of the funniest early scenes come from Freyas outgoing PA, Ty (Aasiya Shah), who plays "well-meaning but useless"with aplomb. Part of the humour comes from the way their relationship subverts how we are often told to treat disability and care. 'Freya isnt a helpless figure portrayed as lucky to have a carer. She is an adult in control who is increasingly exasperated by her employee ("Shes going to make me commit a crime").' THE TIMES Rating: Carol Midgley of The Times gave the show four out of five stars, saying that you'll find yourself laughing out loud seconds into episode one. She also expressed how well the format works, thanks to Freya serving as the 'perfect lead character'. 'She is clever and wisecracking but can also be stroppy, as can Abe,' the review read. 'The therapy sessions with Abe and his ex Jane (Sally Phillips) are brilliantly written and acted. They are here to discuss their grief over a dead son and Jane says she is "bored".' THE INDEPENDENT Rating: The Independent's Nick Hilton has praised the show's ability to propel emotional stories cleverly and with good pacing, giving it four out of five stars. Not only are these scenes escalated well, but they are done so with excellently placed in comedy. Nick also added that the storylines where disability is front and centre are 'unflinching yet accessible'. 'This is not a story of incidental disability: Freya's tetraplegia is the governing narrative force,' he explained. '"She's half his age, but she uses a wheelchair," Jane tells her therapist, of her ex-husbands new squeeze. "So, you know, swings and roundabouts." 'In a sea of shows about inclusivity, it is refreshing to see one that embraces the exclusivity: the adaptations necessitated, the care required, the subtle uniqueness of each person in each position.' A King's Guardsman and serving British soldier has been crowned the new Mr England. Manuel Alcantara Turner, who has attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth's funeral, now has the chance to become the next Mr World. The 22-year-old beat 12 other competitors to take the title at The City Rooms, in Leicester, yesterday evening after being whittled down from more than 150 entries. Manuel, based in Windsor, Berkshire, joined the Army aged 16, and said it turned him from 'a boy into a man'. He said: 'It's an absolute honour to win this. I will represent my country well and hopefully make everyone proud. Manuel Alcantara Turner beat 12 other competitors to take the title at The City Rooms, in Leicester, yesterday evening 'I have been based out of Windsor with the British Army and have been since I was 16 but I'm originally from Newcastle. 'Since being in the Kings Guard I've been on ceremonial duties for the King's coronation and the Queen's funeral as well as the Queen's last birthday parade. 'In terms of actual soldiering, I've been deployed twice to Kenya and have been training Ukrainians.' Manuel, who is originally from Whitley Bay, Tyneside, smiled for the cameras as he wore his Mister England sash and his trophy. He can be seen in snap donning his full scarlet King's Guardsman uniform complete with the bearskin cap. 'This is the first time I've ever done anything like this, so I was quite nervous but I do think myself quite a charismatic kind of guy. 'I know my work would appreciate it and I checked with them just in case so time of work will not be an issue [for the Mr World contest]. 'In terms of ambitions, it's to serve my country. That has always been my ambition and always will be. Manuel said his ambition is to 'serve my country' adding that it has always been a dream of him Manuel Alcantara Turner smiled for the cameras as he wore his Mister England sash and his trophy Manuel Alcantara Turner said joining the Army aged 16 turned him from 'a boy into a man' Manuel is pictured holding tropical fruit in his Army uniform. He joined the forces aged just 16 The 22-year-old went up against more than 150 entries before he was crowned Mr England The soldier can be seen in snap donning his full scarlet King's Guardsman uniform complete with the bearskin cap Manuel will now represent England in the next Mr World final and is pictured here with a cheetah Manuel Alcantara Turner has been crowned the new Mr England - pictured with Miss England Milla Magee 'All I want to do is lay my life down for England so I think that's pretty deserving for Mr England.' Manuel competed in an interview, fashion shoot and a catwalk round, which was hosted by the current Miss England Milla Magee. The lifeguard - dubbed the 'Cornish Pamela Anderson' - had taken to her local beach in the hunt for entries after the contest suffered a 'hunk shortage' early on. Manuel will now represent England in the next Mr World final due to be held in Vietnam in November. As the summer holidays draw to a close, hundreds of thousands of students across the nation are bracing themselves for one of the most significant moments of their academic journey. On Thursday, Year 10 and 11 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE results, with emotions running high as they anticipate the outcome of years of hard work. At the weekend, experts said officials may be in favour of 'feel good results' this year, which means there could be a rise in top grades. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, acknowledged we could also see a repeat of last week's surprise bumper A-level results, which were a record high for non-Covid times. For those curious about how they might fare in a GCSE exam today, FEMAIL has compiled a selection of tricky maths questions featured in an AQA problem solving resource. These questions - designed to challenge even the most confident mathematicians - offer a glimpse into the rigorous assessments students across the UK have tackled. On Thursday, Year 10 and 11 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their GCSE results, with emotions running high as they anticipate the outcome of years of hard work Your browser does not support iframes. Consider yourself a maths wiz? Try these real GCSE Maths questions We've picked out ten problem solving questions practice questions featured on examination board AQA's 90 Maths Problems resource. Scroll down to the box below for the answers - no peaking or cheating! 1. Bouncing Ball 2. Box Clever 3. Coins 4. Digitification 5. Put the numbers in 6. PQR 7. Purple Paint 8. Repeater 9. Square Root Range 10. Stamps Advertisement The mother of Princess Beatrice's step-son has shown off her incredible figure in a bikini as she documented her sunny European getaway. Dara Huang, 41, who shares eight-year-old Christopher 'Wolfie' with her ex Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, took to Instagram to share snaps of herself enjoying some handmade ice-cream. The American architect posed in a chic swimsuit that showed off her enviable body, featuring a red top and black and white bottoms. Wearing her raven tresses down, Dara smiled for the camera as she sampled the dessert from a stand. Videos shared on social media also showed clips of fruit being cut up to be used in the sweet treat and later mixed in with dairy. Dara Huang, 41, who shares eight-year-old Christopher 'Wolfie' with her ex Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi , took to Instagram to share snaps of herself enjoying some handmade ice-cream 'Ever wonder how ice cream is made?' she wrote in the caption. 'What happens when you have your own ice cream stand.' It is not known what country Dara is currently in, but a later post of her snacking on a plate of fruit at the beach confirmed that the social media star, who has 66,600 Instagram followers, is in Europe for a 'working holiday'. It comes as last month, she shared a sweet set of pictures on social media of herself and Wolfie enjoying a glamorous weekend away in Paris. Dara - who has previously designed for Four Seasons hotels -wrote in her post that it had always been Wolfie's dream to see the Eiffel tower. In the thread of pictures and videos, Dara shows Wolfie gazing up towards the Parisian architecture as his doting mother snaps a sweet picture from below. In another picture, Dara sits hugging her young son in a restaurant while he leans into her shoulder for an affectionate cuddle. Dara captioned the sweet Instagram post: 'We made it!!! Wolfies dream was to see the Eiffel Tower and we made his dreams come true this weekend. 'I had the most romantic weekend with my little man. Hard to believe Paris is only a two hour train journey from London.' The mother of Princess Beatrice 's step-son has shown off her incredible figure in a bikini as she documented her sunny European getaway Videos shared on social media also showed clips of fruit being cut up to be used in the sweet treat and later mixed in with dairy The two didn't just tour the city for landmarks. Mother and son appeared to be staying at a luxurious country house, equipped with a swimming pool and a selection of large bedrooms. Dara shared several videos posing in the many mirrors at the French home as well as several of Wolfie exploring the vast new territory. In one clip, Wolfie is seen leaping into a large outdoor pool as Dara cheers him on from the sidelines, congratulating the bomb dive. Christopher 'Wolfie' Mapelli Mozzi was born on 28 March 2016. Dara and Edo chose to go their separate ways two years later, in 2018. Edo and Beatrice are parents to two-year-old Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, and co-parent 'Wolfie' with Dara and her current partner. Wolfie made his first appearance at a royal engagement last December at the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Princess Beatrice 's stepson Wolfie looked adorable as he made his first appearance at a royal engagement at the Princess of Wales ' Westminister Abbey carol concert in December 2023 Dara was born and grew up in America, to where her maternal grandfather had emigrated from Taiwan. She was granted British citizenship last year. Speaking about the co-parenting dynamic between herself and her former fiance, Dura said she is glad her eight -year-old son has 'two sets of parents trying to help him on both sides'. Dara added: 'It's all about your point of view. I don't understand people who are divorced and then hold their children as collateral; that doesnt make any sense. 'It's about creating a happy home and lifestyle.' She told Harper's Bazaar: 'Wolfie has had two sets of parents trying to help him on both sides, and I just think, "The more, the merrier." 'I feel lucky to have such positive people around him, who really embrace him because it didnt have to be so easy.' Dara added: 'It's all about your point of view. I don't understand people who are divorced and then hold their children as collateral; that doesnt make any sense. 'It's about creating a happy home and lifestyle.' Dara, a Harvard-educated architect who grew up in Florida, has an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and transferred to the Ivy League school for her Masters in Architecture. She now lives in Chelsea in west London. A business owner who moved to south east Asia was left horrified when her luscious locks, which were two-and-a-half ft long, fell out during her trio. Holly Marie, 27, from Cardiff, was housebound for two months after the hair loss, which she blames on hard water in Bali, left her feeling 'ugly'. Hollie arrived on the island in 2021 when she noticed her hair started thinning but was clueless why it was happening. Within months she had lost the majority of her 30-inch long blonde hair after it became matted and 'huge chunks' fell out every time she brushed it. This forced a horrified Hollie, who'd been wearing wigs for months to hide patches, to shave her head completely. Holly Marie, originally from Cardiff, began to lose her hair after she moved out to Bali but couldn't understand what was causing the loss Mortified, Hollie felt unable to leave her house for two months because she felt 'so ugly'. After putting her hair loss down to stress, the sun or even alopecia, Hollie claims a hairdresser revealed the 'hard, poor quality' of the island's tap water was to blame. To prevent other tourists from going through her 'traumatising' experience Hollie, who's lived in Bali for the last three years, set up her own shower filter business. Documenting her hair journey on TikTok, Hollie shared a clip urging people to be aware of how water can affect hair and skin that went viral, racking up 786,800 views. Before Hollie's hair loss began her luscious blonde locks were approximately 30 inches and down to her waist Hollie had always had long hair so she couldn't understand why it started falling out when she moved Shortly after she made the move to Bali, Hollie noticed her naturally blonde hair was coming out in clumps Hollie documented her hair loss on TikTok, still none the wiser as to how and why it was falling out After several months of living in Bali Hollie's hair had thinned out significantly The business owner began wearing wigs to hide the increasingly thinning hair on her head Pictured: Hollie Marie in a pink wig to cover up her hair loss One shocking clip shows the large clumps of hair found on Hollie's brush after a single use. Hollie, originally from Cardiff, Wales, said: 'It's horrifying. You just take a lot about yourself for granted, iIt's such a shock when things like this happen. 'I noticed I was losing hair, but because I had so much hair initially it took a while to notice how drastic the change was. 'Three months into living in Bali I went on a trip and on the drive back my hair fused together. 'The texture of my hair changed and my hair strands literally melted together, it was really scary. 'The bonds of my hair had changed. It had matted so badly that the people at the hairdressers couldn't do anything with it so they had to cut it all off. 'I went back to the hairdresser because I was still losing a lot of hair. Eventually the now 27-year-old decided to shave her head after seeing how thin it had become Eventually, after watching a video created by a hairdresser online, Hollie realised the hard water in Bali was causing her hair to fall out When she first shaved her head at Christmas in 2021 she was frightened to leave the house because of how it made her feel She revealed she felt 'ugly' with short hair which made her avoid seeing people 'Everytime I brushed it, huge clumps were coming out. I noticed I had a bald patch and thought 'what the f**k is going on?'. 'I went to a doctor thinking 'do I have alopecia?'. But my eyelashes were still intact and my eyebrows were still there. 'I never put my hair in the pool really so I knew it wasn't the pool water.' The content creator, who is a natural blonde and has never dyed her locks, revealed she was losing so much hair she decided to shave it all off on Christmas Eve 2021. Now, after investing in a filter for her shower to treat the hard water in Bali, she feels better than ever Hollie's hair has now recovered thanks to washing her hair with filtered water and it's at shoulder length Hollie now runs her own business providing shower filters to soften the hard water and documents her own hair regrowth updates on TikTok Hollie said: 'I had about one-fifth of my hair left on my head. The texture was horrible, it was so matted all the time. I thought 'let's start again, completely fresh'. 'I had to get a guy from a barber to come round and shave my head. I'd been wearing wigs for four months anyway. 'The next day I was spending Christmas with a load of friends which was kind of traumatising. I have never wanted a shaved head. 'I knew I wouldn't suit it, I looked like Bob the Builder. It was very strange. You take your hair for granted, it's not something you ever think will desert you. It's part of your identity, it's your crown.' After shaving her head, Hollie, who still didn't know the cause of her hair loss at the time, didn't leave the house for two months - not even to go to the gym. She also began avoiding people. 'It was not a good period for me, especially in the first year,' she said. 'I had horrific hair growth phases.' While she believes that appearance is 'the least interesting thing' about a person, she argued it can still have a 'huge impact' on how you feel. It wasn't until April 2022 that Hollie realised the potential cause of her hair loss when she watched a video by an Australian hairdresser in Bali, who revealed her hair loss was down to the water on the island. Hollie: 'I didn't realise it was the water until I went to a hairdresser and she told me this happened to a lot of people. 'The quality of water here is so hard that it can really affect your hair and skin. 'I really regret not being proactive when I first noticed clumps of hair coming out. I thought 'maybe it's stress, maybe it's the sun'. 'I just blamed it on anything else. I would never have thought of the tap water being a problem. 'It wasn't until I started making videos about it that loads of people started replying to me and saying 'oh my God this happened to me but I didn't realise it was because I went to Bali'.' Not fully trusting the 'cheap' shower filters sold online to protect her hair, Hollie developed her own business, Travel with Hair, in December 2022 that stocks the items in Bali. Now sporting shoulder-length hair, Hollie vows to 'always use a filter' on her shower head and wants to spread awareness to others. Hollie said: 'I left it too late to do anything. By the time I thought I needed to do something about my hair loss and speak to a doctor, I had lost a significant amount. 'It's scary. The last thing anyone wants is to come back from their holiday and find they've lost all their hair. 'It gave me an idea. I suffered something really traumatising and I can help people not go through the same thing. 'If you're coming for 10 days, you should be fine. If you're coming for two weeks or longer it's quite important to get a filter. 'The filters are actually designed especially for the water found in South East Asia. 'They fit the majority of showers, we test all the water and we make them specifically. 'It's small, you can carry it on the plane, and it's easy to attach, it literally takes 30 seconds.'It'll also prevent any heartbreak, because who wants that when they go on holiday?' California Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, takes part in the roll call vote during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle California Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the floor of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 20. He delivered the states delegates votes for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle CHICAGO When Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, he spoke for only about two and a half minutes, hailing Vice President Kamala Harris as a star and California as a land of dreamers and doers and entrepreneurs. The thing we pride ourselves most on is we believe the future happens in California first, he said when announcing Californias delegates cast their votes for Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president from the floor of the convention hall. Ive had the privilege for over 20 years to see that future taking shape with a star in an Alameda courtroom by the name of Kamala Harris. Newsom arrived late Monday evening in Chicago, where Democrats are holding their convention to formally nominate Harris. He spent Tuesday morning in private meetings with donors, spokesperson Nathan Click said. Ahead of his speech, he did interviews with local TV stations as a surrogate for Harris from a media staging area outside the convention floor. As of Tuesday, he didnt yet have firm plans or any other speaking obligations slated for the rest of the week, Click said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Newsoms brief remarks stand in contrast to more prominent speeches given by other California politicians from the convention stage, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, and other governors, including Kathy Hochul of New York and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. Newsoms lack of a prominent role in the convention marks a swift retreat from the spotlight for the second-term governor. Newsom often served as the top Democratic attack dog for Joe Biden before the president dropped out of the race. But since Harris shored up support to replace Biden as the nominee, other Democratic governors, most notably Harris running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have taken Newsoms place in the national spotlight. California Gov. Gavin Newsom greets people at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, Aug. 19. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Eric Schickler, a political science professor at UC Berkeley, noted that Newsom already has an elevated profile because of his role as a top Biden surrogate, unlike some of the other speakers. Hes already made a national name for himself within the party, so he doesnt necessarily need to be introduced that way, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He also noted that the Harris campaign likely doesnt want to further link herself to California state government and the challenges its facing. Republicans have been trying to blame Harris for Californias liberal crime policies and its high homeless population, though as attorney general and as U.S. senator she didnt directly set state policy. Newsom and other Democrats seen as likely 2028 presidential contenders while Biden was the nominee would have likely been much more visible at the convention as they tried to build support for their future campaigns. But they are now in limbo, Schickler said. If Harris loses, they would still have a shot, but they cant be seen as trying to steal the spotlight from Harris. If Harris defeats Trump in November, she will likely run for a second term in 2028. That means the next generation of stars in the party, including Newsom, may have to wait until 2032 for a truly open lane to run for president. On Election Day that year, Newsom would be 65. That puts Newsom, who was sworn into office as San Francisco mayor the same day Harris was as district attorney, in a potentially awkward position as he campaigns for Harris. For his part, Newsom has brushed off any awkwardness and has said he is proud to back her campaign. Newsom has long stoked suspicions that he plans to run for president. He launched a national fundraising effort to attack Republicans in their home states and has traveled to conservative states to encourage voters in those areas to support abortion rights and gun control. He also debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News, using the platform to defend his record in California and stump for Biden. He rebutted suggestions he was running a shadow presidential campaign by saying he was modeling the kind of proactive, aggressive attacks he believed Democrats should be doing more of. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To quiet rumors that he was gearing up for his own presidential bid, Newsom went out of his way to demonstrate his loyalty to Biden. He raised millions of dollars for the Biden campaign through his vast email list of supporters. He served as a spin-room surrogate for the president at a Republican primary debate and during Bidens debate with Trump in June. After Bidens halting debate performance, Newsom was swarmed by reporters in the spin room, barraging him with questions about whether he would be the nominee if Biden stepped down. He repeatedly said he would not. Instead, Newsom flew across the country to stand with Biden during a meeting at the White House. That weekend, he campaigned for Biden in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Newsom hasnt gone on a similar campaign swing for Harris, though he has solicited donations for her campaign through his email list. Newsoms staffers say he will continue to campaign and fundraise for Harris and other Democrats this election cycle. Newsom has raised more than $7 million for the then-Biden, now-Harris campaign, $1 million for the Democratic National Committee, more than $1 million for Democratic Senate candidates, and more than half a million for Democratic House candidates, Click said. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi pointed to Newsom as one of the key figures helping to elect Democrats in congressional races in California that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi attends the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie Gavin Newsom is helping us win our House races, and Im so happy about that because we must win those races, she told fellow Californians at their delegation breakfast on Monday. Newsoms diminished role in the convention is a bit of a full-circle moment for the governor. He lamented being treated as a pariah at the convention in 2004 where in response to issuing same-sex marriage licenses as San Francisco mayor, he lost a speaking role and was shunned by fellow Democrats. He played a much more prominent role in 2008, when he boosted his profile with a long list of appearances, including being toasted by Californias LGBTQ caucus and hosting a party at a hipster warehouse in Denver dubbed Unconventional 08. Time magazine honored Newsom that year as one of its five hotshots to watch Democrats. One of Times other hotshots: San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2016, he addressed the convention that nominated Hillary Clinton. He skipped the 2020 convention as his state battled massive wildfires and a raging pandemic, but still addressed delegates virtually in a video address. Since Biden dropped out, Newsom has been a less visible surrogate on the presidential campaign trail, but hes continued to antagonize Trump. Hes really losing it, Newsom tweeted on Friday, linking to a story in which Trump accused Harris of ruining San Francisco but also saying he loved San Francisco 15 years ago when Harris was district attorney and Newsom was mayor. Newsom has also mocked Trumps rambling social media posts and his interview with billionaire Elon Musk. Glitchy. Tech issues. Uncomfortable silences. A complete failure to launch. And thats just the candidate, Newsom tweeted in the wake of the interview, which had major technical problems. He didnt mention Trump in his brief speech on Tuesday, instead focusing on Harris. Its time for us to do the right thing, he said, and thats to elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States of America. I took myself to the cinema on Sunday night to see a film I thought would be really important. Its called It Ends With Us and is based on a novel of the same title written by Colleen Hoover. The novel was inspired by the authors experiences of observing her fathers violence and her mothers suffering. It was well reviewed, sold millions of copies and was perceived as a story which would raise awareness of domestic violence. I thought it would be helpful for there to be a film which would be seen by women and perhaps men which would explain how common such abuse is in the home and show rather than tell what damage it does. Im afraid I was bitterly disappointed. Blake Lively as Lily Bloom opposite Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid in It Ends With Us, which is based on the novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover The film does not portray domestic violence as it really is at all, writes Jenni Murray Blake Lively plays the beautiful, smiling Lily Bloom whos arrived in Boston to set up a flower shop. We learn quickly at her fathers funeral that her mother has suffered from his violence. Lily cant bring herself to deliver a eulogy. Soon after the funeral she meets the charming, handsome brain surgeon, Ryle Kincaid, and falls hopelessly in love. Glossy romance fills almost the whole of the film with a mere hint that he might have nudged her face on one occasion and pushed her down the stairs both by accident. Its when he attempts to rape her, knocking her unconscious, after he discovers shes seen an old lover that he begins to fit the picture of the abuser. She finds shes pregnant. Hes there for the birth of their daughter then calmly walks away when she tells him she wants a divorce. The film does not portray domestic violence as it really is at all. Its true that abusers are often handsome, rich and charming and that such violence can happen in even the most ordered and wealthy homes, but the idea that such a man would accept rejection without complaint is ridiculous. We know its often at that point that the violence escalates and women brave enough to try to escape often die. The words It Ends with Us spoken to a baby daughter are, sadly, fiction. I knew nothing of domestic violence until the late 1980s and early 1990s when it became arguably the most important subject we covered on Womans Hour. Id heard of Erin Pizzey, who founded a charity called Refuge in 1971. She offered a safe house to women and children in Chiswick, west London, but left the charity in the 1980s and now campaigns for mens rights. Ryle only begins to fit the picture of the abuser when he finds out Lily has seen an old lover It was in 1989 that I learned how the legal system in this country had different rules for the way violent men and women were treated. Sara Thornton had endured repeated beatings from her husband, had sought help from the police but none came. She stabbed him and killed him, was convicted of murder and given a life sentence. The judge said she could have simply walked out or gone upstairs. Soon after Thornton lost her appeal, Joseph McGrail killed his common law wife as she lay drunk by kicking her repeatedly in the stomach. He was given a two-year suspended sentence for manslaughter and walked free. The judge expressed every sympathy for him, adding, This lady would have tried the patience of a saint. I and many other women were outraged by this discrepancy in treatment. The law reform campaign Justice for Women was founded in 1990 and I became an ardent supporter of its work. It has taken more than 30 years for campaigns by lawyers, some MPs and journalists like me to have the issue taken seriously. Laws have been changed, judges have been trained and Refuge and Womens Aid have done their best to help women find safe places for themselves and their children. And its taken until now for the police to truly accept that a call from a terrified woman is not just a domestic. Last month the National Police Chiefs Council analysis revealed that as many as two million women a year are estimated to be victims of male violence. Theyve called it an epidemic so serious it amounts to a national emergency. Louisa Rolfe, the national lead for domestic abuse and an assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police, said the real figure was likely to be four million as many offences are not reported. Now, though, theres a chance violence against women and girls will be taken seriously enough for it to be placed high on the political agenda. The Prime Minister is said to be haunted by the story of Jane Clough, a 26-year-old nurse who was stabbed 71 times by her former partner in 2010. He had been charged with raping her and had been freed on bail. Starmer became friends with Janes parents when he was director of public prosecutions and the issue of violence against women and girls is now a priority for him. Police are to be asked to monitor the countrys 1,000 most dangerous abusers; control rooms responding to 999 calls will be given a domestic abuse advisor; and theres to be a mission delivery board focused on halving violence against women and girls within a decade. Jess Phillips heads the board as the first ever minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls. Starmer could not have made a better appointment. I know her well and I dont remember ever meeting a more determined and straightforward politician. She worked at Womens Aid for a long time before entering parliament. She is dedicated to this cause: for the last nine years, on International Womens Day, she has read out in parliament a list of all the women murdered in the previous year. I have confidence in both Phillips and Starmer on this issue. I invited Starmer on to Womans Hour to talk about violence against women. He cares about it. But he must ensure the police are taking it seriously and that there are no Wayne Couzens left in the force. As prisoners are released early to make space there must be no rapists or stalkers among them and the courts must be open for dealing with these cases in good time. Too many rape victims and women whove been beaten give up because it takes too long to get to court. Lots to do Jess and Keir. Just get on with it. At least Brad tried with Shiloh Angelina Jolie with Shiloh who is keeping her mothers surname Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt has officially dropped her father Brad Pitts name and become Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. It seems she prefers to keep her mothers name. Brad set up a skate park in his home for Shiloh, and an art studio to reflect their common interest in art. It seems none of it has brought them closer. No reason was given for dropping the name, but the Pitt-Jolie divorce initiated in 2016 and still not finalised due to ongoing custody and financial issues, cant have helped matters. Motorists aren't cash machines It's awful that fund-strapped councils appear to be using drivers as cash machines, Jenni Murray writes Ive been fined twice recently, both for driving down streets I used to use a lot and which are now one way with no adequate signs. I fear driving around my home city. Every so often I realise my speed has crept over 20mph to 22. Several of my friends are due to go on speeding courses caught going 24mph. Its awful that fund-strapped councils appear to be using drivers as cash machines. Well done BBC for insisting on no protest flags at the recent Last Night of the Proms. Its a proudly British event and I was never more delighted than when I succeeded in getting two tickets for my parents 60th wedding anniversary. Its my Dads favourite night of the year and he was thrilled to go into the Royal Albert Hall with his little union flag. People used to laugh at me for my Delia version of shepherds pie or Victoria sponge. Cant you even boil an egg? theyd say. Delia is a self-proclaimed culinary equivalent of a Volvo but her basic dishes are reliable and delicious. No interval? Then I'm a no-show! David Tennant plays Macbeth in a near two hour production at the Harold Pinter Theatre My nights out, not as many as they used to be, are to the theatre. I dress up. I order a drink for the interval. So, whats this new fashion of letting plays run with no interval? Its increasingly common and not always for a short play. The theatres will go bankrupt without the profit on drinks and ice cream and sometimes the plays are so long! I will not be seeing David Tennants Macbeth at the Harold Pinter Theatre at nearly two hours. No interval and no chance to slip out if Im bored. Queen Mary of Denmark looked typically stylish as she stepped out in Assens alongside King Frederick today. The royal couple - who have been plagued by rumours of marriage woes over the past year - visited the Danish city as part of their summer tour on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. For her outing, the Australian-born Queen, 52, looked the epitome of elegance in a orange and cream midi dress, which billowed in the wind as she walked alongside her husband. She teamed the eye-catching garment with a sophisticated cream blazer, which featured statement overlapping lapels, long sleeves and a cinched waist. Finishing off her stylish ensemble, the royal mother-of-four donned blush heels and a matching headpiece. Queen Mary of Denmark looked typically stylish as she stepped out in Assens alongside King Frederick today Adding a touch of glitz to her outfit, Queen Mary wore three gold necklaces and a pair of diamond earrings. Frederik, 56, meanwhile, looked as equally smart as his wife, sporting military uniform for the outing before changing into a sophisticated suit and tie. During their visit, the couple toured a reforestation project, an energy-efficient wastewater treatment plant, as well as one of Denmark's leading companies in rainwater cleaning products. Yesterday, the pair put on a bright and summery display as they visited the Baltic Sea island of r. They looked to be enjoying the weather on r, as Mary wore a smart sunhat and Frederick looked cool in a pair of shades. After arriving to the island via boat at lunchtime, the royals took to Instagram to thank the locals for the 'great welcome' they'd received. Mary and Frederick looked cheery as they waved to crowds on their arrival, before shaking hands with local residents on the island in southern Denmark. For her outing, the Australian-born Queen, 52, looked the epitome of elegance in a orange and cream midi dress, which billowed in the wind as she walked alongside her husband The royal couple (pictured attending a demonstration on water cleaning) - who have been plagued by rumours of marriage woes over the past year - visited the Danish city as part of their summer tour on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog Mary teamed the eye-catching garment with a sophisticated cream blazer, which featured statement overlapping lapels, long sleeves and a cinched waist Frederik, 56, looked as equally smart as his wife, sporting military uniform for the outing before changing into a sophisticated suit and tie The Queen, who looked impeccably stylish in a pleated maxi skirt and white blouse, was also gifted a bouquet of flowers after stepping ashore. She added baby blue kitten heels from Jimmy Choo, which had a fishnet design and featured the designer's initials. Meanwhile her husband Frederick looked smart in a grey suit and red tie as he grinned alongside his wife in what made for a very positive display. Yesterday, they put on an warm display as they made the first stop on their summer tour to Bornholm. The pair were pictured tasting local produce and speaking with small business-owners during their tour of the small island 105 miles southeast of Copenhagen During the engagement, Frederik and Mary were pictured laughing and smiling together and later wrote on Instagram how Bornholm had lived up to its nickname of 'sunshine island'. Queen Mary looked effortlessly elegant in a white shirt, rust-coloured trousers and chunky trainers. The mother-of-four styled her brown hair in her signature brown waves and completed her low-key ensemble with minimal jewellery and tortoiseshell sunglasses. During their visit, the couple toured a reforestation project, an energy-efficient wastewater treatment plant, as well as one of Denmark's leading companies in rainwater cleaning products Finishing off her stylish ensemble, the royal mother-of-four donned blush heels and a matching headpiece Arriving at Lundager Forest, the King and the Queen of Denmark take interest in two dogs spotted at the occasion Adding a touch of glitz to her outfit, Queen Mary wore three gold necklaces and a pair of diamond earrings Meanwhile, King Frederik was dapper in a slim-fitting blue shirt, brown trousers and boots. Members of the Danish Royal Family have been touring the country on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog every summer for the past 100 years. This is the first time Frederik and Mary are participating in a summer tour as reigning monarchs - following the King's ascension to the throne in January. Last year, it was Frederik's mother, Queen Margarethe, 84, who completed the boat tour. In December 2023, Queen Margrethe shocked the nation and many royal watchers around the world when she used her annual New Year's Eve speech to announce live on television that she was stepping down as Queen after 52 years. This made Margrethe the first monarch to abdicate the Danish throne in 900 years and lead to speculation that the royal had made this decision to keep her daughter-in-law, who is extremely popular with the public, on side. The announcement came just weeks after Frederik hit the headlines when he was pictured on a night out in Madrid with a Mexican socialite, sparking rumours of an alleged 'affair'. The former monarch signed her historic abdication papers with her son and grandson Prince Christian, 18, present in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The Queen's last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King.' King Frederik X and Queen Mary on a city walk in the city of Assens Australian-born Mary and Frederik's 23-year romance was often dubbed a 'real-life fairytale' after they met in a Sydney pub. But pictures emerged of the monarch having an evening out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova - the former daughter-in-law of the billionaire Duchess of Alba - in November last year. The pair were seen walking through Madrid before heading to her apartment building, changing clothes and heading out again for the evening. The Danish Palace refused to comment on rumours of an affair between Frederik and Genoveva, however the socialite strenuously denied any suggestion of a romantic relationship. The Royal Yacht Dannebrog has served as the Danish Royal Family's cruise ship since May 1932 and has travelled over 800,000 miles. The luxury yacht hosts the Royal Family on both their private holidays and during official overseas engagements. The yacht's royal compartment still contains furniture and fittings dating back to 1879 that that was on board the family's previous yacht. Make-up lovers around the world are saying au revoir to classic French beauty brands such as Chanel and Nars in favour of UK-born products instead - thanks to a little sprinkling of celebrity. British labels such as Charlotte Tilbury, Victoria Beckham Beauty and Rimmel London are showing signs of overtaking the tres chic beauty lines that have dominated the industry for decades, new figures show. As British businesses utilise social media and new forms of advertising in order to promote their products, they are enlisting some of the UK's biggest names including Rita Ora and Maya Jama to help them along the way. And according to new data, it's working. Figures released by Circana and reported by The Times, a research firm based in the US, show sales of luxury beauty products in the UK rose by 11% in the year leading up to June - whereas France reported a more modest rise of 6% in the same period. UK beauty brands may be overtaking French classic labels in sales figures, according to new data. But is the celebrity effect taking hold? Pictured: Sienna Miller for Charlotte Tilbury It suggests that, while classic French brands will always be popular choices among make-up lovers, the UK labels are rising sharply in popularity. Millie Kendall OBE, founder of the British Beauty Council put the figures down to the 'adaptable and agile nature of the British beauty industry. She said the industry has 'a lot to be optimistic about' thanks to the fact the UK was surpassing big EU players, including France, in sales growth over the last year. Speaking about the evolution of marketing among British brands, UK-based brand expert Hayley Knight said: 'Influencer and celebrity marketing has been around for several years now, but brands are developing campaigns that engage with their audiences, and foster deeper connections and drive consumer interest.' One of the UK's biggest and most popular beauty brands, Charlotte Tilbury, is one such example of a true British success story. Since the brand was launched in September 2013, it has enlisted a plethora of famous faces to help promote the brand and help it reach star status. Trinny Woodall is one such beauty brand founder who personalises her content with clips of herself applying her own products Victoria Beckham is the face of her eponymous brand, Victoria Beckham Beauty. She posts clips of herself applying her products to interact with her audience One such brand which has utilised the influencer effect in order to find success is REFY, a Manchester-based brand of which its co-founder Jess Hunt is its face In particular, CT has chosen to work with models and A-listers of diverse ages in order to appeal to a broader range of clients. From Bella Hadid, to Kate Moss, to Swinging Sixties icon Twiggy, the British brand has well and truly achieved star status with its celebrity promoters over the years. But while she has brought on big names to promote her products, the brand's founder herself has also ensured she's a well-known face to her customers as she has also fronted several campaigns for her beauty line over the years. Tilbury, 51, is often at the forefront of her campaigns as she achieves star status in her own right by flaunting her flawless make-up on camera Tilbury, 51, will often make a sparkling cameo in her slick videos, showing off her flawless make-up and strawberry blonde hair as she greets her customers - ensuring her name is included in the star-studded line up. And Tilbury's method isn't unique - across the UK beauty scene, brand founders are ensuring they are alongside their A-list promoters in showing off their products. Both Trinny Woodall of Trinny London and Victoria Beckham of her eponymous brand are often at the forefront of their marketing campaigns - using their own flawless skin and make-up to prove their products are the real deal. In addition, they utilise social media to speak directly to their customers in a way that personalises the products. A recent clip on Victoria Beckham Beauty's Instagram account showed the founder telling customers about the brand's new Posh Balm for lips (named after her Spice Girls alter-ego). She said: 'I am a lip balm girl. I've always been obsessed with lip balm' before introducing the new product to her followers. Trinny Woodall adopts a similar laid-back, conversational style in speaking to her followers about new or existing products in her Trinny London range. In particular, she teams up with celebrities in her 'in the bathroom' series, where she enlists famous faces including comedian Joanne McNally or beauty journalist Ateh Jewel to get ready with her in front of the camera, often while in their dressing gowns or loungewear. The 'GRWM' (get ready with me) influencing trend allows such brands to enlist celebrities for personalised videos as they test out new products in real time, helping customers to see how such products look when they are applied on camera. Away from the celebrity gaze, many UK brands are using GRWM clips to show before and after shots of products being applied. One such brand, whose social media presence was the key to its suuccess, is Manchester-based Refy. Its co-founder and CEO Jess Hunt is often the face of the brand's GRWM videos, to the point where her image has become synonymous with the brand itself. Hunt's social media strategy has sent some of Refy's products, such as their primer and their eyebrow kits, stratospheric as they have achieved 'viral' status with everyone wanting to get their hands on them. Hayley said: '[REFY's] Instagram presence is curated to showcase its products in a way that resonates with its target audience, leveraging the influence of popular social media figures to amplify its reach. This approach not only drives immediate sales but also fosters community and gets the customers invested in their brand.' She also shouted out a global name, subscription model Beauty Pie, for adopting similar marketing strategies in promoting their products. 'Beauty Pie, founded by Marcia Kilgore, is another example of british beauty brands that have successfully used influencer and celebrity marketing to drive sales and traffic, as well as its own membership model to drive word-of-mouth marketing,' she said. 'The brand also employs well-known faces for its campaigns, adding to its credibility. 'Through this, Beauty Pie has seen substantial growth, with reports indicating a significant increase in memberships and sales over the past few years, and their strategy has allowed it to carve out a unique space in the saturated beauty market.' She said: 'When small brands are able to collaborate with A-List celebrities, creatively in their marketing and advertising campaigns, including through the popular, engaging GRWM videos, it often results in a significant boost in brand awareness and sales. 'Working with the correct celebrities and influencers can bring both prestige and value that can set a small brand apart from competitors.' A new study has added fuel to concerns that America could face a surge in dementias in coming years and decades due to COVID. The research found that nearly two-thirds of people over 65 who were hospitalized with the virus went on to suffer cognitive decline, which can be a precursor for dementia, weeks and months after the infection cleared. Independent experts told DailyMail.com this is a trend they're watching closely, since if there is a link, it could affect the millions of older adults who were infected with the virus. CDC data shows that over-65s accounted for nearly half of hospitalizations in the first two years of the pandemic, or roughly 1.7m people. The new study stops short of concluding that COVID and dementia are definitively linked, but experts described the evidence as 'compelling'. The study looked at people over 65 who were hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2020. This means their study population was very sick, and its difficult to say how people with less severe illness might be affected Data from the CDC's COVID-Net lab showed the cumulative amount of COVID hospitalizations from 2021 to 2022. Studies have estimated that roughly 1,701,300 people over 65 were hospitalized in this year The researchers from the University of New South Wales reviewed 18 older studies as part of their paper. It is available as a pre-print in the journal Ageing Research Reviews, which means that is has yet to be reviewed by other scientists. The review looked at about 412,900 participants hospitalized with COVID-19 and 411,900 healthy participants - both groups only involved people over age 65. They included data from Europe, North America and Asia. Most of the studies included in the review looked at trends from 2020 and 2021, before vaccinations were made widely available. Most of the studies also focused on individuals who were severely sick with the condition. The studies didn't report vaccination status, what strain of COVID the patients had or whether they used personal protective equipment. They were tested for their brain health by taking cognitive assessments which measure an individual's memory, attention span, language skills, spatial orientation and visual skills, in both written and verbal formats. Roughly 65 percent of over-65s in the study who were hospitalized with the virus had some degree of mild cognitive impairment, a brain-fog like condition which can sometimes be a precursor to dementia. Most of the patients scores on cognitive tests got better as time went on, the paper notes, which means their cognitive impairment seemed to wane. Still, some of the studies included in the report found ]evidence of new onset dementia. Dr Vin Gupta, a public health physician not involved in the research, told DailyMail.com that it's difficult to know if that's accurate since they didn't have information about the patients before they had COVID. One of the studies they included followed patients for a year after being hospitalized for COVID, and found that those who had been severely sick has a 15 percent incidence of dementia, whereas the group that didn't get sick had a .75 percent incidence of dementia. Researchers aren't sure why COVID could be causing these changes in the brain, but theorize it could have to do with inflammation or changes in blood flow, Dr Gupta said. Dr Gupta and other independent experts have also raised concerns about the study, however. The study failed to rule out other factors that add to dementia risk, like high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity. 'This is another study that is directional and adds some incremental insights as to what might be happening with COVID and its impacts on human organ function, but I think it's far from definitive,' he said. Dr Eve Elizabeth Pennie, general practitioner and medical contributor for Drugwatch who was not involved with the research, told DailyMail.com that she found similar weaknesses in the study. However, it is adding more evidence to a trend that public health experts have been watching. 'Given the growing evidence from similar studies, the findings are compelling and somewhat expected,' Dr Pennie said. No prior studies have concluded that COVID-19 causes dementia, but multiple previous studies have shown that there may be a link between the two, Dr Gupta said. Many diseases come with secondary side effects - like the link between chicken pox and shingles. Therefore, it's reasonable to suspect that this virus might have some downstream affects, experts say. In previous outbreaks of similar viruses like SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012, researchers noted cognitive impairment was a side effect. COVID-19 causes a host of changes across the body - including an increase in inflammation and changes to blood pressure and clotting, both of which may cause changes in the brain, the study authors wrote. In addition, in rare cases, COVID-19 can also cause more severe neurological conditions like encephalitis, a swelling of brain tissue which kills or harms swaths of neurons. It's less clear how COVID-19 would be directly linked to dementia. The study authors suggest that the virus may increase the amount of beta-amyloid, a protein that builds up in the brain of Alzheimer's patients, in the body. Dementia has been linked to COVID by a number of studies. But finding a link is not the same thing as proving a cause, Dr Gupta cautioned Otherwise, the changes in blood flow could cause frequent, small injuries to the brain tissue, depriving it of oxygen often enough to cause long term effects that might lead to dementia. Researchers aren't sure yet which theory may explain this link, Dr Gupta said. Dr Pennie noted that though these findings are in line with current trends, they come with some big caveats. First, the paper didn't control for pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, all factors common in people over 65 that make one more likely to develop dementia. Second, most of the studies included didn't have data from before their patients got COVID-19. This means that their cognitive impairment could've been there before they were infected with the virus, and it's difficult to know what COVID actually caused in them. Also, most of the data was collected in 2020, before widespread vaccination, and all of the patients included had a very severe case of the disease, since they were hospitalized for it. This makes it impossible to apply what we learned here to the general population today, who are more likely to be vaccinated and have a less serious case of COVID-19 Dr Gupta said. Taken together, though it points to some trends, Dr Gupta said 'it's a very weak study from a design standpoint.' Unable to touch your toes? You could have a five times higher risk of death compared to those who can, a study suggests. Data from over 3,000 middle-aged people found those who found the exercise difficult had a far higher chance of dying within a decade compared to those who were more supple. Brazilian researchers assessed the flexibility of participants in a study using a system called Flexindex. This examines how people can stretch in 20 ways using seven different joints, with some examples including being able to touch your toes, being able to touch the back of your left shoulder with your right hand over your head. At the end of the tests people are given a total score of between 0 and 80. Brazilian researchers assessed the flexibility of participants in a study using a system called Flexindex (stock image) In the most recent analysis, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, experts found people aged 46 to 65 with higher Flexindex scores had between two and five better odds of surviving the next decade. Of the 3,000 plus participants included in the analysis about one in 10 were dead at its conclusion. Survivors had an almost 10 per cent higher Flexindex score compared to those who died, the authors, from the Exercise Medicine Clinic CLINIMEX, in Rio de Janeiro, said. This translated into women with a low Flexindex score having an almost five times higher risk of dying. Men with a low score had almost twice the risk once factors like age, obesity and existing health conditions into account. Dr Claudio Gil S. Araujo, an author on the paper, said: 'Being aerobically fit and strong and having good balance have been previously associated with low mortality. 'We were able to show that reduced body flexibility is also related to poor survival in middle-aged men and women.' He added that as flexibility tends to decrease as we age, people may wish to include stretching exercises into their routine and medics may wish to flexibility assessments in physical health evaluations. The NHS also advises that improving flexibility may help lower the risk of injury. Flexibility, alongside aspects like balance, is considered one of the signs of overall good physical health. Maintaining the ability to move easily is one way to help avoid sarcopenia, the medical term for when muscle function becomes compromised with old age. Such muscle weakness can lead to an increased risk of falls, one of the biggest causes of hospital admissions among the over 65s in the UK. Over 200,000 falls admissions in this group were recorded in England alone in 2022/23, with 20,000 fall related deaths also recorded among the entire population in this time. Such falls can lead to direct injury like bone fractures and the immobility and hospital stays during the recovery can also lead to people suffering further muscle weakness and health complications. There were a number of limitations to the recent study. One is that participants were primarily affluent and white which may limit the implications to other groups. Another is that while poor flexibility was considered an indicator of increased risk of death in the study, the issue itself wasn't what killed people, and what these factors may be wasn't identified in the study. A number of other tests, such as being able to stand on one leg for 10 seconds, have also previously been linked to increased protection against death. Spanish pensioner Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest verified living person, has died aged 117. Branyas, who survived two pandemics, the 1918 Spanish flu and Covid, and two world wars, died peacefully in her sleep according to her family. She previously attributed her longevity to 'order, tranquillity' and 'staying away from toxic people'. Her impressive 117-year lifespan is far in excess of even the highest predicted in the UK. Here, MailOnline reveals how your local area compares for life expectancy as some regions see a dramatic fall in the average length of survival. It means children born in some parts of the UK today could die a decade earlier than young residents of other regions. Maria Branyas Morera, who was the oldest person in the world, celebrating her 117th birthday in March Your browser does not support iframes. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows women in the wealthy borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London enjoy the highest average life expectancy at age 65 in England at 88.3 years. This was followed by those in the South Hams District of Devon (88.2 years) and Winchester in Hampshire (88 years). Men in Hart in Hampshire had the highest life expectancy at 86.2 years, followed by those in South Cambridgeshire (85.51). East Devon and Winchester came joint third at 85.46 years life expectancy. In contrast men in Manchester had the lowest average life expectancy at just 80.8 years, about six years less than those in Hart. This was followed by those in Barking and Dagenham in East London at 81 years, with Liverpool and Blackpool coming joint third lowest at just a fraction more at 81.04 years. Women in Blaenau Gwent in southeast Wales had the lowest average life expectancy for those aged 65 at 82.8, again about six years less than those in the highest performing areas. This was followed by women in Manchester (83.2 years) and those in Knowsley in Merseyside (83.3 years). But the above data relates to adults currently in their 60s and the picture is bleaker for children born today. A boy born in Hart between 2020 and 2022 can expect to reach his 83rd birthday (83.7) and, while the highest recorded, is three years behind what a man who is 65 at the same time in that area is expected to live to. Meanwhile, a boy born in Blackpool will likely only live to 73 (73.41), a gap of more than a decade compared to Hart. Branyas was born in San Francisco in 1907. Pictured: Branyas in 1925 when she was just 18 Branyas became the world's oldest person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon in January 2023 Disparities are also present for girls, one born in Kensington and Chelsea between 2020 and 2022 should get to 86 (86.34), two years less than a woman aged 65 in the area at the same time. Meanwhile girls born in Blaenau Gwent in the same period will likely only live until 78, a gap of 7.5 years compared to their peers in London. Stark divides remain between the north and south, with nine of the ten local authorities with the highest male life expectancy falling in the south of England. All ten for women were in the south. The ONS estimates are based on a figure called period life expectancy. This is a hypothetical measure that assumes the mortality rates recorded in an area between 2020 to 2022 applies throughout a person's life. It uses the death registrations in the period from 2020 to 2022 for each age group, the probability of death and numbers of people surviving in each group to come to this figure. Stark divides remain between the north and south, with nine of the ten local authorities with the highest male life expectancy falling in the south of England. All ten for women were in the south. A girl born in Kensington and Chelsea (pictured), which ranked first among girls, should get to age 86 (86.34) Their peers in Blaenau Gwent (pictured) will likely only live until 78, a gap of 7.5 years. The south west and south east of England recorded the highest life expectancy among both men (80 and 80.1 years) and women (83.9 and 83.8 years) The ONS is keen to emphasise that it is an assumption that current trends will continue and, if the health of the nation were to improve, children born in 2020 and 2022 will not necessarily live shorter lives than those who came before. Life expectancy across the three UK nations included in the most recent analysis fell to its lowest level in more than a decade. According to the latest statistics, boys and girls born in England came in at 78.9 years for men and 82.8 among women, down from 79.1 for men and 82.9 for women in 2012. Wales ranked lower with 77.9 years for men and 81.8 years with women, down from 78.1 for men and. 82.1 for women recorded a decade prior. Meanwhile, the figures stood at 78.4 and 82.3, respectively for men and women, in Northern Ireland, again a decline on the 77.7 and 82.1 in 2021. Statisticians have suggested that the Covid pandemic could be behind the trend both in terms of the virus itself and the disruption the pandemic posed to checks for heart health and cancer. The data also covers the period in which Britain was plunged into a cost of living crisis, which experts warned increased the risk of malnourishment due to high food and energy prices. These ONS figures, the latest available, cover average life expectancy meaning some people will live less and others far longer. According to analysts, boys and girls born in England are expected to live the longest, at 78.9 for men and 82.8 among women. By local authority, a boy born in Hart can expect to reach his 83rd birthday (83.74), the longest life expectancy recorded. Pictured, Hartley in Hart Meanwhile, one born in Blackpool (pictured) will likely only live to 73 (73.41), a gap of more than a decade. Uttlesford in Essex came in second at 82.69, with South Cambridgeshire in third at 82.65 Promisingly, there were about 15,000 centenarians (those who live to over 100) living in England and Wales in 2022 according to the latest data, the highest ever recorded. The vast majority of British centenarians, about four out of five, are women. Centenarians still remain a fraction of the overall population however, only accounting for 0.03 per cent. When it came to Branyas, experts had marvelled at her overall mental and physical health for her age, but in a heartbreaking final message to her social media followers on Tuesday, she warned that she felt 'weak'. 'The time is near. Don't cry, I don't like tears. And above all, don't suffer for me,' she said on the account, which is run by her family. 'Wherever I go, I will be happy.' Guinness World Records had officially acknowledged Branyas's status as the world's oldest person in January 2023 following the death of French nun Lucile Randon aged 118. There were about 15,000 centenarians living in England and Wales in 2022 according to the latest data, the highest ever recorded, and a rise of 3.7 per cent on the previous year Jeanne Calment who holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever reached 122 years old. Pictured, Ms Calment enjoys her daily cigarette and glass of red wine on the occasion of her 117th birthday Following Branyas's death, the oldest living person in the world is now Japan's Tomiko Itooka, who was born on May 23, 1908, and is 116 years old. The title of the oldest person to have ever lived belongs to French woman Jeanne Louise Calment whose life spanned 122 years and 164 days. Branyas was born in San Francisco in 1907, while the city was suffering from a second wave of the Bubonic plague. Her family took the decision to return to Spain in 1915 during the First World War after her father fell ill. He ended up dying of tuberculosis on the ship they were crossing the Atlantic on, with his now-centenarian daughter injuring herself in a fall during the same voyage and later discovering she had lost her hearing in one ear. She went on to survive two world wars, the Spanish flu pandemic, the Spanish Civil War, and most recently Covid. She married Catalan doctor Joan Moret aged 23 in 1931. Her husband died more than 46 years ago when he was 71. Kids who catch Covid are more likely to be left with debilitating lingering symptoms than adults, landmark new research has suggested. US scientists found children were left with prolonged symptoms 'in almost every organ system' after being struck down with the virus a phenomenon now better known as long Covid. The researchers, who tracked almost 4,000 kids who'd been infected, also discovered younger children were more likely to suffer trouble with memory or focusing, and teens a loss of taste or smell. Experts today labelled the findings 'convincing evidence' that kids are not 'faking it' and warned, 'we will need to be prepared to deal with it for a generation'. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's daughter Violet last month revealed she contracted a post-viral condition in 2019 and urged medical facilities to impose 'mask mandates' in a passionate speech to the LA County Board of Supervisors The 18-year-old called on the board 'to confront the long Covid crisis' by strengthening pandemic-era protections in hospitals and government buildings. Pictured, Jennifer Garner with Violet Affleck It comes as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's daughter Violet last month revealed she contracted a post-viral condition in 2019 and urged medical facilities to impose 'mask mandates' in a passionate speech to the LA County Board of Supervisors. The 18-year-old called on the board 'to confront the long Covid crisis' by strengthening pandemic-era protections in hospitals and government buildings. US officials suggest one in ten people who catch the virus will develop long Covid, while around two million people in the UK are reported to live with the condition, including 112,000 children. Professor Lawrence Kleinman, an expert in pediatrics and population health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and study co-author said: 'We have convincing evidence that Covid is not just a mild, benign illness for children. 'Some children are severely affected, they are not faking it or making it up. 'This is a new chronic illness in children with all the unknowns that brings. We will need to be prepared to deal with it for a generation.' Symptoms of long Covid have long been thought to be wide-ranging, from fatigue and breathlessness to muscle and joint pain. In the new study, researchers analysed survey results submitted by the parents or guardians of almost 900 school age children aged 6 to 11 and over 4,000 adolescents, aged 12 to 17. Of the the school age children, 751 had suffered a Covid infection. This figure stood at 3,109 among adolescents. The survey assessed 74 known and potential long Covid symptoms across nine areas of the body including the heart and lungs, neurological, menstrual and gastrointestinal. US scientists found children were left with prolonged symptoms 'in almost every organ system' after being struck down with the virus a phenomenon now better known as long Covid Researchers found 45 percent of school-age children with Covid reported at least one prolonged symptom after initial recovery versus 33 percent of uninfected children. More than a third (39 per cent) of Covid infected adolescents, meanwhile, reported one prolonged symptom, compared with 27 percent of uninfected adolescents. But the most common symptoms among adolescents were loss of smell and taste, followed by low energy, muscle aches and fatigue. Among school-age children, memory and focus issues topped the list, followed by stomach pain, headaches and back or neck pain. By comparison, adults who had been struck down by the virus reported 37 symptoms more frequently than those who did not have Covid, including brain fog, and gastrointestinal and heart symptoms. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the scientists said children experienced prolonged symptoms after Covid infection 'in almost every organ system, with the vast majority having multisystem involvement'. Dr Tanayott Thaweethai, study co-author and an expert in biostatistics at Harvard University also said: 'This work describes the first data-driven approach to revealing symptom patterns among school-age children and adolescents, which are both distinct from those seen in adults. 'We hope this leads to a better understanding of long Covid in pediatric populations.' Ministers have repeatedly said they won't resort to imposing lockdowns unless a doomsday Covid variant appears. A wall of immunity among the population built up by repeated waves of infection and vaccine rollouts has given officials confidence to consign pandemic-era measures to history. Spikes in Covid cases can still cause mass illness across the country, sparking chaos in schools, the health service and public transport. But officials also no longer track the prevalence of the virus in the same way they used to, as part of the Government's ushering in of pre-Covid normalities. Major US pharmaceutical companies have been running clinical trials at hospitals affiliated with the Chinese army and may have tested drugs on prisoners in China's illegal concentration camps. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has sent a scathing letter probing the FDA for more information about decades of research from companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer. The letter states these companies have been conducting clinical trials in China at medical centers and hospitals affiliated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Some of this research was conducted in the regions where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of setting up camps to house and commit genocide against Uyghur Muslims. This means it's possible those trials could've been conducted on unwilling participants, the letter states. Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has been in power since 2013 The letter raises concerns over US pharmaceutical research conducted at Chinese-military affiliated hospitals, chiefly over data security and human rights issues The representatives said, 'we believe that U.S. biopharmaceutical entities could be unintentionally profiting from the data derived from clinical trials during which the CCP forced victim patients to participate.' In addition, they write that they're concerned that the data collected in these clinical trial could have been easily accessed by the Chinese Communist Party. The letter asked FDA commissioner Dr Robert Califf to share more information about the clinical trials conducted in China in order to respond to the representatives' concerns. These include questions about the FDA's review of Chinese military-run hospitals, how they measure data security threats and whether they warned against testing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), where China has been accused of being 'engaged in genocide of the Uyghur population'. The group responsible for the letter includes Representative John Moolenaar from Michigan, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, Representative Anna Eshoo from California and Representative Neal Dunn from Florida. Rep. Moolenaar, Rep Dunn and Rep Krishnamoorthi are members of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Rep Eshoo has raised concerns about American healthcare data being shared with China before. In the letter, the representatives honed in on Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug donanemab, known as Kisunla and Pfizer's kidney cancer drug axitinib, known as Inlyta, Axios reported. These trials were run at military-affiliated hospitals. According to the investigation, Lilly's trials were run at the People's Liberation Army's general hospital and medical school and the military's Air Force Medical University. Pfizer's trial was conducted at a hospital under the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Sciences, according to Fierce Pharma. These kinds of trials produce 'sensitive and proprietary data', that may be difficult to keep secure if they are run at a CCP-sponsored site, the representatives said. In addition, the quality of their data was called into question. 'There are also concerns with the trustworthiness of clinical trial data produced overseas from PLA institutions,' the letter states. 'The United States needs the FDA to take on a greater role in protecting U.S. national security interests.' Hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs have been thrown into forced reeducation camps, forcibly sterilized and had their families broken up in a Chinese crackdown on the minority, the report says. Pictured: Images of Uyghurs in a camp in China, released in 2017 This comes amid a greater crack down on Chinese biotech companies. The House Select Committee will be voting on an Act in September to suspend contracts with Chinese biotech firms who the committee has identified as posing a potential national security risk. On top of concerns about data, the representatives highlight potential human rights issues. A 2022 report from the United Nations accused China of detaining more than a millions Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, sending them to forced labor camps. Inside these camps, international officials have alleged that the CCP has sanctioned forced sterilization, rape, torture and genocide against the Uyghurs. Most of these camps are housed in the XUAR. The letter said some research has been conducted within in the region, raising doubts that the participants took place willingly. The letter reads: 'there is simply no ability for firms to conduct due diligence to ensure that clinical trials done in XUAR are voluntary.' The FDA has said they will respond to the lawmakers claims. DailyMail.com has reached out to Eli Lilly and Pfizer representatives for comment. Eli Lilly told DailyMail.com: 'Lilly conducts clinical trials around the world to ensure diversity in our research and increase access to our medicines. Lilly is committed to IP protections, and we conduct robust assessments of our partners to ensure they meet Lilly standards for research and data privacy. Further, we oversee their activities when conducting clinical trials to ensure quality and data integrity.' Dr Antonio Ocana, onwer of Ocana Medical Center in Florida, was accused of malpractice after his patient ended up in a coma A man in Florida ended up in a month-long coma after his cough was ignored by doctors, a lawsuit claims. Rafael Cardona, 75, visited Ocana Medical Center in Tampa on January 14, 2019, with a sore throat, body aches, and cough. A lawsuit filed by Mr Cardona does not specify 'whether a physical examination took place,' but the patient came back 10 days with 'a deep cough with chest pains and upper left back pain.' The clinic's owner, Dr Antonio Ocana, either did not perform or did not document performing an evaluation, according to the complaint. Instead, he allegedly prescribed an Albuterol inhaler, corticosteroid prednisone, and pain reliever Tramadol based on what he was told by another provider in the office. After he was rushed to the hospital days later, doctors discovered Mr Cardona actually had pneumonia and had gone into sepsis. Rafael Cardona, 75, was placed in a medically induced coma for 42 days after his pneumonia was ignored, causing him to go into sepsis (stock) When Mr Cardona returned the next day, the pain had radiated to his left mid-back, worsening when he took deep breaths. The complaint, obtained by the Miami Herald, said that Dr Ocana 'signed off on the visit note' but 'did not perform or did not document performing an in-person evaluation.' 'The standard of care required that [Dr Ocana] refer [Mr Cardona] for specialized or emergency consultation during the Jan. 24, 2019 or Jan. 25, 2019 visit.' On January 28, Mr Cardona was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia and sepsis, which kills one American every 90 seconds. This led doctors to place Mr Cardona in a coma for 42 days. As sepsis attacks healthy tissues and organs, a medically induced coma can help slow the damage. And because about a third of all sepsis cases are caught in a hospital, it can mean that doctors have to admit wrongdoing and face litigation. Sepsis occurs when an infection causes a freak overreaction of the immune system, in which chemicals in the bloodstream go haywire. Instead of sending infection-fighting white blood cells to attack a foreign invader, it targets healthy tissues and organs such as the limbs and the lungs and kidneys, leading to organ failure and, at times, amputations. Sepsis is responsible for 300,000 deaths and is the leading cause of hospital death in the US. And for every hour that treatment is delayed, the chance of death increases by four to nine percent. Mr Cardona was also left with a pulmonary abscess, a cavity in the lung filled with pus usually caused by a bacterial infection like pneumonia. If left untreated, an abscess can rupture and cause fluid to leak into the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. According to the complaint, the malpractice suit against Dr Ocana was settled in 2022, and Mr Cardona was awarded $237,500 from Dr Ocana's insurance. What was meant to be a victory holiday on board Mike Lynch's luxury yacht, celebrating his recent acquittal in the US courts, is turning out to be more of a nightmare as each hour passes. Along with Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, four of his high-powered City guests are also still missing and presumed dead. On board the yacht the Bayesian with Lynch and his family his wife Angela Bacares has been rescued were Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International and his wife, and Christopher Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and his wife, Nada. Both Bloomer and Morvillo were closely involved in Lynch's fraud case. They were on the Bayesian as thanks for their help during his three-month trial after he was cleared of fraud charges after US giant Hewlett Packard bought the FTSE 100-listed Autonomy, his data analysis firm, for $11billion. Tragedy: Autonomy founder Mike Lynch (pictured) is missing after his superyacht was hit by a freak storm off the coast of Sicily Bloomer, a former Hiscox chairman and Prudential chief, gave evidence during the San Francisco trial as he had led the audit committee at Autonomy while Morvillo represented him. Yet there is another peculiar twist of fate to this tale of horror which tests the realms of probability. Only two days before the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday, Stephen Chamberlain, the former vice-president of finance at Autonomy and co-defendant in the fraud case, was hit by a car while jogging near his home in Cambridgeshire. Chamberlain, who also worked at another Lynch-backed company, Darktrace, the cyber-security specialists, was put on life support after the accident but died soon afterwards in hospital. As one Cambridge colleague of Lynch and Chamberlain told me, the likelihood of these tragedies coming so close and so soon after they were both acquitted is nothing short of extraordinary. So it is no surprise the Silicon Fen community is buzzing with conspiracy theories. The coincidence is so weird that you can't blame them. Some say that they were hit-jobs. Or that the US secret service alphabet men were involved. Conspiracies aside, the double tragedies have left the City reeling with horror and sadness for all those involved. As you can also expect, the mood in Cambridge where Lynch studied and founded so many tech companies is sombre as the many colleagues he worked with and supported mourn the loss of a great friend but also his brilliance. Questions are also being asked about what happens to Invoke Capital, the $1billion venture fund he set up after selling Autonomy to invest in fast-growing companies in the UK and across Europe. Working closely with Cambridge University, Invoke specialised in the field of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. Lynch's ambition was to provide alongside the funds proper expertise so they could scale-up into global businesses, often perceived as the weakness of so many dynamic young UK companies that miss the big time. He hasn't done too badly. Invoke's most successful companies include Darktrace, which employs 1,500 people and worth around 1billion and Luminance, an award-winning machine learning platform for the legal industry. Another high performing Lynch investment is the pioneering AI fraud-detection engine, Featurespace, run by Martina King, which is going great guns helping companies track down everything from money laundering to the theft of credit cards. Featurespace is a classic example of the sort of venture that Lynch was so good at spotting and one that was supported early on by the incredibly tight and brainy Cambridge network. Founded in 2008 by David Excell, an Australian academic, and the late Bill Fitzgerald, a Cambridge professor and expert in Bayesian statistics and a mentor to Lynch at Cambridge its expertise lies in adaptive behavioural analytics. This is a form of artificial intelligence that predicts human intention by analysing online data, making it possible to crackdown on fraudsters in any online scenario from gambling to rogue trading. Lynch was a significant investor. When I interviewed King some years ago, it was natural to ask her what she thought about the allegations against Lynch. All she would say is: 'The man's a genius.' That's not a bad legacy. Stunning scenery of spring water terraces in Shangri-La, SW China's Yunnan People's Daily Online) 11:33, August 21, 2024 Photo shows the stunning scenery of the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Shangri-La) The Baishuitai, which translates to white water terrace, scenic spot covers an area of around 3 square kilometers in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. It is a natural wonder formed by calcium carbonate dissolving in spring water. The pools within the terrace are crystal clear, presenting a fantastic blue color, shimmering like jade and as blue as a gemstone. As the light and shadows of the sky change, the scenery also transforms. Photo shows the stunning scenery of the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Shangri-La) Baishuitai is about 100 kilometers from downtown Shangri-La. Its beautiful scenery attracts tourists from far and wide. Photo shows an aerial view of the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Shangri-La) Baishuitai is also renowned for its rich historical and cultural ambiance. The surrounding traditional villages offer a wide array of cultural heritage items, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the distinctive charm of the region. Tourists go sightseeing at the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of Baishuitai scenic spot) Photo shows an aerial view of the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Shangri-La) The Lijiang-Shangri-La Railway, connecting Shangri-La with Lijiang, another well-known tourist city in Yunnan, offers a more comfortable travel experience for tourists, while various festivals further enhance the reputation of Shangri-La. Every year, a worship ceremony takes place at Baishuitai on the eighth day of the second lunar month. People from the Naxi, Tibetan, Lisu, Yi, and Bai ethnic groups in the local area come together to sing and dance, expressing their aspiration for a beautiful life and their wishes. Photo shows the opening ceremony of the 2024 Shangri-La Baishuitai Dongba Cultural Tourism Festival. (Photo courtesy of Baishuitai scenic spot) Photo shows the scenery of the Baishuitai scenic spot in Baidi village, Sanba town, Shangri-La city, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo courtesy of the culture and tourism bureau of Shangri-La) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Barack Obama greets Michelle Obama before speaking on the second night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle CHICAGO During prime-time speeches on Tuesday, Barack and Michelle Obama portrayed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as regular people and former President Donald Trump as a privileged elite. The Obamas speeches punctuated a theme of the convention, which is that Harris and Walz have roots in the middle class and understand the struggles of everyday Americans. Harris husband Doug Emhoff talked about her cooking for their children and friends during his speech earlier in the evening. The night before, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talked proudly of being a bartender and working for a living, something she said Harris and Walz understand. During the conventions roll call of states, Hans Storvick, a former neighbor and student of Tim Walz, said the governor taught his students how to learn about global issues with respect, curiosity and kindness and made time to attend his brothers funeral in the midst of state budget negotiations. Both the former president and former first lady excoriated Trump for his perennial complaining and argued that he hasnt demonstrated gratitude or humility, despite his privilege. They drew a contrast between him and Harris and also between him and regular people. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If we see a mountain in front of us, we dont expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top, Michelle Obama said, making a thinly veiled reference to Trump announcing his 2016 presidential bid while riding down an escalator. She also jabbed at Trump for his claims that immigrants were taking Black jobs during the presidential debate in June. Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? she asked. The audience roared. Her husband also prompted laughter at several points in his speech, including a line about Walzs style. You can tell those flannel shirts he wears dont come from some political consultant. They come from his closet, he said. And theyve been through some stuff. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both the former first lady and former president received standing ovations and inspired spontaneous chants in the packed United Center. But the crowd went silent while Barack Obama, who returned to the city that launched his political career, described the hard work and decency that both his grandmother and his mother-in-law demonstrated. Wilko will open another new store since it was taken over and rebranded following its dramatic collapse last year. The retailer, which was bought rival budget retailer The Range last year, has announced plans to open a new store in Uxbridge, west London, this autumn. It marks the brand's seventh store opening since it was bought, following previous openings in Exter, Plymouth, Luton, Rotherham, St Albans and Poole, and its first in the capital since its relaunch. Return: Wilko was a familiar name on the high street - and will be back in London later this year Before its collapse, the budget homeware chain had 400 stores across the UK but collapsed into administration last August leading to nearly 12,500 job losses. Mark Jackson, former Wilko boss, penned an open letter last year and said: 'We left no stone unturned when it came to preserving this incredible business but must concede that with regret, we've no choice but to take the difficult decision to enter into administration.' Signs of Wilko's woes emerged six years before its collapse when the company commenced a redundancy consultation affecting 4,000 jobs. Wilko posted a 65million loss for that year and continued to disappoint thereafter. The brand also struggled with growing competition from rivals B&M and Poundland, who captured a larger share of the market and at a lower cost. A key part of B&M's success lies in the retailer's ability to source its huge range of merchandise directly from its own Asia-based buying operation, which it gives it an edge on design and value. B&M and the owner of Poundland agreed to take on a number of Wilko shops, before CDS Superstores, trading as The Range, stepped in to strike a 5million deal for its remaining stores and intellectual property. The Range was set up by Chris Dawson, a tycoon dubbed the 'Del Boy billionaire', in 1989 and has 213 stores across the UK. Alex Simpkin, chief executive of CDS Superstores said today: 'Our expansion is about bringing wilko back to the heart of communities, providing quality and value in every corner of the UK. 'We've had a great reception from customers in our six locations to date, and from wilko.com shoppers, and we're thrilled to announce our reopening in Uxbridge, which also marks our return to Greater London too.' A primary school teacher has been banned from the classroom after a sick WhatsApp chat, where sexist and homophobic messages about female staff were exchanged with male colleagues, was unmasked by police. Matthew Clare, 36, was part of the 'barbaric' 'Nip Clockers' group chat at Engayne Primary School in Upminster, east London, alongside 'three other colleagues'. In a slew of grossly offensive messages received by Mr Clare, female colleagues were branded as 'kinky sluts', 'pure filth' and 'f***buddy material', the Teaching Regulation Authority (TRA) said. One comment comparing the figures of two different female teachers, sent to Clare by an unknown member of the group, read: 'She top (redacted) on the filthy scale She's be a dirty f***'. Another homophobic jibe received by Clare referred to a colleague as a 'skin head carpet muncher' while other posts discussed what they thought might be colleagues' preferred sexual positions - with the vile chat leaving shell-shocked staff at the primary 'appalled'. Clare has now been banned from teaching while all the others involved in the chat have resigned from the primary - with one of the disgraced educators now teaching at a new job at a London prep school. Matthew Clare, 36, has been banned from teaching after becoming involved in an offensive WhatsApp chat called Nip Clockers A misconduct hearing carried out by the TRA heard that Clare admitted the messages gave the impression he was regularly ogling his female colleagues breasts. One read: 'Clocked the Ns massively coming on from lunch. This cold weather.' Scores were kept about many teachers, with Clare posting 'T*** looked cracking tho' which received the response of 'that rack alone makes her top 2 material', Another discussion revolved around 'Do you reckon all the women from work have a go (group chat) about our massive shlongs?' Clare replied 'Ha Ha Hopefully!!!' and 'Is that sexual assault?'. Teaching watchdogs heard that the messages were found on a colleague's phone seized in March 2021 by the Metropolitan Police who then raised the matter to the local authority. Clare had participated in the group between July 2019 and February 2020. He was suspended and resigned after being busted. A second teacher involved in the scandal was Grant Twist, who taught Year 3 at Engayne, before resigning in May 2021 when the WhatsApp group was exposed. He has been spared a teaching ban and has since moved to 16,818-a-year Snaresbrook Preparatory School in South Woodford, north-east London. The second teacher was Grant Twist, who taught Year 3, before resigning in May 2021 when the WhatsApp group was exposed. He has since moved to Snaresbrook Preparatory School in South Woodford, north-east London Twist's messages included: 'No brarisky when bending over a tableno kid wants a lose boob smacking them in the faceimagine tagging her on the boob.' In response to a discussion about 'tagging' a female colleague on the breasts, bottom and vagina, Mr Twist sent a message saying 'With my dick', the TRA said. The panel was told this referred to a 'tag' game which involved staff members touching each other. Twist claimed at least two female colleagues were aware of the tag game, but not that there were discussions that it should extend to the touching of intimate body parts. In the chat, he also referred to some of the pupils in his English class as 'spaz boys', the TRA said. Twist also received a message from a member in the group about one female colleague with the comment 'someone is going to have to take one for the team and donkey punch her.' This referred to the controversial Britflic film Donkey Punch in which a girl dies from a blow after her attacker learns of an urban myth that hitting women during sex will enhance their orgasm. Another message received by Twist and Clare in the group referred to female staff members as 'c** slave' and 'kinky sl** bucket' and said of one: 'She'd make a decent porn hub video'. A separate homophobic jibe received by Twist and Clare within the group referred to a 'carpet munching sl**' and 'she ain't got any bfs because she's a lesbo'. As well as the sexist and homophobic comments within the group chat, there were also racist jibes and hate messages about one of the pupil's mothers, who was described as 'top of my c*** list'. The pair were teachers at Engayne Primary School, in east London (pictured) One exchange in the group referred to 'K-O-ing her' so her head would crack 'like an egg' with Clare responding 'would love to see it on the Key Stage 2 playground'. Another member of the group commented: 'I feel so sorry for her husband. I'd argue it is worse than prison.' Mrs Melissa West, who chaired the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing, said: 'Mr Clare was in a WhatsApp group with male colleagues at the school within which he received and sent inappropriate messages about a significant number of female colleagues, a student, and a parent of the school. 'Mr Clare stated that while the comments he made gave the impression that he was regularly looking at the breasts of multiple female colleagues, this was in fact fictional and he was not actually doing this.' During the hearing, Mr Clare admitted that he contributed to the WhatsApp group but claimed he did not instigate any of the problematic topics. Mr Clare expressed remorse for joining these discussions however, insisting that he would never act on the statements made in the posts. However, the panel concluded: 'The messages Mr Clare sent and received were by their very nature explicitly sexual and contained graphic sexual comments about Mr Clare's female colleagues. 'In the panel's view, the messages spoke for themselves and the panel was satisfied they were sexual in nature.' While the panel determined that Mr Clare was guilty of unacceptable professional conduct as a result of these posts, they noted that he had apologised for his actions and expressed regret for not reporting the conversations. Clare was banned from the profession for at least two years. The fate of the two other teachers involved in the group is not yet clear. However, a source at the school has since confirmed none of those involved in the chat were now employed at the primary. Banning Clare, David Oakley, for the Education Secretary, said: 'The findings of misconduct are particularly seriousreceiving or sending inappropriate messages which discussed female colleagues in a way which was sexually objectifying, homophobic, misogynistic, and denigrating... racist and engaging in inappropriate discussion of a parent.' Twist was spared a teaching ban after the panel accepted he had shown genuine remorse over his behaviour and was getting counselling. Professor Antony Moss, chairman of governors at the school, said the behaviour of the perverted educators left staff horrified. Speaking to MailOnline, he added: 'As soon as this matter was brought to our attention, the teachers involved were immediately suspended in the interest of pupils and staff. 'Engayne Primary School leadership conducted a thorough investigation and passed the findings to the relevant bodies, including the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA), to ensure this matter was dealt with as quickly as possible so sanctions could be brought. 'We were shocked and appalled by this incident and the behaviour of the teachers named in the report. We have a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour. 'We recognise this news will impact members of school community and have already offered support to those directly affected.' Finance guru Alan Kohler has said excess immigration is to blame for Australia's housing crisis, and it is being fuelled by the influx of international university students. Kohler, the ABC's finance expert, said it is not the permanent migration of workers that is chiefly responsible for the soaring demand - and prices - for homes, but the burgeoning number of foreign university students. 'Most of Australia's migrant intake has been outsourced to universities and colleges, who see new arrivals as customers rather than migrants,' he wrote in a piece for The New Daily. 'They (universities) use 'education agents' in other countries to recruit them, paying sales commissions to spur them on.' Kohler regarded the agents as being 'bit like legal people smugglers' - eager to take their cut but with no interest in the negative consequences. Kohler said it was policy changes to immigration in 2001 under the Howard government that saw Australia 'change forever'. The changes have made it much easier for students from countries such as India, China, and Pakistan to enter and gain permanent residency, compared to before when it was 'almost impossible,' Mr Kohler explained. Kohler said that under the changes, Australia's migrant intake - including students - tripled to 300,000 a year between 2005 and 2008. Finance guru Alan Kohler has said excess immigration is to blame for Australia's housing crisis, which is only being fuelled by the influx of international university students The Albanese Government is now planning to cap the number of international students being accepted into universities. The proposal is widely opposed by tertiary education providers, who have become increasingly reliant on the up-front fees paid by foreign students rather than the local students paying off HECS. It's understood the cap on numbers could rise if the tertiary institutions funded student accommodation, thus easing the fierce competition for properties in the broader rental market with Australia's big cities having an ultra-tight vacancy rate of 1.3 per cent. Any reduction in the number of international students would significantly dent the revenue streams for universities, having a knock-on effect on funds available for research projects. 'The current Labor government's point of view is that the universities have become addicted to foreign students and they should not be deciding Australia's population growth based on their desire for revenue,' Kohler explained. 'Also universities really need the money in the absence of government funding without foreign students, research would dry up and the national science effort would suffer.' The imbalances created by a soaring population is not just felt in the rental market and house prices, but labour shortages - particularly in the construction sector. That has sent the prices commanded by tradespeople soaring which in turn has led to the collapse of a record number of construction companies, and yet more shortages in the supply of homes. The Albanese Government's goal of 1.2 million new homes by 2029 was predicted to fail almost from the time it was announced, and is already behind schedule. The target requires 240,000 homes to be built each year but that number is now sitting at just 150,000. The government is also hoping to bring net overseas migration down to 260,000 in this financial year, after hitting 547,300 in 2023. 'Getting Australia's population growth down to something approaching the actual capacity of the construction industry to build houses for them all as opposed to what the government might wish it was is not going to be easy,' Kohler said. An Australian earning an average, full-time salary of $100,017 would only be able to buy a $650,110 home with a 20 per cent deposit of $130,022, with the banks only able to lend someone 5.2 times their salary before tax. This individual would be in mortgage stress buying the typical unit in Melbourne or Brisbane and paying $3,353 a month in home loan repayments - or more than a third of their pay. Someone renting in Sydney, where $694 is the median weekly unit rent, would be giving almost $3,100 a month to a landlord. The middle-priced house in Australia's major capital cities is beyond the reach of the average Australian worker buying on their own, which means they are limited to units or a home with a small backyard in a far, outer suburb. The owner of a tour company has fired back at a tourist who posted vision of a crocodile trap adjacent to an area where customers were canoeing on the river, denying any suggestions the families were at risk. Adam Mackay, who runs Go Wild Adventure Tours at Kununurra in Western Australia's remote Kimberly region, slammed the woman for posting a video that implied the tour customers were being put at risk because the trap indicated there were crocodiles nearby. Mr Mackay told Daily Mail Australia she has 'no clue' about the measures in place to protect tourists - even though there have been sightings of saltwater crocs in the area. He said rangers and 'the whole community' are on watch for crocodiles, and said the presence of traps was precisely why he was confident people were safe to go on or in the water. 'Check out this rant from someone who doesn't have a clue!' he posted on Facebook in response to the tourist's video. 'That trap (in the video) actually caught a 1.8m saltie a couple of weeks BEFORE this video was made, that's how we know that the area is safe. 'That's what the traps are for. 'This is the only river in Australia that is protected from salties, which is why everyone in the know can happily swim and play on the upper Ord.' Adam Mackay (pictured) who runs Go Wild Adventure Tours in Kununurra, said the tourist has 'no clue' about the safety measures in place to protect visitors Mr Mackay, who runs the travel company's 'Econoeing Tours', which offer tourists certified self-guided camping and canoeing activities, explained to Daily Mail Australia that there are very few sightings of crocs in the river. He said the Ivanhoe Crossing, a raised pathway on the lower end of the Ord River, has plenty of people wading into the water even though it is a known saltwater crocodile habitat. Mr Mackay said there are plenty of people who swim in the water on the weekend. The stretch of the river that the female tourist filmed is protected from crocs, he said, with traps and a removal program that is managed by rangers. 'It's obviously city folk putting their values on ours, they don't know what's going on up here,' he said. Mr Mackay, who has been running the business for 25 years, said the clip has caused people to overreact about the potential danger of using the waterway. 'What is has done...I've got customers, who are going [on a guided tour] on Thursday and they've rung me after seeing the post asking, 'Are you sure it's safe?'' he said. Mr Mackay put up a Facebook post on Monday to explain the trap the woman filmed is an important safety measure. He explained the cage caught a massive 1.8-metre saltwater croc just weeks before the woman posted the video. The croc was the same one that had been accidently released after it was let out of the trap a few months ago. Western Australia's Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is responsible for the management of the trap. It has set up six traps along Lake Kununurra, which is located at the upper part of the Ord River, as part of its ranger program. Mr Mackay (pictured centre), who has been running the business for 25 years, said the clip posted by a tourist showing a crocodile trap has caused people to overreact about the potential danger of using the waterway The woman filmed a video of the crocodile trap on the banks of the Ord River (pictured) before she posted the clip on social media, causing a stir among those heading to the area 'I rely on them [the rangers] to keep me informed. When they do keep me informed, I have to stand in front of my customers and say 'Do you know that we've got a confirmed sighting [of a crocodile]' Mr Mackay said. 'Most people choose to participate anyway.' Commenters on social media rallied behind Mr Mackay and praised his knowledge and experience running the guided tours. 'His tours are extremely safe, well planned and has been the highlight of my teaching career,' one person wrote. Others slammed the woman for being critical of the activities conducted at the river. 'Id suggest the tourist needs to check themselves! Why come to the Kimberley region in the first place?' another person wrote. Some were shocked after Mr Mackay said the large croc was caught by the trap just weeks before the woman visited the river. Mr Mackay put up a Facebook post (pictured) on Monday to reveal the trap caught a massive saltwater croc just weeks before the woman filmed and uploaded the viral video 'Is this man insane admitting this and saying it proves it's safe!' one person said. Mr Mackay explained the Ord River is the only river in Australia that is protected from saltwater crocs. He said only three crocodiles have been sighted and caught in the last two years and that the reptiles are usually sighted during the wet season. Lake Argyle is home to the world's largest population of Johnston River crocodiles, also known as the Australian freshwater crocodile. Mr Mackay said he relies on rangers, who manage the crocodile traps along the river, to inform him about crocodile sightings and he ensures this information is communicated to his customers (pictured) Swimming is considered 'at your own risk' at the lake after a 2.5-metre freshwater crocodile was euthanised by authorities when it bit a woman at the lake in 2022. Tourists are warned not to camp or swim along secluded banks, where the crocodiles can become defensive of their nests or sunbaking spots. While mostly inhabited by freshwater crocodiles, visitors are also urged to be wary of 'salties', which are known to venture into the lake after rainfall. A spokeswoman from the DBCA told Daily Mail Australia Lake Kununurra is a saltwater Crocodile Control Zone. 'DBCA manage crocodile traps in this area as a part of an ongoing saltwater crocodile management program to detect and remove estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles from the area,' the spokeswoman said. 'This is clearly communicated and displayed on signage at all major public boat ramps along the lake'. Locals and visitors are urged to be Crocwise when visiting the area at all time as WA's North West is crocodile country. The viciousness with which the Nazi party subjugated Europe in the early 20th century can never be overstated. Led by Adolf Hitler and his hate-fuelled ideology of fascistic racial purity, the regime committed countless atrocities for years, the effects of which are still felt today. But while the fuhrer was known for assembling a notoriously sadistic band of male lieutenants including Heinrich Himmler, Martin Bormann and Hans Frank, history tells us that women in the Third Reich played a key role in the sickening war crimes. Just yesterday, a 99-year-old Nazi known as the 'Secretary of Evil' failed in her bid to overturn a conviction for being an accessory to over 10,000 murders at the infamous Stutthof concentration camp. Irmgard Furchner joins a long line of women infamous for the cruelty they inflicted upon their victims. From a nymphomaniac 'hyena' who took sexual pleasure from watching women undergo surgery with no anaesthetic, to the 'Red Witch' who carefully selected prisoners to kill in order to turn their skin into ornaments, MailOnline takes a look at the cruellest women to thrive in the Third Reich. Irmgard Furchner (pictured) was known as the 'Secretary of Evil for her role at the infamous Stutthof concentration camp Irma Grese (left), known as the Hyena of Auschwitz and Ilse Koch (right), known as the Red Witch of Buchenwald History tells us that women in the Third Reich played a key role in the sickening war crimes . Pictured: Herta Bothe (left) known as the Sadist of Stutthof and Hermine Braunsteiner (right), known as the Stomping Mare Irma Grese, the Hyena of Auschwitz At just 22 years old, Irma Grese, the Hyena of Auschwitz, became the youngest woman to be executed under British law in the 20th century. Her horrific crimes certainly fit the punishment. Known by one female prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where she was a guard, as 'the most depraved, cruel, imaginative pervert I ever came across', Grese committed countless sadistic acts in the pursuit of furthering the Nazi cause during her short career as a member of the Women's SS Division. But despite her age, she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an SS Oberaufseherin, or Chief Overseer. She was given command over 30,000 women prisoners in Auschwitz-Birkenaus camp BII/c. Prisoners at Auschwitz-Birkenau knew her for wearing heavy boots and carrying a whip and pistol, vicious tools she used liberally to kick, beat and shoot concentration camp prisoners for minor infractions. Grese was said to have derived near-sexual pleasure from watching prisoners in agony. At just 22 years old, Irma Grese, the Hyena of Auschwitz, (pictured) became the youngest woman to be executed under British law in the 20th century One prisoner said Grese, number 9, was 'the most depraved, cruel, imaginative pervert I ever came across' Grese was said to have derived near-sexual pleasure from watching prisoners in agony Main entrance of Auschwitz II Gisella Perl, a trained doctor who was a prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, recalled after the Second World War that the Hyena would often watch medical operations, which were almost always performed without anaesthesia. Perl said: 'Irma Grese invariably arrived to watch the operation, kicking the victim if her screams interfered with her pleasure and giving herself completely to the orgasmic spasms which shook her entire body and made saliva run down from the corner of her mouth. 'Irma Grese was enjoying the sight of this human suffering. Her tense body swung back and forth in a revealing, rhythmical motion. Her cheeks were flushed and her wide-open eyes had the rigid, staring look of complete sexual paroxysm. 'She did this on multiple occasions so she could relive this sadistic moment repeatedly. She always came to watch the operations of these women whose breasts had been slashed open and had become infected with the lice and dirt which pervaded the womens camp.' Grese's perversions didn't end there - she is rumoured to have been sleeping with Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, as well as Josef Kramer, the commandant of Birkenau and later Bergen-Belsen. Irma Grese is rumoured to have been sleeping with Nazi doctor Josef Mengele Survivors recalled that Irma Grese killed at least 30 people a day Following legal proceedings at the Belsen Trials, she was sentenced to death by hanging A view of barbed wire fence and surveillance towers at the former Nazi death camp Auschwitz Birkenau Claims were made after the way that she took part in deciding who would live or die alongside Mengele. Survivors recalled that she killed at least 30 people a day. Her time at Bergen-Belsen, another concentration camp which she transferred to after her time at Auschwitz-Birkenau, was marked by even deeper sadism. At Belsen, she was known for making prisoners kneel for hours at a time, severely straining their muscles. She also made them hold heavy rocks over their heads, punishing them if they did not stand up straight. Prisoners were also made to stand upright in snow, ice and rain between 3am and 9am. Failure to do so properly would result in severe beatings. Following her arrest by British forces at the end of the war, she nonchalantly said of her war crimes: 'It was our duty to exterminate anti-social elements so that Germanys future would be assured.' Following legal proceedings at the Belsen Trials, she was sentenced to death by hanging. For a woman known for her perverse attraction to prolonged violence and suffering, this was the last thing she wanted for her own execution, which was carried out by the infamous hangman Albert Pierrepoint in December 1945. Pierrepoint, known as Britain's last hangman, was seemingly left stunned by how she approached her own death, writing in his autobiography: 'She walked into the execution chamber, gazed for a moment at the officials standing around it, then walked to the centre of the trap where I had made a chalk mark. 'She stood on this mark very firmly and, as I placed the white cap over her head, she said in a languid voice, "Schnell".' Herta Bothe, the Sadist of Stutthof At 6ft 3in, Herta Bothe, the 'ruthless overseer' of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, towered above nearly everyone when she was arrested by Allies troops who liberated the northern German camp on April 15 1945. Even more striking was the fact that, despite her height, she looked like a common civilian. While others wore night-black jackboots, she wore ordinary shoes. But her civilian clothing belied the horrific truth of the sick cruelty she was capable of. During the Belsen trials, a camp survivor said she saw Bothe beat an 18-year-old girl to death for daring to eat food scraps from the kitchen. Another prisoner told war crime prosecutors that he saw her shoot two people for no reason at all. Despite her arbitrary cruelty, she was only given a prison sentence of 10 years for using pistols against prisoners. During the Belsen trials, a camp survivor said she saw Bothe (pictured, right) beat an 18-year-old girl to death for daring to eat food scraps from the kitchen This undated photo from 1945 shows the Nazi concentration camp Stutthof in Sztutowo, Poland German Nazi party official and head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, center, visits the Nazi concentration camp Stutthof in Sztutowo, Poland Nov. 23, 1941 On top of this, she was released from prison early and was allowed to live out her days in relative peace. Living under the same Lange, she was able to lead a quiet live for another half century. Bothe was unrepentant of her war crimes. In a 1999 interview, less than a year before she died at the age of 79, she unashamedly said: 'Did I make a mistake? No. The mistake was that it was a concentration camp, but I had to go to it, otherwise I would have been put into it myself. That was my mistake.' Ilse Koch, the Red Witch of Buchenwald Nine days after American soldiers liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp in April 1945, United Press correspondent Ann Stringer filed a story that sickened the world. In her own words, she saw a lampshade 'two feet in diameter, about eighteen inches high and made of five panels made from the skin from a mans chest. 'Along side were book bindings, bookmarkers, and other ornamental piecesall made from human skin, too. I saw them today. I could see the pores and the tiny unquestionably human skin lines.' The sickening ornaments belonged to llse Koch, wife of SS officer Karl Koch. As the wife of a high-ranking Nazi official, she was afforded rights and powers that few had. And as a Nazi with a proclivity for power, she abused these to no end. he sickening ornaments belonged to llse Koch (pictured) As the wife of a high-ranking Nazi official, she was afforded rights and powers that few had A barbed wire fence encloses the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald near Weimar, eastern Germany One prisoner, a 'Dutch engineer' who spent time in Buchenwald, said Koch 'would have prisoners with tattoos on them line up shirtless. Then she would pick a pretty design or mark she particularly liked. 'That prisoner would be executed and his skin made into an ornament.' Testimonies were even more detailed at her war crimes trial. Kurt Froboess, a prisoner at Buchenwald from 1937 until liberation, told the American military tribunal in Dachau: 'It was a hot day. Some prisoners were working without a shirt. Mrs. Koch arrived on a horse. 'There was a comrade therehis first name was Jean, he was either French or Belgianand he was known throughout camp for his excellent tattoos from head to toe. 'On his chest he had an exceptionally well-tattooed sailboat with four masts. Even today I can see it before my eyes very clearly. Mrs. Koch rode over. She took his number down. Jean was called to the gate at evening formation. We didnt see him anymore.' For her part, Koch vigorously denied ever owning ornaments made of human skin She experienced severe delusions while at Aichach women's prison, and believed that survivors of concentration camps would abuse her in her cell Steles with the engravings 'Buchenwald' and 'Majdanek' that are part of the memorial dedicated to the murdered Sinti and Roma are pictured at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald Though there were many other testimonials that spoke to Koch's love of ornaments made of human skin, no physical evidence of this was ever produced at an official trial. For her part, Koch vigorously denied ever owning ornaments made of human skin. She claimed during the Dachau trial that the first time she had even heard of lampshades was when 'I read about it in Life magazine.' Following years of legal wrangling, with her war crimes case being passed between military and civilian courts, she was eventually sentenced to a life sentence with no change of parole. In a written judgement, judges at a West German court found she had consciously suppressed 'any feeling of compassion and pity she had as a woman.' She instead gave 'free rein to her pursuit of power and prestige, her arrogance and her selfishness.' The court noted that Koch had a 'stubborn and irresponsible denial' and refused to acknowledge the 'slightest admission of guilt.' But it appears that the guilt of her crimes eventually broke her. She experienced severe delusions while at Aichach women's prison, and believed that survivors of concentration camps would abuse her in her cell. In her suicide note, which she wrote to her estranged son Uwe, she said: 'There is no other way. Death for me is a release.' Hermine Braunsteiner, the Stomping Mare Prisoners of the Majdanek concentration camp quickly learned to fear the shine coming off Hermine Braunsteiner's black jackboots. She was equally happy using the polished mid-calf boots, studded with steel, to kick out a stool underneath a young girl to hang her to death as she was stomping old women to death. Equally adept with her hands as she was with her feet, she was also known for whipping at least two women to death and grabbing children by their hair before tossing them in the back of vans to take them to gas chambers. One French doctor, trapped at Majdanek, said of Braunsteiner: 'I watched her administer twenty-five lashes with a riding crop to a young Russian girl suspected of having tried sabotage. 'Her back was full of lashes, but I was not allowed to treat her immediately.' Her cruelty was legendary, even by Nazi standards. For her sick work she was given the War Merit Cross, 2nd class, in 1943. Prisoners of the Majdanek concentration camp quickly learned to fear the shine coming off Hermine Braunsteiner's (pictured, centre) black jackboots Her cruelty was legendary, even by Nazi standards View of guard towers, fence, and crematorium chimney at Majdanek But her loyalty to the party wavered at the end of the Second World War. Ahead of Majdanek's liberation by the Soviet Red Army im May 1945, she fled the camp before returning to her native Vienna. A year later, she was arrested by Austrian police and handed over to British authorities. Though she was convicted of crimes against human dignity for her abuse at Ravensbruck, where she spent some years working as a guard, she was acquitted of her war crimes in Majdanek, which included murder, as there weren't any witnesses who were willing to take the stand. As a result, she received just three years in prison, and had all of her property confiscated. Destitute, she worked low-end jobs at hotels and restaurants until she met her future husband, American man Russell Ryan, while he was on holiday in Austria. The pair married in October 1958, and she entered the US in 1969, settling down in Queens, New York, after becoming a US citizen in 1963. Upon realising that the jig was up, she reportedly said: 'My God, I knew this would happen. You've come' Following a series of trials, she was given a life sentence for her crimes After her identity was revealed, the US worked to revoke her citizenship as she had failed to disclose her war crimes convictions Red Army soldiers examining the ovens of the burned-down New Crematorium at Majdanek In New York, she was known locally as a friendly housewife with a penchant for cleanliness. But her unearned marital bliss would not last. A famed Nazi hunter managed to track down her route from Austria to New York, and informed the New York Times that there was a Nazi living quietly in the city. The Gray Lady sent a junior reporter to track her down. Upon realising that the jig was up, she reportedly said: 'My God, I knew this would happen. You've come.' After her identity was revealed, the US worked to revoke her citizenship as she had failed to disclose her war crimes convictions. Though she initially managed to avoid extradition back to Germany, she was forced back to West Germany after its government accused her of being jointly responsible for the deaths of 200,000 people. Following a series of trials, she was given a life sentence for her crimes, but was later released from prison following complications of diabetes. Irmgard Furchner, the Secretary of Evil 99-year-old Irmgard Furchner has spent her whole life denying the horrific war crimes crimes she was complicit in at the tender ages of 18 and 19. As the secretary to the SS commander of the infamous Stutthof concentration camp, she was convicted of being an accessory to over 10,000 murders. At a federal court hearing in Leipzig last month, the Nazi's lawyers tried to cast doubt over whether she could really be considered an accessory to the atrocities committed at the camp, and whether she had been fully aware of what was going on. She was tried in a juvenile court as she was 18 and 19 at the time of the alleged crimes, and the court couldn't establish beyond a doubt her 'maturity of mind' then. But the court ruled that Furchner 'knew and, through her work as a stenographer in the commandant's office of the Stutthof concentration camp from June 1, 1943, to April 1, 1945, deliberately supported the fact that 10,505 prisoners were cruelly killed by gassings, by hostile conditions in the camp,' by transportation to the Auschwitz death camp and by being sent on death marches at the end of the war. 99-year-old Irmgard Furchner (pictured) has spent her whole life denying the horrific war crimes crimes she was complicit in at the tender ages of 18 and 19 As the secretary to the SS commander of the infamous Stutthof concentration camp, she was convicted of being an accessory to over 10,000 murders Furchner's guilt appears to still be weighing on her even decades later. In September 2021, she was detained for several days by Germany police after she tried running away at the start of her trial. Furchner ran away from her care home in Norderstedt, northern Germany, and tried to take a taxi to the city's railway station, but did not make it far. She was held for five days, with the start of the trial being delayed thanks to her attempted escape. While she reportedly remained silent through much of her trial, she said toward the end: 'I'm sorry for everything that happened. I regret that I was in Stutthof at the time. I can't say anything else.' One of the women was Maria Mandl, a senior SS guard in Auschwitz from October 1942 to October 1944 who was nicknamed 'The Beast' by prisoners Female guards at the SS holiday camp in the town of Porabka SS women arriving at an SS holiday camp in the town of Porabka in what was then German occupied Poland Maria Mandl, The Beast Maria Mandl, a senior SS guard in Auschwitz from October 1942 to October 1944 was nicknamed 'The Beast' by prisoners. Born in 1912 the daughter of a shoemaker, she first started work in a Nazi concentration camp in Lichtenburg Germany in 1938 before being transferred to the camp for women in Ravensbruk, also in Germany. In 1942 she was sent to Auschwitz where she became infamous for her sadism and sending 'an estimated half a million women and children to their deaths in the gas chambers.' After Auschwitz was liberated in January 1945, Mandl fled into the mountains of southern Bavaria. Mandl was later caught and arrested by the US military in August 1945 and held at Dachau Prison. She was then handed over to Poland in November 1946 and later sentenced by a Kracow courtroom, as part of the Auschwitz trial, to death by hanging. Mandl was hanged on 24 January 1948, aged 36. SS women arriving at an SS holiday camp in what was then German occupied Poland Among the women featured in the project is Emma Zimmer (left), who worked as a female SS guard at three concentration camps. She was later sentenced to death by hanging by the British military tribunal. Another female SS guard who was sentenced to death was Therese Brandl (right), who worked at three concentration camps between 1940 and 1945 Emma Zimmer Emma Zimmer, who worked as a female SS guard at three concentration camps and was later awarded the War Merit Cross Second Class without Swords for her long-time service for the SS. Born on August 14, 1888, in Hamersheim, she started work as a guard from December 1937, initially in Lichtenberg concentration camp and from May 1939 in Ravensbruck concentration camp for women. At the beginning of October 1942, she was delegated to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she stayed until December 1943. In September 1943, she was awarded the War Merit Cross Second Class without Swords for her long-time service for the SS. But later that year, due to her age, health problems and alcohol abuse at work she terminated her career as a female SS guard in concentration camps. She was later detained by US military forced in the spring of 1945 and deported to internment camp number 77 in Ludwigsburg. Subsequently, she was handed over to British authorities. She was sentenced to death by hanging by the British military tribunal in the 6th Ravensbruck Trial. The sentence was carried out in September 1948. Therese Brandl Therese Brandl worked at three concentration camps between 1940 and 1945. Brandl, born on February 1, 1909 in the Bavarian town Staudach, worked at Ravensbruck concentration camp for women from September 1940 to March 1942. Later she was delegated to Auschwitz concentration camp, where she stayed until the end of 1944 working as SS Report Leader and supervised the prisoners working in the Rajsko subcamp. In December 1944, she was delegated at her own request to work in the subcamp Muhldorf. After the war, she was sentenced to death by hanging in the trial against 40 former members of the staff of Auschwitz concentration camp. The sentence was carried out in January 1948. Even in the dwindling twilight, the divers and the patrol boats are still out there off the Sicilian coast as I write, lending the tiniest credence to that slenderest of hopes: might someone, in some miraculous air pocket, still be alive? It is now two days since the 183ft British superyacht, the Bayesian, capsized in seconds and sank in 150ft of water in the early hours of Monday. Six people are missing, including the owner, British tech guru Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Yet, divers have since reported finding a hull still apparently intact and lying on its starboard side with heavy detritus furniture and so on blocking their path to some of the cabins within. In the absence of bodies, one expert raised the dim possibility that someone might still be trapped in a submerged pocket of air. Robert Hardman in Porticello, Sicily, with the life raft used by the survivors of the shipwreck Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, are among those missing after the superyacht sank off southern Italy Nick Sloane, a salvage engineer who worked on the wreck of the Italian Costa Concordia cruise ship, told Sky News yesterday that theyve got a very small window of time to try to find people. He added that, since the yacht was on its side and not upright, the prospects of trapped air were much greater. The next 24 hours are critical, he said. Jeremy Bloomer, twin brother of missing passenger Jonathan Bloomer, last night told the BBC: Its a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we dont know. Its still wait and see, so fingers crossed. The authorities have not quite abandoned all notions of a miracle, though they were managing expectations last night. Italian coast guard spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola told reporters: We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. Asked about the chance of any of them being alive, he replied: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. Here in the village of Porticello, it has to be said, an air of profound gloom hangs over what is usually a busy harbour. For now, it barely stirs, save for the comings and goings of rescue craft. Nothing could be more poignant than the hunt for Hannah Lynch. She had only just learned that she had secured the precious A-Level grades needed to fulfil her dream of a place at Oxford when disaster struck in the blackness before dawn. There had already been so much for the Lynch family to celebrate that it could not all be crammed into one cruise. It is now two days since the 183ft British superyacht, the Bayesian, capsized in seconds and sank in 150ft of water in the early hours of Monday Hardmanon the coast of Porticello in Sicily, the coast near to where the ship sank. The vessel was caught in the middle of a tornado which hit water and became a water spout Wholly exonerated by an American jury after defending himself against a punitive 12-year legal assault in relation to the sale of his software business to the USs Hewlett-Packard corporation, Mike Lynch had wanted to thank those who had stood loyally by through his darkest hours. Even a superyacht the size of the Bayesian, with six elegant guest staterooms, could not accommodate them all. So there would be a rotating circle of staunch friends and allies invited aboard to toast Dr Lynchs new lease of life. Now there was something very different for the family to celebrate, alongside the latest batch of guests who arrived last weekend. And how it must have melted the hearts of Dr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares. For their beautiful, clever younger daughter, Hannah, was now going to study for a degree at one of the worlds finest universities. Dad might have been a mathematical prodigy during his days at Cambridge but Hannah was looking forward to reading English at Trinity College, Oxford. What happier way to crown this summers burst of good fortune for a family who, for all their wealth, had been through so much trauma in recent years. One schoolmate at west Londons Latymer Upper School remembers Hannah as a wonderful, popular, creative talent full of dreams. The last picture of the luxury superyacht which had 22 people on board, including ten crew members British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 people rescued This shocking maritime accident is already perplexing many of the most experienced names in sailing. How could one of the worlds tallest yachts, designed by some of the finest in the business, simply capsize and sink in seconds? How could it do so not mid-Atlantic or in the depths of a winter storm but in August in the Mediterranean less than a mile from the shore. And at anchor. And with all its sails furled? And, however unfair it may turn out to be, there is a question which may be asked in due course: why were the skipper and all but one of the crew in the life raft while six of their passengers were unaccounted for? Standing here on a breezy Sicilian shore, watching the rescue boats and helicopters frantically trying to find the missing, the bewildering sense of disbelief weighs every bit as heavily as the tragedy of it all. They've got a small window of time. The next 24 hours are critical The only piece of evidence on display when I arrive here in Porticello is the inflatable life raft, tied to a coast guard pontoon. No bigger than two paddling pools stuck together with an orange tent on top, it was this which proved so providential in the early hours of Monday morning. In those terrifying seconds as the boat went over, someone had managed to chuck this thing over the side and pull the ripcord connected to the gas cylinders which inflates a life raft much like the airbag in your car. The canopy of this model specifies a maximum of 12 people on board. We know that up to 15, including a baby, were drifting helplessly when the rescue boats arrived on the scene. The foil blankets and empty emergency water packs still lie strewn on the floor. There are now two investigations running in parallel here. Out at sea, teams of divers and maritime investigators are circling the same patch of water beyond the harbour of Porticello. Divers plunge into the waves to search the wreckage, 150ft beneath the surface 'Even in the dwindling twilight, the divers and the patrol boats are still out there off the Sicilian coast,' writes Robert Hardman A few miles away, on dry land, the survivors are recovering at a five-star hotel complex where the authorities are gathering witness statements and piecing together some sort of timeline. Yesterday the British ambassador to Rome, Lord Llewellyn, former Downing Street chief of staff, sombre and suited, arrived in Sicily to meet the survivors and their families, hear their stories and thank the Italian authorities. No one can imagine the pain of Ms Bacares, who sustained serious injuries during her escape from the boat. She has now been joined by her elder daughter, Esme, a student, who was thankfully not on board at the time of the sinking. How could one of the worlds tallest yachts, designed by some of the finest in the business, simply capsize and sink in seconds? Another family in deep shock is that of Dr Lynchs New York lawyer, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife, Neda. Their two daughters were believed to be heading to meet up with them in Crete. Now they may face life as orphans. Also missing are Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife, Judy, a respected London psychotherapist. As friends of all of the above come to terms with the news, they are also starting to ask so many of these urgent questions. For example: how come another, smaller yacht, within shouting distance, managed to survive the same weather? I take a boat out to the edge of the search area and have a close look at the Sir Robert Baden-Powell. Here is a handsome schooner half a century older than the Bayesian, bobbing around at anchor apparently unscathed. At the first sign of terrible weather, her Dutch skipper said that he had started using his engine to counter some of the strain on his anchor. When extreme wind starts pushing an anchored boat in a different direction, there can be a very sudden and dramatic wobble when the chain goes taut and the anchor bites. The search continues for the six people still missing after the wreck. The body of the vessel's chef was recovered on the first day of the search Helicopters are aiding in the search. Hardman writes that 'the authorities have not, quite, abandoned all notions of a miracle' Was that the moment when the Bayesian went keeling on to her side, only for a colossal gust of wind many have reported seeing an aquatic tornado called a waterspout to flatten her record-breaking 246ft mast against the water at the same time? That might then indeed have pushed her beyond the point of righting herself. With water pouring over the side, sinking would have been swift and irreversible. That is one possibility put to me by a very experienced Royal Naval expert yesterday. It was supported by two of the most respected figures in yachting. Rod Heikell and his wife Lucinda have written the definitive guides for sailors cruising across the Mediterranean (some call their books bibles). Their Italian Waters Pilot is now in its 11th edition and includes specific advice on every stretch of the Sicilian coast, including Porticello. A rather plain village in an attractive setting, it notes, warning that approaching yachts must beware of a barely visible rock called the Scoglio di Formica one mile east of the harbour. Could the Bayesian have scraped against that? I dont think it was the rock as it is on every chart and the crew would have been well aware it was there, says Lucinda, speaking from Britain yesterday. There could have been a moment of sudden instability if the wind suddenly went from five knots to above 40 and the yacht went swinging violently on its chain. But everyone is open-mouthed at how quickly it went down. Rod, who first started sailing these waters 40 years ago, tells me that he is in no doubt that something is changing in the Med. There have always been thunderstorms and waterspouts but they are now of a different intensity and frequency, he says. Historically, the Mediterranean has avoided hurricanes because its waters were not warm enough. However, with the water now three degrees warmer in the space of a few years, he has identified the phenomenon of what he calls a medicane. He also points out that weather forecasting is now vastly improved. 'No bigger than two paddling pools stuck together with an orange tent on top, the liferaft was proved so providential in the early hours of Monday morning' Central to questions over the disaster will be the yachts British skipper, James Cutfield. He is understood to be based in Palma, Majorca and to have worked for the Lynches for a number of years. Some will want to know why he was in the life raft when some of his passengers were not. Old hands are quick to point out, in his defence, that Cutfield and his crew were likely to have been on deck trying to deal with the sudden maelstrom when the yacht went down and, thus, were not trapped below. His only version of events thus far has been a quote, to Italys La Repubblica newspaper: We didnt see it coming. Professor Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said yesterday that the crew should have ensured that all on board were at least awake and equipped with lifejackets during Mondays storm. However, a senior figure in the world of superyachting has told me, in response: This was a big boat which has been through a lot. Youre not going to get everyone out of bed for what did not look exceptionally serious until, very suddenly, it was. Hardman on the water near to the edge of the search area off the coast of Porticello, 'an area famous for its winds' This area has been famous for its winds since time immemorial, immortalised in the greatest of the classics. Both Homer and Virgil talked of the mighty Aeolus, God of Winds, living in these waters. Hence the name of the nearby archipelago, just north of Milazzo, from where this cruise began. Called the Aeolian Islands, they include the occasionally active volcanoes of Vulcano (named after the God of Fire) and Stromboli. The Lynches had been cruising these awesome islands and alluringly blue waters in the days leading up to the disaster. They were then seeing a little more of the Sicilian coast before their return to their home in Suffolk. That such a happy adventure could end in such horror is a reminder of just how fickle the Med can be, even in high season. Sailors everywhere will now be wondering: what if that had been me? I know I will. Two weeks ago, I took my own family sailing in a rented boat a fraction of the size of the mighty Bayesian. Our destination? Sicily, Milazzo and the Aeolians. Luckily, Aeolus was on holiday that week. You dont get to the grand old age of 96 without learning a thing or two about human nature. Imagine if the late Queen had kept a log of all the many dignitaries shed had occasion to meet during the course of her record-breaking reign. What a fascinating document that would be, what insights might lie within its pages. After all, as Craig Brown points out in his brilliant new book, A Voyage Around The Queen (serialised this week in the Mail), she got to meet practically everyone of significance over the past 70 years, including some distinctly dodgy characters. Nicolae Ceausescu, Bashar al-Assad, Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, Donald Trump, Emperor Hirohito, Vladimir Putin they were all entertained by Her late Majesty. Apart from the time she supposedly hid behind a bush to avoid speaking to Ceausescu, if she had any sort of opinion about her guests she tended to express it tangentially. Queen and Trump at the state banquet in 2019, when they 'sat next to each other... at the top of a huge U-shaped table groaning with beautiful blooms and glittering crystal' For example, Lord Blunkett once recalled how, during Vladimir Putins State visit in 2003, the Russian premier arrived almost 15 minutes late. When his entourage finally swung into view Blunketts guide dog, Sadie, started barking. Mortified, he apologised to the Queen. She simply replied, Dogs have interesting instincts, dont they? She had a brilliant way of making her feelings known via a few carefully chosen phrases. Perhaps her most famous one was recollections may vary - her withering response to the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs preposterous Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021. It follows that for the late Elizabeth II to be critical of a head of state and not just any head of state: Donald Trump, the then President of America, one of Britains closest allies she must have been really quite ticked off. According to Brown, at a lunch a few weeks after one of Trumps official visits, she described him to a fellow guest as very rude; he writes that she particularly disliked the way he couldnt stop looking over her shoulder, as though in search of others more interesting. She is also said to have speculated that he must have some sort of arrangement with his wife Melania, or else why would she have remained married to him? Ouch. I mean, neither are particularly controversial opinions among Trump detractors; but from the late Queen herself, always such a shrewd judge of character, thats quite damning. Especially since, in typical fashion, The Donald thought he had been a big hit. There are those that say they have never seen the Queen have a better time, a more animated time, he told Fox News. The Queen and Trump met two years running, in 2018 and 2019. The second time was a State visit when he saw her in a more informal setting at Windsor Castle (that was the time he famously ambled ahead of her, forcing her to side-step him); and again, in the far more formal setting of a State banquet at Buckingham Palace. There, they sat next to each other in the splendour of the banqueting suite, at the top of a huge U-shaped table groaning with beautiful blooms and glittering crystal, flanked by ever-watchful equerries and tiara-laden ladies-in-waiting. I know because astonishingly I was there, somewhere towards the bottom of that table, seated next to Sir Simon Case (these days the head of the Civil Service but back then the man in charge of Prince Williams private office), and one-removed from Tiffany Trump, the Presidents daughter from his second marriage to Marla Maples. A fairly shallow vessel, as I discovered when I tried to engage her in conversation. It was a magnificent evening, my first (and undoubtedly last) glimpse of that dazzling world. The circumstances were slightly bizarre: Jeremy Corbyn (the then leader of the Opposition), being an avid Republican, had turned down his invitation; as a result, my then husband, Michael Gove, had been invited in his capacity as Secretary of State for the Environment and I as his plus-one. I remember it like it was yesterday: the paintings, the gilding, the Beefeaters, the slightly bizarre choice of music, the incongruously humdrum bowls of crisps at the reception beforehand, the confusing array of cutlery and glasses, the giant mirrors, the well-oiled formality, the Chateau Lafite. Especially the Chateau Lafite. But the dinner itself was not even the highlight of the evening. That came after the main event, while we were enjoying our coffee and chocolates. A discreet tap on the shoulder and we were ushered into a side-room. It was the royal equivalent of a humble Swiftie being handed a back-stage pass to meet Tay-Tay herself. As I wrote at the time, like walking into Madame Tussauds only to discover that all the waxworks had come alive. Off to the right, Princes Andrew and Edward. On my left, Ivanka Trump deep in conversation with the then Duchess of Cambridge. Beyond them, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, as they were. All just chatting away as though this were a perfectly normal drinks party. Honestly, quite surreal, especially for a girl from the Mumbles, Wales In the middle of all of it was Trump, sucking all who came near him into his orbit, like a giant pulsating orange sun. His presence was palpable that odd stature, his chest puffed out, head tilted back, jutting jaw, that unique diction. Not charisma, exactly, but something else, a mixture of bravado, arrogance and extreme awkwardness. And yes, he was constantly looking over the shoulder of whoever he was talking to, seeing if there was someone more interesting in the room. Melania was keeping well away from the scrum surrounding him. Nevertheless, she was watching proceedings like a cat, her face as inscrutable as the Mona Lisas. I made my way over to where she was standing next to the wife of the American Ambassador, whom I vaguely knew. Up close, Melania looked older, but those cats eyes of her were mesmerising, as was her exquisite white dress against her expensive tan. Everything about her was impeccable, from her appearance to her conversation, every inch the consummate political wife. The Queen is also said to have speculated that he must have some sort of arrangement with his wife Melania, or else why would she have remained married to him? Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II, Donald Trump and Melania Trump during a state visit to London in 2019 We chatted and then, as always happens at these things, Melania was ushered away to talk to someone more important and I found myself suddenly alone. It was then that I saw her. Out of the corner of my eye, a small, dazzling figure in shimmering white and diamonds moving across the floor, just inches away from me. The Queen herself, Elizabeth II. Except something was wrong. She did not seem at all happy; in fact, I would go as far to say that she was extremely displeased. All around me, various equerries and ladies in waiting stiffened to attention, their royal antennae clearly on alert. Who left that door open? she snapped to a nearby flunky, the irritation audible in her voice. That door is supposed to be kept shut. It was clear that something or perhaps someone had tried her patience to the limit. It was also very clear that she had had quite enough for one night and that the evening, as far as she was concerned, was over. The ladies-in-waiting fluttered to her side, surrounding her like a flock of elegant, elderly swans and she was gone. Was it The Donald who had soured her temper? Or was she really just cross because someone had left a door open? Recollections may vary, of course. But I have a sneaking feeling that Craig Brown is right: the door actually had nothing to do with it. An American soldier who fled the US while facing child pornography charges has resurfaced in a Russian military propaganda video, revealing the skills he learned in the Air Force are now helping him serve the Kremlin. Wilmer Puello-Mota boarded a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, on January 7, the same week he was due to appear in a Rhode Island court charged with possession of child pornography, obstruction of the judicial system, forgery and counterfeiting. In a video distributed by the Russian Defence Ministry, a man by the name of Will recalls traveling from the United States to Moscow in January, then onto Donetsk where he 'served for three months'. From there, he 'had some friends who went on to serve with the Ministry of Defence'. In a video distributed from the Russian Defence Ministry, a man by the name of Will recalls traveling from the United States to Moscow in January, then onto Donetsk where he 'served for three months' Those friends encouraged him to join the 137th brigade with them, the apparent filming location of the video, by telling him it was 'great'. 'So I decided to join them and here we are,' he said. Former colleagues and associates have since confirmed the man in the footage featured on the Russian Defence Ministry appears to be Puello-Mota, 27, Stars and Stripes reported. In the vision, he rebukes suggestions he's a traitor for leaving America and fighting for Russia during the invasion of Ukraine. 'The United States and Russia aren't at war,' he said. 'I don't consider myself a traitor.' Puello-Mota described the training he received in the US during his time in the U.S. Air Force and the Massachusetts National Air Guard. 'We deal with things like drones and other things... I've definitely been able to apply some of those skills, leadership skills as well here,' he said. Puello-Mota described the training he received in the US during his time in the U.S. Air Force and the Massachusetts National Air Guard In the vision, he rebukes suggestions he's a traitor for leaving America and fighting for Russia during the invasion of Ukraine His role in Russia is a reconnaissance drone operator. A Facebook profile purporting to belong to Puello-Mota depicts a photo uploaded as recently as February of him operating a drone in military uniform. He also referred to the two years he spent as a 'city councilor' - elected in Holyoke Massachusetts. It was during this time, he said, that he was able to 'zoom out into the international level of politics', prompting an overwhelming feeling that he 'had to do something about it'. He failed to mention in the clip that he was arrested in Rhode Island in 2020 and skipped out on his trial date when he traveled to Russia. Puello-Mota called police to report his firearm had been stolen from his room. When police arrived, they found naked images of a 17-year-old girl on his phone, prompting his arrest. He was later charged with attempting to deceive prosecutors and his commanders about the case. Labour's flagship border security announcement was condemned as a 'farce' last night amid a catalogue of confusion over Yvette Cooper's new target to deport failed asylum seekers. The Home Secretary pledged the number of removals of failed applicants and others with no right to be in Britain will increase to the 'highest level since 2018' levels already exceeded under the Conservatives last year. Figures show there were 24,938 removals enforced and voluntary in 2018. In 2023, the figure was 26,264. A Labour spokesman said the target applied to total removals from July to December only. But, again, the figure for the second half of 2018 11,528 was beaten by nearly 3,000 in the same period last year, when 14,389 foreign nationals were removed from the country under the Tories. After being challenged over the figures, a Home Office spokesman later said the target was to remove more people than any six-month period since 2018, including from April to September last year when 14,484 were removed. Yvette Cooper's border security announcement was branded a 'farce' amid confusion over her new deportation targets Your browser does not support iframes. The Home Secretary said that removals of failed applicants would be at the 'highest level since 2018'- levels already exceeded by the Conservatives last year (pictured: Migrants wave to a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel in April) Pictured: A group of migrants are escorted to Dover, Kent on a Borer Force vessel following a small boat incident on August 14 Asylum seekers being escorted into the Port of Dover by Border Force officials on Sunday Yet again, however, that figure was exceeded under the Tories between October and March this year, with 14,703. Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister and Tory leadership hopeful, said: 'This farcical target shows Labour are completely clueless about border security. Less than two months in and it's already a shambles. They've scrapped... the Rwanda policy and their border security unit is still without a commander.' He added: 'Sir Keir Starmer has surrendered to the people smuggling gangs and it's the British public who will pay the price.' Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, said: 'The Government has either screwed up by failing to analyse the figures, or it is trying to deceive the public. Neither is acceptable.' Ms Cooper also announced 'up to 100' officers will join the National Crime Agency to target trafficking gangs by the end of the year a 33 per cent rise on current numbers deployed on border security. In addition, 300 extra Home Office caseworkers have been redeployed to process removals. In a further move, Ms Cooper said she was increasing the capacity of immigration removals centres, including 290 spaces at Campsfield House, near Oxford, and Haslar at Gosport, Hants. The reopening of the disused centres was first announced by the Conservatives in 2022. Conservative leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said that Labour was 'completely clueless' on border security and called the Government's plans a 'shambles' A drone picture of an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants towards Britain in the Channel earlier this month. Ms Cooper said that staff were being 'urgently recruited' for the Government's new Border Security Command A group of migrants travelling across the English Channel in an inflatable dinghy on Sunday There will also be a new 'intelligence-driven programme' to target employers who hire illegal workers. Ms Cooper said: 'We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced. Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe.' She vowed to establish a system that is 'better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long'. But shadow home secretary James Cleverly, also running to be Tory leader, said the measures fail to even 'scratch the surface', insisting: 'Labour clearly aren't serious about tackling the people smugglers or stopping the boats.' It came as the Home Office confirmed 206 migrants crossed the Channel by small boat on Monday, bringing the total this year to 19,294. Vice President Kamala Harris was once the inspiration of a poem describing law school as a slave ship, written and performed in honor of her graduation from the University of California Hastings Law School. Author and playwright Lisa B. Thompson, then a student at the University of California, wrote and performed a poem about life as a black student for the College of the Law African Peoples Graduation Celebration in 1989. Harris was one of the graduates that Thompson celebrated, offering some context into the intellectual environment that the vice president was surrounded by during law school. I am writing a poem about them three years of law school at Hastings, wrote Thompson in her poem, referring to Kamala as one of ten black graduates of the program. She also dedicated her poem to 'those fifteen disqualified by intellectual apartheid,' black students who apparently failed to graduate. Author and playwright Lisa B. Thompson wrote and performed a poem decrying racism in Kamala Harris' law school The text of the poem was later published by the law school. Thompson wrote about the struggle of her fellow black students, in law school where their C grades could still earn them a JD or a Juris Doctor degree to practice law. It should take more than a nation of millions to hold us back from disposing of institutional racism, sexism, classism, fascism and recalling our chant C=JD, C=JD, C=JD, she wrote. She compared law school to a slave ship. 'Law school is only the middle passage there are those who jumped ship to swim back home or who drowned in the cruel waters of exams, outlines, performance anxiety, and financial sobriety,' she wrote. Kamala Harris celebrates with fellow law school graduates from the University of California Hastings Law School Vice President Kamala Harris appears on stage at the Democratic National Convention Thompson also chided some professional black lawyers, describing them as Africans who do not know they are African by believing the lies and act as a super negro, pleased to assist in all forms of litigation. The Hastings students, Thompson wrote, were no longer facing racist exams or confronted by belligerent flyers decaying walls breaking ignorance and hate. Thompsons reference to the belligerent flyers likely referred to a scandal the disrupted the school, after a bulletin board decorated by the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) was vandalized with a racist marking. At the time, Harris was the President of the Black Law Students Association at the University and condemned the action as what we deal with all the time. Thompson celebrated Harris graduation as a success for black students. US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at the campaign rally at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris This is a poem for ten beautiful Africans who conquered insane tasks without losing sanity who juggled memory, fear, pain, love, passion, with energy beyond days, she wrote. Thompson urged them not to forget to protect those who adore you from the wicked world. Later in life, as Harris ran for president, Thompson posted on social media that she was specifically referring to Harris. I need to share my experience about writing and performing a poem celebrating newly minted JDs Kamala Harris, Dion Raymond, and a handful of others for the Hastings Law School Black Graduation she wrote in a post on X.com. Wow! This is so Senator Harris! I need to share my experience about writing and performing a poem celebrating newly minted JDs Kamala Harris, Dion Raymond, and a handful of others for the Hastings Law School Black Graduation. Dr. Lisa B. Thompson (@DrLisaBThompson) August 16, 2020 After graduation, Harris went to work as a prosecutor in Alameda County, California until she met and dated State legislature speaker Willie Brown as he was running for mayor of San Francisco. Harris went on to serve as a lawyer in the San Francisco District Attorneys office before she quit and campaigned against her former boss Terrence Hallinan. Thompson, now an established professor at the University of Texas in Austin, went on to have a prolific career in the arts, writing books and plays about the black experience in America. She wrote Beyond The Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class and Single Black Female a book she turned into a play. She is also a co-host of the podcast Black Austin Matters. Thompson did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment. The housing development on 300 Octavia St. in San Francisco was damaged during a 2023 four-alarm fire and has remained blighted since. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle David Robinson, president of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, said the property remains abandoned and unsecured, providing opportunities for additional fires and safety concerns. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle On Tuesday, a group of Hayes Valley residents descended on a directors hearing at the Department of Building Inspection. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A year after a suspicious fire engulfed a half-built condo complex in San Franciscos Hayes Valley damaging two adjacent structures and leaving a dozen people homeless what remains of the building has become a refuge for squatters, raising fears that the property could once again become a fire hazard, according to neighbors. On Tuesday, a group of Hayes Valley residents descended on a directors hearing at the Department of Building Inspection, or DBI, to draw attention to the ongoing issues at 300 Octavia St., a 14-unit project that was abandoned after the fire that erupted before dawn just over a year ago. S.F. Bay Area property map: Heres who owns every building in the region Advertisement Article continues below this ad Today, the concrete foundation and the first floor remain intact, but the wood-framed upper stories that were charred in the fire were torn out. A fence that encircles the slender 2,300-square-foot property is easily opened, and clothing, furniture and a make-shift lean-to indicate that the abandoned property appears to continue to attract trespassers. David Robinson, president of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, said the property remains abandoned and unsecured, providing opportunities for additional fires and safety concerns. As of this morning the fence is still open and there is evidence of people living inside the property, he said. Debris believed to be from people squatting at 300 Octavia St. has neighbors concerned that another fire could occur if people start fires for warmth. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle One of the Hayes Valley residents who attended the hearing was Cheryl Czekala, who the fire displaced from her rent-controlled apartment of 40 years at 276 Oak St., a two-unit building to the east of 300 Octavia. The Hayes Valley property owner, Greenview Planning and Design LLC, did not show up to the hearing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Czekala said that she woke at 6 a.m. to a loud rattling noise that sounded like hail. When she looked outside she saw the the reflection of flames in neighboring windows, grabbed her walker and started getting dressed. By the time I was tying my shoes there was a fireman at my bedroom door saying, You gotta get out of here, said Czekala, a widow and retired administrator at University of San Francisco. He said, Go down the street because its going to get really hot. A firefighter helped her gather her laptop, parents wedding rings, a sweater and identification. The western portion of her apartment the dining room and kitchen was soaked and filled with debris and grime. Czekala lost her extensive library and art collection and has been living in an apartment on Bay Street near Fishermans Wharf that she got through the citys Department of Human Services disaster coordinator. She said she misses her old neighborhood but is hesitant to move back as long as there are squatters next door. Shes concerned they will continue to have fires, especially as winter approaches. Rusted steel reinforcing bars are exposed at 300 Octavia St. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle In April, the Chronicle reported that investigators had reached an impasse in the inquiry into what caused the fire, concluding that they couldnt determine for sure whether the blaze was arson or an accident. The property had been the source of complaints prior to the fire, with a neighborhood group writing a letter to Mayor London Breed outlining what they saw as a dangerous situation with encampments sprouting up in and around the site. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Greenview bought the property in 2020 for $3.1 million, one of a dozen parcels that were freed up when the elevated freeway damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was replaced by a new Octavia Boulevard in 2003. The company could not be reached for comment and someone who answered the phone said, We dont do business in San Francisco. After the fire, the developer approached the neighborhood group about filing a lawsuit against the city for allowing encampment around the property, according to the neighbors. We gave them a firm no, said Jennifer Laska, the former president of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association said. Since then the developer has not responded to multiple notices of violations filed by city inspectors or complaints from members of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association. Following the fire, the developer approached the neighborhood group about a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for rebuilding the project, according to the neighbors. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle At the hearing Tuesday six residents spoke of their frustration in trying to get the attention of Supervisor Dean Preston and the property owner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are here to urge the city to be swift and urgent in making sure the property gets secured by any means necessary, said Laska. We need resolution on this very quickly before another fire happens at this site and causes damage to the building next door, which is almost ready for residents to return. Hayes Valley resident Jim Warshall, a former city building commissioner, said the situation is discouraging. When you have a derelict owner who does this and doesnt even show up at the hearing its questionable what can be done. Preston said his office has been in touch with some of the residents who were displaced and shares the frustration of the neighbors that the project remains stalled and that the site isnt secured and have urged departments to push the property owner to be a better neighbor. Greenview has sued its insurance company, Lexington Insurance, according to court records. The lawsuit says the claim related to the blaze was denied because the policy only covers the property for fire loss if the jobsite was fully illuminated, and had a monitored camera system with night vision. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chicago businesses already suffering from a crime wave are now dealing with a 'nightmare' of DNC-caused closures, protests and security checkpoints causing critical customers to flee the city. The four-day Democratic rally at the United Center is expected to draw over 50,000 people to the city. And it has already brought highly-protected politicians like President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Barrack and Michelle Obama and many others to the Windy City. Pro-Hamas protestors swarmed the Israeli consulate in Chicago Tuesday evening wearing black riot gear before burning an American flag making the second consecutive day of chaos. Motorcades, security details, elaborate fencing and more have all been common sights in the area since the convention's start on Monday, and many business owners have had enough. 'It's caused a commotion because people can't get down the streets where all the little shops are,' Sarah, a small boutique manager and Chicago resident told DailyMail.com. 'It's a nightmare.' Massive anti-scale fencing surrounds luxury stores in Chicago's high-end shopping district during the Democratic National Convention. Business operators in the area told DailyMail.com business has slowed during the event hurting local shops 'They have closed all the streets ... so you can't even walk back into this area. If you're on one side of the street and you want to come back into [this] area, they ask for ID.' The barricades are most pronounced in the heart of Chicago's economic district dubbed the 'Magnificent Mile' for all of its beautiful luxury shops, Sarah said. 'All up and down Michigan Avenue, they've closed off streets with big fencing. So that's an issue. And fencing that would have been nice to keep out the illegal migrants!' She was irate that the city was seemingly putting on a facade of health for the wave of incoming Democrats. 'The other thing they do for the DNC is clean up the entire city for the week while these politicians come in and then after that, it won't matter.' 'They can burn it down. They won't even care. Honestly, it's the truth. I mean, crime in this area, every other week some store gets broken into it's a joke,' she said exasperated over the issue. 'I don't, honestly, I don't even know if they even thought about businesses, really,' Sarah said about the city's preparations. 'I don't think they put any thought into how it was going to affect the businesses.' Victor, a manager of a luxury store adjacent to the fenced-off hotel where senior party leadership is staying, was less worried over the DNC's impact on shops. Fences surrounded multiple hotels around downtown Chicago during the DNC The increased security fencing ran for blocks and cut off many businesses from pedestrian traffic 'None of the barricades are really bothering our business,' he said. But the expected protests, congestion and Democratic fever was enough to send his high-end clients packing for more exclusive, relaxing pastures, he said. 'Our regular clients, if stuff like this happens in the city, they just vacate, and then they come back right after,' he told DailyMail.com. 'We've been having Palestinian protests for a while. I mean, they even go as far as stopping traffic in the middle of the highway.' And crime, well its normal compared to the rest of Chicago, saying his location suffers 'regular hits here and there, but that's pretty normal.' President Joe Biden embraces Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris as first lady Jill Biden hugs second gentleman Doug Emhoff during the first day of the DNC Hundreds of police have been activated to deal with the DNC and surrounding protests Many were called in to deal with protestors who marched nearby the United Center Monday Down the street another clothing store employee, Jessica, told DailyMail.com, 'There's so many closures, and we're anticipating more closures today.' She also brought up how the convention had slowed the flow of shoppers to the area, citing the barricades lining city streets near where Democrat party leaders are staying. President Joe Biden waves as he stands on stage with his grandson Beau Biden during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago Multiple security guards lining up outside of high-end retail stores also disclosed to DailyMail.com the stores had seen slowed traffic during the DNC. Residents even some frustrations with the Democratic conventions impact on town. Ronald said he saw the increased police presence throughout the city as 'unsurprising' given the amount of people that have come to town, adding that crime has been a major problem for the city. Some Chicago residents noted the increased police presence around the event 'It's out of control, but it's out of control, and it's always been out of control in certain areas,' the lifelong Chicago resident told DailyMail.com. Ken, another longtime resident said the impact has not been so bad: 'Traffic's a little bit crazy in places, and there are roadblocks popping up in different places, but I don't know. I don't think it's that bad.' Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate, Bay Area lawyer Nicole Shanahan, admitted on a podcast released Tuesday that they're thinking about dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing former President Donald Trump. Shanahan appeared on an episode of Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory and said she and RFK Jr. have two options - they could stay in the race and hope to get 5 percent of the vote to officially start a new political party. 'But we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency,' the former Democrat said. 'Because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump.' 'Or we walk away right now and join forces with, with Donald Trump and and, you know, we walk away from that and we explain to our base why we're making this decision,' she added. 'Not an easy decision.' The Washington Post reported last week that Kennedy had tried to get in touch with Harris to see if she'd be interested in giving him a Cabinet gig in exchange for an endorsement. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate, Bay Area lawyer Nicole Shanahan, admitted on a podcast released Tuesday that they're thinking about dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing former President Donald Trump The Democrats said publicly they have no interest in bartering with Kennedy, whose famous family members endorsed President Joe Biden and now Harris. Shanahan explained that some of the Democratic Party's moves to prevent her ticket from playing a 'spoiler' role in the election turned her off from ever supporting them. 'The DNC made that impossible for us. They have banned us, shadowbanned us, kept us off stages, manipulated polls, used lawfare against us, sued us in every possible state,' she claimed. 'They even planted insiders into our campaign to disrupt it and to create actual legal issues for us.' 'The extent by which the sabotage they've unleashed upon us, it's mind-blowing. We are still learning news ways they have sabotaged us,' Shanahan continued. The Democrats have filed a number of lawsuits to keep the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket off the ballot. A spokesperson for the party has charged again and again that Kennedy's entire camapign was meant to give Trump a leg up. Trump, on the other hand, was heard on the phone last month suggesting he could throw RFK Jr. a bone. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) had a phone conversation last month with former President Donald Trump (right), where it was clear Trump was courting him for a potential endorsement. Democrats, on the other hand, have no interest Shanahan said on Impact Theory that the ex-president 'has taken genuine, sincere interest in our policies around chronic disease.' 'He takes it seriously. For that reason, I think it behooves us to sit and see if we can actually make some change,' the vice presidential candidate added. She added later in the podcast that she hasn't been personally engaged in the conversations with the Trump campaign. 'I am not in talks with Trump, I want to make that clear,' she said. The 38-year-old said that Kennedy would do an 'incredible job with HHS' and then butchered what the acronym stood for. 'Human Health Services,' she told Bilyeu. It's the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During the sit-down, Shanahan - whose claim to fame before entering politics was being the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin - also hinted at what her next move could be: running for governor of California. The Oakland native said she'd be 'happy to support somebody great to run for California governor so we can nip this dynastic lineage in the butt.' 'I would consider running as well,' she said. A Long Island grandmother whose son is missing after their yacht sank has been distraught but hopeful - as it was revealed her granddaughters were nearly victims of the horrible tragedy. Cathy Morvillo - who son Christopher Morvillo was aboard the Bayesian sail boat that sank off the off the coast of Sicily - was awaiting good news as searchers attempt to reach the sunken vessel. 'Cathy is distraught, she is holding out hope they are still alive,' a neighbor told DailyMail.com Tuesday. Another neighbor called what took place a tragedy' and said the Morvillo family was 'sweet, kind and the nicest people you will ever meet'. 'Its heartbreaking. We are waiting with bated breath,' the person said. 'Its a wonderful family and we are all grieving along with them. His mother still has hope that theres some chance her son and daughter-in-law are alive.' Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda had been aboard the Bayesian sailboat when a waterspout hit the area on Monday morning, wrecking the ship and causing it to rapidly sink Morvillo is a prominent attorney in New York City and lives at his $2.3 million Connecticut home alongside his two daughters Sophie and Sabrina, both seen here Christopher Morvillo is a prominent attorney in New York City and lives at his $2.3 million Connecticut home alongside his wife Neda and two daughters, Sophie and Sabrina. According to fellow attorney David Oscar Markus, Sophie and Sabrina had been due to fly out to Italy to spend time on the luxurious boat. 'He was so excited about the trip,' Markus wrote in a blog post after discovering Morvillo was missing. 'He couldn't wait for his daughters to meet up with him and his wife. I am so thankful the girls had not yet arrived when this tragedy struck.' Morvillo had represented British tech billionaire Mike Lynch during a financial fraud trial earlier this year in the US. Lynch, who owned the ship, was also aboard. They were all celebrating the massive legal victory when a waterspout hit the area on Monday morning, wrecking the ship and causing it to rapidly sink. Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday While 15 of the 22 people on board were rescued, the yacht's chef tragically died while six people including the couple remain missing, thought to be trapped in their cabins. A spokesperson for Morvillo's law firm told PEOPLE: 'We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident. 'Our thoughts are with our Partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing, and with their families. According his biography, Morvillo has extensive legal experience and has worked as a federal prosecutor. Part of his work has included Lynch's fraud trial, as well as the criminal investigation into the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. According to a biography on Morvillo, he has extensive legal experience and has worked as a federal prosecutor. His home in Connecticut is seen here Emergency and rescue service officials work at a port near the site where a luxury yacht sank, in Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 20 His wife Neda meanwhile has been described by fellow news outlets including the BBC as being a designer of jewelry. Among those missing is Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah and Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy. Lynch had invited family and friends onto the yacht to celebrate his 'second life' after being acquitted of all charges in a US fraud trial. In an extraordinary twist his co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain, who was also cleared of the charges, has died after being hit by a car while running in England over the weekend. Two months before the superyacht sank, Morvillo shared glowing remarks about Lynch and his colleagues after they managed to have the pair acquitted. In a post to LinkedIn, he praised the 'superstar lawyers' for making 'this gargantuan task seem manageable even in the darkest hours'. He also thanked his 'patient and incredible wife' and two daughters for their love and support. He hauntingly signed off the post: 'And they all lived happily ever after.' Meanwhile the rescue mission for the couple and those who have yet to be recovered remains ongoing. Divers trying to find the missing six passengers managed to smash through a 3cm-thick porthole with the help of a local blacksmith with experience working on boats. The blacksmith made special jacks for the divers that enabled them to enter the hull of the vessel and its common areas through the glass window on Tuesday. Italian media reported that they have not yet reached the cabins due to obstructions. An engineer has claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of where the wreck is - are competing in a race against time. Scuba divers on the scene amid the search for the missing sailboat in Porticello, Italy, today Engineering expert Nick Sloane, who led the salvage operation for the Costa Concordia, has claimed that there is a chance there may be survivors trapped in air pockets inside the wrecked ship Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, said divers are entering a 'critical' 24 hours to rescue anyone who might still be alive. The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. 'They've got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued,' Sloane told Sky News. 'You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical.' Divers from Napoli and Messina are assisting with the huge search operation, which is being made more due to the obstructions. A helicopter was seen flying over Porticello on Tuesday afternoon, while an underwater vehicle has been helping divers search for missing passengers. Italian rescue workers are using a remotely operated underwater vehicle in their search. In a statement, the coastguard said five patrol cars, one helicopter and divers had been working since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite the sliver of hope, Italian Coastguard officials admitted they believe the six people who are still missing have died and their bodies are inside the wreck. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Millions of pounds of foreign aid cash have been squandered on projects in areas where people are wealthier than those in the poorest parts of Britain, a report has found. A project to promote a traditional form of all-female opera to younger audiences in Shanghai, China, was among those identified as having been awarded money from the UK's 15billion foreign aid budget. The initiative, which aimed to 'merge historical cultural forms with contemporary artistic expressions', was handed 200,165 of UK taxpayers' cash, according to the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank. Another project in the Chinese city, which aimed to 'enhance public engagement with urban heritage through graphic design', received 202,384. A third got 202,323 'to foster creativity in Chinese communities'. Meanwhile, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, 244,061 was given to help tackle road traffic. Millions of pounds in foreign aid is being spent on areas where people are wealthier than the poorest parts of Britain Swansea in Wales has a per capita GDP of 27,525 (file photo) Among projects financed by the UK's 15billion foreign aid budget was an initiative to promote all-female opera in Shanghai, where the GDP per capita is 19,520 The skyline of Kuala Lumpur. Foreign aid money has paid for projects in the Malaysian capital, where GDP per capita is 21,199 Money has been spent on projects in affluent foreign areas over the last five years. In Mexico City, taxpayers paid for a temporary cycle lane. Other initiatives were funded in Campeche, on the Gulf of Mexico, which has a GDP per capita or economic output per person of 24,994. GDP per capita in Shanghai is around 19,520, 21,512 in Shenzhen and 21,199 in Kuala Lumpur. By comparison, it is 17,635 in Ards and North Down in Northern Ireland, the UK's poorest region.It is 20,572 in Redbridge and Waltham Forest, in east London, 20,669 in Torbay, Devon, and 21,520 in Southend, Essex. The richest regional recipient of UK foreign aid cash, according to the report, was Ordos in China, where it is 27,500. There are around 69 regions in the UK with a GDP per capita lower than this. The study, called Robin Hood in Reverse, argues for an overhaul of the way foreign aid cash is distributed, as current rules fuel waste and effectively mean lower-income UK taxpayers are funding projects abroad in areas where people are wealthier than them. It identified 13 projects in China, Malaysia and Mexico worth just under 3million (2,978,417) where money had potentially been wasted. The true amount of waste is likely to be much higher. Leyton in Redbridge and Waltham Forest, east London, where the GDP per capita is 20,572 The richest regional recipient of UK foreign aid cash, according to the report, was Ordos in China, where GDP is 27,500 Initiatives have also been funded in Campeche, a city on the Gulf of Mexica with a GDP per capita of 24,994 By comparison Torbay, Devon has a GDP per capita of 20,669 One change it recommends is applying international metrics of poverty at a regional as well as national level. Mark Tovey, who wrote the report, said: 'Taxing hard-working people in left-behind Britain to fund projects in affluent regions abroad is a policy of Robin Hood in reverse. 'We urgently need to re-evaluate our aid priorities to ensure that UK taxpayers' money supports the world's poorest, focusing on stamping out infectious diseases, ending hunger and genuinely lifting those in desperate need out of poverty.' The UK has a target to spend 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income on foreign aid every year. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office was contacted for comment. An etiquette expert has weighed in a common birthday tradition that has become controversial for spreading a slew of germs. Barbara Wallraff, a columnist for the Boston Globe, found nifty alternatives for blowing out candles without spraying germs all over cakes. She gathered clever tips from people who offered useful hacks to avoid bacteria from hitting the delicious party treat. During the pandemic, Stephanie Nurenberg, of Northampton, found that it was best to sing 'and then an adult takes the candles out of the cake, and each participant gets to blow one out.' Wallraff added that 'some fine-tuning' might have to be done with that method as a party for a child would obviously have far less candles than that of a 90-year-old. During the pandemic, Stephanie Nurenberg, of Northampton, found that it was best to sing 'and then an adult takes the candles out of the cake, and each participant gets to blow one out.' (pictured: Kim Kardashian blowing out candles on her 30th birthday in 2010) Barbara Wallraff, a columnist for the Boston Globe , gathered some clever tips from people around the nation who found clever alternatives for blowing out birthday candles without spraying germs all over cakes Tom Hayden, of Chelmsford, informed Wallraff of the new 'joke candles' trend that are being sold online. Hayden recommended searching for 'make a safe wish candle holder' or 'clean wish candle holders' which have suction cups holders at the end of each candle that stick to the cake packaging. Margaret Yorganjian, of Charlestown, suggested another clever hack for avoiding germs on birthday cakes. She revealed that her family has turned to placing wax paper or plastic wrap on top of cakes, then using candles to poke holes through to create an outline of the person's age on top. Yorganjian said: 'So instead of, for instance, 12 separate candles, one only has a decorative larger-sized number 1 and number 2. 'It works!' 'Make a safe wish candle holder' (pictured) or 'clean wish candle holders' which have suction cups holders at the end of each candle that stick to the outside packaging of cakes Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is seen ringing in her birthday in October 1999 as she takes a big breath to blow out the many candles Susan J. Evans, from Carlisle, shared a disturbing birthday experience with Wallraff she will never forget. 'I do have a memory that might make you smile,' Evans said. 'I attended a birthday party years ago for a local woman turning 98. She huffed and puffed and blew out the candles. 'But along with that breath came her dentures, landing on the cake!' A team of researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina previously found that the saliva spread from blowing out birthday candles increases bacteria in the icing by 1,400 percent. Dr. Paul Dawson, a professor at the university, conducted the study with a group of his undergraduate students to get them thinking about food safety. The research team put frosting on a piece of foil atop a cake-shaped Styrofoam wheel, which they stuck candles in. Margaret Yorganjian suggested placing wax paper or plastic wrap on top of cakes, then using candles to poke holes through to create an outline of the person's age on top. (pictured: Actress Sofia Vergara blowing out her birthday candles in July 2011) Before blowing out the candles, they all ate pizza, to 'simulate a birthday party,' and 'help the salivary glands get going.' They then lit the candles and blew them out. The team of researchers found that there was a lot of bacteria, but more surprisingly, that each blow resulted in different types of bacteria. On average, blowing out the candles caused the frosting to grow 14 times as much bacteria. However, in one case, it was increased by more than 120 times, suggesting certain people transfer more bacteria than others. Matt Gaetz brushed by a primary challenger backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday. Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the successful ouster of McCarthy, emerged victorious over his sole GOP opponent Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy officer who Gaetz attacked as not living in the Florida district. 'Kevin McCarthy wants to recruit me an opponent but he couldn't even find someone from Northwest Florida to run against me,' Gaetz said. 'So he had to pick someone who last voted in Pensacola 20 years ago.' Gaetz and McCarthy's feud has intensified ever since his ouster last year. A PAC affiliated with the former speaker pumped over $3.5 million into taking down Gaetz, but its efforts failed. The group has highlighted the ongoing Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz over alleged drug use and sexual misconduct. Gaetz has called the investigation 'frivolous' and accused McCarthy of being behind it. Matt Gaetz brushed by a primary challenger backed by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday 'I live in Pensacola,' Gaetz's challenger Dimmock fired back with a laugh when asked about it by a local news network. 'Aaron Dimmock was advertising on his own Linkedin that he lived in Jefferson City, Missouri, the day he qualified against me for Congress,' Gaetz said. Dimmock explained that he lives in Pensacola but owns a home in Missouri and spends time there as well. 'I live here in Pensacola,' he explained. 'I do own a home in Missouri, as many people own homes in different locations. And yes, most recently, I was there for some work I was doing.' Watching the numbers come in with my Congressional bestie!! CONGRATS @mattgaetz on the MASSIVE win!! pic.twitter.com/ncxGC39KJN Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 21, 2024 Dimmock attributed this to his military service, noting that he lived across the globe but had longstanding family ties to the area. 'I had the opportunity to be stationed in the State of Florida many times,' Dimmock said. 'Three of our four children were born in this state, and we're proud to call Florida home, specifically Pensacola.' Gaetz confronted McCarthy last month at the Republican National Convention (RNC). 'What night are you speaking? If you took that stage, you would get booed off of it. Youd get booed off the stage!' Gaetz snickered at the California Republican. McCarthy said in April that he lost his job because he refused to help Rep. Matt Gaetz cover up 'sleeping with a 17-year-old.' 'I'll give you the truth why I'm not speaker,' McCarthy said at a Georgetown University talk entitled 'How Strong Is Our Democracy?' 'It's because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old,' the California Republican went on. 'Did he do it or not? I don't know.' McCarthy has long accused Gaetz of launching the historic motion to vacate that ousted him from the speakership last year over an ongoing ethics investigation into his conduct. Gaetz shot back to the speaker's accusation on X: 'Kevin McCarthy is a liar. Thats why he is no longer speaker. Just ask the 224 people who voted to remove him.' Gaetz, R-Fla., who led the successful ouster of McCarthy, emerged victorious over his sole opponent Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy officer who Gaetz attacked as not living in the Florida district In February, McCarthy suggested married Gaetz 'lies about who he sleeps with.' The House Ethics Committee first opened an investigation into Gaetz in April 2021, but paused it during while the Department of Justice launched their own investigation into the member. The DOJ eventually decided not to bring charges against Gaetz. The House Ethics Committee, however, has reopened their probe into the Floridian. Additionally, newly reported text messages show Gaetz soliciting a young woman who his now-imprisoned pal Joel Greenberg had paid for sex to join him on a three-day excursion to the Florida Keys. The messages, reported by ABC News, allegedly occurred in May 2017, months after the Florida Republican was sworn into office. Texts described in detail to the outlet reportedly show Gaetz asking the woman to fly on a private plane and join him, one other woman and three other men in the Keys. McCarthy is the only speaker to ever lose the gavel mid-term in Congress. He subsequently left the House and has left no holds barred since on the eight Republicans who voted to oust him. The family of a carpenter who fractured his skull in a moped crash in Bali say they feel 'numb' as they wait for him to wake up from a coma. Shane Ramsey, 30, had been visiting Bali for a close friend's wedding and was riding a moped in Seminyak on Sunday when he crashed into a roadside pole. The 30-year-old was rushed to hospital where he underwent brain surgery and has been in a coma since. He was not wearing a helmet and does not have travel insurance, which would have only cost about $50 a week. His family have already paid $70,000 for him to undergo emergency neurosurgery, while hospital bills cost $9,000 a day. Mr Ramsey may also need a medivac flight back to Perth which is estimated to cost $150,000. Shane Ramsey is in a coma in a hospital in Bali following a moped crash. His mother Catherine is by his side His mother, Catherine Ramsey, immediately flew from Perth to be by her son's side. She told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Ramsey has suffered three bleeds on the brain - necessitating the surgery - and a fractured skull. 'He is stable at the moment but the actual extent of the damage to his brain is unknown at this stage,' she said. 'He's still in a coma and we won't know for a few days yet what the end result will be. 'All I know is it's extensive damage and we don't know if he will come out of the coma or if he will have lasting issues. 'We're holding on, we just feel numb at the moment.' Mr Ramsey had been on his way to watch a UFC fight with friends when the accident happened. His mother earlier told Nine News she would sell their family home if she had to. 'I just want to get him home, we're in a strange country,' she said. Doctors remain unsure of the extent of the damage caused to his brain. Mr Ramsey had plans to buy a property when he returned home. The family of Perth carpenter, Shane Ramsey (pictured), have revealed the horrifying extent of his injuries after crashing his moped while on holiday in Bali The young tradie has been in hospital since Sunday and his family say they don't know the full extent of his injuries A GoFundMe was launched on Monday to help pay for Mr Ramsey's medical bills and the potential medical evacuation home. More than $74,000 has been raised at time of publication. Mr Ramsey had just completed a three year apprenticeship and was looking forward to the future ahead. The carpenter's former boss also took to Facebook on Monday to raise awareness about the fundraiser. He recalled bumping into his former apprentice a few weeks ago. 'You forget how f***ing fragile life can be (and) how quick everything can change,' he wrote. An 18-year-old was seriously injured after an unidentified driver apparently decided to play a game of chicken with his car on a darkened road. Jordan Potter, of Spokane, Washington, told KHQ he was driving home from his job at a Super One supermarket the night of August 3, and was heading westbound on 29th Avenue when a car heading eastbound swerved into his land and was coming straight at him. The teenager swerved to the left in order to avoid a head-on collision with the other vehicle - which he describes as large with round headlights - but smashed into a concrete barrier in front of a home. The impact was powerful enough to deploy the airbags of his vehicle and knocked him unconscious, destroying the front hood of his car. Doctors later said Potter had a traumatic abdominal hernia, abdominal wall contusion, a dislocated foot and a concussion, and needed stitches in his left hand. He will also need surgery in October. Jordan Potter, 18, suffered major injuries after an unidentified driver apparently decided to play a game of chicken with his car on a darkened road on August 3 But Potter says he is only interested in finding the driver of the other vehicle - especially after another woman claimed the exact same thing happened to her earlier in the night. 'I'm just trying to figure out who did this, you know, trying to catch them,' he told the local news station. He added that he could not believe what had happened. 'I did not think it was real,' Potter recounted. 'I totally thought I was dreaming. When I woke up, I was like, "There's no way this just happened."' Potter said the other vehicle had swerved into his lane and was coming at him head-on, so he swerved out of the way - and collided into a concrete wall Potter suffered traumatic abdominal hernia, abdominal wall contusion, a dislocated foot and a concussion, and needed stitches in his left hand Fortunately, neighbors in the area rushed to Potter's aid following the collision - including Caleb and Katelyn Watters, who were spending their first night in the home blocked by the concrete barrier. 'It was just really sad to see a kid really confused, and we're just wanting him to be safe,' Katelyn said, with her husband adding, 'We hope he's doing OK.' Their next door neighbor, Kacey Lochridge, then called Potter's parents. 'Thankfully, he remembered his mom's number, so I was able to call his mom, dad and just let them know what happened, and we told them to go to Sacred Heart, where they were sending him,' she said, referring to the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Potter's father, Justin, said it was difficult for him to receive the call. 'Any parent having to drive to the scene of an accident for one of their kids is really hard to deal with.' The teenager says he is focused on finding the driver of the other vehicle Justin is now calling on the driver of the other vehicle to turn himself over to police. 'Leaving an 18 year old on the side of the road, unconscious, is cowardly,' he said. 'I suggest that you turn yourself in and take accountability for your actions.' Meanwhile, the teenager says he will 'for sure' get a dashcam for his next vehicle and 'would recommend that to anybody. 'I also want to give thanks to God because this was a pretty severe crash, and I feel like it could've gone a lot worse,' he added. The Spokane Police Department said they are investigating the incident. A father-of-six has died in a horrific skydiving accident with his devastated wife fearing the family could now lose their home. Roger Goltz, an IT technician from Jervis Bay, on NSW's south coast, died at the weekend, leaving behind his wife Kelly and their six children aged between 14 and 25 years old. Mr Goltz was an experienced skydiver and had completed about 80 jumps before the accident on Saturday. While his parachute opened perfectly, it's understood Mr Goltz turned too low and fast due to the wind, which put him on the wrong angle to land. Mr Goltz suffered a catastrophic brain injury upon impact. He was put on a ventilator at the scene before being taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 'Roger and my 18-year-old son Kai had gone skydiving like they always do. Kai saw his dad go down but didn't realise it was him until he saw his shoe,' Mrs Goltz told Daily Mail Australia. Mrs Goltz, whose four out of six children live at home, is now worried she may not be able to keep her house as skydiving was not covered by their life insurance. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support his family who say they have been left with an 'irreplaceable void in our hearts'. Roger Goltz, who lives in Jervis Bay, on NSW's South Coast, died over the weekend, leaving behind his wife and six kids Mr Goltz is an experienced skydiver and had completed about 80 jumps, many with his teenage son, before the accident on Saturday 'Roger was just always chasing the next adventure and just loved his kids, he was one of them I suppose,' Mrs Goltz said. 'The kids are devastated and wondering did he hurt or was he scared and what it means for the two girls and who's going to walk them down the aisle? 'They've just lost their best mate. 'All you had to do was imagine it and he'd make it happen.' Mrs Goltz said a fellow skydiver with 40 years of experience said he'd seen similar turns go wrong in the air but never one that claimed a life. A GoFundMe has been set up to help support his family who say they've been left with an 'irreplaceable void in our hearts' He was extremely close with his six children Mr Goltz (far right) had done several skydiving jumps with his teenage son Kai She is now awaiting a coroner's report to try to understand what went wrong. The family are being supported by Mr and Mrs Goltz's parents 'Roger just loved life and his family,' Mrs Goltz said. A memorial service will be held for Mr Goltz next Thursday. A knife thug who tried to kill his lawyer in his office has been jailed for 11 years. Muhammad Shoaib, 71, feared he was going to die after he was stabbed in the chest by client Esaya Neguse. Chilling CCTV footage released yesterday showed Neguse, 37, seconds before the attack. He had 11 previous convictions and had been freed early from a previous 12-month jail term for being threatening and abusive towards police. Mr Shoaib's colleagues tackled Neguse after he launched the terrifying attack in Glasgow's south side before police officers intervened. The former Alba party council election candidate was left suffering nightmares and panic attacks after the vicious stabbing. He told STV: 'My life has changed since the attack, I thought 'I am going to die'. A grab shows Esaya Neguse at MS Solicitors in Glasgow, just seconds before he stabbed his own lawyer Neguse (pictured) had 11 previous convictions and had been freed early from a previous 12-month jail term for being threatening and abusive towards police Neguse is shown on CCTV footage entering the solicitors' practice before his chilling attack He is then shown sitting down on one of the waiting chairs, while the person sat at the desk stands up 'It happened so suddenly I couldn't even shout. I have flashbacks and have had panic attacks. I wake up in the night sometimes, thinking someone is attacking me.' Neguse admitted attempting to murder Mr Shoaib after his victim told jurors of his horrific ordeal. Sentencing Neguse at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Lord Colbeck said: 'You attempted to murder a solicitor representing your interests. 'You did so using a weapon that you were carrying for that purpose. I take into account a degree of planning was involved.' The court heard the lawyer was at work on September 21, 2022, when Neguse turned up unannounced at the office of MS Solicitors in the city's Victoria Road. Mr Shoaib agreed to see him but instead of taking a seat, Neguse whipped out a kitchen knife. The lawyer told jurors: 'He started attacking towards my neck, then for a second time on my chest. I had to put my hand out to stop him. The blood was coming out of my chest. It was like a shower of blood.' Mr Shoaib screamed to his colleagues fellow lawyer Muhammed Ibrahim and legal secretary Amin Syed for help, who managed to get Neguse out of the room as he still clung onto the six-inch blade. Mr Shoaib said: 'I thought I was going to die. The whole floor was filled up with my blood.' CCTV footage showed Mr Ibrahim and Mr Syed dragging the attacker outside to attract the attention of police stopped at traffic lights. Neguse, wearing a red jacket and baseball cap, is seen holding a letter just seconds before making his move in a vile attack Muhammad Shoaib, 71, was told he was lucky to survive after the blade entered millimetres from his lung A surgeon told Mr Shoaib he was lucky to survive as the blade had entered millimetres from his lung. Neguse from Eritrea in East Africa also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Shoaib's colleagues, having a knife in a public place, behaving in a threatening manner and spitting on a police officer. The hearing yesterday was told Neguse had changed his plea to guilty after viewing the CCTV of the incident during the trial. Lord Colbeck ordered Neguse be supervised for a further five years on his release. He was further made subject of a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting Mr Shoaib. Light-rail trains travel through the Twin Peaks tunnel near the Forest Hill Muni Metro station in San Francisco. The tunnel will be closed for eight days of repair work starting Thursday. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle The station will be closed during an eight-day shutdown of the Twin Peaks tunnel for repair work starting Thursday. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle The Twin Peaks tunnel, which carries San Francisco Muni Metro trains between downtown and the citys western neighborhoods, will close beginning Thursday for eight days of construction. During the tunnel shutdown from Aug. 22 through Aug. 29, both the West Portal and Forest Hill stations will be closed, requiring transfer to a surface bus at the Castro and Church stations when traveling westbound. The buses will then make all normal Muni Metro stops before reaching the terminals at Balboa Park and the San Francisco Zoo. The changes will affect the K-Ingleside, M-Ocean View, L-Taraval and S-Shuttle lines. The N-Judah uses the Sunset Tunnel, which will be open and operating as usual. The J-Church and T-Third lines will not be affected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The weeklong closure follows weekend closures of the same lines in both June and July, as part of a summer program to maintain and repair tracks in the 2-mile long tunnel. Leaks, cracks and fractured rebar resulting from 106 years of wear and tear were detected last fall during a detailed structural inspection of the tunnel. The repairs are expected to require intermittent closures over the next five to 10 years. The Thursday closure will start at the beginning of service in the early morning, and trains will not resume until the beginning of service Friday, Aug. 30. People using the bus shuttle are advised to allow for an extra 15 minutes of travel time. Muni ambassadors will be at the stations to assist transfers. A service map of the San Francisco Muni Metro system. Courtesy SFMTA This is the first major overhaul of the tunnel since it opened in 1918 following four years of construction to bore through the solid rock of Twin Peaks. Its completion accelerated the housing developments of West Portal, Forest Hill and Ingleside Terrace. Donald Trump had some surprisingly nice words about former adversary Barack Obama ahead of his predecessor's speech at the Democrat National Convention Tuesday. Trump was asked his thoughts on the 44th president and longtime nemesis - but while slamming Obama's policies on trade, Trump spoke highly of his character. 'I like him, I think he's a nice gentleman but he was very, very weak on trade if you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise it was a disaster.' Trump cited Obama's dealings with China and Japan as a huge flaw in his presidency, but had some praise for the former president and his wife Michelle, also speaking Tuesday. 'I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife,' Trump told CNN. Donald Trump had some surprisingly nice words about former adversary Barack Obama ahead of his predecessor's speech at the Democrat National Convention Tuesday Trump has said similar things about Obama in the past, despite his criticism in the lead-up to his 2016 election victory and previous claims that Obama was not born in this country. 'I liked him,' Trump said of Obama in a 2021 interview with Bill O'Reilly, The Sun Sentinel reported even though the crowd booed upon hearing the former president's name. Trump added he thought Obama was 'smart and sharp.' Before Trump's positive comments aimed at Obama on Saturday, he spent several years in a feud with the former president. Trump, while still a private citizen, spent years promoting the 'birther' conspiracy that Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore could not serve as president. After becoming a politician, Trump claimed that Obama was the 'founder of ISIS' and 'one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States.' Despite a rocky election season in 2016, Obama still wrote Trump an Inauguration Day letter and left it in a drawer in the Oval Office. Trump said at the time it was 'beautiful.' Despite a rocky election season in 2016, Obama still wrote Trump an Inauguration Day letter and left it in a drawer in the Oval Office. Trump said at the time it was 'beautiful' The words come in high contrast to Trump's take on the current Democrat standard-bearer, Kamala Harris, whom he has constantly said is a 'low IQ individual'. In an interview ahead of the first night of the Democrat National Convention Monday, Trump says that he hopes those attacks aren't 'necessary' but says he's trying to save the country. He said: 'I've always spoken my mind, I don't think she's very good at this, I think she'll destroy our country'. Trump elaborated on what he based his criticism that he believe Harris isn't intelligent. 'I looked at the things that she said, I looked at the way she deals I looked at her crazy record, I looked at her policies, I just don't happen to think so. I could say she is and that would be very nice,' he told CBS News. In contrast, Trump believes that he is the man to bring intelligence to the White House and protect the American economy. 'I don't think she's a very bright person. I think I am a very bright person and a lot of people say that. I don't think she's a very bright person and you know what? Our country needs a very smart person but I don't consider that an insult, that's just a fact'. The former president has previously attacked Harris' intelligence, saying at rallies: 'She happens to be a very low IQ individual. The words come in high contrast to Trump's take on the current Democrat standard-bearer, Kamala Harris, whom he has constantly said is a 'low IQ individual' 'We don't need another low IQ individual. 'She is terrible, she's worse than (Biden). I don't feel sorry for him. He's a bad guy.' The Obamas headline night two of the Democrat convention in Chicago, which will also feature Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders. Trump is preparing to debate Kamala Harris for the first time on September 10 in Philadelphia. The university student found stabbed to death inside a unit in Sydney's inner-west has been pictured for the first time. The body of Xiaoting Wang, 21, was found inside a high-rise apartment block on Conder Street in Burwood just after 8.45am on August 12. Her partner, also 21, is suspected of stabbing her before jumping to his death from a balcony, with police discovering his half-naked body in the unit's courtyard. Ms Wang is believed to have gone back to China recently before flying back to Australia and had recently told friends she wanted to leave her boyfriend. CCTV footage from inside the complex showed the couple in what appeared to be a verbal argument just hours before their deaths. A NSW Police spokesman previously told Daily Mail Australia officers will investigate whether there was any history of domestic violence between the pair. Detectives are also understood to be investigating whether the woman was allegedly sexually assaulted before her death. A friend of Ms Wang, who was interviewed by police on Monday night, told officers that the victim wanted to leave her partner. Chinese university student Xiaoting Wang, 21, was found dead inside a high-rise apartment block on Conder Street in Burwood just after 8.45am on August 12 Pictured is the Burwood unit where the bodies of a man and woman were found on August 12 The 21-year-old is understood to have informed her boyfriend a few days ago that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him. The couple are understood to have been living in Australia on student visas. Superintendent Christine McDonald last week said officers had recovered the suspected murder weapon from the unit. Police established a crime scene and covered the man's remains with a tent. 'It was pretty scary...then they covered it up before we could really see much more,' a female resident in the apartment block said. Another resident who lives nearby said they heard a 'really loud clap' at about 6am. 'I wasn't sure what it was, I didn't hear anyone scream though. It was dead silent,' they told Daily Mail Australia. '[Then] at around 8.15am I saw about eight police officers and three detectives. 'Police were standing around counting the balconies, there was a white cloth there then it began to rain so they put up a blue tent.' Superintendent Christine McDonald last week said officers had recovered the suspected murder weapon from the unit (pictured, officers leave the scene in Burwood) Superintendent McDonald said 'there are many people in the Burwood and wider Sydney community who have been affected by the death of Xiaoting'. 'She, like many international students, came to this country for education and opportunity, and for her life to end like this is tragic. 'I urge anyone affected by the deaths to attend a vigil, which is being held later this month, to support each other through this time.' A vigil will be held next Tuesday, August 27, at the Burwood Pavilion Centre at 5pm. Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward as a strike force is established to investigate the deaths. A blind, special needs kitten was left 'so confused' after she was dumped back at the shelter just months after she was adopted. The gray and white kitten - then named Elena by staff at the Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina - was adopted in January at just three months old. But in late July, staff members found the kitten in a box at the shelter - with no explanation, the Greenville Humane Society posted on Facebook Monday. They were left heartbroken as they recognized the cat. 'We don't know why she was brought back to us. Why she was left,' the shelter wrote. 'She was so confused. She didn't know where she was.' A gray and white kitten was returned to the Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina just a few months after she was adopted The shelter said staff first met Elena when she was just three months old. She was the runt of the litter, and vets determined she was completely blind. 'It can be scary enough being in a big shelter when you're still so tiny, but her lack of vision only makes it that much more terrifying for a young kitten,' the shelter wrote at the time. 'Her unfamiliarity of her current surroundings paired with her blindness has made her miserable shes always in fight or flight mode. She hisses when she hears a noise. She doesnt want to be pet. Shes just so, so scared.' But shortly after posting about the kitten, the Greenville Humane Society announced she was adopted. 'We were so happy for her,' the shelter wrote in its post Monday. The kitten was the runt of her litter, and vets determined she was completely blind The Greenville Humane Society said it was left heartbroken when the kitten was returned to them in late July without an explanation After returning to the shelter, vets have discovered that the kitten is suffering from hydrocephalus - a rare birth defect that causes increased fluid in the brain. It can cause cats to appear constantly wobbly, and unable to control their gait, according to the National Kitten Coalition. 'She couldnt catch a break, and it broke our hearts to see her so confused and wondering what was next,' the shelter wrote. But she has grown stronger, learning her way around the shelter and bonding with other felines. As a result, the Greenville Humane Society said it 'renamed her Mabel, because shes no longer that scared, blind baby we used to know.' It said it is now looking for Mabel's forever home. 'One that will commit to caring for her for life. Not just temporarily. But forever.' The shelter has since renamed the kitten Mabel, noting that she is no longer the 'scared, blind baby we used to know' The shelter noted that Mabel will require daily medication for the hydrocephalus, which she will need for the rest of her life. The medication costs $25 each month, but the humane society insists Mabel 'is completely worth it. 'She has so much love to give, and she deserves to find a family that will give her love in return.' Facebook user Julia Price later commented on the post that she had met Mabel at the shelter and the kitten 'stole my heart. 'She seemed a little nervous with all the activity (it was busy!), yet cautiously checked out and accepted pets from everyone who came in and out,' Price wrote, sharing a photo of Mabel asleep in her arms. 'Eventually, she decided I was trustworthy and curled up in my lap to nap for nearly an hour. I only left because it was closing time!' Price added that she could not adopt Mabel 'because my current foster situation isn't suitable for her.' Fortunately, another family has since adopted the sweet kitten, the shelter wrote in an update - as they assured the public they will never let the people who adopted her in the first place get another pet from them. Safety procedures at a UK spaceport 'worked like clockwork', its chief executive has claimed, despite a rocket engine exploding during a launch test. Footage showed the shocking moment a huge fireball erupted into the air on Monday following a test by German company Rocket Augsburg at SaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Uist in Shetland. RFA confirmed that nobody was injured in the explosion and the pad was 'saved' and has since been secured. The nine-engine test was one of many different trials that were being carried out before it was passed as fit to launch. RFA were planning to launch the rocket, which is called RFA One, this summer from Shetland. Safety procedures at a UK spaceport 'worked like clockwork', its chief executive has claimed, despite a rocket engine exploding during a launch test on Monday RFA confirmed that nobody was injured in the explosion and the pad was 'saved' and has since been secured The nine-engine test was one of many different trials that were being carried out before it was passed as fit to launch Shocking footage shows the moment large flames and massive smoke clouds emit from the bottom of the rocket. Soon after, the entire structure is set on fire. Despite the incident, Frank Strang, SaxaVord Spaceport's chief executive officer, has remained optimistic about the incident, telling local publication Sheltand News: 'I am delighted that all the protocols and procedures worked,' he said on Tuesday. 'The pad performed as it was supposed to. RFA will conduct their investigation into what the problem was; they will fix it and then we will carry on.' 'The good news is that all our procedures and protocols bearing in mind that we are the first licensed spaceport in the UK worked like clockwork. 'Nobody was hurt, all the reporting mechanisms were in place, and everything was done as it should be', he said, adding that it was an accepted fact within the space industry that failures such as Monday's were inevitable. Shocking footage shows the moment large flames and massive smoke clouds emit from the bottom of the rocket Soon after, the entire structure is set on fire Despite the incident, Frank Strang, SaxaVord Spaceport's chief executive officer, has remained optimistic about the incident, telling local publication Sheltand News: 'I am delighted that all the protocols and procedures worked,' he said on Tuesday The port in Shetland is co-owned by Frank and Debbie Strang who bought the site 15 years ago 'That's why you have all these measures in place,' he said. The port in Shetland is co-owned by Frank and Debbie Strang who bought the site 15 years ago. With the UK space industry expanding at the moment, with it worth 17.5bn supporting 48,800 jobs, more spaceports are being planned. Scotland are planning to follow Cornwall Spaceport in getting permission to build five more sites. While Glasgow Prestwick and Spaceport Machrihanish are also hoping to join in on the space race. There were 12 guests on the doomed 30million Bayesian superyacht when it was sunk off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a freak tornado. Here the Mail looks at who was on board the boat when disaster struck: Mike Lynch: MISSING The 59-year-old tech tycoon has an estimated net worth of 852million. Raised in Ilford, east London by Irish parents, he made his millions after setting up software firm Autonomy in 1996. It was the father of two who brought the group together to celebrate his recent acquittal on charges in the US on the yacht. The Cambridge graduate had faced fraud and conspiracy charges after selling Autonomy for 9billion to US giant Hewlett Packard in 2011. He owns a multi-million pound ivy-covered house in Chelsea, west London. He has a string of accolades including an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006. It was Mike Lynch who brought the group together to celebrate his recent acquittal on charges in the US on the yacht Hannah Lynch: MISSING The younger of Mike Lynch's two daughters Hannah was on the yacht having completed her A-levels and securing a place to read English at Oxford. The 18-year-old won prestigious accolades during her time at Latymer Upper School where fees are 25,000 per year. The teenager was awarded prizes for excelling in English, Religion and Philosophy as well as a special William C Smith award for Poetry. Friends described her as a 'supernova' who is kind and gentle, intellectual and a staunch feminist. Jonathan Bloomer: MISSING Veteran businessman Mr Bloomer is the chairman of Morgan Stanley International bank and insurance firm Hiscox. The 70-year-old Briton was educated at Imperial College London and has previously served on a number of high profile company boards. He is said to be close friends with Dr Lynch and appeared at his US trial as a defence witness. Veteran businessman Jonathan Bloomer is the chairman of Morgan Stanley International bank and insurance firm Hiscox Judy Bloomer: MISSING The wife of Jonathan Bloomer, Judy is listed as a former director of property developer Change Real Estate along with her husband. She is described as a 'brilliant champion for women's health' and has been a trustee and supporter of gynaecological cancer research charity the Eve Appeal for more than 20 years. Judy, who studied English language and literature at Cambridge, worked as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years. The wife of Jonathan Bloomer, Judy is listed as a former director of property developer Change Real Estate along with her husband Christopher Morvillo: MISSING American Christopher Morvillo, a partner at the Clifford Chance law firm in New York, represented Dr Lynch in his US trial in San Francisco. He expressed his elation on LinkedIn after securing Dr Lynch and his colleague Stephen Chamberlain's acquittal on fraud charges in June. Mr Morvillo wrote: 'A huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.' He hauntingly signed off the post: 'And they all lived happily ever after.'He worked on the terrorist investigation into the 9/11 attacks. Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) is also missing Neda Morvillo: MISSING The 57-year-old, who runs luxury jewellery line under her maiden name, Neda Nassiri, was on the yacht with her husband Mr Morvillo. The couple have two daughters, 27 year-old Sabrina, a voice actress, and 23 year-old Sophia. American Christopher Morvillo, a partner at the Clifford Chance law firm in New York, and his wife Neda Morvillo Recaldo Thomas: BODY FOUND The luxury yacht's on board chef Recaldo Thomas has been confirmed dead after his body was found floating near the shipwreck. Mr Thomas was Canadian-Antiguan and one of the ten members of crew on board.Gareth Williams, who had been friend with the chef for 30 years, described him as a 'well-loved, kind human'. His body was identified by Italian authorities yesterday. The luxury yacht's on board chef Recaldo Thomas has been confirmed dead after his body was found floating near the shipwreck Angela Bacares: RESCUED The 57-year-old is Dr Lynch's wife and the mother of his daughters Hannah, 18, and Esme, 21. She is the owner of the doomed 30million luxury yacht. The mother of two, who was born in the US, holds the majority share in Darktrace, a British cybersecurity firm she co-founded with her husband. According to the Standard Tech Rich List, she has an estimated worth of 190million. The 57-year-old is Dr Lynch's wife and the mother of his daughters Hannah, 18, and Esme, 21 British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht Charlotte Golunski: RESCUED The 35-year-old British mother was travelling on the yacht with her partner James Emsley, 36, and one-year-old baby girl Sofia. The Oxford graduate is a partner Dr Lynch's Invoke Capital and has worked there since 2012. The mother of one was able to save her baby from drowning after being plunged into the rough waves in darkness. She clung on to Sofia, holding her above the water until she was able to get to a lifeboat. The family were said to be recovering well. Charlotte Golunski was able to save her baby from drowning after being plunged into the rough waves in darkness Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Sofia Emsley: RESCUED The girl of one who was saved from the waves by her mother Ms Golunski has eaten a muffin, pizza and a croissant and played happily with nurses at a hospital in Palermo. Domenico Cipolla told Italian media: 'She is very alert and communicates with a glance. If she was two-three years old she would risk trauma, but I think she will forget this.' Ayla Ronald: RESCUED Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, had been invited on the trip with partner Matthew Fletcher, 41. Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, had been invited on the trip with partner Matthew Fletcher, 41 Leah Randall and Katja Chicken: RESCUED Leah Randall leaves the Coast Guard Headquarters after a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday Katja Chicken (in green), from South Africa, was rescued from wreckage and pictured on Monday The 36-year-old worked alongside Mr Morvillo in helping defend Mike Lynch. She is from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London with her boyfriend. Ms Ronald's father Lin said his daughter had been invited to go sailing by Dr Lynch as a result of the success in the US court case. He said that she was left 'very shaken'. Two crew members on the vessel Leah Randall and Katja Chicken, both from South African were rescued from wreckage. The captain James Calfield, 51, who also survived, told Italian media just five words in hospital: 'We didn't see it coming'. Another member of crew Frenchman Matthew Griffith, 22, was rescued as was guest Irish citizen Sasha Murray, 29. Donald Trump's former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention where she received cheers as she laid into her old boss in scathing speech. 'I saw him when the cameras were off. Behind closed doors, Trump mocks his supporterscalls them basement dwellers,"' she said. 'When people were dying in the ICU, [Trump] was mad that cameras weren't watching him. He has no empathy. No morals. No fidelity to the truth.' Grisham told DailyMail.com after her speech that it was 'surreal' to speak at the convention amid thousands of Democrats. 'Everybody's been really welcoming, and so it's been great,' she said. 'I was really scared, I'm not going to lie.' Grisham was chief of staff and press secretary to former First Lady Melania Trump as well as White House press secretary and communications director during the Trump administration. She learned she would be speaking at the convention five days ago, she told DailyMail.com. Former White House press secretary in the Trump administration Stephanie Grisham spoke on Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention After the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, she resigned from the Trump administration. She addressed her decision in her convention speech. 'On January 6, I asked Melania if we could at least tweet that while peaceful protest is the right of every American, theres no place for lawlessness and violence,' Grisham said. 'She replied with one word: No.' 'I became the first senior staffer to resign that day. I couldnt be part of the insanity any longer,' Grisham added. Grisham was one of several Republicans to appear at the Democratic National Convention on night two as the Harris campaign makes a point to reach across the aisle in their effort to eat into the GOP voting base. The former Trump official spoke about how close she once was with the Republican presidential nominee and his family. 'I wasnt just a Trump supporter. I was a true believerone of his closest advisors. The Trump family became my family,' she recalled. 'I spent Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas at Mar-a-Lago.' Grisham with former President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One on August 7, 2019 Grisham spoke during her speech about how she resigned from the Trump administration after the attack on January 6. She said she would be voting for Kamala Harris saying she 'tells the truth' 'He used to tell me, It doesnt matter what you say, Stephanie. Say it enough, and people will believe you. But it does matter what you sayand what you dont say,' she told the welcoming crowd. While serving as White House press secretary, Grisham not once ever held a press briefing. Trump campaign officials blasted her in response to her convention speech. 'Thats one more time at the podium than she logged as White House press secretary, when she didnt hold a single press briefing while occupying the position,' wrote Tim Murtaugh who worked on the Trump 2020 campaign and recently rejoined the 2024 campaign. During her speech, Grisham spoke of her time at the White House. 'When I was press secretary, I got skewered for never holding a White House briefing. Its because, unlike my boss, I never wanted to stand at that podium and lie,' she said. 'Now, here I am: behind a podium, advocating for a Democrat because I love my country more than my party,' she went on. 'Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people, and she has my vote,' Grisham finished. 'I'm still very much a Republican,' she told DailyMail.com, but she said the election was too important. A fresh cronyism row erupted last night after a Labour think-tank director was given a top job in the heart of Whitehall. Jess Sargeant has spent the past year as Director of Constitutional Change at Labour Together, which has close links to Sir Keir Starmer and his allies. But it emerged on Tuesday that in recent weeks she has been quietly appointed Deputy Director of the Cabinet Office's Propriety and Constitution Group, which is responsible for 'ensuring the highest standards of propriety and ethics across all government departments'. Sources insisted Ms Sargeant, who previously worked for the Institute for Government, had been hired on a fixed-term contract because of her expertise in constitutional reform and would not be involved in any work on ethics or ministerial investigations in the unit, which is where the Prime Minister's powerful Chief of Staff Sue Gray once worked. However news of her appointment comes shortly after two people linked to Labour donations were given senior jobs within Government. Sources insisted Jess Sargeant, who previously worked for the Institute for Government, had been hired on a fixed-term contract because of her expertise in constitutional reform (file image) Jess Sargeant has spent the past year as Director of Constitutional Change at Labour Together, which has close links to Sir Keir Starmer and his allies Former banker Ian Corfield, who gave 20,000 to MPs over the past decade, was made Director of Investment in HM Treasury while Emily Middleton was made a Director General in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology under Peter Kyle after her firm Public Digital gave him more than 65,000 in opposition. Last night Shadow Paymaster General John Glen said: 'There is now overwhelming evidence that the Labour Government is undermining the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service. 'Everyone expects a new government to appoint political Special Advisers, but parachuting in so many Labour staffers as civil servants without open and fair competition is not only an abuse of taxpayers' money but also puts at risk the fundamental and enduring impartiality of our civil service. 'This goes to the heart of Whitehall - from Sue Gray, right across to the division in charge of propriety and ethics.' News of her appointment comes shortly after two people linked to Labour donations were given senior jobs within Government (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech and takes media questions) Former Tory Cabinet minister and Brexit negotiator Lord Frost said: 'It would be a truly shocking, amazing appointment, and would destroy what confidence there remains in PET [the former name of the Propriety and Constitution Group]. 'Remember, Ministers are not allowed to see the papers of a previous government. The same does not apply to (in this case) so-called civil servants.' Ex Cabinet Office adviser Henry Newman said: 'A recent Labour staffer joining the Propriety and Ethics directorate as a senior civil servant would be quite extraordinary.' A Cabinet Office spokesman said: 'We do not comment on individuals.' However Whitehall sources confirmed Ms Sargeant's appointment. Jimmy Carter's grandson Jason said the 99-year-old ex-president 'wishes he could be here' at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) but 'can't wait' to vote for Kamala Harris for president. Jason also gave a brief update on Cater's health: 'Papa is holding on, he is hopeful, and though his body may be weak tonight, his spirit is as strong as ever.' 'For my grandfather, it was never about fame, recognition, accolades or awards. His legacy is measured by the lives he has touched and the good he has done,' Jason said. 'Kamala Harris carries my grandfather's legacy.' He continued: 'She knows what is right, and she fights for it. She understands that leadership is about service, not about selfishness. That you can show strength and demonstrate decency. And that you can get a whole lot more done with a smile than with a scowl.' Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care for a year and a half. In June, Jason revealed that the elder Carter is no longer awake every day. Jimmy Carter's grandson Jason said the 99-year-old ex-president 'wishes he could be here' at the Democratic National Convention ( DNC ) but 'can't wait' to vote for Kamala Harris for president He said the decline began after the death of the 38th president's beloved wife Rosalynn in November 2023 at the age of 96. 'After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what it's like for him right now,' Jason told Southern Living during a conversation in June. 'We have to embrace that fact, that there's things about the spirit that you just can't understand.' '[He's] experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process,' Jason, 48, added. 'I'm only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,' Carter told his son Chip, his grandson Jason told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Carter is due to turn 100 on October 1, a little over a month before Harris will face off against Donald Trump in the presidential election. Former president Jimmy Carter has revealed he is hoping to live long enough to vote for Kamala Harris in November He was last seen in public at the funeral of his wife of 77-years Rosalynn Carter who died last year Jimmy Carter's oldest grandchild Jason (left) revealed that the 99-year-old former president is no longer awake every day after 16 months in at-home hospice care In recent days, Jason Carter said his grandfather is 'more alert and interested in politics and the war in Gaza'. Even into his early 90s, Carter was active. He was often seen building homes and teaching Sunday school at his Baptist church as recently as 2020. The onetime commander-in-chief moved into hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia that he built with Rosalynn in 1961. '[Plains] is the place that has given him the greatest support and it is the only place where he would go through this part of his life,' Jason, who lives in Atlanta, said. 'That's his home in every way, and he really cherished that time and that support.' The Carters deeded their property to the National Park Service and when he dies they plan to turn their home into a museum. Carter was last seen publicly at his wife's memorial events in November in a wheelchair and covered by a blanket but has largely remained out of view since deciding to terminate medical intervention. He will be buried alongside her when he dies. A jailed war criminal known as the 'Butcher of Bosnia' is suing the UK government for inhumane treatment as he is not allowed a laptop in his cell. Radovan Karadzic, 79, who is in Albany prison on the Isle of Wight, is after 50,000 for human rights breaches, and is also claiming that he has been banned from communicating in his native Serbian. He appeared in court via video link last week to sue Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood. If he wins, taxpayers would have to pay his bill, as well as other legal costs. This comes after his daughter Sonja Karadzic-Jovicevic claimed in 2021 that he was being held in 'unhealthy' and 'uncivilised' conditions after he was moved to the Isle of Wight. Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic (R) and his general Ratko Mladic on Mountain Vlasic, April 1995. Karadzic, 79, who is in Albany prison on the Isle of Wight, is suing the UK government for human rights abuses Karadzic is behind some of the most atrocious war crimes since World War II. Pictured: Bosnian Muslim women and survivors of the Srebrenica massacre hold posters with photos of missing men after the Srebrenica fall, during a peaceful protest in Tuzla, 70 kms (43 miles) north of Sarajevo, Tuesday, April 11, 2006 A sign at the main entrance to the Albany site of HMP Isle of Wight on Parkhurst Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, where Karadzic is serving a life sentence She had told Bosnian news agency SRNA: 'As for the physical condition in which he is accommodated, it is unacceptable. 'If we add to that the fact that he is in a building full of carcinogenic asbestos that is banned around the world, it is clear in what condition he will be in.' She also claimed that moving the 'Butcher of Bosnia' to Britain was done deliberately to spite her family. She said: 'My father is in a very uncivilised situation, and as far as his family is concerned, his relocation to the south of England was deliberately made to keep him far away, outside the rules of the United Nations Resolution adopted by the Security Council. 'It will be very difficult for us physically, financially and procedurally, because of visas, and immunisation during the pandemic, and even after that, to ever go there and visit him.' She also claimed he had his books and computer taken off him and was no longer able to speak his language and live his culture. The former Bosnian Serb leader was convicted in 2019 of genocide against Croats and Muslims during the Balkans War. Radovan Karadzic, Bosnian Serb wartime leader (second right), and his general Ratko Mladic (first left) walk accompanied by bodyguards on Mount Vlasic frontline in Serbia. FILE - In this April 15, 1995 Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic makes an initial appearance at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on July 31, 2008 in The Hague, The Netherlands A Bosnian Muslim woman cries between graves of her father, two grandfathers and other close relatives, all victims of Srebrenica genocide, July 10, 2020, at the cemetery in Potocari near Srebrenica, Bosnia and Hercegovina. More than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed after the Bosnian Serb Army attacked Srebrenica, a designated UN safe area, on 10-11 July 1995, despite the presence of UN peacekeepers Bosnian Muslim women pray as relatives of victims of Srebrenica genocide visit sites of 1995 mass execution of their loved ones, on July 13, 2020 in Brnjevo near Srebrenica, Bosnia and Hercegovina Bosnian Muslims celebrate in Sarajevo after the announcement by the Serbian president's office that Serbian security forces arrested Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic, one of the top two Balkans war crimes suspects, after 13 years on the run A psychiatrist-turned-politician, he as responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed in Europe since the end of the Second World War, including the massacre of 8,000 men and boys in the Srebenica genocide. He was originally jailed for 40 years at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, before it was increased to a life sentence without parole. He is expected to die in jail. Prisoners convicted by the United Nations' ICTY are distributed between member states. He was flown in frim the Netherlands to the UK in 2021. Britain was heavily involved in his conviction, with former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab acting as one of the young lawyers to draft the legal procedure to transfer him to the UK. The wife of missing British tech billionaire Mike Lynch is in a 'state of shock and sadness' as she waits for updates on the rescue of her husband and their 18-year-old daughter. Angela Bacares, 57, was one of 15 people to survive when luxury superyacht Bayesian was struck by a waterspout off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Italy, in the early hours of Monday morning. The sailboat's chef has tragically been confirmed dead while six people remain missing - including Mrs Bacares' husband Lynch and their teenage daughter Hannah. Mrs Bacares has sought refuge with other survivors in a hotel, which is just a six-minute drive from Porticello harbour, near to where the boat sank. A hotel guest told The Mirror that the mother is in a very distressed state as she waits for updates on whether her husband and daughter are alive. It is feared those missing were asleep in their cabins when the boat was struck and suddenly disappeared under the water. British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht Lynch (pictured) invited family and friends on his superyacht to celebrate his triumph over fraud charges in the US. Lynch is still missing Italian fire brigade boats sail as a rescue operation continues for the missing people who were on board the sailboat The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout Lynch with his wife Angela Bacares. Mrs Bacares has survived while Lynch is still missing Hannah had just completed her A-Levels and gained a place to study English at Oxford University before the tragedy. The teenager was an academically gifted pupil and won a number of awards at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, between 2017 and 2024, including outstanding academic achievement while in lower sixth form and the William C Smith award for poetry. Lynch and his wife Angela were also frequent donors to the school, contributing to Latymer Upper School's bursary fund in 2023, 2022 and 2021. The vessel - which had been carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers - had been moored just 300 metres from the coast near Palermo when it was hit by a terrifying waterspout at around 5am on Monday. Tornado-speed winds flipped the superyacht so quickly that people on board were left swimming for their lives with those who made it off stranded in the pitch black water as the storm raged around them. One maritime expert suggested that despite potentially facing winds of up to 100mph as a result of the extremely rare phenomenon the boat should have been able to withstand the force of the gales, raising questions about how it ended up sinking. Search teams have already found the body of one man and there are fears more bodies will be found in the hull of the sailboat by specialist divers. Among the 15 who survived include a one-year-old British baby called Sofia, who was kept afloat by her mother, 36-year-old Charlotte Golunski. CCTV captured the last moments of the Bayesian superyacht before it sank beneath the waves during a ferocious storm early on Monday morning Search divers head out to the scene of the wreck near Porticello this morning as the operation to find the bodies of those missing continue Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday Charlotte Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer Mrs Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, also survived after fighting to prevent her child from drowning. The mother told Italian newspaper Republicca: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' Mrs Golunski's British husband James Emsilie, 36, also survived the tragedy. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lyncchah, according to her father Lin. On-board hostesses Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Leah and 22-year-old crew member Katja Chichen, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Cutfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Cutfield, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Weather satellite imagery captured a disorganized area of showers and thunderstorms in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday afternoon, the beginnings of a likely tropical storm that may impact Hawaii this weekend. CSU/CIRA & NOAA Just over a year since Maui was devastated by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years, meteorologists are keeping a close eye on Hawaii for another potentially impactful weather event. Two disorganized areas of showers and thunderstorms are expected to merge over the central Pacific Ocean on Tuesday night and slowly strengthen through the day Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center predicts an 80% chance that a tropical cyclone will form and move west near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week. It is highly likely that the cyclone will reach tropical storm status, with sustained winds of at least 39 mph. There is a much lower probability of reaching Category 1 hurricane strength, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The storms name will depend on exactly where in the Pacific it reaches tropical storm strength. If the disturbance reaches cyclone strength east of 140 degrees west it will be named Hector. A storm formation in the central Pacific region will be given the name Hone. A named storm in the central Pacific would be the first of the hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center previously predicted 1-4 named storms in the central Pacific this year, down from the usual 4-5. While it is too early to determine the exact location and magnitude of potential impacts, interests in Hawaii should closely monitor this disturbance, the hurricane center wrote in an online forecast. Although the storm is at least five days out from potentially impacting Hawaii, a few weather models predict heavy rain, large waves and widespread strong winds on the Big Island. The most recent tropical storm to make landfall on the Big Island was Tropical Storm Darby in 2016. Multiple weather models predict a tropical system making a close pass to Hawaii later this week. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research If the storm moves well south of Hawaii, the state will be spared from intense rainfall, but locally strong winds could increase fire danger across the drought-stricken state. Last August, strong winds on the eastern side of several Hawaiian Islands resulted in wildfires, including the deadly and destructive Lahaina Fire. Some scientists initially attributed the strong winds and resulting fire to distant Hurricane Dora, but later research found the hurricane had little to no effect on local winds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The path and strength of the storm will depend on several factors. Warm ocean water serves as fuel for tropical storms and hurricanes, while wind shear changes in wind speed and direction with height is their kryptonite. Right now, you can see some shear present in the disturbance, said Laura Farris, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Farris said that after strengthening, the system will move over cooler waters most likely as it moves closer to the island, and it will encounter more wind shear, likely weakening the storm. Weather models are struggling to resolve and predict the development of the system. Early stages of coordination are underway for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aircraft to fly into the storm to collect valuable data for forecasters and weather models. The aircraft, collectively known as the Hurricane Hunters, are based in Florida, but would make a pit stop in California before heading toward Hawaii to investigate the storm, according to Farris. For now, Farris encourages the public to remain vigilant and stay tuned to www.weather.gov/hfo and www.nhc.noaa.gov/?cpac for the latest information. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Virgin cabin crew member who was sacked for drinking a glass of Prosecco almost eight hours before a shift - and for having casual sex after he'd requested a later start time because he was tired - has won his claim for unfair dismissal. In a claim lodged with the Fair Work Commission it was revealed Dylan Macnish, who is based in Perth and started working for Virgin in July 2022, was sacked from his cabin crew role in February over a series of allegations levelled by the airline between September and December last year. It was alleged Mr Macnish had turned up to work hungover on several occasions and had once met up with someone for an early morning sex session after removing himself from rostered duty while staying in Virgin-provided hotel accommodation. In evidence to the hearing he was also accused of breaching Virgin's rules around alcohol consumption after drinking a glass of Prosecco at a work Christmas party seven-and-a-half hours before a shift. But in a judgment published last week, Commissioner Pearl Lim upheld Mr Macnish's claim, finding some of Virgin's reasons for sacking him were 'mystifying' and ordering the airline to reinstate him. In September last year, the Commission heard, a colleague shared their concerns with management that Mr Macnish had allegedly come to work worse for wear on two occasions and had even been boasting about being hungover. Mr Macnish denied this during the Fair Work hearing. Instead, he claimed that he had used the word 'dusty' to describe himself during an early morning flight, which he took to mean he was tired and not on his best form, according to the judgment. In a judgment published last week, Commissioner Pearl Lim found some of Virgin's reasons for sacking Mr Macnish were 'mystifying' and ordered the airline to reinstate him (stock image) The hearing heard evidence of a second 'medical incident' on November 25 during a layover from Perth to Brisbane. Cabin crew were told that a man had suffered a suspected stroke at the gate desk and Mr Macnish helped move the passenger into a wheelchair, the judgement stated. But, while doing this, the man accidentally urinated on Mr Macnish's sleeves, an incident that left him distressed and upset. He had been due to fly back to Perth on a 'paxing' flight at 8.20am the following day, whereby a member of cabin crew travels back as a passenger. These flights are still considered duty as there is the possibility they will get called up to work. However, Mr Macnish claimed he could not fall asleep in his Virgin-provided hotel room due to anxiety stemming from the incident. At 4.26am, he rang Virgin's rostering team to tell them he would be too tired for his flight and they moved him to a flight that afternoon. Less than an hour after hanging up, he met up with someone he had been speaking to on the Grindr dating app and brought them back to his hotel room at 5.18am, the judgement outlined. 'This was on the basis that having a physical interaction with someone would help him fall asleep,' Commissioner Lim wrote. 'He met with an individual outside his hotel, and they went up to Mr Macnishs hotel room. They had sex and Mr Macnish fell asleep shortly after.' His boss Lydia Ridge, leader of Crew Culture at Virgin, had concerns that he had been out partying because he had 'accessed fatigue' less than four hours before he was due to sign-on. She requested CCTV footage of Mr Macnish's hotel hallway and his hotel room swipe card record, the Fair Work decision revealed. On 12 December, Ms Ridge sent Mr Macnish a letter informing him that Virgin was investigating two allegations of misconduct. Firstly, they denied the urinating incident took place and secondly, they claimed he had removed himself from rostered duty to engage in 'social activities'. Mr Macnish acknowledged that while having sex is perhaps not an orthodox method of falling asleep, 'it is common in the gay community, and it was successful for him', the report stated. Five days later, on December 17, Mr Macnish attended the Virgin Christmas Party at the Como Lawn Bowl Club in South Perth around 2pm. The hearing heard from a colleague who testified Mr Macnish appeared to be under the influence of alcohol because he was acting 'lovey dovey' and seemed keen to continue the festivities at a nearby pub. But Mr Macnish said he only had one glass of Prosecco and was home by around 4.30pm. An hour later, he was told that a cabin crew member was needed for a red-eye flight that evening with a sign-on time of 10.55pm. Mr Macnish wanted to take the job but found himself in 'uncharted territory' as he had never had a drink within eight hours of a flight before. Virgin states that cabin crew members cannot have a drink within eight hours of their rostered shifts. Mr Macnish said he thought this was a guideline rather than a hard-and-fast rule. He claimed he then used a personal breathalyser which returned a blood alcohol reading of zero per cent. Despite this, a rumour circulated the following week that he had flown while drunk, the report outlined. Mr Macnish attempted to clear this up by alerting management that he had consumed a glass of Prosecco within the eight-hour window. Virgin stood him down on December 20 and terminated his employment in February, citing all three alleged incidents as cause. However, Commissioner Lim heavily criticised the airline, labelling its approach to the fatigue management issue 'mystifying'. Daily Mail Australia understands that Virgin Airlines is reviewing the decision and considering its options. It has 21 days to respond (stock image) 'During Ms Ridges cross-examination, Ms Ridge conceded that if a straight, married man were to have sex with his wife after accessing fatigue, then it would "probably not" be any of Virgins business to comment on it,' Commissioner Lim wrote. 'Ms Ridge also acknowledged that it is common practice for Virgin employees who are on layovers or who are working in other cities away from their home base to use dating apps when they are staying in Virgin-provided accommodation. 'There is nothing wrong with using dating apps for casual sex. What happens between informed and consenting adults is their own business, unless it breaches a lawful and reasonable workplace policy.' Commissioner Lim found that there was 'no valid reason for Mr Macnishs dismissal'. 'Even if I had been satisfied that there was a valid reason, it was still harsh in the circumstances and thus unfair,' she concluded. 'I find that the appropriate remedy is reinstatement (to his role as cabin crew member).' Daily Mail Australia understands that Virgin Airlines is reviewing the decision and considering its options. It has 21 days to respond. Mr Macnish was approached for comment. Disney has dropped their 'preposterous' opposition case against a grieving widower's lawsuit over his wife's death at one of their theme parks. Kanokporn Tangsuan, 42, suffered a deadly allergic reaction on October 5 last year after she and her family dined at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Disney Springs. The family claims their waiter assured them the food would be allergen-free. Her husband Jeffrey Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida, claiming Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was negligent and failed to properly train their staff about food allergies. Disney's initial response was to dismiss the suit as it argued it should instead be sent to arbitration because those were the terms Mr Piccolo agreed to when he created an account for the Disney+ streaming service in 2023. Now, however, Disney has reversed its position, citing the 'sensitive' nature of Mr Piccolo's complaint. Jeffrey Piccolo (left) filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney after his wife Kanokporn Tangsuan (right) died from an allergic reaction Tangsuan and her family had dined at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant (pictured) in Disney Springs on October 5, shortly before she had a deadly allergic reaction Disney said the matter should go to arbitration because that is what Piccolo agreed to when he created a Disney+ account in November 2019. Pictured is an excerpt of the Terms & Conditions of the Disney+ subscriber agreement Disney also argued Piccolo agreed to their terms and conditions of arbitration when he bought tickets to Epcot Now, Disney has reversed its position, citing the 'sensitive' nature of Mr Piccolo's complaint. Pictured: Disney+ application Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney experiences, said: 'At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. 'With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss. 'As such, we've decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court.' Piccolo's lawyers previously branded Disney's argument as 'preposterous' and said it 'borders on the surreal', a court filing obtained by DailyMail.com revealed. Piccolo is seeking in excess of $50,000 from Disney for mental pain and suffering, funeral expenses, medical expenses and loss of income. He said his wife was highly allergic to dairy and nuts and the couple chose to eat at the pub because they believed Disney would have proper safeguards in place. The couple repeatedly asked their server about allergen-free food, and claimed the waiter even went to confirm with the chef. 'The waiter unequivocally assured them that the food would be allergen free,' the lawsuit read. Tangsuan, a medical doctor at NYU Langone in New York City, ordered the following menu items at the restaurant: 'Sure I'm Frittered,' 'Scallop Forest,' 'The Shepherd Went Vegan,' and 'Onion Rings.' The bottom of the menu available online notes, 'Cross-contamination may occur and thus we CAN NOT GUARANTEE that any dish we prepare will be completely free of gluten/allergens.' Tangsuan was highly allergic to dairy and nuts and the couple chose to eat at the pub because they believed Disney would have proper safeguards in place Piccolo said they repeatedly asked their server about allergen free food, and they said the waiter even went to confirm with the chef Tangsuan was a medical doctor at NYU Langone in New York and her husband is seeking in excess of $50,000 from Disney She began having severe difficulty breathing and collapsed to the floor, 911 was called and the caller told the dispatcher Tangsuan had self-administered an epi-pen. Piccolo and his mother Jackie had tried calling Tangsuan to meet back up with her, but a person answered her phone and told them she had been taken to the hospital. She died at the hospital and the medical examiner investigation determined the cause of death was a result of anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system. The lawsuit notes that although Disney does not own the pub, 'Disney had control over the menu of food offered, the hiring and/or training of the wait staff, and the policies and procedures as it pertains to food allergies at Disney Springs restaurants, such as Raglan Road.' They argue Disney failed to properly train its employees on food allergies, and the employees failed to properly warn Tangsuam about allergens in her food. The filing said Disney and the pub, 'owed a duty of care to its invitees/guests to ensure that food that was designated as allergen free and/or food that was requested to be prepared allergen free, was in fact free from allergens that would cause death or serious physical harm to guests with food allergies.' DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS? Email tips@dailymail.com A Sydney man who has been receiving Centrelink unemployment benefits since 2019 has been busted with a Lamborghini, Harley Davidson and two Rolex watches. In May, police launched an investigation into the unexplained wealth of individuals with alleged links to organised crime networks. The investigation led them to a Parramatta unit in July. During the search, detectives located and seized a Lamborghini Huracan, a Harley Davidson V-Rod and two Rolex watches. The seized items have a combined value over $500,000. A 39-year-old man, who has been receiving unemployment benefits since 2019, was charged on August 16 with dishonestly possessing and tampering with a unique identifier. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday 4 October 2024. A Sydney man who has been receiving Centrelink unemployment benefits since 2019 has been busted with a Lamborghini, Harley Davidson and two Rolex watches During the search, detectives located and seized a Lamborghini Huracan, a Harley Davidson V-Rod and two Rolex watches All items seized are estimated to be worth over $500,000 combined A high-profile candidate for Lord Mayor of Melbourne has sparked anger by pushing for an end to work-from-home arrangements, forcing staff back into the city and reinvigorating the moribund central business district. Former AFL great Anthony Koutoufides, 51, announced last week he will be a candidate to become Melbourne's next Lord Mayor and wants to bring back city workers to boost activity and trade. Mr Koutoufides, who is running as an independent, said his 'first priority' would be to work with state government to bring public servants back to the city, news.com.au reported. 'We will work with the state government to introduce new laws that government and corporate workers must work at least four days a week in their office to enliven the city,' he said. But while the policy would be popular with city businesses, it met resistance from those workers who prefer doing their job from home. Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari said a Lord Mayor has 'no right or ability' to dictate or intervene in working arrangements. Mr Hilakari said that since the onset of Covid lockdowns, workers have found different ways of working that have been more beneficial for their families - as well as increasing their productivity and reducing stress. Former AFL great Anthony Koutoufides is running for Lord Mayor of Melbourne and is pushing for and end to work-from-home arrangements for public servants so as to increase activity and trade in the centre of the city. 'Workers decide how we spend our money. Ideas to force people back to the CBD to subsidise unsuccessful city businesses will only come at the expense of local small businesses in the suburbs,' he said. Pollster Kos Samaras said on social media platform X that 47 per cent of Australians worked from home at least one day a week in 2023. Mr Samaras said in Melbourne over 45,000 residents are home-based workers at least part of the week, and it saves them 'two hours per week' by not commuting, as well as hundreds of dollars each month in fares, petrol and parking, which is 'an important point during a cost of living crisis'. Victorian workers blasted the proposal on social media with many saying going back-and-forth from the office was a waste of time and money. 'If they are so insistent on employees not working from home perhaps they can pay their travel costs and travel time each working day of the year,' one wrote. Another added: 'This disproportionately impacts workers with carer responsibilities - i.e. mostly women. Flexible working is a feminist issue,' another agreed. But not everyone was against bringing the workforce back into the CBD. 'WFH (full time) long term does not work well with young staff who require mentoring to help their development,' one wrote. 'It also doesn't promote the benefits that you get from a few hours off email, away from the laptop and having face to face discussions,' another said. Victorians took to social media to push back against the proposed ban - saying the flexibility has mostly helped women stay in the workforce (pictured commuters in Melbourne on a cold morning) Other Victorians said people should think of all the retail and hospitality staff who lost their jobs because of the lack of people working in the city. Mr Koutoufides' proposal seemed a non-starter given the Victorian government has already stated they will not be changing their work-from-home arrangements. Earlier this month, premier Jacinta Allan's office said that the flexibility WFH provides 'helps more women stay in work', which they said is 'better for everyone'. After a directive by the NSW Premier to get government workers back into the city, the Victorian premier's office said public servants from NSW should think about moving to Victoria. The premier also went on Triple M radio on Tuesday, saying the levels of people in the city are already back to pre-pandemic levels and the city is 'pumping'. He was addressing a gala in Canberra with 600 farmers Farmers have been left 'disgusted to the core' after Anthony Albanese cracked a joke at an agriculture awards dinner about banning the livestock trade. The Prime Minister made the bizarre comment while addressing about 600 people at the black-tie AgriFutures Rural Women's Award gala at Parliament House on Tuesday night. Referring to a meal he shared with the Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, Mr Albanese said: 'We had dinner, beautiful Australian beef - not the live export, we made sure it was dead.' Earlier this year, Labor announced live sheep exports would be phased out over a four-year period, with a total end to them by May 2028. The decision was widely criticised by farmers who said the ban would decimate their businesses. One gala guest said on X there was an 'audible murmur of discontent in the room' when Mr Albanese cracked the joke. On Wednesday, Nationals leader David Littleproud said he was contacted by farmers who saw the comment as mocking their industry. Pictured: Farmers and agricultural workers who attended the dinner on Tuesday night 'Why the Prime Minister would choose the AgriFutures awards a night celebrating our agriculture industry to mock our industries is beyond me,' Mr Littleproud said. He said farmers were planning a rally outside Parliament House on September 10 over the live export ban, and that more people would now likely join the demonstration. Farmers also took to social media to slam the PM. 'Seriously???,' one X user wrote. 'On the night, which celebrates the outstanding contribution of rural women, how could Anthony Albanese be so out of touch to think a joke about [live export] is going to land. 'Wonder if he will front the #FarmyArmy on 10th September?' Another said: 'If this isnt enough reason to stand side by side at the National Ag Rally in Canberra on September 10th then I dont know what is .' A third user wrote: 'Wow. Literally unable to read the room. What a disgusting comment.' The function was an awards night for women in agriculture (pictured) Mr Albanese's joke was not well received WA Livestock and Rural Transporters president and 'Keep the Sheep' spokesperson Ben Sutherland said he felt betrayed and hurt. 'I am disgusted to the core,' he said. 'Labor throws rural communities into the wind and continually keeps laughing about it. It's no joke, in my eyes it's quite scary to have a government that doesn't care about regional Australia.' He accused the Albanese government of taking farmers for granted and destroying livelihoods. A spokesperson for Mr Albanese told Daily Mail Australia the comment was supposed to reinforce the importance of the beef industry. 'Exports of beef to Indonesia hit a record high in 2022-23,' they said. 'The Government fulfilled an election promise on the live sheep export ban and has offered an adjustment package. 'We will continue to discuss this with the industry and the WA Government.' Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz is still astonished at her familys sudden circumstances since Kamala Harris picked her husband Tim as her running mate. So much is new, she can hardly put it into words. 'I could probably name what isnt wild about it,' she told DailyMail.com on the second day of the Democratic National Convention as it was underway Tuesday night. Walz packed 21 family members into prime seats in the United Center to soak in the moment, while her husband's image was beamed into the stadium from Milwaukee after acts including Lil Jon and Patti LaBelle. She stopped for an interview inside a venue packed with cheering Democrats who are suddenly embracing the Minnesota governor, 60, along with his dad jokes and his call for campaigning with 'joy.' The Minnesota first lady cast aside what she said were staff admonitions not to talk to the press in a signal of how she might chart her own path if she makes it to Washington. (Harris has resisted pressure for a formal interview and answered only brief questions from reporters). One surreal moment for Walz came when she suddenly saw her name appear in huge letters on a campaign bus for a tour through battleground Pennsylvania before the power couples made their way to Chicago. I would say this. When you see your name like the Harris-Walz on the bus, you know the sign? Wow. I mean, really? she said in amazement. Its a real education, I guess. Even if youre running. It happened fast, she said. She said the block letters with the two names made a big impression. Teachable moment: Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz spoke to DailyMail.com about what it was like to be vaulted to prominence after husband Gov. Tim Walz became VP Kamala Harris's runningmate Walz sported a bright red dress for the occasion, and came into the arena to snap selfies with some of the 21 family members she brought along. All the while she tended to her mother as well as her mother-in-law at the event, which featured performances by rappers like Common and Lil Jon along with speeches by political luminaries headlined by Barack Obama. There is one topic she simply wont touch: whether the Harris and Walz names merit an apostrophe: an obscure but controversial topic that got the New York Times treatment after the two names became linked. The issue, which appears to be an unsettled stylistic question, is whether to add an 's' after either or both of them when stating a possessive. It's Waltz's curse. Im staying out of that one. Its a really interesting conversation. Im an English teacher, she sidestepped diplomatically. Gwen Walz and Gov. Tim Walz taught in the same school in M Letter-pressed: Walz spoke about seeing her family name in huge block letters on the Harris-Walz campaign bus There are lots of disagreements on grammar, she explained. Nor is she ready to give any hint that she's measuring the drapes on the U.S. Naval Observatory, the mansion in Washington, D.C. that is home to the sitting vice president. Were trying to hold the Minnesota House right now, she quipped when asked if she'd make any changes. Walz didnt speak about her future career plans should she move to Washington. First lady Jill Biden continues to teach at a community college. She has long championed educational causes, and sponsored clubs at school. She and Walz met at a school where they both taught in Nebraska. In addition to teaching, she served as a public school administrator in Minnesota for two decades. She has also worked to expand educational opportunities for prisoners. An American backpacker who allegedly landed at Australia's busiest international airport with a 24-karat gold-plated handgun worth $2000 in her luggage told officers she wanted the pistol 'for protection', a court has been told. Liliana Goodson appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday for a special fixture hearing after pleading not guilty to two charges of intentionally importing prohibited goods, being both a firearm and ammunition. The already heavily-tattooed joint American-Peruvian citizen entered the courthouse clutching a stuffed dachshund dog toy and with new markings on her cheeks and chin, including large red colourings around her lips and chin. The Florida woman was arrested at Sydney's International Airport in April 2023 after officers attached to the Australian Border Force allegedly discovered the Colt-45-style pistol in her luggage. Police allege they detected the garish pistol, which was not loaded, as it passed through the X-ray machine in luggage belonging to the 29-year-old, who had recently arrived on an international flight from Los Angeles. Taken into custody by ABF officers, Ms Goodson told investigators in an electronically recorded interview, later played in court, that she was a student and had come to Australia to try to 'get into the clown institute in Sydney'. Questioned about the pistol, Ms Goodson said the firearm was 'not even in the back of my mind at all' when she packed it for her move to Australia, and she had googled that it was OK as long as it was in her case. 'I had very little life experience because I was very sheltered, so a lot of things that are common sense to some people are not common sense to me. It skipped my mind that something could happen,' Ms Goodson said. Liliana Goodson appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday for a special fixture hearing after pleading not guilty two charges of importing a firearm and ammunition Officers attached to the Australian Border Force allegedly discovered the golden Colt-45-style pistol in her luggage The American admitted carrying the pistol into another country could be serious because 'it's deemed a weapon somewhere else' but claimed she had no understanding of Australian firearms laws and did little research. The court was told Ms Goodson had not declared the weapon on her incoming passenger card, and despite seeing that weapons were prohibited when shipping the rest of her belongings, she also packed her ammunition inside. Ms Goodson told the investigators that she once had three firearms and the other two had been accidentally donated, with the weapon in question formerly stowed under the passenger seat of her car for protection. Asked about its use in Australia, she said: 'I'm going to be honest, I'm scared of shooting it, but in LA if you just brandish a weapon people will like scatter ... I would probably just pistol whip until I got training again.' The interview played in court canvassed Ms Goodson's extensive history with firearms, including that she had a concealed carry permit in the US but she could not load the gun as the magazine was stuck. The American woman told investigators that she believed she could apply for a permit once she was an Australian citizen, which she believed would take just six months, and in the meantime the gun would 'lie around'. Ms Goodson, when told she was being placed under arrest, said 'it was a dumb mistake and there was no intention to harm'. She also earlier admitted to having in her bag a 'cat spine, squirrel feet and rabbit pee'. If she failed to get into clown school, Ms Goodson earlier said she would 'try going through the acting route' and also went by the name River and Clover. Goodson appears to have had even more facial tattoos since her arrest and first court appearance in 2023 Before leaving the US, she said she was living in her truck. One of the interviewers, ABF investigator Hannah Ditirech gave evidence that investigators located the gun in a small blue, plastic case, and inside it were markings bearing the name Colt and a receipt for the pistol. In her opening, the police prosecutor told magistrate Susan Horan she would allege Ms Goodson had searched on Google 'can I have a gun in a suitcase' and made notes in an app on her phone to a similar effect. The court was told Ms Goodson had intended to stay in Australia for a year and had allegedly told ABF officers upon arrival that ammunition would arrive in Australia with further belongings coming from the United States. In his brief, one sentence opening, Ms Goodson's lawyer told the court the 'issue in dispute' in the hearing would be that she 'never intended to import a firearm', stating she was suffering from drug and mental health issues. Pro-Hamas protestors swarmed the Israeli consulate in Chicago Tuesday evening cursing against the Jewish nation while wearing black riot gear before burning an American flag. The event marks the second consecutive day of anti-Israel and anti-DNC protesting in the Windy City. The group was a part of the 'Make it Great Like '68!' protest that was advertised during the first day of anti-DNC demonstrations. The anti-Israel demonstration was advertised as a way to 'shut down the DNC for Gaza.' Videos of the event show a violent and angry crowd of protestors aggressively confronting police - screaming in their faces in blatant attempts to escalate the tension. Protesters burn a flag near the Israeli Consulate during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. Some protestors were later arrested Protestors pushed police to the pavement as the chaos escalated Tuesday evening Eventually a group of activists circled up, laid an American flag out on the concrete and doused it in flammable liquid before setting it ablaze before the police, media and pedestrians around. A man can be seen in footage from the chaos going into the circle of onlooking protestors trying to rescue Old Glory for a fiery end. His efforts were thwarted by protestors who blocked him from retrieving the American banner. As the mayhem continued police moved in to quash the protest. Videos show agitated activists getting in the officer's faces, screaming at them and praising the Palestinian war effort. Later protestors upped the ante and were shoving police to the pavement. A demonstrators is taken into custody by police police near the Israeli Consulate during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago Media were in the midst of the clash between protestors and police, one member of the press can be seen above running as a law enforcement officer tumbles Protestors fell to the floor after clashing with police in riot gear The second day of protests on Tuesday drew far fewer activists than Monday Additional police forces were moved in wearing riot gear, donning helmets with face-protecting visors and enhanced body armor. The confrontation ended in a number of arrests and police were seen taken several activists into custody. It was the second day in a row the Chicago protests led to apprehensions. On Monday thousands of protestors descended on the city for the 'March on the DNC.' The event brought so many people hundreds of officers were on duty to contain the demonstrations should they go awry, which they did. Monday evening protestors were arrested after breaching the outermost perimeter of the Democratic convention. Scores of law enforcement dressed in riot gear eventually pushed protestors from the broken barricade and repaired it as the remaining activists left the scene. The Chicago Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A surprising figure with very close MAGA ties was spotted at the DNC on Monday night as she announced she's backing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Claudia Conway, 19, the daughter of Kellyanne Conway - the former Senior Counselor for Donald Trump - was seen posing with her father George Conway at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The duo grinned as Claudia wore a green 'Kamala' button on her shirt, while George proudly held one in his hand. The teenager posted pictures of her and her father with the caption: 'MAGA's most-hated.' Claudia Conway, 19, was seen posing with her father George Conway at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois on Monday night Their 19-year-old daughter posted pictures of her and her father and said: 'MAGA's most-hated' In a video of her view at the convention, Claudia said: 'These crowds arent AI generated, btw.' The following day, Claudia posted a video with her mom and dad. As they each introduced themselves, their daughter said the three of them were 'just a merry band of trouble makers.' George, 60, a lawyer and frequent Trump critic, and Kellyanne, 57, got divorced in 2023 after more than two decades together. In the clip, Claudia asked George to talk about his time at the first night at the DNC, as he said he was 'surprised at the crowd.' 'I had been to other conventions before and it was really, really - the crowd was just big! 'I was really impressed by the enthusiasm of it,' he added, comparing them to past Republican conventions he's attended. 'I thought they put on a pretty good show.' Meanwhile, her mother, a Fox news contributor who was former President's top advisor from 2017 to 2021, had some harsh criticism about the DNC. 'I felt really badly for Joe Biden and I would've thought he'd give a speech where he can have a caper to a 52 year career in Washington,' Kellyanne said. Despite her mother serving as the former President's top advisor from 2017 to 2021, Claudia has persistently voiced her opposition to Trump. (pictured: Kellyanne and Trump in 2016) Last night, Biden, 81, cried as he gave one of his final major addresses as president. He began by wiping away a tear as his daughter Ashley introduced him in front of thousands of supporters chanting 'we love Joe' in the packed United Center. 'The man didn't jump off from the ticket, he was pushed, everyone knows that,' Kellyanne added. Biden admitted he had made 'a lot of mistakes' in his career. 'But I gave my best to you,' he said. 'For 50 years, like many of you, I gave my heart and soul to the nation.' The President insisted he was not angry about stepping aside after a growing chorus of senior Democrats had demanded he drop out. Claudia's mother then said she was not impressed with Democrat Hillary Clinton's speech before her daughter quickly cut her off and disagreed. 'I can disagree, I think Hillary gave a fantastic speech last night,' Claudia told her mom. 'Well, it was 20 minutes long and it was a lot about Donald Trump, but look, if you're Hillary you're never gonna get over 2016,' Kellyanne replied. The following day, Claudia posted a video with her mother and father as they each shared their views on the convention. (pictured: Claudia being interviewed at the DNC) Her mother then tried to touch on a point Claudia made after the night before, but her daughter quickly cut her off and said: 'I'll speak for myself.' As she did this, George laughed while Kellyanne continued to speak. Despite her mother serving as the former President's top advisor from 2017 to 2021, Claudia has persistently voiced her opposition to Trump. During the second night of the DNC, former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a series of blistering insults of Trump in front of the roaring crowd. The former first lady called the Republican nominee misogynistic, racist, petty and small in the powerful takedown that upstaged her ex-president husband Barack. She said Kamala Harris is 'my girl' and called on the Democratic Party to unite behind her after the Obama inner circle was accused of helping force Joe Biden from the race. In a mic drop moment that sparked a frenzied reaction from the audience, she said of Trump: 'Who's going to tell him the job he's currently seeking might be one of those black jobs?' The former first lady declared 'hope is making a comeback' as she entered the arena after Harris was formally declared the Democratic presidential nominee and held a rally 90 miles away in Milwaukee. While the Obamas spoke, Harris held a rally 90 miles away in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. (pictured: Harris on Monday after she made a surprise appearance at the DNC) During the second night of the DNC, former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a series of blistering insults of Trump in front of the roaring crowd. But she then hit Trump with a barrage of personal attacks on a night when her husband appeared to use a crude hand gesture to mock Donald's 'weird obsession' with size. Michelle was one of the last to take the stage, after Harris' husband Doug Emhoff retold the story of how they went on a blind date following an 'unfortunate divorce' from his first wife. The Second Gentleman described the embarrassing voicemail he left for her when they were dating that Harris makes him listen to on every anniversary. He added how he knew his now-wife would fit in with his blended family when his kids from a previous marriage started calling her 'Momala.' Before his remarks, Emhoff embraced his son Cole on stage during night two of the DNC. His daughter, Ella, was also in attendance. On night one, she was brutally roasted for the 'trashy' outfit she chose to wear to cheer on her stepmother. DO YOU KNOW MORE? Email tita.smith@mailonline.com A crazed gunman who shot up his parents-in-law's home before taking his own life had been trying to track down his wife after she left him and fled interstate. The Victorian man, 50, fired several shots into the Antwerp Street home, in Auburn in Sydney's west, just before 10pm on Tuesday before fleeing the scene. He then tried to carjack two vehicles on nearby Mona Street. The first attempt was unsuccessful, and the motorist drove on - but the second driver, a 55-year-old man, was shot in the neck in front of his 15-year-old daughter. The gunman then fled to the banks of Duck Creek where he turned the gun on himself, while the driver was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the gunman's wife, 50, their two children, aged 15 and 20, and his wife's parents - aged in their 70s - were inside the home at the time of the attack. A family member was sweeping up shattered glass from the front balcony on Wednesday, and said they were 'broken' but doing 'okay' under the circumstances. 'It was a miracle [no one was hurt when he shot into the house],' she said. 'I thought I had almost lost my entire family.' Police are seen at the Antwerp Street property on Wednesday A relative cleans the shattered glass outside the property on Wednesday A relative of the family arrived at the property on Wednesday to speak to police Officers are seen arriving at the home on Antwerp Street after shots were fired just after 10pm Assistant Commissioner McFadden said the gunman's wife had fled Victoria earlier this week to seek refuge at her parents' home after 23 years of marriage. Police said the husband travelled to NSW to hunt down his family in the hours leading up to the attack. 'The male has become enraged and smashed the front windows of the premises and forced open the front doors, but did not enter,' Assistant Commissioner McFadden said on Wednesday. 'He's removed a handgun and pointed it at the man in his 70s, he's fired the firearm, but it did not operate. 'He then turned the handgun towards the woman, aged in her 70s, and a shot was discharged inside the premises. He did not hit anyone and the male left. 'We are very thankful at this stage that we don't have another domestic violence homicide on our hands.' Assistant Commissioner McFadden said the first motorist was a 56-year-old woman, who did not stop and immediately contacted police. He said the second driver was shot at through the driver's side window and suffered shoulder and facial injuries. Assistant Commissioner McFadden said the man was not known to be a registered gun owner and investigations are under way to determine how he accessed the weapon. He was also not actively known to police in Victoria or in NSW for domestic violence matters. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden speaks to reporters on Wednesday A bullet casing could be seen on the ground outside the home Duck Creek (pictured) where the gunman's body was located A 'wealth of support' is being offered to the family as they process the traumatic event. The incident comes as NSW Police on Wednesday launched operation Amarok Seven, targeting high-risk domestic violence offenders across the state. Asst Commr McFadden said it was a challenge for detectives dealing with domestic violence matters that occur across different borders as officers do not have access to interstate records. He urged anyone who might be suffering from domestic violence to contact police so measures could be put in place to help protect them. 'When we look at the history of this male, he has holdings in NSW that take us back to 1980, 1990 - there is nothing of any substance since that time that would concern us,' he said. 'Victoria have no active interactions with him for 10 years, so we're starting to really look at what are those factors that bring a challenge and risk to the community. 'It's not easy, but it's an unrelenting commitment that we have on a daily basis to make sure we are protecting victims and holding perpetrators to account. The man then shot at a car (pictured) striking a 55-year-old man sitting inside in the neck Forensic officers are seen inspecting the door at the front of the home Detectives were seen scouring the home for evidence earlier on Wednesday, with a bullet casing seen lying in the driveway. A firearm was also found and seized for evidence. Neighbours said they heard bangs and looked outside to see a short man running away from the scene on Antwerp Street. They said they were shocked and that an elderly couple had lived at the four-bedroom, single-storey home for more than 30 years. 'They are a nice couple, very hard working,' one resident told Daily Mail AUstralia. Another man who lives on Antwerp Street told Daily Mail Australia said he understands there are three people who typically live at the home. He said his sister-in-law was leaving their property when she heard two to three loud bangs and quickly ran back inside their home, where they watched the commotion. 'There was an older man in his car, reversing erratically in the street,' one person said. 'He kept reversing in and out of his driveway, then in and out of the driveways next to him. Then he pulled into the driveway and was arguing with the people inside.' The neighbour called the police, at which point, the older man was let inside the home. Officers who arrived at the home then took off down the street in search of the gunman, the neighbour said, before it was announced a short time later over the police radio that they had located his whereabouts. Crisis Support on 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days) Text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14 (6pm midnight, 7 nights) Chat online at www.lifeline.org.au (7pm midnight, 7 nights) Michelle Obama delivered a series of blistering insults of Donald Trump in front of a roaring Democratic National Convention crowd on Tuesday night. The former first lady called the Republican nominee misogynistic, racist, petty and small in the powerful takedown that upstaged her ex-president husband Barack Obama. The 60-year-old said Kamala Harris is 'my girl' and called on the Democratic Party to unite behind her after the Obama inner circle was accused of helping force Joe Biden out of the race. In a mic drop moment that sparked a frenzied reaction from the audience, she said of Trump: 'Who's going to tell him the job he's currently seeking might be one of those black jobs?' The Obamas spoke while Harris held a rally 90 miles away, sparking speculation the White House is angry over the role they allegedly played in Biden stepping aside. Michelle declared 'hope is making a comeback' as she entered the arena Tuesday night after Harris was formally declared the Democratic presidential nominee. She then hit Trump with a barrage of personal attacks on a night when her husband appeared to use a crude hand gesture to mock Donald's 'weird obsession' with size. Former first lady Michelle Obama was given a hero's welcome at the Democratic National Convention where she delivered a brutal takedown of former president Donald Trump The former first lady hugging her husband former president Barack Obama before his address at the Democratic National Convention Your browser does not support iframes. Former US first lady Michelle Obama speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention on August 20 Michelle was one of the last to take the stage, after Harris' husband Doug Emhoff retold the story of how they on a blind date following a divorce from his first wife. Celebrities including Lil Jon, Eva Longoria and Spike Lee were in the audience as she re-used a famous line from her 2016 convention speech which didn't stick to: 'When they go low, we go high so we can dunk on them.' 'Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn't it?' Obama said as the crowd gave her a hero's welcome at United Center in Chicago. 'Not just here in this arena, but spreading all across this country we love, a familiar feeling that's been buried too deep for too long. You know what I'm talking about? It's the contagious power of hope.' The former first lady invoked hope was a reminder of her husband former president Obama's own historic run for the presidency. Obama gave a ringing endorsement of Harris calling her 'ready for this moment'. 'Her story is your story. It's my story. It's the story of the vast majority of Americans trying to build a better life,' she said. Obama first eluded to Harris's Republican opponent Trump before turning on him directly by name. Her fiery speech was perhaps the most vicious rebuttal of the GOP presidential nominee at the convention to date. 'Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open for others,' she said. 'If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis, we don't get a second, third, or fourth chance,' she said. 'If we see a mountain in front of us, we don't expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top.' She warned that she knows what comes next and there would be those who would try to distort Harris's truth. Barack Obama speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention on August 20 Former president Barack Obama greets wife Michelle as he arrives to speak on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention on August 20 The former first lady declared 'hope is making a comeback' at the Democratic National Convention as she heaped praise on Kamala Harris calling her ready for the moment Michelle Obama greets her husband on stage after her speech at the DNC yesterday Michelle Obama introduces her husband onstage at the DNC 'My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this,' she said. 'For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,' she said. 'His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be black.' 'Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those "black jobs?"' she said. The crowd in the arena went absolutely wild in response to her stunning takedown. 'It's his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people's lives better,' she went on. She argued that 'going small is petty' and called it 'unhealthy' and 'unpresidential'. Obama gave a ringing endorsement of Harris, saying she and Harris both built their lives on the same foundational values' and praised her and running mate Tim Walz as 'good, big-hearted people'. 'She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency, and she is one of the most dignified, a tribute to her mother, to my mother, and probably to your mother too,' she said. But the former first lady did not just heap support on the Democratic presidential nominee, she warned that Democrats face an uphill battle and a close race. The former first lady used her remarks as a call for action. 'This is up to us, all of us, to be the solution we seek. It is up to all of us to be the antidote to all the darkness and division,' she said. She said 'our fate is in our hands' and urged Democrats to 'work like our lives depend on it' until Election Day. Barrack and Michelle Obama embrace on stage at the DNC last night Michelle Obama accused Trump of 'ugly, misogynistic, racist lies' and accused him of being small, petty and unpresidential Michelle Obama is one of the most beloved members of the Democratic party. Many had hoped the former first lady would run herself though she has always shied away from politics After embracing his wife, former President Obama said he's ready to go 'even if I'm the only person stupid enough to speak right after Michelle Obama' Obama's attacks on Trump and praise of Harris had the crowd on its feet Obama may have been upstaged by his wife Michelle Obama and joked about the challenge of going on after her Obama was a superstar in the United Center in Chicago. She is one of if not the most beloved Democrat in the party. Many hoped at one point she would run for president herself despite her past rejection of the political spotlight. But the former first lady might be one of the most powerful advocates for Harris and Democrats without running in any race herself. Her message was so well received, when she went to introduce her husband, the former president, he joked that he's ready to go 'even if I'm the only person stupid enough to speak right after Michelle Obama.' The former president also delivered his own zingers against the ex-GOP president. 'We don't need four more years of bluster and chaos. We've seen that movie - and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,' Obama said to applause. He slammed the 78-year-old for 'whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago' and having constant gripes. 'The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to this neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of the day,' he quipped. 'From a neighbor, that's exhausting. From a president, it's just dangerous.' Barack Obama delivers remarks during the second night of the Democratic National Convention Former President Obama gave his own address after Michelle where he celebrated President Biden, touted Kamala Harris' candidacy and delivered his own smackdown of Donald Trump Obama may have been upstaged by his wife Michelle Obama, and joked about the challenge of going on after her While the Obamas spoke, Harris held a rally 90 miles away in Milwaukee Celebrities including Lil Jon (pictured), Eva Longoria and Spike Lee were in the audience as she re-used a famous line from her 2016 convention speech which didn't stick to: 'When they go low, we go high so we can dunk on them.' As the Obamas spoke, Harris and Walz were just ninety miles away in Milwaukee where they were holding a separate rally in Wisconsin, so they were not in attendance for Tuesday's powerful speeches. Their packed battleground state event on Tuesday was at the same venue where Republicans held their convention just last month. A young girl is fighting for life after she was struck by a car that was pulling out of a driveway on a suburban street in a horror accident. The 12-year-girl was riding her e-scooter on a footpath on Main Road at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, at about 7.50am on Wednesday. She is understood to have been trapped underneath the sedan. The girl suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital. A spokesman from the hospital told Daily Mail Australia she remains in a critical condition. The 21-year-old woman who was driving the Kia 4 was also assessed at the scene by paramedics and is assisting police with their inquiries. The woman is understood to be a local resident and the car had green P-plates. The vehicle has number plates registered to Victoria, the Courier Mail reported. Police set up a crime scene and officers are investigating the incident. The 12-year-girl was riding her e-scooter on a footpath on Main Road at Maroochydore (pictured) on the Sunshine Coast, around 7.50am on Wednesday Officers have cordoned off Main Road in both directions until the investigation is completed. Police are only allowing residents living in the area to pass through provided they have proof that they live nearby. Earlier, bystanders quickly rushed to the help the girl, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Queensland Ambulance Service Acting Director of Clinical Operations, Tony Hucker, said the girl suffered injuries to her chest. Inspector Michael Langsdorf urged motorists to drive safely and to constantly be aware of their surroundings. 'I'd just like to remind everyone of the need to work together for road safety,' Inspector Langsdorf said. 'That's whether you're driving a vehicle, you're a pedestrian on a footpath, whether you're riding a bicycle or a scooter.' Officers have cordoned off Main Road in both directions until the investigation is completed Inspector Langsdorf said police do not yet know what may have caused the crash. Anyone with information, including dashcam footage has been urged to contact police. The latest incident comes after a woman was slapped with a $250 fine after her vehicle struck an e-scooter rider on the driveway of her home. The incident occurred in March out the front of her Kalgoorlie-Boulder home, near Emu Flat, in Western Australia's south. The rider of the scooter fell to the ground and injured her pelvis while the 26-year-old woman was driving the vehicle immediately rushed to her aid. The woman pleaded guilty in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Monday for failing to give her name and address following the incident. Former President Barack Obama resurrected his 'hope' and 'change' message from 2008 to fire up the Democratic National Convention and mocked his successor Donald Trump. The first black president offered his support to another candidate with a 'funny name' Kamala Harris - before comparing Trump to an annoying neighbor. He told fellow Democrats in Chicago that 'the torch has been passed' to Harris and that the United States was ready for her to become president. 'Yes she can,' Obama said of Harris, prompting the boisterous crowd to repeatedly chant the phrase, recalling Obama's own 'Yes we can' campaign slogan. Former US President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the second night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago Obama went on to tear into Trump for 'the childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes,' earning a roar from the crowd at the United Center. It was a line that brought to mind Trump's recent bizarre claim that a large Harris crowd was fake, and Trump's dubious claim to have had a larger inaugural crowd than Obama. The attack, accompanied by a hand gesture, also appeared to echo jokes about the size of Trump's hands that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) briefly latched onto in the 2016 campaign. 'We all knew what that hand gesture meant Barack Obama,' former CNN host Don Lemon, taking the remark in a more suggestive way, posted on X. At a convention where a string of speakers have gone after Trump for his policies, and videos have alternated between ridiculing him and calling him a grave threat, Obama weighed in. 'We don't need four more years of bluster and chaos. We've seen that movie - and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,' he said to applause. Former President Barack Obama ridiculed Donald Trump's 'weird obsession' with crowd sizes in a convention speech where he called for 'passing the torch' to Kamala Harris Barack Obama gestures as he mocks Donald Trump The former president had the convention crowd on its feet when he brought back some of his favorite lines, including when he told the crowd: 'Don't boo: vote.' 'I dont know about you but Im feeling fired up,' he said early on, reminding Democrats of the cheer that was part of his own White House run. 'I am feeling ready to go,' he added. Obama joked about the peril of following wife Michelle Obama after her opening speech, which nearly upstaged his own with a biting quip about Trump. 'Who's going to tell him (Trump) the job he's currently seeking might be one of those black jobs?' Michelle Obama said. The former president has gotten under Trump's skin in the past, and tried to do so again. 'Here's a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It's been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that's actually gotten worse now that he's afraid of losing to Kamala,' Obama said. 'The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to this neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of the day,' he quipped. 'From a neighbor, that's exhausting. From a president, it's just dangerous,' said Obama, who owns large homes in Washington, Chicago and Hawaii. Obama may have been upstaged by his wife Michelle Obama, and joked about the challenge of going on after her Obama's attacks on Trump and praise of Harris had the crowd on its feet Obama said Trump only considers the presidency as 'a means to an ends.' 'He wants the middle class to pay the price for another huge tax cut that would mostly help him and his rich friends,' Obama said. The attacks came after Trump had given an interview with some unusually kind words for Obama and Michelle Obama. In addition to attacking Trump, Obama's other mission was to 'pass the torch,' and he spent much of his speech building up Kamala Harris. Obama, who launched to stardom in part through his own 2004 convention speech, did so at first by linking Harris to another unlikely politician - himself. Former US President Barack Obama (R) walks to greet Former US First Lady Michelle Obama after she introduced him on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, 'Im feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible,' he said near the top of his remarks. 'We are ready for a President Kamala Harris,' he said. It was another seal of approval after his former aides helped bring about the extraordinary change at the top of the ticket. Obama gushed about his former sidekick President Joe Biden, who was on vacation in California 24 hours after his own convention speech, which ran past midnight. Obama's aides had been among the crucial figures pushing for Biden to get out of the race after his debate disaster against Trump in June. The episode brought back old tensions after Obama encouraged Biden not to run in 2016 as Hillary Clinton prepared her own ultimately unsuccessful run. the former president called his own decision to pick Biden as his running mate in 2008 'one of my best,' praising his 'empathy and his decency,' as well as his 'hard-earned resilience.' 'History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger. I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend,' he said. He hailed Biden for 'putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country,' and said he was a 'steady' leader 'at a time when the other party had turned into a cult of personality.' Former U.S. President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago 'The torch has been passed. now it is up for all of us to fight for the American we believe in,' said Obama. A former organizer, Obama tried to caution the crowd as well, telling them that 'for all the rallies and the memes, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country.' He warned there would be low points ahead. And the famed orator, sometimes accused of being professorial, also slipped in an attack on social media. 'We chase the approval of strangers on our phones...and then we wonder why we feel so alone,' Obama said. Democrats have a serious issue with rising anti-Semitism within the Party, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) claims. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators descended on the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois this week and on the first day the protesters were able to break through a security fence surrounding the event and others were able to get into the United Center. Rep. Donalds told DailyMail.com that he thinks there would be even more violence and unrest surrounding the Convention if Harris selected Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate because he is Jewish. 'I'm not surprised about the protests,' Donalds said at Trump Tower on Tuesday. 'The Democrats have a serious anti-semitism problem in their party they do. That's the reason why Josh Shapiro is not the vice presidential nominee.' 'I could only imagine what these protests would be like if he was the VP nominee,' he continued. 'It would be worse, and that's a sad state of affairs for the Democrat Party.' Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) told DailyMail.com that the Democratic Party has a 'serious anti-Semitism problem' Democrats have been grappling with a riff in the party between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian factions amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza. Progressives for Palestine have shown up for the Democratic Convention in Chicago to protest policies related to the Israeli-Hamas war. And while many of these vocal activists say they will still vote for the Democratic nominee in 2024, some are urging their fellow progressives to 'abandon Harris' and either not vote at all or cast their ballot in November for a third party candidate instead. On night one of the Convention, these demonstrators were able to breach security fencing around the perimeter of the United Center. Others were able to get into the arena where they conducted a silent protest by turning their backs to the stage and covering their mouths during speeches from Democratic Party leaders. Pro-Palestinian protesters breached the security fencing around the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on night one on Monday. And one night two (pictured) protesters clashed with police at the Israeli Consulate in Chicago On night one of the DNC on August 19, protesters were able to get into the United Center for the Convention and turned their backs to the stage in protest of the U.S. backing of Israel in it war with Hamas Donalds said that the first night of the DNC was not inspired and was so focused on attacking Donald Trump that there were no real policies put forward. 'The Democrats didn't say anything last night about policy, like not one thing,' Donalds observed. 'Last night, it just was a struggle session around Trump derangement syndrome,' he continued in his interview with DailyMail.com on Monday. 'That's what I heard last night. I didn't hear anything about what they were actually going to do with the country.' 'They focused solely on Donald Trump, and they sprinkled in lightly some Kamala Harris and some Joe Biden. So for the American people watching this at home, I think the question for them is, what exactly is Kamala Harris and Tim Walz going to do with the country?' 'Are they going to do something different than what Joe Biden has done?' he questioned. 'Because what Joe Biden has done has not been popular. Are they going to do something new? It's not clear.' An Aboriginal Elder has slammed plans to transfer a large plot of land in remote Queensland to an Indigenous group as a 'waste of time and money'. Rex McGrady opposed plans to hand the 210ha Toobeah Reserve near the NSW and Queensland border to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation. Local publican Michael Offerdahl previously described it as a secretive 'Aboriginal land grab' that will hand over 95 per cent of the town and $2million worth of land. Toobeah has a population of just 149 people and is currently one of 15 Queensland towns where Aboriginal corporations have applied to have state land handed over to them, the Courier Mail reported. Mr McGrady said he believed handing over the land will create division. 'I do not believe further division through policies such as this will have a positive benefit on my people and the Toobeah Community especially,' he said. 'I stand with (the) Toobeah community and the Gamilaroi people in opposing this transfer and the waste of time and money that could have been directed at achieving positive outcomes for my people.' Mr McGrady said the 'recent spate of crime' in the area demonstrates that both money and the local voice needs to be used to help 'break the cycle'. The small rural town of Toobeah in Queensland (pictured) has had a Native Title claim, with a local Elder raising concerns The area holds significance not just for the Bigambul but for the Gamilaroi Nation as well - but the Gamilaroi Elder claims their voices were ignored in the claim (pictured the Native Title claim in the town of Toobeah) The Elder said it will give 'our people' a purpose, as well as be an incentive and a direction for residents - something that has been lost. Mr McGrady said the was filed by the Bigambul people - even though the land also holds significance to the Gamilaroi people. The Elder, who grew up in Toobeah, said the Gamilaroi Nation had been excluded and 'not allowed' to talk about their connection to the area or to tell their stories. Growing up in the small town without power, his family tended to eat meals outside, around a campfire, and he would hear his parent's stories of the connection to the land, their culture, tribe and stars. The residents in Toobeah said they wouldn't be part of any future negotiations of their small, rural town and said the state needed to 'wake up'. A joint statement said people needed to stand up and fight for equality. The town's community also said Aboriginal Freehold only provides an economic advantage to an Aboriginal corporation that only represents 20 per cent of Indigenous people. The residents of Toobeah said they will not benefit directly as the land will solely be in the corporation's name. Mr Offerdahl said if land from the town is handed over there would only be 33 titles of land and one public toilet left in the town. Michael Offerdahl (left) and Gamilaroi Elder Rex McGrady have both criticised the land claim He said everyone had been using the reserve together for more than a century. But Bigambul Native Title Corporation executive director Justin Saunders said the reserve is less than one per cent of the Toobeah district. Mr Saunders said Toobeah Reserve is culturally significant for the Bigambul people and the land has a connection to songlines, land and waters, ceremony and marriage. He said the site could become an eco-cultural tourism attraction and that the Bigambul people want to work with the community. Goondiwindi mayor Lawrence Springborg, a former LNP state leader whose council area includes Toobeah, has defended the deal. Daly Mail Australia contacted Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation for comment. A food delivery driver died in an alleged hit-and-run, with a man now charged with drink driving over the 'senseless tragedy'. A 27-year-old cyclist, who is yet to be identified, was allegedly hit while riding home on Plummer Street in Port Melbourne around 8pm on Monday. 'The driver of the car initially fled the scene before handing himself in to police a short time later,' a spokesperson for Victoria Police said. The 32-year-old driver was subsequently charged with failing to stop and render assistance at an accident and drink driving. He was bailed and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said the 'tragic' incident marked the 18th food delivery rider to be killed on Australian roads in recent years. 'Gig workers in Australia working in food delivery are some of the most vulnerable workers in this country,' Mr Kaine said. 'For a food delivery rider to not return home after a shift is a senseless tragedy that his family and the wider gig community will be now forced to grapple with. A 27-year-old cyclist, who is yet to be identified, was allegedly hit while riding home on Plummer Street in Port Melbourne around 8pm on Monday 'Food delivery riders currently have no rights like a safe and fair minimum wage, sick leave, protection against unfair contract terminations, and workers' compensation in the horrific event something goes wrong.' The alleged victim appeared to be riding a DoorDash-branded bike at the time of the incident. The company said it was assisting police and trying to establish if it is one of their riders. It's understood the incident did not occur during an active delivery ride. Transport Workers' Union national secretary Michael Kaine said the 'tragic' incident marked the 18th food delivery rider to be killed on Australian roads A Door Dash spokesperson said the company was 'absolutely devastated by this tragic loss of life'. 'Our hearts are with the riders' loved ones during this horrible tragedy. We have reached out to Victoria Police to assist with bringing those responsible to justice and assist with any investigation,' the spokesperson added. She referenced her own ordeal in the Senate in 2021 Linda Reynolds has launched into a rare defence of a Greens senator who came under attack in Parliament by referencing her own 'abuse' in the Senate following Brittany Higgins' rape claims. Senator Reynolds was grilled during Senate Question Time in 2021 over the way she handled the rape two years earlier, in February 2019, when Ms Higgins, then her staffer, disclosed she had been assaulted. Ms Reynolds was accused of making Ms Higgins choose between pursuing her rape complaint and her job and trying to cover up the assault - which she denies. Ms Reynolds wound up in hospital with cardiac severe issues after a week of parliamentary scrutiny, and is now suing Ms Higgins in the WA Supreme Court for perpetuating the claims against her on social media. On Wednesday, she spoke about her own ordeal in relation to a situation in the Senate the previous evening which saw Greens member Jordon Steele-John - who has cerebral palsy - become visibly angry and upset about reforms to the NDIS. Her comments also referred to an ongoing debate about whether politicians should be subject to workplace-style behavioural standards, largely to do with name-calling after Teal MP Zali Steggall called Peter Dutton 'racist' last week. 'I fully understand the need for robust policy debate under parliamentary privilege and the role that plays in democracy,' Ms Reynolds told the Senate. Senator Jordon Steele-John is pictured in the Senate on Tuesday evening, during his ten-minute speech 'But I am, more than most, here with a very clear understanding of the personal toll this abuse takes when parliamentary privilege is abused for personal attacks.' Ms Reynolds referred to Senator Steele-John's reaction to the proposed NDIS reforms, which include tighter budget measures for participants in an effort to bring the overall cost of the scheme down. He was furious, claiming reforms were not designed in consultation with disabled Australians who are on the scheme. He spoke for ten minutes about how let down he felt by his own peers in Parliament. He said: 'Never in the history of the Australian disability rights movement has a government so profoundly betrayed the trust placed in it by the community.' 'With the passage of this bill, the Australian disability community will enter a period of shadow, harm, difficulty and, yes, death. A type of life we thought we had escaped will return for many of us.' Labor Senator Tim Ayres then stood up and said Mr Steele-John was engaging in a 'scare campaign' - which caused uproar. Senator Tim Ayres (pictured) said Mr Steele-John's fears over the NDIS reform was a 'scare campaign' Mr Ayres said: 'I just say this in response to that contribution. A scare campaign has to have some foundation in the truth, no matter how much hyperbole...' Mr Steele-John yelled: 'Oh shut up, Tim! You disgrace this chamber with your nonsense! You've no idea.' Mr Ayres withdrew his statement. On Tuesday, Ms Reynolds said Mr Ayres' comments were a 'stain on the government'. 'What Senator Steele-John said was not a scare campaign; it was absolutely what we are all hearing, and it is the genuine fear of people with disabilities right across this nation.' 'Senator Steele-John, I would like to apologise for what has just been said to you. 'If you, ... had any decency, you would stand up right now and you would apologise to our colleague here, who has just given the most heartfelt speech he will probably ever give.' Linda Reynolds is suing Brittany Higgins, left, for defamation over social media posts She doubled down on those comments on Wednesday, saying: 'Last night, I think, was one such opportunity that we should reflect on our shared humanity and our shared compassion. 'The words used during this debate were deeply wounding to to Senator Steele-John because this is not just another bill that we passed in this place. This is a bill that will impact the lives of 660,000 NDIS participants.' She urged the Labor government to take the opinions of disabled Australians into account before passing the bill. Later on Wednesday, the federal government secured the support of the states and territories to overhaul the scheme. Ms Reynolds made her comments relating to her own civil court case under the protection of parliamentary privilege. Barack Obama returned to the limelight Tuesday night with a speech at the DNC that set the internet on fire when many believed he made a crude joke about Donald Trump. The 44th president was running what sounded less like a speech in favor of Kamala Harris and more like a puerile roast of Trump when he laughed at his successor's 'weird obsession with crowd sizes'. Obama started to motion with his hands from large to small, before looking down and catching what he was doing as the partisan liberal crowd roared with approval. As one commenter on social media noted: 'This ain't the 'When they go low, we go high' party anymore'. Conservative commentator Todd Starnes called Obama 'weird' and 'creepy' for having weight in 'on the size of President Trump's private parts. Barack Obama returned to the limelight Tuesday night with a speech at the DNC that set the internet on fire when many believed he made a crude joke about Donald Trump Another X account mocked Michelle Obama's famous quote of 'when they go low, we go high' by saying that eight years later, the Democrat platform was 'Trump has a small d***'. 'They're having a weirdo off at these conventions,' added another user, frustrated with both parties. Conservative influencer Benny Johnson responded by mocking Obama's party bringing in Lil Jon, saying 'Democrats have to bring rappers to their events to fill seats'. 'We all knew what that hand gesture meant @BarackObama,' posted former CNN host Don Lemon, taking the remark in a more suggestive way. Others praised Obama for the crude joke, with one person saying that 'Barack Obamas crowd size joke might be the biggest burn in political history'. Obama apparently hadn't heard a rare moment of kindness from Trump ahead of his predecessor's speech at the Democrat National Convention Tuesday. Trump was asked his thoughts on the 44th president and longtime nemesis - but while slamming Obama's policies on trade, Trump spoke highly of his character. 'I like him, I think he's a nice gentleman but he was very, very weak on trade if you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise it was a disaster.' Obama apparently hadn't heard a rare moment of kindness from Trump ahead of his predecessor's speech at the Democrat National Convention Tuesday Trump cited Obama's dealings with China and Japan as a huge flaw in his presidency, but had some praise for the former president and his wife Michelle, also speaking Tuesday. 'I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife,' Trump told CNN. Before Trump's positive comments aimed at Obama on Saturday, he spent several years in a feud with the former president. Trump, while still a private citizen, spent years promoting the 'birther' conspiracy that Obama was not born in the U.S. and therefore could not serve as president. After becoming a politician, Trump claimed that Obama was the 'founder of ISIS' and 'one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States.' Despite a rocky election season in 2016, Obama still wrote Trump an Inauguration Day letter and left it in a drawer in the Oval Office. Trump said at the time it was 'beautiful.' Obama dusted off his 'hope' and 'change' message to fire up the Democratic convention and rolled out some of the mockery he has deployed against Donald Trump going back years. The first black president pitched another candidate with a 'funny name' before comparing Donald Trump to an annoying neighbor while promoting Kamala Harris as a new successor. Despite a rocky election season in 2016, Obama still wrote Trump an Inauguration Day letter and left it in a drawer in the Oval Office. Trump said at the time it was 'beautiful' In a convention where a string of speeches have gone after Trump for his policies and videos have alternated between ridiculing him and calling him a grave threat, Obama weighed in. 'We don't need four more years of bluster and chaos. We've seen that movie - and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,' Obama said to applause. The former president gave a twist to his 2008 campaign slogan and a seal of approval for Harris and her prospect. Barack and Michelle Obama headlined night two of the Democrat convention in Chicago, which also featured Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders. Trump is preparing to debate Kamala Harris for the first time on September 10 in Philadelphia. Budget airline Jetstar has been hit with a class action on behalf of hundreds of thousands of customers who were allegedly denied refunds for cancelled flights during the Covid-19 pandemic. Echo Law launched the class action in the Federal Court of Australia on Wednesday morning. The firm claims the Qantas-owned budget carrier didn't adequately refund customers for dozens of flights that were cancelled during the Covid-19 period between 2020 and 2022. The class action alleges Jetstar issued customers with restricted travel credits, which were lower than the amount customers should have been refunded. The law firm claims Jetstar's actions violated its contractual obligations. The legal action aims to recover the outstanding amounts it alleges are owed to the airline's customers. Customers are also seeking compensation for the difference between the value of the travel credits and the refund. The firm has also alleged the airline mislead customers about their rights in the event of widespread cancellations of flights during the pandemic. A class action has alleged Jetstar didn't refund customers for dozens of flights that were cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022 (stock image) It alleges that this conduct is a violation of Australian Consumer Law. Partner at Echo Law Andrew Paull said Jetstar allegedly obtained significant financial advantage through the use of the restricted travel credits. Mr Paull claimed the scheme allegedly withheld money from customers even though they were unable to fly. 'Jetstar engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct in contravention of Australian Consumer Law, by misleading customers as to their rights in the event of widespread Covid cancellations,' Mr Paull told 7 News. 'The right thing for Jetstar to do when it cancelled all those flights was to return its customers' money without delay.' The class action, which was launched in the Federal Court of Australia on Wednesday, claims the failure to issue the money was a violation of Jetstar's contractual obligations (stock image) A spokeswoman for Jetstar told Daily Mail Australia the airline will review the claims filed in the class action. 'Last year we removed expiry dates for Covid vouchers so they can be used indefinitely,' the spokeswoman said. 'These vouchers are also multi use, meaning they can be used across multiple bookings and for multiple people.' The spokeswoman said the travel credits issued were worth the same value of the original booking. The spokeswoman said also said the credits are part of the booking process outlined in the terms and conditions. Customers are seeking compensation and the class action aims to recover the outstanding amounts owed to travellers (pictured passengers at Sydney's International Airport terminal) Daily Mail Australia understands Jetstar removed expiry dates from all Jetstar Airways Covid vouchers in August 2023. The vouchers cannot be redeemed for cash. Customers can check their remaining voucher amount by logging into the voucher balance portal. The class action is being funded by Court House Capital, an Australian firm that funds litigation cases. Customers taking part in the class action will not face any out-of-pocket costs. EQS-Ad-hoc: Lenzing AG / Key word(s): Personnel Lenzing AG: Rohit Aggarwal new CEO as of September 1, 2024 Stephan Sielaff to leave the company as of August 31, 2024 21-Aug-2024 / 14:42 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Rohit Aggarwal new CEO as of September 1, 2024 Stephan Sielaff to leave the company as of August 31, 2024 Lenzing Rohit Aggarwal will take over the position of CEO as of 1 September 2024. Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Stephan Sielaff will leave the company end of August 2024, by mutual agreement with the Supervisory Board. Your contact for Public Relations: Dominic Kofner Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft Werkstrae 2, 4860 Lenzing, Austria Phone +43 7672 701 2743 E-mail media@lenzing.com Web www.lenzing.com About the Lenzing Group The Lenzing Group stands for eco-responsible production of specialty fibers based on cellulose and recycled material. As an innovation leader, Lenzing is a partner of global textile and nonwoven manufacturers and drives many new technological developments. The Lenzing Groups high-quality fibers form the basis for a variety of textile applications ranging from functional, comfortable and fashionable clothing to durable and sustainable home textiles. Due to their special properties and their botanical origin, the TUV certified biodegradable and compostable Lenzing fibers are also highly suitable for everyday hygiene products. The business model of the Lenzing Group goes far beyond that of a traditional fiber producer. Together with its customers and partners, Lenzing develops innovative products along the value chain, creating added value for consumers. The Lenzing Group strives for the efficient utilization and processing of all raw materials and offers solutions to help transform the textile industry from the current linear economic system towards a circular economy. In order to reduce the speed of global warming and thus also support the targets of the Paris Agreement and the EU Commissions Green Deal, Lenzing has developed a clear science-based climate action plan that aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a net-zero goal (scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2050. Key Facts & Figures Lenzing Group 2023 Revenue: EUR 2.52 bn Nominal capacity: 1,110,000 tonnes Employees (FTE): 7,917 TENCEL, LENZING ECOVERO, VEOCEL, LENZING and REFIBRA are trademarks of Lenzing AG. End of Inside Information 21-Aug-2024 CET/CEST News transmitted by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com A mum of four 'intentionally' took her own life and her children's lives by driving headfirst into an oncoming truck, a coroner has determined. Charmaine McLeod, 35, was killed alongside her children Aaleyn, 6, Matilda, 5, Wyatt, 4 and Zaidok, 2, in a fiery crash on Queensland's Bunya Highway near Kingaroy on May 27, 2019. A lengthy coronial inquest in Brisbane last year picked apart Ms McLeod's complex mental health conditions - including her borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. It also investigated her repeated, unfounded claims of domestic and family violence and sexual assault to authorities in the months before her death. On Wednesday, coroner Kerrie O'Callaghan concluded the deaths of Ms McLeod and her four children could not have been prevented - even if authorities had taken a different approach to the issues she had raised. Ms McLeod's father Paul Harris slammed the findings as a 'waste of time' on Wednesday. 'Waste of time, waste of money, waste of peace,' he said outside the Coroners Court in Brisbane. At the time of her death, the Hervey Bay mum believed she would lose custody of her kids to her ex-husband following an email exchange with her lawyers on the day of the crash. James McLeod was married to Charmaine for nine years and is the biological father of Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok. In her findings Ms Gallagher said the exchange triggered a 'dramatic response' in keeping with her untreated mental health conditions - namely, 'the killing of herself and her children'. 'I am unable to determine whether this was solely an act of revenge against Mr McLeod or a result of a genuine perceived fear for the safety of herself and her children,' Ms Gallagher said. A coroner has found Charmaine McLeod 'intentionally' took her own life and the lives of her children Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok in a horrific crash back in 2019 The crash occurred about 7.30pm on May 27, 2019 after Ms McLeod overtook a semi-trailer, then 'suddenly swerved' into another travelling in the opposite direction James McLeod (pictured) was married to Charmaine for nine years and is the biological father of Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok. 'It is difficult to conclude however that Ms McLeod acted "protectively" in killing her children.' The crash occurred about 7.30pm on May 27, 2019 after Ms McLeod overtook a semi-trailer, then 'suddenly swerved' into another travelling in the opposite direction. Aaleyn was thrown 20m from the car, which had caught fire. Following the crash, a handwritten note was found in Ms McLeod's purse among the debris, the inquest was told. In it, Ms McLeod said: 'To emergency I'm sorry. Yes intentional.' She also said she 'couldn't cope with custody s*** any longer', claimed she had been raped and abused and two of her children 'molested' and attacked her solicitors and the Family Court system. 'How much more? Far out. This is what pushes one to the brink of murder/suicide,' the note added. It ended with 'Blame the courts' and 'Not enough help for DV victims and kids'. Throughout the inquest, the court was told Ms McLeod had accused Mr McLeod of sexually assaulting her and two of their children and of being violent to her. Police determined the allegations to be 'unfounded' during subsequent investigations. Mr McLeod denies the allegations and has never been charged with any wrongdoing. He declined to comment on Wednesday. Ms O'Callaghan made no adverse findings against the individuals or agencies who dealt with Ms McLeod, her mental health conditions and her children. This included the police investigation into Ms McLeod's complaints that Ms O'Callaghan said was 'adequate and appropriate'. 'Ms McLeod's condition was very complex and no one could have predicted her suicide or filicide of her children,' she said. 'With the benefit of hindsight, it will be seen that with respect to some issues things could have been done differently or with a different focus. At the time of her death, Ms McLeod was embroiled in a bitter custody battle and feared she would lose her children The coroner made no adverse findings against anyone who dealt with Ms McLeod (pictured) and her children 'Ultimately, however, I conclude that even with a different approach...the death of Ms McLeod and her children would not have been prevented. 'The murder and filicide was virtually impossible to detect by the agencies.' In her findings, Ms O'Callaghan recommended Queensland Law Society consider providing a mental health specialist consultant service to solicitors. She said it would help them seek advice to assist 'vulnerable clients and those with complex, trauma and/or DFV needs'. She also recommended the provision of 'professional development opportunities' for solicitors. 'I acknowledge Mr McLeod and Ms McLeod's family. I extend my deep condolences to them and their unimaginable loss,' Ms O'Callaghan said. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Guests and crew members on the doomed Bayesian superyacht were filmed peacefully enjoying it's owner's 'victory' trip just days before the boat sank off the coast of Sicily. Video taken by curious onlookers showed a group of people on the 30million vessel as it floated off Porticello, with men and women in white polo shirts seen moving around the deck in calm waters off the island of Vulcano last week. The boat had been taken to Mediterranean island by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who had invited family and friends with him to celebrate his 'second life' after being acquitted of fraud charges in the US. Just days later six of those on board would be missing and 15 others dramatically rescued after the boat capsized following a direct hit from a freak 'black swan' waterspout during severe thunderstorms on Monday morning. Today the search operation for those who are still not accounted for - including Mr Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and a senior boss at Morgan Stanley - enters its third day, with divers warning they are not expecting to find anyone alive. It comes as: The Bayesian superyacht was filmed floating in the waters off the coast of Sicily by curious onlookers last week In the footage people wearing white polo shirts could be seen walking around on the deck of the 30million superyacht The boat was seen close to the island of Vulcano, which lies near Sicily, last week Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day Hannah's parents Mike Lynch and Angela Bacares (pictured) were on board with their daughter. Mrs Bacares survived while Lynch is still missing The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout Efforts to access the boat, which is resting 164ft (50m) down on the seabed, have been hampered by furniture blocking the entrances - having to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to get access - and the depth which means they can only spend 10 minutes at the bottom before having to come back up. Those in charge of the operation say they believe the missing are in their cabins and despite suggestions that there could be survivors in air pockets, the chances of them still being alive two days on are incredibly slim at best. It comes as Italian authorities have launched an investigation into whether hatches left open by crew members caused the boat to sink so rapidly. Meteorological experts have said the waterspout - which brought tornado speed winds in a matter of seconds - was a 'black swan event' due to its extreme rarity and severe impact. Survivors who were thrown into the water during the terrifying incident have described it going under the water in minutes, while CCTV footage shows the superyacht vanishing in moments. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Sailing expert Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, also said that he believes open hatches and doors could have contributed to the rapid sinking of Mr Lynch's superyacht. He said: 'I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side. 'I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.' Search divers head out to the scene of the wreck near Porticello this morning as the operation to find the bodies of those missing continue The huge Bayesian overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning Rescue workers look at the plans of the the Bayesian as they organise a search operation for six people who are still missing after the superyacht sank Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, said that a boat the size of the Bayesian would only sink so quickly by taking in a huge amount of water. He suggested that portholes, windows or other openings may have been left open, letting in water. Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the vessel's occupants wanting air to flow through while they slept. Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains. Chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, and his team are expected to interview the 15 survivors soon to determine what led to the tragic sinking of the Bayesian yacht. Among the survivors is Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, 57, who is said to be in 'a state of shock and sadness', the Daily Mirror reports, as the search for her husband, daughter and four others has entered its third day. The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. Frigate Captain Vincenzo Zagarola told Italian radio station RTL: 'Given the time that has passed and the circumstances of the event, it is naturally difficult to imagine that things can go well but we are not giving up, so we are busy [searching] with naval and air resources.' Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, said divers are entering a 'critical' 24 hours to rescue anyone who might still be alive. 'They've got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued,' Mr Sloane told Sky News. 'You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical.' But when Mr Zagarola was asked about the likelihood of the missing passengers being alive, he said: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' A total of six people are still missing - Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the yacht as a cook, was found in the water shortly after search operations began on Monday. Divers from Napoli and Messina are assisting with the huge search operation, which is being made more difficult due to cables and furnishings obstructing the way to the cabins, Italian media reported. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said that divers 'may be looking for a banging noise at regular intervals'. Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Nada are also missing Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer 'This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year,' he said and added: 'But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict.' After inspecting the command bridge, which is outdoors, the cave divers descended into the main lounge from an internal ladder. But inside, they were obstructed by floating objects from chairs and cushions to utensils and plates. Marco Tilotta, inspector of the Palermo Fire Department's diving unit, said: 'We checked the hull from the outside and now we have entered the vessel to inspect all the rooms. 'Access to the hull is difficult, getting inside, going down to the compartment below through the narrow stairs and going into all the cabins to analyse centimetre by centimetre is really hard and difficult work.' It comes as school friends of missing Hannah are anxiously waiting for updates on her safe return, with her prestigious Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, saying it is 'in shock' after its former pupil disappeared. A spokesperson for the 25,000-a-year school said: 'We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.' Hannah had just completed her A-Levels and gained a place to study English at Oxford before the tragedy. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Among the 15 who survived include a one-year-old British baby called Sofia, who was kept afloat by her mother, 35-year-old Charlotte Golunski. Mrs Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, also survived after fighting to prevent her child from drowning. The mother told Italian newspaper Republicca: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' Mrs Golunski's British husband James Emsilie, 36, also survived the tragedy. Another survivor is Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who is now reportedly recovering from her injuries in a wheelchair. She revealed that the first sign of the freak waterspout that sunk the luxury sailboat Bayesian was a 'slight tilt' that woke her up. Lynch's wife told La Repubblica that she and her husband woke up at 4am when the boat suddenly 'tilted'. Mrs Bacares said that they were not worried at the time, but that she still got up to see what was happening, until glass shattered and created confusion on board. She sustained abrasions on her feet - likely after walking on glass shards during the sinking - which have left her unable to walk and sitting in a wheelchair, La Repubblica reports, while she also has bandages on others part of her body. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lynch, according to her father Lin. On-board hostesses Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Charlotte Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, was also on board and survived Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Leah and 22-year-old on-board hostess Katja Chicken, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Catfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. On Tuesday evening two crew members, Tus Koopmans and Eaton Parker, were also named as survivors. No age or nationalities were provided. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Catfied, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Fabio Cefalu, a fisherman in Porticello who witnessed the tragedy unfold, said he saw a waterspout a sort of mini-tornado that lasted about 12 minutes shortly before 4am. At around 4.10am he said he saw a red flare go off from Bayesian but by the time he was able to reach the area about 20 minutes later the yacht had all but disappeared. 'We found only the cushions, and a few planks floating in the water,' he said. A young boy who was allegedly raped at knifepoint in a Sydney park begged passers-by for help after the terrifying attack, a court has heard. Father-of-three Malik Ahmad, 33, was reportedly refused bail on Wednesday after he allegedly lured a 13-year-old boy from Mount Druitt train station to a nearby park shortly after 1.15am last Thursday. He allegedly threatened the boy with a knife and raped him before fleeing the scene in a white van. The boy then desperately flagged down drivers to ask where the police station was so that he could report his alleged assault, a court heard. Police arrested Ahmad on Duke Street in Mount Druitt at 6.20pm on Tuesday. 'He was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with aggravated sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 and intentionally sexually touch a child between 10 and 16,' a spokesperson for NSW Police said. Ahmad's defence lawyer Aqib Javed told Mount Druitt Local Court that his client intends to fight the charges, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He argued that the father-of-three should be released on bail to support his pregnant wife and that he was not able to receive adequate treatment for a gunshot wound in his leg. Malik Ahmad, 33, was reportedly refused bail on Wednesday after he allegedly lured a 13-year-old boy from Mount Druitt train station (pictured) to a nearby park shortly after 1.15am last Thursday He allegedly threatened the boy with a knife and raped him before fleeing the scene in a white van But the police prosecutor strongly opposed bail, arguing there was no evidence of a bullet wound. She said the prosecution's case relied on high-quality CCTV, which captured Ahmad and his alleged victim at various points. Magistrate Bree Chisholm refused Ahmad bail, saying he was accused of a 'disturbing opportunistic attack on a vulnerable child' and the prosecution's case was 'overwhelming'. 'It is in the publics interest for him to remain in custody,' she said. Ahmad's wife, who he has reportedly been married to for 14 years, wept outside of court. He will next face Penrith Local Court on October 18. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A hero British mother who saved her baby daughter from drowning as the Bayesian superyacht sank during a freak storm survived because she was 'sleeping on deck' when it hit. Charlotte Golunski was left holding her daughter Sophia 'afloat with all her strength' in the pitch-black water when the boat went down early on Monday morning after being struck by a waterspout. The 35-year-old was left screaming for help as the storm raged around her, before being helped onto a liferaft where she and 14 other survivors took shelter while awaiting rescue. The Oxford graduate was discharged from hospital yesterday alongside Sophia, and has been reunited with her husband who was not with her when the tragedy unfolded but also survived. At least one person is known to have died in the tragedy, while six others including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are still missing with fears they are dead in the wreck of the boat as search operations continue. It comes as: Charlotte Golunski heroically saved her baby daughter's life after the Bayesian superyacht sank on Monday morning A doctor has revealed that Ms Golunski had been sleeping on the deck of the boat when it was hit by a freak waterspout that caused it to capsize The mother and other survivors were rescued from a liferaft (pictured) they had taken shelter in as the storm raged around them Ms Golunski leaves hospital in Palermo alongside her husband James Emslie and their daughter Sophia on Tuesday Ms Golunski works as a senior associate at Invoke Capital, a firm founded by Mr Lynch and had been invited on the trip as the British billionaire celebrated his 'second life' after being acquitted of fraud charges in the US. Italian doctors claim that she had been sleeping with baby Sophia on the deck, while her husband James Emslie was on another part of the boat, when the 'black swan' waterspout hit at around 5am on Monday morning. Dr Domenico Cipolla, the head of paediatric care at the Di Cristina Children's Hospital in Palermo where Ms Golunski was taken in the aftermath of the disaster, shed new light on her experience. He told Sky News: 'She said that she was sleeping with the child on deck while her husband was a little further away in another part of the boat and she felt the oscillations of the ship. 'In an instant it was dark and she found herself in the water in just a few minutes. She said she tried to hold on to the child but lost the child from her grip for three seconds. 'She then managed to catch her in the water.' Ms Golunski had previously told Italian newspaper Repubblica about the nightmare passengers found themselves plunged into and how she saved her daughter's life. She said: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' On Tuesday Ms Golunski and her daughter left hospital with Mr Emslie, Dr Cipolla revealing the pair had 'hugged and comforted each other' after being reunited but also 'cried' for those who did not make it. A total of six people are still missing - Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the yacht as a cook, was found in the water shortly after search operations began on Monday. The search operation to find them in the wreck of the boat has continued into a third day. Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day Mike Lynch (left) is still missing while his wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht The superyacht (pictured) was anchored off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout What is a 'black swan' weather event? The waterspout which caused the catastrophic capsizing of the Bayesian has been dubbed a 'black swan', by meteorological experts. The term is used for rare weather events that are considered unpredictable and more severe than one could reasonably expect. Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in the United States in 2005, is considered to be an example of this. Waterspouts - which are essentially tornadoes that take place over water - are another example of a so-called 'black swan'. Michael Shanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said that waterspouts He said: 'Waterspouts are rare but do happen. 'They're a black swan event for ship captains and crews. They're high impact. 'That water carries significant weight. And if the waterspout ends up dumping a load of that water on board the vessel, that's going to cause significant damage.' Despite thunderstorm alerts being in place, the nature of waterspouts means there would have been likely no warning it was coming, others have claimed. Dr Pete Inness, a lecturer in meteorology at the University of Reading, said: 'As with tornado warnings, you can say there's a probability they could happen 24 hours in advance. 'You can say, over that particular area of sea, there's an increased likelihood, but until one actually forms you can't say where it will be or how strong it is, and even then they typically only last for a couple of minutes, so there is no real warning.' Advertisement Efforts to access the boat, which is resting 164ft (50m) down on the seabed, have been hampered by furniture blocking the entrances - having to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to get access - and the depth which means they can only spend 10 minutes at the bottom before having to come back up. Those in charge of the operation say they believe the missing are in their cabins and despite suggestions that there could be survivors in air pockets, the chances of them still being alive two days on are incredibly slim at best. It comes as Italian authorities have launched an investigation into whether hatches left open by crew members caused the boat to sink so rapidly. Meteorological experts have said the waterspout - which brought tornado speed winds in a matter of seconds - was a 'black swan event' due to its extreme rarity and severe impact. Survivors who were thrown into the water during the terrifying incident have described it going under the water in minutes, while CCTV footage shows the superyacht vanishing in moments. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Sailing expert Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, also said that he believes open hatches and doors could have contributed to the rapid sinking of Mr Lynch's superyacht. He said: 'I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side. 'I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.' Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, said that a boat the size of the Bayesian would only sink so quickly by taking in a huge amount of water. He suggested that portholes, windows or other openings may have been left open, letting in water. Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the vessel's occupants wanting air to flow through while they slept. Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Nada are also missing Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. Frigate Captain Vincenzo Zagarola told Italian radio station RTL: 'Given the time that has passed and the circumstances of the event, it is naturally difficult to imagine that things can go well but we are not giving up, so we are busy [searching] with naval and air resources.' When Mr Zagarola was asked about the likelihood of the missing passengers being alive, he said: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' Among the survivors is Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who is now reportedly recovering from her injuries in a wheelchair. She revealed that the first sign of the freak waterspout that sunk the luxury sailboat Bayesian was a 'slight tilt' that woke her up. Lynch's wife told La Repubblica that she and her husband woke up at 4am when the boat suddenly 'tilted'. Mrs Bacares said that they were not worried at the time, but that she still got up to see what was happening, until glass shattered and created confusion on board. She sustained abrasions on her feet - likely after walking on glass shards during the sinking - which have left her unable to walk and sitting in a wheelchair, La Repubblica reports, while she also has bandages on others part of her body. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lynch, according to her father Lin. On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, was also on board and survived Leah and 22-year-old on-board hostess Katja Chicken, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Cutfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. On Tuesday evening two crew members, Tus Koopmans and Eaton Parker, were also named as survivors. No age or nationalities were provided. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Cutfield, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Fabio Cefalu, a fisherman in Porticello who witnessed the tragedy unfold, said he saw a waterspout a sort of mini-tornado that lasted about 12 minutes shortly before 4am. At around 4.10am he said he saw a red flare go off from Bayesian but by the time he was able to reach the area about 20 minutes later the yacht had all but disappeared. 'We found only the cushions, and a few planks floating in the water,' he said. Ukraine has launched what is believed to be the largest ever drone strike against Moscow since Vladimir Putin's invasion began in February 2022. Russian officials said they shot down 11 drones flying to Moscow, and were forced to fend off a further 23 over the border region of Bryansk, six over the Belgorod region, three over the Kaluga region and two over the Kursk region. Moscow forced the temporary closure of three airports but no casualties or significant damage to buildings was reported, according to the citys mayor Sergei Sobyanin. It comes after Putin's forces bombed a children's hospital in the wartorn Zaporizhzhia region, leaving at least one boy dead and four other young people injured. Video footage showed Russian air defence systems working overtime through the night, with anti-aircraft systems abruptly blowing up drones across western Russia, leaving them as little more than fireballs and debris. Many of Ukraine's drones that targeted Moscow were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, which lies 24 miles south of the capital. Video footage showed Russian air defence systems working overtime through the night Vladimir Putin (pictured) has made gains in Ukraine's industrial Donbas region Putin's forces hit a children's cafe in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region Putin was seen visiting Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured) last night Mr Sobyanin said of the attack: 'This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever.' Despite this, the mayor reported that no injuries, casualties or damages were reported in the aftermath of the attack. A ring of anti-aircraft and anti-drone missile systems meant Moscow city centre was unscathed. Even so, a large-scale attack so close to the Kremlin is likely to increase pressure on president Vladimir Putin. Only eight drones were involved in Kyivs attack on Moscow in May last year. The governor of the Bryansk region said there were no casualties or damages in his region either. Ukraine has not yet commented on the latest drone attack against Russia, though it did say its forces hit a missile complex in Novoshakhtinsk in Rostov. 'It should be noted that the Russian invaders also use S-300 complexes for attacks on peaceful cities of Ukraine, destroying residential buildings and terrorizing the civilian population,' the Ukrainian army said in a statement on Wednesday morning. It comes after the Lavender Cafe, a children's cafe in the Zaporizhzhia region, was struck by a Russian missile. Distressing police pictures showed children being helped in the aftermath of the strike on civilians. A 15-year-old boy tragically died in the strike. The others injured in the shelling were aged 11, 14, 17 and 18, said police. A teenage girl is reportedly in a serious condition. The destroyed cafe was in the village of Malokaterynivka, some 19 miles from the frontline, and was known to be popular with local children. The head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, said there had been a direct strike on the cafe. 'These are the consequences of the Russian strike on Malokaterynivka,' he said. Many of Ukraine's drones that targeted Moscow were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, which lies 24 miles south of the capital Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin said of the attack: 'This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever' The Lavender Cafe, a children's cafe in the Zaporizhzhia region, was struck by a Russian missile A 15-year-old boy tragically died in the strike. The others injured in the shelling were aged 11, 14, 17 and 18 'The terrorist state [Russia] mutilates civilians and will not even stop at children. We must stop this.' The bitter war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated in recent weeks, with Ukraine boldly sending its forces into Russian territory, the biggest foreign attack against Putin's nation since the Second World War. Kremlin officials quoted in the Russian media yesterday conceded it will take several months to liberate the 92 settlements occupied by Ukraine. But the picture is very different in eastern Ukraine where Russian forces have retained the upper hand. Yesterday, Moscow said its forces had gained further ground there. The Kremlins priority appears to remain capturing all of the Donetsk region and no forces have been pulled away from it to tackle the Kursk incursion. Ukrainian forces operating in Russia are believed to have used US-made HIMARS rocket systems there for the first time. They remain barred from using UK-supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, said in its daily report late on Tuesday that the Ukrainians have made additional advances in their incursion, now in its third week. It noted that Ukrainian forces appear to be striking Russian pontoon bridges and pontoon engineering equipment over the Seym River in an area west of the Kurst oblast. The daring incursion into Russia has raised morale in Ukraine and changed the dynamic of the fighting. Russia meanwhile, has been making headway in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the industrial region of Donbas. Putin was last night seen with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, considered by many to be one of his closest allies, in Chechnya, where the pair were inspecting troops gearing themselves up to fight Ukraine. Putin was last night seen with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, considered by many to be one of his closest allies, in Chechnya Chechnya is a largely Muslim republic that is still part of Russia Kadyrov told Putin on Tuesday that Chechnya, a largely Muslim republic that is part of Russia, had sent more than 47,000 troops since the start of the war to fight Ukraine The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to keep the North Caucasus stable following years of turmoil 'As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible,' Putin told troops at the Russian Special Forces University, a training school in Chechnya's Gudermes, according to a transcript on the Kremlin's website. 'It is one thing to shoot at a shooting range here, and another thing to put your life and health at risk. But you have an inner need to defend the Fatherland and the courage to make such a decision.' Kadyrov told Putin on Tuesday that Chechnya, a largely Muslim republic that is part of Russia, had sent more than 47,000 troops since the start of the war to fight Ukraine, including about 19,000 volunteers. He has described himself as Putin's 'foot soldier' several times in the past. The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to keep the North Caucasus stable following years of turmoil. International rights groups have accused Kadyrov's security forces of extrajudicial killings, torture and abductions of dissenters, but Russian authorities have stonewalled repeated demands for investigations. The Kremlin scrambled fighters from Chechnya to help protect Moscow from an abortive mutiny launched by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last year, but some commentators warned that Kadyrov's ambitions could also potentially pose a threat to federal authorities. A man was bitten on the testicles by a huge python in Thailand, leaving his bathroom sprayed in blood as he desperately beat it to death with a toilet brush. Horrifying pictures show the aftermath of Thanat Thangtewanon's exchange with the 12ft reptile hiding in the U-bend of his home toilet on Tuesday. Thanat said that moments after sitting down he felt a sharp pain tear thorough his testicles. He said: 'I felt something biting my balls. It was very painful, so I put my hands in the toilet to see what was wrong. I was shocked that I grabbed a snake,' he said. 'I quickly stood up and plucked it out. I felt pain, really bad pain, and there was blood everywhere, but I was more shocked to have found a python in the toilet.' In a desperate attempt to break its grasp, Thanat grabbed the toilet brush and started whacking at the snake's head until it loosened its grip and died. Uncomfortable pictures show blood in Thanat's bathroom after being bit on the testicles Thanat shared his horror after beating a snake to death that had attached itself to his testicles The snake pictured dead on the floor after Thanat attacked it with a brush The father immediately went to a hospital to get a tetanus vaccine. He said doctors told him he would not need stitches as the wound was not deep enough to severe the skin and it would heal in a couple of weeks. He added: 'My testicles are safe now. I'm lucky it wasn't a venomous snake. A cobra would have killed me. 'But I haven't used that toilet again since. 'Every time I go, I check what's inside and put a brush in there to make sure.' Pythons attacking people using toilets have happened several times before in Thailand. In 2016, a resident Attaporn Boonmakchuay was ambushed by a 10-foot-long python while using a squat toilet in Chachoengsao province. His wife ran into the room upon hearing him scream, and helped prise the python's jaws from his penis. He passed out from blood loss, but survived after being treated at the Chularat Hospital. He replaced the squat toilet with a more modern version following the attack. In 2020, a housewife Boonsong Plaikaew was bitten on her buttocks by a python while sitting on the toilet bowl in Samut Prakan province. Volunteers gave her first aid and caught the snake which was later released into the wild. The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes. McDonald's today announced plans to flood Britain's high streets with 200 new restaurants in the next four years. In its biggest expansion since 2002, the fast food chain has announced a 1billion investment with a view to 'supporting successful high streets'. The rollout will test new restaurant formats, including smaller branches, and is set to create some 24,000 jobs. It follows a grim few years for once bustling shopping hubs with recognisable names vanishing nationwide. Yesterday, Ted Baker became the most recent addition to the scrap heap after the closure of its last 31 stores. However, the move will spark concerns amid Britain's obesity crisis, which costs the country 100billlion per year, according to a recent analysis. Experts have long blamed the nation's ever-expanding waistline on the rise of processed, calorie-laden food served in restaurants such as the 200 new ones which will be opened by 2028. McDonald's new 1bn announcement, made in a report marking the brand's 50th year in Britain, represents a marked increase on the 618million invested in the five years to 2023. The fast food chain already owns 1,435 UK restaurants, around 80 per cent of which are owned by franchises, employing over 170,000 Brits, making it the country's biggest private employer of young people. It has not revealed the location of the new branches. McDonald's has pledged to create 24,000 new jobs across the UK and Ireland by opening over 200 new restaurants in the next four years Alistair Macrow, the chief executive of McDonald's UK&I, said he was 'delighted' that the brand were announcing a plan to commit to British high streets Alistair Macrow, the chief executive of McDonald's UK&I, said: 'We have come a long way since we first opened our doors in Woolwich 50 years ago. 'I'm delighted that in this milestone year we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growth, and announce the creation of new jobs across the country. 'It's a moment to celebrate, and also to look ahead to what's next. Whether that's continuing to provide the best value for our customers, investing in our restaurants, supporting our suppliers across the UK or launching new initiatives for young people where our communities need them most. 'We're proud of what we have delivered in the last 50 years and are committed to investing in new opportunities and supporting growth across the UK.' The report said more than 51.56bn has been spent on UK-based suppliers since 1974 and claimed to have added nearly 95bn of gross value to the economy. As well as trialing smaller high street branches, the investment will go towards new 'drive to' restaurants and the brand said it will upgrade its preexisting locations too. The huge investment proposal comes despite the company registering its first loss in sales across the globe since before the Covid pandemic last month. And the news also comes against a backdrop of struggling UK high streets, in a week that saw Ted Baker clothes stores shuttered across Britain. A different American company, Authentic Brands, which owns Ted Baker's intellectual property, said that despite 'tireless efforts' it could not 'overcome' the financial issues the business faced. Authentic blamed the process on 'damage' done during a partnership with Dutch company AARC Group, and the 'significant level of arrears' that had built up during the association. The fashion brand's demise came almost a year to the day after Wilko, another much-loved high street name, closed its doors for good, before relaunching online. Banks have also been decimated on the UK high street. As of May this year, 60 per cent of UK bank branches had shut since 2015, when Which? started tracking closures. By the end of 2024, some 3.1 million Brits across 33 parliamentary constituencies will be without a single bank branch. Bank and building society losses from January 2015 to the end of 2025 (including scheduled) A closed Lloyds bank branch in Plymouth, Devon, as bank branches across the country vanish While the rate of closures had initially appeared to slow down since it reached a peak in 2017, researchers said in 'recent years there has been a troubling surge'. Bank bosses have been accused of 'engaging in a race to close branches' after the Government announced plans in 2020 for laws to protect access to cash, which could make it harder to close a branch if alternative cash provision is lacking. Barclays led closures with 1,216 branches biting the dust; while NatWest Group, which comprises NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,360 branches, Which? said. Lloyds Banking Group, made up of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, has shut 1,146 sites, the consumer group added. A 12ft crocodile mauled a grandmother to death in Indonesia, police have revealed, with video showing the moment authorities recovered her body from the belly of the beast. Halima Rahakbauw, 54, was washing pots in a river in Wali village on the Maluku islands after spending Tuesday morning looking for clams when the reptile struck. Rahakbauw's neighbour, Rustam Ilyas, said relatives and friends started a search when she failed to return home. After spotting a sandal and part of a leg in the river, villagers reported the incident to police, who found the crocodile eating the woman's body and shot it dead. The predator was hauled out of the water and locals recovered parts of Rahakbauw's body from its stomach before cutting the animal up into pieces and disposing of it. Local residents, helped by police and the military, pulled the beast out of the water after it was shot dead The victim has been named as 54-year-old grandmother Halima Rahakbauw The huge beast is seen after being shot dead by police, who tied ropes around it and dragged it onto land The dead reptile is inspected by locals in the water near Wali village on the Maluku islands Video shows residents, assisted by police officers from the Bursel Police and the Indonesian National Army, pulling the crocodile from the water Locals recovered parts of Rahakbauw's body from the animal's stomach before cutting it up into pieces and disposing of it 'The victim died horribly, their legs and hands were swallowed by a crocodile that was about 12ft long,' Ilyas said. Another eyewitness, who had been driving over a nearby bridge at the time of the attack, told local media: 'I saw someone swimming, but I couldn't see their body, only their legs. 'To make sure, I went about 15 metres, got out of the car and after I saw clearly that it was a human being eaten by a crocodile, after that I reported it to the Village Official and local officials and contacted the community to help search.' The man named Ali Rahangmetan described walking down towards the shoreline to check if the body part belonged to a human or animal, before realising to his horror that the crocodile had a dead body in its jaws. 'It looks like a crocodile is walking, carrying a corpse,' he said. 'The characteristics of the person are unknown, both the gender and the head are no longer visible, only the legs and intestines are visible.' Shocked locals are seen gathering around the croc after hearing the news that it had savaged Rahakbauw Video shows locals and officials dragging the carcass of the beast to be cut open At the same time, villagers began to raise concerns about Rahakbauw's whereabouts. Her relative, Jamia Seknun, said they had seen her walking earlier that morning while holding a bucket that she usually used to collect shellfish. They pieced together that the victim must have been Rahakbauw - a fact confirmed when her body parts were pulled from the dead crocodile's stomach and examined. Video shows residents, assisted by police officers from the Bursel Police and the Indonesian National Army, pulling the crocodile from the water before laying it out to be dissected. 'The villagers had to cut open the crocodile's belly to remove some of the victim's body parts,' a local police officer said. The corpse of the crocodile after it had been shot by police. It was then hauled out of the water and cut open The river where Rahakbauw had been searching for clams when she was mauled to death Neither the police nor villagers could identify the crocodile's species. Indonesia is home to several species of crocodiles that regularly attack and kill humans. On Sunday, a 63-year-old tin miner was killed by a crocodile near a river on Bangka island in Sumatra. In 2018, a mob in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua butchered nearly 300 crocodiles in revenge after a local man was killed by one of the reptiles. In 2019 a scientist was dragged by a huge captive crocodile into its enclosure and killed on the island of Sulawesi. Jacqui Lambie has accused Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi of being 'religiously racist' in a blistering spray in Parliament for trying to pass a motion to release private emails from Jewish groups. Ms Faruqi, a NSW Senator, tried to pass a motion on Wednesday that would have seen documents from Jewish organisations, and correspondence from staff at the Human Rights Commission, made public. The motion was part of an effort by the Greens to uncover details about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Before the vote, Senator Lambie - an independent from Tasmania - was granted permission to give a minute-long statement. She calmly said Senator Faruqi often calls out racism, adding: 'Nothing wrong with that, we all should.' Ms Lambie then said Senator Faruqi's motion had 'completely crossed the line', and the situation descended into screaming from both sides by the time her minute was over. Ms Lambie referenced ASIO director general Mike Burgess who last week urged leaders to be careful not to use inflammatory language when speaking about international issues. She accused the Greens of doing the opposite. Jacqui Lambie has accused Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi of being 'religiously racist' in a blistering spray in Parliament Pictured: Mehreen Faruqi in the Senate on Wednesday evening, while trying to pass her motion 'Here we are again, and here's the Greens going again, stoking division and whipping hate,' she said. 'Imagine if there was a motion put up in this place asking for all correspondence from Muslim groups and staff with the Human Rights Commission.' She accused the Greens of 'gaslighting' the Commission, calling the party 'hypocrites' and yelling: 'I hope your voters punish you in the next election.' Senator Faruqi made an inaudible comment. Senator Lambie yelled again: 'You're religiously racist! Absolutely disgusting.' Pictured: Senator Jacqui Lambie unleashing on the Greens and Senator Faruqi 'You are religiously racist.' Senator Lambie then complied with a request to withdraw the comment. There was division over the motion. It was eventually voted down, with 12 votes for yes and 28 votes for no. The Greens pledged allegiance to Palestine following the Hamas attack on October 7. They continually called on the Albanese government to place sanctions against Israel amid the ongoing and deadly conflict between the states. Kamala Harris campaigned 90 miles away from the Democratic National Convention stage, where last night Barack and Michelle Obama called on the nation to embrace her, out of 'sensitivity and respect' for Joe Biden, sources have claimed. A DNC insider told Fox News the Harris campaign is in 'tricky territory' because the Vice President is still serving in Biden's White House. Harris' team reportedly opted to have her speak in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last night while the party's two most popular figures - the Obamas - rallied in Chicago on her behalf because they wanted to 'avoid the optics' of her appearing alongside Barack, whom Biden allegedly views as a driving force in ending his 2024 campaign. 'Obamas are still not on the White House good side,' the insider told Fox News. 'It would not be helpful to their relationships.' Barack, despite allegedly acting as a 'puppet master' in the plot to force him to drop his re-election bid, last night hailed Biden in his speech, branding him an 'outstanding president' who 'defended democracy at a moment of great danger'. Kamala Harris campaigned 90 miles away from the DNC last night, where Barack (left) and Michelle Obama (right), were calling on the nation to embrace her. Sources claim she avoided appearing alongside the couple (pictured at the DNC yesterday) out of 'sensitivity and respect' for Joe Biden The Vice President's team allegedly wanted to 'avoid the optics' of her appearing alongside Barack, whom Biden (pictured during his DNC speech on Monday) allegedly views as a driving force in ending his 2024 campaign Barack told fellow Democrats in Chicago last night that 'the torch has been passed' to Harris and that the America was ready for her to become president. The former president, who was greeted with rapturous applause and cheers at the packed arena hosting the party's nominating convention, said Harris would fight for Americans, and called her November poll rival Donald Trump 'dangerous'. 'Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting for people who need a voice,' he said, adding that the Vice President is 'someone who sees you and hears you and will get up every single day and fight for you.' 'Yes she can,' Barack said of Harris, prompting the boisterous crowd to repeatedly chant the phrase, recalling his own 'Yes we can' campaign slogan. He also praised 'selfless' Biden for 'putting his own ambition aside' and passing the reins to Harris. 'At a time when the other party had turned into a cult of personality, we needed a leader who was steady and brought people together, and was selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics - putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country,' Barack gushed. 'History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger - and I am proud to call him my president but I am even prouder to call him my friend.' Before his stardust performance, his wife and former first lady Michelle told convention goers 'something magically wonderful is in the air.' 'It's the contagious power of hope,' she said, calling Harris 'my girl' and saying that hope - another rallying cry of her husband's successful 2008 campaign - 'is making a comeback.' Barack last night praised 'selfless' Biden for 'putting his own ambition aside' and passing the reins to Harris (pictured at her rally in Wisconsin last night) Barack said Harris (pictured with her running mate Tim Walz in Wisconsin last night) would fight for Americans and called her November poll rival Donald Trump 'dangerous' The Obamas' speeches come just weeks after insiders told the New York Times that Biden blamed Barack and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi for forcing him out of the 2024 campaign. Sources claimed that Biden suspected Pelosi was stirring the pot and Barack acting as a 'puppet master' behind the scenes. Biden and Barack forged a friendship by working closely together during the former president's two terms in office, but he has offered little in the way of public support. The two appeared together at a glamorous Hollywood fundraiser in June, where Barack was said to have been 'shocked' at the deterioration in Biden. Barack reportedly told allies that the president should seriously consider whether he should stay in the race. Recent reports have suggested that Biden remains bitter at his former allies for pushing him out of the contest, but the President, in his own address Monday evening, said it's 'not true' that he's holding grudges. August 20, 2024: Inside Ukraine, Russia has switched from attacking Ukrainian military forces to going after civilian infrastructure. This reduces the habitability of Ukraine and forces more Ukrainians to leave their homeland. This is another example of the old Roman adage, create a desert and call it peace. This change in Russian tactics forced Ukraine to call on NATO to supply sufficient air defense systems to thwart the increasing Russian attacks. NATO was already working on that by developing a system called Sky Shield. Last year a coalition consisting of Germany, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia and Latvia and the Netherlands agreed to jointly select and purchase enough air defense systems to protect all of them from missile attacks by Russia. Switzerland also wants to join. The Swiss have stayed out of European wars for over 200 years but the recent Russian aggressiveness and frequent use of guided missiles carrying non-nuclear warheads has changed Swiss attitudes towards total neutrality. There are another nine nations in eastern Europe making similar joint purchasing plans. The most likely purchases will be of systems like the American Patriot, the European IRIS-T, the Norwegian NASAMS and the Israeli Arrow system for use against longer range, and thus faster, ballistic missiles. In addition to the Russian threat, Iran also has guided missiles and has threatened to use them against Europe. Israel has been subject to that threat for over a decade and developed the Arrow system to deal with it. Arrow works and some European nations are looking into purchasing Arrow as well. This effort includes improving aerial intelligence gathering. There are already systems for that in the form of existing MQ-9 Reaper drones carrying pods that can detect incoming Russian missiles at a sufficient distance to provide enough time to launch interceptor missiles or other countermeasures. The majority of NATO nations need improved air defense systems to deal with the real Russian threat. Before the Ukraine War that threat was theoretical. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the threat against Europe went from theoretical to real. The missiles Russia is firing into Ukraine could be aimed at nearby NATO countries. Attacking NATO seems like a suicidal option for Russia, but the invasion of Ukraine did not make sense either. As expected, that military conflict has been a disaster for Russia, which lost so many soldiers, tanks and other armored vehicles, artillery and munitions that they have had to cease launching ground attacks with troops, tanks and artillery, and instead go after the Ukrainian economy with missiles. This unexpected war and the way it turned out has alarmed European nations. For example, it made NATO nations bordering Ukraine and Russia realize that they were unprepared to defend themselves from Russian missiles and aircraft delivered guided bomb attacks. Until Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Europe was not concerned about air defense systems because there was no threat. But the war in Ukraine involved heavy use of cruise and ballistic warheads with high-explosive warheads. In effect, these missiles were unmanned bombers that were difficult but not impossible to stop. Western Europeans realized that they were within range of these missiles and now they had an air defense problem they could not avoid. That led to the Sky Shield Coalition. While Patriot has been in combat before, especially during the 2003 Iraq War, it has seen a lot of combat actions since. That enabled further improvements which made the Patriot more capable, especially against ballistic missiles. The European IRIS-T is undergoing similar evolution in Ukraine. The Ukrainians were quick to master the operation of both Patriot and IRIS-T systems they received. The Ukrainians had experience with Russian built systems and found Patriot and IRIS-T major improvements. Ukraine also obtained the Norwegian NASAMS systems, which was favored because of its adaptability. The Ukraine War was the first time there was heavy demand for the European IRIS-T SAM (Surface to Air Missile) system. Until 2022, IRIS-T found it difficult to compete against the similar and earlier NASAMS system. While demand for NASAMS was also heavy, IRIS-T was a bit cheaper and available for NASAMS customers who did not want to wait. NASAMS development began in 1998 when 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. Before the Ukraine War, Norway had six NASAMS batteries for its own defense. Eleven other nations, like Hungary, Spain, Holland, Chile, and the United States, Finland and Lithuania also bought NASAMS before the Ukraine War. Fortunately, NASAMS was still in production but its manufacturer, Kongsberg, soon found itself unable to keep up with the demand from NATO nations that had sent their NASAMs batteries to Ukraine. Each battery consists of a control center and three to twelve missile launchers, with six missiles per launcher. The heavy use of NASAMs in Ukraine proved that the system was quite capable in combat. So capable that the Ukrainians recently ran out of missiles for their NASAM batteries. NASAMS launchers can use a wide variety of surface to air or air to air missiles and NATO countries dont want to exhaust their supplies of missiles because that would make them defenseless against attack by anyone. American and European manufacturers of the missiles NASAMs can use are increasing production but dont expect to catch up with current demand until 2025. That should be sufficient because Russia does not have an endless supply of missiles. Russia has increased production of ballistic and cruise missiles but economic sanctions limit how many they can produce. Russia also has few allies. North Korea and Iran have been helpful but Iran is now at war with Israel and North Korean production facilities are limited. 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 the competitor 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 could work with different radars and air-to-air missiles. NASAMS has been tested and configured to work with nearly 30 different radar systems and can fire just about any air-to-air missile that can be fired from NATO aircraft. All that is required are 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 AMRAAM ER, AIM-9X Sidewinder and the European IRIS-T. The last one is an interesting story. Norway had a big stock of the initial air-to-air version 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 a ground-to-air 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 types. 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. Seven years later, in 2005, Germany introduced a similar and cheaper SSM system based on and called IRIS-T. The IRIS-T missile has a shorter range than NASAMs systems that use the American AMRAAM. Launched from the ground, AMRAAM has a range of 30 kilometers. The updated AMRAAM 2 has a 50 kilometers range. IRIS-T has a range of 25 kilometers. Ukraine received both NASAMS and IRIS-T and found that both systems were equally effective at intercepting Russian missiles fired at cities. Ukraine also received the longer range (200 kilometers) Patriot air defense system. The Ukrainians found a way to use Patriot against Russian hypersonic missiles aimed at ground targets. The Russians did not expect this and were not pleased. One IRIS-T battery consists of three truck-mounted launchers, carrying eight missiles each. The missiles have a range of 40 kilometers or 25 miles), and a separate command vehicle that can be positioned up to 20 kilometers (12 mi) away. A NASAMS battery is supposed to consist of six to twelve launcher vehicles, each with six missiles in storage/launching containers. These are controlled by a radar and fire control system, each mounted on trucks. The number of launchers assigned to a battery varies widely, depending on the preferences and needs of the user. This is the moment elite Romanian troops stormed controversial influencer Andrew Tate's 'fortified' compound, following new allegations of 'sex with a minor' and 'trafficking'. Romanian authorities launched a fresh raid on the his home in the early hours of this morning. One of the world's best-known influencers, Andrew Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain, along with his brother Tristan. Footage published by Romanian media outlet Observator, showed masked policemen making their way into the Tate residence with metal ladders. One clip showed a masked cop on the compound's roof shining a light through an upstairs window. Tate was later seen being walked out of his building, with Tristan behind him. This is the moment elite Romanian troops stormed controversial manosphere influencer Andrew Tate's 'fortified' compound Andrew Tate (pictured) was later seen being walked out of his building His brother Tristan (pictured) was led out by cops shortly after The office for organised crime (DIICOT), said that four search warrants were executed, in connection with 'the crimes of forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in minors', 'sexual relations with a minor' and 'money laundering'. Prosecutors allege that 37-year-old Tate, his 36-year-old brother and two women set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several victims. They have denied those charges, and a trial date has not yet been set. Prosecutors 'conducted a raid this morning, on August 21, 2024, at the residence of the Tate brothers as part of a search related to a new investigation', an official said. Andrew Tate has been posting about the raid since it took place this morning. He said: 'I don't have phone because it was taken by the police. 'But when I speak loud my words are heard by someone from a computer far far away by magic.' Andrew Tate talks to media as he is being led for questioning after a police search raid on his residence A masked gendarme patrols the courtyard of the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate during an early morning police search raid, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania Andrew Tate flanked by masked gendarmes is led for questioning after a police search raid on his residence The brothers were detained in 2022 in Bucharest and spent three months in detention before being released under judicial supervision to await trial. The brothers also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain, where they have also been accused of tax evasion. Today's raid comes a month after the Tate brothers were banned from leaving Romania. The Court of Appeals in Bucharest said in July it had overturned a previous ruling which allowed the controversial internet personality free movement within the European Union while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking. That ruling came after the brothers just two weeks earlier had celebrated being given permission to leave the country for the first time in two years. When the brothers received initial news that they were able to leave Romania, a spokesperson for the pair said: 'The Romanian courts have ruled in favour of Andrew and Tristan Tate, lifting restrictions on their travel within the European Union,' adding: 'This represents a significant victory and a major step forward in the ongoing case.' 'It reflects the significant progress the legal team have made in challenging the allegations brought against them. Andrew and Tristan's lawyer, Eugene Vidineac said: 'We embrace and applaud the decision of the court today, I consider it a reflection of the exemplary behaviour and assistance of my clients. 'Andrew and Tristan are still determined to clear their name and reputation; however, they are grateful to the courts for placing this trust in them. Gendarmes wearing balaclavas walk outside the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate during an early morning police search raid, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 Gendarmes wearing balaclavas hold a battering ram used to break down a door outside the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate Police officers outside the Tate brothers residence in Pipera, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania, August 21, 2024 Police squad cars outside the Tate brothers residence in Pipera, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania, August 21, 2024 One of the world's best-known influencers known for misogynist and sometimes violent maxims, Andrew Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain 'For the brothers, who have faced limitations on their movement for nearly two years, this ruling is a welcome relief. 'It allows them to resume their lives with greater freedom and peace of mind. 'They are now able to travel freely throughout the EU to pursue professional opportunities without restriction.' This 'relief' was short-lived, however, and the ruling was overturned just a fortnight later. Tate and Tristan were initially arrested in December 2022 along with two Romanian women - model Georgiana Naghel and former cop Luana Radu - but were formerly indicted in June last year. The two female suspects - dubbed 'Tate's Angels' - also face extradition to the UK once their court proceedings in Romania come to an end. The brothers have been accused of 10 allegations of rape and sexual assault from three alleged victims in the UK. Andrew Tate (C) and his brother Tristan Tate (L) return to Bucharest Court after a snack break. Andrew and Tristan Tate, Bucharest Court, Bucharest, Romania - 04 Jul 2024 Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were banned from leaving Romania last month Tate strikes a pose at the Court of Appeals in Bucharest before it overturned a July 5 ruling allowing him and his brother to leave Romanian territory providing he remains within the European Union, as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women Andrew Tate grimaces upon arriving at the court The pair faced complaints from victims who claimed they were drugged and subjected to sexual acts between 2012 and 2015. Romanian law states the trafficking of adults carries a lengthy prison sentence of up to a decade, as does rape. The Tate brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence. They were then under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure that enabled them to move around freely but not leave the country. Just two weeks ago, the brothers celebrated as they were given the news they were allowed to leave Romania and had free movement within the European Union Tate took to X on July 5 to share a message in celebration of being given the right to leave Romania for the first time in two years. This celebration was, however, short-lived Pictured: A police officer escorts Andrew Tate, centre, handcuffed, from the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Romanian prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them via social media and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage - ultimately pretending to fall in love with them before getting them to work for their business after luring them to their villa on the outskirts of Bucharest. The victims were then taken to properties outside the capital Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said. Tate, who has amassed 9.7 million followers on X has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. In 2016, Tate appeared on the 'Big Brother' reality television show in Britain but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman. He then turned to social media platforms to promote his divisive views. Giving tips on how to be successful, along with misogynistic and sometimes violent maxims, his videos have made him one of the world's best-known influencers. This is the dramatic moment two drug smugglers leapt into the sea in a failed bid to escape the authorities after being caught with 37million of cocaine in their boat. Bruce Knowles, 55, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, were intercepted by Border Force near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk with 350kg of cocaine in the hull of their boat. Footage released by Britain's 'FBI', the National Crime Agency (NCA), shows Dutchman Gumrukguoglu, leap from the vessel and swim towards the beach. The pair had initially stopped when the Border Force cutter moved in but Knowles restarted the engines to the rigid hulled inflatable boat and tried to escape. The boat was grounded on the beach and officers moved in to arrest Knowles, after he also jumped overboard during the incident on June 24. This is the dramatic moment two drug smugglers were caught with 37million of cocaine in their boat before leaping into the sea in a failed bid to escape police. Bruce Knowles, 55, and Ferhat Gumrukguoglu, 31, were intercepted by Border Force near East Benacre Broads in Suffolk with 350kg of cocaine in the hull of their boat. Pictured is the moment Gumrukguoglu (rear) leapt from the speeding boat Knowles is pictured wading into the sea after his fellow drug smuggler, Gumrukguoglu, leapt from the boat earlier in the chase Pictured: Dutchman Ferhat Gumrukguoglu (left), and Bruce Knowles (right, who was driving the boat during the chase Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Police chased Gumrukguoglu after he fled from the beach, arresting him later that day in Wrentham, Norfolk. The boat was towed to a harbour in Lowestoft where it was searched by NCA officers, who found the 39million narcotics haul hidden under a tarpaulin. Investigators believe Knowles, from Dereham, and Gumrukguoglu, from the Netherlands, travelled towards French waters to pick up the drugs from a larger ship, before bringing them back to the UK. Both men were interviewed and gave no comment, but were subsequently charged with importing a controlled drug. They pleaded guilty to the offence at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday and are now facing a prison sentence. NCA Branch Commander Lydia Bloomfield said: 'Knowles and Gumrukguoglu knew they were going to lose a huge quantity of drugs when they were intercepted at sea by our Border Force colleagues. 'Both were working for a wider organised crime group, who will now feel the effects of a loss of this amount.' Police believe the pair had collected their stash of drugs from a larger vessel in French waters The drugs were stashed inside the boat under a piece of tarpaulin (pictured) Knowles (pictured) initially stopped for Border Force officers before then leaping overboard in a lame effort to escape the authorities Border Force Deputy Director Sally Hawkyard said: 'Our Border Force Officers played a pivotal role in detecting and seizing millions of pounds worth of cocaine, which ensured that these two men were brought to justice. 'We remain committed to stopping illegal drugs from entering the country, where they ruin lives and fuel organised criminal gangs. 'Border Force will continue to work tirelessly to keep the public safe and our borders secure.' Keen revellers have arrived early for the Reading and Leeds festivals, with tens of thousands of teenagers expected for a celebratory post-exams weekend. Pictures show excited teens laden with huge rucksacks, camping chairs and full Waitrose bags full of supplies for a weekend of partying. The smiling groups wearing sunglasses, crocs and wellington boots aren't taking any chances when it comes to the weather. And that's a good thing- as downpours and wild winds are expected to batter the country in the coming days. Keen revellers have arrived early for the Reading festival with tens of thousands of teenagers expected for a celebratory post-exams weekend The smiling groups wearing sunglasses, crocs and wellington boots aren't taking any chances when it comes to the weather Fans arrive early in the sunshine for the early bird camping prior to the start of Reading festival Pictures show excited teens laden with huge rucksacks, camping chairs and full Waitrose bags full of supplies for a weekend of partying Smiling fans have arrived early for the Reading festival which begins on Friday Areas affected by heavy rain - including Glasgow, Ayrshire and other places in western Scotland - are likely to see heavy rainfall over the course of Wednesday and Thursday Up to six inches of heavy rain and 60mph winds are set to bring 'dangerous conditions' and travel disruption in the next two days, forecasters said. This weekend will see performances from Catfish and the Bottlemen, Lana Del Ray and the Two Door Cinema Club - and even a silent rave. It's an opportunity for students to let loose following a summer of studying and stress for A-Level exams, with the results released last week. And tomorrow, 16-year-olds across the country will open their results - but the festival mean they can put that out of their minds and focus on the fun. It comes after analysis suggested top GCSE grades could drop by up to 71,000 to reverse easy Covid marking, but more 'feel-good results' may also be on the cards. As the festival is always held on the August bank holiday weekend it has become a staple for those wanting to celebrate their results. Armed with tents and a weekend worth of booze punters are well prepared for the annual events. But the weather may damper the sprites of some festival goers after The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain in Scotland spanning 9am on Wednesday to 3pm on Thursday. The incoming miserable weather marks an end to the blistering summer which saw the hottest day of the year so far. Fans arrive early in the sunshine for the early bird camping prior to the start of the festival Early bird campers for a sold out Reading Festival arrive at the train station Reading Festival early bird campers are dropped off laden with camping gear The moonrise at Seaham last night before Brits woke up to a chilly morning Brits have been told to expect downpours and wild winds to batter the country in the coming days. Pictured: People battle against winds and rain on the Garth Pier in Bangor, on August 15 Walkers enjoy the mist and fog in Richmond Park in southwest London on August 2 as Brits see an end to the scorching summer weather The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain in Scotland spanning 9am on Wednesday to 3pm on Thursday The rest of the country will see calmer weather with unsettled conditions for some on Thursday as bands of rain weaken and gradually move south-east, the forecaster added. Areas affected by heavy rain - including Glasgow, Ayrshire and other places in western Scotland - are likely to see heavy rainfall over the course of Wednesday and Thursday. This could cause difficult driving conditions, travel disruption, and flooding in places. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: 'A band of rain will move in from the west on Wednesday morning and will become slow moving with heavy bursts of rain at times, especially over high ground in Scotland. Two girls on a horse and cart ride through the ford in Eynsford The rest of the country will see calmer weather with unsettled conditions for some on Thursday. Pictured: An overcast day in Bournemouth, Dorset on August 19 The windy weather could accompany up to six inches of rainfall within 24 hours in some areas A member of the public uses her coat to protect herself from the rain in Sheffield on August 12 Downpours in London on August 6 as Brits see the end of summer weather The incoming miserable weather marks an end to the blistering summer which saw the hottest day of the year so far. (Pictured: Holidaymakers and sunbathers enjoying the scorching hot afternoon sunshine at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis) 'This rain will persist into Thursday for many within the warning area, with 75-100mm likely quite widely, with higher accumulations possible over the higher ground. 'Gusty winds will accompany the rain, with 50-60mph possible near Irish Sea coasts and the west of Scotland. 'Coupled with spring tides, this could lead to some dangerous coastal conditions before winds gradually ease later on Thursday.' The Met Office said remnants of Hurricane Ernesto, which ripped through the North Atlantic last week, will play a 'background role' in the downpours and windy weather. The weather will be sunny with scattered showers for most of the UK on Tuesday, with heavier rain and stronger winds in the north-west. The weekend is forecast to get off to an unsettled start, as overnight rain slowly clears, but should be calm and dry for much of England and Wales as the weekend progresses. Met Office meteorologist Dan Rudman said temperatures are likely to be 'around or slightly below average for the time of year'. He added the more settled weather is set to continue into the bank holiday Monday for much of England and Wales, with occasional showers in the North West. A homeowner is furious after the local council decided an anonymous one-sentence submission was enough to heritage list his property - costing him a fortune. Tian Xiang Sun claims he has lost $461,250 because of the secretive process to put the heritage overlay on his home at 23 Clapham Street Balwyn in Melbourne's inner-west. The ruling has prevented Mr Sun from demolishing the home and building a new one, which was the plan when he bought the property at auction last July and settled three months later. Mr Sun entered into a building contract shortly after making the purchase, unaware that in September, a public submission was made to City of Boroondara Council requesting the home to be heritage listed. That single sentence submission described the house as 'an interesting and well-resolved example of a low-slung Japanese-influenced craftsman bungalow'. According to the anonymous author, the property also exhibited 'superb and highly intact decorative detailing and distinctive use of massing to create a very grounded low-slung house which is comparatively unique within Boroondara'. On the basis of that submission, council officers recommended the property for heritage listing, which requires an owner to preserve the property, despite it previously being passed over for heritage protection in 1991 and 2015. As a result, Mr Sun, who was unaware of the heritage nomination for several months after settlement because neither seller or the council were obliged to divulge it, had to default on his building contract as he couldn't go ahead with construction plans. This house in inner west Melbourne has been recommended for heritage listing, taking its new owner by surprise as he intended to demolish it Mr Sun, who is Chinese-born, has engaged law firm Mills Oakley to argue that the council's heritage nomination process is unfair. The lawyers also are arguing Mr Sun has been discriminated against because of his ethnic background. Council officers have denied Mr Sun was racially targeted. 'These allegations are rejected as baseless,' a report from officers to council said. 'It is worth noting that the nomination ... was lodged by the nominator and accepted by council before the settlement date. 'Accordingly, council officers had no knowledge of the current owner's identity when the nomination was accepted.' This single sentence submission by an anonymous author was the basis of council officers deciding to heritage list the property The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal confirmed to The Age that a matter involving the parties was filed on its human rights list last week. On Monday, Boroondara councillors voted to retain the heritage nomination process and to proceed with listing 23 Clapham Street, along with seven other inner west Melbourne properties that were also suggested by open submission. Councillors also rejected an amendment that submissions could be only be by people who live in Boroondara. However, Councillor Cynthia Watson argued that the process was flawed. 'Is it fair that somebody from Vladivostok can see your property on the internet and then put it forward?' she told The Age. She also said that heritage submissions on a property should not be submitted while it was changing hands as this was unfair for the unsuspecting new owner. The homeowner claims the spanner thrown in the works by the unexpected heritage listing has cost him nearly $500,000 'Property owners are collateral damage to heritage protection,' she said, Boroondara's urban living director Scott Walker said the council was ready to defend the legal action brought by Mr Sun. 'Council bases its decision solely on the heritage value of the property, regardless of who nominated it, who owns it, or when it was purchased,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted City of Boroondara Council for comment. Police have warned the Government may need to introduce further emergency measures to tackle the UK's prison overcrowding crisis which could leave forces 'unable to make arrests'. Senior officers believe there is a risk that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) may have to go beyond the current measures - known as Operation Early Dawn - and bring in the contingency plan Operation Brinker. Operation Brinker would mean bringing in a 'one-in, one-out system' whereby the prison service would have to report on how many places it had available each day. Defendants would be held in police cells for longer than 24 hours and they could not be summoned to a magistrates' court until a space in prison becomes available, if they are remanded into custody. As a result, suspects could be driven around the country in secure fans to find a free cell. Labour triggered Operation Early Dawn in the North of England this week in the wake of the recent riots in towns and cities. The Government said its 'decisive action to tackle violent thuggery on our streets' had 'exacerbated longstanding capacity issues in our prisons'. Since taking office, Labour has also cut the proportion of a sentence inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent. The temporary move - due to start on 10 September - is expected to result in 5,500 offenders being released in September and October. But the Telegraph reported officers have said it is touch-and-go as to whether the early release scheme will come in time to avoid Operation Brinker. One officer told the newspaper that Operation Brinker would have an immediate impact on policing and potentially cripple the justice system within days. Phil Jones, custody lead for the Police Federation, said using station cells to hold suspects for longer than a day would impact officers' ability to make arrests. The MoJ said 215 people involved in the recent rioting across the UK have so far been sentenced, adding more pressure on the prison service. Pictured: Police being targeted in the Sunderland riots Senior officers have warned the Government may need to bring in further emergency measures known as Operation Brinker. Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Operation Brinker would mean bringing in a 'one-in, one-out system' whereby the prison service would have to report on how many places it had available each day He told The Telegraph: 'If we have a sustained period of time where prisoners are in police cells, then there could be a situation moving forward where we don't have the capacity in the system to do business as usual. 'If you cannot get people to the courts, to remand hearings, you are going to have that blockage and you cannot move prisoners to where you need to. We will have to see over the next 10 days whether it impacts on business as usual.' The Ministry of Justice believes it will be able to get through to September 10 without introducing Operation Brinker. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to cut the proportion of the sentence inmates must serve behind bars from 50 per cent to 40 per cent. The temporary move, which does not apply to those convicted of sex offences, terrorism, domestic abuse or some violent offences, is expected to result in 5,500 offenders being released in September and October. A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman previously said everyone released will be 'strictly monitored' and face 'tough licence conditions', such as electronic tagging and curfews. Labour triggered Operation Early Dawn in the North of England this week in the wake of the recent riots in towns and cities. Pictured: A prison guard walks through HMP Berwyn Rioters took part in the mayhem that erupted in Bristol city centre on August 3 during the Enough is Enough demonstration (Pictured: Police detain a protestor) Rioters were also seen trying to tip over a police van during the violence a few weeks ago Operation Early Dawn was triggered after the riots that broke out across the country following the stabbing of three girls at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport on July 29. The attack was wrongly blamed on an Islamist migrant in a false theory spread through online misinformation. Accused Axel Rudakubana, born in Cardiff to Christian parents from Rwanda, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon. Following the tragedy, far-right activists began targeting mosques and accommodation for asylum seekers. Violence broke out in cities across England and also in Northern Ireland - and has been followed by a hundreds of charges including for children as young as 12, while those arrested also include a 69-year-old accused of vandalism in Liverpool. Following a large number of rioters being jailed over the past few weeks, Operation Early Dawn was activated (pictured: A police officer attempts to extinguish a wheelie bin that has been set alight by anti-migration protesters in Rotherham) So far, 460 cases have been heard by magistrates, 327 have been remanded in custody and 215 rioters have been sentenced or are awaiting sentence. Meanwhile, the probation service has been given a 'fighting chance' to try and deal with early release, the Chief Inspector of Probation said today. Martin Jones told BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'When I heard the first news of the early release, my concern was how much time the probation service would have to prepare for that. 'I was actually quite pleased they had about eight weeks, (which) isn't very much time but I think it gave them a fighting chance to prepare for this. 'On my inspection visits that take place regularly I have seen a huge a mount of work taking place. I would describe it as heroism by probation to try to ensure the best arrangements possible are in place. 'But, of course, my job going forward will be to scrutinise how effective those plans have been and I won't know the answer to that question until we start inspecting those cases.' Mr Jones went on to say that staffing levels and excessive caseloads could be a problem for the probation service as it seeks to deal with the early releases. He told the BBC: 'We know that good probation practice keeps communities safe and reduces reoffending, but they need the staff and the resources to do that. 'At the moment, I fear that the caseload is too high to do that well enough in all cases and that is something I think will require urgent attention going forward.' He added: 'The probation service doesn't have the probation officers it needs to deliver its core caseload and therefore what you see is probation officers with excessive caseloads. 'There is a limit therefore as to what you can properly do as a result of that. 'If you are looking to release somebody from prison, a most important thing is to understand the risk that person represents. 'Are they a high risk offender or are they a low risk offender? What are their needs? Do they have mental health difficulty? Do they have drug addiction problems? 'If you do not understand that at the point that person is released, it's a recipe for failure and quite often will result in recall to prison or increased reoffending.' A senior officer would have been alerted to a family of killers 'fixated' on police if he had access to interstate reports ahead of a fatal ambush of uniformed colleagues, a coroner has been told. Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, opened fire on four junior constables as they walked up the driveway of a remote property at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, late in the afternoon of December 12, 2022. State Coroner Terry Ryan previously heard NSW Police Detective Senior Constable Tim Montgomery contacted Chinchilla officers near Wieambilla asking if they could attend the property for a missing persons 'welfare check' on Nathaniel Train, but did not share the latest police reports. Some of the reports summarised emails from Gareth Train telling his brother officers wanted to 'see you dead' and vowing to 'greet them as they deserve' if they turned up to his remote bush property. Queensland Detective Chief Inspector Garry Watts testified in Brisbane Coroners Court on Wednesday he would have held back officers from attending the Wieambilla property if he had seen the emails. Det Insp Watts was the operations manager for the police southwest district that included Wieambilla at the time of the shootings. 'The last two emails, if brought to my attention, would have required further investigation before attending,' he said. The detective said he would have referred the emails to the Brisbane-based Queensland Fixated Threat Assessment Centre for its opinion on the contents. NSW Police saw chilling threats from Gareth Train (pictured with wife Stacey) at least five hours before they, along with Gareth's brother Nathaniel, fatally shot two Queensland officers Some of the reports summarised emails from Gareth Train telling his brother officers wanted to 'see you dead' Det Insp Watts agreed the centre's work 'includes people fixated on police' as well as politicians and public figures. Nathaniel Train had been reported missing in NSW nearly three weeks before the shootings and had an outstanding arrest warrant for Queensland offences. The Train brothers used high-powered rifles to kill officers Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, during the ambush while Randall Kirk retreated under fire and Keely Brough hid for more than two hours. Det Insp Watts said he could not see a threat to police in the emails despite Gareth Train claiming in the messages people he knew were working with officers on a plan to kill his brother. 'SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) would not have been engaged just on that information alone,' Det Insp Watts said. The specialist Queensland team can deploy heavily armed officers in armoured vehicles and the unit was sent to the scene after the Trains had killed three people. Queensland Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, (left) and Rachel McCrow, 29, (right) were shot dead by the brothers at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, while attempting to locate Nathaniel Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train went on to also kill their neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon afterwards. All three Trains were shot dead hours later by specialist officers after they refused to surrender and opened fire on a police armoured vehicle Mr Ryan heard a more in-depth background check of the Trains before the shootings would not have produced police files that labelled them a terrorist threat. Det Insp Watts said there was 'no rush' on Nathaniel Train's missing persons case and he would have at least consulted with his detectives if given access to the full NSW police report. Queensland Senior Constable Stephanie Abbott said she would not have instructed junior officers to go to the Wieambilla property if she saw Gareth Train's emails. 'In (your prior interview) you said there were literally a million other things you would have done? Some of the other things you mentioned were getting intel, speaking to counterterrorism, speaking to other Train family members?' Sen Const Abbott was asked. 'Yes,' she said. Sen Const Abbott said she did background checks and passed on the relevant information she had about the Trains at the time to the officers in an email, including that Nathaniel Train had a licence for two rifles and a shotgun. 'I said 'if it gets too dark, don't go down there in the dark',' Sen Const Abbott said. Nathaniel Train joined Gareth and his sibling's wife Stacey, 45, to kill neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon after fatally shooting the two constables. All three Trains were shot dead by specialist officers hours later after they refused to negotiate or surrender. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Waitrose has revealed plans to open 100 new 'convenience' stores over the next five years as part of a 1billion investment in new shops and refurbishments. The supermarket will also trial new hatches where food delivery riders - from Deliveroo and Uber Eats - can make collections outside store opening hours. The premium supermarket chain will open the stores across England, Wales and Scotland - marking the first time it has opened new shops for six years. The stores will focus on 'areas which differentiate the grocer', including deli service counters, wine selections, dry aged beef cabinets and dedicated parmesan sections. The 1billion investment will be spent on launching the new stores to build on the 'Little Waitrose' convenience model, the supermarket said. The move will offer competition to other 'convenience' stores, such as Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local, which have expanded massively across the country in recent years. It comes after research found that living near a Waitrose may boost your home's value - but you'll also pay a 'posh premium' of up 40 per cent compared other branded goods to shop there. The new 'convenience' stores will be opened across England, Wales and Scotland with the first due to open in leafy Hampton Hill, west London James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose, (pictured) said the supermarket is on a 'real positive upward trajectory' The first of its new stores is due to open in leafy Hampton Hill, west London, by the end of this year. The upmarket chain also plans to improve 150 existing stores - almost half of its existing 329-strong chain. It will also transform a shop in London's Finchley Road to trial new services, products and concepts over the next year. This will help the group - which is part of the John Lewis Partnership - draw up a blueprint for all its shops which will be shared in 2025, the supermarket said. James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose, said the 'groundwork we have undertaken behind the scenes in recent years' means the company can now open new shops and ensure 'our existing ones are providing great shopping experiences that match the quality of our products'. He added that new in-store concepts will be tested and rolled out nationally 'as we continue to work towards the Waitrose of the future'. The first new Waitrose store is set to be in Hampton Hill later this year, followed by another in the capital early next year. Waitrose, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, plans to invest 1billion in new stores and refurbishments over the next five years The 1billion investment will be spent on launching the new stores, building on the 'Little Waitrose' convenience model Investment will focus on innovations such as chilled departments for wine and beer, and a dry aged beef cabinet and dedicated parmesan section in shops. It will also focus on expanding collaborations with other sellers including Crosstown Doughnuts and Hot Wok meals provided by Sushi Daily. The Finchley Road shop, in north London, will be the first to feature a hatch where food delivery riders, like Deliveroo and Uber Eats, can make collections outside the store's opening hours. The announcement comes as Waitrose began to regain market share after a period in which it came under pressure from its rival Marks & Spencer and the cost of living crisis, in which shoppers often sought cheaper options. In the three months to the beginning of August Waitrose recorded its strongest growth since November 2023, according to data from analysts at Kantar. The announcement comes ahead of the arrival of Jason Tarry, the former Tesco boss, who will next month replace Sharon White as chair of the John Lewis Partnership. Mr Bailey said older stores were being refurbished to feature 'more of what people expect from us and love such as counters, unequalled service and a lot more fresh food'. He added: 'The transformation of our Finchley Road store marks the next evolution of our journey to create a great shopping experience for our customers, underpinned by a high-quality product offering tailored to the local area, and the quality service we are synonymous with. 'In designing the store, we have taken time to understand how our customers like to shop, and used this knowledge to introduce new concepts that will be tested and rolled out nationally as we continue to work towards the Waitrose of the future.' Research in June found that living near a Waitrose may boost your home's value - but customers pay up to 40 per cent more for branded goods at the store than at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons A basket of branded items bought from Waitrose was found to cost nearly 9 more than the exact same goods at other supermarkets. The basket included 20 household items, which came to a total of 72.16 at Waitrose. The average total across the Big Four retailers was 63.33. The research, which was carried out by the Mail, compared the cost of items including Heinz baked beans, Hovis bread and Fairy washing up liquid, across the five supermarkets. The products were the same size and not part of multi-buy deals. Only the full retail price was taken into account rather than prices available to loyalty card holders. Waitrose shoppers were found to pay an average of 44p more per item. A 350g packet of Cathedral City mature cheddar cheese cost 4.25 at Waitrose. But it was 3.50 at Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's and just 2.75 at Morrisons. The starkest price difference was a large box of Persil non-bio washing powder costing 7.50 at the other supermarkets and 40 per cent more in Waitrose at 10.50. Laila and mum have since returned home An 11-year-old Australian girl who was stabbed in London's Leicester Square has returned home and bravely spoken for the first time since the harrowing ordeal. Laila Johnson was with her mum Samantha, 34, in the tourist hotspot on August 12 when she was attacked, allegedly by a homeless man. The schoolgirl, from Candelo near Bega on the NSW south coast, was left with injuries to the face, shoulder, wrist and neck after the 'random attack' with a steak knife. Ioan Pintaru, 32, allegedly put her in a headlock then began his frenzied attack and stabbed the girl eight times before he was restrained by members of the public then arrested by police. Laila was rushed to hospital in a serious condition and underwent plastic surgery. Police allege that Pintaru was not known to the girl or her mother. Just days after the alleged attack, Laila was released from hospital and went to see US pop star Taylor Swift live at Wembley, accompanied by two police officers. She and her mother returned to Australia on Sunday and has since returned to school to perform the lead role in a Alice in Wonderland play. Laila Johnson was with her mum Samantha, 34, in the tourist hotspot on August 12 when she was attacked, allegedly by a homeless man Laila was still able to attend a Taylor Swift concert last Tuesday following the alleged attack 'I had to get to the Taylor Swift concert. It was amazing,' Laila told the Daily Telegraph. 'Some people organised for us to go into a VIP box and there was food being served and a private toilet, which was very exciting.' She refused to let the alleged attack taint her holiday in London. 'I've met so many lovely people, especially in the hospital and the police who have been looking after me,' Laila said. 'They've just been so lovely'. Laila and her mum were visiting London after going to the Olympics in Paris to cheer on the Matildas during the group stage. They were window shopping in Leicester Square when the stabbing unfolded. 'We just came out of the Lego store and she was jumped on and, yeah, did not see it coming and suspect anything, obviously,' Ms Johnson told Seven News. 'Did not see it coming, did not suspect anything. 'It was all very scary. But it could have been way worse.' Laila Johnson (pictured) has since returned home on the NSW far south coast Laila paid tribute to the hospital staff who looked after her. 'It was bad to meet them under those circumstances but they are some people I will remember forever,' she said. 'There were so many people in hospital and after hospital that made me feel so much more safe.' Ms Johnson paid tribute to how her 'incredible' daughter has handled the traumatic ordeal. 'She's the most optimistic kid you could meet, she's super bouncy,' she said. 'She's ready to get back to normal.' Ms Johnson remains in contact with the hero security guard Abdullah, who tackled the alleged attacker to the ground. She has thanked him for saving her little girl's life. Laila has paid tribute to the police and staff who looked after her in hospital An aerial view of the police cordon at the scene in London's Leicester Square on August 12 Ioan Pintaru, 32, allegedly put the girl, 11, in a headlock before attacking her last week Police officers stand in front of the cordoned-off area in London's Leicester Square on Monday Pintaru, of no fixed abode, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. He wore a grey prison-issue sweatshirt and the court heard he is a Romanian citizen. The charges were read to him through an interpreter during the ten-minute hearing. Pintaru was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on September 10. He has a four-year-old child who lives in Manchester, but he is currently homeless. David Burns, prosecuting, told the court that the mother and daughter were in Leicester Square as tourists. He said the defendant 'approached the 11-year-old girl, placed her into a headlock', adding: 'He's then stabbed her eight times to the body. 'She sustained wounds to the face, shoulder, wrist and neck area. Fortunately members of the public intervened, which prevented any further injury being made to the child.' Mr Burns said officers were called and 'found the defendant being held by the members of the public'. The prosecutor added: 'He was detained and searched and found a knife on his person. 'In relation to the complainant - she was taken to hospital and she currently resides in hospital where she's undergoing treatment. 'I understand that she required plastic surgery for the injuries she sustained.' District Judge Michael Snow described the incident as a 'random attack on a child'. Discarded clothing and emergency medical equipment in the TWG Tea shop after the alleged attack Police were seen detaining a man in Leicester Square after an 11-year-old girl was stabbed on August 12 A court artist's sketch of Ioan Pintaru appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week He told Pintaru: 'These charges must be tried at the Central Criminal Court. You must remain in custody pending that appearance.' Laila's mum was initially thought to have also been hurt but blood from her daughter's injuries was mistaken for injuries of her own, the Metropolitan Police said. Detectives added that that there was no suggestion the incident was terror-related, and they do not believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other. Leicester Square and the surrounding area attracts an estimated 2.5million visitors every week and is home to shops, theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah said: 'This is a horrific incident and our thoughts are with the victims and their family. We will continue to provide support to them over the coming days and weeks. 'I would like to pay tribute to the members of the public, including staff from local businesses, who bravely intervened in this incident. They put themselves at risk and showed the best of London in doing so. 'An urgent investigation is now ongoing and detectives are working to establish the details around exactly what happened.' A police officer accidentally shot himself in the foot at a police station on the Gold Coast on Monday night. The male sergeant is understood to have loaded his service Glock pistol and was holstering it when it discharged at Southport Police Station. A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed the officer was taken to hospital for an injury to a left toe and 'has since been discharged'. 'No other officers were injured,' the spokesperson said. 'Support is being provided to the officer and colleagues at the station.' The incident is now being investigated by the Gold Coast police district. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has also been alerted. It's the latest in a string of 'friendly fire' incidents involving Queensland Police service weapons. A police officer has been rushed to hospital after his service pistol discharged while he was holstering the weapon at Southport Police Station (pictured) on Monday night Last year, two officers were rushed to hospital in separate incidents. One involved a senior constable, who suffered injuries from a stray bullet while participating in a training exercise at a pistol club north of Brisbane. The other resulted in a male sergeant being accidentally shot in the calf during a live-fire training session in Childers, south of Bundaberg in central Queensland. Another officer accidentally shot himself in the calf in 2018, which police said at the time was 'not following our rigorous processes we have in place for safety'. Kym Slade, 48, took her own life with a police-issued gun in July 2023 at Loganholme Police Station. Friends, family and colleagues of the officer were offered immediate support by Queensland Police in the wake of the tragedy. Flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome to evacuate the injured British passengers travelling on an easyJet flight from Corfu to London that was struck by brutal turbulence on Monday have described their terror as the plane suddenly plummeted, badly injuring two members of the crew. The British carrier's Airbus A320, flight EZY8120, departed from Corfu Airport in Greece at 12:44pm local time on Monday and was bound for London Gatwick with 181 passengers and crew on board. But just 20 minutes into the flight, the easyJet aircraft was battered by turbulence while cruising at 485mph at an altitude of 28,000ft which violently smashed two members of the cabin crew who were preparing to serve food against the ceiling. One received a badly sprained ankle and the other broke her leg, according to witnesses on board, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport. Passenger Sharleigh told MailOnline: 'I honestly thought we were going to die and have never experienced anything like it in my life. 'The pilot said we may experience ''mild turbulence''... next thing the plane started ferociously shaking and suddenly just dropped. Everyone was screaming - my friend woke up from her sleep and we just held each other as we thought we were going to die,' she said. Another passenger Melanie described the experience as 'being in free-fall on a rollercoaster'. 'Literally out of nowhere the plane just plummeted and then must've pulled up again - I felt myself pull up and go back down again. 'I just went into kind of a brace position and just screamed... The whole plane was screaming - my niece was sitting in front of me and she was bawling her eyes out. It was just completely shocking. 'I'm not a nervous flyer, but I was extremely nervous all the way back after that, I was holding onto the seat in front of me for dear life.' Flight EZY8120 is seen moments before boarding on the tarmac in Corfu under a moody sky An easyJet Airbus A320 made an emergency landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport after suffering significant turbulence Flight tracking data showed how the plane diverted from its flight path and landed at an airport near Rome Notification sent by Greece's civil protection agency gave passengers warning of inclement weather Passengers and the injured crewmembers were met with easyJet crew, airport staff and paramedics who provided immediate assistance upon their landing in Rome. 'Both of the crew hit the ceiling of the galley,' a flight attendant said. 'One had a badly sprained ankle, one had a broken tibia.' Another passenger named Jodi told MailOnline: 'I was sat in the middle of the plane and it suddenly felt like we'd crashed into a wall... The plane then dropped again and shook from side to side. This is when people started shouting, screaming and crying and the cabin lights were turning on and off. 'One of most distressing parts of it all was that the captain wasn't announcing anything over the tannoy to reassure us, so all passengers were extremely scared that it was going to happen again. 'Two staff down the end of the plane didn't have their belts on and have suffered injuries. We could see one of the staff lying on the floor at the back of the plane. 'The remaining staff blocked our view of the staff member on the floor whilst the paramedics tried to get her on a stretcher but we could hear her yelping and screaming in pain.' Melanie added: 'It appeared everyone was okay but then there was an announcement over the tannoy asking whether there were any medically trained people on board. It became apparent that the cabin crew had injured themselves... We heard them moaning, it was horrendous to hear.' The injured flight attendants were immediately tended to by paramedics, while a replacement crew and aircraft were arranged to allow the passengers to continue to London Gatwick on Monday evening some seven hours later. The aircraft involved in the incident remained parked in Rome the day after the event for safety checks. Passengers praised easyJet cabin crew and airport staff whom they said handled the incident 'exceptionally'. 'EasyJet dealt with this very well. We diverted to Rome, paramedics came on board and took the two crew to hospital,' one passenger said. 'We were then taken to the terminal while they flew out another crew to bring us home. The new crew were very reassuring and the captain spoke to us in the cabin himself, and we were kept updated throughout the return flight which left at about 8.15 that evening. 'The new pilot and crew were exceptional in keeping us informed and reassured.' At least two people have been injured on an easyJet flight from Corfu to London Pilots were forced to make an emergency landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport Southern Italy was wracked by inclement weather on Monday. A towering waterspout is seen in this image snapped off the coast of Salento An easyJet spokeswoman confirmed the incident in a statement to MailOnline. 'Flight EZY8120 from Corfu to London Gatwick on 19 August experienced turbulence which unfortunately resulted in two cabin crew members being injured. 'As a result the Captain took the decision to divert to Rome where the crew members were met by medical services. 'The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and our pilots are trained to manage incidences of turbulence. 'The flight landed normally in Rome where customers were supported in the terminal and a replacement crew and aircraft were arranged to continue the flight to London Gatwick.' Meanwhile, Italy's air safety agency, ANSV, declared it had launched an investigation into the incident to determine whether the turbulence was a sudden and unforeseeable event - known as 'clear air turbulence' - or if it was visible on the aircraft's weather radar but underestimated by the pilots. 'Given the type and severity of the injuries reported, we have initiated a safety investigation, classifying the event as an ''accident',' the ANSV stated in a press release. But the agency added that investigators will also need to clarify why the pilots chose to divert to Rome instead of the closer airports of Bari or Brindisi. The shocking incident came at a time when southern Italy was wracked by inclement weather and took place just hours after the Bayesian superyacht capsized and sank off Sicily after being smashed by a deadly waterspout. The 30million vessel went down a matter of minutes after being struck by a freak waterspout while it was anchored off the coast of Porticello in Sicily just before 5am on Monday. Southern Italy was blighted by high winds and storms on Monday Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day Rescue workers and divers from the Italian fire brigade work overnight as a rescue operation continues for the missing people who were on board A handout photo made available on 19 August 2024 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat While 15 people were rescued in the aftermath of the disaster, six people including billionaire Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and a boss at Morgan Stanley bank remain missing. The search for those unaccounted for entered its third day this morning, with rescue divers continuing their efforts to reach the cabins in the hopes of finding them. An engineer has claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of where the wreck is - are competing in a race against time. Their operation has been hampered by difficulty getting into the ship with divers forced to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to one area and other parts of the wrecked vessel blocked by furniture. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. August 21, 2024: Europe, like all industrialized nations, is suffering from a population decline. Fewer children are being born because parents consider raising children a burden that can be avoided. This is not a problem for nations like the U.S. and France which accept and absorb migrants. Most nations refuse to do this and are now seeking other solutions. One includes using more automation and drones to do the work people used to perform. This is not a solution, but a bad idea described as a solution. Technology is a tool used by people, not a substitute for a declining population. For major European nations like Germany that resist migrants or recruiting them as soldiers, the prospects are not good. Population and economic decline are the result of the refusal to face reality. There is also a growing popular aversion to military service. Nations that depend on volunteers to fill their ranks are no longer attracting enough men to maintain current military strength. Current events in Ukraine provide an alternative. Nearly three years of war have left Ukraine and Russia with troop shortages. The Ukrainian solution was more drones and continuous innovation in drone design. Hundreds of Ukrainian drone manufacturers, many working at home using commercial parts, turn out over 3,000 drones a day. Many of these drone builders have family or friends in the military and sending them more droves is appreciated. Russia, as the invader, has no similar drone manufacturing and design system. Drones are a state monopoly in Russia and that means Russian drones are always behind the Ukrainians in terms of quantity and quality. This results in more casualties among Russian troops and demoralization from continuous Ukrainian innovation in creating new drones that kill Russian soldiers in unexpected ways. This has led to the Russian invasion stalling in late 2023 and the Ukrainian drones continuing to inflict losses on the Russian forces. Russian leaders have, so far, refused to accept defeat. Time is not on their side. NATO nations have long supported and supplied Ukraine with weapons, munitions and commercial goods for Ukrainian civilians as well as refuge for Ukrainian refugees. With regular access to Ukrainian tactics and new military technology, NATO nations are developing new weapons and strategies. NATO nations are facing a shortage of volunteers, a refusal to reinstate conscription and the continuing need for effective armed forces to deal with a number of potential crises. Currently, the most popular solution is creating small groups of well-trained troops backed by large numbers of drones. The soldiers would develop ways to make best use of the drones in whatever kind of conflict they encountered. To a lesser extent drones are already being used by police for surveillance and pursuit. Police cannot use many armed drones because most police work is carried out among civilians and a few criminals. In combat zones there are fewer rules and restrictions. Its a kill or be killed environment that favors the side with more drones and better ideas on how to use them. The war in Ukraine has fully established this. NATO nations noted an opportunity to learn from this and that intense learning process will continue until the war in Ukraine is over. At that point NATO nations will already be implementing solutions to their own military manpower problems using lessons from the Ukraine war. A man who broke into a private complex for a swim has launched a legal battle against the property's owner after breaking his back in a botched dive that left him paralysed from the neck down. The man, who was aged 18 at the time of the accident in 2022, was taking part in a dangerous 'pool squatting' challenge of illegally accessing a stranger's pool in Toulouse, France when he was injured. Now, he has taken the apartment's management company to court to sue for negligence, with the owners still responsible for ensuring the pool's upkeep under the French civil code. 'When damage occurs on their property, in this case a swimming pool, the owners must answer to the damage that is caused to the people who injure themselves, even if they entered illegally,' French lawyer Fabien Gaillard told BFM TV. The owners of the house claim they told the teenager to leave, and that a sign at the entrance to the pool clearly showed the depth at each end - but he chose not to listen. 'We're completely at a loss,' Alexandra, one of the owners of the property, told La Depeche. 'We feel sorry for this young man who hurt himself and shattered his life at the age of 18, but he knew not to jump there and he had no business being there.' File. Under French law the man may have a case against the owners of the apartment The owners of the property said that this was not the first time people had broken in to the private pool complex. She said since it opened six years ago, swimmers had broken in every year, with the 'pool squatting' craze only getting more popular. Anthony, a witness, told La Depeche that he had seen the teenager and his friends 'jumping around like idiots' before the accident. But while the squatting itself is illegal, squatters are still afforded certain rights under French law. Article 1244 of the French civil code, the heavily revised descendent of Napoleon's original 1804 Code, stipulates that owners are responsible for damage, or injury, that occurs in their homes as a result of neglect, even when someone enters illegally. Owners have a responsibility to prove that a pool is well maintained, keeping invoices of photo evidence and the sort. These kinds of claims are decided on a case-by-case basis, property lawyer Romain Rossi-Landi told Le Figaro. 'To avoid this obligation to compensate the squatter, the owner will have to demonstrate that the accommodation was in good condition before the squat or that it was prevented by the squatter from fulfilling its maintenance obligation,' he said. Property owners hit by the trend of pool squatting say they have received threats and sometimes violence from brazen young people breaking into their homes. Patricia, a resident of Toulouse, told La Depeche that she has been suffering from pool squatters for years. 'They cut our liner with a cutter two years ago,' she told the French outlet. 'It cost us 14,000 euros (12,000).' Another, unnamed, told the outlet, 'a few years ago, one of the co-owners came down to make them leave and he was beaten up. 'It is common for groups of eight to ten people to make threats'. 'They don't care much about video surveillance.' In 2022, police were reported to be receiving about 10 to 15 calls a day from people reporting strangers invading other people's swimming pools. A council hotline in Toulouse recorded more than 200 calls from locals about the problem in a space of just three months. 'We get gangs of youths who come and try to gatecrash the pool,' Patrick Lammertyn, a Toulouse resident, told The Times. 'We often have to call the police, but they dont always come.' File. Owners are still liable for damages if a squatter injures themselves in their private home Pool squatting has increased in recent years in spite of the self-evident risks. In a slight twist, last month a homeowner in Repentigny, Canada documented how she returned home to find an entire family using her private swimming pool. Maryse Chausse was told they had rented the pool out using an app. She later discovered a former tenant of the house was still renting out the swimming pool online. 'Is this the first time she's done this? I can't say. We're not always at home,' she told Noovo Info. Business bosses are warning Sir Keir Starmer that Labour's plans to bolster the power of trade unions could harm investment in Britain. Under a planned overhaul of workers' rights, Labour want to grant unions new rights of access to workplaces to recruit and organise members. Ministers are also planning to make it easier for unions to force companies to recognise and negotiate with them. The proposals are part of Labour's 'New Deal for Working People', which it has pledged to legislate for within the party's first 100 days of taking office. According to The Times, the Prime Minister is being urged to water down the plans due to fears they could damage business confidence. Business bosses are warning Sir Keir Starmer that Labour's plans to bolster the power of trade unions could harm investment in Britain A senior executive of a FTSE company revealed there were concerns about Labour's plans. Pictured: The City of London A senior executive of a FTSE company told the newspaper: 'A lot of us are concerned. 'We've got unions knocking on the door knowing they've got new powers coming down the track. 'Labour plans to fundamentally change industrial relations in this country and it's not clear whether business will be given the chance to engage on the small print. 'We're worried about the consequences of these changes and we know investors are too.' Matthew Percival, of the Confederation of British Industry, also expressed concerns about Labour's proposals. 'Where employees want a union to represent them then business fully supports that,' he said. 'It is not in the interests of a business or its employees for a union to be negotiating on behalf of a large group of workers when only a small percentage of them actually want to be represented by that union. 'The risk in those circumstances is that employment relations actually deteriorate because firms are required to negotiate not with all their staff but a union representing a minority.' Jane Gratton, of the British Chambers of Commerce, urged ministers to fully consult with firms before implementing any changes. 'The Government must take its time, engage with employers, and ensure that any changes are proportionate and affordable,' she said. But Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: 'Good employers recognise the benefits that come from working with recognised unions, and most recognition agreements are made voluntarily. 'The Government is right to stop union-busting employers unfairly blocking union organising. 'At the end of the day, it's staff who should be able to decide if they are represented by a union not their employer or the business lobby.' A Government spokesman said: 'Far from supporting the economy, the strike legislation we inherited didn't prevent strikes - we lost more days to strikes than France since the Trade Union Act was introduced. 'Instead, by supporting workplace rights fit for a modern economy our plans will support growth and allow us to move on from strikes to deliver the change this country needs.' The CEO of Rostec said WW3 could break out if Ukraine carries on Former KGB general Sergei Chemezov says the West needs to stop Ukraine A top Putin ally has warned the West that it risks triggering a third World War if it allows Ukraine to carry on its assault of Russian territory. Sergei Chemezov, a close ally of despot Vladimir Putin, says the United States and its Western allies risk triggering a global war if Washington continues to 'provoke' the conflict in Ukraine and allow Kyiv to attack Russian territory. Chemezov, CEO of the Rostec corporation which supplies many of Russia's arms for the war, said Russia felt confident and had enough weapons more than two years into its brutal invasion of Ukraine. The Putin sycophant, a former KGB general, reiterated the Kremlin's position that the conflict is a battle between the West and Russia. 'In a situation where the West, led by the United States, provokes war, we must be ready,' Chemezov, who served with Putin in East Germany in the KGB before the Soviet Union collapsed, said, adding: 'The third year of the special operation is under way, and Russia feels confident.' He said no one would provide a time frame for when the war might end, and accused the US of stoking the conflict by supplying weapons to Kyiv and allowing strikes deep into Russia. A former KGB general warned the West that it could trigger a third World War (File image of a nuclear explosion) Sergei Chemezov (pictured), a close ally of despot Vladimir Putin, says the United States and its Western allies risk triggering a global war The Putin sycophant, a former KGB general, reiterated the Putin's (pictured) position that the conflict is a battle between the West and Russia Medics, volunteers and military personnel undergo a tactical training, including first aid and the simulation of a wounded comrade evacuation, in the southern Russian Rostov region 'The further it goes, the greater the risk that the world will be drawn into a global conflict. It looks strange, but Western countries do not seem to understand just how fraught this is for them.' Putin said last week Russian forces would eject Ukrainian troops from Russian sovereign territory but they remain inside Russia. The Russian leader said in June he could deploy conventional missiles within striking distance of the West if they let Ukraine strike deeper into Russia with long-range Western weapons. The autocrat claims the Ukrainian invasion is part of an existential battle with a declining and decadent West, which he says humiliated Russia after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 by encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine. The West, which has supplied Kyiv with large amounts of weapons, has consistently rejected Moscow's interpretation of the war and regards it as unprovoked land grab by Russia. Health workers, volunteers and military personnel hold a joint training for war-zones in Aksaysky District in Rostov Oblast, Russia Chemezov said no one would provide a time frame for when the war might end, and accused the US of stoking the conflict by supplying weapons to Kyiv Moscow says the West was involved in planning for Ukraine's attack on the Kursk region. Western powers, which want to avoid direct military confrontation with Russia, have denied this and say Russia has stoked the war. Chemezov, 71, was placed under American and EU sanctions after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. He said it was a 'myth' that there were empty shelves in Russian shops because of sanctions and increased defence spending. 'Go to any Russian hypermarket and see for yourself - everything is fine,' he said. Sanctions have destroyed supply chains, forcing Rostec to shift deadlines for the Yakovlev MC-21 airliner and to replace about 40 imported elements in the Superjet-100, but none of this is fatal for Russia or Rostec, he said. Rostec's headcount will rise by tens of thousands this year, he said, describing the departure from the Russian market of Western companies such as Boeing and Airbus as an 'opportunity' for Rostec for which wanted to say 'thank you'. Ukrainian soldiers who arrived from the front disembark from a US-made M113 armoured personnel carrier in an undisclosed area in the eastern Donetsk region, on August 5, 2024 Ukrainian soldiers drive in a vehicle in an undisclosed area of the eastern Donetsk region, on August 5, 2024 'We have passed the main stress. We managed to extract advantages from the situation and draw the necessary conclusions. One of them is: no more joint business based on trust with Western countries,' Chemezov said. Russia is the world's third largest arms exporter after the US and France, although its share of the global market fell in 2023 because of the war in Ukraine, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Chemezov said defence companies would continue to make a significant contribution to Russia's economy even after the conflict in Ukraine. Weapons exports have declined, but there are signs of significant delayed demand from abroad, he said, partly due to the fact that Russian weapons had been proven on the battlefield in Ukraine. 'Our partners are sympathetic and ready to wait,' Chemezov said, without naming them. 'There is already a considerable queue on the waiting list.' The children of late French actor Alain Delon have overruled his wish for his dog to be put down and buried with him, following a massive outcry from animal rights activists. The legendary actor, who passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, said he wanted Loubo, his 10-year-old Belgian malinois, to be put down and buried with him in his cemetery at his home in the village of Douchy, in north-central France. But animal rights groups were up in arms at the idea that a healthy animal would be put down. France's SPA, an equivalent to the RSPCA, was one of many groups furious with the Plein Soleil's actor's decision. 'The life of an animal should not depend on that of a human. The SPA is happy to take his dog and find it a family.' Delon said of Loubo (pictured) in 2018: 'I love him like a child.' Alain Delon (pictured, with another dog in 2014) said he wanted Loubo, his now-10-year-old Belgian malinois to be put down and buried with him Alain Delon's family (pictured) said they would keep Loubo alive, against their father's wishes On Tuesday, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation said Delon's daughter Anouchka had confirmed the family would keep the dog alive. 'I've just had Anouchka Delon on the phone and she has told me that Loubo is part of the family and will be kept. The dog will not be put down,' a foundation spokesperson said. Delon was a lifelong animal lover, having built an animal cemetery at his home, which be bought in the 1970s. He buried the remains of 35 of his dogs that he had kept at various points in his life. But he publicly stated that Loubo was always his favourite dog. 'He's my end-of-life dog I love him like a child,' Delon told Paris Match in 2018. 'I've had 50 dogs in my life, but I have a special relationship with this one. He misses me when I'm not there. Loubo is a Belgian Shepherd, otherwise known as a malinois He will now be looked after by Delon's children Delon was a lifelong animal lover, having built an animal cemetery at his home, which be bought in the 1970s When asked what animal he would like to be reincarnated as, he said in a 1996 television interview: 'A malinois' 'If I die before him, I'll ask the vet to take us away together. He'll put him to sleep in my arms. I'd rather do that than know that he'll let himself die on my grave with so much suffering.' When asked what animal he would like to be reincarnated as, he said in a 1996 television interview: 'A malinois.' Last year, Anouchka posted a snap of Loubo to Instagram with the caption: 'Wherever there's an unfortunate person, God sends a dog. Thank you, Loubo, for being there for your master.' In March this year, she posted another picture of Loubo outside Delon's home. It was captioned: 'Guardian of the temple With him theres no betrayal, no calculation, only love.' Though Delon's children treated his pets with courtesy, they have also been accused of 'inhumanly' treating his live-in lover/carer. Delon was one of the last living legends of a golden era for French cinema in the 1960s until his death on Sunday All three of Delon's children were wary of Rollin and last year sought to oust her from the high-walled household in the central French town of Douchy (pictured) Hiromi Rollin, 66, had been living part-time with the sickly Delon as his assistant and carer for some 17 years but claimed the pair had been in love for three decades Hiromi Rollin, 66, had been living part-time with the sickly Delon as his assistant and carer for some 17 years but claimed the pair had been in love for three decades. The Japanese-born cinema worker declared on Monday that Delon's three children - Alain-Fabien, Anouchka and Anthony - refused to let her see him upon his death. She had previously accused them of taking advantage of their father's declining mental state and said they'd evicted her from his household last July. 'We loved one another for 30 years. I lived with him for 17 and was separated from Alain unfairly, brutally and violently,' she told French outlet Le Figaro, claiming Delon's children said she was nothing more than a housekeeper even though they knew 'we were sharing the same bed'. 'His children did not even allow me to say ''au revoir''. It's inhuman,' she declared. It comes after a court previously dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Delon children against Rollin for abuse of a vulnerable person and harassment. Anthony, 59, Anouchka, 33, and Alain-Fabien, 30, squabbled bitterly for years over their father's medical treatment prior to his death. Anouchka claimed that Anthony, the eldest, was aggressively hassling his father about his mental state following a 2019 stroke. Alain Delon is pictured with co-star Ursula Andress in the film Soleil Rouge French actor Alain Delon receives a Lifetime Award during an awards ceremony at the Locarno Film Festival, on Aug. 2, 2012 French actor Alain Delon waves as he arrives with his daughter Anouchka Delon to be awarded with an Honorary Palme d'Or at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2019 Anthony in return said Anouchka had sought to hide damning results of Delon's cognitive tests from the rest of the family. But all three of the children were wary of Rollin and last year sought to oust her from the high-walled household in the central French town of Douchy, where Delon lived out his final years as a recluse. When she left Delon's property for a trip last July, they filed a lawsuit against her and with the help of a private security company and police barred her from entering the home upon her return. Delon himself is said to have supported the suit, according to The Times, but also confirmed the pair had been lovers, contradicting the claims of his children. Rollin and Delon first met in 1992 on the set of 'The Return of Casanova' in which the actor played the titular character and Rollin worked as an assistant director. They cultivated a strong professional relationship which later became 'intimate', according to Delon himself. As he grew old, Rollin became a live-in assistant and carer, but Delon described her as his 'Japanese companion'. His children refused to acknowledge their relationship and claimed she was taking advantage of their father. The fiance of an Ecuadorian politician's daughter who was mowed down by a speeding Mercedes driver just weeks before their nuptials has given tribute. Vanessa Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida was holding hands with her fiance Michael Williams while crossing the road when a vehicle came at them at speed. Octavian Cadar collided with the 27-year-old near Wandsworth Bridge,south west London, causing her to 'somersault' over a railing on March 16, 2022. The couple dashed in different directions in a panic when Cadar drove towards them at more than double the 20mph speed limit. Ms Sagnay - daughter of Ecuadorian politician Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida - was hit before she reached the pavement, causing her to somersault in the air and land on a railing. She suffered a catastrophic head injury and died at the scene around 13 minutes later, despite the efforts of an off-duty doctor. Vanessa Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida was hit while crossing the road before she reached the pavement, causing her to somersault in the air and land on a railing Ms Sagnay de la Bastida was holding hands with her fiance Michael Williams while crossing the road when a vehicle came at them at speed Octavian Cadar collided with the 27-year-old near Wandsworth Bridge, south west London , causing her to 'somersault' over a railing on March 16, 2022 Cadar, 39, has been jailed for 10 years after a jury found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. Grieving fiance Mr Williams told the court: 'She never got to hear what I wrote in my wedding vows. Instead I read them at her funeral.' The court heard Cadar - who is Romanian and had lived in the UK for 20 years - had just left a McDonald's restaurant on the way to see his girlfriend and was driving at 48mph in the 20mph zone. Her relatives wept at Southwark Crown Court as Mr Williams said in an impact statement: 'She was half of me. I am less of a person without her. Charlotte was an amazing friend.' 'Friendship like that made it easy for me to be myself and my best self, and I know her friends felt the same.' 'She never got to hear what I wrote in my wedding vows. Instead I read them at her funeral. 'I have given up on having pleasant dreams. At least in my nightmares I am with Charlotte.' The court heard as Cadar roared towards the couple Mr Williams ran to the other side of the road. The victim is the daughter of Ecuadorian politician Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida She suffered a catastrophic head injury and died at the scene around 13 minutes later But Ms Sagnay de la Bastida tried to turn around and return to the pavement when she was hit. Cadar applied the brakes just a tenth of a second before the collision. He denied causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted by a jury after just 42 minutes of deliberations. Ms Sagnay de la Bastida's mother Jeanne told the court: 'My daughter was and will always be my life, my everything, my everyone. 'I have become an empty vessel. I feel I have no skin. Everything hurts me. There is no peace, no relief, in the torture of what happened to her. 'When my daughter was born instead of suffering from postnatal depression I experienced post-natal euphoria. I felt as though I was floating above the ground. 'Her family have been devastated by this. Each one of them has struggled to function in the best way they can. She was deeply loved by everyone who knew her.' Jeanne told the court that Charlotte was looking forward to her wedding. Ms Sagnay de la Bastida studied psychology at the University of St Andrews and graduated with a master's degree from King's College London 'She was only weeks away from this blessing when everything was taken from her. 'They had already picked out names for their babies; babies that will never be my grandchildren and that I will never hold in my arms. 'I am in a bottomless pit from which there is no escape. I used to think that it would be hard to die but now I know that it is hard to live.' Prosecutor Amanda Hamilton had earlier told the court: 'He was heading towards Wandsworth Bridge and was going to go over to the north side of the river because he was heading to Fulham. 'Just before the entrance to the road there is a round sign that says 20mph. 'Walking along that road was Vanessa Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida. 'She was aged 27 at the time and her and her fiance Michael Williams were heading home from lunch. 'At about 10.06pm as they came up to some traffic lights, Mr Williams pressed the button, then looked to the right and the road was clear. 'He started crossing towards the central reservation. As they were crossing, Mr Cadar drove his Mercedes off the roundabout at speed. Ms Sagnay de la Bastida tried to turn around and return to the pavement when she was hit 'They heard the car coming and Mr Williams ran on continuing with their journey while Charlotte ran back to the pavement she had just left and the Mercedes vehicle struck her. 'Mr Williams told police he saw Charlotte hit on her left hand side by the bonnet of the car and he watched as she was thrown forwards over a railing and he believed she hit the street sign. 'He heard a scream and then saw her land on the ground.' An eyewitness said he heard 'revving sounds' he associated with a 'speeding vehicle' and then saw the Mercedes heading north and heard a loud thud. Ms Hamilton said: 'He saw a person somersaulting twice in the air and then he heard another thud.' He then saw Mr Williams run over to her and scream 'What have you done?'. Cadar got out of his car and said: 'I didn't see.' He then approached Mr Williams and shouted: 'Why did you freeze, why didn't you keep walking?' An off-duty doctor began to give CPR to Ms Sagnay de la Bastida but she was clearly dead. Paramedics attended and her life was pronounced extinct at 10.19pm due to injuries to the head. He suggested to police that the couple had been 'messing around' and stopped in the road. Cadar told the court: 'I saw some pedestrians crossing the road. 'When I first saw them I didn't really think much about it because I thought they were going to cross the road by the time I got over there but as I was approaching them they stopped. 'I steered to the left and tried to avoid them. I tried to be as clear in the movement as possible.' 'After they stopped everything happened in a few seconds, I decided to change lanes to avoid them but as I'm approaching the pedestrian crossing one of the pedestrians ran back in the direction I was moving towards and I struck her with my left hand side of the car. 'She was trying to get out of my way and that's when I pushed her up in air..' Ms Sagnay de la Bastida studied psychology at the University of St Andrews and graduated with a master's degree from King's College London. She was employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as a research assistant within their Department of Psychology. Judge Anuja Dhir told Cadar: 'Had you been observing the speed limit you would have been able to stop before you reached the crossing.' 'When they became aware of your car, Mr Williams hurried across the road, but Ms de la Bastida turned back. 'Your car struck her and threw her body up into the air, over a railing and into a street sign. 'She died at the scene as a result of what has been described as a massive cranial and cerebral destruction.' 'Ms de la Bastida was a 27-year-old woman who had her whole life ahead of her. 'The victim impact statements all speak of her exceptional qualities as a friend, as a daughter, a fiance, a friend and as an accomplished psychologist and researcher, but you put an end to all that. 'Charlotte had so much to look forward to, she was loved and admired by many and I am sure that she will continue to be missed by them. 'The Crown suggest that it is an aggravating factor that you wrongly placed the blame on Ms de la Bastida when you said to Mr Williams after the collision'Why did you freeze?' However, you said to PC Small, when he arrived, that the collision was 100 per cent your fault.' The court heard that Cadar has one child. He was jailed for ten years and disqualified from driving for a total of ten years and eight months including the time he will spend in custody, and he will then have to pass an extended driving test. Cadar, of Clydesdale Way, Belvedere, southeast London, denied but was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. A gunman has left three people dead after rampaging through a school in Bosnia with an automatic weapon, according to local reports. Three employees of a high school in the western town of Sanski Most were killed when a man, who is believed to have been a janitor at the school, opened fire at around 10.15am, police said. The attacker turned the gun on himself, with cops saying 'he tried to commit suicide and was gravely injured.' The gunman was rushed for emergency treatment at a hospital in a neighbouring town, where he is said to be in a serious condition. Local media, citing witnesses, said the suspect had a history of disagreements with the school's management and had been under disciplinary proceedings when he sought out specific people and shot them in the bloody attack. The shooting took place at a high school in the western Bosnian town of Sanski Most The victims have been identified by police as the school's principal, a secretary and a teacher. A number of staff members are gathered at the site in a 'state of shock' after they reportedly witnessed the bloody attack. Police and emergency services are on the scene and an investigation is underway Bosnian schools are closed for the summer holiday, which means no classes were being held at the time of the shooting. Sanski Most is about 180 miles (300km) northwest of Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo. Mass shootings are comparatively rare in the Western Balkans which is awash with weapons that remained in private hands from wars in the 1990s. In July, a war veteran in neighbouring Croatia shot five people including his mother in a nursing home and wounded six others. A popular influencer allegedly bashed and assaulted by her ex says she is 'learning to love myself again'. It's been two months since Tara Eslami was allegedly dragged by the hair and punched in the face multiple times in a Sydney hotel room by her then-boyfriend- TikTok star Rabih Houchar, 26, who also allegedly threatened to kill her. On Monday, Houchar, known as @Dior_onma_body to his 16,800 followers, appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to domestic violence related assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroying or damaging property and stalking or intimidating. He had been in custody but was freed on bail on Monday on strict conditions of home detention, no internet access and must report to police. On Tuesday, Ms Eslami, who has over 17,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram thanked wellwishers who have rallied around her in recent weeks. She uploaded a short clip of her opening a card that read: We believe you, love you and support you. Tara Eslami accompanied this recent photo taken at exclusive Melbourne restaurant Nobu that she was 'learning to love herself again' TikTok star Rabih Houchar, 26, (pictured) has been granted bail over accusations he violently assaulted his girlfriend Tara Eslami The clip also showed off boxes of chocolate dipped strawberries and cupcakes sent to her by supporters. 'I am nothing without my team, you have become my family thank you so much,' Ms Eslami captioned the clip. In recent weeks, Ms Eslami has shared photos of herself looking and relaxed in trendy Melbourne bar Ototo, South Yarra rooftop venue Beverly, at gourmet eatery Nobu and chilling at a smoothie bar. 'Learning to love myself again with the people that love me the most,' she captioned the photo at Nobu. In recent weeks, Tara has shared photos of herself looking and relaxed, including this photo at South Yarra rooftop bar Beverly Ms Eslami posted this photo of herself enjoying a beverage at trendy Melbourne bar Ototo Court documents state Houchar was in an on and off again relationship with Ms Eslami when they returned from lunch to the Vibe Hotel in Sydney on June 16. Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that she attended a lavish boat party to celebrate the birthday of a fellow influencer on the night of the alleged assault. If you or someone who know needs support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 13 11 14. The captain of Mike Lynch's doomed superyacht is a 'well respected' seafarer who has worked on boats since he was a teenager and was previously employed by a Turkish billionaire. James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm, leaving one man - the ship's chef - confirmed dead and six passengers missing. The luxury 30million sailboat was anchored just a few hundred metres off the coast of Porticello on calm seas when it was suddenly struck by a violent tornado, known as a waterspout, just before 5am on Monday. Mr Cutfield spoke for the first time about the tragedy from his hospital bed in Palermo, telling an Italian newspaper: 'We didn't see it coming.' Officials are today investigating whether hatches left open by crew caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes, as divers continue searching for the missing - who include Mr Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and a boss at Morgan Stanley. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. A former competitive sailor, James married his wife last year in Palma, Mallorca. He has eight years' experience captaining luxury yachts and has worked in the industry for three decades. It comes as: James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm Divers in scuba gear stand on a fire service boat as they prepare to resume the search operation in Sicily this morning A video still showing the Bayesian yacht days before the disaster on Monday Italian rescuer return to Porticello Harbour after dive to shipwreck of the Bayesian as the search enters its third day. Pictured: Wednesday, August 21 Mike Lynch (pictured) invited family and friends on his superyacht to celebrate his triumph over fraud charges in the US. Lynch is missing alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah The search for the missing entered its third day this morning, with rescue divers continuing their efforts to reach the cabins in the hopes of finding them. An engineer has claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of the wreck - are competing in a race against time. Their operation has been hampered by difficulty getting into the ship with divers forced to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to one area and other parts of the wrecked vessel blocked by furniture. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be on whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Sailing expert Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, also said that he believes open hatches and doors could have contributed to the rapid sinking. He said: 'I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side. 'I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.' Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, said that a boat the size of the Bayesian would only sink so quickly by taking in a huge amount of water. He suggested that portholes, windows or other openings may have been left open, letting in water. Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the vessel's occupants wanting air to flow through while they slept. Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains. Chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, and his team are expected to interview the 15 survivors soon to determine what led to the tragic sinking of the Bayesian yacht. Meanwhile a British team will also take part in the probe, with a former marine accident investigator saying they will look at whether the windows or watertight doors were open. Gavin Pritchard, who was a principal investigator with the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) before retiring in 2022, told The Telegraph: 'The MAIB will want to look at the vessel using either an ROV [remotely operated vehicle] or divers, or want to have a look and see what the positions of watertight doors, hatches and windows were. 'It'd be important to state that doesn't attribute blame,' he added, saying the job of the MAIB is to establish a cause for the sinking - rather than legal liability - so safety-critical findings can be spread across the maritime industry. Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day Rescue workers look at the plans of the the Bayesian as they organise a search operation for six people who are still missing after the superyacht sank The Italian search and rescue team off the coast of Sicily on Wednesday CCTV captured the last moments of the Bayesian superyacht before it sank beneath the waves during a ferocious storm early on Monday morning He added: 'One of the first questions that accident investigators ask is, has anything like this ever happened before? And I have to say, having observed this tragic event, I honestly can't think of anything similar to this.' It comes as school friends of missing Hannah are anxiously waiting for updates on her safe return, with her prestigious Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, saying it is 'in shock' after its former pupil disappeared. A spokesperson for the 25,000-a-year school said: 'We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.' Hannah had just completed her A-Levels and gained a place to study English at Oxford before the tragedy. The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. Frigate Captain Vincenzo Zagarola told Italian radio station RTL: 'Given the time that has passed and the circumstances of the event, it is naturally difficult to imagine that things can go well but we are not giving up, so we are busy [searching] with naval and air resources.' Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, said divers are entering a 'critical' 24 hours to rescue anyone who might still be alive. 'They've got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued,' Mr Sloane told Sky News. 'You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical.' But when Mr Zagarola was asked about the likelihood of the missing passengers being alive, he said: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' Divers from Napoli and Messina are assisting with the huge search operation, which is being made more difficult due to cables and furnishings obstructing the way to the cabins, Italian media reported. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said that divers 'may be looking for a banging noise at regular intervals'. 'This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year,' he said and added: 'But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict.' After inspecting the command bridge, which is outdoors, the cave divers descended into the main lounge from an internal ladder. Divers return after another attempt to gain access to the shipwreck which lays 50m underwater. Pictured: August 21 But inside, they were obstructed by floating objects from chairs and cushions to utensils and plates. Marco Tilotta, inspector of the Palermo Fire Department's diving unit, said: 'We checked the hull from the outside and now we have entered the vessel to inspect all the rooms. 'Access to the hull is difficult, getting inside, going down to the compartment below through the narrow stairs and going into all the cabins to analyse centimetre by centimetre is really hard and difficult work.' A helicopter was seen flying over Porticello this afternoon, while an underwater vehicle has been helping divers search for missing passengers. Italian rescue workers are using a remotely operated underwater vehicle in their search. In a statement, the coastguard said five patrol cars, one helicopter and divers had been working since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite the sliver of hope, Italian Coastguard officials admitted they believe the six people who are still missing have died and their bodies are inside the wreck. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Among the 15 who survived include a one-year-old British baby called Sofia, who was kept afloat by her mother, 36-year-old Charlotte Golunski. Mrs Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, also survived after fighting to prevent her child from drowning. Italian divers off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, as the rescue mission reaches day three Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday A life raft is seen docked at the harbour near the port where the emergency and rescue workers are launching their search operation The mother told Italian newspaper Repubblica: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' The head of Palermo Emergency Medical Services, Dr Fabio Genco, told the BBC that there had been 'apocalyptic' scenes in the aftermath of the sinking. He said: 'The word that the mother and all the injured kept repeating was the 'darkness' during the shipwreck. 'They spoke of about five minutes, from three to five minutes, from the moment the boat was lifted, raised by the waves of the sea until it sank. 'There were truly apocalyptic scenes where everyone was searching and hoping to find the people who at that moment were not present, just missing.' He added: 'Unfortunately in the face of death and the face of life there is no difference between rich and poor, between nobles and commoners.' Mrs Golunski's British husband James Emsilie, 36, also survived the tragedy. Another survivor is Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who is now reportedly recovering from her injuries in a wheelchair. She revealed that the first sign of the freak waterspout that sunk the luxury sailboat Bayesian was a 'slight tilt' that woke her up. Lynch's wife told La Repubblica that she and her husband woke up at 4am when the boat suddenly 'tilted'. Mrs Bacares said that they were not worried at the time, but that she still got up to see what was happening, until glass shattered and created confusion on board. She sustained abrasions on her feet - likely after walking on glass shards during the sinking - which have left her unable to walk and sitting in a wheelchair, La Repubblica reports, while she also has bandages on others part of her body. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lyncchah, according to her father Lin. Charlotte Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Leah and 22-year-old on-board hostess Katja Chicken, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Catfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. On Tuesday evening two crew members, Tus Koopmans and Eaton Parker, were also named as survivors. No age or nationalities were provided. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Catfied, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, was also on board and survived Survivors Leo Eppel (in the black t-shirt) and Katja Chicken (in the green top) as they leave the Coast Guard Headquarters on August 19 Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Fabio Cefalu, a fisherman in Porticello who witnessed the tragedy unfold, said he saw a waterspout a sort of mini-tornado that lasted about 12 minutes shortly before 4am. At around 4.10am he said he saw a red flare go off from Bayesian but by the time he was able to reach the area about 20 minutes later the yacht had all but disappeared. 'We found only the cushions, and a few planks floating in the water,' he said. Graphic shows how ferocious waterspout capsized doomed Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht before vessel sank beneath the waves in a matter of minutes by David Averre Experts reviewing the tragic sinking of the Bayesian off the coast of Sicily earlier this week have delivered theories on how the superyacht was forced beneath the waves. The luxury sailboat was anchored just a few hundred metres off the coast of Porticello on calm seas when it was suddenly struck by a violent waterspout just before 5am on Monday which the captain said no one had seen coming. Tornado-speed winds battered the vessel so ferociously that there was no time for those on board to raise the alarm or call for help before they were left swimming for their lives. Those who made it off were stranded in the pitch-black water as the storm raged around them, while six people are believed to have been trapped inside the below-deck cabins when the boat sank beneath the murky surface. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Former shipyard manager and maritime technical inspector Gino Ciriaci told Italian daily Corriere Della Sera said once the mast had fallen, the vessel was far more prone to pitching and rolling as it was battered by waves without the sails to steady it. In the case of the Bayesian, he said the waterspout was so violent that the boat, dragged down by its broken mast, tilted until the edge of the deck slipped under the surface. The entire ordeal likely lasted only a few minutes, with the ship sinking rapidly as it took on seawater. Your browser does not support iframes. A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy Your browser does not support iframes. Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium The British-flagged Bayesian arrived in Porticello on Sunday night after stopping in Milazzo around 100 miles up the coast towards the Italian mainland A handout photo made available on 19 August 2024 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy Inspector Marco Tilotta, leading the Palermo Fire Brigade's diving unit, likened the grim search operation to the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in 2012 which claimed the lives of 33 people. Eerily, the specialist cave divers called in for the search and rescue operation found 'virtually everything intact' on board, with little sign of damage, and 'no rips in the side, no signs of impact,' he told MailOnline. The boat is resting on the seabed on its starboard (right hand) side, 164ft below the waves, and the first efforts of the dive teams were unsuccessful in moving furniture impeding their access to the cabins below, said Insp. Tilotta. The rescuers still hope that survivors might be found, against all odds, in trapped air pockets, but Insp Tilotta admitted 'it is a race against time and the quality of the oxygen will be bad'. His choice of words however told the unpleasant truth: 'We will do everything to recover the bodies. The weather conditions are worsening but we hope to continue operations without problems'. Salvo Cocina, of Sicily's civil protection agency, said of the Bayesian's crew: 'They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.' In the next few hours and days, the accident investigators will have to work out exactly how it was possible for the vessel to capsize and sink so quickly while others were hardly affected. All but one of the crew onboard Mike Lynch's doomed superyacht survived because they were awake and on deck while their passengers remained asleep in the cabins below, a maritime expert suggested today. Six people including 'Britain's Bill Gates' and his 18-year-old daughter, as well as a Morgan Stanley boss, are still missing after the 30million Bayesian sank amid a freak thunderstorm. The ship's chef, Recaldo Thomas, was the first named victim of the disaster early on Monday morning, but his nine other crew members survived and all the people missing are passengers. Stephen Askins is a partner at Tatham & Co, a London law firm with a specialism in maritime law. He has spent over thirty years working in the maritime sector, including dealing with the aftermath of accidents. He told MailOnline that forecast bad weather likely meant the crew were already up and working when the Bayesian sunk, allowing them to quickly escape in a liferaft. Meanwhile, it would have been harder for passengers below deck to flee in the 60 seconds it reportedly took the boat to sink. Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains. It comes as: Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday A liferaft that some of the passengers and crew used to escape the stricken ship Your browser does not support iframes. James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht Rescue personnel and divers continue to search the area this afternoon Stephen Askins told MailOnline: 'All the crew apart from the chef have survived, which tells me that they were all up. The people who survive these things are awake and on deck, meaning they are able to launch a liferaft. 'I'm sure they would have looked at the weather reports, and you can imagine a conversation between the captain and owner about how the weather was going to worsen, which is why the crew were awake. 'The crew were all up and when it all kicked off they were able to grab one of the liferafts, but other people were trapped below. Things happened so quickly that it would have been difficult for them to reach the passengers.' An investigation has now been launched by Italian prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese. Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will also investigate the incident, although their report will not seek to attribute blame. Mr Askins said Italian officials will ask detailed questions about events in the hours before the tragedy. 'They will want to find out if the captain was at fault over anything,' he said. 'It will be a really nasty process for the crew as they'll be asked the same questions over and over again. 'If I was looking at this I'd be very interested in the weather report, what the captain was briefing the crew and what the captain was briefing the owner. 'It's a case of looking at what happened and then asking yourself whether in all the circumstances what he did was reasonable.' James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it was suddenly struck by a violent tornado, known as a waterspout, just before 5am on Monday. Mr Cutfield spoke for the first time about the tragedy from his hospital bed in Palermo, telling an Italian newspaper: 'We didn't see it coming.' Officials are today investigating whether hatches left open by crew caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes, as divers continue searching for the missing - who include Mr Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and a boss at Morgan Stanley. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. A former competitive sailor, James married his wife last year in Palma, Mallorca. He has eight years' experience captaining luxury yachts and has worked in the industry for three decades. The search for the missing entered its third day this morning, with rescue divers continuing their efforts to reach the cabins in the hopes of finding them. An engineer has claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of the wreck - are competing in a race against time. Their operation has been hampered by difficulty getting into the ship with divers forced to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to one area and other parts of the wrecked vessel blocked by furniture. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be on whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Sailing expert Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, also said that he believes open hatches and doors could have contributed to the rapid sinking. He said: 'I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side. 'I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.' Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing Also missing is the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife Judy Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, said that a boat the size of the Bayesian would only sink so quickly by taking in a huge amount of water. He suggested that portholes, windows or other openings may have been left open, letting in water. Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the vessel's occupants wanting air to flow through while they slept. Chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, and his team are expected to interview the 15 survivors soon to determine what led to the tragic sinking of the Bayesian yacht. Meanwhile a British team will also take part in the probe, with a former marine accident investigator saying they will look at whether the windows or watertight doors were open. Gavin Pritchard, who was a principal investigator with the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) before retiring in 2022, told The Telegraph: 'The MAIB will want to look at the vessel using either an ROV [remotely operated vehicle] or divers, or want to have a look and see what the positions of watertight doors, hatches and windows were. 'It'd be important to state that doesn't attribute blame,' he added, saying the job of the MAIB is to establish a cause for the sinking - rather than legal liability - so safety-critical findings can be spread across the maritime industry.' He added: 'One of the first questions that accident investigators ask is, has anything like this ever happened before? And I have to say, having observed this tragic event, I honestly can't think of anything similar to this.' It comes as school friends of missing Hannah are anxiously waiting for updates on her safe return, with her prestigious Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, saying it is 'in shock' after its former pupil disappeared. A spokesperson for the 25,000-a-year school said: 'We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.' Hannah had just completed her A-Levels and gained a place to study English at Oxford before the tragedy. The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. Frigate Captain Vincenzo Zagarola told Italian radio station RTL: 'Given the time that has passed and the circumstances of the event, it is naturally difficult to imagine that things can go well but we are not giving up, so we are busy [searching] with naval and air resources.' Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, said divers are entering a 'critical' 24 hours to rescue anyone who might still be alive. 'They've got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued,' Mr Sloane told Sky News. 'You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical.' Divers return after another attempt to gain access to the shipwreck which lays 50m underwater. Pictured: August 21 When Mr Zagarola was asked about the likelihood of the missing passengers being alive, he said: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' Divers from Napoli and Messina are assisting with the huge search operation, which is being made more difficult due to cables and furnishings obstructing the way to the cabins, Italian media reported. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said that divers 'may be looking for a banging noise at regular intervals'. 'This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year,' he said and added: 'But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict.' After inspecting the command bridge, which is outdoors, the cave divers descended into the main lounge from an internal ladder. But inside, they were obstructed by floating objects from chairs and cushions to utensils and plates. Marco Tilotta, inspector of the Palermo Fire Department's diving unit, said: 'We checked the hull from the outside and now we have entered the vessel to inspect all the rooms. 'Access to the hull is difficult, getting inside, going down to the compartment below through the narrow stairs and going into all the cabins to analyse centimetre by centimetre is really hard and difficult work.' A helicopter was seen flying over Porticello this afternoon, while an underwater vehicle has been helping divers search for missing passengers. Italian rescue workers are using a remotely operated underwater vehicle in their search. In a statement, the coastguard said five patrol cars, one helicopter and divers had been working since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite the sliver of hope, Italian Coastguard officials admitted they believe the six people who are still missing have died and their bodies are inside the wreck. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Among the 15 who survived include a one-year-old British baby called Sofia, who was kept afloat by her mother, 36-year-old Charlotte Golunski. Mrs Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, also survived after fighting to prevent her child from drowning. Italian divers off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, as the rescue mission reaches day three The mother told Italian newspaper Repubblica: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' The head of Palermo Emergency Medical Services, Dr Fabio Genco, told the BBC that there had been 'apocalyptic' scenes in the aftermath of the sinking. He said: 'The word that the mother and all the injured kept repeating was the 'darkness' during the shipwreck. 'They spoke of about five minutes, from three to five minutes, from the moment the boat was lifted, raised by the waves of the sea until it sank. 'There were truly apocalyptic scenes where everyone was searching and hoping to find the people who at that moment were not present, just missing.' He added: 'Unfortunately in the face of death and the face of life there is no difference between rich and poor, between nobles and commoners.' Mrs Golunski's British husband James Emsilie, 36, also survived the tragedy. Another survivor is Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who is now reportedly recovering from her injuries in a wheelchair. She revealed that the first sign of the freak waterspout that sunk the luxury sailboat Bayesian was a 'slight tilt' that woke her up. Charlotte Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) Lynch's wife told La Repubblica that she and her husband woke up at 4am when the boat suddenly 'tilted'. Mrs Bacares said that they were not worried at the time, but that she still got up to see what was happening, until glass shattered and created confusion on board. She sustained abrasions on her feet - likely after walking on glass shards during the sinking - which have left her unable to walk and sitting in a wheelchair, La Repubblica reports, while she also has bandages on others part of her body. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lyncchah, according to her father Lin. On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Leah and 22-year-old on-board hostess Katja Chicken, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, was also on board and survived Survivors Leo Eppel (in the black t-shirt) and Katja Chicken (in the green top) as they leave the Coast Guard Headquarters on August 19 Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Fabio Cefalu, a fisherman in Porticello who witnessed the tragedy unfold, said he saw a waterspout a sort of mini-tornado that lasted about 12 minutes shortly before 4am. At around 4.10am he said he saw a red flare go off from Bayesian but by the time he was able to reach the area about 20 minutes later the yacht had all but disappeared. 'We found only the cushions, and a few planks floating in the water,' he said. Graphic shows how ferocious waterspout capsized doomed Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht before vessel sank beneath the waves in a matter of minutes by David Averre Experts reviewing the tragic sinking of the Bayesian off the coast of Sicily earlier this week have delivered theories on how the superyacht was forced beneath the waves. The luxury sailboat was anchored just a few hundred metres off the coast of Porticello on calm seas when it was suddenly struck by a violent waterspout just before 5am on Monday which the captain said no one had seen coming. Tornado-speed winds battered the vessel so ferociously that there was no time for those on board to raise the alarm or call for help before they were left swimming for their lives. Those who made it off were stranded in the pitch-black water as the storm raged around them, while six people are believed to have been trapped inside the below-deck cabins when the boat sank beneath the murky surface. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Former shipyard manager and maritime technical inspector Gino Ciriaci told Italian daily Corriere Della Sera said once the mast had fallen, the vessel was far more prone to pitching and rolling as it was battered by waves without the sails to steady it. In the case of the Bayesian, he said the waterspout was so violent that the boat, dragged down by its broken mast, tilted until the edge of the deck slipped under the surface. The entire ordeal likely lasted only a few minutes, with the ship sinking rapidly as it took on seawater. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium The British-flagged Bayesian arrived in Porticello on Sunday night after stopping in Milazzo around 100 miles up the coast towards the Italian mainland A handout photo made available on 19 August 2024 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy Inspector Marco Tilotta, leading the Palermo Fire Brigade's diving unit, likened the grim search operation to the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in 2012 which claimed the lives of 33 people. Eerily, the specialist cave divers called in for the search and rescue operation found 'virtually everything intact' on board, with little sign of damage, and 'no rips in the side, no signs of impact,' he told MailOnline. The boat is resting on the seabed on its starboard (right hand) side, 158ft below the waves, and the first efforts of the dive teams were unsuccessful in moving furniture impeding their access to the cabins below, said Insp. Tilotta. The rescuers still hope that survivors might be found, against all odds, in trapped air pockets, but Insp Tilotta admitted 'it is a race against time and the quality of the oxygen will be bad'. His choice of words however told the unpleasant truth: 'We will do everything to recover the bodies. The weather conditions are worsening but we hope to continue operations without problems'. Salvo Cocina, of Sicily's civil protection agency, said of the Bayesian's crew: 'They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.' In the next few hours and days, the accident investigators will have to work out exactly how it was possible for the vessel to capsize and sink so quickly while others were hardly affected. A Pakistani web developer accused of spreading disinformation about the Southport knifeman which triggered the UK riots has been charged with cyber terrorism. Farhan Asif reportedly worked for news aggregation website Channel3Now - which a Daily Mail investigation revealed started out as an obscure Russian YouTube channel ten years ago and spread the misinformation to millions online. It was falsely claimed that the knifeman - whose identity could not be published at the time due to his age - was a migrant who arrived in the UK via boat and was on an MI6 watchlist. Police in Pakistan have charged Asif with cyber terrorism, in relation to the disinformation thought to have fuelled the widespread rioting. He has been charged under Section 9 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which outlaws creating a sense of fear or insecurity in society. Federal investigators in Pakistan were given a day to question Asif by a court on Wednesday, and he is due to appear in court on Thursday when investigators are expected to seek more time to interrogate him. Farhan Asif (pictured above) allegedly worked for news aggregation website Channel3Now, which published false articles about the identity of the Southport stabber Bebe King, six, was killed in the horror attack in Southport last month Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven (pictured) was another victim of the knife attack on the Taylor Swift-themed dance class Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning of July 30 after being rushed to hospital following the attack A burnt out police van near a mosque in Southport as shocking riots broke out King Charles is pictured in the background of a floral display for the Southport victims, which also includes a number of balloons and cuddly toys The huge display has been left in the wake of the tragic killings of three girls who were stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed summer party in the town last month An unnamed police officer told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn: The allegations should not be taken lightly as they can have a far-reaching impact on the Pakistani community in the UK in particular and Muslims in general. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were tragically killed in the July 29 attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, which sparked the riots after online misinformation wrongly said it had been committed by a Muslim migrant. Channel3Now reported that the suspect was a '17-year-old asylum-seeker' called Ali al-Shakati, who allegedly arrived in the UK by boat in 2023 and it claimed he was on an MI6 watch list. But the actual suspect was Axel Rudakubana, now 18, from Banks, Lancashire, who will stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Channel3Now was one of the first accounts on X to share incorrect details about the Southport suspect. The first mention of the name came from the account of Bernie Spofforth, an anti-lockdown activist and Cheshire businesswoman. More than 50 police officers were injured as up to 1,000 people gathered outside a Southport mosque after the fake news over the identity of the suspect in the killings was shared online. Asif was uncovered as a significant figure in the Channel3News website in an ITV News investigation, which found that he ran the website - which has since been shut down - from his luxurious housing estate in Lahore. 'I don't know how such a small article or a minor Twitter account could cause widespread confusion,' he told ITV News after being confronted about the fake news the website spread. 'Channel3Now mentioned that [the suspect was] a Muslim and an immigrant, but this has no connection to the chaos, which is being caused by people in his own country. 'If there was misinformation, it could have been addressed calmly. Why was there such an uproar?' A senior official in the local Pakistani police force told The Telegraph Asif had been detained over allegedly spreading fake news that resulted in violent riots. He has since been handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency. Asif denied writing the article about the Southport knifeman and told ITV News that he understands that the article was deleted a day after it was posted and that an apology was issued. He claims that four people from the information search team were fired over the fake news article. A police van set alight on July 31 as trouble flares during a protest in Southport, after three children died and eight were injured in a 'ferocious' knife attack during a Taylor Swift event Dawn said their own investigation into the fake news showed that Asif was not the source of the information and had simply copy and pasted it from a social media post. Ten others seriously injured during the attack on the dance class at the Hart Space Community Centre in Southport a the end of July. A 17-year-old male, who the police said was born in Britain, was charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and one of possession of a bladed article. The UK's worst unrest in more than a decade led to some 1,100 arrests. The government pledged that rioters who hurled bricks at police, looted shops and attacked mosques and hotels used to house asylum-seekers would feel 'the full force of the law.' Most mornings, around nine, James Harvey with his ever-present poodle in tow has breakfast at his favourite cafe in Walthamstow Village in north-east London. A more unlikely looking rabble-rouser, youd be hard-pressed to find. Hes always arguing, usually about politics, said Sam Davis, the likeable and no-nonsense owner of the establishment in this bijou corner of E17. In the past the bone of contention was Brexit, among other things. Mr Harvey, in his fifties, a passionate Remainer, would sometimes clash with fellow customers over his bacon sandwich or sausage roll. It was one of the reasons Ms Davis put up a sign outside which read: No Brexit talk or anything to do with politics. The site of the new bakery set to open on Orford Road in Walthamstow, north-east London Gail's bakery is famed for its cinnamon buns, almond croissants and sourdough loaves But James Harvey Walthamstows answer, in some ways, to Citizen Smith, the would-be revolutionary in the classic 1970s sitcom of the same name has now found a new cause which has already attracted hundreds of supporters. What do you think it could be? Is it: (a) launching a campaign to stop Nigel Farage setting up a branch of his Reform party here in Labour territory; (b) establishing a charity to help asylum seekers; (c) fighting tooth and nail to prevent the opening of a Gails branch in the heart of the neighbourhood? The answer, as counter intuitive as it may seem, is the last one. Surely few at Gails, which serves iced lattes with cute red-and-white paper straws, could have imagined the decision to move to E17 would have triggered such a furious backlash. The arrival of the artisan bakery, famed for its cinnamon buns, almond croissants and sourdough loaves, would normally be welcomed with open arms by the local community because it is perceived as a marker of an areas upmarket credentials and often the precursor, say estate agents, to a rise in house prices. Whats not to like then, especially if you own a property in the area, except maybe paying 3.80 for one of those almond croissants. Plenty, it seems, according to Mr Harvey. He ensured Walthamstow Village an enclave of artisan restaurants, independent shops, pubs and expensive period town houses made headlines last week by starting a petition entitled: Prevent Gails from establishing a store on our High Street. Underneath, two baguettes formed an X across the Gails logo. The bakery chain, with 130 shops across the UK, Mr Harvey claimed, is an existential threat to the uniqueness of the vibrant local neighbourhood. The company, with massive scale and advertising reach, could overshadow much-loved local stores, lead to decreased visibility and pedestrian traffic which, in turn, could threaten their very existence and dismantle yes, theres more an iconic space reflective of Walthamstows spirit. Quite a shopping list for a company which simply bakes fresh handmade bread, pastries and cakes every day, not to mention bite-sized pistachio, lemon and rose cakes beloved of middle-class women. The petition entitled Prevent Gails from establishing a store on our High Street' Local independent Bern's and the Beans only opened on June 6 and owner Cathy Scanlon has said the arrival of Gail's may see her cafe lose business The new Gail's bakery will occupy a shopfront next to the local Labour Party office Gails even inspired the Liberal Democrats general election campaign. The party faithful were told to get out the Gails vote a strategy which gained the nickname Operation Cinnamon Bun by targeting leafy commuter belt seats which had a branch of the bakery chain and where people were also turning to the Lib Dems. In urban Walthamstow, however, more than nearly 800 residents and counting have already joined James Harvey and signed his petition. The anger is almost visceral. I am from Walthamstow and have lived here most of my life, wrote one woman who epitomised the quiet fury of many. This would be the final straw in the gentrification of the area and its knock-on effects would be catastrophic for businesses and for local people. We need to fight this! You could be forgiven for thinking Orford Road, the famed main artery through Walthamstow Village with around 20 stores, cafes, restaurants and gastropubs, with names like Berns & the Beans, Eat17 (house speciality: chicken burgers doused in award-winning bacon jam) and The Village Bakery, where Mr Harvey has his breakfast, is about to be razed to the ground. The reaction, many might think, is also compounded by a hint of hypocrisy. The proposed site for the new Gails, which occupies two shopfronts No 25/27 at the end of the street is next door to a Nisa Local. There are 4,000 Nisa convenience stores nationwide. True, they are independently run but, at the same time, they are all supplied by grocery wholesaler Nisa, a subsidiary of the Co-op. Further up Orford Road is the so-called poshest Spar store in London, with its own high-end pizzeria inside, which is run in partnership with the same people who run adjoining Eat17. Nevertheless, it is one of 2,600 Spar outlets in the UK operating under the same global brand name. There are also two other Eat17 branches, incidentally, in Hackney and Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. Ben Hills, pictured with friend David Emery, right, has lived in Walthamstow Village since 2013 and dismissed fears that the new branch would lead to 'over-gentrification' But not once has a baguette, or even an artisan breadstick, been drawn in anger against these stores. And underneath all this is a worrying subplot which has become an all-too familiar story in Britain in 2024. Love local independent bakeries and hate Zionist moguls, one woman gave as a reason for adding her name to the stop Gails petition. Another signatory made defamatory and utterly unfounded allegations about the same Zionist moguls adding: We do not want them in our borough. We emailed both women via a message facility on the petition but neither responded. Their comments were presumably aimed at Luke Johnson, the former chairman of Bread Holdings, Gails parent company, who has previously described Israel as an astonishing country, buzzing with energy and confidence, a magnet for talent and investment a cauldron of innovation. His investment company sold Bread Holdings in 2021 but Johnson retained a minority stake in the bakery chain, which was founded by Israeli baker Gail Mejia and businessman Ran Avidan when they opened the first Gails in Hampstead High Street in 2005. Johnson, one of the countrys most successful businessmen who turned Pizza Express into a household brand, also holds pro-Brexit views and has spoken out against woke universities and climate alarmists, opinions at odds with many in Walthamstow. Politics, admit some residents, has played a part in the decision to oppose Gails. In the 2016 referendum, nearly 60 per cent of the population of the borough voted to remain in the EU. Walthamstow, described as a hipster haven at the end of the Victoria Line and regularly featuring in lists of Londons coolest neighbourhoods, is a Labour stronghold. Only last month, the local council agreed to withdraw pension investments in firms linked to Israeli arms supply following pressure from local campaign group Waltham Forest for a Free Palestine (WF4P). Lucy Barnes referenced the decision in her comments on the petition. Weve only just managed to get the council to divest in the arms trade which are in turn arming Israel, she fulminated. And now were inviting in Gails. Before the petition Cathy Scanlon, the 60-year-old manager of Berns & the Beans, a cafe which opened on June 6, was oblivious to the fact a new competitor was about take over the empty premises which was previously Italian restaurant Nuovo Mondragone. I think I was first to sign the petition, said Ms Scanlon. Gails do similar food to us for a similar price so we would probably lose business, she said, but insisted: Their smoked salmon bagels wont be as nice as ours. Over at the Village Kitchen, manager Billy Smith is a kindred spirit. Yes, Ive signed the petition, he declared. We just dont need Gails here. We are all small independents. Its very friendly. Were all in a WhatsApp group, so we talk things over with each other. If they [Gails] go ahead, then what next? A McDonalds or a chicken shop? Theres a good chance people just wont go there. Mr Smith says Gails Israeli links and the pro-Brexit stance of Luke Johnson has not helped because, he says, it is out of step with an area which prides itself on its Left-wing stripes. The new Gails would be sited next door to the Walthamstow Labour Party office. But really, its more about the fact that it is a chain and about the businesses who are going to suffer when Gails opens, he insisted. From the furore youd think Walthamstow is united in its anti-Gails stance, but thats not the case. The new Gails, they said, would provide a boost for an area of the street which has been struggling. The rumour mill began a few weeks ago and I saw one of the contractors outside who confirmed there would be a Gails there, said David Emery, a photographer who lives on Orford Road and uses the cafes and pubs on his doorstep. The space has been empty for around two-and-a-half years, so Gails will put some much-needed life back into that end of the road which used to be lively and fun. Anything that gets the area buzzing again is a good thing. Would he patronise Gails himself and risk the ire of this neighbours? Yes, he replied. I have no problem with Gails at all. But Village Kitchen owner Billy Smith has signed the petition and said the area does not need Gail's because of the abundance of local independent businesses Walthamstow, like many other places, has been undergoing intense gentrification for the past 14 years, according to a 2021 report, which found the average price of a house sold here soared from 165,000 in 2010 to 445,000 in 2016 and that 60 per cent of residents left the neighbourhood. I get why people are concerned, said Ben Hills, 41, who works in finance and has lived in Walthamstow Village since 2013, where property prices are now in the stratosphere, but he dismissed fears that Gails would lead to over-gentrification. I dont know how much more gentrified we can get, he added. Gails will bring new people to the village and new customers for everyone. The site has been sitting empty, doing nothing. In fact, there is little anyone can do, petition or otherwise, to stop Gails because the site is being privately let. It is a done deal. Back at the Village Bakery, owner Sam Davis tells us that James Harvey sent her an email urging her to boycott Gails when it opened. She signed the petition but wouldnt be joining any boycott, she said, adding: Its not personal and its not about politics. I dont have anything against Gails. Everyone is independent here and we just dont want a chain. Mr Harvey himself did not turn up for breakfast on the day we were there, and at the time of writing, he had not responded to a message left at the cafe asking him to ring us. In a recent interview, Gails chief executive Tom Molnar revealed deciding where to open a branch was half maths, half art. Meeting local people, listening to the emails. The company also uses an algorithm that shows how residents in each post code behave. James Harvey, metaphorically speaking, has now crashed the computer. Additional reporting: Tim Stewart Lauren Laverne's 20-year marriage to fellow DJ and television producer Graeme Fisher is a love story like something out of a fairy tale. The happy couple first met in the early 2000s while they were both working on a pop television show. Graeme was left smitten and invited Lauren to a gig on Valentine's Day and from there the shoots of their blossoming romance were formed. It was on their first date that Lauren would have her most memorable kiss, telling The Guardian in 2022: 'He invited me to a gig and we both thought other people would come, but nobody did. We realised that it was Valentine's Day and ended up getting together.' As the BBC radio DJ, 46, now battles against cancer having revealed today she has been diagnosed with the disease, it will be Graeme who will be by her side in support as he has been for more than two decades. Lauren Laverne 's 20-year marriage to fellow DJ and television producer Graeme Fisher is a love story like something out of a fairy tale The happy couple first met in the early 2000s while they were both working on a pop television show. It was on their first date that Lauren would have her most memorable kiss. In 2022 she listed the above picture as one of her favourites Mackem girl Lauren, 46, and Graeme wed in her native County Durham in 2005 in the same church as her parents. They set up home in London with Lauren telling Red magazine in 2019 that she thought the pair were 'really lucky and I'm glad we're happy and we still get on well'. 'But I'm not going to sit here and spout kernels of wisdom, because there might be people reading this going through a divorce thinking, 'Lauren, shut up',' she said. 'We've been together a long time and we get on great, but that's not necessarily the goal for everyone.' Graeme has previously worked on shows such as Face the Music: The Feeling (2008) and Rock School (2005) but left his job to become the primary carer of their children - Fergus, who was born in 2007, and Mack who arrived in 2010. Talking to The Guardian, Lauren said: 'My husband has gone from the job he was doing making TV programmes to being the main carer for our boys. 'He has a fantastic relationship with them, we both muck in, and to be honest, it's all a bit of a scramble.' Lauren also once revealed how her husband is the one with the culinary skills in the family. She has said: 'My husband cooks. I'm learning, but slowly.' Graeme and Lauren on a date night at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021 to see the world premiere of James Bond film No Time To Die Graeme left his job to become the primary carer of their children - Fergus, who was born in 2007, and Mack who arrived in 2010 Mackem girl Lauren, 46, and Graeme wed in her native County Durham in 2005 in the same church as her parents She told the Evening Standard in 2008 how her home in the capital was her favourite place to be. 'It's in a part of London like the countryside, but with people and a Space NK at the end of the road,' she said. 'There was a naked woman outside Pizza Express last week, wearing a cowboy hat.' On Instagram, Graeme sometimes gives an insight to their sweet relationship. He previously shared a snap of them on a date night at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021 to see the world premiere of James Bond film No Time To Die. In April he posted a picture of Lauren wearing a black outfit and sunglasses to wish her a happy birthday in which he spoke gushingly about his wife. 'Happy Birthday to this totally AMAZING human,' he wrote alongside a heart emoji. Desert Island Discs host Lauren this morning told how she is expected to make a full recovery and said the disease had been caught early. She bravely announced her cancer diagnosis by posting a picture of herself smiling in her hospital bed. The mother of-two did not reveal the type of cancer she had been diagnosed with but said it had been picked up 'unexpectedly' during a screening test. Lauren thanked the medical teams 'who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness'. Breaking the news of her diagnosis, she wrote: 'Right then, some personal news I recently had a cancer diagnosis. It was (thank God) caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test and I am expected to make a full recovery. Lauren today bravely announced her cancer diagnosis by posting a picture of herself smiling in her hospital bed She urged others that might be 'avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out' to 'please, please do it today' (Pictured here in June 2015 arriving to celebrate the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction at London's Royal Festival Hall) She took over on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs when Kirsty Young stepped away from her role for a brief period because of her fibromyalgia treatment In an Instagram post, the 46-year-old star told fans from her hospital bed that she was expected to make a 'full recovery' 'I'm in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you: Firstly to the medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness. 'To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way - I am so very grateful and love you so much. And of course thank you to my colleagues - including those at @itg_ltd, @bbc6music, @bbctheoneshow and #DesertIslandDiscs for their support - and for giving me the time off that I need to get better.' She went on to urge others that might be 'avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out' to 'please, please do it today'. 'Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out asap is everything,' she said. 'It's usually my job to bring the good vibes on air but any you have to spare are very much welcome here. Sending loads of love to anyone in a similar boat, or who has made it back to shore. xxx' Scottish First Minister John Swinney had a book festival appearance cut short last night after he was heckled by a pro-Palestinian protester. The SNP leader, who was on stage alongside former Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford, was harangued by a woman in Edinburgh. She accused Mr Swinney of giving money through a Scottish Government agency to companies 'complicit in Gaza'. The protester also demanded the resignation of both Mr Swinney and his fellow SNP minister Angus Robertson over a recent meeting with an Israeli diplomat. She claimed the pair were 'legitimising a genocidal apartheid state', despite other members of the audience asking her to stop and allow others to speak. The event's host, Laura Maxwell, said she had hoped to take more questions from the audience but it was no longer possible. As the talk ended, the protester was escorted from the venue at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Scottish First Minister John Swinney had a book festival appearance cut short last night after he was heckled by a pro-Palestinian protester The SNP leader, who was on stage alongside former Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford, was harangued by a woman in Edinburgh The heckler accused Mr Swinney of giving money through a Scottish Government agency to companies 'complicit in Gaza' Mr Swinney and Mr Drakeford took part in the Edinburgh International Book Festival event to mark 25 years of devolution in Scotland and Wales. The SNP leader's appearance followed a fierce row at Holyrood over Mr Robertson's meeting with Israel's deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky two weeks ago. Mr Robertson faced a backlash from within SNP ranks over the talks, with veteran MSP Christine Grahame describing his position as a 'liability'. SNP MP Ruth Maguire said she shared the 'anger' felt by party members in relation to the meeting. Mr Robertson apologised on Monday over the meeting and said it should have been limited to calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. But Scotland's External Affairs Secretary said he had not considered resigning his position. He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme yesterday: 'I haven't because I think it was right to communicate the message that we did. 'But I have reflected very strongly on the impact that it has created and the impression that was created, which is why I issued the apology yesterday. 'I most certainly did not want to create an impression that there was a normalisation of relations between the Scottish Government and the Israeli Government when there is not.' CCTV footage has shown the moment a shopkeeper suffered a heart attack and died after he attempted to chase down a thug who stole a bottle of wine from his store. Acilan Nagenthiram, 44, pursued the man who ran from his store in Southwest London and following a short altercation, he had a heart attack and collapsed onto the pavement. Despite the efforts of ambulance crews, Acilan later died at a major trauma centre in the capital, leaving behind his wife Tharsini and his sons Thinoshan, Vishanthan, Kashvin and Kethushan. His funeral took place at Croydon Crematorium on Thursday August, 15. Today marks one month since the tragic incident and as of yet, there have been no arrests. Now, CCTV footage has been released to assist the police investigation. CCTV footage has been released to try and assist police with their investigation Acilan Nagenthiram, 44, pursued the thief who ran from his store in Southwest London. He suffered a heart attack and later sadly died The unidentified man allegedly made the theft at Four Seasons Mini Market in Streatham, Southwest London on Saturday July, 21 at 9.30pm The unidentified man allegedly made the theft at Four Seasons Mini Market in Streatham, Southwest London on Saturday July, 21 at 9.30pm. He is described as a black male, in his mid 20s, wearing a dark grey hoodie, a black backpack, dark tracksuit bottoms, white socks and dark trainers. Local resident, John Mulvey has slammed police officers for their seemingly lack of progress in finding and arresting the shoplifter. Mr Mulvey, 58 said: 'There is a big thing about shoplifting at the moment, how rife it is, and how the police do nothing unless they steal more than 200 of goods. 'It is just ironic that you can post something on Facebook, be arrested, charged, appear in court and be sent to prison within a week - but steal a 8 bottle of wine and get away with it. 'Acilan was one of four family members who have served the community for the last 20 years, due to his dedication he didn't finish this shift I wonder if the man knows this and will come forward.' Emergency services were called but sadly Acilan later died at a major trauma centre in the capital Today marks one month since the tragic incident and as of yet, there have been no arrests There was a short altercation between Acilan and the thief before Acilan collapsed on the pavement Paramedics arriving at the scene in Estreham Road A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 9.35pm on Saturday 21 July 2024 to reports of a medical incident in Estreham Road, SW16. 'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. 'The first of our crews arrived at the scene in five minutes. 'Our crews treated a man at the scene, before taking him to a London major trauma centre.' A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to Estreham Road, SW16, at 21.50hrs on Sunday, 21 July to reports of a man who had collapsed in the street. 'He was taken to hospital but sadly died a short time later. 'The man, a shopkeeper, had been chasing a suspected shoplifter before he collapsed. 'Detectives in Central South BCU are investigating the full circumstances of the incident. There have been no arrests. 'Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 7393/21Jul, or Crimestoppers, 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.' Last month new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer announced his commitment to tackling shoplifting offences under 200 in the King's Speech. According to The Telegraph, a new bill aims to reverse a 2014 'charter' where theft of products under 200 is 'low value'. A female Barclays bank executive was discriminated against when her male boss assumed she didn't want a promotion so she could look after her family instead. A tribunal has ruled that Nazia Lawrence was 'stereotyped' by Mark Bell when he told her he thought she was 'happy' to remain as a vice president at the finance giant. The employment tribunal heard that Mrs Lawrence had recently told managers that due to family pressures she was not able to prioritise advancement at work. However, by assuming that meant she had no further interest in promotion, her boss had sexually discriminated against her, making a remark that would have not been made to a man, the panel concluded. Praising Mrs Lawrence for her 'great courage' in bringing the case, Employment Judge Sarah Moor said: 'Mr Bell's comment to her...reveals he had assumed that the cause of her temporary lack of priority (family pressures) meant she had lost her desire totally for promotion. 'This is a significant leap, a large assumption to make. We consider that had she been a high-performing man (with similar temporary family pressures) he would not have made that assumption or stated... that he was happy to stay as VP. A tribunal has ruled that Nazia Lawrence (pictured) was 'stereotyped' by her male boss when he told her he thought she was 'happy' to remain as a vice president at Barclays The tribunal concluded that by assuming that Mrs Lawrence had no further interest in promotion, Mark Bell (pictured) had sexually discriminated against her A tribunal has ruled that Nazia Lawrence was 'stereotyped' by Mark Bell when he told her he thought she was 'happy' to remain as a vice president at Barclays 'We judge that Mr Bell has applied to [Mrs Lawrence] the stereotype of the female carer - the assumption that women take on family care and lose the desire for advancement at work because of home pressures. 'He has, in that one comment, brushed to one side the palpable and longstanding evidence of [Mrs Lawrence's] obvious appetite for work and progression. 'There is a clear distinction to be made here between the family pressures and caring [she] talked about that meant a temporary loss of priority to a total loss of desire for progression. 'We infer Mr Bell simply would not have lost sight of that distinction had [Mrs Lawrence] been a man to whom the stereotype of family carer would not have applied. 'We find that by stating to [her] that she was happy to remain as VP he subjected [her] to a detriment because of sex and unlawfully discriminated against her.' The tribunal in East London heard that Mrs Lawrence had worked at Barclays Execution Services as a Vice President since 2015 and was a Global Tax Operations Risk and Control Officer. She was regarded as an 'excellent performer' and identified within the bank as having 'high potential', the hearing was told. However, she was told that at the time there was no chance of promotion in London due to a cost cutting policy to avoid creating new posts in high cost locations. 'Over the course of 2021, [Mrs Lawrence] clearly had some significant personal family issues involving the health of close family members and requiring changes in her personal life which will have placed an extra burden upon her at that time,' the tribunal heard. The tribunal in East London heard that Mrs Lawrence had worked at Barclays Execution Services as a Vice President since 2015 and was a Global Tax Operations Risk and Control Officer (stock image) 'She described these in detail to her managers.' As a result, Mrs Lawrence said that she could not 'focus on or prioritise going for promotion at that time because of the pressing personal issues she was dealing with'. 'This meant looking and applying for vacancies,' the tribunal heard. 'It did not relate to her desire for promotion. '[She] had not said that she "no longer" wished to try for promotion - this would have made no sense. 'Her comment...was purely temporary bearing in mind the personal pressures on her at the time and was not about no longer pushing but simply a matter of priority.' In November 2021 Mrs Lawrence - who describes herself as Asian Muslim - was left feeling 'betrayed' after learning that a male colleague had obtained an in-role promotion to director in London. She complained to her bosses that she had not been given 'equal opportunities' and that there was one rule for one 'set' of people and another for another. In January 2022 Mrs Lawrence launched a grievance over her treatment, having claimed to be the victim of 'discrimination, injustice, inequality and favouritism'. Later that month she met Mr Bell for an appraisal meeting in which he accused her of being unwilling to take feedback and said she 'just wanted the glory for good work'. He was also found by the tribunal to have said 'words to the effect that he understood she was happy to remain a VP'. Mrs Lawrence went off sick the following month and launched tribunal proceedings against Barclays in April claiming race, sex and religion discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Her complaint that she had been discriminated against by being denied promotion was supported by one member of the tribunal panel. However, it was dismissed by the majority which found that her colleague had been appointed as director on the basis of his 'plainly consistently outstanding performance'. Her claim regarding the 'happy to remain as VP' comment was upheld. The tribunal ruled: 'While [Mrs Lawrence] had said her de-prioritising of promotion temporarily was for family caring reasons, this had become in the manager's heads "no longer desiring promotion". 'This difference is not mere semantics or emphasis. It turns [her] from an ambitious, promotion-seeking individual with high potential to a colleague who is just happy to remain a VP. 'We find this change to have been based on assumptions about caring responsibilities taking over, subsuming the female carer for the long term. 'We do not consider the managers would have reached this view if Mrs Lawrence had been a man who had just had family issues for a period. The stereotype of women caring for family members for the long term just doesn't apply to men.' Praising Mrs Lawrence for taking her employer to the tribunal, Judge Moor said: 'It was reasonable for her to point to [her colleague's] promotion and ask, given her very good record and the stretch opportunity which had expanded her role, why promotion had not happened for her. 'We consider that she has shown great courage in testing that question at the Tribunal.' A cult member who beat her own two-year-old daughter to death 37 years ago has welcomed finally being jailed. Ellen Rachel Craig, 62, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting she had killed her daughter Tillie Craig on a property near Oberon in central NSW on July 7, 1987. After becoming unhappy with the way the toddler was sweeping a path, she grabbed some plastic irrigation tubing and beat the girl across the arms, legs and body until she was no longer moving. At the time, both mother and child were living on a rural property in Porters Retreat, which served as the headquarters of the cult The Family or the Community of Eden. Informing leader Alexander Wilon of the death, Tillie's body was cremated in a 44-gallon drum, her ashes spread out over the property and the drum thrown in a nearby river never to be found, agreed facts filed with the court say. Craig moved back to her birth country of New Zealand in November 1987 where she changed her name to Jowelle Tenzing Smith. She continued to lie about the toddler's death until she was arrested and extradited back to Australia to face trial in November 2021. While Craig was under the influence of Mr Wilon, who had previously disciplined Tillie, her assault on her daughter was far more extreme, Justice Natalie Adams said on Wednesday. Tillie Craig died on a property near Oberon in central NSW on July 7, 1987 Ellen Rachel Craig, 62, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting she had killed her daughter (pictured together) 'To say that the circumstances of Tillie's death are tragic would be a gross understatement,' the judge said. 'She died at the hands of someone who was meant to protect her.' According to the agreed facts, Mr Wilon tightly controlled the lives of those living at the property, including beating them when they did not obey him and making them have sex with him in 'Papa's Room'. He told his followers that their egos 'must be completely destroyed' if they wanted to remain with him. Craig was sentenced to a maximum jail time of nine years over the death of her daughter, with a non-parole period of six years. Justice Adams found the 62-year-old had expressed remorse for her actions both towards her daughter and to Tillie's father Gerard Stanhope who had searched for the toddler for decades without success. 'I took away her potential. I took away her right to a happy life,' Craig wrote in a letter to the court. 'My actions were horrible, terrible, horrific.' Craig is seen with her face covered in a police image While Craig was under the influence of Alexander Wilon (above), who had previously disciplined Tillie, her assault on her daughter was far more extreme, Justice Natalie Adams said on Wednesday Craig said she now welcomed her prison sentence, wanting justice for her daughter. 'I know, understand and am at peace with the purpose of my imprisonment.' In a victim impact statement, Mr Stanhope described the indescribable pain of finding out what had happened to his child. He said he was haunted by the memory of taking his struggling, crying and terrified daughter to a van where Craig waited to take her back to The Family's property in January 1987. That was the last time he saw the two-year-old. 'To this day, I carry a sense of guilt that I didn't listen to what she was trying to tell me in the only way she could,' he wrote. Justice Adams found the 62-year-old had expressed remorse for her actions both towards her daughter and to Tillie's father Gerard Stanhope (pictured with Tillie) Justice Adams took into account Craig's physical health issues, her struggles with mental health, drugs and gambling, and the more onerous conditions in jail where she remains under protective custody. Craig told her psychiatrist she enjoyed the simple life of prisons as she believed it could bring the kind of monastic life she had been looking for. The 62-year-old held her head down for most of the sentence as she watched by audio-video link from Dillwynia's woman's prison. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is 25 years. Divers searching the wreck of a 30million superyacht for survivors have finally gained access to the 'master cabin' where British tech tycoon Mike Lynch had been sleeping before it sank. Rescue teams are working against the clock in a bid to find anyone alive inside the Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a 'black swan' waterspout. Desperate officials say they are still hoping there may be survivors trapped in air pockets inside the ship, with divers listening for 'banging noises' that may indicate signs of life and an underwater robot deployed to aid in the search. Six people, including Mr Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, are believed to have been trapped in their cabins following the catastrophic incident at 5am on Monday morning. The search operation to find them has been beset with problems, with floating debris blocking the narrow corridors of the vessel and the depth of the wreck meaning divers can only spend 10 minutes at the bottom before having to return. A British investigation team has arrived on the island this morning, with experts attempting to determine exactly what caused the ship to sink so rapidly after witnesses claimed it went under the water in the space of just two minutes. It comes as: Search divers return to shore in an inflatable boat after the latest attempt to find people missing from the Bayesian superyacht A specialist scuba diver floats in the water as he speaks to a colleague on the fire service boat above the wreck site Mike Lynch (left) is still missing after the boat sank while his wife Angela Bacares (right) survived Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing A total of 15 people, including a British mother and her baby daughter, dramatically escaped the sinking ship with moments to spare, plunging into the raging pitch-black sea during the storm before seeking shelter in a liferaft and awaiting rescue. The yacht's 'well-respected' captain, 51-year-old New Zealander James Cutfield, had remarked from his hospital bed they 'didn't see it coming' in the darkness. While the body of the ship's cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found the same day, there has been no sign of the others who are missing, aside from disturbing reports that bodies had been seen by divers through portholes in the sunken ship. A total of six people are still missing - Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Efforts to get into the vessel, which is lying on its side and is almost completely intact, have been difficult though with the depth and nature of the yacht proving challenging. At 164ft (50m) down, the wreck is so deep that divers can only spend 10 minutes on the seabed before having to return to the surface for their own safety. A new team of Italian firefighter divers who have experience in deep water environments have been drafted in to help, It is hoped that they will be able to spend up to 20 minutes underwater at a time, having brought special tanks with them that allow them to stay under the surface for longer. Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer It was Mike Lynch who brought the group together to celebrate his recent acquittal on charges in the US on the yacht Divers in scuba gear stand on a fire service boat as they prepare to resume the search operation in Sicily this morning Meanwhile, frustrated divers on the scene have reportedly complained about floating debris blocking the narrow corridors and entrances inside. What is a 'black swan' weather event? The waterspout which caused the catastrophic capsizing of the Bayesian has been dubbed a 'black swan', by meteorological experts. The term is used for rare weather events that are considered unpredictable and more severe than one could reasonably expect. Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in the United States in 2005, is considered to be an example of this. Waterspouts - which are essentially tornadoes that take place over water - are another example of a so-called 'black swan'. Michael Shanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said that waterspouts He said: 'Waterspouts are rare but do happen. 'They're a black swan event for ship captains and crews. They're high impact. 'That water carries significant weight. And if the waterspout ends up dumping a load of that water on board the vessel, that's going to cause significant damage.' Despite thunderstorm alerts being in place, the nature of waterspouts means there would have been likely no warning it was coming, others have claimed. Dr Pete Inness, a lecturer in meteorology at the University of Reading, said: 'As with tornado warnings, you can say there's a probability they could happen 24 hours in advance. 'You can say, over that particular area of sea, there's an increased likelihood, but until one actually forms you can't say where it will be or how strong it is, and even then they typically only last for a couple of minutes, so there is no real warning.' Advertisement After inspecting the command bridge, which is outdoors, the divers have been able to access the main lounge after descending down an internal ladder. Inside, they were obstructed by floating objects from chairs and cushions to utensils and plates. However, divers have this morning been able to break through to the 'master cabin' where Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares, who survived, had been staying during the trip, it is claimed. Italian outlet Giornale Di Sicilia reported that a remote-controlled robot has been brought in to assist the search teams. The 'robot' is capable of operating on the seabed up to an altitude of 300 meters and can continue for between 6 and 7 hours. The device equipped with advanced technology that allows it to investigate the seabed and record detailed videos and images which will be used in the prosecutor's investigation. After three days of searching, Italian coastguard officials insist they are still looking for 'missing people'. Asked if they were focusing on recovering bodies rather than rescuing people, Coastguard spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola replied: 'Reasonable, but we still look for the missing people.' A close friend of Mr Lynch has called the incident a 'Shakespearean tragedy' after it happened while he was on a 'victory' trip with friends and family celebrating being acquitted of fraud charges in the United States in June. British entrepreneur Brent Hoberman, who has known Mr Lynch for 28 years, describes him as a 'bit of a boffin' who was 'quick-witted and smart' with an 'infectious love of technology'. He added he hoped there would be 'an amazing second act' and those who know him are praying for a miracle and he is found alive. 'God, what an amazing ending that would be,' he said. Italian authorities have opened an investigation into whether hatches left open by crew members on superyacht, which is owned by Mr Lynch, caused it to sink so quickly. Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of the town of Termini Imerese, near Porticello, will concentrate on several key questions. Firstly, how was it that nearly all the crew survived, except for chef Recaldo Thomas, and all the six missing people were passengers, not crew. Other aspects of the accident which the investigation will focus on will include whether the boat was still chained to its anchor, which in strong winds could itself make the vessel more unstable as the storm could push the boat along and the anchor force the bow lower in the water. The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout The Bayesian was fitted with a sophisticated 'drop keel' centreboard, which effectively lowers a weight down from beneath the keel, lowering the boat's centre of gravity and improving its stability. Whether or not that device was raised or lowered will be a vital focus of the investigation. Another possible reason for the rapid sinking of the boat might be if the portholes were left open by the guests because of the heat of the Sicilian evening, allowing the boat to take on water more quickly in the storm. Prosecutor Cartosio and his team will also gather evidence from emergency workers, divers, fire personnel and Coast Guard. Salvo Cocina, president of the Civil Protection Agency in Sicily told MailOnline that all the survivors from the tragedy were offered counselling and psychological help for their trauma, but all refused help. Mr Cocina said: 'We wanted to make sure that everyone was offered every kind of help they might need, but no-one from the passengers or the crew accepted counselling.' He denied suggestions that the rescue operation had now morphed into that of recovering the boat and a grim cargo of bodies. 'The operation is not complete we don't differentiate between rescue and recovery in these circumstances, because the people are still in the boat. 'The divers have not yet reached the cabins, so we have not yet given up hope that there may be air pockets in their keeping them alive.' Witnesses reported the boat went down in a matter of minutes after being hit by a tornado during the severe thunderstorm while anchored in Porticello, off the coast of Sicily. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Meanwhile, a British four-person team from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have arrived in Sicily to conduct their own investigation into what happened. Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday A life raft is seen docked at the harbour near the port where the emergency and rescue workers are launching their search operation They are understood to have arrived on Tuesday and are expected to carry out a 'preliminary assessment' of the site on Wednesday. The MAIB is looking into what happened because the sailing yacht Bayesian was flying a British flag, it is understood. The Italian coastguard said the MAIB are not involved in the search for the missing people and that it did not request assistance. Italian coastguard spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola said: 'Even if they come (probably) the searches are carried out by the Italian authorities. Initiative (was) not requested by us.' Gavin Pritchard, who was a principal investigator with the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) before retiring in 2022, told The Telegraph: 'The MAIB will want to look at the vessel using either an ROV [remotely operated vehicle] or divers, or want to have a look and see what the positions of watertight doors, hatches and windows were. 'It'd be important to state that doesn't attribute blame,' he added, saying the job of the MAIB is to establish a cause for the sinking - rather than legal liability - so safety-critical findings can be spread across the maritime industry. He added: 'One of the first questions that accident investigators ask is, has anything like this ever happened before? And I have to say, having observed this tragic event, I honestly can't think of anything similar to this.' David Sharaz sent an 'inappropriate' message to a journalist calling Brittany Higgins' interview about her rape allegations a 'f***ing scoop', a court has heard. Messages from Mr Sharaz to News Corp journalist Samantha Maiden concerning her story about Ms Higgins' allegations were read to the West Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday as part of Senator Linda Reynolds' defamation trial against Ms Higgins. The senator is suing her former staffer Ms Higgins - who is defending the claim - over a series of social media posts containing alleged mistruths that she believes damaged her reputation. 'She's going to come out with the story and it's going to be tough. It's also going to be big,' Mr Sharaz wrote in one text. 'She had a Me Too incident and the party covered it up. Please keep that between us,' Mr Sharaz said in another. 'She's drafting a plan for you.' After the story broke, Mr Sharaz messaged: 'It's a weird story. Journalism hat on. What a f***ing scoop.' Maiden told the court: 'I do recall receiving that message and I thought it was inappropriate.' David Sharaz sent an 'inappropriate' message to a journalist calling Brittany Higgins' interview about her rape allegations a 'f***ing scoop', a court has heard It also emerged in court on Wednesday that Ms Higgins felt toxic and told Maiden that Senator Linda Reynolds 'hated' her. Excerpts of Maiden's interview with Ms Higgins for her 2021 article were played to the Perth defamation trial on Wednesday, as Senator Reynolds' lawyer Martin Bennett wrapped up his case. 'She just avoided me. Avoided being in photos with me, I was toxic. She hated me,' Ms Higgins told Maiden during the recorded interview. 'She worked her entire life to finally (become the defence minister) and I was like, in her first two weeks ... some little twit she doesn't know who gets assaulted in her office and she hates it, she hated me.' Ms Higgins also spoke to Maiden about a meeting she had with Senator Reynolds and her then-chief of staff Fiona Brown in the days after she was allegedly raped in 2019. 'Her standard lines about how she felt ill and 'I'm horrified' ... then it kind of turned to ... 'as a woman this is what we go through',' Ms Higgins said. 'And she said 'if you choose to go to the police we will support you in that process but we just need to know ahead of time'.' Messages from Mr Sharaz to News Corp journalist Samantha Maiden (pictured) concerning her story about Ms Higgins' allegations were read to the West Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday 'She was actually quite nice, like her and Fiona ... I didn't feel like it was like a fair conversation, ... I was the very junior staffer and ... she didn't know me and she didn't like me and I was just some problem for her.' Ms Higgins told the reporter she believed the meeting was the senator 'ticking a box'. 'I felt like they had to have this conversation with me to be able to say on record that 'we told her she could go to the police' but as soon as Linda Reynolds had that meeting she never brought it up with me again,' she said. Ms Higgins told Maiden the 'weirdest part was when Linda decided to finally talk to me about the incident, she brought me back into her ministerial office (where the alleged rape occurred)'. 'That was the first time I did go back there. So I was sitting having this meeting about my choices, about what had just happened to me,' she said. 'I'm sure she was saying very many lovely words, but all I knew was the couch, and I was there by myself with Fiona and Linda and the couch. 'I thought maybe they just hadn't considered it.' Ms Reynolds (pictured) is suing Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz over comments she alleges are mistruths that she believes damaged her reputation. Asked why the article was published during a parliamentary sitting week, Maiden said Ms Higgins wanted it to have an 'impact'. 'She gave me the impression that her motivation was altruistic. She wanted to achieve reform of the parliamentary workplace ... was anxious and concerned that it would be a one-day wonder,' Maiden said, giving evidence via an audio-visual link flanked by three lawyers. Asked if Ms Higgins had ever said she wanted to 'bring down the Morrison government' or Senator Reynolds, Maiden said no. The trial continues on Thursday with evidence from former Australian Federal Police deputy commissioner Leanne Close. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 The King has met with the families of three young girls killed in the horror knife attack in Southport last month. Charles held a private audience this morning at Clarence House with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. It comes after he expressed his profound 'shock' at the killings and the resulting riots while visiting Southport on Tuesday. Bebe, Elsie and Alice were killed after a knifeman burst into a Taylor-Swift themed dance class and began stabbing attendees on July 29. The 17-year-old suspect was arrested soon after as ten others were left injured, but false information on social media claiming he was a Muslim asylum seeker led to the outbreak of riots by far-right thugs throughout England and Belfast. Axel Rudakubana was actually born in Cardiff to Christian parents. He remains in custody charged with three counts of murder and ten of attempted murder. The King travelled from Scotland to Southport to meet with affected children and their families. He pictured visiting the floral tributes to the victims on Tuesday King Charles appeared moved by the huge number of floral tributes left in Southport The King opened his hands as he spoke of his amazement at the floral tributes left in Southport It comes after a fatal stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance class which left three children dead, including Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven (pictured) Bebe King, six, was also killed in the horror attack in Southport last month Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning after being rushed to hospital following the attack King Charles signs a book of condolence during his visit to Southport Town Hall following the horror attack Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had met with the families of the three girls, but said no further details would be published. Visiting Southport yesterday, Charles spoke of his heartfelt appreciation of the way in which the local community rallied around its own as he met with emergency services personnel, faith leaders and some of those who opened their doors in acts of kindness. Among them were Diane, 50, and her husband Dan, 48, whose home backs onto the Hart Community Centre, where the violence occurred. The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to hold a private meeting with some of the injured young children and their families and also looked at floral tributes left to the three victims. Patrick Hurley, MP for Sefton, which includes Southport, met the King with other local leaders at a fire station, and said afterwards: 'He was very keen to express his sympathy and empathy. Very keen to make sure the people of Southport know that from the symbolism perspective, the country's heart goes out to the people here.' Diane and Dan comforted the families of some of those who tragically lost their lives or were injured on the day, and have continued allow police to use their facilities as investigations continued. The couple are unable to speak in detail about events of the day due to the ongoing police enquiries. But Diane said: 'I came straight home from work and we have been within the police cordon for the last three weeks. The barriers have just gone up yesterday. 'It's a bit surreal. It's as if everything is going to back to normal but for us it will be quite a thing to get over. 'It was a surreal conversation with the king because we've opened our doors to the six or eight police officers who were manning the cordon each day. 'We have opened our front door all day for them to use our facilities. They get tea and coffee and food but nowhere to go to the toilet. At night we leave our back door open for them to use the toilet too. The king laughed and I said 'well everyone's got to go!' 'The King said he was shocked, really shocked at what happened, and said it was kind of us to open our house. We said it was the right thing to do. 'You don't imagine it happening in our own town, let along at the end of your backyard. 'My husband and daughter were there and I rushed back from work to see a couple of people still being treated before being put in ambulances and taken away. 'We were able to be there even in a small way for one of the deceased parents. We were able to support them. I just said to them if you want to come and sit in the quiet. I won't repeat what happened or what was said but as a parent your heart goes out to them. It's heartbreaking. 'We are Christians and I've prayed for the families of the deceased but I've also prayed for his parents [the accused] as effectively they have lost a son. Imagine being the parent of the children who done it? 'The King said it was a very kind thing for us to do and was shocked at what had happened. 'We think a lot of the royal family. His visit shows that they have a compassionate heart and the fact that Charles, Camilla and William and Kate all put out statements after it happened was touching. 'He's very easy to talk to, I was surprised. I think [criticism of him not coming down earlier] is undeserved. This was the right time. ' King Charles stopped to shake the hands of some members of the public during his trip to Southport Charles, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is expected to fly from Balmoral. The King is pictured at the floral display in Southport on Tuesday The monarch also appeared to read some of the messages and tributes left in Southport The huge display has been left in the wake of the tragic killings of three girls who were stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed summer party in the town last month The King waited to visit Southport until the region's police were less stretched by unrest King Charles is pictured in the background of the floral display, which also includes a number of balloons and cuddly toys King Charles appeared moved when he saw the scale of the tributes left for those killed in the attack He was seen speaking to members of the public as he examined floral tributes in Southport King Charles waved from the window of his car as he left Southport this afternoon The event took part at the community fire station in Southport where His Majesty was met by regional leaders including the mayors of Liverpool City Region and Sefton. The King met with staff from each of the three emergency services, the fire brigade, ambulance and police. 'Were you there? He asked several of them, adding: 'I hope you are not too exhausted. Were your teams there on the night? When you do finally get off duty? It's all my fault, I am sure.' Imam Ibrahim Hussein of the Southport Mosque was present when it was attacked by rioters the day after the killings. He said: 'They targeted our mosque because of what was circulating in the [social] media. They targeted our mosque and wanted to kill us and destroy the mosque. We were terrified obviously because the whole building was shaking. 'Fire bombs were thrown at the mosque. It was awful, the slogans and the shouting and the chanting. I thought that [kind of behaviour] was over with. 'We thought we were in multi-cultural Britain. We don't expect that at all. We don't expect them the pick on a minority. We were at a loss really what was happening. 'I was one out of seven that was actually there and we felt every blow and very brick that was thrown at the mosque. We felt the whole thing shaking. We had to do our prayers in the middle of this. We could feel the anger. ' King Charles had tea as he met with community leaders this afternoon and thanked emergency services for their hard work Britain's King Charles III meets with representatives from Merseyside's emergency services and local community groups at the Community Fire Station in Southport King Charles was seen speaking with police officers who had been involved in the response to the riots The King spoke with emergency responders after a difficult few weeks for the town Representatives from local police, ambulance services and firefighters were all present His Majesty met with those affected by the attack and riots alongside thanking front-line emergency staff for their ongoing work Charles shook hands with a young girl in Southport and greeted her as he arrived in the town Hundreds of people, including children on their summer holidays, turned out to greet the King Residents young and old came together to thank Charles for visiting the town just weeks after the fatal tragedy The King stopped to talk to locals who had waited hours for a glimpse of him outside the town hall At one point, the King appeared to read one of the messages of tribute left on one of the bunches as he slowly walked through the floral display Dozens of balloons and stuffed animals - which are only brought out during good weather - were also on display outside the town hall Members of the public had been waiting since 11.30am for the King to arrive in order to greet him He added: 'The community is the source of our strength. Unity was more than we expected. What they did brings tears to your eyes. They were there before we were cleaning up and tidying up. People even brought food and drink. I do not believe how people can be supportive and so nice. It was incredible. ' He said of the king's visit: 'It means quite a lot actually. For His Majesty to take time from his heavy schedule and visit a small town such as this means a lot to us. His Majesty has always been championing the cause of the Muslim and Islam. 'He always praises and brought out the good side and what Muslims have contributed to humanity. A lot of people are ignorant. We are very grateful to him. 'I think this is the right time for the visit. If the king had come earlier that would be a bigger burden on the services. We are very grateful to him. 'I think he can make a difference.we are grateful for his contribution to inter faith relationships and the protection of Islam. He is the right person and His Majesty is listened to and people appreciate his words. 'His message has been seen here. We in the mosque have been visited by the synagogue and the churches a few times and we are very well connected together. 'We know each other by name. I have the pleasure of receiving a nice cheque from the Jewish community that was presented to me. No matter what is thrown at us we respect each other's faith.' The Imam said he has always felt safe before but now 'in the back of my mind' worried as he walked around town. After meeting the king he said: 'He was referring to community and how terrifying it must have been for us. How scary and terrifying it must have been for us and our mosque and our community.' King Charles is pictured inspecting some of the floral tributes in Southport on Tuesday The King was accompanied by members of his security team and the press King Charles III waved as he arrived in Southport to meet local community and emergency services His Majesty arrived earlier on Tuesday to meet with the survivors and families of the victims of the tragic attack. King Charles is pictured arriving in Southport The crowd welcomed the monarch as he arrived, with some singing 'God Save The King' Charles is seen surrounded by locals during his visit to Southport on Tuesday The King also spoke to Chanaka Balasuriya, 48, and his wife, Thanuja, 47, who run a mini mart in Southport that was attacked by looters, along with neighbours Rose Tucker, 32, who runs a nail salon next door and has raised almost 15,000 times get them open again. He described how they closed the shop early on the Tuesday as they were expecting some sort of demonstration and watched in horror on CCTV from home nearby as it was attacked, looted and almost entirely destroyed inside. Mrs Balasuriya said: 'We had never faced something like this in our life. From our house we could see the smoke in the area put the CCTV on. It was heartbreaking to see. Our children. 12 and nearly 19, were crying when they pushed through the front door. We have built up our business from scratch. ' Miss Tucker said she felt compelled to help and she knew what it was like to set up a small business and how tough things were. 'I knew they would have to start from scratch. They tried to set it alight, all the stock was ruined. I knew the expense of it. But we also wanted to show them that's not what we are like. That's not the people of Southport. We set up a Go Fund Me and have been overwhelmed at the donations,' she said. 'It's been a bit of light in a very dark tunnel.' Mr Balasuriya said people had come from day one to help with flowers, chocolates and food and even giving them money to help get the shop open again. 'It's been very touching,' he said. Members of the public stopped and waved as the King's convoy drove past them in Southport Charles took time to do a walkabout in the town centre and speak to residents, many of whom asked after his health The King was seen laughing and in good spirits as he spoke with members of the public Earlier this month it was revealed that the King had asked for 'daily updates' on the riots sparked by the Southport atrocity The King asked for daily updates on the riots which broke out after the fatal attack in Southport In the town far-right yobs set a police van on fire as more than 1,000 people gathered following false information being shared on social media The King was also said to be engaging 'privately' around the issues that the shocking national unrest and violence had generated A tribute to those killed in the Southport attacks was held on the same night as unrest broke out in the town His wife said: 'We feel really blessed to be around this amazing community. We didn't know that many people knew us and that we had a shop. We have had postcards even from around the country after seeing what happened and saying what they feel. They say if they ever happen to visit Southport they will come to see us. It's very reassuring. ' Miss Tucker said the king's visit had 'brought some light'. 'It shows what happened will not be tolerated, we are different from that. It does so much for different communities. It shows he is about action not just words,' she said. Mr Balasuriya said it has been 'an honour for us'. 'It's been a huge support,' he added. His wife added: 'It shows he is aware of what happened. He could see we were nervous and put us at ease. It's reassuring. He knew what had happened to us. We value that he cancelled his holiday and has come here despite having cancer. It's surreal and comforting. 'He said I am sorry about what had happened. He wanted to meet us because he knew what happened to our shop.' Many locals told him how much they appreciated his visit. 'Thank you so much for coming, it means an awful lot,' said one. Linsey Hislop, 43, asked him about his health, to which the King replied: 'I'm not too bad.' King Charles will meet with the grieving families of the three dead girls at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday after they were invited by Taylor Swift who has also expressed her devastation at the tragedy to attend her concert in the capital. The King is then expected to return to Balmoral. Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, will stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder. A suspected serial rapist who evaded authorities for over 30 years was finally snared after he was spotted living a double life on a luxury yacht. Stephen Paul Gale, 71, was allegedly identified as the infamous 'Boston Strip Mall Rapist' through DNA testing, leading to a manhunt that saw investigators track him to a $1.5 million yacht in Los Angeles this week. As cops swooped in to arrest him, Gale reportedly realized he was being trailed, ran from his boat to his car, and led police on a daring high-speed chase through LA for over 90 minutes before he was apprehended. Gale was subsequently charged in connection with the kidnapping and rape of two women in Framingham, Massachusetts at gunpoint in 1989. Investigators - who Gale has been avoiding for two years since a new DNA test matched him to the crimes - said he was known to have ties to organized crime, lived in numerous states and used a variety of aliases over the years. Stephen Paul Gale, 71, was arrested this week under suspicion of being the infamous 'Boston Strip Mall Rapist', who raped two women at gunpoint in 1989 Gale was arrested following a police chase through Los Angeles, which ended with him being hospitalized with medical complications as she was charged in connection with the crime The search for Gale heated up in March of this year when he was indicted on four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery. When he allegedly raped two women in 1989, police say Gale posed as a customer in a Hit or Miss department store before cornering his victims with a gun. Gale then allegedly ordered them into the back of the store in different rooms, and sexually assaulted them before fleeing, reports WCVB. The search for the rapist responsible went cold for decades, with victims speaking out over the years demanding police re-open the investigation. A DNA profile was created in 2001 from evidence left at the scene, however this failed to match with any DNA on law enforcement databases. In 2022, 33 years after the attacks, the Framingham police employed a forensic lab to re-test DNA from the scene to determine a suspect profile. Gale was identified through this method - and was evading cops for two years. A decades-long manhunt ended with police tracking Gale down to this $1.5 million yacht in a Los Angeles marine Gale reportedly realized cops were closing in, leading him to attempt to flee in a daring 90-minute police chase Footage captured the moment police ended the chase by throwing a spike strip in front of Gale's vehicle's tires Following Gale's arrest (pictured), it emerged that he was also being sought for questioning over several further violent sexual assaults in the Boston area between 1989 and 1990 However, the 71-year-old had not been seen since 2007 - leading authorities to appeal to the public for information and offer a $5,000 reward. Gale was also identified as a possible suspect in several further violent sexual assaults in the Boston area between 1989 and 1990, KTLA reported. According to reports, the US Marshals and the District of Nevada aided in the manhunt and received information that he was in the Los Angeles area. He was tracked to a huge $1.5 million yacht, the largest in the bay at the time, however he reportedly became aware he was on cops' radar and knew they were closing in. It is unclear how Gale acquired the money for the multi-million dollar vessel, although reports allege he was known to embezzle and swindle funds from people he knew. Before cops could breach his yacht this week, Gale fled in his vehicle and led police on a chase through Los Angeles. Footage captured the moment police threw a spike strip in front of Gale's vehicle, ending the 90-minute pursuit soon after. He was taken into custody outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and images showed him being taken away on a stretcher. Gale was taken into custody outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and images showed him being taken away on a stretcher He has since missed two court dates due to medical issues, including for a separate charge related to theft and check forgery in 1996. Following Gale's arrest, locals in the Los Angeles marina where he was allegedly evading the law on his yacht were shocked to discover he was a suspected serial predator. 'Are you kidding me,' local Don Smollet told KTLA when he was told this week. 'Well, Ive talked to him. I dont know a lot about him, but Ive talked to him many, many times. Hes been here. He remodeled that boat. He brought it here.' Smollett added that Gale told people he was connected to the Dior fashion company, and even named his yacht after the brand. Dramatic footage shows tourists running in terror as waterspouts struck beach resorts in southern Italy this week. High winds and stormy seas - thought to have been caused by a waterspout - hit and sank the British-flagged Bayesian yacht on Monday as it was anchored off Sicily. On the same day as the disaster, a huge waterspout threatened boats and people holidaying on the Italian mainland. Video shows a vortex striking a beach in the Campania region, north of Sicily, on Monday, sending umbrellas and heavy debris flying as people flee. A mother desperately shields her child as she runs to safety, with the whirlwind seen bearing down on the family and lifting objects high into the sky above them. Dramatic video shows a waterspout making landfall and tearing through beach umbrellas and sunloungers on a beach in the Basilicata region The twister hurtles towards the group of horrified beachgoers, who start to run for cover Inflatables and other beachgoers' belongings are seen being tossed by the high winds A mother is seen shielding her child as she runs to safety from the whirlwind Waterspouts continued to wreak havoc yesterday, with footage of a beach in the Basilicata region, on the Ionian coastline, showing one tearing through rows of sunloungers. Shocked beachgoers watched the blue skies suddenly turn dark as the powerful vortex whipped sand up into the air. The freak whirlwind towered into the sky, video shows, lifting inflatables and other loose items. The twister hurtles towards the group of horrified beachgoers, who start to run for cover. Incredibly, the tornado's path seems to veer away from the people in the footage, and it starts to subside. Local forecaster MeteOne pointed out how the footage shows the waterspout hitting the land and travelling a few metres across the beach before effectively 'dissolving'. Italian weather blogger Federico Pavan shared the footage, writing on X: 'As if we didn't get enough, another waterspout made landfall today in far southeastern Basilicata striking yet another beaching facility. He said that everyone was fine, despite the force of the twister, adding that waterspouts 'have been everywhere in Italy in the last couple of days.' Video shows the moment a waterspout made landfall on a beach in the Basilicata region The whirlwind can be seen swirling nearby in footage shared by beachgoers in Italy's Basilicata region Stormy winds are seen wreaking havoc on a beach in southern Italy The footage of the family running away from the tornado in Campania on Monday was taken in Policastro, a popular coastal region for foreign and Italian holidaymakers. Further video from Monday shows a waterspout in the Gulf of Policastro looming over a leisure boat. A driver in the area also shared footage, taken from her car, of the extreme weather phenomenon. Tourists taking shelter as stormy winds begin to strengthen at a beach in Santa Marina, in the province of Salerno. Suddenly, a huge gust propels umbrellas and deckchairs towards where they are standing, with the person filming running for cover. Video emerged yesterday of umbrellas and chairs being strewn across a coastal resort by what witnesses described as a tornado While locals reported severe damage to the building and its surroundings, miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident. Storms and heavy rainfall have swept the country after weeks of scorching heat lifted the temperature of the Med to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts have said. Meteorologist Paolo Sottocorona, who is also a sailing instructor, explained the dangers of being at sea when the conditions are like this. 'The warm sea seems pleasant, but heat from a physical point of view is energy,' he said. 'The Mediterranean at this moment is a gasoline tank. If you put a match in it, that is, a current of cold air like those of these days, it explodes.' 'The warmer the sea, the stronger the tornadoes,' he went on. 'The most destructive tornadoes used to hit once every hundred years. 'Now we see one or more per year. Even meteorological models have a hard time predicting such intense events.' Footage from the Gulf of Policastro shows a waterspout threatening a motorboat below Sicily saw a clutch of intense weather on Sunday night into Monday morning, with the island placed under weather warnings for wind and thunderstorms. High winds battered coastal areas, including Porticello, where Bayesian was anchored. 'I had never seen anything like it. A tornado that lasted about ten minutes, an apocalyptic scenario,' said Giuseppe D'Agostino, the mayor of Santa Flavia, a town near the city of Palermo. In the Gulf of Brucoli in southern Sicily, locals shared pictures of a sailboat which had been wrecked on the rocks after being blown in by strong winds British tech magnate Mike Lynch was on board his yacht, the Bayesian, when it was hit by a tornado on Monday This picture shows the luxury superyacht called The Bayesian (left) off Porticello, Palermo, the night before it was hit by the storm Video emerged on Monday of umbrellas and chairs being strewn across a coastal resort by what witnesses described as a tornado. 'The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost three degrees more than normal,' said meteorologist Luca Mercalli. 'This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.' He added that while it can't be said 'that this is all due to global warming', it clearly still has an 'amplifying effect.' CCTV footage from around 4am on Monday shows a torrent of wind and rain suddenly slamming into the town. In the Gulf of Brucoli in southern Sicily, locals shared pictures of a sailboat which had been wrecked on the rocks after being blown in by strong winds A towering waterspout was caught on camera off the coast of Salento, southern Italy The high winds throw umbrellas, plant pots, tables and chairs flying within seconds of hitting, with the local restaurant who shared the footage saying: 'In a moment the hurricane took everything away!' The owners of Baia Santa Nicolicchia said they were able to open later in the morning once the storm had passed, but added: 'We have no memory of anything like this in our area.' Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, a UK-based non-profit organisation that trains sea rescuers, said the Bayesian was the victim of a 'high impact' weather-related incident. 'If it was a waterspout, which it appears to be, it's what I would class as like a 'black swan' event,' he said, referring to a rare and unpredictable phenomenon. In a haunting interview just a week before the Bayesian yacht tragedy, the American lawyer who worked tirelessly to get the 'British Bill Gates' Mike Lynch acquitted of fraud charges talked about devoting his career to the case. Chris Morvillo, a former prosecutor and eminent attorney at Clifford Chance, spoke with lawyer and podcast host David Markus in an interview released days before a freak storm hit Lynch's yacht as they celebrated the acquittal. Describing Lynch's fraud case, Morvillo admitted it had been 'a constant presence in my life in the last 12 years.' Morvillo also revealed the legal sleight of hand that he employed to secure Lynch's acquittal in the 'complex' case, and how prosecutors made an apparent error that allowed him to use his decades of experience against them. Chris Morvillo (left) spoke with attorney and podcast host David Markus just a week before his disappearance, where he delved into the Mike Lynch fraud trail that he said a significant portion of the rest of my life' Morvillo was a leading attorney who won acquittal for British billionaire Mike Lynch earlier this year, and was on Lynch's yacht when it sank this week, leaving them both and four others missing Following news of Morvillo's disappearance in the yacht tragedy on Monday, Markus told DailyMail.com that he had 'just gotten to know Chris, and I'm shaken and heartbroken by the news.' 'I know all of us in the criminal defense bar are thinking of him and his family right now,' Markus said. 'Chris was an amazing guy smart, charming, engaging. This is all so awful and sad.' Lynch was accused by California prosecutors of fraudulently inflating the value of his company, Autonomy, when it was sold to Hewlett-Packard. In his interview with Markus, Morvillo revealed that he was initially surprised to find himself on the billionaire's legal team, and said he was hired just minutes after he inquired with his own firm about taking a role in the fraud case after seeing it in the news cycle in 2012. 'I sent a note to the head of our litigation group in England saying, 'I just saw this, is there anything that we can do to help on either side', just looking for an in,' Morvillo said. 'He wrote back about 15 minutes later saying we'd just been hired.' Morvillo said after flying to London to meet with Lynch, the wide-ranging fraud case rapidly took over his day-to-day life at his law firm. 'I spent a significant portion of the rest of my life bouncing back and forth between London and New York,' he continued. 'It covered one-third of my career.' Morvillo's daughters Sophie and Sabrina were due to meet up with him in Italy Morvillo (pictured with his wife Neda in 2018, who also disappeared in the yacht tragedy) said this month that the Lynch trial had been 'a constant presence in my life in the last 12 years' The family's palatial Connecticut home Morvillo said the case against Lynch was particularly complicated, as it wound through the US legal system for over a decade before the trial began earlier this year. He said prosecutors essentially brought 'two separate cases' against Lynch and his co-defendant, Stephen Chamberlain. 'The proof against Mr. Chamberlain and Mike was almost unrelated,' he said. 'So, there were really two trials going on separately. 'And that just made it to be a confusing gloop of evidence that came in, and we were never really sure which defendant it was pointed at.' While this made the trial admittedly complex, Morvillo - a former assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of New York - said the wide-ranging nature of the case was what allowed him to secure Lynch's acquittal. 'It gave us innumerable opportunities to say to the witnesses and in front of the jury, 'This had nothing to do with Mike Lynch, you never met Mike Lynch, you never talked to Mike Lynch,'' he recalled. 'The first seven witnesses the government called... had never dealt with or spoken to Mike.' The legal sleight of hand was one of the main ways that Morvillo said he was able to win Lynch his freedom, which resulted in the billionaire inviting his legal team, as well as his family, on his doomed yacht to Sicily this week. Mike Lynch's huge Bayesian superyacht (pictured) overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning It comes as Italian authorities said divers (pictured Wednesday) found the bodies of two missing passengers aboard the doomed superyacht It comes as Italian authorities revealed Wednesday that they have found the bodies of two missing passengers aboard the sunken superyacht. Dive teams made the tragic discovery two days after Mike Lynch's Bayesian sunk after being hit by a 'black swan' storm on Monday morning. The body of at least one person was brought ashore shortly before 3pm local time, before being placed into a waiting ambulance in the harbor of Porticello. The remains of the pair, whose names or sex have not yet been revealed, were reportedly found in the hull of the boat behind two mattresses, with claims that one is a 'heavily built man'. The six guests are Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, and Morvillo and his jewelry designer wife Neda. The 'one in a million' sinking of Mike Lynch's superyacht as he celebrated finally clearing his name is a 'Shakespearean sort of tragedy', his friend Brent Hoberman has said. The search for 'Britain's Bill Gates' is continuing today after the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a storm early on Monday. He was one of six missing, alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. The horrific freak incident came as the 59-year-old was enjoying a 'victory trip' to celebrate winning his US fraud trial over the 8.3billion sale of his tech firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Mr Lynch was acquitted of all charges by a San Francisco jury in June alongside his co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain, who had both been fighting to clear their names for 12 years. Mr Hoberman, the former CEO of lastminute.com who has known Mr Lynch for 28 years, said: 'What an ordeal. This is a Shakespearean sort of tragedy. 'Somebody who spent 12 years defending their name, they just clear their name, they are going on a trip with the team who helped them do that to celebrate and then a sort of one in a million disaster hits their boat.' Mr Hoberman described Lynch as a 'bit of a boffin' who was 'quick-witted and smart' with an 'infectious love of technology'. In a separate tragedy, Mr Chamberlain - the former vice president of finance at Autonomy - died after being hit by a car while out jogging in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. Officials today confirmed the bodies of two missing passengers had been found. The body of at least one person was brought ashore shortly before 3pm local time, before being placed into a waiting ambulance in the harbour of Porticello. The remains of the pair, whose names or sex have not yet been revealed, were reportedly found in the hull of the boat behind two mattresses, with claims that one is a 'heavily built man'. The 'one in a million' sinking of Mike Lynch's superyacht as he celebrated finally clearing his name is a 'Shakespearean sort of tragedy', his friend Brent Hoberman (pictured) has said Mr Hoberman described Lynch (pictured) as a 'bit of a boffin' who was 'quick-witted and smart' with an 'infectious love of technology'. An undated handout photo issued by costanostrayachtsupply.com of the doomed yacht Bayesian The captain of doomed superyacht James Cutfield is a 'well respected' seafarer who has worked on boats since he was a teenager and was previously employed by a Turkish billionaire. Mr Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm. He spoke for the first time about the tragedy from his hospital bed in Palermo, telling an Italian newspaper: 'We didn't see it coming.' Officials are today investigating whether hatches left open by crew caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. A former competitive sailor, James married his wife last year in Palma, Mallorca. He has eight years' experience captaining luxury yachts and has worked in the industry for three decades. The body of the ship's cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found the same day the yacht sank. Six guests, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah have been missing since the yacht sank, with specialist divers desperately trying to access the boat amid hope survivors could be alive in air pockets inside the vessel. Also unaccounted for since disaster struck is Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy and American citizens Chris Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda Morvillo. An engineer had claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of the wreck - are competing in a race against time. Their operation has been hampered by difficulty getting into the ship with divers forced to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to one area and other parts of the wrecked vessel blocked by furniture. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be on whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Rescue workers look at the plans of the the Bayesian as they organise a search operation for six people who are still missing after the superyacht sank Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day Mike Lynch on his Suffolk farm in 2021 when he was fighting extradition to the USA Mr Lynch (second left) is seen in the early days of his techology firm Autonomy in Cambridge Tech tycoon and married father-of-two Mr Lynch is pictured here with his wife Angela, who survived the tragedy Tech entrepreneur Lynch with his renovated mill, at his Suffolk farm The tech tycoon, once described as 'Britain's Bill Gates ', had just told of his 'second life' Mr Lynch in his younger years before he became one of Britain's most high profile entrepreneurs Mr Lynch responded to his acquittal by revealing he had feared dying in prison if found guilty Mike Lynch's Suffolk home, where he keeps rare breeds of cattle and pigs Mr Lynch, a father of two, had spoken of his 'indescribable' relief at being acquitted and joy at returning to Britain, and texted one friend saying it was 'so wonderful to be home'. He has also spoken at his delight at being able to spend time with his two daughters, 21 and 18, and their six dogs. Speaking in his first newspaper interview, he told The Times: 'I'd had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didn't know if I'd ever be coming back.' Mr Lynch responded to his acquittal by revealing he had feared dying in prison if found guilty - saying that medical issues meant he felt it would have been 'difficult to survive' time behind bars. He added: 'If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of my life as I have known it in any sense. 'It's bizarre, but now you have a second life - the question is, what do you want to do with it?' A member of staff who worked at Mr Lynch's Chelsea home said the businessman 'clearly had a lot of pride' in his yacht, the Bayesian. 'He had a miniature model of it and photos of it on the water in the hallway of his Chelsea home,' they said. 'When I asked him about he told me about it's size and how much his family loved spending time on it.' Born in Ilford, Essex, as the son of an Irish fireman and a nurse, Mr Lynch won a scholarship to Bancroft's School, a private day school in northeast London, and later read natural sciences at Cambridge. At university he developed his fascination with technology, completing a doctorate and holding a research fellowship in adaptive pattern recognition. In 1991, he set up Cambridge Neurodynamics, which specialised in computer-based finger print recognition for the police. Five years later he founded data analysis company Autonomy, which became one of Britain's most successful start-ups. His rise to fame and fortune had been celebrated as a major and pioneering British success story and the married father of two daughters was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise. That same year, he was appointed to the board of the BBC - and was later elected to then-prime minister David Cameron's council for science and technology in 2011. He advised Mr Cameron on subjects including 'the opportunities and risks of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the government's role in the regulation of these technologies'. Mr Lynch at Autonomy's headquarters at Cambridge Business Park in 2000 The executive - pictured in London in 2014 - became one of Britain's best known technology entrepreneurs Mr Lynch pictured leaving the Rolls Building in London in 2011 The Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily this morning Billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch earlier this month told BBC Radio 4's Today programme at his 'indescribable' relief after being acquitted of fraud charges he faced in the US Yet in March this year he found himself in a San Francisco courtroom to defend himself against fraud and conspiracy charges - and ultimately won his freedom. The 59-year-old tycoon had spent much of the previous year living under house arrest with an electronic tag attached to his ankle. Fighting his corner was a legal team led by Reid Weingarten, described as one of the US legal system's most successful white-collar defenders. Mr Lynch had potentially faced up to 20 years in a US prison if found guilty of 16 counts of conspiracy, and securities and wire fraud, which he denied. The charges related to a business deal that was hailed at the time as his crowning glory the 8.6billion sale of his software and data company Autonomy to US computer giant Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Mr Lynch personally made more than 500million from the deal, only for HP to later wrote down three-quarters of the value of Autonomy only a year after buying it. The US company fired Mr Lynch while accusing accusing him and other executives of having grossly inflated its size and profits during the sale. He had previously lost a 2019 civil fraud case based on similar allegations that HP now Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) brought in the UK, with London's High Court ruling in 2020 that HPE had 'substantially won' its case. His separate three-year battle to avoid being extradited to face criminal charges culminated in Lynch going to the High Court to argue that American prosecutors were guilty of legal overreach which threatened UK sovereignty and its citizens. His plea was rejected and in May last year he was flown to California, accompanied by the U.S. Marshals Service, still protesting his innocence. And on June 6 this year he was acquitted of fraud by a jury in San Francisco, while former Autonomy finance executive Stephen Chamberlain, who faced the same charges, was also acquitted on all counts. Earlier this month he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that being rich had helped him secure his acquittal, saying: 'You shouldn't need to have funds to protect yourself as a British citizen. 'The reason I'm sitting here, let's be honest, is not only because I was innocent but because I had enough money not to be swept away by a process that's set up to sweep you away.' A New Zealand expat who recently moved to Australia has voiced her frustrations about the soaring cost of living compared to back home. Apprentice plumber Gabby, 24, is fed up with frequently forking out for travelling on toll roads but says they're the least of her worries with other weekly expenses enough to give her a 'heart attack'. Gabby revealed she pays $500 per week for 'half of a flat' in Sydney after moving across the Tasman on the belief she would be paid more. 'I get paid less than what I did New Zealand, when you calculate up the conversion rates,' she told her TikTok followers. The Kiwi stared racking up expensive bills on road tolls the moment she gave authorities her address. 'You get mail every, every, every f***ing day, and it's always being told that I owe money,' she said. A recent letter stated that she owed $9.25 in toll fees on top of a $20 processing fee. '$29 because I went in a tunnel. What do you want from me?' Gabby raged. Kiwi expat Gabby (pictured), has vented her frustrations about the cost of living crisis in Australia compared to New Zealand 'Someone please book me a flight back to New Zealand because I'm done.' Gabby also vented about the cost of insurance and registration of her vehicle after she received a bill for almost $800. 'This has bloody come in the mail, compulsory third party, personal injury insurance (or) green slip certificate,' she fumed. 'Your due date (for) $742.80 (is) on the 25th of August, that's in like, what, two weeks? 'Why do I owe you $800 for f***ing nothing?' She told viewers that she wasn't going to be paying the compulsory third party insurance because she doesn't 'have (the money) anyway'. 'It's just crook. It's crook. It's dumb,' she concluded, calling it 'daylight robbery' Fellow Kiwis agreed that living costs in Australia are insane compared to their homeland. 'I wanted to move to Aussie, now I am having a second thought that I should just stay here in NZ,' one wrote. A second added: 'Bro your making me nervous to leave NZ now,' a second wrote. An Aussie agreed that tolls were a 'nightmare'. 'I currently have $1k in super because my tag wasn't working for a few months unknowingly,' the woman commented. Another added: 'Welcome to Australia. It costs to breathe'. The Kiwi fumed about the cost of tolls (stock image) exceeding $29 after being sent to her through the mail while she pays $500 a week on her half of a flat Kiwis are the fourth largest migrant community in Australia, according to Department of Home Affairs data. About 586,020 Kiwis are living in Australia, a population that has risen by just 2.9 per cent more in the last decade. Many are lured by job opportunities, higher wages and the warm weather. Manager of population indicators for Stats NZ, Tehseen Islam, also revealed that many more Kiwis were crossing the ditch than Aussies, 1News reports. In 2023, about 44,500 New Zealanders left for Australia while about 17,500 Aussies came back in return. Mr Islam also found that people with New Zealand passports made up 84 per cent of departures to Australia and about 61 per cent of people arriving from Australia. The richest politician in US office risked backlash last night when he awkwardly boasted about being a billionaire right after Bernie Sanders ranted against the ultra-wealthy at the Democratic National Convention. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker was taking a jab at Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump who has been accused by lawmakers of exaggerating his net worth. He taunted Trump during night two of the DNC in Chicago, telling the crowd: 'Donald Trump thinks we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich. 'Take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity.' The crowd erupted in cheers of support for the remarks, despite having listened to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders rail against ultra-wealthy Americans moments prior. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker took to the stage during night two of the Democratic National Convention in Chigaco Governor Pritzker's net worth is $3.5billion, while Trump' wealth amounts to around $4.4billion, according to estimates by Forbes. But Trump has been burdened by accusations of inflating his personal finances in years. In 2023 court filings from New York Attorney General Letitia James, the former president was accused of regularly exaggerating his net worth - sometimes by more than $2billion. James said Trump claimed he held $6.7 billion in assets in 2014, but she said that overstated his actual net worth that year by more than $2.2 billion. Meanwhile Gov. Pritzker's family owns the Hyatt hotel chain. Before running for Governor's office in 2018, he ran a private equity firm alongside his brother, Anthony. 'I meet with business leaders all the time and there's one universal thing they all need: people,' Gov. Pritzker said. 'They need more workers to fill all the jobs they have, but the anti-freedom, anti-family policies of MAGA Republicans are driving workers away.' The crowd erupted in cheers of support for the remarks, despite having listened to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders rail against ultra-wealthy Americans moments prior Gov. Pritzker told the crowd Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, would be a pair of safe hands running the nation. He said Americans could experience 'serenity' if Harris wins the November election. 'A serenity that comes with a balanced checkbook, an affordable grocery bill, and a housing market that has room for everyone,' he said. The speech faced a mixed public response, with some voters criticizing him for 'bragging' about his wealth during a time of such economic turmoil. 'Did you just brag about being a billionaire in this economy?' one critic asked on X. 'Is this supposed to be a flex?' another asked. 'Not a good look, might have sounded good in his head but wasn't in reality.' Others celebrated his 'inspiring speech', saying he 'dismantled Donald Trump' in front of the crowd. 'I hope the rest of the country is getting a taste of why we in Illinois like Governor JB Pritzker tonight,' one voter said. 'JB Pritzker is the people's billionaire and you WILL show him some respect,' another said. The timing of the speech will no doubt raise eyebrows as it came directly after Sen. Sanders' impassioned rant against the super-rich. 'Too many of our fellow Americans are struggling everyday to just get by,' Sanders said. 'To put food on the table to pay the rent and to get the healthcare they need. 'My fellow Americans, when 60% of us live paycheck to paycheck the top 1% have never ever had it so good. 'Brothers and sisters, bottom line we need an economy that works for all of us not just the billionaire class.' Private school heads are issuing a joint plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay putting VAT on their fees in January. As part of revenue-raising measures, Labour is pushing ahead with its controversial manifesto promise to end tax breaks for private schools. This will see VAT will be charged on private school fees from January, following a consultation on the policy. But school leaders are warning that imposing a 20 per cent hike on fees in the middle of the academic year will wreak havoc. In a letter to the Treasury, seen by The Times, headteachers, chairs of governors and bursars from about 50 schools are urging Labour to rethink the move. They say the action risks a 'bow wave' of private school pupils surging into the state sector halfway through the school year. The letter also slams the Government for running a consultation that overlaps with the school summer holidays. Private school heads are issuing a joint plea for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to delay putting VAT on their fees in January As part of revenue-raising measures, Labour is pushing ahead with its controversial manifesto promise to end tax breaks for private schools. The letter was written by Jamie Harle, the bursar of St Piran's School in Berkshire. It is being supported by representatives of about a dozen schools including LVS Ascot, Mount Kelly in Devon, Luckley House in Wokingham, Ewell Castle School, St Hugh's School in Woodhall Spa and Stafford Grammar School. Mr Harle told the newspaper: 'The Government's half-hearted attempt at a consultation, most of which runs over school holidays, pays lip service to wanting to consider the full consequences of ambushing state schools with a mid-academic year move of pupils into the state sector that has not been planned or even forecast for. 'The plan is clearly already drawn up, with very little consideration of the full consequences on overwhelmed local authorities and saturated state schools. 'At a time when state school places are already under huge pressure, the influx of significant numbers of new pupils in the middle of an academic year needs full consideration, as does additional provision needed to cater for new pupils joining. 'The rush to bring forward a monumental policy shift, to charge VAT on private education in the UK, must not be thrown at the entire education sector in the middle of an academic year when pupil numbers have already been set and teachers resourced on those forecasts.' The letter, which was being sent to the Treasury today, warns Labour's policy will affect not only the 7 per cent of pupils at private schools. It says 'the implications would be felt far wider and this is about the clear bow wave that is heading to the state sector'. Giving children a fair and equal chance will not be helped by 'saturating state schools in the middle of an academic year in January any more than were you to add VAT to private medical bills or dental care and overwhelm the already saturated NHS', it adds. The group of school leaders want the Government's consultation, due to end on September 15, to run until October 25. A Government spokesman said: 'We want to ensure all children have the best chance in life to succeed. 'Ending tax breaks on private schools will help to raise the revenue needed to fund our education priorities for next year, such as recruiting 6,500 new teachers. 'The consultation provides six weeks for a response and needs to close on September 15 to provide enough time to analyse, consider and advise on responses effectively.' Conservative commentator Matt Walsh raised eyebrows at the Democratic National Convention after crashing the event in a 'white dudes for Kamala Harris' disguise. Walsh sparked backlash from Democrats after he was spotted in his woke liberal disguise - mocking them with a ponytail-wig and 'Kamala Harris for president' hat, as he wandered around the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday. In one scene shared widely across social media, Walsh ambled into the background as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was interviewed by CNN's Kaitlan Collins. After Walsh was seen being escorted out as he attempted to gatecrash the interview, liberal viewers shared their outrage at Walsh's mocking of their convention. One commented: 'Why is (Matt Walsh) walking around the DNC in disguise? Straight up weirdo behavior.' Conservative commentator Matt Walsh crashed the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday as he was spotted wearing a 'white dudes for Kamala Harris' disguise The conservative commentator ambled into the background of an interview with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, before he was escorted away Walsh's undercover look appears to be a part of his upcoming political satire film 'Am I Racist?', where the pundit antagonizes an anti-racism workshop in one scene. After being recognized from his previous film, 'What Is A Woman?', Walsh decided to adopt the same look as someone he interviewed in that flick for his upcoming movie. Mimicking University of Tennessee gender expert Patrick Grzanka, he kept his thick beard but sported a man-bun to poke fun at long-haired liberals. While the disguise may have helped him for the rest of the upcoming film - including role-playing a bumbling rookie diversity consultant who spouts racial justice buzzwords - his efforts at the DNC were less than covert. He was quickly recognized by fans and critics, with some true-Democrats taking issue with his mocking of their adoration of Kamala Harris. Alongside his ponytail and red Harris cap, Walsh also plastered his blazer with stickers of the Democratic nominee's platform, including 'Freedom from gun violence' and 'Vote to fix the court.' Alongside his ponytail and red Harris cap, Walsh also plastered his blazer with stickers of the Democratic nominee's platform, including 'Freedom from gun violence' and 'Vote to fix the court' While fans of Walsh felt his efforts were 'hilarious', his appearance at the DNC was far from welcome by Kamala Harris supporters as they urged attendees not to feed him content for his new documentary. '(Matt Walsh) is at the DNC posing as a delegate. DO NOT TALK TO HIM,' one critic said on X. 'Call him out! Tell security if you can... spread the word!!! #hatemonger #fake #loser' Another shared images of Walsh as they branded him 'weird' and 'a creep.' While not everyone appeared to understand Walsh's gimmick, others quickly recognized his ponytail look as part of his new anti-woke documentary. One viewer joked that he is a 'man on a mission to understand his internalized racism - where better to do so than at the DNC?' In his upcoming film, Matt Walsh was too easy to recognize with his trademark plaid shirt, beard, and quiff - so he opted for a long-haired liberal look In one scene, Walsh in his alter-ego delivers a workshop that introduces attendees to 'healing pain' Walsh gave DailyMail.com an exclusive look at his new documentary this month, and shared a clip showing the moment he realized he had to go undercover for some scenes. He'd snuck himself into a support group called 'Grieving White Privilege, Ant-racist Allyship Training', pretending to be named Steven. But he made the mistake of sporting his trademark attire a plaid shirt, with thick beard and quiff. In the session, an attendee realized they had one of America's leading right-wing voices in their midst, which quickly turned the atmosphere sour. 'I want to know that my physical safety and yours and everybody else's here is okay,' said a woman attendee, her voice trembling. Breeshia Wade, the black woman leading the group of white attendees, urged Walsh to leave - before other members threatened to call the police. In an email to The Mail, Walsh poked fun at the incident as he quipped: 'I wanted to confront my whiteness, and they called the cops on me... that doesn't seem like a safe space to me.' Donald Trump holds his first open-air rally on Wednesday since being shot, but will deliver his speech from behind bullet-proof glass. Shipping containers were stacked two high around the perimeter of the site at the North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro, obscuring the line of sight to the podium where the former president will address supporters. He is making his third appearance of the week as he seeks to draw the spotlight away from the Democratic Party's convention in Chicago and restart a campaign that has stuttered ever since Joe Biden dropped out of the race to be replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump is expected to hit Harris and lay out his national security plans for a second term. 'Since weak, failed, and dangerously liberal Kamala Harris took office America has become a global laughingstock,' the Trump campaign said. Donald Trump holds his first open-air rally on Wednesday since being shot, but will deliver his speech from behind bullet-proof glass 'From our wide-open border to the botched Afghanistan withdrawal to the Hamas-Israeli war to enabling the Iranian terrorist regime, this administrations weakness on the world stage has put Americas national security in jeopardy and brought us to the brink of World War III.' But the location is as important as his words as Trump seeks to show that a would-be assassin cannot put an end to his trademark outdoor rallies. There are some concessions to the shooting barely five weeks ago, when he came within an inch of death. A three-inch thick panel of ballistic glass was installed in front of the lectern. Another three panels protect his rear side. And the podium and seating are carefully located between hangar buildings and stacks of shipping containers, to screen off the rally site. Supporters, some of whom slept in the cars, began bagging seats in the open air soon after 10am when the gates opened. A three-inch thick panel of ballistic glass was installed in front of the lectern. Another three panels protect his rear side The podium and seating are carefully located between hangar buildings and stacks of shipping containers, to screen off the rally site The location of Trump's rally today is as important as his words as Trump seeks to show that a would-be assassin cannot put an end to his trademark outdoor rallies The screen of bulletproof glass goes up around the stage ahead of Trump's first rally An American flag will hang over the stage in North Carolina in a very similar setup seen in the iconic images from Butler Martha Agnew, 61, in a silver cowboy hat and 'women for Trump' badge, said she had no qualms about taking a front-row seat at her 37th rally. 'I'm very spiritual, so I think divine protection, common sense and what you see here ...,' she said, pointing at the panels of bullet-proof glass, 'so absolutely I feel very safe.' She said it was important to be at the rally. 'It's about showing up and standing up,' he said. After Asheboro, Trump heads on to Arizona for an event on the border and on Friday he is in Nevada, to highlight his 'no tax on tips' plan Trump is spending the week crisscrossing battleground states, rolling out his policy platform. On Monday, he was in Pennsylvania where he talked about the economy. On Tuesday, it was Michigan and law and order. After Asheboro, Trump heads on to Arizona for an event on the border and on Friday he is in Nevada, to highlight his 'no tax on tips' plan. However, he has seen his lead in the polls all but wiped out by Harris' momentum since taking on the Democratic nomination. A single mother has copped thousands of dollars worth of traffic fines despite having neither a valid licence or a car. Tamara Oliver, 32, claims that she has received 16 different infringement notices this year alone in relation to 14 different licence plate numbers, none of which are hers as she does not own a vehicle. Her most recent driver's licence expired three years ago. Several alleged offences captured on road safety cameras show bearded men behind the wheel. The ongoing saga has brought the Melbourne mum to breaking point, amid fears her identity has been stolen after getting caught up in the Optus mass data breach two years ago. 'It's just hard and (on) my mental health it is taking its toll,' Ms Oliver told A Current Affair while fighting back tears. 'I am not the driver. I don't drive a vehicle, I don't even have a licence. I have no idea what to think actually because it is unexplainable. 'It doesn't make any sense and it shouldn't make any sense in anyone's eyes. It doesn't add up and it's clearly fraudulent.' The ongoing ordeal has brought single mum Tamara Oliver (pictured) tp breaking point While most of the fines dating back to 2022, are from Victoria, three were in NSW, including Sydney, a city Tamara insists she has never been. 'It needs to be investigated,' she said. Some fines were sent to Ms Oliver's mother Sharon, who lives on the Victoria/NSW border. 'To see my daughter, she has pulled herself together all these years, and now this has happened and it has taken it's toll,' Sharon told the program. Ms Oliver was able to track down photos captured by road safety cameras of four alleged offences. They all clearly show men behind the wheel, including two with beards. 'Clearly, I don't have a beard. The person in the picture is a male. Anyone with eyes can see it's not me,' Ms Oliver said. A possible explanation for the mistaken fines is that Ms Oliver was among 10million Aussies whose personal identity, including her old driver's licence, was stolen by hackers during the Optus mass data breach. An image captured by a roadside camera of an alleged male offender for one of the fines Tamara received Melbourne lawyer Justin Lawrence said it could be those receiving the fines have filled out a form nominating another person as the driver and used Ms Oliver's details. These statements only require the nominated driver's name, address, date of birth and licence number. Mr Lawrence said the process was open to abuse. 'At the very least, you should have the person who is nominated actually sign the form to acknowledge they've been nominated,' he said. Mr Lawrence said Mr Oliver's starting point is not pay the fines and instead request authorities to prove that she was the alleged offender. 'There is a system glitch there somewhere and she's entitled to challenge those fines,' he said. 'The system relies on the information that it has. If the information is inaccurate, then the system can't work.' Ms Oliver has made a formal complaint to Victoria Police in a desperate bid to clear her name. Several offences captured by road cameras show men behind the wheel 'Victoria Police will now work with Fines Victoria to investigate the circumstances around these incidents and resolve these matters,' a statement read. 'Members of the public who believe they have been falsely nominated for a traffic infringement should contact Fines Victoria.' Fines Victoria says it was assisting Ms Oliver with her matter and urged motorists who believe they have incorrectly received an infringement to submit a nomination form to the agency that issued the fine and provide supporting evidence. Optus again apologised for the 2022 mass data breach. 'Optus deeply regrets the cyberattack occurred. Customers expect their information to remain safe and this did not happen,' the telco told the program. Bears, bongos, giraffes, aardvarks and owls all stepped onto the scales today as Whipsnade Zoo embarked on its annual weigh-in day. The weigh-in day is a vital part of animal's expert care, with all creatures having their measurements recorded to ensure zookeepers can track their health and wellbeing. Photographs taken today showed zookeeper's Olly Bosher, Adam Davidson, Helen Rawson and Anna Brink carrying out the checks. All of the data will be collected and placed in a shared database called the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). This enables zookeepers and veterinarians around the world to compare important information on thousands of threatened species. Zookeeper Anna Brink poses for photographs with a Red Hornbill during the annual weigh-in Zookeeper Olly Bosher poses for photographs with an aardvark during the annual weigh-in Burrowing owl named Ettie is weighed by keeper Anna Brink Reticulated giraffes are measured at the annual weigh in at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire A brown bear gets measure during the annual weigh-in today It comes as London Zoo carried out their weigh-in day on Monday, with lions, camels, penguins and meerkats all taking part. Staff strategically place food next to the scales to distract the animals while they record their measurements. It has been a busy few days for the zoo, as the event came just hours after a Banksy artwork painted there had to be removed for safekeeping. The piece, which shows a gorilla lifting up a shutter and allowing a number of birds and a seal to escape, has been replaced with a replica. A nearby sign reads 'Banksy woz ere' and offers an apology to any disappointed fans of the street artist. The painting on the entrance to the zoo was the ninth and final work in a series of images of animals created across the capital. A bongo named Pembe is weighed by keepers Adam Davidson and Helen Rawson at the annual weigh in at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Zookeeper Olly Bosher poses for photographs with an aardvark Zookeepers Adam Davidson and Helen Rawson stands with a bongo during the weigh-in Staff strategically place food next to the scales to distract the animals while they record their measurements Angela Ryan, head of zoological operations at London Zoo, said the weigh-in, which began on Monday and can take up to a week, will form an important part of gathering data to help protect animals in the wild. Although the zoo houses more than 14,000 animals, Ms Ryan said the keepers will only have time to measure and log the weight of around 400 creatures. She said: 'Today is the annual weigh-in so it's a day or a week long, really, where we're going to weigh all our animals and make sure we've got it recorded on a database. 'It's a database called Zims... and that's something that all zoos around the world use. 'We can then share our data, we can check that our animals are all in the same kind of bracket, with their weights healthy, but also something that we can share with conservationists in the field, which is really important to us. 'The research that we can do here on our animals is then used to help protect them in the wild.' Global South solidarity urged 08:05, August 21, 2024 By Xu Wei and Cui Jia ( China Daily President Xi Jinping has a group photo taken on Aug 20, 2024, with participants attending events in Beijing for the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the National People's Congress joining the Inter-Parliamentary Union. (FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY) President Xi Jinping has underlined solidarity and cooperation with developing nations as "the unshakeable bedrock of China's foreign policy", and called for joint efforts to build a world of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared prosperity. Addressing parliamentary leaders from various countries on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi stressed China's readiness to work with all nations, particularly the developing countries, to serve as a stabilizing force for peace, a pillar for open development, a contributor to global governance and a promoter of civilizational exchanges. The parliamentary leaders gathered in Beijing to attend events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the affiliation of the National People's Congress China's top legislature to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a global organization of parliaments dedicated to promoting democratic governance, institutions, and values. The leaders included Tanzanian National Assembly Speaker Tulia Ackson, Namibian National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi, and Surinamese National Assembly Speaker Marinus Bee. "Although we come from different continents separated by vast oceans, we are all members of the Global South. Despite the differences in our national conditions and circumstances, we are like-minded brothers and close partners," Xi said. Legislative bodies are responsible for and capable of helping to promote equal and trusting interstate relations, expand mutually beneficial development cooperation, and drive just and reasonable global governance, he said. Xi emphasized China's unwavering commitment to high-level opening-up and its determination to inject fresh momentum into global economic development. He expressed China's willingness for deeper exchanges and cooperation with the legislative bodies of other nations, particularly in exploring modernization paths suited to their own national contexts. The president pledged China's continued support for the NPC in strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the IPU, including steps to enhance the exchange of legislative and governance experiences and build up capacities to fulfill responsibilities on the basis of mutual respect for each other's chosen development paths and systems of governance. The parliamentary leaders expressed their deep appreciation for China's consistent efforts to promote unity, trust, friendship, and cooperation among the world's parliaments. They acknowledged China's significant contributions to the IPU's development and the realization of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Adrien Duval, speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly, said the events have provided a crucial platform for discussions on modernizing the respective parliaments for the good of the nations and their people. "We each have our own respective models of parliament, of democracy. But one thing we have in common is that we can really drive facilitation of access to people, for them to really come to understand and come to take part in governance and in the democratic process," Duval said. Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, bureau chief of the Parliament of the Maldives, said China has been playing a huge role as a member of the IPU for the last 40 years and in the global economy and global affairs. "It's important too for the world to learn more about China's political system," he said. He added that China is a "great example" of how a socialist country is "able to assist the rest of the world without disturbing others' peace of mind". (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Cambodia encourages businesspeople to partake in 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning Xinhua) 13:04, August 21, 2024 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has encouraged businesspeople, entrepreneurs, investors and service providers to join the 21st China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), scheduled for Sept. 24-28 in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a Ministry of Commerce's announcement on Wednesday. "The CAEXPO is a significant platform for trade and investment exchanges between ASEAN member states and China," the announcement said. "To promote business and investment activities between Cambodia and China, the Ministry of Commerce, as a co-organizer, would like to invite all Cambodian businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers, who wish to apply as Trade Visitors, to submit their applications by Aug. 31, 2024 at the latest," it said. The participants will be eligible for designated hotel coupons, complimentary dining vouchers at the exhibition venue, and shuttle bus services between the hotel and the CAEXPO venue, the announcement said. They will be able to join business-to-business matching services, talking with their potential partners in the areas of food processing and packaging equipment, digital technology and agricultural products, and new energy-powered electronic products, it said, adding that they will also be eligible for study trips to industrial parks and enterprises in Guangxi. Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, an arm of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said China-ASEAN relations have seen significant developments in recent years, particularly in economic cooperation, regional security, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. "Economic cooperation has been a central pillar for China-ASEAN relations, as both sides have become each other's largest trading partners for several consecutive years," he told Xinhua. "China and ASEAN have promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, focusing on infrastructure development, digital economy, green technologies, and resilient supply chains," he added. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Netanyahu reportedly insisted that Israel would keep troops in key location Ongoing talks aimed at achieving a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war appear to be hanging by a thread after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the region without securing any peace deal. The diplomat last week embarked on his ninth trip to the region since October 7 but left despondent last night after urging Hamas to urgently accept a US-backed proposal, while also entering into a public spat with Israel over its future presence in the Gaza Strip. Washington's negotiators, working with mediators from Qatar and Egypt, had presented a proposal that Hamas and Israel had earlier deemed suitable, with representatives of the Palestinian group expected to return to talks this week in Cairo. But a day after Blinken said US ally Israel was on board, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel maintain a military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, the border between Gaza and Egypt that Israeli forces seized from Hamas, whom Israel says relies on secret tunnels to bring in weapons. Blinken said Israel had already agreed on the 'schedule and location' of troop withdrawals from Gaza, with Netanyahu seen as having reneged on the deal. Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on a hotel, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, August 20, 2024 A man looks at the debris after an Israeli strike on a school, housing displaced Palestinians, in the Rimal neighbourhood of central Gaza City on August 20, 2024 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) in Jerusalem on August 19, 2024 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters on the tarmac in Doha on August 20, 2024 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves ahead of his departure from Doha on August 20, 2024 Families of hostages who were kidnaped by Hamas on Oct 7 deadly attack and supporters hold signs and US flags during a demonstration outside a press event by US secretary of state Antony Blinken on August 19, 2024 in Tel Aviv Tents are crammed together as displaced Palestinians camp on the beach, west of Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 Since the conflict began, it was made 'very clear that the United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel', Blinken said when asked about Netanyahu's remarks. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy, called Netanyahu's 'maximalist statements' unhelpful for reaching a truce. 'Time is of the essence,' Blinken said after stops in key Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt as well as Israel on his ninth tour of the region aiming to halt the more than 10-month war. 'With every passing day, more bad things can happen to more good people who don't deserve it,' he said before flying out of Doha today. 'This needs to get done, and it needs to get done in the days ahead, and we will do everything possible to get it across the finish line,' he concluded, calling for 'maximum flexibility' from both Israel and Hamas. Blinken has sought to entice Netanyahu to compromise by offering Israel the prospect of greater normalisation with the Arab world, including Saudi Arabia, guardian of Islam's two holiest sites. But Egypt, the first Arab nation to make peace with Israel, has been infuriated by Israeli's takeover of the Philadelphi Corridor and is unlikely to condone a long-term military presence there. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, meeting Blinken in El Alamein earlier this week, told him 'the time has come to end the ongoing war,' a statement said. Blinken then travelled to Doha to meet with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani before heading stateside, but a US official said the Qatari ruler was feeling unwell and they would speak by phone. This handout picture released by the Israeli army on August 21, 2024 reportedly shows the Deputy Chief of the General Staff Major-General Amir Baram (C) during the previous day taking part in operations with the 98th Division in the Gaza Strip A Palestinian man inspects the damage as water reservoirs belonging to the Coastal Municipalities Water Authority are out of service due to Israeli attacks in Khan Yunis, Gaza on August 14, 2024 A Palestinian man inspects the damage as water reservoirs belonging to the Coastal Municipalities Water Authority are out of service due to Israeli attacks in Khan Yunis, Gaza on August 14, 2024 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gestures in Tel Aviv as he departs for Egypt on August 20, 2024 Hamas on October 7 carried out the deadliest-ever attack on Israel, which has responded with a relentless offensive. The Palestinian Islamist group said it was 'keen to reach a ceasefire' but protested 'new conditions' from Israel in the latest US proposal. Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes across Gaza have proceeded around the clock. The Israeli military said it struck about 30 targets throughout Gaza overnight and that troops 'eliminated dozens' of militants. Further escalating tensions, an Israeli strike in Lebanon's southern city of Sidon killed a Fatah official, a senior member of the Palestinian group and a security source said. The killing of Khalil Makdah marked the first such attack reported on Fatah, a rival to Hamas, since the Gaza war broke out, and it could further complicate ceasefire talks. Lebanon's health ministry said earlier Israeli strikes in the country's east killed one person and wounded 20, hours after four were killed in the south. Cross-border skirmishes have taken place almost daily between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, but fears of a greater crisis soared when Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed on a visit to Tehran on July 31. Iran has vowed retaliation, blaming Israel for the assassination, but has held off so far, with the United States sending additional forces and warning a wider war could destroy prospects for a Gaza ceasefire. Elsewhere in the region, a merchant vessel was struck by three projectiles off Yemen after exchanging fire with two boats, British maritime security agency UKMTO said. There was no immediate claim for the attack, but it comes as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement keeps up a campaign against international shipping that it says is in support of Gaza. Palestinian civilians and civil defense teams conduct search and rescue operation after Israeli airstrike hit Mustafa Hafez school, where displaced Palestinians take shelter in the Er-Rimal neighborhood, in Gaza Strip on August 20, 2024 Palestinian students, gathered on the ruins of a house, use their mobile phones to study online due to the destruction and closure of schools and universities, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip August 20, 2024 Palestinian civilians and civil defense teams conduct search and rescue operation after Israeli airstrike hit Mustafa Hafez school, where displaced Palestinians take shelter in the Er-Rimal neighborhood, in Gaza Strip on August 20, 2024 Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for delays in agreeing a deal to end fighting, free Israeli hostages and allow vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. Netanyahu has faced public protests in Israel urging him to accept a truce, which would bring back hostages whose plight has plagued Israelis. The Israeli military said Tuesday it had retrieved the bodies of six hostages from tunnels in southern Gaza, some of whom were killed in Israeli military operations. The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Out of 251 people taken hostage that day, 105 are still being held hostage inside the Gaza Strip, including 34 the military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed 40,223 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. Stephen Colbert shouted down protesters who tried to derail his interview with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday. Pelosi joined Colbert in studio in Chicago to talk about the Democratic National Convention. Amid a conversation about her alleged role in pressuring President Joe Biden to cede the nomination, a woman in the audience was heard screaming at the top of her lungs. It's not clear what exactly the woman was saying, but she mentioned Palestine. The interruption was loud enough to get the attention of Colbert, who stopped the interview dead in its tracks and shifted the conversation over to America's role in the Israel-Gaza war. 'Hold on, young lady, I can hear you,' he said, explaining to viewers watching on TV that there was a protest going on during the live broadcast. 'Were actually at a commercial break, but the subject is on Israel and Palestine.' Stephen Colbert is seen gesturing up at the anti-Israel protestors who were interrupting his interview with Nancy Pelosi A Gaza protester interrupts Colbert's interview with Pelosi, and he handles it perfectly "The subject is on Israel and Palestine and if you have a seat, we have to go to commercial break. When we come back, I'll ask the next question I had on that subject if you will listen, ok." pic.twitter.com/YsSDZlnxIo Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 21, 2024 He extended an olive branch to the protestors, telling them he would ask his next question about Israel policy after the commercial break. For the last several days, hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators have besieged the streets of downtown Chicago and the United Center, where the DNC is taking place. Colbert's studio is roughly 3 miles away from the United Center, and protestors were seen gathering outside in anticipation of the Pelosi interview. After the commercial break, Colbert, just like he promised, asked a question that pertained directly to how America has been posturing itself as the war in Gaza has raged on since October. 'There is a political protester here. There is a political convention in town, you are a politician and protests are natural. People are protesting, even within the Democratic Party, there is dissension over what is the proper use of American power, especially protected power overseas, both firm and soft power.' 'If the goal is the peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?' Colbert asked Pelosi. Pelosi answered by first touting Biden's experience as a foreign policy negotiator. Pelosi reacts to the protestors being unsatisfied with her response by claiming she couldn't hear what they were shouting Hundreds of police and pro-Palestine protesters descended on Chicago when the Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday Dozens of police are seen on bikes rallying to prepare for the influx of protesters 'For years, he was chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a senator a long time, vice president, and president. So his experience globally has been huge.' She then brought up how she went to John F. Kennedy's inauguration as a student, where he famously said: 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' 'That very next sentence that he says in the speech is, "To the countries of the world, ask not what America can do for you, but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind." And that is our mission, and that is what Joe Biden is all about,' Pelosi said. The first time she addresses the subject matter directly comes after this, where she says: 'We want the hostages freed, but we dont want children killed in Gaza.' She added that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire, something she hopes Hamas will agree to as well. 'But it takes me to the point of saying to you: War has no role in a civilized society,' she said. That line elicited applause from the Colbert audience, but as soon as the clapping died down, another protestor began shouting, visibly rattling the longtime congresswoman. After the final interruption by protestors near the end of the show, Colbert finally get a little more stern with them, saying: 'Please don't interrupt my guests' After ad break on the live show, Stephen Colbert empowered the protesters shouting at Nancy Pelosi: As you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people...Would you like to respond to what theyre saying? @colbertlateshow #Colbert pic.twitter.com/9A9gf8aHnu Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) August 21, 2024 'Well, as you can see from the continued protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people,' Colbert said before directing his attention to the protestors. 'Hold on, will you listen to her response.' 'With their screaming I can't hear them,' Pelosi said. Colbert did his best to refocus the interview once more. 'Theyre saying that the United States should not have any role in supplying Israel arms to kill the people of Gaza,' he said. 'Israel has a right to defend itself, and the hostages should be returned,' Pelosi replied. 'But the other part of it, that has been so major for all of us for many years, is that there must be a two-state solution.' She elaborated: 'You cannot have peace unless you have a two-state solution. Israel, a secure Jewish democratic state in the region, and the Palestinians, having their own secure country there as well.' The protestors piped up yet again after she concluded, leading Colbert to finally get a little more stern with them. 'Please don't interrupt my guests,' he said, gesturing up at the demonstrators. It's unclear who was responsible for the protests, but according to Variety, the group left on their own accord and the matter was resolved peacefully. The way Randall Dill tells it, he was a 'model employee' for IBM, nurturing relationships with the Pentagon and other big spenders. Then came the diversity targets, and the Michigander was kicked out of the computing giant so it could hire more women and minorities, he says. Worse still says a lawsuit filed with a Michigan US District Court on Wednesday Dill's bosses didn't tell him straight why he was being axed. Instead, they said he wasn't bringing in enough business even though that was never his job, the suit says. In reality, the papers say, the managers wanted to bump up their bonuses by culling white and Asian male staff and recruit more women and other minorities. Randall Dill alleges that his boss Jay Zook (pictured) and others sacked him from IBM in a cull of white male employees to land a bigger bonus It's the second lawsuit against IBM and its subsidiaries over diversity-hiring quotas at the $135 billion research and computing company In doing so, IBM violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, said Dill's lawyer, Gene Hamilton, a director at America First Legal (AFL). Hamilton says too many bosses hire and fire nowadays based on 'immutable characteristics that individual Americans cannot control.' 'No one should be discriminated against based on their race or sex, and we are committed to vindicating our client's rights in court,' he says. The $135 billion company, which is headquartered in Armonk, New York, says the lawsuit is 'baseless.' The case spotlights corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in action. Advocates of DEI say it helps get more women and minorities into jobs and colleges. Critics say it too often denies opportunities to straight white men, even when they're better candidates. Dill started with IBM in October 2016 as a senior managing consultant, serving the US Army and other long-term clients from his home in Muskegon, on the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline. He repeatedly scored high in performance reviews and won praise at monthly meetings, says the 18-page complaint. But in July 2023, Dill's boss Jay Zook told him he was 'not bringing in the work' and put him on a performance improvement plan (PIP), it is claimed. That was a shocker, as Dill had only helped existing IBM clients never brought in new business. Still, he tried to land a contract for the firm. But when he asked for support, Zook told him: 'You are on your own,' the suit says. A controversial video emerged last year in which IBM CEO Arvind Krishna vowed to punish executives who failed to meet diversity-hiring quotas BREAKING LEAKED VIDEO: CEO of IBM @ArvindKrishna admits to using coercion to fire people and take away their bonuses unless they discriminate in the hiring process. You got to move both forward by a percentage that leads to a plus on your bonus," Krishna said about hiring pic.twitter.com/UUK26HX8IP James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) December 12, 2023 Mike Chamberlain headed Simpler Consulting, the section of IBM that Dill worked for He was sacked in October 2023. Dill says the performance plan was really a 'pretext to force him out of the company,' which had launched DEI-hiring quotas the previous year. The lawsuit refers to DEI targets spelled out in IBM's corporate filings. Weeks after Dill was fired, a video was released showing IBM's CEO Arvind Krishna revealing how managers were under pressure to meet DEI hiring quotas. AFL lawyer Gene Hamilton 'All executives in the company have to move forward by 1 percent on both underrepresented minorities and gender,' Krishna said. 'That leads to a plus on [their] bonus. By the way, if you lose, you lose part of your bonus.' Krishna said hiring chiefs needed to get more women, blacks, and Hispanics into the company to get their bonuses. There were already enough white and Asian men on board, he added, in the unearthed video from 2021. A whistleblower leaked the clip to 'guerilla journalist' James O'Keefe. Tech boss Elon Musk at the time posted that IBM's quotas were: 'Extremely concerning and obviously illegal.' The lawsuit says the performance plans were a way for IBM bosses to 'quickly and cheaply' ditch white men employees like Dill, so Zook and others could land bigger bonuses. AFL founder and former Trump administration official Stephen Miller says he's fighting 'illegal race-based discrimination' at IBM 'The quota system is tied to bonus compensation in such a way that it incentivized impermissible racial discrimination and disincentivizes refusal to engage in such discrimination,' says the suit. Dill seeks back-pay and compensation for the 'mental anguish' and 'humiliation' he's endured, and his legal costs paid. An IBM spokesperson told The Mail that 'these allegations are baseless.' 'Neither race nor gender played any role in the decision to end this individuals employment with IBM,' she said. 'Discrimination of any kind has absolutely no place at IBM, we do not use hiring quotas and never have.' It's the second suit AFL, a conservative legal action group, has launched against the computing and research giant. A former sales chief in May sued IBM's Red Hat for being sacked alongside 20 other white men during the software subsidiary's aggressive DEI push. Allan Kingsley Wood, a white man, says he faced race and gender discrimination because of the company's hiring targets for women and minorities. The suits are part of growing number of legal filings against DEI practices since the US Supreme Court's landmark June 2023 ruling to end affirmative action in college admissions. AFL has filed more than 30 complaints to the EEOC, a top US civil rights agency. Lawsuits have claimed that hiring and recruitment decisions made around both jobs and fellowships at large companies are biased against white workers. Advocates of DEI schemes say they bring more black, brown, female, and queer talent into offices and colleges and raise morale across the board. But critics say they're a 'woke' virtue-signaling exercise that fosters backlash discrimination against straight, white men. A Florida couple who poured $350,000 into a parcel of land have been taught a cruel lesson after discovering they don't have council permission to build homes on it. Hani Levy and her husband Maikel Gil Hernandez had dreams of building three two-story homes on their half-acre block in Chula Vista, a quiet neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale, which they purchased in September 2023. A lawsuit filed by the couple alleges the land was advertised as a 'build-to-suit residential' and accuses the seller and agents of 'intentionally' failing to disclose the fact it was landlocked. The pair emailed city officials to inquire about developing the land but only heard back about the specific obstacles they would face after closing on the sale. A narrow road leads to the lot from the main street. The city told them the road is not public and there is no other way to access the property, meaning the land cannot be developed. Because they paid in cash, there was no requirement to have the land surveyed. Hani Levy and her husband Maikel Gil Hernandez had dreams of building three two-story homes on their half-acre block in Chula Vista, a quiet neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale, which they purchased in September 2023 The couple had inquired with the city about developing the land via email, but only heard back after closing on the sale Neighbors across from them are the legal owners of the private street. They were asked if they'd consider selling a section of the road to assist Levy and Hernandez, but declined. 'I don't want this to happen to anyone else,' Levy told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. 'This has been a nightmare.' When the couple learned of the predicament, they attempted to rescind the sale, but it was too late. They've since filed a lawsuit against both the seller and the real estate agent for failing to disclose that there was no public access to the lot. When the couple learned of the predicament, they attempted to rescind the sale, but it was too late A narrow road leads to the lot from the main street. The city told them the road is not public and there is no other way to access the property, meaning the land cannot be developed The suit, seen by the Sun Sentinel, states: 'Seller and agent defendants intentionally failed to disclose to the buyer that the property was landlocked and lacked any access to be able to proceed with building on the lot all while listing the property as perfect land to build on.' The couple have also struck an agreement with a separate neighbor, who agreed to sell them a strip of land which can be built into a road connecting their lot to the street. In exchange, they've handed over a piece of their land, agreed to erect a fence and build their neighbor a pool. In all, they expect this will add an extra $150,000 cost to the project. But they still need to get the official go-ahead to start construction. A spokesperson for Fort Lauderdale City told DailyMail.com they 'understand the unique circumstances' in this case and are 'continuing to work with the owner.' 'Any private real estate transaction is between the parties involved and includes certain disclosures to be made and information shared in good faith between the seller and purchaser.' Attorney Marc Brown, representing Levy and her husband, told the publication would-be buyers should always seek independent advice before going ahead with a purchase. 'They had the title company but they didn't have an independent attorney,' Brown told the publication. 'The title agent attorney was assisting them and clearing everything, but they needed to have their own attorney also. Title agents are sometimes just handling the closing and not always representing the buyer as their attorney as well.' DailyMail.com has contacted the legal firm who represented the seller during the sale. This is the first picture of the Baptist church leader left critically injured in a stabbing rampage which killed his wife. Joshua Obinim, 64, is fighting for his life after a knifeman launched a terrifying attack, killing his wife, Alberta, 43, on Sunday evening. The couple's 17-year-old daughter was also seriously injured in the triple stabbing at their home, in Gorton, Manchester. Police have confirmed that both Mr Obinim, who is a caretaker and pastor at the Blessed Baptist Temple in nearby Levenshulme, and the teenager remain in hospital undergoing treatment. Anthony Clement, 43, an administrator at the church, said they were praying for Mr Obinim, who was in a critical condition, and his daughter. This is the first picture of Baptist church leader Joshua Obinim, 64, who was left critically injured in a stabbing rampage which killed his wife Alberta Obinim, 43, was killed after a knifeman launched a terrifying attack at their home in Manchester on Sunday evening Police (scene at the scene on Barnard Rd , Gorton) have confirmed that both Mr Obinim and the couple's 17-year-old daughter are in hospital undergoing treatment 'They are a good church-going family,' he said. 'They are very good people.' Officers are continuing to question a 22-year-old man, who was 'known to the victims,' on suspicion of murder and have described the attack as a domestic incident. Eyewitnesses reported hearing screams and seeing residents of the Obinim's semi-detached home jumping from windows to escape the knifeman at around 11.20pm. One said he saw the attacker chasing and stabbing a girl as she fled along the road. Mrs Obinim, a mother-of-four, is believed to have been stabbed repeatedly as she tried to protect a young child, who she grabbed from her bedroom and rushed outside. A child was later found hiding in bushes by neighbours. Local Keelan Sands, 30, said: 'I heard all the screaming. I thought there was a fight going on. I saw all the police blue lights. 'One of the neighbours told me to stay back because someone had been stabbed. They said there was a man on the floor. It was shocking, I was shaking. I heard the dad was stabbed in the throat and the neck. I heard one of the police telling him to "stay with me".' Floral tributes have been left outside the property, on Barnard Road, in memory of Mrs Obinim, who worked as a home carer and was an active member of Manchester's Ghanaian community. The couple are also thought to have a grown up son, a university engineering graduate, who also worked as a delivery driver. Police and forensic officers pictured at the scene in Barnard Road on Monday morning A drone shot shows the police cordon and forensic tents set up outside the home Floral tributes have been left outside the property in memory of Mrs Obinim, who worked as a home carer and was an active member of Manchester's Ghanaian community Family friend, Ibrahim Abu, also known as Obudo, said Mrs Obinim was 'a very nice lady'. 'I knew her very well,' he said. 'We all go to church together. She always talked to people and was a mother to everyone. She was always laughing.' A colleague of Mrs Obinim, who left a bunch of white roses at the scene, said the situation 'didn't seem real'. She described Mrs Obinim as 'amazing'. 'She was so kind and caring,' the colleague added. 'She was a laugh, she was just funny. The people we used to care for loved her. I don't think anybody would have a bad word to say about her, she was really nice. She was well loved at work.' The captain of Mike Lynch's doomed superyacht has been questioned for more than two hours by Italian prosecutors about the disaster. New Zealander James Cutfield, 51, a 'well respected' seafarer, was quizzed until late yesterday evening by prosecutors from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutors Office. Mr Cutfield, who survived the shipwreck, is recovering in hospital with his wife by his side. Prosecutors are expected to interview other survivors as part of the investigation. According to the Giornale Di Sicilia, prosecutors questioned Mr Cutfield for several hours as they tried to reconstruct the Bayesian's final moments. Mr Cutfield was in charge of the vessel when it capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm, leaving one man - the ship's chef - confirmed dead and six passengers missing. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. A former competitive sailor, James married his wife last year in Palma, Mallorca. He has eight years' experience captaining luxury yachts and has worked in the industry for three decades. The luxury 30million sailboat was anchored just a few hundred metres off the coast of Porticello on calm seas when it was suddenly struck by a violent tornado, known as a waterspout, just before 5am on Monday. Mr Cutfield spoke for the first time about the tragedy from his hospital bed in Palermo, telling an Italian newspaper: 'We didn't see it coming.' Officials today confirmed the bodies of two missing passengers had been found. The body of at least one person was brought ashore shortly before 3pm local time, before being placed into a waiting ambulance in the harbour of Porticello. The remains of the pair, whose names or sex have not yet been revealed, were reportedly found in the hull of the boat behind two mattresses, with claims that one is a 'heavily built man'. It comes as: James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm Divers in scuba gear stand on a fire service boat as they prepare to resume the search operation in Sicily this morning Rescue workers look at the plans of the the Bayesian as they organise a search operation for six people who are still missing after the superyacht sank A video still showing the Bayesian yacht days before the disaster on Monday Italian rescuer return to Porticello Harbour after dive to shipwreck of the Bayesian as the search enters its third day. Pictured: Wednesday, August 21 Mike Lynch (pictured) invited family and friends on his superyacht to celebrate his triumph over fraud charges in the US. Lynch is missing alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah Six guests, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah have been missing since the yacht sank, with specialist divers desperately trying to access the boat amid hope survivors could be alive in air pockets inside the vessel. Also unaccounted for since disaster struck is Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy and American citizens Chris Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda Morvillo. Officials are investigating whether hatches left open by crew caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes. An engineer had claimed the missing passengers could still be alive in air pockets 164ft below the surface, meaning divers - who can only remain underwater for ten minutes per dive due to the depth of the wreck - are competing in a race against time. Their operation has been hampered by difficulty getting into the ship with divers forced to smash their way through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to one area and other parts of the wrecked vessel blocked by furniture. One expert at the scene said an early focus of the official investigation into the tragedy, launched by prosecutors in nearby Termini Imerese, would be on whether the yacht's crew had closed access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck. Investigators would look at whether appropriate measures had been taken, given the forecasts for bad weather overnight, and if any of the crew members are criminally liable. Sailing expert Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, also said that he believes open hatches and doors could have contributed to the rapid sinking. He said: 'I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side. 'I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.' Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, said that a boat the size of the Bayesian would only sink so quickly by taking in a huge amount of water. He suggested that portholes, windows or other openings may have been left open, letting in water. Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the vessel's occupants wanting air to flow through while they slept. Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains. Chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, and his team are expected to interview the 15 survivors soon to determine what led to the tragic sinking of the Bayesian yacht. Meanwhile a British team will also take part in the probe, with a former marine accident investigator saying they will look at whether the windows or watertight doors were open. Gavin Pritchard, who was a principal investigator with the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) before retiring in 2022, told The Telegraph: 'The MAIB will want to look at the vessel using either an ROV [remotely operated vehicle] or divers, or want to have a look and see what the positions of watertight doors, hatches and windows were. 'It'd be important to state that doesn't attribute blame,' he added, saying the job of the MAIB is to establish a cause for the sinking - rather than legal liability - so safety-critical findings can be spread across the maritime industry. Search workers head out to the scene of the sinking of the Bayesian this morning as the operation to find those still missing enters its third day The Italian search and rescue team off the coast of Sicily on Wednesday CCTV captured the last moments of the Bayesian superyacht before it sank beneath the waves during a ferocious storm early on Monday morning An undated handout photo issued by costanostrayachtsupply.com of the doomed Bayesian He added: 'One of the first questions that accident investigators ask is, has anything like this ever happened before? And I have to say, having observed this tragic event, I honestly can't think of anything similar to this.' It comes as school friends of missing Hannah are anxiously waiting for updates on her safe return, with her prestigious Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, saying it is 'in shock' after its former pupil disappeared. A spokesperson for the 25,000-a-year school said: 'We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.' Hannah had just completed her A-Levels and gained a place to study English at Oxford before the tragedy. The Italian coastguard has insisted it is continuing its search, even though a positive outcome after nearly two days is 'difficult to imagine'. Frigate Captain Vincenzo Zagarola told Italian radio station RTL: 'Given the time that has passed and the circumstances of the event, it is naturally difficult to imagine that things can go well but we are not giving up, so we are busy [searching] with naval and air resources.' Nick Sloane, who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, said divers are entering a 'critical' 24 hours to rescue anyone who might still be alive. 'They've got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued,' Mr Sloane told Sky News. 'You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical.' But when Mr Zagarola was asked about the likelihood of the missing passengers being alive, he said: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' Divers from Napoli and Messina are assisting with the huge search operation, which is being made more difficult due to cables and furnishings obstructing the way to the cabins, Italian media reported. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said that divers 'may be looking for a banging noise at regular intervals'. 'This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year,' he said and added: 'But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict.' After inspecting the command bridge, which is outdoors, the cave divers descended into the main lounge from an internal ladder. Divers return after another attempt to gain access to the shipwreck which lays 50m underwater. Pictured: August 21 But inside, they were obstructed by floating objects from chairs and cushions to utensils and plates. Marco Tilotta, inspector of the Palermo Fire Department's diving unit, said: 'We checked the hull from the outside and now we have entered the vessel to inspect all the rooms. 'Access to the hull is difficult, getting inside, going down to the compartment below through the narrow stairs and going into all the cabins to analyse centimetre by centimetre is really hard and difficult work.' A helicopter was seen flying over Porticello this afternoon, while an underwater vehicle has been helping divers search for missing passengers. Italian rescue workers are using a remotely operated underwater vehicle in their search. In a statement, the coastguard said five patrol cars, one helicopter and divers had been working since the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite the sliver of hope, Italian Coastguard officials admitted they believe the six people who are still missing have died and their bodies are inside the wreck. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Among the 15 who survived include a one-year-old British baby called Sofia, who was kept afloat by her mother, 36-year-old Charlotte Golunski. Mrs Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, also survived after fighting to prevent her child from drowning. Italian divers off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, as the rescue mission reaches day three Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing Neda and her husband Christopher are both missing in the wake of Monday's superyacht sinking Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is still missing. His wife Angela Bacares (right) was among the 15 people who were rescued from the yacht Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am on Monday A life raft is seen docked at the harbour near the port where the emergency and rescue workers are launching their search operation The mother told Italian newspaper Repubblica: 'I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 'It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.' The head of Palermo Emergency Medical Services, Dr Fabio Genco, told the BBC that there had been 'apocalyptic' scenes in the aftermath of the sinking. He said: 'The word that the mother and all the injured kept repeating was the 'darkness' during the shipwreck. 'They spoke of about five minutes, from three to five minutes, from the moment the boat was lifted, raised by the waves of the sea until it sank. 'There were truly apocalyptic scenes where everyone was searching and hoping to find the people who at that moment were not present, just missing.' He added: 'Unfortunately in the face of death and the face of life there is no difference between rich and poor, between nobles and commoners.' Mrs Golunski's British husband James Emsilie, 36, also survived the tragedy. Another survivor is Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who is now reportedly recovering from her injuries in a wheelchair. She revealed that the first sign of the freak waterspout that sunk the luxury sailboat Bayesian was a 'slight tilt' that woke her up. Lynch's wife told La Repubblica that she and her husband woke up at 4am when the boat suddenly 'tilted'. Mrs Bacares said that they were not worried at the time, but that she still got up to see what was happening, until glass shattered and created confusion on board. She sustained abrasions on her feet - likely after walking on glass shards during the sinking - which have left her unable to walk and sitting in a wheelchair, La Repubblica reports, while she also has bandages on others part of her body. Another survivor is Clifford Chance lawyer Ayla Ronald, 36, who was part of the successful legal team invited to go sailing with Lyncchah, according to her father Lin. Charlotte Golunski, 36, (pictured) her husband and her one-year-old baby also survived Mr Ronald told the Telegraph: 'I have texted with my daughter. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive' (pictured: Ayla Ronald) On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, also survived the tragedy. Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Leah and 22-year-old on-board hostess Katja Chicken, from Germany, said as they were questioned by investigators: 'We are alive by a miracle,' according to Italian news agency ANSA, who reported that one of the girls sobbed as she said: 'It was terrible.' Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Catfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. On Tuesday evening two crew members, Tus Koopmans and Eaton Parker, were also named as survivors. No age or nationalities were provided. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Catfied, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. On-board hostess Leah Randall, 20, from South Africa, was also on board and survived Survivors Leo Eppel (in the black t-shirt) and Katja Chicken (in the green top) as they leave the Coast Guard Headquarters on August 19 Rescuers claimed that survivors spoke of the ship going down in 'two minutes' and that it appears that the yacht 'wasn't anchored in a safe place' at the time of sinking. They were rescued by crews from nearby boats including that of Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship anchored near the Bayesian, who said his team struggled to keep their boat afloat when the tornado hit. Fabio Cefalu, a fisherman in Porticello who witnessed the tragedy unfold, said he saw a waterspout a sort of mini-tornado that lasted about 12 minutes shortly before 4am. At around 4.10am he said he saw a red flare go off from Bayesian but by the time he was able to reach the area about 20 minutes later the yacht had all but disappeared. 'We found only the cushions, and a few planks floating in the water,' he said. Graphic shows how ferocious waterspout capsized doomed Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht before vessel sank beneath the waves in a matter of minutes by David Averre Experts reviewing the tragic sinking of the Bayesian off the coast of Sicily earlier this week have delivered theories on how the superyacht was forced beneath the waves. The luxury sailboat was anchored just a few hundred metres off the coast of Porticello on calm seas when it was suddenly struck by a violent waterspout just before 5am on Monday which the captain said no one had seen coming. Tornado-speed winds battered the vessel so ferociously that there was no time for those on board to raise the alarm or call for help before they were left swimming for their lives. Those who made it off were stranded in the pitch-black water as the storm raged around them, while six people are believed to have been trapped inside the below-deck cabins when the boat sank beneath the murky surface. It is believed the ship sank after its mast - one of tallest in the world at an enormous 246ft-high - snapped during the brutal incident and keeled over, taking the hull beyond the 'down-flooding angle', according to nautical experts. Former shipyard manager and maritime technical inspector Gino Ciriaci told Italian daily Corriere Della Sera said once the mast had fallen, the vessel was far more prone to pitching and rolling as it was battered by waves without the sails to steady it. In the case of the Bayesian, he said the waterspout was so violent that the boat, dragged down by its broken mast, tilted until the edge of the deck slipped under the surface. The entire ordeal likely lasted only a few minutes, with the ship sinking rapidly as it took on seawater. Your browser does not support iframes. A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy Your browser does not support iframes. Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium The British-flagged Bayesian arrived in Porticello on Sunday night after stopping in Milazzo around 100 miles up the coast towards the Italian mainland A handout photo made available on 19 August 2024 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy Inspector Marco Tilotta, leading the Palermo Fire Brigade's diving unit, likened the grim search operation to the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster in 2012 which claimed the lives of 33 people. Eerily, the specialist cave divers called in for the search and rescue operation found 'virtually everything intact' on board, with little sign of damage, and 'no rips in the side, no signs of impact,' he told MailOnline. The boat is resting on the seabed on its starboard (right hand) side, 164ft below the waves, and the first efforts of the dive teams were unsuccessful in moving furniture impeding their access to the cabins below, said Insp. Tilotta. The rescuers still hope that survivors might be found, against all odds, in trapped air pockets, but Insp Tilotta admitted 'it is a race against time and the quality of the oxygen will be bad'. His choice of words however told the unpleasant truth: 'We will do everything to recover the bodies. The weather conditions are worsening but we hope to continue operations without problems'. Salvo Cocina, of Sicily's civil protection agency, said of the Bayesian's crew: 'They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.' In the next few hours and days, the accident investigators will have to work out exactly how it was possible for the vessel to capsize and sink so quickly while others were hardly affected. Iranian authorities have executed a male fortune-teller for raping and sexually assaulting several of his clients. The man, who was named in Iranian media as Ramali, 'assaulted and raped women and girls under false pretences in several cases' by using his services to trick them. He was executed at Yazd central prison, which lies in the centre of the country. He was arrested at some point between March 2020 and March 2021. His request for amnesty was rejected because of 'the number of complaints' against him. Hossein Tahmasebi, chief justice of the central province, said: 'The sentence of this rapist fortune-teller was carried out after being issued by the Revolutionary Court of Yazd and confirmed by the supreme judicial authority'. Capital punishment is now officially outlawed in more than 50 per cent of nations, and 32 more territories have de-facto terminated its use, according to Amnesty International. Central Iranian authorities have executed a male fortune-teller for raping and sexually assaulting several of his clients (File image) He was executed at Yazd central prison (Pictured) But the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of few countries fighting against this trend, maintaining the death penalty for several crimes, including rape and sexual assault. In July 2023, Iran executed three men after they were convicted of raping women they had lured to a fake cosmetic surgery clinic and injected with anaesthetic drugs. They were found guilty of conspiring in 12 cases of sexual assault in late 2021 in the southern province of Hormozgan. Iran executes more people per year than any other nation except China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty. It generally carries out executions by hanging. Iran has for years been among the worst offenders for state-sanctioned killings, alongside the likes of China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. But the Iranian regime has gained a reputation for its indiscriminate executions and is now killing more of its citizens per capita than any other country. Iran executed a 'staggering' total of at least 834 people last year, the highest number since 2015 as capital punishment surged in the Islamic Republic, two rights groups revealed this week. The number of executions was up some 43 per cent on 2022, and marked only the second time in two decades that more than 800 executions were recorded in a year, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty said in a joint report. The same report also indicated that at least 22 women were executed, marking the highest number in the past decade. A manhunt is underway after a teenage girl was indecently assaulted and followed at a busy shopping centre. Police were called to Ocean Keys Shopping Centre in Clarkson in Perth's north after a man believed to be aged in his late teens approached the girl while she was shopping on Tuesday. The offender, who wasn't known to the girl, then indecently assaulted It's understood the incident unfolded in the shopping centre's main thoroughfare. 'The victim was able to move away from the offender and it is believed she was followed for a short period of time before the offender ran from the scene, through the shopping centre,' a Western Australia Police spokesman said. Police are hunting for a man who indecently assaulted a girl at Ocean Keys Shopping Centre (pictured) and followed her through the complex before fleeing the scene Detectives have launched an investigation. The man was wearing bright red shoes at the time. No other description of the man is available. Anyone with information has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers. A peculiar marine creature, known as a Mola mola or ocean sunfish, has been discovered on an Oregon beach. This 'relatively small' specimen, measuring just over five feet, was found less than a mile south of Sunset Beach approach on Sunday, according to a Facebook post from the Seaside Aquarium. While they may seem small, Mola molas can grow up to 10-feet long and weigh as much as 5,000 pounds, making them the heaviest bony fish on Earth. They are often seen sunbathing at the ocean's surface, hence their nickname 'the ocean sunfish.' A peculiar marine creature, known as a Mola mola or ocean sunfish, was discovered on an Oregon beach, according to the Seaside Aquarium. Monterey Bay Aquarium liken the creature to the invention of a mad scientist thanks to its 'tiny mouth,' 'big eyes,' and unusual shape.' According to the Australian museum, they can be found worldwide in 'tropical and temperate seas,' where they roam the oceans in search of their favorite food: jellyfish. This 'relatively small' specimen, measuring just over five feet long, was found less than a mile south of Sunset Beach approach on Sunday, according to the aquarium's Facebook post. The distinctive shape of the ocean sunfish is due to its back fin, which 'simply never grows,' according to National Geographic. 'Instead, it folds into itself as the enormous creature matures, creating a rounded rudder called a clavus.' There are three distinct species of sunfish in the Mola genus: Mola mola, Mola tecta, and Mola alexandrini. All three species can be found in oceans around the world, except for the polar regions. In recent years, the Seaside Aquarium has made several discoveries of the unusual creatures. A Mola tecta, or Hoodwinker Sunfish, was found north of Gearhart beach approach in 2017. This species is relatively rare, and its discovery 'caused quite a stir,' the aquarium said. Despite stormy weather, people flocked to the beach to catch a glimpse of the strange-looking fish. While the Mola tecta may resemble the Mola mola, there are subtle differences, such as a T-shaped pattern on the clavus and a smaller maximum size 'reaching only 7.9 feet and weighing 4,000 pounds,' according to the aquarium. Two young women who had been working as hostesses on the Bayesian superyacht when it sank have broken their silence about their horror ordeal. Leah Randall, 20, and Katja Chicken, 22, were on board the 30 million vessel when it was suddenly struck by a waterspout tornado just before 5am on Monday. The crewmembers escaped along with the yacht's captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, and Angela Bacares, the wife of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch who owned the Bayesian. Leah, who hails from South Africa, and Katja, who is German, have been staying at the Domina Zagarella hotel in Santa Flavia, which has been used as a base by emergency services throughout the search and recovery mission. The pair are reported to be in a state of shock, and were tearful as they told Italian media: 'We are alive by a miracle'. The mother of Leah Randall (pictured right) told Sky News : 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God' Katja Chicken (in green) survived the yacht disaster on Monday along with fellow hostess Leah Randall The Bayesian (pictured) overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning Speaking with a trembling voice, one of the women added of their experience: 'It was terrible', the ANSA news agency reports. They are reported to have been in a state of distress and unable to elaborate further. It comes after Heidi Randall, Leah's mother, told Sky News: 'I'm beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God. 'It doesn't make it any easier living with heartache of those who have lost their lives or missing.' Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member. Other survivors included Irish woman Sasha Murray, 29, Matthew Fletcher, 41, from London, James Catfield 51, from New Zealand, Myin Htun Kyaw, 39, from Myanmar, crew member Leo Eppel and Frenchman Matthew Griffith. On Tuesday evening two crew members, Tus Koopmans and Eaton Parker, were also named as survivors. No age or nationalities were provided. Speaking from a hospital room in the town of Termini Imerese close to Palermo, Mr Catfied, in a state of grief and shock, could only utter one sentence. 'We didn't see it coming,' he told La Repubblica. Leah was photographed leaving the coast guard headquarters yesterday alongside a fellow crew member Katja is seen leaving the Coast Guard Headquarters after the sailboat disaster on Monday British tech tycoon Mike Lynch with his wife Angela Bacares, who survived the disaster All but one of the crew onboard the superyacht survived, with the vessel's chef - Canadian national Recaldo Thomas - the first person to be found dead in the tragedy. So far five other bodies - including that of 59-year-old Mr Lynch - have been recovered by search teams. The tragic discoveries were made as they scoured through the wreckage of the Bayesian. The freak incident came as Mr Lynch, known as 'Britain's Bill Gates', was enjoying a 'victory trip' to celebrate winning his US fraud trial over the 8.3billion sale of his tech firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Salvo Cocina, the director of Sicily's civil protection agency, confirmed two bodies were found in the wreck today and that divers have already brought them to the surface. He would not confirm the identity of the victims or whether they were male or female. He said 'On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and express our condolences and closeness to them at this difficult time.' An Arizona man who called 911 to report that his child had been kidnapped was fired from his job after a video of him being handcuffed by responding police officers went viral. Darnay Cockrell, 52, phoned emergency dispatchers at around 6am on August 6, stating that his four-year-old daughter had been taken by her mother from his Mesa apartment. 'My baby momma had came over the night before and hadn't seen her while, and she's an addict, and I've been taking care of the baby for a while,' Cockrell told 12News. While he remained on the call, he said a dispatcher asked him to locate where the woman and child had gone. As he began to run downstairs, he said he was met by an officer. Darnay Cockrell, 52, phoned emergency dispatchers at around 6 a.m. on August 6, stating that his four-year-old daughter had been taken by her mother from his Mesa apartment According to audio from the officer's body camera obtained by Fox10, Cockrell says that his daughter had been taken before the officer tells him to relax and that police were with the child. The officer tells Cockrell to sit down, with the father responding that he won't and that he has bad knees, according to the audio. 'I don't feel I should be getting on the ground when I'm the parent that's calling and my kid has been taken,' he says. About five minutes later, another officer arrived at the scene and began to force him to the ground to handcuff him. The distressed father said: 'They tried to force me down, but the way it [was] looking, if I fall, I'm gonna hit my face so I just bent forward and put my knees down. [Then] he jumped on my back and handcuffed me.' Footage recorded by a bystander shows Cockrell yelling in protest as both officers hold his hands behind his back and cuff him. As Cockrell continued to refuse to sit down or get on the ground, another officer arrived at the scene and began to force him to the ground to handcuff him Footage recorded by a bystander from the moment shows Cockrell yelling in protest as both officers held his hands behind his back and cuffed him Before the release of the audio, Cockrell explained what was going through his mind at the time: 'I'm nervous. I don't know where my kid is at. I don't know the situation, and I'm in a frantic place. 'My heart is racing. I'm not feeling like I'm this father that's supposed to be protecting his child.' The Mesa Police Department stated that officers detained Cockrell due to his emotional state. 'The man appeared upset as his daughter was just taken and displayed a high level of emotion, which is understandable; however, because emotions were so high, he was not obeying the officer's commands and made comments that spiked concern for officer safety,' the department said in a statement. The Mesa Police Department stated that officers detained Cockrell due to his emotional state Nicole Conner-Sharp has been booked into jail for disorderly conduct under the domestic violence law Police eventually took the handcuffs off Cockrell and his child was returned to him safely, while the girl's mother, Nicole Conner-Sharp, was jailed on suspicion of disorderly conduct under the domestic violence law. After video of the incident circulated, Cockrell lost his job. The clip shows him 'wearing the company's shirt,' according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his neighbor. 'They blamed it on cut backs,' the neighbor wrote. Since the incident, Cockrell has filed a complaint with the police department. The department told ABC15 that the first responding officer was recently out of the police academy and only had two months on solo patrol duty. In an internal investigation, the department did not find any policy violations but both officers involved in the handcuffing will receive additional training. Celebrity hangout Chiltern Firehouse has been slammed for being 'no better than a rowdy boozer' by angry residents who say they are routinely confronted with drunken couples getting frisky in public and persistent noise. The venue in London's exclusive Marylebone district has become an A-listers' favourite that has attracted a dazzling list of global stars since it opened in 2014 as well as those hoping to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. But despite the celebrity glamour, neighbours claim their lives have been blighted by amorous couples getting carried away with each other outside their homes, anti-social behaviour and boisterous guests leaving the venue in the early hours of the morning. In the latest incident, one couple were seen frolicking outside Chiltern Firehouse in full view of shocked neighbours. A series of lurid images showed a woman with her trousers around her ankles as a man held her hands. In another, he is kissing her with his hands down her trousers while in another he has his head buried in her breasts. Andrew Patrick, 78 a retired engineer who lives in an exclusive block of flats adjoining Chiltern Firehouse told MailOnline: 'You can feel besieged because it's always so bloody noisy. There just seem to be a lot of mutton heads that go to Chiltern Firehouse. A frisky couple were pictured getting it on outside the luxury venue despite requests from security to stop Neighbours claim their lives have been blighted by amorous couples getting carried away with each other outside their homes They seemed totally oblivious to the people walking past them, on the busy road, and despite security asking them to stop, they took no notice Celebrity hangout Chiltern Firehouse has been slammed for being 'no better than a rowdy boozer' 'It's always crowded and when people leave, they are a damn nuisance. You see some of them getting quite frisky in public and sexually rowdy. I can't stand the noise and the way they behave. It's disgusting.' Sarah, 38 who did not want to give her last name said: 'Chiltern Firehouse might be world famous but it's no better than a rowdy boozer you might find down an ordinary high street. I've lived here all my life and I can tell you that this was a lovely, peaceful area before it came along. 'There's constant noise, celebrities going in and out and people who are not famous making total arses of themselves. There's a terrible problem with public drunkenness, inappropriate sexual behaviour and lots of yelling and screaming.' Chiltern Firehouse is located on Chiltern Street in Marylebone in what was once a Victorian built fire station. It is made up of a chic 26-bedroom boutique hotel, where rooms cost around 1,000 per night; a plush bar and a restaurant with a waiting list of up to three months if you are not a major celebrity. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce celebrated the end of her sold out London shows in June by having dinner at the stylish venue with a group of celebrity friends. Others that have been regularly spotted at Chiltern Firehouse include Kate Moss, Tom Cruise, Carla Delevingne, Adele and Stella McCartney to name but a few of the superstars who have enjoyed a night out there. The couple were seen enjoying a passionate moment in the middle of the street The woman's shirt rode up and her trousers became undone, revealing her underwear Pictured above is Lady Lola Bute as she is being carried by a friend after a visit to Chiltern Firehouse in June Lady Lola Bute is seen slumped against a friend, sitting by some dustbins, outside posh members club the Chiltern Firehouse in June Felix, another resident who has lived on Chiltern Street for more than 20 years, fumed: 'It might be popular with celebrities but a lot of other people who go to that place are just yobs, regardless of how much money they might have. 'They get drunk out of their heads and behave as if they are in their grotty local pub. It can be quite hellish late at night when they leave.' He added: 'This is a very exclusive area and we're not used to that sort of thing. This neighbourhood has changed a lot over the past ten years since Chiltern Firehouse opened.' One resident, who regularly stays in a flat adjoining Chiltern Firehouse to help look after his two granddaughters, said: 'There are always lots of drunk people coming out late at night. You can hear them screaming and shouting and sometimes couples get carried away. 'It's not very pleasant to see a man and woman behaving as if they are in their bedroom while on the pavement outside your property but sadly, we've become used to it.' Residents affected by the venue all live in luxury flats above an exclusive row of shops on Chiltern Street that cost anything up to 2 million. They revealed that they had complained to the management of Chiltern Firehouse about the persistent noise and anti-social behaviour. To placate them, the venue shuts its front entrance at 11pm with guests instructed to leave through a back door that opens onto a cobbled street so that neighbours are not disturbed. Pictured above is the back of the hotel where diners are asked to leave from Taylor Swift, pictured performing at Wembley in June, and Travis Kelce celebrated the end of her sold out London shows in June by having dinner at the stylish venue with a group of celebrity friends Sarah added: 'Both the management committee for the flats and the residents' association have raised this issue of noise and anti-social behaviour with Chiltern Firehouse, but it's not made any difference. 'People leave the venue from the back but most of our bedrooms look out onto this cobbled street, and we're still affected by the noise and some of the other stuff that goes on. 'We aren't interested in celebrities, we just want some peace and quiet.' Staff at the venue admitted that while things are quiet during the day it can get rowdy at night. Jimmy, who works at Chiltern Firehouse dealing with VIP guests said: 'I'm responsible for looking after some very famous people and I can't say anything about them. 'But it can get very rowdy late at night and all kinds of things go on, especially when people are leaving. The neighbours are right, some people are out of control.' This is not the first time a loved up couple has sparked outrage in the area. In January 2023, a naked couple caused a scandal by performing a '45-minute sex show' in full view of horrified VIPs at Chiltern Firehouse - on the same night pop sensation Dua Lipa partied there. A naked couple sparked outrage in January 2023 by performing a '45-minute sex show' in full view of horrified VIPs at exclusive celebrity hangout the Chiltern Firehouse The pair had sex in full view of onlookers against a window at Chiltern Firehouse, above a rear entry door used by the venue's celebrity clientele including Lipa The pair scandalously engaged in all manner of sex acts against a frosted window Dua Lipa was at Chiltern Firehouse the same night the couple performed their sex show The pair scandalously engaged in all manner of sex acts up against a frosted window in their hotel room at the west London venue - with the bedroom lights on, leaving nothing to the imagination - above a rear entry door used by Lipa and her friends in January 2023. A source said the couple were 'really going for it', adding: 'They'd left the lights on in the room so it was illuminated for all to see. 'They went on for ages, in all sorts of different positions, as more and more people gathered below in shock.' Chiltern Firehouse is owned by celebrated American hotelier Andre Balazs who also owns two other luxury hotels in the US popular with celebrities: Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles and Sunset Beach on Long Island. Chiltern Firehouse has been contacted for comment. A nursery worker accused of cruelty and assault against up to 15 young children has appeared in court - and told hours of CCTV footage taken from inside the nursery where she worked would be analysed by police before her trial. Roksana Lecka appeared via video link from prison at Kingston Crown Court and was told she will remain in custody until her trial in February. The 21-year-old, who has not entered a plea, has been charged with 12 counts of child cruelty, 12 counts of actual bodily harm and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. This follows a police investigation into a Montessori nursery in Twickenham, West London. Prosecuting counsel Tracey Ayling KC told the court hours of CCTV footage from inside the nursery was being examined by police. Roksana Lecka, 21, (pictured) from Hounslow, was charged with 25 counts of child cruelty, actual bodily harm and attempted GBH at an expensive Montessori nursery She was charged with 12 counts of child cruelty, 12 counts of actual bodily harm and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm The 21-year-old appeared at Wimbledon magistrates' court on July 25 after the 'serious allegations' emerged She said they were trying to muster as many officers as possible to review the footage but so far had only been able to review one full day of CCTV footage when Lecka was on duty. She said there were at least 10 other days when Lecka was working at the nursery where parents paid up to 2,000 a month to have their children looked after. Inquiries are ongoing. CCTV is being looked at by a number of officers. They are trying to muster as many officers as possible, said Ms Ayling KC. The KC said that between 12 and 15 children could have been involved in the allegations of cruelty and assault. She added that medical evidence was being sought. Lecka, from Hounslow, West London, only spoke to confirm her name and acknowledge the judge when he told her the dates of future hearings where she will have the chance to enter a plea. The court was told a trial lasting up to four weeks has been pencilled in for February 2025. Defence counsel Arlette Piercey said there was an enormous amount of CCTV that had to be examined. Roksana Lecka, from Hounslow, was remanded in custody after police investigated concerns about the welfare of children at Twickenham Green Montessori in London (pictured) She also appeared via video link and apologised to the judge for not wearing her court robes telling the court they had been stolen the night before the hearing The nursery worker has been in custody since her first court appearance at Wimbledon Magistrates Court last month. She was arrested and charged by the Met Polices south-west child abuse team which launched their investigation on July 2 after concerns were reported to the police. The nursery where Lecka worked cared for children aged under four with parents paying 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. Since the police investigation was launched into the allegations the Twickenham nursery has closed and is working with the police and local authorities. Four bodies found in the wreck of Mike Lynch's superyacht have been brought to shore - two of which are believed to be the tech mogul and his teenage daughter Hannah. A fifth body has also been found in the wreckage of the Bayesian but is yet to be recovered, it emerged this evening, leaving one body still missing. Search teams made the tragic discoveries today while scouring through the ruins of the luxury sailboat, which sank off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a 'black swan' waterspout on Monday morning. The Chief of Civil Protection have confirmed two bodies were identified as British tech billionaire Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Two men and one woman were taken to the morgue to be formally identified, while the gender of the other two are yet to be confirmed. Those still unaccounted for are Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy and US citizens Chris Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda Morvillo. The body of one crew member, chef Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday. The freak incident came as 59-year-old Mr Lynch, known as 'Britain's Bill Gates', was enjoying a 'victory trip' to celebrate winning his US fraud trial over the 8.3billion sale of his tech firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. In a separate tragedy, Stephen Chamberlain - the former vice president of finance at Autonomy and Mr Lynch's co-defendant - died after being hit by a car while out jogging in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. Four other guests have been missing since the sinking, with specialist divers desperately trying to access the boat amid hope survivors could be alive in air pockets inside the vessel. It comes as: British tech tycoon Mike Lynch with his wife Angela Bacares, who survived the disaster Emergency services personnel gather on the dock as the body of one of the victims of the disaster is brought in Firefighters and the Italian Coast Guard recover a body from the sunken sailing vessel in Porticello Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Mr Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing after the yacht sank Neda and Christopher Movillo (pictured together) had joined Mr Lynch on the trip to the Mediterranean Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer The Bayesian (pictured) overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning The tragic news came after a marked increase in activity at the port in the last two hours, with more boats than normal going to and from the site. An ambulance siren could be heard threading its way through the streets of Porticello, and was believed to have joined the large group of emergency vehicles from police, coastguard and the fire service, ringing the tiny port. At 2.58pm UK time a fire service boat bearing what appeared to be at least one body bag came into shore. Rescue workers lined the shore as the boat drew alongside, with a coastguard vessel pulling in front to block the view of media so the body could be removed with dignity. The body bag was then taken to a waiting ambulance in the harbour. Salvo Cocina, the director of Sicily's civil protection agency, confirmed two bodies were found in the wreck today and that divers have already brought them to the surface. The divers bringing the bodies to the surface will be deeply traumatised, an expert has said. 'It's always a big trauma,' Bertrand Sciboz, who runs a company specialising in shipwreck research and salvage, told the BBC. He added: 'For myself and for my team of divers, it's always very difficult if you have to do this job.' He said 'On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and express our condolences and closeness to them at this difficult time.' The challenging operation has been hampered by issues, including access to cabins being blocked by debris and thick silt preventing divers from being able to see inside windows. It was revealed today that last night the captain of the superyacht, New Zealander James Cutfield, had been 'questioned for more than two hours' by Italian prosecutors. The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout Rescue personnel and divers operate on the water above the shipwrecked superyacht today A fire service helicopter flies in the air above Porticello today as the search operation takes place Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The 'well respected' seafarer was quizzed by the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor's Office as part of their investigation into what happened. It is expected they will also speak to the other passengers and crew members as part of their probe. Speaking in hospital the morning after the incident, Mr Cutfield told Italian journalists 'we didn't see it coming'. Part of the investigation will look into whether hatches had been left open by crew and whether these caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. According to the Giornale Di Sicilia, prosecutors questioned Mr Cutfield for several hours as they tried to reconstruct the Bayesian's final moments before it capsized and as it sank to the seabed. The yacht had been carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers when it was hit by tornado-speed winds during a severe thunderstorm at 5am on Monday, August 19. Such was the force of the impact, the boat sank beneath the waves, completely disappearing in 'just 60 seconds' and leaving those on board in a race to save themselves. While 15 people were able to make it to safety, including a British mother who heroically held her baby daughter afloat in the pitch-black waters, seven people were unaccounted for. The body of one crew member, Canadian-Antiguan chef Recaldo Thomas who was the on-board cook, was discovered hours later as a rescue operation got underway. The search operation has been beset with problems, with floating debris blocking the narrow corridors of the vessel, which is almost completely intact and lying on its side on the seabed 164ft (50m) below the surface. The wreck is so deep that divers can only spend 10 minutes on the seabed before having to return to the surface for their own safety. Today a new team of Italian firefighters, who have special tanks that allow them to stay underwater for longer and more experience at that depth, arrived to help with the search. Divers had forced their way into the ship by drilling a hole through a 3cm-thick porthole today, with claims they had reached the 'master cabin' where Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares had been staying during the trip. Italian outlet Giornale Di Sicilia reported that a remote-controlled robot has been brought in to assist the search teams. The 'robot' is capable of operating on the seabed up to an altitude of 300 meters and can continue for between 6 and 7 hours. Mr Lynch on his Suffolk farm in 2021 when he was fighting extradition to the USA Mr Lynch (second left) is seen in the early days of his techology firm Autonomy in Cambridge Tech entrepreneur Lynch with his renovated mill, at his Suffolk farm The device equipped with advanced technology that allows it to investigate the seabed and record detailed videos and images which will be used in the prosecutor's investigation. Brent Hoberman, a friend of Mr Lynch, described the 'one in a million' disaster just weeks after the mogul had cleared his name as a 'Shakespearean sort of tragedy'. Mr Lynch was acquitted of all charges by a San Francisco jury in June alongside his co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain, who had both been fighting to clear their names for 12 years. Mr Hoberman, the former CEO of lastminute.com who has known Mr Lynch for 28 years, said: 'What an ordeal. This is a Shakespearean sort of tragedy. 'Somebody who spent 12 years defending their name, they just clear their name, they are going on a trip with the team who helped them do that to celebrate and then a sort of one in a million disaster hits their boat.' Mr Hoberman described Lynch as a 'bit of a boffin' who was 'quick-witted and smart' with an 'infectious love of technology'. Born in Ilford, Essex, as the son of an Irish fireman and a nurse, Mr Lynch won a scholarship to Bancroft's School, a private day school in northeast London, and later read natural sciences at Cambridge. At university he developed his fascination with technology, completing a doctorate and holding a research fellowship in adaptive pattern recognition. In 1991, he set up Cambridge Neurodynamics, which specialised in computer-based finger print recognition for the police. Five years later he founded data analysis company Autonomy, which became one of Britain's most successful start-ups. His rise to fame and fortune had been celebrated as a major and pioneering British success story and the married father of two daughters was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise. That same year, he was appointed to the board of the BBC - and was later elected to then-prime minister David Cameron's council for science and technology in 2011. He advised Mr Cameron on subjects including 'the opportunities and risks of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the government's role in the regulation of these technologies'. Yet in March this year he found himself in a San Francisco courtroom to defend himself against fraud and conspiracy charges - and ultimately won his freedom. Mr Lynch at Autonomy's headquarters at Cambridge Business Park in 2000 Mr Lynch in his younger years before he became one of Britain's most high profile entrepreneurs The 59-year-old tycoon had spent much of the previous year living under house arrest with an electronic tag attached to his ankle. Fighting his corner was a legal team led by Reid Weingarten, described as one of the US legal system's most successful white-collar defenders. Mr Lynch had potentially faced up to 20 years in a US prison if found guilty of 16 counts of conspiracy, and securities and wire fraud, which he denied. The charges related to a business deal that was hailed at the time as his crowning glory the 8.6billion sale of his software and data company Autonomy to US computer giant Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Mr Lynch personally made more than 500million from the deal, only for HP to later wrote down three-quarters of the value of Autonomy only a year after buying it. The US company fired Mr Lynch while accusing accusing him and other executives of having grossly inflated its size and profits during the sale. He had previously lost a 2019 civil fraud case based on similar allegations that HP now Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) brought in the UK, with London's High Court ruling in 2020 that HPE had 'substantially won' its case. His separate three-year battle to avoid being extradited to face criminal charges culminated in Lynch going to the High Court to argue that American prosecutors were guilty of legal overreach which threatened UK sovereignty and its citizens. His plea was rejected and in May last year he was flown to California, accompanied by the U.S. Marshals Service, still protesting his innocence. And on June 6 this year he was acquitted of fraud by a jury in San Francisco, while former Autonomy finance executive Stephen Chamberlain, who faced the same charges, was also acquitted on all counts. Earlier this month he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that being rich had helped him secure his acquittal, saying: 'You shouldn't need to have funds to protect yourself as a British citizen. 'The reason I'm sitting here, let's be honest, is not only because I was innocent but because I had enough money not to be swept away by a process that's set up to sweep you away.' A Scottish teenager who died in Ibiza after falling from a sixth-floor balcony has been pictured for the first time. Emma Ramsay, from Hamilton, was on holiday with friends in the party island's San Antonio region when she fell from the balcony at Hotel Vibra District. The tragedy happened at around 3am on Tuesday. Paramedics rushed to the scene but the law student, 19, was declared dead at the scene. The student from Strathclyde University had been enjoying a night out with friends just hours previously at the Hi Ibiza night club, social media posts show. Emma Ramsay, from Hamilton, was on holiday with friends in the party island's San Antonio region when she fell from the balcony at Hotel Vibra District The student from Strathclyde University had been enjoying a night out with friends just hours previously at the Hi Ibiza night club In the days before her death, Ms Ramsay posted a series of TikTok videos showing her happily dancing with friends. A representative of the Ramsay family told the Scottish Sun: Theyre a lovely group of girls. Emma is a law student and was about to go into her third year at Strathclyde University. Shes a delight of a girl, you will not find a person with a bad word to say about her. 'Shes an angel. Its been a really tragic accident and as a family we are coming to terms with that. The family are out in Ibiza right now, Emmas parents are out there. Last night, as messages poured in for the popular student, Ms Ramsays mother Barbara Smith paid tribute on social media to her angel Emma. She wrote: I dont even know where to begin. You are my daughter, my best friend in the whole world and I am going to miss you more than words will ever express. Rest in peace my sweet angel and sleep tight, mummy loves you so, so much. Lorna Lawson, headteacher of St John Ogilve High School, where Ms Ramsay used to be Head Girl, said: 'We are shocked and saddened at the heartbreaking news of the sudden passing of our former Head Girl, Emma Ramsay. 'Emma was an incredibly kind, hardworking, bright and talented pupil who contributed a great deal to our school community. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Emma will be missed and will forever hold a special place in our school.' Friend Paris Mcgoldrick added: 'I don't even know where to begin with how perfect our Emma was. I loved everything about you and I forever will. The tragedy happened at around 3am on Tuesday at Hotel Vibra District (pictured) 'Heaven just gained the most beautiful angel they will ever get and I'm forever grateful to call you my friend. I will forever cherish the moments we shared together, Em. 'I love you forever my girl, you will never be forgotten.' Ella Redfearn shared a picture of herself and Emma sitting on the edge of a lake, and wrote: 'Rest easy my girl. A total ray of sunshine and the kindest soul, you will be in my heart forever.' Another friend, Kimberly Barrie, added: 'Rest in peace my girl. Emma Ramsay, thank you for allowing me to get to know the purest and most beautiful soul. I love you forever.' And Niamh Anderson added: 'Our Beautiful Angel. Ill be forever grateful that I get to call you my friend. Youll be forever young my girl, never goodbye just a see you later. 'The biggest ray of sunshine to walk the earth and the biggest blessing heaven has ever received.' One friend wrote: The most beautiful girl with the purest soul. You are genuinely one of a kind and I am going to miss you so much. A fellow student said: So tragic. Emma was in my class at uni and she was very welcoming to all. They added that she was always willing to go the extra mile for others. A spokesman for the University of Strathclyde described Ms Ramsay as a much-loved member of our student community. He said: We are shocked and saddened by her death. Everyone at the university offers our deepest condolences to Emmas family and all those affected by this terrible incident. The Foreign Office is understood to be supporting Emma's family. A spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' A spokesman for the Spanish Civil Guard said: 'I can confirm a 19-year-old British tourist has died following a fall at a hotel in San Antonio in Ibiza.' Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went for Donald Trump's jugular in back-to-back speeches at the Democratic National Convention despite the Republican ex-president finally showing a moment of decency toward them. The one-two punch by the powerful former first couple Tuesday night in Chicago came just hours after the GOP nominee unexpectedly praised his predecessor after years of attempting to delegitimize him. 'I happen to like him. I respect him, and I respect his wife,' Trump said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday just hours before their remarks. He also called Obama a 'nice gentleman.' It was a sharp turn from Trump who spent years attacking Obama and promoting the birtherism conspiracy theory questioning whether the country's first black president was born in the United States. Former President Barack Obama joins Michelle on stage for Night Two of the Democratic National Convention where the pair delivered blistering takedowns of former President Trump Neither Barack or Michelle Obama held back as they unleashed a series of brutal takedowns of the former president with the former first lady delivering what could be one of the most devastating one lines of the entire convention. 'Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those "black jobs?"' she said to thunderous applause in the United Center. Former President Obama also set the internet into a frenzy with his hand gesture suggesting he was making a crude joke about his successor as he joked about the Republican presidential nominee's 'weird obsession with crowd sizes.' This was not the former first couple who welcomed the Trumps graciously into the White House after the 2016 election despite Trump's attacks on them. Trump said in an interview on Tuesday 'I respect him' of ex-President Obama after years of criticism and promoting conspiracy theories about his predecessor The Obamas welcoming the Trumps to the White House on Jan. 20, 2017 after the Republican won the 2016 election. On Tuesday, Trump said he respected Obama in a rare moment of praise after criticizing him for years But their scathing response to the Republican ex-president's attempt for a second term in the White House was met with thunderous approval from Democrats. The former first lady blasted the ex-president saying for years Trump 'did everything in his power to try to make people fear us.' 'His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be black,' she said. She accused him of being the 'same old con' and blasted his 'ugly, misogynistic, racist lies.' Michelle Obama delivered a devastating one-liner during her convention speech about Trump 'Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those "black jobs?"' Former President Obama had the crowd roaring and sent the internet into a frenzy when he appeared to make a crude joke about Trump and his 'weird obsession' with crowd size In his own remarks moments later, Obama slammed Trump for 'whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago.' 'We don't need four more years of bluster and chaos. We've seen that movie - and we all know that the sequel is usually worse,' Obama said. The 44th president compared Trump to a neighbor running a lief blower every day: 'from a neighbor, that's exhausting. From a president, it's just dangerous.' The gloves were off and neither Obama was embracing the words of the first lady at the convention in 2016 when she said 'when they go low, we go high.' Michelle Obama warned that Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman of color nominated for the top of a major party presidential ticket was about to face the same criticism, she and her husband faced. 'Now, unfortunately, we know what comes next. We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth,' she said before torching Trump. Michelle Obama greets her husband on stage after her speech at the DNC yesterday She urged Democrats on Tuesday night to work 'like our lives depend on it' ahead of Election Day and heaped praise on 'my girl' Harris. Her speech came just one day after President Biden spoke at the convention after his dramatic exit from the presidential race just one month ago, but the former first lady did not mention him. She was solely focused on moving forward. President Obama did mention Biden, calling his decision to choose the current president to serve as his vice president back in 2008 was one of his best decisions. 'History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding President who defended democracy at a moment of great danger,' he said. 'And I am proud to call him my President, but I am even prouder to call him my friend.' From there Obama turned his wrath on the ex-president. 'It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually been getting worse now that he is afraid of losing to Kamala,' he said. 'Theres the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.' Obama accused Trump of seeing power as 'nothing more than a means to his ends.' Ex-president Donald Trump campaigning in Howell, MI on August 20, 2024 just hours before the Obamas spoke at the Democratic National Convention Before claiming he respected Obama on Tuesday, Trump over the years has called his predecessor everything from a 'disaster' and 'catastrophe' to falsely claiming Obama was not born in the United States. He also spent his four years in office attempting to undo some of Obama's biggest legislative achievements - most prominently efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Trump responded to the blistering criticism of him at the convention in a conservative radio interview on Wednesday morning. 'I was mentioned at the Democrats little party that they have going on in Chicago, and its pretty sad,' Trump said on The Hugh Hewitt show in response to a question about the 'rhetoric' being used against him and the recent assassination attempt. 'These people are out of control, and theyre ruining our nation. Our nation is going to hell,' he claimed. North Korean defector Yeonmi Park was horrified when Donald Trump paid a friendly visit to Kim Jong Un in 2019, describing it as a sign of a 'weak man who had failed in his campaign promises to the nation.' But just six years later, she has backflipped on her disdain to publicly endorse the Republican Presidential nominee. 'I am a survivor of a Socialist system in North Korea, and I am voting for @realDonaldTrump this November,' she wrote on X. 'This American system of ours, call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you will, gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it.' It marks an astonishing u-turn for Park who told DailyMail.com she was 'beloved by the liberal media' when she hummed their tune. She was even profiled in the New York Times as a result. North Korean defector Yeonmi Park has sensationally backflipped on her disapproval of Donald Trump, to endorse him But now, after announcing her change of heart, she says she's being hounded by trolls. Park used the hashtag 'MAGA24' in her post which featured three photographs of herself. The first was of her posing outside a building with an American flag, and the final two sipping wine at the Tiffany & Co. Blue Box cafe, with Chanel pearls draped around her neck. Park said she's 'grateful Trump didn't come after me and imprison me, like North Korean dictators' would do if she'd expressed dissatisfaction in the leadership in her home country. 'That was my privilege, to have freedom of speech, so I don't regret it. We have a right to be wrong in democracy,' she told DailyMail.com Park fled North Korea for China in 2007 when she was 13, moving to South Korea before settling in the United States. She has repeatedly spoken out about the horrors of life in the dictatorship but has faced intense scrutiny over perceived inconsistencies in her recollection. Her endorsement is the latest in a gradual shift away from the contempt she displayed toward Trump's leadership in 2019. She accused Trump of bowing to Kim Jong Un in a 'glaringly obvious' attempt to 'pretend that you've accomplished something', arguing: 'Only a weak man would give in to criminals. Only a weak man who has failed in his campaign promises to the nation.' Then, she wrote an opinion piece for The Hill accusing Trump of 'reducing my chances of returning [to North Korea] alive and free.' In the piece, Park accused Trump of going 'where other U.S. presidents would not' by 'legitimizing the Kim regime' with photo-ops. 'State media celebrates and publicizes these occasions. They send a signal to the rest of the country that the regime will be there to last. You're giving this to the regime for free, Mr. President. I thought you told us you were a good negotiator?' she wrote. 'Would you have congratulated yourself for being the first president to visit Auschwitz, not as a liberator but as a ''friend'' of Hitler?' She accused Trump of bowing to Kim Jong Un in a 'glaringly obvious' attempt to 'pretend that you've accomplished something', arguing: 'Only a weak man would give in to criminals. Only a weak man who has failed in his campaign promises to the nation.' 'I do not ask Americans to fight a war to set them free. But I ask you not to collude with the criminal Kim regime or to obstruct others from working toward my people's freedom. I ask this for selfish reasons. I would like to go home someday.' It marks an astonishing u-turn for Park who told DailyMail.com she was 'beloved by the media' when she had her more liberal views and was even profiled in the New York Times as a result Her thoughts were also included on the New York Times, with an appeal directly to Trump, as the 'leader of the free world', to 'hold the worst dictator on Earth accountable.' Today she told DailyMail.com that her willingness to be 'one of the biggest advocates to come out against Trump' was primarily a product of falling for 'corruption' within the media. 'I was one of the biggest advocates to come out against Trump, so at the time I was beloved by mainstream media. I was literally on every mainstream media to criticise Trump. I was front page of the New York Times to criticise Trump,' she said. 'But years later as I came out questioning government policy, mass mandates, all that was happening, they came after my legitimacy because my opinions didn't align with them.' She added that during the pandemic she felt the tide turn against her when she questioned government policies surrounding mandates and became a more outspoken advocate for conservative values and the Republican party. But it wasn't until this week that she publicly confirmed she would be voting for Trump. That moment made her begin to question her own understanding of how other people's opinions on Trump had shaped her own, and since then she'd come to realize that she 'loves America more than [she] hates any politician'. 'I love this country. I love this constitution. For other people, I think, their hate for a certain politician overrides their love for the country. 'Kim actually feared Trump,' she said, noting North Korea stopped testing long-range nuclear missiles during his presidency. 'I think the world became a lot less safe when Biden came into power. What we need is a strong leader who can make them behave. Trump can do that.' In 2019, she wrote an opinion piece for The Hill accusing Trump of 'reducing my chances of returning [to North Korea] alive and free' Critics have claimed Vice President Kamala Harris - the democratic presidential nominee - has enjoyed fawning coverage from left-leaning publications since her presidential campaign began on July 21. This is despite the fact she has repeatedly refused interviews with the press. Former Republican congressman Zach Wamp last week said the current Vice President was on a 'honeymoon period.' He told Sky News Australia: 'The media is kind of helping repackage her as if she's not a progressive and not a real liberal. Nobody's really holding her to account.' Meanwhile Trump supporters have long argued he's not given a fair wrap. Polling across the nation shows the gap between the two candidates is closing on the back of Joe Biden's decision to step aside from the race, particularly in key states. And an exclusive poll conducted by J.L. Partners for DailyMail.com reveals that public confidence in 78-year-old Trump's ability to do the nation's top job is crashing. Voters are now less confident that the former president can fully digest his national security briefings, hold his own in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin or even survive a full four-year term than when they were last asked in March. Park has received significant backlash online since her endorsement. She's been called vile slurs and accused of 'selling' her morals to the Republican party. She said she's never met Trump and has come to her decision just like every other American voter. She also harbors no ill-will toward her critics. Instead, she celebrates the criticism, because that, too, is a direct reflection of her new life in the United States. 'I left North Korea for a reason. I love living in a country where I can hear different opinions. I want to live in a country where people can have different opinions. Criticism is the privilege of getting to live in a free country. 'That's why I can't support anybody who believes in cancel culture.' A terrified man was stung 160 times when he was attacked by dozens of angry wasps after they infiltrated his home. Andrew Powell, 57, was at the front of his house when the sky 'turned brown' with wasps after a nest was disturbed by a nearby farmer riding a combine harvester. The swarm followed the festival organiser as he ran into his house in Brecon, Powys, and sought refuge in the shower but they continued to attack as he tried to bat them away. He said: 'I stumbled about the front of the house and into the shower, but they followed me in, and stung me through my clothes in the shower. The bathroom was full of them.' Mr Powell was stung 15 times on the back of his head and was left with marks across his body but, mercifully, avoided being stung on the face. Andrew Powell, 57, was stung 160 times when he was attacked by dozens of angry wasps after they infiltrated his home The swarm followed the festival organiser as he ran into the house after a day out with wife Gina (both pictured) Mr Powell said: 'I stumbled about the front of the house and into the shower, but they followed me in, and stung me through my clothes in the shower' Mr Powell got caught after he had enjoyed a day out with his wife Gina, and stepped outside to take in the sunny view. After finally escaping the wasps, he was rushed to the minor injuries unit at Brecon War Memorial Hospital where he was treated by 'amazing nurses'. He said: 'I was dropping in and out of consciousness. All I could see was a white light and I thought "here we go".' He said medics there treated him with adrenaline, morphine and co-codamol for the pain. 'If they hadn't, then I'd be dead,' he said. Nurses found 160 stings across his body and Andrew was transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil later that evening. 'The doctor there eventually came to see me at about 2.30 in the morning and said to me he believed I'd suffered a couple of stings,' he said. 'The doctor was shocked when he told him it was 160 stings.' Andrew is now recovering at home but is still struggling with the effect of the stings. 'I feel really quite weak and tired because I haven't slept since it happened because there's just too much pain,' he said. 'The stings have got worse and have turned purple.' He is now campaigning to keep the minor injury unit in Brecon open 24 hours after proposals to reduce its hours. He said: 'It's open 24 hours now, but it can be so busy, especially in the summer months with all the people who visit Bannau Brycheiniog, you just never know when you might need it. 'If it wasn't for that unit in Brecon and those two wonderful nurses on Sunday night, I wouldn't be here now. 'I might be a bit battered now, but I'm going to fight for it.' A stunning hilltop mansion owned by an ex-NFL star has sparked uproar for its sleepy lakeside community, as the property is allegedly being used as a raucous 'party house' with up to four events per week. The sprawling home, known as The Sunset Estate, is located in the West End neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington, and boasts breathtaking views over the Tacoma Narrows. But the luxurious property, which was purchased for $835,000 in 2017 by a company linked to ex-Atlanta Falcons player Desmond Trufant, has turned into a major source of frustration for local residents. Neighbors are furious, claiming the home is being marketed and used as an events center, hosting a steady stream of weddings, office parties and other functions that bring noise, traffic and parking chaos to the area. 'We have anxiety sometimes when we're on our way home,' local resident Alisa Wilson told The News Tribune. 'What are we going to come home to? What are we going to have to deal with?' A stunning hilltop mansion owned by an ex-NFL star has sparked uproar for its sleepy lakeside community, as the property is allegedly being used as a raucous 'party house' with up to four events per week But the luxurious property, which was purchased for $835,000 in 2017 by a company linked to ex-Atlanta Falcons player Desmond Trufant, has turned into a major source of frustration for local residents It has become such a nuisance that she and her husband are now even considering selling their home. Another neighbor Rich Burns recalled being excited when the home was under construction. 'Boy, were we all excited. Nice new house, nice new family,' he told the Tribune. But the excitement quickly faded when parties started in 2022, bringing loud music well into the night - and they haven't stopped since. 'We don't need to be subjected to someone else's choice of music on a Sunday afternoon,' he added. 'If (a down-slope neighbor) is out in the backyard barbecuing with his wife and there's an event, there's 60 people looking at you right there,' Burns said. 'Now, who's gonna be OK with that?' The Sunset Estate's Instagram page advertises event rentals, including a $1,800 Super Bowl party package. Nearby residents say the constant flow of events is 'dramatically incompatible' with the residential character of the neighborhood. Trufant, however, insists he is operating the property within city regulations, which does not require permits for private events held in residential homes. The city has claimed Trufant is in compliance with city codes, according to Interim planning manager Shirley Schultz. The Sunset Estate's Instagram page advertises event rentals, including a $1,800 Super Bowl party package Trufant, however, insists he is operating the property within city regulations, which does not require permits for private events held in residential homes 'In Tacoma, private residential properties are allowed to host personal events, whether for themselves or others,' she wrote to a neighbor who complained in June. 'The City does not require permits for such events on private residential property.' In April, the city's permit compliance supervisor Mindee Weber said she contacted Trufant regarding the numerous complaints from local residents. 'They have been informed and have acknowledged that property can only be advertised and utilized for short-term rentals, with event mentions permitted only if the event is organized by the individual renting the property for an overnight stay,' she said. 'Additionally, (the Trufants) are allowed to advertise events hosted by their nonprofit organization, provided they are present for these events, or if they are sponsoring events and will be onsite hosting them.' Neighbors say the home is being marketed and used as an events center, hosting a steady stream of weddings, office parties and other functions that bring noise, traffic and parking chaos to the area Neighbors say the home is being marketed and used as an events center, hosting a steady stream of weddings, office parties and other functions that bring noise, traffic and parking chaos to the area Tacoma Deputy Mayor John Hines also defended The Sunset Estate business. 'I have relayed to neighbors in this community that the homeowner in this particular neighborhood is operating within existing regulations for short-term home rentals,' Hines said to The News Tribune. 'I also relay to all my constituents that we live in a growing and rapidly evolving city, and the City Council is constantly assessing our current code to ensure that our regulations align with our broader vision for all neighborhoods across the city.' Portland State University (PSU) has been flagged as one of America's worst schools for turning rookie teachers into social justice activists. The Oregon school's College of Education is cited as having one of the most politically-loaded such courses in the country. Its trainee teachers study America's 'histories of colonization, settler colonialism, white supremacy, imperialism, and neoliberalism,' course materials show. Worse still, says a new report, the 126 teachers who graduated from PSU in spring can go on to spread these ideas to more than 120,000 K-12 students. That's according Parents Defending Education, a conservative watchdog, which flagged PSU and 66 other progressive teacher-training schools. Educational sessions at Portland State University's College of Education have been flagged in a new report for its politicized methods. This picture is for illustrative purposes. Parents Defending Education mapped the 67 teacher-training schools that lean too heavily into politics They're listed in a report, CorruptED: Colleges of Education and the Teacher as Activist Pipeline. The group's president Nicole Neily said it's time to scrutinize the 'qualifications of the individuals spending eight hours per day with our children.' 'Colleges of education in both red states and blue states have become little more than political ideology factories,' Neily told The Mail. As a result, she said, 'teaching degrees aren't worth the paper they're printed on.' PSU, which educates some 26,000 students on a $98 million endowment, did not answer the Mail's request for comment. How to teach America's 54 million K-12 students has become a battlefront in the culture wars. Progressive teachers, backed by left-leaning unions, increasingly build cultural and political ideas into lessons. They focus on race and identity, seeking to overturn perceived historic injustices against women, LGBTQ+ people and racial minorities. But conservative parents and politicians say this amounts to political indoctrination, which they say creates divisions. It's better to focus on teaching kids how to read and write, they say. Florida, Oklahoma, and dozens of other mostly-red states have restricted identity-based lessons in their public schools in recent years. This month, Richard Woods, Georgia's Republican superintendent of schools, warned that an Advanced Placement course in African American Studies breached state rules about teaching divisive racial concepts. Meanwhile, Moms for Liberty and other campaign groups are pressuring principals to pull sexually explicit and other edgy books from their libraries. Portland State University's taxpayer-funded College of Education is a hotbed of activism, researchers say The schools often teach the controversial 'wheel of privilege,' which breaks society down into identities of winners and losers Politically active teachers include Olivia Garrison of California, who said she helped students change their gender identity without parents' knowledge. The Mail has uncovered dozens of examples of teachers crossing the line into activism. We showed how Kimberly Martin, the former DEI coordinator for Royal Oak Schools in Michigan, helped transgender students 'hide' their gender and nicknames from parents. Parents Defending Education's founder Nicole Neily We also revealed how Jennifer Haglund, a counselor for Ames Community Schools in Iowa, was spreading her 'own activism' and progressive values in an educational setting. In another instance, Olivia Garrison, a progressive nonbinary California high school teacher, says it can be their role to protect trans kids from their parents by helping them to change sex in class. Against this backdrop, PDE examined the materials used in teacher-training academies to find out what role they played in politicizing schools. They found 67 universities across 34 states that were training teachers with politically-leaning course texts. This included 54 teaching critical race theory, which examines America's past slavery and racism. Dozens of others taught everything from 'white privilege,' to 'white supremacy' and queer theory. They found two controversial texts were often on reading lists Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility. The woke colleges frequently used the 'wheel of privilege' diagram, which breaks down society into those with 'power' and the 'marginalized.' It illustrates the idea of 'intersectionality' hatched by scholar Kimberle Crenshaw in the 1990s, about overlapping systems of 'privilege' and 'disadvantage.' It asserts that straight, white, men, for example, get many breaks in life, while queer, black women face discrimination on all fronts. It's used frequently at Portland's education department, says the PDE report. After graduating, teacher activists go on to share their ideas with thousands of K-12 students throughout their careers, the report says Kimberly Martin (left), a Michigan educator, and Jennifer Haglund of Iowa, have said their jobs are in part political PSU's objective for rookie teachers includes making them 'anti-racist' educators who 'identify oppressive conditions, including micro- and macro-aggressions' and try root them out, college documents show. It even has a course called 'Social Studies Methods: Teacher as Activist' for aspiring elementary school teachers. It involves 'recognizing the histories of colonization, settler colonialism, white supremacy, imperialism, and neoliberalism upon which the United States and its systems of education have been built and sustained,' course materials say. PDE's report highlights dozens of other educational schools with similar classes from Arizona State University to the University of Washington. California is home to the most progressive teacher training schools, with Stanford University, the University of California Berkeley, and eight others. Texas is not far behind, with eight such woke schools, including the University of North Texas and Sul Ross State University, researchers said. 'It's time for these programs to be overhauled,' Neily told The Mail. 'And for policymakers to reimagine what the pipeline to get qualified individuals into classrooms should look like going forward.' Six men have been arrested after an inmate died at a Leicestershire prison on Tuesday. Leicestershire Police said they were called to HMP Fosse Way, a category C prison in Leicester, after a 31-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell. The victim, understood to be Mahir Abdulrahman, had 'kettled' another inmate with boiling water. Four other prisoners entered his cell and kettled him in revenge before 'beating him to a pulp', the Times reported. Six men have been arrested in connection with the man's death and are in police custody. Six men have been arrested after an inmate was beaten to death a day before he was due to be released from HMP Fosse Way (pictured) The inmate's death is currently being treated as unexplained, the force said. Some have questioned why he was not moved following his initial attack. The new jail, on the site of the old HMP Glen Parva, was built to house 1,715 prisoners and is managed by Serco. A Serco spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a 31-year-old man has died at Fosse Way prison. 'The matter is now being investigated by Leicestershire Police.' The new prison, on the site of the old HMP Glen Parva is privately managed and has been compared to a 'hotel' with barless windows and personal computers The privately run HMP Fosse has previously been compared to a hotel, and boasts cells with barless windows and personal computers that double as TVs. The 'Scandinavian-style' prison, which looks similar to student halls and can house 1,715 inmates and was hailed by ministers as Britain's 'greenest ever'. It also includes innovations to bolster security and cut crime behind bars - along with plans to help prisoners find work. Alain Delon's daughter visited a sea of floral tribute outside the late star's home as the bitter row between his ex-lover and the family continues. Anouchka Delon greeted passers-by as she visited her late father's home in Douchy, central France. Mr Delon died aged 88 on August 18 following a battle with ill health. Hundreds of bouquets and messages were left at the front gates of the late actor's property, La Brulerie. It comes after Mr Delon's ex lover accused his three children of 'inhumanely' blocking her from saying goodbye. Anouchka Delon met passers-by laying flowers at her late father's home in Douchy, central France Ms Delon inspecting the hundreds of flowers and messages left at the gates of the late actor's home An edition of magazine Paris Match with Mr Delon on the front page is among tributes left for him outside his home Hiromi Rollin, 66, had been living part-time with the sickly Delon as his assistant and carer for some 17 years but claimed the pair had been in love for three decades The late actor's daughter remains locked in a bitter dispute with Rollin, along with her two other siblings Anouchka arrived at the property escorted by French gendarmes Anouchka leaving her late father's home after checking floral tributes left at the entrance Anouckha arrived at the property escorted by French gendarmes, before inspecting the sea of tributes left by fans. Himoni Rollin, 66, was living with the actor part time as his carer for some 17 years, but claimed that Anouchka along with her siblings Alain-Fabien and Anthony had refused to let her see him upon his death. She told French newspaper Le Figaro: 'We loved one another for 30 years. I lived with him for 17 and was separated from Alain unfairly, brutally and violently. 'His children did not even allow me to say ''au revoir". It's inhuman.' The pair first met while working on the 1992 film 'The Return of Casanova' in which Delon played the titular character and Rollin worked as an assistant director. She would later go on to care for Mr Delon in his later life. The actor described Rollin as his 'Japanese companion'. The French actor's relationships with women were the subject of large controversy. He denied accusations from his sons of domestic violence, although he admitted to slapping women during arguments. His first marriage to Francine Canovas, also known as Nathalie Delon, in 1964, ended in divorce after just five years. The couple had one son together, Anthony. Mr Delon also had a string of other relationships, including with the 'love of his life' German actor Romy Schneider, pop star Dalida and Rosalie Van Breemen, the latter with whom he had his last two children. Mr Delon's children had squabbled over his ill-health during his last few years. Delon's performances in some of the greatest films of the 1960s and 70s were widely praised, his charisma on screen impossible to ignore Delon is pictured with Jane Fonda in the film 'The Love Cage', 1964 French actor Alain Delon at the funeral ceremony Funeral of Jean-Paul Belmondo, Paris, France - 10 Sep 2021 Anouchka claimed that Anthony, the eldest, was aggressively hassling his father about his mental state following a 2019 stroke. In return, Anthony accused Anouchka of trying to hide the damning results of Delon's cognitive tests from the rest of the family. All three children filed a lawsuit against Rollin after she left Mr Delon's home last July for a trip and stopped her from coming back. Despite allegedly backing the legal action, Mr Delon also confirmed the pair's relationship, contradicting his children's claims, the Times reported. The brother of a Scot killed by Hamas in the October 7 atrocities has accused former First Minister Humza Yousaf of Jew-washing. Colin Cowan, 56, said the SNPs actions following the terrorist attacks on Israel had cynically focused on avoiding criticism rather than combating anti-Semitism. His comments come amid a growing row within the SNP over Angus Robertsons meeting with an Israeli diplomat. Colin Cowan (right) with his late brother Bernard, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Israel last October Mr Cowan said the SNP Government had been happy to trade with China, while former First Minister Humza Yousaf met the Turkish president, despite concerns over both countries human rights records. But External Affairs Secretary Mr Robertsons decision to meet Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, Israels deputy ambassador to the UK, has sparked a major row within the SNP including calls for him to lose his job. Mr Cowan also accused Mr Yousaf of using his grieving mother Irene as a photo opportunity after posing with her at a memorial service, which he claimed was an act of Jew-washing, or an insincere display of solidarity with Jews. Bernard Cowan, 57, who left his family in Glasgow when he was just 19 to move to Israel, was killed by Hamas in his home in Kibbutz Sufa in southern Israel, close to the border with Gaza. The surprise attacks last year saw the terrorist group kill more than 1,200 people and seize about 250 hostages - with 71 of them reckoned to be still alive, according to latest estimates. Writing in The Herald, Mr Cowan contrasted the SNPs reaction to Mr Robertsons meeting with Ms Grudksy Ekstein with the reaction to Mr Yousaf shaking hands with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the COP28 climate change summit in the United Arab Emirates last year. Mr Cowan accused former First Minister Humza Yousaf of cynically using his grieving mother as a 'Jew washing' photo opportunity Mr Cowan said Mr Yousaf had not faced widespread calls for his resignation at that time, in spite of the shameful Turkish human rights record and their disgusting treatment of Kurdish people. He said: Indeed, Scotland and China have a multi-million-pound annual trading portfolio, and this is in spite of Chinas woeful and routine human rights abuses, including the imprisonment of its Uyghur Muslim population in north-west China. Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs has often been labelled a form of cultural genocide. Yet, why have there been no calls for the resignation of Scottish leaders for their pursuit of strong relations with China? He added: It seems to me that there is a blatant double standard here. Mr Cowan said Mr Yousaf who was then First Minister had met his family after his brothers murder last October. He said: There is a photo of Mr Yousaf hugging my 82-year-old mother as our whole family mourned the loss of Bernard. I have since reached the conclusion that the actions of the SNP since then have shown me that this was nothing other than a photo opportunity for the party, an act of Jew-washing, to avoid any accusation of inaction on combating the rife anti-Semitism that we suffer from in this country. Mr Cowan said Scottish Jews are fearful and we want to see a reaction from our First Minister John Swinney - one that acknowledges the legitimate fears of my community. He called on Mr Swinney to meet with me and my family personally, and show solidarity with the victims of the deadliest day for Jews in 80 years. Last night Mr Yousaf his thoughts continue to be with families who are suffering due to the horrific terror attack by Hamas on October 7, including the Cowan family. He said: When I participated in the Service of Solidarity at Giffnock Shul [synagogue] in October last year, it was at a time of extreme personal grief as my in-laws continued to be trapped in a warzone in Gaza, not knowing whether they would live or die day-by-day. He said he supported the Scottish Government in ensuring there are not normal diplomatic relationships with the Government of Israel until they comply with their international obligations and cease killing civilians with impunity. A Scottish Government spokesman said Mr Swinney would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with Mr Cowan and his family. Scotland's taxpayer owned investment bank has awarded its boss bonuses worth more than 8,000 a month despite racking up millions in losses. The Scottish National Investment Bank lost 14.6 million last financial year, including 8m following the collapse of the firm set up to run the beleaguered SNP/Green deposit return scheme. Despite the losses, Chief Executive Al Denholm was awarded almost 90,000 in bonuses, which saw his total remuneration package top 335,000. Under his long-term incentive plan Mr Denholm, who joined the bank in May last year, earned the huge commission after hitting a series of performance targets. Half of the total bonus is due this year, with another 22,226 in 2025 and 2026 subject to sustained performance, the companys annual reports said. Scottish National Investment Bank CEO Al Denholm raked in 90,000 in bonuses despite the bank losing almost 15million in the last financial year Within the 2023-24 financial year, the total allocated to staff through long-term incentive schemes jumped to 865,000, up from the 709,000 paid the year before. Nicola Sturgeon launched the bank in 2020, and billed it as one of the most significant developments in the lifetime of this parliament. Staff numbers have steadily risen from 64 to 76, with employee costs rising to 9.3m. The median remuneration of full-time staff was 89,999. Douglas Lumsden, Scottish Conservative Net Zero, Energy and Transport spokesman, said: The SNPs flagship national bank is continuing to rack up eye-watering losses, yet failures are continuing to be rewarded. Serious questions remain over the millions lent to Circularity Scotland and how that money will never be recovered following Lorna Slaters botched deposit return scheme - not to mention the fact there is still no advisory board set up by SNP ministers despite my repeated calls for them to do so. Taxpayers need to see full transparency about what the future holds for SNIB, rather than a typical culture of SNP secrecy surrounding its dealings, which have often left taxpayers footing the bill. The banks latest annual report, covering the period April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, showed that loss before tax was 14.6m, down from 20.2m the previous year. This includes 8m lost on Circularity Scotland Limited as it finalises the administration process. Circularity Scotland called in administrators in June last year following the decision to delay the deposit return scheme to bring it in line with a planned UK-wide scheme. Critics hit out at Mr Denholm's bonus payments while the bank continues 'to rack up eye-watering losses' Daniel Johnson, Scottish Labours economy spokesman, said the bank was being financially hobbled by SNP-Green incompetence. He added: The figures clearly show that the fallout over the deposit return scheme has blown an 8m hole in the banks finances - allowing less and less money to be spent on stimulating economic growth and activity. The simple fact is that the investment bank is being held back by SNP economic incompetence, leaving Scotlands economy underpowered and under-resourced. Its accounts revealed the taxpayer owned firm had exceeded its operating costs of 16.1m for the first time, with an income of 19.3m. This was up more than 80 per cent on the previous year. Kate Forbes, the deputy first minister, said: Having achieved an operating profit and nearly doubled its annual operating income in only its third full year since opening for business, the figures demonstrate a strong performance and increasingly promising future for the publicly-owned Scottish National Investment Bank. The key missions of The Bank remain closely aligned to the First Ministers priorities, and it continues to make strategically important investments - from green energy to our net zero transformation and high-growth innovation - to help shape a strong, growing and vibrant Scottish economy. Its accounts, published this week, also highlighted concerns surrounding its gender pay gap - the difference between what men and women earn. The banks mean gap is 26.3 per cent, while its median is 30.9 per cent. The gap is worse than other financial service firms, excluding insurance and pensions, in Scotland. And it is also far worse than Scotland as a whole, with all occupations having a mean gap of 6.3 per cent and a median gap of 8.7 per cent. Its annual report said there was a higher number of women in more junior positions, while there were more men in senior positions. It said: These are disappointing outcomes that we are committed to eliminating. Despite the positive action that has been taken in the last 12 months, this is not where the bank wants to be and we are committed to improving this through our actions in the coming year. The bank, which counts reaching net-zero as one of its missions, has also seen its emissions rise by 5.3 per cent. Carbon emitted because of home working doubled, emissions from business travel went up by more than half, and hotel emissions up 175 per cent. A spokesman for the bank said: We are making good, quality, long-term investments on behalf of the people of Scotland and growing as an organisation with 35 businesses and projects now in our portfolio. Since starting up, we have committed 640million to business and projects that deliver against our missions, and we have crowded in over 1bn of additional investment, supporting projects that deliver long-term societal and economic benefits for Scotland. Employee pay and incentives are part of our operating costs and this year - for the first time - our income exceeded our operating costs. Murdo Fraser has been accused of secretly working in cahoots with other candidates in the Scottish Tory leadership race to get elected. Former MP and MSP Ross Thomson said it was obvious that some candidates had stood for the sake of appearances while coordinating their efforts. Mr Fraser, Liam Kerr, Jamie Greene and Brian Whittle called for the contest to be halted on Friday, claiming the contest was potentially unfair and lacked transparency. But Mr Thomson said the so-called Gang of Four - named after an infamous group of Chinese Communist party officials - had gone too far. Murdo Fraser has been accused of working with other candidates to get ahead in the Scottish Conservative leadership contest He said: Its pathetic and is backfiring with members. Over the last few weeks we have seen candidates for the leadership of the Scottish Conservative Party coordinating with each other to attack fellow Conservatives and other candidates. Eyebrows have certainly been raised across the party by the way that the so-called gang of four and their surrogates have apparently been working in cahoots, both publicly and privately. Its obvious to anyone that some candidates have been running a campaign for appearances with the intention of rolling in behind each other. Instead of putting forward positive conservative ideas as we have with Russell Findlay, theyve focussed on personal attacks and maximising grievances against the party. They are doing so much damage to the party that it will not be easy for the next leader to repair. Members dont like it and their votes need to be earned. They want leaders who are winners, not whiners, who are focused on principles, not process. Brian Whittle recently pulled out of the contest and endorsed Mr Fraser's campaign The like-minded quartet issued a joint statement via Mr Frasers communications manager last week insisting the race should be suspended. The coordination fuelled suspicion that Mr Frasers camp was itself failing to be transparent by working behind the scenes with his erstwhile rivals. On Tuesday, Mr Whittle pulled out of the race and endorsed Mr Fraser, praising him for bringing the genuine change of approach that we need to win. Within 45 minutes, Mr Fraser warmly welcomed the endorsement, saying: I am honoured and humbled by his kind words about me and his support. Writing in the Mail today, Mr Findlay says he is standing first and foremost to unite his party, admitting recent events have called some of our unity into question. He writes: Divided parties breed failure. And I wont stand for failure. Ill stand up for myself, but I wont knock other Conservatives down. Responding to Mr Thomsons comments on behalf of the Fraser campaign, MSP Graham Simpson said: These childish, pathetic, divisive blue-on-blue attacks from the Findlay camp have become an increasingly tiresome feature of this campaign. Leadership candidate Russell Findlay said that recent events have called some of our unity into question Murdo is fighting a positive campaign to deliver real change to the Party - and these tactics show how necessary that change is. Mr Fraser has proposed a Commission to look at the partys constitution - seen by his critics as a Trojan Horse to revive his failed 2011 plan for a breakaway Scottish party. The former deputy leader launches his official campaign in Perth today, coinciding with the close of nominations. Mr Greene, who pitched himself as the voice of a new generation, is widely expected to drop out and endorse either Mr Fraser or former deputy Meghan Gallacher. Echoing Mr Findlays appeal earlier this week to scunnered SNP supporters to switch to the Tories at the 2026 election, Mr Fraser will try to appeal to disaffected Yes voters. He will say: We won the constitutional battle. Now we must win the policy battle. I know there are many more people who hold Conservative values in Scotland than currently vote Scottish Conservative. Some of these people will have voted SNP, perhaps for the last two decades, perhaps because they are sympathetic to independence. Now, with independence no longer a prospect, these individuals have been freed up to vote for a party which might not share their view on the constitution, but is actually offering real solutions to the problems Scotland faces today. A father-son pair of hunters were attacked by a giant grizzly bear in the wilderness of Alaska over the weekend, which led to one of them accidentally shooting himself in the leg. Tyler Johnson, 32, and his father, who is a current Alaska Wildlife Trooper, began their fateful trip last Thursday into a popular trail on the Kenai Peninsula, which is right near Anchorage. Two days later on Saturday, August 17, the duo ventured onto Resurrection Trail looking to hunt black bears sheep and potentially wolves, Tyler explained in an interview with Alaska's News Source. Hours into the hike, where they kept noise to a minimum, they were confronted with a large brown bear. The animal charged at Tyler's father first, but then changed its mind and headed for Tyler. The bear tackled him, which led to Tyler firing seven rounds into its head and neck, killing it. Amid the chaos, he also shot himself in the leg. 'I would shoot myself through the leg again if it hit the bear,' he said. Pictured: The bear that attacked Tyler Johnson and his father moments after Tyler was able to shoot it dead Tyler recorded himself and his father right after the mauling, giving a brief description of what happened and showing the dead bear Shortly after the terrifying confrontation, Tyler had the presence of mind to record a video of himself. He panned around the area of the attack, showing the tall grass he and his father were hiking through. He also recorded the dead bear, which was lying on its side. 'I'm trying to get my heart rate a little slower right now,' Tyler said. Tyler explained in the 34-minute-long interview after the attack that he was born and raised in Sterling, Alaska, a small town also on the Kenai Peninsula. He moved to Austin, Texas, a month ago with his wife and two-year-old son, but decided to make the trip back last week to go hunting with his dad. Tyler explained that he had never hiked Resurrection Trail and heard it was gorgeous, so he and his dad decided to take it. They hiked in on Thursday and spent all day on Friday hunting but didn't catch anything. They went back out on Saturday to hunt because it was 'a beautiful day,' with temperatures reaching around 64 degrees. Once they had been hiking for a while, the flags marking the trail got farther apart and harder to find, Tyler said. They started losing the flags around 2:30pm. Tyler's father, pictured, is the one who made the SOS call to wildlife troopers who later rendered first aid on his son Tyler is pictured alongside his wife and son, who is two years old Alaska Wildlife Troopers would receive an SOS call from Tyler's father reporting the bear attack just a half hour later, according to a bulletin from the Alaska Department of State Troopers. Tyler then saw a clearing through some bushes that led to a more visible path. The path, he said, had evidence of animals being there. They saw moose prints, but no bear tracks. 'I wasn't suspecting to run into a brown bear,' he said. His dad caught a glimpse of the flag after seeing the moose prints and started marching toward it. He described the path as a tunnel of bushes, and he followed his father through it. When he stepped through the clearing that led to a field of knee-high golden grass, that's when his father yelled 'bear!' 'Almost simultaneously, the bear did its growl,' he said. 'If you've ever heard a grizzly...it's shocking.' The bear was between him and his father, and on Tyler's left. 'It wasn't even a warning growl...it just sprinted towards my dad.' In a sit-down interview with Alaska's News Source just days after he was almost killed by a bear, Tyler reenacts the moment it clawed his shoulder Tyler points out the bullet hole in his leg. He said he shot himself after the bear lunged at him 'It was the same color as the golden grass,' Tyler said. 'I just saw the head pop up. I can only assume it was laying down in the grass and we surprised it as much as it surprised us.' His dad had a Glock 40 on his chest and a special backpack with neck protection specifically meant to protect against bear attacks. Tyler said his dad was yelling at the bear as it came for him, which got it to 'put on his brakes and turn towards me.' Tyler had his hand on his gun at this point, and when the bear charged him, he failed to retrieve the weapon at first. 'It was about from me to you,' Tyler said, referencing the distance between him and the interviewer, 'when it kind of lunged up.' He said the attack happened so quick that it was hard to describe accurately. But based on the injuries he received, he believes the bear clawed him on his shoulder and on his legs. Moments later, the bear knocked him sideways and 'gripped' his right quad. 'I was falling backwards at this time, it was like getting hit by a train,' he said. 'My feet went over my head, and it put its teeth into my calf as I was falling backwards.' As he was falling, he managed to pull his gun out. This is when he believes he shot himself in the leg. Once the bear was on top of him, Tyler dealt the killing blows to the beast. Here, Tyler is recalling the moment the bear lunged up at him and tackled him to the ground Tyler fired seven bullets into the bear. He said the final shot was the one that killed it and caused it to fall over 'That's when I put seven rounds into its chest and head area. I mean anything that I can hit.' He explained that his dad, who's an experienced hunter and was the one who trained him to be an outdoorsman, wasn't just standing idly by as all of this was happening. The elder Johnson took a different angle so he wouldn't accidentally hit his son and began firing his Glock at the bear as well. Tyler said the seventh round was the one that killed the bear, though he's unsure if the bullet struck its head or the spine. 'I remember noticing a difference between a pissed off bear and a bear that's falling over.' Once the bear was officially dead, Tyler informed his dad that he shot himself. Luckily, he brought a trauma kit with him and was able to treat his bullet hole wound by wrapping his leg with a tourniquet. He called the injury to his leg 'a million dollar wound' because the bullet missed arteries and bones and exited out the other side of his quad. Tyler, left, and his dad, right, pose for a cute picture with Tyler's son Tyler said the attack happened around 2:58pm, and two minutes later, wildlife troopers received a report about the attack. According to the troopers' report, officers administered first aid on Tyler in the field before he was transported to Anchorage hospital in a helicopter. Troopers told Alaska's News Source that Tyler was in stable condition as of Monday, two days after the mauling. He's also treating his bite wound with amoxicillin to prevent possible infections. As of now, Tyler is still in Alaska but plans to get back to his family in Austin later this week. 'Im going to miss Alaska. Its definitely given me a few scars in the past couple months to remind me of her. Its been a hell of a summer,' Tyler said. The BBC has been accused of scaremongering over its coverage of Scotlands reaction to the far-right riots in England and Northern Ireland. The corporation has said they received several complaints from people who were unhappy over an article on the BBC Scotland website. The article, published on August 7, was titled Refugees in Scotland living in fear following riots was accompanied by an image of rioting in England which didnt make clear where the incident took place. Readers complained that the lead image and headline were misleading and amounted to scaremongering. The BBC has issued a lengthy statement in response which acknowledged the concerns raised and said they didnt intend to cause any offence. The BBC came under fire from members of the public over an article published online in the wake of rioting in England and Northern Ireland However, they stood by their coverage and said it was important to reflect the experiences and fears of some communities in Scotland. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with violent scenes in towns and cities such as Rotherham, Middlesbrough and Bolton which followed the spread of misinformation online began after three girls were killed in Southport in Merseyside. There was further disorder in London, Plymouth and Belfast earlier this month but there have been no incidents in Scotland. The BBC article featured an interview with Sabir Zazai, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, who said that some people in communities his organisation works with were scared to go out. After viewing the article, one reader posted on X: This is disgusting BBC News - people who dont read the article will assume that that photo is of riots here when there havent been any. Another person who lodged a complaint said: Misleading image IMO, as implies disorder on Scottish streets. You should remove. Could be seen as bias. Several towns in England and Northern Ireland saw violence erupt, but there was no rioting in Scotland In its statement, the BBC said: We received complaints from people who felt the lead image and headline were misleading and/or amounted to scaremongering in the article on refugees in Scotland living in fear following the violent riots in England and Northern Ireland. We believe this was a very important story to tell, to ensure that the experiences and fears of some communities in Scotland were accurately reflected - Scotlands first minister and other party leaders were also in the news that week recognising the fears held by communities of faith and other groups in Scotland, in relation to the rioting in England and Northern Ireland. Headlines are a summary and cannot give all of the details of a story. While there is a desire to provide as complete a summary as possible in a headline, space is also a factor and consideration is given to such things as audience comprehension, of which pre-awareness is a factor. The lead paragraph in the article provided the further detail and context that: People in the asylum system in Scotland are living in constant fear following days of violent riots in other parts of the UK, the chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council has said. The caption to the lead image in the article also conveyed that it was illustrative of these riots in other parts of the UK and explained that: More than 400 people have been arrested following violence in England and Northern Ireland over the weekend. We acknowledge the concerns we received about the framing of this article with its lead image and headline; in particular, how it came across on the home page/indexes and on social media prior to seeing the full article. It was certainly not our intention to cause any offence. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will 'address the nation' Friday about his path forward in the 2024 race. Kennedy will speak in Phoenix, Arizona - one day after the Democratic National Convention wraps up in Chicago. Also in Phoenix that day - former President Donald Trump, who Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said the independent is thinking about endorsing. Trump has been courting a Kennedy endorsement for weeks and the two spoke by phone in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the ex-president. On the flip side, the Democrats have scorned Kennedy, who had previously been one of their own. When Kennedy tried to touch base with Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign - attempting to barter a Cabinet gig for an endorsement and a pledge to drop out of the race - a DNC spokesperson publicly said no thanks. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) had a phone conversation last month with former President Donald Trump (right), where it was clear Trump was courting him for a potential endorsement. Democrats, on the other hand, have no interest Nicole Shanahan (left), Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate (right), revealed on a podcast this week that the independent is thinking about throwing in the towel and backing former President Donald Trump 'No one has any intention of negotiating with a MAGA-funded fringe candidate who has sought out a job with Donald Trump in exchange for an endorsement,' Democratic National Committee spokesperson Matt Corridoni told DailyMail.com. Shanahan appeared on an episode of Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory Tuesday and said she and RFK Jr. have two options - they could stay in the race and hope to get 5 percent of the vote to officially start a new political party. 'But we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency,' the former Democrat said. 'Because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump.' 'Or we walk away right now and join forces with, with Donald Trump and and, you know, we walk away from that and we explain to our base why we're making this decision,' she added. 'Not an easy decision.' Shanahan explained that some of the Democratic Party's moves to prevent her ticket from playing a 'spoiler' role in the election turned her off from ever supporting them. 'The DNC made that impossible for us. They have banned us, shadowbanned us, kept us off stages, manipulated polls, used lawfare against us, sued us in every possible state,' she claimed. 'They even planted insiders into our campaign to disrupt it and to create actual legal issues for us.' 'The extent by which the sabotage they've unleashed upon us, it's mind-blowing. We are still learning news ways they have sabotaged us,' Shanahan continued. The Democrats have filed a number of lawsuits to keep the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket off the ballot. A spokesperson for the party has charged again and again that Kennedy's entire camapign was meant to give Trump a leg up. Trump, on the other hand, was heard on the phone last month suggesting he could throw RFK Jr. a bone. He reiterated that point during an interview with CNN Tuesday. A truck promoting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential campaign is seen outside of The Bitcoin Conference held at Music City Center in Nashville 'Certainly,' he responded when asked if there was a role for RKF Jr. in a Trump 2.0 administration. 'I like him and I respect him,' Trump continued. 'He's a brilliant guy. He's a very smart guy. I've known him for a very long time. I didn't know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I'd be open to it.' Shanahan said on Impact Theory that the ex-president 'has taken genuine, sincere interest in our policies around chronic disease.' 'He takes it seriously. For that reason, I think it behooves us to sit and see if we can actually make some change,' the vice presidential candidate added. The 38-year-old said that Kennedy would do an 'incredible job with HHS' and then butchered what the acronym stood for. 'Human Health Services,' she told Bilyeu. It's the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The FBI has launched an investigation into whether maggots were deliberately slipped into the breakfasts of delegates at the Democratic National Convention. Law enforcement swarmed the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago on Wednesday following reports of the insect attack. Indiana delegate Tracy Boyd told WGNTV: 'They protected us, of course, and turned it around in minutes.' She said her group was notified that breakfast service would be briefly delayed due to the incident by pro-Palestine activists. Since the start of the DNC, pro-Palestine rioters have caused chaos on the streets of Chicago. Several have been arrested for breaching the security perimeter near the United Center and as protests got violent near the Israeli Consulate. 'I really do want to give a shout-out to the hotel staff and leadership,' Boyd added. All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy,' said Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Barloga. The FBI has launched an investigation into whether maggots were deliberately slipped into the breakfasts of delegates at the Democratic National Convention Pro-Palestine activists launch disgusting protest on Netanyahu's table at DC's Watergate Hotel 'We thank the security team for responding swiftly,' he said. It's not the first maggot-related political incident in recent weeks. At the end of July, a Pro-Palestine activist group shared stomach-turning images of what they said was a protest against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader addressed Congress amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has sparked protests against the Jewish state all over the world. Hours before his speech, the Palestinian Youth Movement's X account shared a video they claimed showed Netanyahu's table at the Watergate hotel in Washington DC full of maggots and critters. The group wrote: 'BON APPETIT!! MAGGOTS RELEASED ON THE CRIMINAL ZIONIST'S WAR TABLE! 'Palestine protestors manufactured chaos at the Watergate Hotel last night so that Netanyahu, Israeli Mossad agents, and the Secret Service had no peace as they continue to terrorize our people.' Jewish Insider claimed that several people in Netanyahu's team were not aware of any protest involving maggots. Jewish Insider reporter Lahav Harkov said: 'I talked to several people in Netanyahus delegation who know nothing about this, so either the Palestinian Youth Movement is lying or somehow security managed to clean this up and stop the fire alarms incredibly quickly.' Law enforcement swarmed the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago on Wednesday following reports of the insect attack CNN reported that the Secret Service was investigating the reports that protesters gained access to the hotel where the Israeli delegation is staying. During his speech, Netanyahu spoke about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, highlighting how the two's close ties have been instrumental in the Jewish nation's fight against Palestinian terror group Hamas. 'America and Israel must stand together,' Netanyahu proclaimed, receiving a standing ovation in response. 'When we stand together, something very simple happens, we win and they lose.' Protesters clash with the police during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Israeli Consulate in Chicago Hours before Netanyahu's planned speech, the Palestinian Youth Movement's X account shared a video they claimed showed his table at the Watergate hotel in Washington DC full of maggots and critters The leader has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is eradicated following the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel by the terrorist who raped women, killed and beheaded children and took hundreds of Israelis hostage, including several Americans. While Netanyahu was in D.C., protesters condemning the war in Gaza descended on Washington, chanting 'Free, Free Palestine' as some tried to block streets. Protestors vandalized parts of Union Station, a short walk to the Capitol. The American flag was taken off of a flag pole outside of the main train terminal. The search for the sixth missing person on Mike Lynch's sunken superyacht has been called off for the day after it is believed the bodies of the British tech billionaire and his teenage daughter as well as two others were recovered. A fifth body was also found in the wreckage of the Bayesian but is yet to be recovered, it emerged this evening. Search teams made the tragic discoveries while scouring through the ruins of the luxury sailboat, which sank off the coast of Sicily after being hit by a 'black swan' waterspout on Monday morning. Rescue efforts will resume at first light tomorrow, the head of Sicily's civil protection agency said. The Chief of Civil Protection have confirmed two bodies were identified as British tech billionaire Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. However, there was confusion last night after local Italian media claimed that the bodies recovered were not that of the Lynch's - although these reports are unverified. Two men and one woman were taken to the morgue to be formally identified, while the gender of the other two are yet to be confirmed. A fire service dive team arrives back at port from the rescue site for the Bayesian off the coast of Porticello, Sicily British tech tycoon Mike Lynch with his wife Angela Bacares, who survived the disaster Those still unaccounted for are Morgan Stanley boss Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy and US citizens Chris Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Neda Morvillo. The body of one crew member, chef Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday. The freak incident came as 59-year-old Mr Lynch, known as 'Britain's Bill Gates', was enjoying a 'victory trip' to celebrate winning his US fraud trial over the 8.3billion sale of his tech firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. In a separate tragedy, Stephen Chamberlain - the former vice president of finance at Autonomy and Mr Lynch's co-defendant - died after being hit by a car while out jogging in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. Four other guests have been missing since the sinking, with specialist divers desperately trying to access the boat amid hope survivors could be alive in air pockets inside the vessel. It comes as: Emergency services personnel gather on the dock as the body of one of the victims of the disaster is brought in Firefighters and the Italian Coast Guard recover a body from the sunken sailing vessel in Porticello Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer (pictured), and his wife are also missing Mr Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo (pictured) and his wife Neda are also missing after the yacht sank Neda and Christopher Movillo (pictured together) had joined Mr Lynch on the trip to the Mediterranean Judy Bloomer, who is missing, is a supporter and former board member of the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness and funds research into gynaecological cancer The Bayesian (pictured) overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning The tragic news came after a marked increase in activity at the port in the last two hours, with more boats than normal going to and from the site. An ambulance siren could be heard threading its way through the streets of Porticello, and was believed to have joined the large group of emergency vehicles from police, coastguard and the fire service, ringing the tiny port. At 2.58pm UK time a fire service boat bearing what appeared to be at least one body bag came into shore. Rescue workers lined the shore as the boat drew alongside, with a coastguard vessel pulling in front to block the view of media so the body could be removed with dignity. The body bag was then taken to a waiting ambulance in the harbour. Salvo Cocina, the director of Sicily's civil protection agency, confirmed two bodies were found in the wreck today and that divers have already brought them to the surface. The divers bringing the bodies to the surface will be deeply traumatised, an expert has said. 'It's always a big trauma,' Bertrand Sciboz, who runs a company specialising in shipwreck research and salvage, told the BBC. He added: 'For myself and for my team of divers, it's always very difficult if you have to do this job.' He said 'On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and express our condolences and closeness to them at this difficult time.' The challenging operation has been hampered by issues, including access to cabins being blocked by debris and thick silt preventing divers from being able to see inside windows. It was revealed today that last night the captain of the superyacht, New Zealander James Cutfield, had been 'questioned for more than two hours' by Italian prosecutors. The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout Rescue personnel and divers operate on the water above the shipwrecked superyacht today A fire service helicopter flies in the air above Porticello today as the search operation takes place Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The 'well respected' seafarer was quizzed by the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor's Office as part of their investigation into what happened. It is expected they will also speak to the other passengers and crew members as part of their probe. Speaking in hospital the morning after the incident, Mr Cutfield told Italian journalists 'we didn't see it coming'. Part of the investigation will look into whether hatches had been left open by crew and whether these caused the boat to sink in a matter of minutes. The captain's brother, Mark Cutfield, said he was a 'very good sailor' and was 'very well respected' in the Mediterranean. He told the NZ Herald that James is currently in hospital but is 'okay' and does not have injuries that are 'too dramatic'. According to the Giornale Di Sicilia, prosecutors questioned Mr Cutfield for several hours as they tried to reconstruct the Bayesian's final moments before it capsized and as it sank to the seabed. The yacht had been carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers when it was hit by tornado-speed winds during a severe thunderstorm at 5am on Monday, August 19. Such was the force of the impact, the boat sank beneath the waves, completely disappearing in 'just 60 seconds' and leaving those on board in a race to save themselves. While 15 people were able to make it to safety, including a British mother who heroically held her baby daughter afloat in the pitch-black waters, seven people were unaccounted for. The body of one crew member, Canadian-Antiguan chef Recaldo Thomas who was the on-board cook, was discovered hours later as a rescue operation got underway. The search operation has been beset with problems, with floating debris blocking the narrow corridors of the vessel, which is almost completely intact and lying on its side on the seabed 164ft (50m) below the surface. The wreck is so deep that divers can only spend 10 minutes on the seabed before having to return to the surface for their own safety. Today a new team of Italian firefighters, who have special tanks that allow them to stay underwater for longer and more experience at that depth, arrived to help with the search. Divers had forced their way into the ship by drilling a hole through a 3cm-thick porthole today, with claims they had reached the 'master cabin' where Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares had been staying during the trip. Italian outlet Giornale Di Sicilia reported that a remote-controlled robot has been brought in to assist the search teams. The 'robot' is capable of operating on the seabed up to an altitude of 300 meters and can continue for between 6 and 7 hours. Mr Lynch on his Suffolk farm in 2021 when he was fighting extradition to the USA Mr Lynch (second left) is seen in the early days of his techology firm Autonomy in Cambridge Tech entrepreneur Lynch with his renovated mill, at his Suffolk farm The device equipped with advanced technology that allows it to investigate the seabed and record detailed videos and images which will be used in the prosecutor's investigation. Brent Hoberman, a friend of Mr Lynch, described the 'one in a million' disaster just weeks after the mogul had cleared his name as a 'Shakespearean sort of tragedy'. Mr Lynch was acquitted of all charges by a San Francisco jury in June alongside his co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain, who had both been fighting to clear their names for 12 years. Mr Hoberman, the former CEO of lastminute.com who has known Mr Lynch for 28 years, said: 'What an ordeal. This is a Shakespearean sort of tragedy. 'Somebody who spent 12 years defending their name, they just clear their name, they are going on a trip with the team who helped them do that to celebrate and then a sort of one in a million disaster hits their boat.' Mr Hoberman described Lynch as a 'bit of a boffin' who was 'quick-witted and smart' with an 'infectious love of technology'. Born in Ilford, Essex, as the son of an Irish fireman and a nurse, Mr Lynch won a scholarship to Bancroft's School, a private day school in northeast London, and later read natural sciences at Cambridge. At university he developed his fascination with technology, completing a doctorate and holding a research fellowship in adaptive pattern recognition. In 1991, he set up Cambridge Neurodynamics, which specialised in computer-based finger print recognition for the police. Five years later he founded data analysis company Autonomy, which became one of Britain's most successful start-ups. His rise to fame and fortune had been celebrated as a major and pioneering British success story and the married father of two daughters was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise. That same year, he was appointed to the board of the BBC - and was later elected to then-prime minister David Cameron's council for science and technology in 2011. He advised Mr Cameron on subjects including 'the opportunities and risks of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the government's role in the regulation of these technologies'. Yet in March this year he found himself in a San Francisco courtroom to defend himself against fraud and conspiracy charges - and ultimately won his freedom. Mr Lynch at Autonomy's headquarters at Cambridge Business Park in 2000 Mr Lynch in his younger years before he became one of Britain's most high profile entrepreneurs The 59-year-old tycoon had spent much of the previous year living under house arrest with an electronic tag attached to his ankle. Fighting his corner was a legal team led by Reid Weingarten, described as one of the US legal system's most successful white-collar defenders. Mr Lynch had potentially faced up to 20 years in a US prison if found guilty of 16 counts of conspiracy, and securities and wire fraud, which he denied. The charges related to a business deal that was hailed at the time as his crowning glory the 8.6billion sale of his software and data company Autonomy to US computer giant Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Mr Lynch personally made more than 500million from the deal, only for HP to later wrote down three-quarters of the value of Autonomy only a year after buying it. The US company fired Mr Lynch while accusing accusing him and other executives of having grossly inflated its size and profits during the sale. He had previously lost a 2019 civil fraud case based on similar allegations that HP now Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) brought in the UK, with London's High Court ruling in 2020 that HPE had 'substantially won' its case. His separate three-year battle to avoid being extradited to face criminal charges culminated in Lynch going to the High Court to argue that American prosecutors were guilty of legal overreach which threatened UK sovereignty and its citizens. His plea was rejected and in May last year he was flown to California, accompanied by the U.S. Marshals Service, still protesting his innocence. And on June 6 this year he was acquitted of fraud by a jury in San Francisco, while former Autonomy finance executive Stephen Chamberlain, who faced the same charges, was also acquitted on all counts. Earlier this month he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that being rich had helped him secure his acquittal, saying: 'You shouldn't need to have funds to protect yourself as a British citizen. 'The reason I'm sitting here, let's be honest, is not only because I was innocent but because I had enough money not to be swept away by a process that's set up to sweep you away.' A former student who is accused of raping two women while they were sleeping has claimed that he had sex with them while he was dreaming, a court has heard. Connor Yaxley, 30, was studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth, when he was accused of the attacks. One of the women, who Yaxley allegedly had sex with four times while she was asleep, told Norwich Crown Court that he had used the excuse to her that the sex had happened while he was dreaming more than once. On another occasion she claimed that the former film studies student told her that he had accidentally penetrated her while they were both asleep. The other woman said in a recorded police interview that she had twice woken up from 'a deep sleep' to find Yaxley having sex with her. Connor Yaxley (pictured outside court) was studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth, when he was accused of the attacks Giving evidence in court from behind a screen today, the woman said that it happened the second time after she had got into bed with Yaxley and had told him that she did not want sex. The woman claimed that she had been prone to sleeping deeply, and took time to wake up and understand what was happening. When she came round she realised that Yaxley had been having sex with her without consent. She told the court: 'I thought he was asleep, and woke him up and asked him why? He said he didn't remember and must have done it in his dreams, and that he was so sorry and did not know what he was doing.' Under cross examination, she was asked if she had accepted his explanation at the time that the sex had happened while he was asleep. She replied: 'Then, I accepted it.' On a third occasion, she said she had woken up to find Yaxley fiddling intimately with her and that she had then consented to sex. She went on to say that she had only come to realise that his actions had been wrong when she spoke to a friend. Prosecutor Andrew Thompson said that Yaxley also told police in an interview that he would do things 'without knowing because he was dreaming at the time'. Yaxley also claimed to officers that he was prone to having bad dreams, and had woken up to find that he was having sex with one of the women. The court heard how he had also sexually assaulted a third woman by touching her intimately as she slept on a chair at his home in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. One of the women, who Yaxley allegedly had sex with four times while she was asleep, told Norwich Crown Court (pictured) that he had used the excuse to her that the sex had happened while he was dreaming more than once Mr Thompson described the alleged incident in August 2020 as 'unwanted touching that was clearly sexual'. The prosecutor said that a person could only consent to sex by 'choice' and if they had the 'freedom and capacity to make that choice'. He added that a sleeping woman - 'the same as if it were an unconscious woman' - could not consent to sexual conduct that took place 'while she is asleep'. Mr Thompson said the first alleged victim had been asleep and 'unable to consent' when Yaxley allegedly raped her between December 2017 and December 2019. Yaxley denies three counts of rape involving the first woman, two counts of rape involving the second and the sexual assault of the third. The jury of seven men and five women were told that the three women cannot be named for legal reasons The trial continues. Businessowners and residents in affluent West London have started to board up their windows ahead of the notorious Notting Hill Carnival. Pictures show properties being boarded up ahead of the two-day event which is expected to attract 2million people this weekend - sparking questions as to whether it should be moved entirely. Last year the Met Police arrested 308 people during Notting Hill Carnival - with at least 75 officers assaulted and eight revellers stabbed. Carnival-goers also saw a hooded thug charging across the street wielding a foot-long machete, while another was spotted raising a zombie knife in the air. This year's event saw the highest number of stabbings since 2016, when there were 15. Scared residents met in September at a post-Carnival meeting billed as 'an opportunity for you to let the organisers know how the Carnival was for you, what was useful and what could be improved'. Workmen putting boards up around houses in affluent West London Residents are preparing for the worse ahead of this weekend when the Notting Hill carnival is due to take place Shops in Notting Hill are being boarded up ahead of the notorious two-day festival Representatives from the Metropolitan Police and the councils of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea attended, with discussion including whether the location could be moved to make it easier to police. The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents officers in the capital, has also echoed these suggestions. Its vice chairman Rick Prior condemned the level of violence as 'unsustainable', saying: 'It is just awful and this sort of violence against officers at this event has become normalised. 'The officers have a right to come to work and expect not to be attacked, injured, sexually assaulted or bitten. Those bitten will have had to be given anti-viral drugs if the skin was broken, and will now need all sorts of tests it is horrendous. 'It has almost become a certainty we will have this violence and terrible treatment of police officers every year and it is just not acceptable. 'It is a very difficult event to police and of course we recognise the need for this event but it should perhaps be moved to somewhere like Hyde Park where it would be less problematic to police.' Meanwhile Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate who ran against Sadiq Khan for Mayor of London, labelled the carnival as 'dangerous' and suggested it be moved to Hyde Park. A young man waves around a machete at Notting Hill Carnival in West London last year A man is seen running across Ladbroke Grove holding a machete-type blade on August 28, 2023 Police officers patrol during the main parade of the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27 Mounted police officers make their way through the streets of Notting Hill last year Police detain a young man on Ladbroke Grove on August 28, 2023, during the Notting Hill Carnival A man holds his face in his hands at the carnival as he is escorted away by police on August 28, 2023 Police officers detain a person during the first day of the Notting Hill Carnival on August 27, 2023 Police officers take their positions during the parade at Notting Hill Carnival on August 28, 2023 The carnival has been held on the streets of Notting Hill every year since 1966 - apart from in 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled due to the pandemic. At last year's event, one 29-year-old man was in a critical condition after being knifed just after 9pm on the Monday, while a 19-year-old was in a stable condition having been stabbed an hour earlier. Scotland Yard confirmed that 308 were arrested - up from an initial total of 275 that was given - at the carnival, which was attended by an estimated two million people. The arrests were for offences such as possession of offensive weapons including guns, assaults, possession of drugs and sexual offences. Shocking pictures showed one man brandishing a foot-long machete very close to other carnival-goers as he ran around the streets with other group members in masks. One image showed him appearing to point the weapon at a person on the ground. As those in the vicinity fled, police on horseback tried to chase after the group. As well as the two men left in hospital, six others aged between 18 and 40 were stabbed in separate incidents and sustained non life-threatening injuries. Mr Prior praised the senior Met officers who oversaw the policing operation and said the crime would have been far worse without strong leadership. 'Our point of contact at the carnival was very pleased with the Met's command team and the decisions they made this year,' he said. 'They gave the officers on the ground the confidence to carry out their role knowing they had leaders in place who were making the right decisions quickly.' A man is seen to wield a large machete-type blade on Ladbroke Grove on August 28, 2023 Chaotic scenes at Notting Hill Carnival on August 28, 2023, pictured around the Ladbroke Grove area Police officers keep a lookout during the parade at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 28, 2023 Revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival on August 28, 2023, as they pass through gates in West London Crowds pack the streets on the second day of this year's Notting Hill Carnival on August 28, 2023 Dancers parade through the streets of West London on August 28, 2023 - the final day of the carnival Performers at the Notting Hill Carnival make their way through the streets on August 28, 2023 Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who oversaw the policing, said: 'It is regrettable that for a second year in a row, Monday night at Carnival has been marred by serious violence. 'Nobody disputes the significance of Carnival on London's cultural calendar and the overwhelming majority of those who came will have had a positive experience. However, we cannot overlook the stabbings, sexual assaults and attacks on police officers that we have seen. 'Carnival is a challenging policing environment. Officers were asked to be vigilant and alert but to be approachable, respectful and sensitive at the same time. They did all of that and more and they deserve our recognition and our thanks.' A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'The Notting Hill Carnival is one of the world's biggest street festivals and is part of the very fabric of our city. 'The celebration was born out of the Caribbean community in north Kensington and Notting Hill, and the mayor believes that it's only right that this remains its home. 'Like with other major events in London the mayor will continue to work with local partners to ensure the event remains safe and enjoyable for all.' Crews who carried out the clean-up last year estimated collecting 13 tonnes of laughing gas canisters Piles of rubbish were left on the street following Notting Hill Carnival last year Waste crews who carried out the mammoth carnival-clean up estimated they collected 13 tonnes of laughing gas cannisters from the streets last year - a substance which has now been made illegal, with users facing up to two years in prison. Kensington and Chelsea Council said crews collected five skips' full - with an estimate of more than 12,000 canisters. John Swinney was last night accused of flip-flopping over the SNPs position on Israel as a diplomatic row engulfed his government. The First Ministers leadership was called into question after he broke off relations with the Israeli Government under pressure from party members. It follows a backlash from inside the SNP after it emerged external affairs secretary Angus Robertson had held talks with Israeli diplomats to discuss common links. But Mr Swinney risked appearing to take sides yesterday when he held talks on Gaza with a Palestinian leader just 48 hours after freezing relations with the Jewish State. Opposition leaders blasted his poor judgment and warned the First Minister to stop his ill-prepared foray into foreign affairs. John Swinney broke off relations with Israel's government amid pressure from within his party Angus Robertson meets with Daniela Grudsky, deputy ambassador for Israel to the UK. Scottish Conservative Deputy Chief Whip Annie Wells said: John Swinney cannot hide from his role in this row that has engulfed his party. It comes as: Jewish community leaders warned growing numbers of people no longer feel welcome in Scotland, Senior figures expressed concern at the rising levels of intimidation and revealed Jews were packing suitcases ready for a quick escape The brother of a Scot killed in the Hamas attacks of October 7 slammed the SNPs handling of anti-Semitism in the country Mr Swinney was heckled off stage at a festival event as a pro-Palestine protestor accused home of having blood on his hands The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities had warned the Scottish Government not to ignore one side if it wanted a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine. If it aspires to contribute to a resolution of this long-running and tragic conflict and supports a two-date solution, it can only do so by engaging with both parties, the group said on Tuesday. However Mr Swinney yesterday held a virtual meeting with Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK. It is understood the meeting had been a longstanding commitment dating to before the General Election. The Scottish Government suspended all meetings with the Israeli government on Monday after a feud erupted inside the SNP over external affairs secretary Angus Robertson. Mr Robertson was urged to quit by party colleagues after he met Israels deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky in Edinburgh earlier this month. He apologised for discussing cultural and trade links instead of limiting his remarks to urging an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Mr Swinney knew of the meeting in advance but it was left to Mr Robertson to defuse the row. Mr Robertson yesterday revealed he had been receiving advice and support from Mr Yousaf, whose wifes family is Palestinian. UK Ministers meeting overseas politicians and diplomats are able to draw on the vast expertise of the Foreign Office. However, there is no home-grown equivalent inside the Scottish Government. Bernard Cowan, originally from Glasgow, was amongst those killed in the October 7 atrocities carried out by Hamas in Israel Ms Wells added: John Swinney has flip-flopped on his views on the meeting over the course of the last week and allowed his cabinet colleague to take the blame. As leader of his party - and the Scottish Government - John Swinney should be upfront about the matter and his awareness of it rather than trying to escape scrutiny. Given the sensitivity of this issue it is clear that senior figures in the SNP have been ill-prepared for the fallout that has occurred after they sought to influence foreign affairs, which are ultimately reserved. On Tuesday, former UK security minister Tom Tugendhat called SNP ministers amateurs over their mishandling over the Grudsky-Robertson row. He said: Its not about collecting air miles. Its not about making headlines. Its about careful leadership, talking to allies, partnering with friends. And if youre not doing that, youre not offering leadership, youre playing politics and youre doing harm. The First Minister was heckled off stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday by a pro-Palestine protester who forced an event on devolution to stop early. The young woman accused him of having blood on his hands and said he and Mr Robertson should resign over the meeting with Ms Grudsky. Mr Swinney said yesterday: Having made our point to the Israeli Government, until there is an improvement in their interactions in Gaza, until there is a ceasefire and meaningful progress for peace, therell be no further dialogue with the Israeli Government. Mr Robertson now faces an angry reckoning with SNP members over Gaza at the partys conference next week. The agenda for the Nationalist gathering in Edinburgh shows he will lead an hour-long policy discussion on international affairs on the day of Mr Swinneys closing speech. UK trade minister Jonathan Reynolds yesterday defended continued negotiations with Israel on a visit to a distillery in Scotland. He said: When I am doing the trade issues the meetings tend to be focused specifically on that, but we have, across the whole of the Government, made clear that we want to see an immediate end to that conflict and an end to the human suffering. Police made an unexpected discovery when they opened a trap door hidden under a rug in a trailer. Billy Lee Walton Jr., 35, a man wanted for violating probation after an attempted rape conviction, was found hiding under a trap door in the floor of a Tennessee trailer. Walton had been on probation but was wanted for violating the terms of his release after being arrested on June 13 for various traffic and drug offenses. U.S. Marshals tracked him to a mobile home park in Denmark, Tennessee. After searching the residence, they discovered a hidden cut-out space beneath a rug in the floor Walton was found inside the compartment, which had been carefully concealed. Police made an unexpected discovery when they opened a trap door under a trailer. Billy Lee Walton Jr., 35, a man wanted for violating probation after an attempted rape conviction, was found hiding under a trap door in the floor of a Tennessee trailer 'Someone created a pretty good hiding spot, but it wasnt good enough to outsmart the U.S. Marshals Service,' Marshal Tyreece Miller said Walton was taken into custody and is in the Madison County Jail. DailyMail.com reached out to Madison County Sheriff's Office for comment. This isn't the first time law enforcement have had to hunt down suspects in unique hiding spaces. Emely Yanagida, 35, tried to hide from cops in the trunk of her Tesla after swiping $850 in goods from Lululemon and Sephora. The California thief was arrested for shoplifting at Irvine Spectrum Center, stealing $600 worth of make-up and $250 in workout gear. The Irvine Police Department released footage on Saturday which showed officers discover her bizarre hideout - as she hid under a bright green tarp in her Tesla's trunk. Walton had been on probation but was wanted for violating the terms of his release after being arrested on June 13 for various traffic and drug offenses (Pictured: the trailer Walton was hiding in) The incident occurred on Wednesday when loss prevention officers at the Sephora alerted police to a shoplifting suspect who had fled the store. Irvine police shared the footage on Facebook, captioning it 'Peek-a-Boo' with hashtags #dontcommitcrimeinirvine. An onlooker tipped off officers to Yanagida's hiding spot, guiding them to the trunk of a nearby Tesla. A mother left her five-year-old son inside a parked Mercedes with the windows rolled up as she shopped at a Walmart on a sweltering South Florida afternoon, police said. The boy, who frantically knocked on the car window to get the attention of passersby, was eventually freed by Walmart employees, the police report said. Martine Louis-Jacques, 62, was accused of child neglect without great bodily harm and appeared before a judge on Tuesday, NBC 6 South Florida reported. Police said the boy, who was not identified, was 'scared and distraught' after being left in the vehicle for around 20 minutes while his mother shopped inside the store in Pembroke Pines. 'The Walmart employees observed the child [redacted] unsupervised inside of the vehicle, which was completely shut off with all the windows up,' it read. Martine Louis-Jacques, 62, of Miramar, was arrested on Monday after leaving her son in her hot Mercedes while she shopped in Walmart for 20 minutes A passerby in the parking lot alerted a Walmart employee to the situation, and store workers eventually freed the boy by instructing him to unlock the car from the inside. After employees brought the boy inside the store, he ran to his mother, police said. The two left the location without speaking to employees and before the arrival of law enforcement. The Miramar resident was arrested at her home after police used CCTV to identify her car and locate her address. The child was freed from the car after he got the attention of a passerby She was taken to the Broward Sheriff's Office's main jail and her bond was set at$3,500. Around 40 children die from heatstroke from being trapped in hot cars, according to Kids and Car Safety, an advocacy group. More than 1,000 kids have died in these incidents over than last three decades. A cliff face has collapsed near a caravan park in the latest rockfall on Britain's crumbling coastline. Aerial footage shows debris lying on the beach and a large part of the cliff face missing in east Sussex. The collapse happened near the Rushey Hill Caravan Park in Peacehaven, which is just a short distance from the eroding cliff edge. 'East Sussex chalk cliffs are unstable and crumble without warning at any time of year,' a spokesperson for Lewes District Council told the BBC. 'Anyone heading to the coast must stay well away from cliff edges and bases and follow the advice on signs highlighting the dangers.' It is the latest rockfall on Britain's crumbling coastline after thousands of tons of rock collapsed on the famous Jurassic Coast in April, contributing to growing concerns over public safety. A cliff face has collapsed near a caravan park in the latest rockfall on Britain's crumbling coastline Aerial footage shows debris lying on the beach and a large part of the cliff face missing in east Sussex The collapse of part of the cliff face happened near the Rushey Hill Caravan Park in Peacehaven, which is just a short distance from the eroding cliff edge One of Britain's most iconic views is the Dorset coastline which stand at 140ft tall and more than 180 million years old but extreme weather resulted in huge chunks falling from the area around Burton Bradstock. Images of the rockfall show boulders the size of double-decker buses resting on top of a 50ft pile of debris that has blocked the popular beach. Baroness Brown, member of the UK climate change committee, argued that although we must protect public safety the 'last thing you want to do is to be putting in place engineering structures' as 'all those things are unsightly.' 'We have to make sure things are clearly signposted and people understand where they can and can't go at different times. 'Because the last thing you want to do is to be putting in place the engineering structures, such as seas walls or the piles of rocks that help take the energy out of the waves, or the rock armour at the base of the cliffs. 'All those things are unsightly and will inhibit the natural evolution of those parts,' she told BBC Radio 4. One of Britain's most iconic views is the Dorset coastline which stand at 140ft tall and more than 180 million year old Pictured in 2023. Recent extreme weather has seen thousands of tons of rock fall from the area around Burton Bradstock The cliffs are made up of sandstone rock that is porous and acts like a sponge with rainwater, which seeps down through it and weakens it over time Images of the rockfall show boulders the size of double-decker buses resting on top of a 50ft pile of debris that has blocked the popular beach Professor Ian Townend at the University of Southampton said that it is 'highly likely' that putting in erosion protection to the cliff will just lead to further problems. 'It is highly likely that trying to defend the cliff with sea walls, or stabilising the cliff in some way, would simply move the problem elsewhere on the coast. 'Risk is a fundamental part of life. Our vulnerability increases, the more we are prevented from making our own decisions about the level of risk we are willing to accept. Communication, in multiple forms, can help ensure that visitors are aware of the risk and can make their own decisions.' The cliffs are made up of sandstone rock that is porous and acts like a sponge with rainwater, which seeps down through it and weakens it over time. At the same time, strong waves whipped up by storms batter the base of the cliffs, also destabilising them. In 2012, tourist Charlotte Blackman, 22, was crushed to death when a huge landslip occurred as she walked under the cliffs further along the coast at Burton Bradstock. A widower has been mauled to death by an XL Bully dog his family said he was looking after for a friend. Specialist officers shot the animal dead after the horror attack on David Daintree, 53, at his home on Tuesday evening. Mr Daintrees daughter, Joanne Trezise, posted a tribute on Facebook saying: Sleep tight daddy Dave. Love you. She insisted her father didnt own the dog but had simply offered to look after it for a friend temporarily. He was the sort of person that couldnt say no to anything, she said. David Daintree, 53, was discovered dead by officers at his home in Ashley Court, Lancashire having been killed by his XL Bully A GV of Ashley Court in Accrington, Lancashire, where Mr Daintree was discovered deceased He had the biggest heart of gold and because he was on his own missing his late wife he wanted some company. According to social media, Mr Daintrees wife, Sharon, passed away in July 2021. Ambulance crews and police were called to Mr Daintrees home in Accrington, Lancashire shortly before 9.30pm on Tuesday, but he had already died from his injuries. Lancashire police said that because the dog was continuing to pose a significant threat of serious harm officers were left with no alternative but to shoot the animal. Lancashire Police said officers were left with no choice but to shoot the animal with a firearm as it posed 'a significant threat of serious harm'. Specialist support officers are supporting Mr Daintree's family as an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Superintendent Marie Jackson said: 'This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in a man losing his life and my thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. 'An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information to get in touch. 'We will have extra officers out and about in the area carrying out enquiries and I would urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to them.' A file photo of an XL Bully. The dangerous breed was made illegal to own in England and Wales as of January 31 this year The XL Bully, which is the largest type of American bulldog, was made illegal to own in England and Wales as of January 31 without exemption, following a spate of fatal attacks across the UK. The powerful breed has distinctive features, including an average 20-inch height, broad shoulders, a bulky head and nine-stone weight. A recent study found that of the ten areas in England with the most XL bully attacks, five were in the north west. Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log 1480 of 20 August 2024. Hunter Biden's defense took a beating in court on Wednesday before his tax crimes trial has even started. The First Son's new attorney, LA celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, argued in a pre-trial hearing to keep the jury from learning about the sordid details of the prostitutes, drugs, porn sites, Lamborghini rentals and hotel rooms for drug-fueled benders that Hunter deducted as business expenses. Geragos also tried to bring in psychological experts to convince the jury Hunter's drug addiction led to his debauched behavior and alleged tax evasion, and that the childhood trauma of his mother and sister dying in a car crash in 1972 and his brother's death from brain cancer in 2015 were to blame. But Judge Mark Scarsi was having none of it, ruling that Hunter's expert, Joshua Lee, would not be allowed to testify at the trial, that is due to begin next month in a Los Angeles federal court. Special Counsel David Weiss indicted Hunter on three felonies and six misdemeanors in December, accusing the First Son of deliberately evading taxes, falsifying his returns and failing to pay $1.4million on time instead spending the money on a 'lavish lifestyle' for a three-year period between 2016 to 2019. Hunter Biden's defense team desperately argued in a pre-trial hearing Wednesday to keep the jury from hearing the sordid details of the prostitutes, drugs, porn sites, and other drug-fueled benders that Hunter deducted as business expenses Hundreds of emails, texts, and photos found on Hunter's abandoned laptop are likely to be used as evidence in the First Son's criminal trials Department of Justice prosecutor Leo Wise, fresh from trouncing Hunter's legal team in his Delaware gun crimes trial, gave a hint in Wednesday's hearing of some of the damning evidence jurors will hear at the impending tax crimes trial, due to begin September 9 in a Los Angeles federal court. Hunter was not in court for the hearing. This included Hunter's business deductions on his tax return for 'StreamRay', which Wise described as a site 'to allow consenting adults to meet, and it's sexual in nature'. 'You can spend $30,000 on a porn website if you want, that's not illegal, but you can't claim it's a business expense,' the prosecutor told the judge. 'He describes his life as a bacchanal. Partying in those hotels with a cast of strippers. 'He chose to pay those strippers,' Wise added. 'He chose to take it as a business deduction.' Wise even read out an excerpt of a testimony transcript from one of the women who the government may put on the stand: 'I got a $1,500 Venmo payment'. 'Where'd you meet him?' 'In a strip club.' 'The [payment description] is for artwork, did you sell him artwork?' 'No.' 'We're not going to go into the gory details,' he said, but added: 'The jury needs those facts to determine whether it was a mistake or whether it was willful.' Geragos was put in a tricky spot. Hunter has now retained prominent LA lawyer Mark Geragos ahead of his upcoming trial next month The criminal defense lawyer has previously Chris Brown when he wass charged with assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, as well as President Clinton's brother Roger and former Clinton business partner Susan McDougal During Wednesday's pre-trial hearing, the judge also ruled that they could not discuss the possibility that Hunter was paid for any acts his father Joe Biden took as Vice President, or whether he funneled any money to Joe He offered to admit that some of Hunter's business deductions were in fact personal expenses, to try to prevent Wise and Hines from telling the jury what those expenses entailed: 'bacchanals' in luxury hotel rooms, payments to prostitutes, and porn subscriptions. But Hunter's lawyer could not admit that Hunter deliberately made those deductions to reduce his tax bill illegally as he would thereby admit to some of the government's charges against his client. Instead, Geragos insisted Hunter didn't know which payments were which, and accidentally claimed them on his taxes. But Wise hit back, detailing how Hunter deliberately picked out those expenditures and told his accountants to deduct them. 'They gave Mr. Biden those schedules. They said, "here's a yellow highlighter. We don't know which of these are personal and which are business expenses. We need you to highlight it",' the prosecutor said. 'He very deliberately went through these schedules and highlighted things that were personal.' Wise also revealed Hunter allegedly broke the law by constructing a scheme to claim health insurance, by putting assistants on his payroll who weren't really working for him. In another blow to the defense, Scarsi ruled that the jury will not be told that Hunter's multi-million-dollar tax bill he is charged with failing to pay, was later paid off by his wealthy Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris. Wise pointed out Morris only decided to pay of Hunter's tax bill after he discovered the First Son was facing criminal investigation, and that before paying off the IRS, Morris funded Hunter's lavish life including 'a house in Malibu, a Porsche, a crisis communications team and security detail'. Judge Scarsi warned that if lawyers talked in front of the jury about topics he had outlawed, they could be fined 'six figures'. Scarsi also put some limits on the prosecution. In another blow to the defense, Judge Scarsi ruled that the jury will not be told that Hunter's multi-million-dollar tax bill he is charged with failing to pay, was later paid off by his wealthy Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris Hunter's legal troubles come after compromising photos, videos, texts, and emails of the president's son from his abandoned laptop were published online A court sketch of Hunter Biden alongside his lawyer Abbe Lowell in federal court in January. The president's son pleaded not guilty to federal tax charges filed after a plea deal imploded last year He ruled that they could not discuss the possibility that Hunter was paid by foreign governments, that he was paid for any acts his father Joe Biden took as Vice President, and whether he funneled any money to Joe. 'He had every intention of cleaning up his life, of doing the filings, of paying his taxes,' Geragos told the judge, arguing that it was Hunter's crack addiction that stopped him from getting his life in order until recent years. The defense lawyer will be arguing that Hunter had a 'diminished capacity' due to his continued drug use through 2019. But Wise told the judge: 'No matter how much drugs you take, you don't suddenly forget that when you make $11million, you have to pay taxes' referring to the vast income Hunter received from his foreign business dealings and other ventures in 2016 to 2019. Geragos got personal, accusing the DoJ of being worse than the mob for bringing Hunter's family into the case, saying 'even the mafia spares the women and children', and adding that Justice Department were trying a 'salacious prosecution'. Wise shot back that it was Hunter's own team who put his daughter Naomi on the stand in Delaware, a disastrous decision which may have lost them that case. 'Mr. Geragos made that offensive remark about the mob not going after wives and daughters,' said Wise. 'We didn't do that. 'In the gun trial he called one of his daughters. That was awful.' But in the coming trial, witnesses are set to include Hunter's ex wife Kathleen; his brother's widow who became Hunter's lover, Hallie Biden; and Lunden Roberts, whom he hired as an assistant, impregnated, then cut her from his company's medical insurance. Wise repeated allegations made in a DoJ filing this month, that Hunter had masterminded a scheme to influence Obama administration officials for a Romanian businessman who was later convicted of bribery. Hunter received $1 million for the scheme, which allegedly involved lobbying US State Department officials to pressure the Romanian government to halt their criminal probe and prosecution of the Romanian real estate tycoon Gabriel Popoviciu. DailyMail.com was the first to reveal the key details of the alleged influence peddling operation over three years ago in June 2021. Wise said in court on Wednesday that in Hunters tax trial the prosecution dont intend to elicit testimony that he violated FARA, the Foreign Agents Registration Act which requires people to notify the DoJ if they intend to lobby for a foreigner. But he stated that Hunter and his partners were meeting with government officials on Capitol Hill and the State Department, advocating on behalf of a Romanian businessman to encourage the US government to investigate the investigation in Romania. He added that the First Son tried to circumvent lobbying laws by having his partner Rob Walker buy a stake in Popovicius real estate firm, to give the appearance he was advocating for his own business interests not a foreigners and that this was due to the sensitivity of his relationship to his father, who was the Vice President. Though Walker was executing the plan, Wise said that Walker testified to a grand jury that Hunter was the strategy person, he identifies who I should meet with who I should talk to. Walker clearly testifies that he was the worker bee, Mr Biden was the strategist, Wise said. Geragos argued that the actions were all taken by Walker, not Hunter, so should not be discussed in front of the jury, and complained that the DoJs filing about Hunters alleged FARA violation was designed specifically to inflame press coverage. This is nothing more than poisoning the jury pool, the defense attorney said. After hearing the arguments, Judge Scarsi ruled that Hunters dealings with Popoviciu could be discussed before the jury, but that mentions of the Obama administration, Hunters alleged illegal lobbying, or wrongdoing by officials, could not. Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the nearly 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children it 'may have lost track of' within the U.S. The agency's internal watchdog warned of an 'urgent issue' with how immigration officials have been handling the cases of migrant minors and found that more than 32,000 children had failed to show up for immigration summonses and ICE was 'not able to account' for their locations. For more than 291,000 unaccompanied immigrant minors, ICE had not bothered to serve them court dates, according to the watchdog, two-thirds of the migrant children who have made their way into the U.S. 'Unaccompanied migrant children are some of the most vulnerable individuals in America. They are routinely trafficked for sex, forced into illegal labor, burned with chemicals, and subjected to countless other atrocities by cartels,' Hawley, R-Mo., wrote. Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the nearly 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children it 'may have lost track of' within the U.S. 'Not only did your agency lose track of these children, it didnt even bother to tell anyone. That is unconscionable.' The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for placing the immigrant children with sponsors, but has lost track of tens of thousands of them after the children and their sponsors stopped responding. ICE, which is responsible for putting the children through to immigration hearings, did not follow up with them either. 'ICE must take immediate action to ensure the safety of UCs residing in the United States,' Inspector General Joseph Cuffari said in an alert. 'Based on our audit work and according to ICE officials, UCs who do not appear for court are considered at higher risk for trafficking, exploitation or forced labor.' 'By not issuing NTAs to all UCs, ICE limits its chances of having contact with UCs when they are released from HHS's custody, which reduces opportunities to verify their safety,' Cuffari added. Without the capacity to monitor the children, there is 'no assurance that they are safe from trafficking, exploitation, and forced labor.' Hawley called to mind testimony Mayorkas gave the Senate in October 2023 when he claimed, 'we have actually prioritized the rescue of children who have been trafficked.' 'But according to your Inspector General, your policies are wholly exacerbating that same trafficking risk to migrant children,' Hawley wrote. He demanded Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas provide answers on where his agency believes these children are, why they were not given court notices, what his agency is doing to track them down and what led to the failed communication between HHS and DHS. ICE does not alert HHS when a child fails to show up and has not procedural code for following up on those cases. HHS created an email inbox for ICE to notify them when a child is a no-show at a deportation hearing. But ICE officials could not tell the inspector general how often, if ever, deportation officers used it. In response to the report, ICE said it would send an alert telling officers to start using it. Mexican migrant Veronica Marquez, 36, comforts her son Mariano, 5, while waiting to be apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border protection officers after crossing over into the U.S. on June 25, 2024 These immigrant children are often sent with traffickers to travel north in hopes they have a better shot at not being turned away at the border without their parents. Roughly 68,000 were caught and released in fiscal 2019, and just 15,128 were caught and released in 2020, the last full year under President Trump. Nearly 366,000 were caught and went to HHS during Bidens first three years. For ICE, children are just the tip of the ice berg of the agency's issues with tracking migrants. ICEs docket has more than 7 million migrants at large and are not being tracked by a monitoring device. Children who do show up and go through the immigration court process have little chance of being deported. Of those who arrived in 2018, nearly a quarter were granted some sort of legal status within three years and only 5 percent were sent back to their home countries. Some 14 percent were supposed to leave but defied those orders and the rest, 57 percent, had no progress on their legal status three years later. A judge told a former soldier who served as a peacekeeper in Kosovo that his participation in riots was 'astonishing.' Peter Beard, 43, who also performed tours of Bosnia and Northern Ireland with the Royal Green Jackets between 1998 and 2003, admitted pushing aggressively at a line of officers protecting a hotel housing asylum seekers during disorder in Rotherham. Jailing the father of three, who lives in the town, for two and a half years, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, the Recorder of Sheffield, said it was 'astonishing' Beard had become involved as he had been 'on the receiving end' of public order incidents as a peacekeeper. 'Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful,' the judge added. Peter Beard, 43, who has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after taking part in Rotherham riots An aerial view of anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers on August 4 A picture shows a police cordon outside the Holiday Inn Express hotel. Hundreds of people have so far been charged in the UK following the widespread disorder The unrest, outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4 left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured, as louts attempted to storm the building and set it on fire. Hundreds of people have so far been charged in the UK following the widespread disorder. On Wednesday, the latest batch of defendants to appear in court included men accused or convicted of unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham. The unrest outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4 left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured, and saw attempts to storm the building and set it on fire. Railway engineer Morgan Hardy, 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham, is accused of throwing chairs, fencing and a fire extinguisher at police guarding the hotel, and denies violent disorder. A 27-year-old man who threw a wood panel onto a fire outside the hotel admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Thomas Birley his offending is 'unquestionably' the most serious of all those he has dealt with in the last fortnight in relation to the rioting outside the Holiday Inn Express, at Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4. A 27-year-old man who threw a wood panel onto a fire outside the hotel admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. (Pictured, police tape outside the Holiday Express hotel) The unrest outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4 left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured. (Riot police clash with protesters outside the hotel) Rioters are seen attempting to enter the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Rotherham, housing asylum seekers, on August 4 Luke Moran (pictured) was seen in shocking body-worn camera footage striking the driver's window of the vehicle during the mass disturbance on July 30 Liverpool Crown Court heard that the officer inside, Pc James Hayes, feared for his life as Moran used a large piece of concrete to hit the carrier three times Birley, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, who also admitted violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, will be sentenced on September 6. Elsewhere Jake Lowther, 20, of Abrams Fold, Banks was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders' institute for throwing stones at police in Southport. Liverpool Crown Court heard that he picked up two pieces of brick or stone from a broken wall and threw them towards police, with one hitting a riot shield. A number of people involved in the Southport disorder were jailed on Wednesday, including father-of-three Luke Moran, 38, who was sentenced to three years after trying to smash a police van window. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the officer inside, Pc James Hayes, feared for his life as Moran used a large piece of concrete to hit the carrier three times. Cocaine addict Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Preston Grove, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder and criminal damage, for throwing items at a police van and kicking the vehicle. The court heard he had been convicted of a racially aggravated common assault in 2016 after telling a traffic warden he should 'return back to his own country'. Thomas Whitehead, 53, was arrested on a plane at Manchester Airport after his picture was circulated by police as part of the mob that had gathered outside the town's mosque. The father-of-three was sentenced to one year and eight months for violent disorder for throwing 'items' at police. Manager for a scaffolding firm Nicholas Sinclair, 38, of Bury Road, Birkdale, was seen in footage throwing bricks at the officers, and was jailed for two years and four months for the same offence. Daniel Carrigan, 41, of Preston Grove, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting violent disorder and criminal damage A police officer is seen trying to extinguish flames after a mob set a wheelie bin alight at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham which was housing asylum seekers Perrie Fisher, 29, who rode a children's scooter before throwing it at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot and telling a police officer to f*** off, was sentenced to 29 months In a separate case, a man who live-streamed disorder outside an asylum hotel was warned to get a lawyer and that he is in a 'serious position' by Judge Maurice Greene at Manchester Crown Court. Aaron Johnson 32, of Criterion Street, Stockport, admitted inciting racial hatred by using racist language in a live stream broadcast to 'millions of people' from outside an asylum hotel in Stockport on August 5. He will be sentenced on September 19. Declan Dixon, 22, of Salisbury Avenue, Hindley, Wigan, was jailed for 18 months at Teesside Crown Court for throwing a missile towards police on July 31 in Hartlepool. The electrician, who told police he had been present 'out of curiosity', had admitted violent disorder and possessing cocaine. Michael Stevenson, 34, of Newport Road, Middlesbrough, who tried to set fire to a wheelie bin which was pushed towards riot police during disorder in the town, was jailed for 26 months. Scaffolder Perrie Fisher, 29, who rode a children's scooter before throwing it at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Aldershot and telling a police officer to f*** off, was sentenced to 29 months. Kamala Harris has been compared to a famous character from the classic movie Singin' in the Rain because she performs better when she is silent. The 1952 movie, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, tells the story of the transition from silent film to 'talkies' during the 1920s. In it, Jean Hagen plays Lina Lamont, who has such a high-pitched voice that producers of the new style of movie try to prevent audiences from hearing it. Wall Street Journal columnist Hadley Arkes has now compared Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President Harris to the character, ahead of Harris' crucial nomination acceptance speech Thursday. 'Ms. Harris is now our Lina Lamont, who must be carefully guarded by her handlers and barred from speaking, for her own good (and that of the Democratic Party),' Arkes wrote. 'That her managers have kept her shielded and confined to scripted performances confirms their own judgment that she simply isnt up to it.' Kamala Harris has been compared to a famous character from the classic movie Singin' in the Rain because she performs better when she is silent The 1952 movie, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, tells the story of the transition from silent film to 'talkies' during the 1920s. In it, Jean Hagen plays Lina Lamont (pictured right), who has such a high-pitched voice that producers of the new style of movie try to prevent audiences from hearing it The columnist claims Joe Biden's political ambitions are best summed up by the 1958 film The Last Hurrah. Arkes argues that while many find Trump 'boorish', he always comes across as himself. 'Trumps comic style may come over as a boorish shtick, but it is his, and if hes boorish, he is as authentically boorish as he means to be. But the moment may meet his absorption of the Borscht Belt comics. His natural line for the campaign would be: She cant talk! The plan is to keep daring her to prove that she can,' he added. Many have suggested that Harris often emits what's known as 'word salad' whenever she speaks, to the point where conservatives have outrageously accused her of being drunk during public engagements. 'The trick for the Trump campaign is to induce or tempt Ms. Harris to speak,' says Arkes. 'Does she support the Biden administrations open-borders policy, its electric-vehicle mandate, its softness on Iran? In the end of Singin' in the Rain, Lamont is seen for who she is when a curtain is pulled back to reveal her voice is being provided by Debbie Reynolds. Pundits on the right suggest booze is to blame for Harris' 'lunatic' laughter and what many describe as 'word salads' from the vice president when she veers off script. Others posted jokingly that if Harris were to be found out as a drunk, it would help her win key swing states in the Midwest. Many have suggested that Harris often emits what's known as 'word salad' whenever she speaks, to the point where conservatives have outrageously accused her of being drunk during public engagements DailyMail.com has contacted reps for Harris for comment. One commentator posted two clips of Harris, one introducing Joe Biden at a recent speech in Maryland, the other the vice president's infamous re-telling of her mother's 'coconut tree' story. In it, Harris bursts into laughter after uttering the question 'you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?', while giving a speech on equality and advancement for Hispanic people. Harris celebrated becoming the Democratic nominee by trolling former President Donald Trump in the arena that hosted last month's Republican National Convention Tuesday Night. Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, attracted more than 15,000 supporters to Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum for a Tuesday night event held in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. It's traditionally unusual for a nominee to abandon the convention, but with a bit of TV magic, the ceremonial roll call vote concluded at Chicago's United Center and then the audience witnessed Harris walking onstage to a cheering crowd in Milwaukee. Ahead of Harris' arrival, Walz made it very clear that the intention of the event was to get under Trump's skin. 'Not only do we have massive energy at our convention, we have a hell of a lot more energy where they held their convention,' Walz said. 'Oh that one guy's gonna be so sad tonight, so sad, so sad.' Harris mostly let the crowd size speak for itself, though did make a quip after her supporters engaged in a raucous 'not going back' chant. 'Tim just looked at me and said, "we're not going back, I think,"' Harris said with a laugh. This is the moment Andrew Tate was led into the back of a prison van by elite Romanian cops as he prepares to spend 24 hours in prison amid new allegations of 'sex with a minor' and 'trafficking'. One of the world's best-known influencers, Andrew Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain, along with his brother Tristan. After Romanian authorities launched a fresh raid on Tate's home on Wednesday morning, new footage shows the influencer talking to the media while handcuffed before being led into a prison van. Tate can be heard saying: 'This file is even more stupid than the first one. 'They say I'm a lover boy, to the mother of my children - and we've tricked them into having kids. Unbelievable.' Andrew Tate is led into the back of a prison van by elite Romanian cops Tate can be heard saying: 'This file is even more stupid than the first one' Tate talks to the media before being led into the back of police van Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain Earlier footage published by Romanian media outlet Observator showed masked policemen making their way into the Tate residence with metal ladders. One clip showed a masked cop on the compound's roof shining a light through an upstairs window. Tate was later seen being walked out of his building, with Tristan behind him. The office for organised crime (DIICOT), said that four search warrants were executed, in connection with 'the crimes of forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in minors', 'sexual relations with a minor' and 'money laundering'. Prosecutors allege that 37-year-old Tate, his 36-year-old brother and two women set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several victims. They have denied those charges, and a trial date has not yet been set. Prosecutors 'conducted a raid this morning, on August 21, 2024, at the residence of the Tate brothers as part of a search related to a new investigation', an official said. Andrew Tate has been posting about the raid since it took place this morning. He said: 'I don't have phone because it was taken by the police. 'But when I speak loud my words are heard by someone from a computer far far away by magic.' This is the moment elite Romanian troops stormed controversial manosphere influencer Andrew Tate's 'fortified' compound Andrew Tate (pictured) was later seen being walked out of his building His brother Tristan (pictured) was led out by cops shortly after Andrew Tate talks to media as he is being led for questioning after a police search raid on his residence A masked gendarme patrols the courtyard of the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate during an early morning police search raid, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania Andrew Tate flanked by masked gendarmes is led for questioning after a police search raid on his residence The brothers were detained in 2022 in Bucharest and spent three months in detention before being released under judicial supervision to await trial. The brothers also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain, where they have also been accused of tax evasion. Today's raid comes a month after the Tate brothers were banned from leaving Romania. The Court of Appeals in Bucharest said in July it had overturned a previous ruling which allowed the controversial internet personality free movement within the European Union while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking. That ruling came after the brothers just two weeks earlier had celebrated being given permission to leave the country for the first time in two years. When the brothers received initial news that they were able to leave Romania, a spokesperson for the pair said: 'The Romanian courts have ruled in favour of Andrew and Tristan Tate, lifting restrictions on their travel within the European Union,' adding: 'This represents a significant victory and a major step forward in the ongoing case.' 'It reflects the significant progress the legal team have made in challenging the allegations brought against them. Andrew and Tristan's lawyer, Eugene Vidineac said: 'We embrace and applaud the decision of the court today, I consider it a reflection of the exemplary behaviour and assistance of my clients. 'Andrew and Tristan are still determined to clear their name and reputation; however, they are grateful to the courts for placing this trust in them. Gendarmes wearing balaclavas walk outside the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate during an early morning police search raid, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 Gendarmes wearing balaclavas hold a battering ram used to break down a door outside the residence of internet influencer Andrew Tate Police officers outside the Tate brothers residence in Pipera, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania, August 21, 2024 Police squad cars outside the Tate brothers residence in Pipera, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania, August 21, 2024 One of the world's best-known influencers known for misogynist and sometimes violent maxims, Andrew Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain 'For the brothers, who have faced limitations on their movement for nearly two years, this ruling is a welcome relief. 'It allows them to resume their lives with greater freedom and peace of mind. 'They are now able to travel freely throughout the EU to pursue professional opportunities without restriction.' This 'relief' was short-lived, however, and the ruling was overturned just a fortnight later. Tate and Tristan were initially arrested in December 2022 along with two Romanian women - model Georgiana Naghel and former cop Luana Radu - but were formerly indicted in June last year. The two female suspects - dubbed 'Tate's Angels' - also face extradition to the UK once their court proceedings in Romania come to an end. The brothers have been accused of 10 allegations of rape and sexual assault from three alleged victims in the UK. Andrew Tate (C) and his brother Tristan Tate (L) return to Bucharest Court after a snack break. Andrew and Tristan Tate, Bucharest Court, Bucharest, Romania - 04 Jul 2024 Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were banned from leaving Romania last month Tate strikes a pose at the Court of Appeals in Bucharest before it overturned a July 5 ruling allowing him and his brother to leave Romanian territory providing he remains within the European Union, as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women Andrew Tate grimaces upon arriving at the court The pair faced complaints from victims who claimed they were drugged and subjected to sexual acts between 2012 and 2015. Romanian law states the trafficking of adults carries a lengthy prison sentence of up to a decade, as does rape. The Tate brothers were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023, to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence. They were then under house arrest until August, when courts placed them under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure that enabled them to move around freely but not leave the country. Just two weeks ago, the brothers celebrated as they were given the news they were allowed to leave Romania and had free movement within the European Union Tate took to X on July 5 to share a message in celebration of being given the right to leave Romania for the first time in two years. This celebration was, however, short-lived Pictured: A police officer escorts Andrew Tate, centre, handcuffed, from the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Romanian prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them via social media and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage - ultimately pretending to fall in love with them before getting them to work for their business after luring them to their villa on the outskirts of Bucharest. The victims were then taken to properties outside the capital Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said. Tate, who has amassed 9.7 million followers on X has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. In 2016, Tate appeared on the 'Big Brother' reality television show in Britain but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman. He then turned to social media platforms to promote his divisive views. Giving tips on how to be successful, along with misogynistic and sometimes violent maxims, his videos have made him one of the world's best-known influencers. Tens of thousands of pupils across the UK will find out their GCSE results today. Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are bracing for outcomes which could determine whether they go on to study A-levels, apprenticeships or other educational pathways. However, college leaders say winning sought-after spots will be more competitive this year while fears have been raised that nearly a third of pupils could fail GCSE English and maths. Many pupils have already applied to sixth forms in either colleges or schools, but many places are conditional on getting the right grades. Selective courses at top colleges ask for at least grade 7s, meaning those missing that target will be looking for another place. A disheartened student looks at his GCSE results on August 21, 2019 in Ashtead Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are bracing for outcomes which could determine whether they go on to study A-levels, BTEC's or apprenticeships The Office for National Statistics estimates the population of 16-year-olds in England has risen by 34,595 or 5.2 per cent from 663,078 in 2023 to 697,673 this year. Sixth Form Colleges Association chief executive Bill Watkin said: 'It's likely that there'll be more competition to get a sixth form place. 'There is going to be pressure on places because the number of new places created is less than the number of additional young people working their way through the system at the moment.' David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), added that capacity issues were 'acute' in a few areas including Leeds. The AoC, which represents vocational colleges as well as sixth forms, is calling for more Government funding to open up additional places. Mr Hughes added: 'We are worried that we're getting to a point where in some places they simply won't have the capacity to take on students.' And Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, agreed that competition will be 'even more intense' due to the population rise. This year, grading in Northern Ireland and Wales will return to pre-Covid levels for the first time, after teacher assessment during the Pandemic led to record highs. England's grades were scheduled to return to normal last year, but were still slightly higher. A student speaks on the phone after opening his GCSE results in 2021 Annabel Bolton (left) is shocked while opening her GCSE results with her mother in 2023 From left to right: James Smith, Elias Stisted, Katherine Edwards and Emily Farrar look at their GCSE results at Portsmouth Grammar School in 2023 Nada Tazouti celebrates her exam results at the City of London Academy in 2023 Carolina Quintino cries as she opens her GCSE results in August 2023 Professor Alan Smithers predicted UK-wide top grades at 7-9 could fall by up to 71,000 if all three countries return to 2019 grading levels. It would mean a drop of 1.2 percentage points to 20.8 per cent. However, he suggested we could see an increase in top grades instead, if there is a repeat of A-level day, when results reached a surprise record high for non-Covid times. He pointed out there may be a 'change in political mood' and suggested officials are 'currently giving the impression of wanting 'feel-good' results.' This year group was in Year 7 when schools closed due to the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, meaning they suffered substantial disruption to their education. Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the NAHT school leaders' union, said members had reported a rise in requests for special arrangements 'particularly for small rooms' to take exams away from the main hall. She said: 'I think some of that is representative of some of the anxiety that young people are facing as a result of what they've gone through over the past few years. 'Those young people feel more comfortable in a smaller room to be able to take their exams.' Meanwhile, one former ministerial special adviser said one in three GCSE maths and English results this year will be a 'fail' and not all pupils should have been put through the exams, Pupils at Ark Greenwich Free School look contemplative as they open their GCSE results in 2023 Shane Servini hugs his mum upon receiving much-anticipated GCSE results in 2019 Amina Bana (right) gets ready to open the letter containing her grades in 2022 A student covers her face upon seeing her GCSE marks in 2021 Students Harry (left) and Adil (right) receive their grades on GCSE results day in 2022 Iain Mansfield, who advised three Conservative education secretaries, believes less able youngsters should instead have the option of a 'core skills' qualification at 16. He said this was 'more compassionate' as many pupils are well below the ability to get level 4 considered a 'standard pass' and the equivalent of the old C. Mr Mansfield, now head of education at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said: 'It's important that standards are kept high and that a GCSE pass is recognised by employers. But it is pointless making some people sit something they are definitely going to fail.' Alternative core skills qualifications already exist, focusing on real-world knowledge, but cannot be taken instead of GCSE. Mr Mansfield added: 'As long as the parents and children agree, letting children well below the standard of a pass take this instead would give them a qualification that they can put on their CV. We should recognise that while GCSE remains the gold standard, for some children the core skills papers are a better preparation for work and everyday life.' It came as Will Goldsmith, head of the 46,000-a-year Bedales School in Hampshire, said GCSEs should be scrapped altogether for being too narrow and 'rigid'. Bedales is working with other leading independent schools as part of the national Rethinking Assessment coalition. They are preparing a submission to Labour's curriculum review team, led by Professor Becky Francis. Bedales is working towards offering only two GCSEs in maths and English alongside its own Bedales Assessed Courses (BACS) at 16. The school currently offers five to six GCSEs. Milan (left) and Sasha (right) open results in disbelief at Notting Hill and Ealing School in 2022 Students celebrate receiving their GCSE results at Roedean School in 2022 Pupils react on GCSE results day at a school in London in 2021 A student looks hesitant as she reads how she has done in her GCSEs in 2021 Mr Goldsmith said: 'GCSEs as they are run now are unnecessary and I think there are lots of ways we could serve young people better by avoiding this bottleneck and this standardised testing point which creates an enormous rigidity. 'The idea that any assessment can really encapsulate the complexity of a young person is problematic.' The Department for Education said: 'We have no intention of removing well-respected and valued qualifications, like GCSEs, as part of the review.' A Nashville mother charged with drowning her seven-year-old daughter 'because she wanted to be left alone' has suffered a horrific injury in prison. Brandi Elliott, 33, was locked up in Sumner County Jail without bond while waiting to face first-degree murder charges for allegedly drowning her daughter, Piper, in Drakes Creek in Hendersonville. But over the weekend, she was rushed to the hospital with a severe head injury, News Channel 5 reports. The jail has only confirmed that she was not attacked by another inmate, however it remains unclear whether Elliott was on suicide watch or if she deliberately injured herself. Updates on whether she'll survive or be able to stand trial have not been shared. She has previously claimed she had mental health issues when she made her first court appearance last month. Brandi Elliott, 33, was rushed to a local hospital over the weekend with a head injury She has been locked up at the Sumner County Jail without bond as she faces first-degree murder charges for allegedly drowning her daughter, Piper, in Drakes Creek in Hendersonville 'When my daughter was two, I kind of lost it like I did this time,' Elliott said in court. 'I had postpartum depression and they gave me medicine for it. I was having a really bad time with sleeping.' The mother also cried during the hearing as she told a judge that her veteran husband was living with a disability. Yet both her attorney and state prosecutors said that they did not want her mentally evaluated. She has had no prior criminal history and worked at McDonald's. In court last month, Elliott claimed she previously suffered from mental health issues The mother allegedly told police she had been having a bad day and Piper would not give her what she wanted 'time alone' But on July 13, Elliott decided to take Piper to a shallow area at Drake's Creek, and held her underwater until bubbles emerged. She allegedly told the child to be quiet as she held her under water 'like a largemouth bass,' WKRN reports. When police later questioned her about her daughter's death, Elliott reportedly told officers she was having a bad day and Piper would not give her 'time alone.' Still, the mother reportedly said she only realized what she had done after it was too late and first responders tried to revive Piper with CPR. Police said the family are now witnesses in the probe, and have started a memorial along the greenway for Piper, which they want to turn into 'Pipers Pathway.' Prosecutors have said they are considering the death penalty for Elliot if she is convicted. An online fundraiser has been set up for Piper's father, Jon Elliott (right) Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been set up for Piper's father, Jon Elliott. 'Jon will be needing as many donations as possible for the funeral arrangements, and basic everyday needs, he only get a small disability check each month,' it says. Jon, who served in Iraq, also posted a tribute to Piper online, writing: 'I will miss my baby girl forever.' Robert Jenrick has said he would be 'delighted' to have Boris Johnson in his Shadow Cabinet if he wins the Tory leadership contest. The former immigration minister said the party 'needs all of its talent' if it is to return to power in the next general election. He added that he would be 'pleased' to welcome back the former prime minister, who stepped down as an MP in June 2023. Mr Jenrick, who is one of six leadership hopefuls vying to replace Rishi Sunak, told the Daily Telegraph: 'With respect to Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party right now needs all of its talent involved. And so, if Boris wanted to return to Parliament, I would be pleased to welcome him.' Asked if he would include Mr Johnson in his Shadow Cabinet, Mr Jenrick replied: 'Yeah. I think what we need are the best people who are available in the Conservative family to be on the pitch, supporting us to be a strong Opposition, holding Keir Starmer to account for all of the failings that we already see, and ultimately winning the next general election. 'And if Boris wanted to be part of that, I'd be delighted.' Boris Johnson (pictured at a 2024 general election campaign event) resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in 2023 Robert Jenrick (pictured at the launch of his bid to become the next Conservative Party leader earlier this month) said the party 'needs all of its talent' if it is to return to power in the next general election Mr Johnson was ousted as PM in July 2022 following a series of scandals including lockdown-breaking gatherings and the handling of misconduct allegations against deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. He toyed with a return to frontline politics when Liz Truss's government collapsed just three months later, but pulled out of the race as it was 'not the right time'. He resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in 2023 after a Commons committee report concluded he had misled Parliament over 'Partygate'. However, since then, several Tories have suggested they were wrong to have ditched the Mail columnist, who led the party to a landslide election victory in 2019. Mr Jenrick, who also served as housing secretary and health minister under Mr Johnson, was one of those who called for him to resign as prime minister. In a Facebook post from July 2022, he said there had been an 'irretrievable loss of trust' with the public and that the country would be best served by new leadership. Mr Jenrick's latest remarks make him the first leadership hopeful to comment on Mr Johnson's political future. Two of his rivals, Dame Priti Patel and James Cleverly, are long-standing allies of Mr Johnson and backed him for the leadership in 2022. Johnson toyed with a return to frontline politics when Liz Truss's government collapsed just three months later, but pulled out of the race as it was 'not the right time' In a recent interview, Dame Priti Patel (pictured) said that Mr Johnson is a 'political giant' but that a return to frontline politics was a 'matter for him' James Cleverly, a long-standing allies of Mr Johnson and backed him for the leadership in 2022 In a recent interview, Dame Priti said that Mr Johnson is a 'political giant' but that a return to frontline politics was a 'matter for him'. Kemi Badenoch served as a junior minister in Mr Johnson's government while Mel Stride said during the recent election campaign that the former PM was 'clearly an asset' to the Tories. However, Tom Tugendhat clashed with Mr Johnson when chairing the foreign affairs select committee. During a previous leadership contest, he added that Mr Johnson's account of Partygate was 'fictional'. The next leader of the party is expected to be announced on November 2 three weeks after the publication of Mr Johnson's autobiography. Unleashed will be released on October 10 days after the party conference finishes. A spokesman for Mr Johnson declined to comment. A three-year-old has been killed in a horror crash in regional Queensland. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating how a Mitsubishi ASX went off Lowmead Road in Rosedale - a town between Bundaberg and Gladstone - and crashed. Bystanders and emergency services attempted to help the toddler however the three-year-old was declared dead at the scene. The 38-year-old driver was taken to Bundaberg Hospital with minor injuries, while an eight-month-old passenger was not injured. Anyone with information has been urged to come forward. The murder trial for alleged mushroom killer Erin Patterson will start on April 28, 2025, in country Victoria near where the alleged deadly lunch took place. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Victoria heard the first of a series of preliminary hearings to pave the way for her eventual jury trial next year. The 49-year old faces three counts of murder over the deaths of her father-in-law Don Patterson, mother-in-law Gail Patterson and extended relative Heather Wilkinson, after inviting the trio to a lunch at her home in July last year. She is accused of the attempted murder of her estranged husband Simon Patterson - who was invited to the lunch but did not attend - and two other alleged attempts on his life in 2022, and another in 2021. Patterson is also accused of the attempted murder of pastor Ian Wilkinson, who was at the lunch but survived after a long fight for life in hospital. The court ruled the trial could be held at the Latrobe Valley Supreme Court in Morwell, population 14,000, 152km east of Melbourne. The court had previously heard Patterson was keen to have the trial held near her hometown of Leongatha, which is about 60km southwest of Morwell. Erin Patterson is accused of murdering her in-laws at a deadly lunch in July 2023 The first of Patterson's pre-trial hearings is expected to wind-up next week, with further hearings planned for October. But evidence from the hearings will be kept secret from the public to ensure potential jury members do not hear information that is not disclosed at the trial. The case garnered worldwide attention when news of it broke at the end of July last year, attracting journalists from across the globe. When the actual trial gets underway next year, the world's press will be granted full access to proceedings, with US-based documentary crews among the many expected to be in the media pack. Patterson has always denied any wrongdoing and broke down in tears when she broke her silence prior to her arrest last year. 'The loss to the community and to the families and my own children who have lost their grandmother I just can't fathom what has happened,' she said at the time. 'Im so sorry that they have lost their lives. I just can't believe it.' The once prestigious home of Erin Patterson in Leongatha now appears to be overgrown A legal notice remains cable-tied to Erin Patterson's front gate Patterson's alleged victims are buried in unmarked graves at the Korumburra Cemetery On Monday, neither Mr Patterson nor Mr Wilkinson would discuss their scheduled appearances at the pre-trial hearings. Warning signs posted at the gates of their respective homes in Korumburra, 120km south-east of Melbourne, threaten media representatives with prosecution for trespassing if they attempted to approach the properties. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and appeared in court on Wednesday via videolink. The mum-of-two had lived at a property situated among bush and lush green fields in Leongatha - a short drive from Korumburra - at the time of the alleged murders. On Monday, a warning sign on her gate remained stuck to the electronic gate of her home. While Patterson is understood to still own the property, she no longer lives there and it appears to be unoccupied, abandoned and overgrown, with long grass surrounding the property. It was the same home where police have accused Patterson of murdering her alleged victims with a Beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms. Don and Gail Patterson were both allegedly murdered by Erin Patterson Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson survived the deadly lunch that claimed the life of his wife The Royal Family are known for rarely showing affection and often keep to a more formal and professional manner during official engagements. But the Prince and Princess of Wales are occasionally seen laughing and smiling at each other, or wrapping a supportive arm around one another. For now, Kate is mostly out of action as she recovers from cancer and continues treatment. But when she briefly returned to public duties at Trooping the Colour in June, she was spotted smiling and looking into her husband's eyes on the Buckingham Palace balcony. From their very first tour abroad together after getting married in 2011, the pair have always shown how much they care for each other. Read below to see Kate and William's most tender moments and why we can't wait to see them back as a double act at engagements on a regular basis. Princess Kate smiles at Prince William during the welcome ceremony for the President of South Korea last year Smiles on the balcony Kate's first official public appearance since announcing her diagnosis earlier this year was at Trooping the Colour in June. She rode in a carriage with her children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - and ended the day on the balcony with the Royal Family. There was a sweet moment between Kate and William when she looked over at her husband with a radiant smile. The couple gazed at each other affectionately while their three children stood in front of them. Kate and William share a smile on the balcony during Trooping the Colour in June A loved-up state reception The couple appeared to be very affectionate during a reception to welcome president Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee of South Korea in 2023. William was seen putting his hand on his wife's lower back and Kate reciprocated the sweet gesture by placing her hand on her husband's back before holding his hand. The couple wrap their arms around one another during the state reception for president Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee of South Korea Kate dazzled in a 3,000 caped red coat from Catherine Walker and Gianvito Rossi shoes. She complemented the glamorous outfit with a pair of Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond oval drop earrings. Giggles in Scotland During a visit last year to the Outfit Moray charity in Scotland, which delivers outdoor learning programmes to young children, Kate and William put on a sweet display. The Prince of Wales placed a loving arm around his wife's shoulder as she laughed with a big smile while they chatted with charity members. Kate wore a classy nova-check Burberry jacket and a practical pair of denim jeans. William matched his wife in a green wax jacket and chinos - prepared for any traditional Scottish weather. William wraps his arm around Kate while they chat with charity members during a visit to Scotland last year Caring Prince William The couple shared a tender moment during their first official overseas visit after their wedding in 2011. Both wore red hooded jumpers from the Canadian Rangers after being made honorary members. They were on a nine-day tour of Canada and visited the Northwest Territories where they met the Dene tribe. The Prince of Wakes fastens Kate's top button during their first official overseas visit after their wedding in 2011 At one point William was seen fastening the top button of Kate's sweater as they both smiled at one another. The pair had only married three months before in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey. A helping hand for Kate's mother William has also shown his loving side in public to his mother-in-law Carole Middleton. He attended Royal Ascot with her and Kate's father Michael in June this year. They appeared to have a particularly close bond as the pair laughed and smiled together during the day. William offers to help mother-in-law Carole Middleton after she gets her heel stuck in the grass at the Royal Ascot in June While Kate was absent due to her treatment, William stepped up to help make sure Carole was looked after. At one point, the prince showed off his chivalrous side, coming to the rescue of Carole after a minor mishap. Carole was seen having her very own Cinderella moment as her foot slipped out of her heel which was left behind in the ground, but she luckily had a charming prince on hand. It was the scandal that rocked France and permanently damaged the reputation of Marie Antoinette. But did the so-called 'Affair of the Diamond Necklace' really bring down the queen consort and her husband, King Louis XVI, and trigger the French Revolution? That is the question explored in the fourth episode of new Daily Mail podcast Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things. Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman and his co-host, historian Kate Williams, delve into Marie-Antoinette's stunning extravagance and the chain of events that saw her lose her head at the guillotine in 1793. They reveal the scandalous sale of a necklace - then the most expensive in the world - that the ailing King Louis XV had commissioned for his mistress. Marie Antoinette was inextricably caught up in the public outcry that followed, but Professor Williams and Mr Hardman reveal how all was not as it seemed. Listen to the latest episode now: Did the so-called 'Affair of the Diamond Necklace' really bring down Marie Antoinette and France's King Louis XVI? Pictured: Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI and Kirsten Dunst in the title role in Sophie Coppola's 2006 film Marie Antoinette The necklace, which was made of 647 stones weighing nearly 2,800 carats, was the most expensive in the world, valued at around $20million in today's money. It had been designed by Louis XV's jewellers, the esteemed Boehmer and Bassange, for his mistress, Madame du Barry Marie Antoinette was the daughter of Francis I, the Holy Roman Emperor. He betrothed her to King Louis XVI to strengthen ties between France and Austria, her native country. Marie Antoinette was only 14 and Louis just 15 when they married and received two million francs worth of jewellery from her French father-in-law. The queen would also receive many more jewels from her husband over the years of their marriage. The glittering pieces were fitting for a woman who many regard as the first celebrity, someone who easily outshone her rather drab husband. It was said that her smile had an 'enchantment' that could win over 'the most brutal of her enemies'. Her jewellery collection was by far the biggest of any French queen and rivalled only by Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. By the end of 1776, Marie Antoinette had a dress allowance of 150,000 livres, at a time when the price of an an average house in a French town was 200 livres. Marie Antoinette was only 14 and Louis just 15 when they married and received two million francs worth of jewellery from her French father-in-law There were no gems to be seen when Marie Antoinette was guillotined in 1793 As she gambled, partied and lavished money on whatever took her fancy, she racked up bills of nearly 500,000 livres. Versailles was the centre of fashion at its peak of eccentricity. Wigs were packed with powder and adorned with ribbons, feathers, flowers, fruit and even stuffed birds. The queen had a personal coiffeur who designed her own 4ft tall hair-do that boasted a replica of the French warship La Belle Poule, complete with four masts, sails and jewelled portholes. Marie Antoinette's biggest passion was her jewels. Louis raided the French crown jewels to allow his queen to indulge her passion for rubies, and she was also a particular fan of pearls. As she was being painted while decked out in strands of pearls and other glittering pieces, the French economy was in the doldrums. Harvests failed, peasants starved and rumours about the queen swirled. They focused not only on her remarkable excesses, but also her serial infidelity. But it was the necklace affair in 1785 that many scholars believe paved the way for her execution. NEW PODCAST: Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things New episodes every Wednesday DON'T MISS your favourite new history podcast. Each week we'll bring you the biggest and most shocking royal scandals, from who really killed the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the most sex-mad British monarch of all time. Listen wherever you get your podcasts now. Advertisement The necklace, which was made of 647 stones weighing nearly 2,800 carats, was the most expensive in the world, valued at around $20million today. It had been designed by Louis XV's jewellers, the esteemed Boehmer and Bassange, for his mistress, Madame du Barry. However, Louis passed away before the piece could be finished and so Boehmer and Bassange tried to sell the necklace to Marie Antoinette and the new King Louis VI. But the royal couple refused to buy it and the queen instead urged Boehmer to break it up and sell it in several pieces. In stepped impoverished aristocrat Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy, who had become the mistress of the powerful Cardinal de Rohan, a former French ambassador to Vienna. He was keen to get back in the queen's good books after she recalled him from his post in the belief that he was stirring up trouble with her mother. The cardinal was encouraged by de Valois-Saint-Remy to write to the queen. What he did not know was that the queen's affectionate replies were being written by de Valois-Saint-Remy. Believing that Marie Antoinette was in love with him, the cardinal was persuaded to meet with a woman he was told was the queen. In fact, this woman was a prostitute who had been hired by de Valois-Saint-Remy to pretend to be the queen. The fourth episode of new Daily Mail podcast, Queen's Kings and Dastardly Things, airs from today The podcast is presented by Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman and historian Professor Kate Williams When the cardinal received a purported letter from the queen asking him to organise the purchase of the diamond necklace for her, he went about doing so. After showing Boehmer and Bassange the correspondence as proof and giving them a deposit, the Cardinal was given the necklace in the belief he would deliver it to the queen. But instead he gave it to de Valois-Saint-Remy, who promised that she would give it to Marie-Antoinette. The mistress then sold its constituent jewels on the black market. When Boehmer sought payment from the queen, she truthfully insisted that she knew nothing. Despite her innocence in this particular scandal, in the eyes of the public Marie Antoinette was guilty. Here, many believed, was evidence of wrongdoing and yet more unjustifiable extravagance. When she visited Paris soon after giving birth to her fourth child, Marie Antoinette was greeted in 'perfect cold silence' by the crowd. She was also nicknamed 'Madame Deficit' and was claimed to be a heavy drinker, a lesbian and sexually voracious. Even Napoleon would later say: 'The queen's death must be dated from the Diamond Necklace trial.' Marie Antoinette and her husband were captured when they tried to flee Paris in June 1791. Marie Antoinette was hugely extravagant but even she did not want the necklace that Louis XV had made for his mistress Impoverished aristocrat Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy played a key role in the necklace scandal That was two years after the storming of the Bastille and the stand-off between the royal family and starving citizens in the courtyard of Versailles. It was there that, according to legend, Marie Antoinette said, 'let them eat cake'. She did not actually say the words, but the myth has endured. Nine months after her husband's execution, Marie Antoinette was tried and found guilty on exaggerated charges that included high treason, promiscuity and incest with her son. On October 16, 1793, her head was cut off and presented to the cheering crowd. So did the Affair of the Diamond Necklace trigger the downfall of the French monarchy? Listen to the latest episode of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things now wherever you get your podcasts to hear the expert verdict of Professor Williams and Mr Hardman. Robert Hardman is the author of books including Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II and Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story. Professor Kate Williams is the author of the recent book The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals, along with many other works. Texas Republicans are squashing claims that immigrants were being registered to vote at multiple DMV locations near Fort Worth. Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo shared information from a 'friend' in Texas, who claimed that state Department of Motor Vehicle was signing up immigrants to vote at several locations near Weatherford and Fort Worth. 'Had massive line of immigrants getting licenses and had a tent and table outside the front door of the DMV registering them to vote,' Bartiromo tweeted Aug. 18. Her tweet caught the attention of many in Texas, including the Republican Chairman of the Parker County Party, where Weatherford is located. After investigating her claims, he called them 'erroneous.' Texas officials have denied claims that migrants were registering to vote at DMV locations immediately after obtaining drivers' licenses (file image) 'The Parker County GOP has spent the last 24 hours investigating the claims made by Maria Bartiromo on X and subsequently in a segment on her show,' Parker County Republican Chairman Brady Gray set the record straight on Aug 19 on Twitter. 'After multiple conversations with the County Election Administration office and with the DPS (Department of Public Safety) office, here are some facts. 1. While we are everyday registering more voters in Parker county, there has been no large submission of registrants consistent with the claim. 2. All voter registration applications in the county are processed by the county EA office (County Voter Registrar) and are uploaded to SOS (Secretary of State) to verify the applicants eligibility to vote (i.e. citizenship, etc.). 'Not only have there been no recent instances of ineligible individuals attempting to register in Parker county, there have only been two in the last 15 years.' Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo hosts 'Sunday Morning Futures' from New York City Fox's Maria Bartiromo during an exclusive interview with former President Donald Trump in July 2023 He also added that the Texas Department of Public Safety debunked the claims of massive registration drives-- which would not have been allowed. 'While these claims seemed strange from the onset, I take every claim of election fraud or interference very seriously and will always do everything in my power to ensure that our elections are fair and that the community can have confidence in the process,' the Republican Chairman stated. Fox News did not respond to DailyMail.com request for comment on the false information spread by one of its marquee anchors who has fostered a close relationship with former President Donald Trump for years. As of Wednesday at noon EST, Bartiromo's tweet with lies was still on her Twitter account. It's not the first time Bartiromo has made false claims about elections. The Washington Post described her as one of 'few people in the United States who played as significant a role in boosting those falsehoods' about Trump's claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him. Repeatedly through facts and multiple court cases, Trump's allegations of voter fraud that cost him the election have been proven to be false. The race is on to find the six missing passengers who were aboard the Bayesian superyacht when it sank early on Monday morning. British tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among those still unaccounted for, two days after the yacht capsized off the coast of Palermo, Sicily during a heavy storm. Now, scientists claim that climate change amplified the turbulent weather that sank the ship within minutes. Worryingly, this could be the first of many similar catastrophes, according to the experts. They warn a wave of 'black swan' events so-called due to their extreme severity could follow as global temperatures continue to rise. Luxury sailboat the Bayesian (pictured) sank with 22 people on board at dawn on 19 August off Porticello, near Palermo, Italy British tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among those still unaccounted for two days after it capsized off the coast of Palermo, Sicily during a heavy storm What happened to the Bayesian? The Bayesian, a 184-ft yacht, sank in the dark shortly before 5am (0300 GMT) Monday off the port of Porticello, near Palermo after being hit by a 'violent storm', Italy's coast guard said. It sank in a matter of minutes with 22 people on board - 12 passengers and a crew of 10, or 22 in total, of whom 15 were rescued. Some locals attributed the disaster to a huge waterspout, or sea whirlwind - akin to a tornado on land. Advertisement Italian climatologist, Luca Mercalli, said the sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30C (86F) when the superyacht sank - almost 3C higher than normal. 'This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms,' Mercalli said. 'So we can't say that this is all due to climate change, but we can say that it has an amplifying effect.' Experts and eye witnesses have said the ship was hit by a waterspout a swirling column of air and water mist. Strong waterspouts are known to pose a serious danger to ships and aircraft, because of the energy of the whirling 60mph winds within them just like a tornado on land. But Mercalli, president of the Italian meteorological society, said it could have been a downburst, a more frequent phenomenon that doesn't involve the rotation of the air. 'We don't know which it was because it all happened in the dark in the early hours of the morning, so we have no photographs,' he said. In Italy, waterspouts can involve winds of up to 124 miles per hour (200 km per hour), while downbursts can produce gusts of around 93 miles per hour (150 km per hour). Your browser does not support iframes. Authorities and experts have said the ship was hit by a waterspout - a swirling column of air and water mist. Pictured, waterspouts in Fregenae, Italy on the same day as Bayesian yacht disaster Statistics show that downbursts are becoming more frequent around the country, which Mercalli said may be connected to global warming. Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat. 'Climate-driven catastrophes in Italy will become more frequent and more intense,' Mercalli said. Dr Peter Inness, meteorologist at the University of Reading, said he agrees with Mercalli that climate change increases storm conditions. 'One major driver of the thunderstorms that generate waterspouts and downbursts is warm sea temperatures and studies have shown that more waterspouts occur when the water is very warm,' Dr Inness told MailOnline. Your browser does not support iframes. 'Part of the Mediterranean is about 3 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year and some of that warming is down to climate change. 'However some of the warming is down to natural year-to-year variability last year was cooler for instance. 'In simple terms, the temperature of the ocean surface is the main source of energy for Mediterranean thunderstorms. 'If the ocean warms up the storms have more energy to work with making their effects heavy rain, lightning, strong winds more intense.' Professor Douglas Parker, a meteorologist at Leeds University, said humidity and warm air from climate change provide energy to storms 'and make them more intense'. The Bayesian is classified as a 'pleasure vessel' due to its length, very tall aluminum mast and being 37ft at its widest point 'Over recent years, the Mediterranean has been warming more rapidly than other seas or oceans around the world,' he told MailOnline. 'So this is entirely consistent with global warming having made the event more likely to happen.' MailOnline contacted the Met Office about the link between waterspouts and climate change, but a spokesperson said it would not offer comment. The latest assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found low confidence that tornadoes (over land) and waterspouts (over water) have shown any increase in response to climate change. However, more recent research may establish a link. In the aftermath of the sudden sinking of the 30 million Bayesian superyacht, experts say there is still a slim hope for the six missing passengers. The ship sunk suddenly just before 5am on Monday morning after being struck by a freak waterspout while it was anchored off the coast of Porticello in Sicily. While 15 passengers have been rescued, those still missing include the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and a boss at Morgan Stanley. Despite having disappeared 50 metres beneath the waves almost three days ago, experts say there is a chance that the missing passengers could be alive. Speaking to MailOnline, scientists explained that their best hope of survival would be within air pockets on the sunken ship - but rescuing them could prove tricky. Your browser does not support iframes. The superyacht Bayesian sank suddenly in the early hours of Monday morning. But experts say some of the missing six passengers could still be alive within an air pocket How can someone survive in an air pocket underwater? The Bayesian falls on its side allowing air to become trapped Water rises through the ship but air can't escape through the hull, forming an air bubble At a depth of 50m, the air in the pocket would be under intense pressure but would be breathable They could survive for up to three days Divers have 10 minutes to find the survivors with each attempt As they return to the surface the survivor decompresses in a diving bell to avoid decompression sickness Advertisement As the search for the missing passengers goes into its third day, rescue divers are continuing their efforts to reach the cabins in the hope of finding a survivor. Yesterday, divers used specially made jacks to smash through a 3cm-thick porthole to gain access to the hull of the vessel. Their hope is that at least some of the passengers may be trapped in their cabins but still alive within pockets of air. Nick Sloane, an engineer who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation a decade ago, told Sky News that search teams had 'a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket.' Air pockets are formed in sinking ships as water fills up the hull and pushes air up towards the surface. Just like placing an upturned glass into a bowl of water, if that air is pushed into an enclosed spac,e it can form a bubble which persists at almost any depth. Mr Sloane added: 'If the yacht is on its side, it might have more air pockets than if it's upright. 'She's got quite a large keel, and that will deflect and put her on her side, I'm sure.' Provided that the air pocket is large enough, a trapped passenger might be able to float or stand in their cabin with enough air to breathe for several days. The superyacht owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch sank after being struck by a powerful water spout which may have flooded the ship through an open window or hatch Giving search and rescue teams hope is the fact that there have been cases in which people have survived and been rescued from air pockets. In 2013, a tugboat sunk 30m to the seabed about 20 miles (32km) off the coast of Nigeria, killing 11 out of the 12 crewmembers. However, the ship's chef, Harrison Okene, 29, managed to find his way into an area with an air pocket where he survived for three days until divers found him in the wreckage. Mr Okene not only survived the ordeal, but did so with very limited health complications and went on to become a commercial diver. If any of the Bayesian's passengers are trapped in similar air pockets, this case presents the best possible argument that their rescue is still possible. In 2013, a Nigerian chef was rescued by divers after having been trapped inside an air pocket 30m below the surface for three days Dr Doug Watts, dive and hyperbaric medicine expert and medical director of DDRC Healthcare, told MailOnline: 'The question is whether someone could survive for three or more days in an air pocket at a depth of 50m. 'And the answer, as demonstrated by the case of this Nigerian chef, is yes.' However, there are several critical factors which will determine whether anyone trapped in an air bubble can survive. The first potential issue is the temperature of the water in which the passengers are trapped. At a depth of 50m, the water will be significantly colder than at the surface which could be fatal after three days of exposure. The next major factor is whether the air pocket is large enough to allow the passengers to breathe for three days. Dr Watts says: 'The air mix is probably compatible with life just about, but there needs to be enough that you don't get CO2 poisoning.' Your browser does not support iframes. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the reduction in oxygen levels but the build-up of C02 from the survivor's breath that will be the biggest danger. As the passenger breathes, they slowly add more and more CO2 to the air. At about a 10 per cent concentration of CO2, the air will become toxic leading to convulsions, loss of consciousness, and death. That means someone needs to be trapped in a large air pocket where the CO2 concentration won't reach dangerous levels. Finally, any rescue attempt will need to consider the effects of spending up to three days at a depth of 50m. As the air pocket forms in the ship, that air will be compressed by the surrounding water to a pressure greater than 70 lbs per square inch. That pressure will force nitrogen in the air to dissolve in the survivor's bloodstream, which could cause dangerous complications during a rescue mission. Dr Watts compares the conditions of the passenger's body to a bottle of Coke. Harrison Odjegba Okene (second left) poses inside a decompression chamber with members of the DCN Diving team who saved his life. Due to the saturation of nitrogen in his blood, Mr Okene needed to decompress for three days after his rescue Rescue workers look at the plans of the Bayesian as they organise a search operation for six people who are still missing after the superyacht sank. If any are trapped within air pockets there is a chance they could be rescued The liquid in the bottle is saturated with dissolved gas, but since it is pressurised you can't see any bubbles. 'But if you release that pressure, you can see those bubbles coming out of solution. It's the exact same thing that happens with a diver,' Dr Watts says. Since any survivor's blood will now be entirely saturated with nitrogen, they will need to be brought to the surface very slowly in order to avoid bubbles forming in their blood, in a condition known as the bends. In the case of the Nigerian chef, rescue crews brought the survivor to a diving bell typically used by commercial divers to live for days at a time at extreme depths. The pressure was then slowly lowered over a period of days to avoid the onset of decompression sickness. If the rescue team does find a survivor aboard the Bayesian, Dr Watts says their blood will have long since been saturated with nitrogen so a similar process will be necessary. A life raft possibly from the Bayesian is seen docked at the harbour near the port where the emergency and rescue workers are launching their search operation This would be a very risky operation requiring expert divers and specialised equipment usually only operated in areas like the North Sea. But as the case of Mr Okene shows, it is still possible. The rescue will also be made more challenging due to the extreme depth and likelihood that the cabins are blocked by fallen furniture. If there are survivors, rescuing them from the ship would require taking a non-diver in a potentially critical state through a technically challenging dive. Given the depth, rescue divers can only remain aboard the ship for ten minutes at a time without risking their own lives. Divers return from another dive to the wreckage of the Bayesian. Any rescue attempt will be fraught with danger for the rescuer and survivor and will require specialist equipment All of this means that rescuing a survivor will be risky for everyone involved but could be attempted if the conditions are right. Currently, search and rescue teams are operating on the assumption that the missing six are somewhere on the vessel - but hopes are not high. Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coast Guard said: 'We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea.' 'Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly.' Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he replied: 'Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.' Rescue services (pictured) are working on the assumption that the missing passengers are on the boat. While it is unlikely that any are still alive this is not impossible Likewise, Dr Watts notes that it would be 'miraculous' if an appropriate air pocket had formed where a survivor could get to it. Matthew Schanck, chairman of the UK's Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told Business Insider: 'They'll assess the structure of the vessel. 'Are there any air pockets, you know? 'Is there any noise or any signs of life, and that will factor into their decision-making. 'But if all the information is pointing towards the fact actually there's no evidence of air pockets ... then it'd be very difficult for them justify divers entering the vessel to go and recover casualties.' However, at least one of the passengers surviving the sinking of the Bayesian still remains a possibility. READ MORE: Enjoy a glass of wine? Thank the extinction of the dinosaurs It is well known that the reign of the dinosaurs came to an end when a giant asteroid smashed into Earth 66 million years ago. But until now, the origin of this space rock has remained unclear. Now, experts from the University of Cologne claim that the six-mile-wide asteroid travelled millions of miles from beyond Jupiter before smashing into our planet. 'The fate of the dinosaurs and many other species was sealed by this projectile from the outer reaches of the solar system,' said Professor Dr Carsten Munker. The discovery will inevitably raise questions about whether another devastating asteroid could be headed our way. It is well known that the reign of the dinosaurs came to an end when a giant asteroid smashed into Earth 66 million years ago. But until now, the origin of this space rock has remained unclear (artist's impression_ Artistic reconstruction of the historic event, known as Chicxulub, with lethal impact spherules raining down from the sky 66 million years ago Dr Mario Fischer-Godde and his colleagues say the killer rock was a huge carbonaceous chondrite (C-type) asteroid, a carbon-rich type that is common in the solar system but rarely impacts Earth. C-type asteroids formed beyond Jupiter around 4.6 billion years ago when the solar system was born. Dr Fischer-Godde told MailOnline: 'C-type asteroids represent leftover building blocks of the outer solar system gas and ice planets. 'Owing to the dynamic evolution of the solar system, with Jupiter's early migration, the orbits of asteroids got disturbed and they were scattered towards the inner solar system where they are found today in the asteroid belt.' The first four planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) form the inner solar system, while the last four (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus) make up the outer solar system. The dividing gap between the inner and outer solar system was bigger than it is today, experts report. Planet Nine is a hypothetical planet that may have existed, other studies say Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and the largest in the solar system - more than twice as massive as the other planets combined It's already well known that the dinosaurs were wiped out by the Chicxulub impact event a plummeting asteroid that slammed into a shallow sea in what is today the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico around 66 million years ago. For those creatures not killed directly by the impact, the collision released a huge dust and soot cloud that partially blocked out the sun and caused temperatures to plummet. As a result, 75 per cent of all animal and plant species were wiped out. All non-avian dinosaurs, pterosaurs, ammonites and most marine reptiles disappeared, whilst birds, crocodiles, and turtles survived, as well as some mammals from which humans evolved. Today, the event is marked by a thin layer of sediment called the K-Pg boundary, which can be found throughout the world in marine and terrestrial rocks. Today, the event is marked by a thin layer of sediment called the K-Pg boundary, which can be found throughout the world in marine and terrestrial rocks, dated to 66 million years ago (pictured here in Zumaia, Spain) The Chicxulub asteroid slammed into a shallow sea in what is now the Gulf of Mexico around 66 million years ago What are carbonaceous chondrites? Carbonaceous chondrites are rocky objects that make up around 75% of all known asteroids in the solar system - more than any other type. C-types are darker than other asteroids due to the presence of carbon and are some of the most ancient objects in the solar system - dating back to its birth about 4.6 billion years ago. According to experts, volatile-rich C-types have been relatively untouched since they were formed billions of years ago. However they rarely reach Earth; less than than 5 per cent of meteorites that fall to Earth are carbonaceous chondrites. Advertisement Dated to 66 million years ago, the rocky boundary shows unusually high levels of 'platinum-group metals' such as iridium and ruthenium, which are rare on Earth but common in asteroids. From this, scientists determined that Earth was hit by a huge rocky object that covered it with debris but the origin of the object has been poorly understood. To learn more, the German team analysed rocky samples taken from the K-Pg boundary specifically looking for traces of ruthenium in them. For comparison, they also analysed samples from other rocks, including from other asteroid impacts and two carbonaceous chondrites. According to the results, ruthenium traces in the K-Pg boundary rocks and the carbonaceous chondrites were the same. This shows that the Chicxulub impactor likely came from a C-type asteroid that formed in the outer solar system. They also rule out a comet as the impactor, as other theories had suggested. Simply put, comets are made of ice and rock, while asteroids are made of rock and metal. While C-type asteroids are associated with the outer solar system, 'S-type' asteroids are much more common in the inner solar system. S-type (stony) asteroids are made of silicate materials as well as nickel-iron and are the most common visitors to the Earth of the asteroid types. The researchers say that within the last 500 million years, almost exclusively fragments of S-type asteroids have hit the Earth. Well over 80 percent of all asteroid fragments that hit the Earth in the form of meteorites come from the inner solar system. Professor Dr Carsten Munker, co-author of the study, added: 'We found that the impact of an asteroid like the one at Chicxulub is a very rare and unique event in geological time.' The new study has been published in the journal Science. Australians planning a trip to Europe in 2025 face new rules ahead of their visit. Previously Australians could travel visa-free to the history and culture-rich continent, but that's not the case anymore. The European Union has introduced a new entry system for Aussie travellers, which includes a new $11.50 application fee. It's all part of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) program, which is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals from 60 nations, including Australians. The program starts in the first half of 2025. Here's what you need to know. What is an ETIAS? It is a new travel authorisation requirement for all Australians travelling to 30 countries within Europe. The participating countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The European Union has introduced new rules for Aussie travellers, including a new $11.50 application fee The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is the new entry program for 30 European nations What does it give you? With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the EU states on its website. 'However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.' How does it work? The ETIAS is linked to your passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation. How do I apply? Go to the ETIAS website and fill out the application form online, or apply through the ETIAS mobile app. The cost is seven Euros, which works out to about $11.50. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is linked to your passport and will likely be processed in minutes Processing times Most applications are processed within minutes, the EU states. 'It is possible however that your application may take longer to process. 'If so, you will receive a decision within four days. 'Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview.' After the application 'You will receive an email confirming the submission of your application which will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference,' the EU says. 'Once your application has been processed, you will receive another email informing you about its outcome. 'When you get your ETIAS travel authorisation, please make sure your name, passport number and other information is correct: if there is any mistake, you will not be allowed to cross the border.' The ETIAS is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first What happens at the border? The ETIAS is linked to your travel document. 'Make sure to carry the same document which you used in your ETIAS application,' the EU states. 'Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS.' Luana Santos has revealed she has left Coronation Street, as she took to her Instagram to announce her exit. The actress, 18, joined the ITV soap in June last year, taking on the role of Sabrina Adetiba, the love interest of Max Turner. But on Tuesday, she shared a selfie revealing she had wrapped up filming her final scenes on the show and explained she was headed to study drama. Adding a beaming snap with her co-star Jack Carroll, who plays Bobby Crawford, Luana wrote: 'last day with Corrie thanks for everything @coronationstreet. drama school here i come'. The cobbles marked Luana's first professional acting job and she shared a thrilled post last summer, announcing her casting. Posing outside the iconic Rovers Return Inn, she voiced her gratitude for the opportunity and the crew making her feel so welcome. Luana Santos has revealed she has left Coronation Street , as she took to her Instagram to announce her exit The actress, 18, joined the ITV soap in June last year, taking on the role of Sabrina Adetiba, the love interest of Max Turner (pictured on soap) But on Tuesday, she shared a selfie revealing she had wrapped up filming her final scenes on the show and explained she was headed to study drama She penned: 'Im so excited to announce that I am officially apart of the @coronationstreet cast!! 'Thank you to everyone on the team for the friendliest welcome and thank you to both @pendletonschooloftheatre and @scream_management for making this possible'. During her time on Corrie, Luana shared many glimpses into the behind-the-scenes, sharing snaps with onscreen boyfriend Paddy Bever, Lauren Bolton star Cait Fitton and Noah Olaoye, who plays her brother Gav. Representatives for Coronation Street told MailOnline that Luana had been a visiting artist on the soap and not a regular. Luana's departure comes off the heels of the revelation that Sean Wilson has also bid goodbye to Weatherfield. The actor, 59, was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt, as part of Helen Worth's exit as Gail Platt after 50 years on the cobbles. Sean played Martin for 20 years before he and his family emigrated to New Zealand in 2018 and he paid one final visit to Weatherfield before his departure to make his peace with David, who was upset that his dad was leaving the country. In July, it was confirmed that Sean would be reprising his role and as he picked up his first scripts to start shooting, he said: 'It was great to be invited back to Coronation Street again, to contribute to Helen's exit story.' The cobbles marked Luana's first professional acting job and she shared a thrilled post last summer, announcing her casting During her time on Corrie, Luana shared many glimpses into the behind-the-scenes, sharing snaps with onscreen boyfriend Paddy Bever, Lauren Bolton star Cait Fitton and Noah Olaoye, who plays her brother Gav. He added: 'We'll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ebbs and flows of the unfolding storyline. 'Playing Martin has been a joy since day one and in a way, I'll be slipping back to where I left off, which no doubt will throw a spanner into the heart of the Platt family. 'It's just like slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe I'm looking forward to reuniting with my TV family.' The actor had already recorded episodes with a large number of stars in the soap, but this week a representative for the soap stated that he'd left for 'personal reasons' None of his scenes will be aired, with Gail's entire exit storyline now being frantically rewritten by bosses. Sean was reportedly axed from the show two weeks before the news broke with lawyers becoming involved, as the mystery on the cobbles deepens. Reports suggested he suddenly departed the show after being 'summoned to head office' before quitting for 'personal reasons', leaving cast and crew shocked and bosses barred from discuss the matter. As reported by The Sun, Sean was called in for a meeting with bosses and left with 'no explanation offered' to his co-stars. Luana's departure comes off the heels of the revelation that Sean Wilson (pictured) has also bid goodbye to Weatherfield The actor, 59, was set to reprise his role as Martin Platt, as part of Helen Worth's exit as Gail Platt (pictured) after 50 years on the cobbles Initially bosses had planned to bring back fan-favourite Martin for a huge new story line and coinciding with Gail's exit but the plans were scrapped with little to no explanation Writers have reportedly replaced axed Sean with former star John Thomson as Jesse Chadwick in a 'frantic rewrite' to send off Gail (pictured on show in 2008) An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.' Sean's agent told the publication: 'Neither he nor I will be making any further comment or statement.' Sean was reportedly axed from the show two weeks before the news broke with lawyers becoming involved, as the mystery on the cobbles deepens. Writers have reportedly replaced axed Sean with former star John Thomson as Jesse Chadwick in a 'frantic rewrite' to send off Gail. John, 55, appeared on the show as the hapless children's entertainer between 2008 and 2010, during which time he dated Gail's rival Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) suggesting the new storyline could see a rematch between the two women. A source told The Sun: 'It's been an absolutely frantic, incredibly stressful past couple of weeks for Corrie bosses and scriptwriters. 'So many new departure storylines for Gail were mooted but they were set on a love interest one which proved tricky as she buried five of her six ex-husbands. And the remaining living one, Martin, was obviously axed in real life. 'They wanted a recognisable name and plumped for John as his character was popular with viewers and a real blast from the past.' BBC Breakfast fans were left overjoyed when a rarely-seen presenter returned to the show a year after their last appearance and moved to the US. Emma Vardy was back during Monday's episode, as she was seen reporting live from Chicago. Her appearance came a year after she signed off from work on maternity leave and moved to the US for the birth of her son, Jago Fionn. A year on from appearing in the show's Salford studios, she was back on camera looking sharp in a white blazer and ready to report on Kamala Harris at a Democratic Convention. Sharing a selfie on X, Emma penned: 'We're all scrubbed up in Chicago where Kamala Harris gets her star turn at the Democratic Convention. (Tho hrs earlier I was covered in mud at a swing state demolition derby!!) BBC Breakfast fans were left overjoyed when a rarely-seen presenter returned to the show a year after their last appearance and moved to the US Emma Vardy was back during Monday's episode, as she was seen reporting live from Chicago 'Watch @BBCBreakfast for the drama of the US Presidential race & some wreckage of a brutal clash!!' Emma stepped in for Nina Warhurst during the summer of 2023 as the show's business presenter. A month later, she revealed she had accepted a new role as the BBC's LA Correspondent and would be relocating. And fans were delighted to see her return as they flocked to her X post to share their glee. One penned: 'How exciting that you get to cover this race. I'm glued to it. You're doing a great job. Hope you're well!' 'Lucky dog you! Can't wait to hear your take on it. Take care!!' 'Looking good, Emma!' 'Thanks for the excellent reporting.' Her appearance came a year after she signed off from work on maternity leave and moved to the US amid the birth of her son, Jago Fionn And fans were delighted to see her return as they flocked to her X post to share their glee The journalist announced in May that she was expecting her first child with husband Aaron Adams (pictured in 2023), whom she married in March 2022 'I managed to catch your early report on @BBCNews with @SallyBundockBBC' While Emma has returned from maternity, her new role will no longer feature her on the red sofa and fans have clearly missed her. In August 2023, Emma left the show. The presenter announced in May 2023 that she was expecting her first child with husband Aaron Adams, whom she married in March 2022. Sharing a funny snap of herself perched on top of two washing machines, the star revealed it was time for her to take a break from the BBC. Laughing she captioned the post: 'Well that's me off on mat leave!! Resigned to an eternity of housewife chores & dirty laundry. Career girl out. (And if u believe that you'll believe anything) 'Celebrated the start of this new chapter with cocktails at this perfectly disguised speakeasy!! #TheWashhouse'. Sharing a funny snap of herself perched on top of two washing machines, the star revealed it was time for her to take a break from the BBC Emma was flooded with support from fans as they rushed to comment on her announcement. One wrote: 'All the best Emma come back soon, you're one of the best journalists on the Beeb.' 'Good luck & take care for your new life journey ahead. '. 'All the best to you and your (new) family!' Matt Willis displayed the depth of his love of his wife Emma on Wednesday, as he showed off his tattoo tribute to her live on Lorraine. The Busted star, 41, tied the knot with the presenter, 48, in 2008, and decided to commemorate their 16th wedding anniversary with an inking of her face. He had the tribute done last month, but admitted he had been 'planning it for years', while Emma confessed it had been a 'shock' when she first saw it. Appearing together on Lorraine, Matt showed off the massive tattoo that takes up his entire right calf, saying: 'I don't do things by halves'. The inking is a detailed illustration of Emma in a plunging dress and surrounded by a black background to ensure it stands out. Matt Willis displayed the depth of his love of his wife Emma on Wednesday, as he showed off his tattoo tribute to her live on Lorraine The Busted star, 41, tied the knot with the presenter, 48, in 2008, and decided to commemorate their 16th wedding anniversary with an inking of her face He had the tribute done last month, but admitted he had been 'planning it for years', while Emma confessed it had been a 'shock' when she first saw it Explaining his reasoning, Matt admitted he had wanted to get it done for a long time before finally biting the bullet. The father-of-three said: 'I wanted to make a big gesture and I've been planning it for years.' Emma then explained her reaction to seeing that tattoo tribute to her, insisting that she didn't dislike it, but admitted that she had been surprised by his choice of picture. She said: 'He's been talking about this tattoo for years! And everyone is saying she doesn't like it, but it's not that I don't like it. 'It's that for years he's shown me the picture he's going to get - it's old and I've got blonde hair and I'm in a polka dot bikini and it's a bit pinup. 'But the morning he was going, he suddenly said he changed the picture last minute and it's a sultry 15-year-old picture of me! 'So it's not that I don't like it, it's just that it was such a shock that it was something very different from what he had planned.' Host Ranvir Singh commented that the ink was 'gorgeous' before quipping: 'You can't get rid of him now can you? He's got a tattoo of your face!' The inking takes up his entire right calf and is a detailed illustration of Emma in a plunging dress and surrounded by a black background to ensure it stands out Matt first showed off the tattoo on Instagram last month, with the caption: 'Happy Anniversary @emmawillisofficial I love you more than ever. 16 years and it keeps getting better' Matt admitted he had wanted to get it done for a long time, while Emma explained her reaction to the tribute, insisting that she didn't dislike it, but had been surprised Host Ranvir Singh commented that the ink was 'gorgeous' before quipping: 'You can't get rid of him now can you? He's got a tattoo of your face!' Emma added: 'He's already got my eye tattooed, he's had that for years' before quipping: 'I've got my eye on him always.' Matt first showed off the tattoo on Instagram last month, with the caption: 'Happy Anniversary @emmawillisofficial I love you more than ever. 16 years and it keeps getting better.' The couple also spoke about the working together as the co-hosts of the UK spin-off of hit Netflix dating show, Love Is Blind. They explained they were big fans of the series and had been desperate for the job, with Matt saying: 'As soon as we saw it, we were like this should be us.' Emma added: 'We kind of begged. When we went for the meeting we were like, "Are you seeing other people? Please pick us!"' She added that watching the couple on the show had caused her to be grateful she had found love a long time ago. Matt was just 22 when he began dating Emma, then 29, in 2005 and the two married three years later, going on to welcome children, Isabelle, 15, Ace, 12, and and eight-year-old Trixie. Emma admitted: 'I'm really glad that we are not part of the dating world as it is now. I would really struggle with it, so I'm really pleased we met 20 years ago when you just had to go out and meet people.' The couple also spoke about the working together as the co-hosts of the UK spin-off of hit Netflix dating show, Love Is Blind She added that watching the couple on the show had caused her to be grateful she had found love a long time ago (pictured with Matt in 2006) Matt was just 22 when he began dating Emma, then 29, in 2005 and the two married three years later, going on to welcome children, Isabelle, 15, Ace, 12, and and eight-year-old Trixie (pictured together) Matt recently gushed over his wife of 16 years and praised her work ethic as he declared: 'She's the f*****g best at what she does'. Speaking to Principle Magazine about how it felt to join forces with Emma professionally again, the musician said it had made him realise how much he loved spending time with her still. He explained: 'Working with Emma is so great, because it's easy, you know? I was really nervous about it because I'm not a TV presenter. She's just like, 'Just be yourself.' I'm like, 'How the f*** do I do that?' 'But I've got a safe pair of hands next to me, who is the f*****g best at what she does. So, I'm going to just tag along with her.' He continued: 'I've been with her pretty much half my life. When work and kids and stuff get in the way, you kind of forget sometimes that 'Oh, I really f*****g still love you.' 'I mean, we love each other, but you forget like, 'Oh, I really like you, I want to hang out with you more than I want to hang out with anyone else,' which is so f*****g nice. 'I've dated a few times before her, the odd girlfriend here and there, but Emma was my first real relationship, so I don't really know how the dating world works. Everything I hear about that world is f*****g tough.' Last year the couple revealed their 15-year marriage was stronger than ever after they overcame 'rocky patches' during their relationship. Speaking to Principle Magazine about how it felt to join forces with Emma professionally again, the drummer said it had made him realise how much he loved spending time with her still Last year the couple revealed their 15-year marriage was stronger than ever after they overcame 'rocky patches' during their relationship Asked what the secret behind their long-lasting union was during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Emma quipped: 'We quite like each other still as well, which helps!' Asked what the secret behind their long-lasting union was during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Emma quipped: 'We quite like each other still as well, which helps!' Meanwhile Matt, who recently opened up about his drug battle in a candid documentary, alluded to his demons as he told how the couple had come through tough times and had remained strong. He said: 'Most marriages go through rocky patches and ups and downs and luckily we've come out the other side of those and it's just made us stronger.' To which his wife responded: 'We quite like each other still as well, which helps. We still laugh at each other and we still get annoyed with each other... he's alright!' She shared: 'Who really knows what the key to a long marriage is other than hard work and patience... on both sides, this is not just one-sided. 'And I suppose understanding, and communication and trying to understand the other person's point of view which is something we've always tried to do.' Netflix announced a huge string of new star-studded shows set to appear on the streaming giant's platform during the Edinburgh Film Festival on Wednesday. Shows including a Victoria Beckham documentary, a Gordon Ramsay biopic and an Anya Taylor-Joy thriller, How To Kill Your Family, will debut on the platform in the coming months. Alongside Victoria and Gordon's docuserieses, subscribers can also expect Take That, 7/7: Hunting the London Bombers and Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen to appear on the site. Netflix also revealed scripted series Legends as a new production as a new release on the webpage. It also announced season two of Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw's upcoming spy thriller Black Doves, which SISTER and Noisy Bear produce. Netflix announced a huge string of new star-studded shows set to appear on the streaming giant's platform during the Edinburgh Film Festival on Wednesday Shows, including a Victoria Beckham documentary, a Gordon Ramsay biopic and an Anya Taylor Joy thriller, How To Kill Your Family, will debut on the platform in the coming months The streamer also confirmed plans for season two of Love is Blind: UK. The streaming platform will begin production on a documentary series following Victoria Beckham and her fashion and beauty business. Through an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Victorias business, access to Victoria and her family and a never-before-seen archive, the series will tell the story of Victorias reinvention as a Creative Director. Netflix is also producing a series about multi-Michelin-starred British chef Gordon Ramsey. The series will follow Gordon over nine months in the lead-up to his most significant restaurant venture to date. He is opening five culinary experiences in Londons 22 Bishopsgate. It will have exclusive access to the Ramsay family as Gordon balances other work commitments and life as a husband and father, with wife Tana and their six children - Megan, Holly, Jack, Matilda, Oscar and Jesse. Take That is the story of one of the greatest boy bands in UK history. It also announced season two of Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw's upcoming spy thriller Black Doves, which SISTER and Noisy Bear produce Netflix also announced season two of Love is Blind: UK For over 30 years, they have brought us hit after hit, 12, of which became UK number one. The series will give unprecedented insight into one of the most successful and well-loved British bands, with access to Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen and featuring interviews with Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Netflix also announced a new series from BAFTA-winning writer Neil Forsyth - Legends. It is a six-part high-stakes, thrilling drama series which is inspired by one of the most remarkable criminal investigations ever conducted. Netflix also announced year three of the Documentary Talent Fund at the festival Based on extensive research and interviews with those involved, the story follows an unlikely group of British customs employees sent undercover to infiltrate some of the countrys most dangerous criminal drug gangs. Netflix also announced year three of the Documentary Talent Fund at the festival. The Fund, which supports the work of the next generation of documentary filmmakers, will give five filmmakers the chance to make a short documentary film with a budget of 30,000 each. All teams will be under the guidance of Netflix and other filmmaking professionals. Amber Turner bared some skin as she put on a busty display in Ibiza in photos shared to her Instagram page on Monday. The former TOWIE star, 31, showed off her super-toned stomach in a black crochet bikini top in one saucy snap. She went braless in another shot, wearing a barely there criss-cross halter neck top with gold accessories. For another photo, Amber relaxed at a bar wearing a stunning sleeveless leopard print dress and holding a glass of wine. She pouted for a mirror selfie in a stunning all-black one-sleeve outfit featuring cut-outs and gold clasps. Amber Turner, 31, bared some skin as she put on a busty display in Ibiza in photos shared to her Instagram page on Monday The former TOWIE star showed off her super-toned stomach in a black crochet bikini top in one saucy snap She went braless in another shot, wearing a barely there criss-cross halter neck top with gold accessories A final snap saw her stun in a gold halter neck crop top and a white mini skirt with heavy gold detailing Blonde bombshell Amber captioned the sizzling carousel for her almost 900,000 followers: 'Emptying my Ibiza camera roll'. She last posted from her Ibiza trip in mid-August, flaunting her incredible figure as she enjoyed a glass of champagne in a hot tub. Amber jetted off to the Spanish island with her new boyfriend Archie Chandler, 30. Amber's romance with Archie is her first relationship since she split from Dan Edgar, 34, who she dated on and off for six years. Despite sharing a home and dog together, the exes decided to go their separate ways for good in 2023. For another photo, Amber relaxed at a bar wearing a stunning sleeveless leopard print dress and holding a glass of wine She pouted for a mirror selfie in a stunning all-black one-sleeve outfit featuring cut-outs and gold clasps A final snap saw her stun in a gold halter neck crop top and a white mini skirt with heavy gold detailing Since their breakup, Dan has been dating TOWIE co-star Elle Rae Wise, 24, who's 10 years his junior, and the pair were seen passionately kissing during scenes filmed in Bali. Amber previously admitted she would find their connection difficult to watch after Dan had previously alleged there was nothing between him and Ella, following rumours that they were flirtatious together in a nightclub. The former couple continued to co-parent their dog, Oliver, however, Dan ended up looking after the pooch full-time when Amber moved to Dubai last year. A source told MailOnline: 'Amber is happier than ever, she's finally found someone who treats her properly following years of feeling let down.' 'She has known Archie for months now and the pair have often spent time together in Dubai but she's still taking their relationship slowly.' 'Archie is known in Essex circles and while he's a private man, he couldn't resist sharing a photograph of him and Amber on her birthday.' Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's child Fin appears to have confirmed their sister Violet is now a student at Yale University. The teenager, 15, was spotted wearing a 'Yale' sweatshirt as they jetted back into Los Angeles on Tuesday with their parents after dropping Violet, 18 off, at college. Violet previously indicated she would be attending the Ivy League university after her high school alma mater Instagrammed a snap of her wearing a 'Yale' sweatshirt. But Fin's fashionable crewneck provided further confirmation Violet will be studying at the elite university. That same day Jennifer Lopez, 55, officially filed for divorce from Ben, 52, following months of split rumors, TMZ reported. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's child Fin appears to have confirmed their sister Violet is now a student at Yale University as they returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday with their parents The Gone Girl actor and his family were spotted having dinner in New Haven - where Yale is located - over the weekend as they sent Violet off to university. The sweatshirt was likely purchased during a trip to the campus. Ben and his ex-wife Jennifer, 52, were also seen emerging from the private plane on Tuesday. Violet graduated from high school earlier this year and her mother shared an emotional post marking the moment to her Instagram. In her Instagram post, the actress was seen breaking down in tears over her daughter's milestone moment. 'Tell me you have a graduate without telling me you have a graduate,' Garner penned in the caption of her photo series. Affleck, his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, and Fin were recently in New Haven, Connecticut, dropping off Violet at Yale The sweatshirt was likely purchased at the Yale campus Garner approached Fin after emerging from the aircraft Ben has since remarried, tying the knot with Jennifer Lopez back in 2022 - but Jennifer filed for divorce on Tuesday. In the carousel, Garner could be seen crying in a multitude of different locations, including what appeared to be Violet's graduation ceremony and during a flight. Garner was married to Affleck from 2005 to 2018 and shares three children with him - Violet, Fin, and Samuel, 12. The On The Floor hitmaker filed for divorce without an attorney on Tuesday, August 20 the same day as their second wedding anniversary. Lopez who has been recently seen wearing her wedding ring listed the date of separation as April 26, 2024, as per legal docs obtained by TMZ. It marks Jennifer's fourth divorce and Ben's second. Affleck did not have his wedding band on as he reached for his luggage Fin's big sister previously hinted she would be attending Yale Violet previously indicated she would be attending the Ivy League university after her high school alma mater Instagrammed a snap of her wearing a 'Yale' sweatshirt Violet graduated from high school earlier this year and her mother shared an emotional post marking the moment to her Instagram The family were seen enjoying dinner in New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday as they dropped Violet off at college The couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot in July 2022, insiders have claimed. Without a prenup in place, Jennifer and Ben's individual earnings from the last two years whether it be from film projects or major brand deals would be community property. Jennifer is not seeking spousal support and the court docs reveal that she asked the judge to deny it for Ben as well. Naomi Watts took to social media on Tuesday to announce a new book about menopause, titled Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause. The 55-year-old actress who just attended the Sag Harbor Benefit Auction shared the book cover with her nearly two million Instagram followers. According to People, the literary effort will include the star's personal anecdotes, along with conversations with friends and experts. The Hollywood vet told the outlet: 'Women have had to suffer in silence and shame for too long about the changes they undergo during menopause, with little access to information, support or even much of an open conversation.' She added, 'I hope that this book can play a part in making women feel a little less alone, a little more supported, and dare I say, a little more excited about the natural changes that life has in store for us.' Naomi Watts took to social media on Tuesday to announce a new book about menopause, titled Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause; pictured August 19 The 55-year-old actress shared the book cover with her nearly two million Instagram followers In a lengthy Instagram caption, Watts began, 'Cant believe the day has finally come to share what Ive been working on for the last 14 months!! 'DARE I SAY IT will be out in January 2025. You can preorder a copy at the link in my bio.' The mother-of-two, who shares Sasha, 17, and Kai, 15, with ex-boyfriend Liev Schreiber, continued: 'This is a book about how my life turned upside down when I was told I was close to menopause at the age of 36! 'Right when I was ready to start a family. I thought this was the end of everything. Certainly my fertility and career boom.' In the vulnerable message to her fans, she went on to share that she lacked helpful resources. 'As I struggled through shame and secrecy, I wished there was an open conversation. A handbook I could secretly turn the pages of. Sadly there were no real resources. Not even well-versed doctors,' she explained. Relaying her experience to her audience, she added, 'I stayed quiet for as long as I could. 'But with the knowledge that half the population will enter menopause and two of my grandmas still living and going strong, I was determined to investigate more and optimize my healthas well as bring women together so we can feel like were not alone in this. We deserve more!' Naomi wore an ivory dress to promote her pro-aging beauty & wellness solutions brand Stripes on Breakfast Television Tuesday morning Wrapping up her thoughts, she noted, 'DARE I SAY IT will hopefully give you a chance to feel empowered through the conversations Ive had with doctors and experts and to feel a little less alone by hearing my story and convos with my girlfriends. 'I cant wait to share this with you all.' Giving a nod to her pro-aging beauty & wellness solutions brand Stripes, she finished: 'We should all hold our heads high. 'We are older, we are wiser, and we are NOT DONE!! Weve earned our STRIPES.' The silver screen siren shared a photo via Instagram Stories and wrote, 'Popped into @breakfasttelevision to talk about @stripesbeauty's launch in Canada' Naomi spoke on a panel in Canada alongside Tracy Moore and Amanda Thebe In a press release about her imminent book release, Naomi stated: 'I want this book to read like youre sitting down over coffee and having an intimate chat with your girlfriend. 'I hope it will be of help for anyone trying to get a hold on this phase of life and make it a time of liberation rather than purely a time of trial.' She affirmed, 'Menopause is a part of a womans midlife, but midlife is about far more than menopause. 'I cant wait for you to hear about the highs and lows and everything in between about this life stage and get some real, practical advice and comfort about how to take on these changes head-on.' Tyrese Gibson became emotional as he spoke about grief on Tuesday's episode of The Breakfast Club. The Fast & The Furious star, 45, stopped by the radio program to discuss his upcoming album Beautiful Pain and his new film 1992, which features both him and the late Ray Liotta. The tears flowed when host Charlamagne Tha God asked how Tyrese copes with the loss of loved ones, including his mother, two sisters, Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker, and Baby Boy director John Singleton. 'I'm doing the best I can with every 24 hours I get,' Tyrese responded, his eyes welling up. Charlamagne rose to hug him and offer tissues, but Tyrese declined, saying, 'This is what grown is. Black men cry.' Tyrese Gibson became emotional as he spoke about grief on Tuesday's episode of The Breakfast Club The tears flowed when host Charlamagne Tha God asked how Tyrese copes with the loss of loved ones, including his mother, two sisters, Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker , and Baby Boy director John Singleton He continued, 'When divorce has happened, women arent the only one that are devastated. 'When a miscarriage happens, women are not the only ones that you should be checking on. 'When you cant put food on the table because your career goes up and it goes down, stop calling and skipping over the man and just checking on the woman.' Tyrese has faced significant personal losses, including the death of his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, in 2022 from COVID-19 and pneumonia, and his two sisters, Salendra and Shonta Gibson, in 2021 and 2023. He also mourned the loss of industry colleagues: Baby Boy director Singleton, who passed away in 2019, and 2 Fast 2 Furious co-star Walker, who died in a 2013 car crash. Additionally, Tyrese has endured the pain of two divorces and ongoing custody battles. He was married to Norma Mitchell from 2007 to 2009 and shares a 17-year-old daughter, Shayla, with her. His second marriage to Samantha Gibson ended in separation in 2020 after four years, and they have a 6-year-old daughter, Soraya. 'This is some real s*** out here. I'mma wipe my own tears,' Tyrese continued on The Breakfast Club. 'When you do things from the heart, it affects hearts.' Tyrese went on The Breakfast Club and gave us another classic interview pic.twitter.com/Mszi9WzenT Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) August 20, 2024 Tyrese has faced significant personal losses, including the death of his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, in 2022 from COVID-19 and pneumonia, and his two sisters, Salendra and Shonta Gibson, in 2021 and 2023 He also mourned the loss of industry colleagues: Baby Boy director Singleton, who passed away in 2019, and 2 Fast 2 Furious co-star Walker (pictured left), who died in a 2013 car crash In 2017, Tyrese went viral with his emotional 'Cryese' video, where he shared a tearful clip about his custody battle with Norma over their daughter Shayla. He later secured 50/50 joint custody of his daughter. Last week, Tyrese became emotional after performing the National Anthem at the preseason game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. During the performance, he paid tribute to Marvin Gaye and shared why it was such a deeply moving experience for him. 'It's for my mother. Four kids and only two of us left. I was the only one born and raised in LA. This means the world to me,' he shared to ET. 'I hit a few bad notes but Marvin Gaye, I hope I made you proud. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.' If you have been affected by this story, call MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or visit their website here YouTuber Beau Brooks has sparked concern after he bizarrely asked his fans for $1million in donations for a supposed religious 'mission'. Beau, who shot to global fame in the 2010s as the frontman of prankster group The Janoskians, has taken to Instagram in recent days to share a string of troublesome posts asking for monetary donations. In a video which prompted an influx of worried messages, Beau, 31, asked fans to 'empty their accounts' to help him raise $1million via an alleged 'fundraiser' for an unexplained 'mission'. He refused to give any more details on the supposed religious 'mission' and asked his 420,000 followers to have 'faith', prompting fans to express their concerns for his wellbeing. Beau, who has been sober for 493 days, also referred to himself as the 'white Kanye [West]' in a comment before criticising his fans for 'choosing money over faith'. Fans were quick to share their worries, while some also left messages on his brothers' Luke and Jai Brooks' Instagram pages asking them to check in on Beau. One wrote: 'Worried about Beau, hope he's doing alright,' while another said: 'You do not look well at all. Sending love & I hope you get the help you need.' A third shared: 'Bro please talk to someone. You're not well, you've been trying really hard and inspiring people. It's okay to have a setback but please please please get some help, talk to your friends (real ones) not the online ones!' YouTuber Beau Brooks has sparked concern after he bizarrely asked his fans for $1million in donations for a supposed religious 'mission' Beau (pictured in 2013), known for being part of prankster group The Janoskians, has taken to Instagram in recent days to share a string of troublesome posts asking for monetary donations A fourth remarked: 'Brother, there's a reason people react with caution. People are concerned about your wellbeing, even though you may not feel like need it.' Another added: 'Ahh this is genuinely sad, you're clearly quite unwell. Can you speak to a doctor or reach out to someone for support?' After Beau claimed one anonymous fan had donated $874, many followers also urged people to complain about the fundraiser after he didn't disclose its purpose. In the original video, Beau bizarrely requested that his fans 'empty' their bank accounts into his supposed fundraiser, which has a goal of raising $1million. 'This is a message for the people who do have faith. I need $1million, I am on a mission and I cannot tell you what it is for a reason that you must have faith,' he said. 'What I ask from you, and what God asks of you, is that if you can empty your account into this GoFundMe, God will promise you five times in return. 'I ask you to willingly give with the love out of your heart and faith that this is for a divine purpose and reason.' He went on to acknowledge that he was going to be accused by fans of 'clout-chasing' and being 'money hungry', before simply telling people to 'have faith'. The YouTuber sparked further concern in a series of comments and follow-up posts, where he seemingly criticised his followers for not 'donating' money to him. 'The body of Christ will give this to me I have faith,' he wrote in one comment, before adding: 'I'm the white Kanye.' After his worrying video, Beau sparked further concern in a series of comments and follow-up posts, where he called himself the 'white Kanye' Beau rose to fame as part of YouTube prank group The Janoskians with his brothers Luke and Jai and friends James Yammouni and Daniel Sahyounie in the 2010s, but distanced himself from them in 2021 He continued in the comments section: '99 per cent of you will be shown.' 'See how everyone chose money instead of faith. Not one donation. Love you all. Peace,' Beau wrote in another post. Beau has seemingly been sent $1,466 in donations from 31 fans since first setting up the page in May. The description on the page simply reads: 'Your faith is in the hands of God. The end is near.' His string of posts have garnered attention from radio hosts Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands, who discussed his religious videos live on air on Wednesday. Kyle, 53, flippantly questioned whether he should donate to the social media star, with Jackie, 49, warning him to check the 'facts' of the mission first. Beau rose to huge popularity as part of YouTube pranksters The Janoskians in the 2010s, but distanced himself from the group in 2021. The group was made up of Beau, his younger twin brothers Luke and Jai, as well as their friends James Yammouni and Daniel Sahyounie. Making names for themselves globally, the boys appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and even dated Hollywood A-listers. He now works a regular day-to-day job in a factory, but also continues to regularly post online and film Cameo videos for his fans. Fans set social media alight following the news of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck divorcing after just over two years of marriage. The Maid in Manhattan star, 55, filed for divorce from the Batman actor, 51, in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday and listed April 26, 2024 as the date of separation. The couple married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 after rekindling their romance in 2021. However, August 20 marks the second anniversary of their traditional wedding ceremony held in Georgia. Despite months of split rumors, JLo's court filing sent fans into a frenzy, sparking a wave of reactions across social media. 'Filling for divorce on your wedding anniversary is crazy' wrote one follower, as another chimed in, 'It lasted longer than I thought. Is she already engaged to someone else?' Fans reacted following the news of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck divorcing after just over two years of marriage; seen in November 2023 in L.A. This marks Jennifer's fourth divorce and Ben's second. 'I am wondering if she is the problem, 4 divorces + others big names breakups,' another fan tweeted, referring to Jlo's long list of A-list lovers. Another posted, 'Maybe she should just take a little bit of time and focus on herself.' Yet another shared, 'Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are getting a divorce. I bet Ben is so happy that he can now be miserable in peace, meanwhile JLo will have a new love interest by Labor Day. She cannot be a single woman for long.' Insiders claim that the couple didn't sign a prenuptial agreement before their July 2022 wedding. As a result, Jennifer and Bens earnings from the past two years, including income from film projects and major brand deals, would be considered community property. DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Ben and Jennifer for comment. Jennifer, with an estimated net worth of $400 million, has released four films since marrying Ben. Despite months of split rumors , JLo's court filing sent fans into a frenzy, sparking a wave of reactions across social media Among them is This Is Me... Now: A Love Story, a $20 million self-funded project that chronicles the couple's rekindled romance. Ben, who has an estimated net worth of $150 million, recently appeared in Air (2023) and Hypnotic (2023) and completed filming a sequel to The Accountant (2016). TMZ reports that Jennifer isn't seeking spousal support and has requested the judge to do the same for Ben. Sources suggest that Jennifer's decision to file for divorce stems from ongoing financial disagreements between the two. Lopez and Affleck made headlines in 2021 when they rekindled their romance, nearly 17 years after calling off their original engagement and postponing their September 2003 wedding. They officially parted ways in January 2004 but stayed on good terms over the years. In April 2021, reports surfaced that the musician and the Oscar-winning director were reconnecting after Lopezs breakup with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. The couple confirmed their relationship on Instagram that July and made their red carpet return at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. In April 2022, Lopez confirmed her engagement to Affleck. The couple then surprised everyone with a Las Vegas wedding on July 16, 2022. A month later, they hosted a grander celebration at Afflecks 87-acre estate near Savannah, Georgia. The guest list included Matt Damon, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, and Hollywood talent agent Patrick Whitesell. The ceremony was officiated by podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty. Jennifer has 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme, from her marriage to Marc Anthony, which lasted from 2004 to 2014. Affleck, who was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018, has three children with her: 18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Fin, and 12-year-old Samuel. A mother has revealed she lied to her son about having terminal cancer. On Wednesday's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, a listener named Maria rang in for breakfast show's regular 'Confession Booth' segment to come clean to her son, Mustafa. Maria told hosts Jackie O Henderson and Kyle Sandilands that her son was acting up and partying hard when he was younger, so the single mother decided she would fake having a terminal illness. She believed that blaming him for her health problems would guilt the young man into going straight. 'I said I have cancer and I don't have long to live because it has spread, all due to the stress and anxiety that you're causing me with your behaviour,' the mum admitted to the hosts. 'And now he's a completely different child. My jaw is on the floor at how it worked. He's such a different person,' she added. Maria said she maintained the lie for the past year by organising fake appointments, doctored medical letters, and even got Mustafa to drop her at the hospital. Stunned host Kyle, 53, said, 'He drops you off at the hospital for what he thinks is cancer treatments, and you just sit in the cafeteria eating cakes and coffee?' A mother has revealed she lied to her son about having terminal cancer . On Wednesday's The Kyle & Jackie O Show , a listener named Maria rang in for breakfast show's regular 'Confession Booth' segment to come clean to her son, Mustafa. Pictured: Jackie 'O' Henderson Maria confirmed this was the case, before the hosts called her son so she could finally confess to her deception. 'I actually don't have cancer and I'm not dying,' Maria told her son, who was stunned by the revelation. 'I just had to do it to get you back on track and hopefully you forgive me.' 'Wait, let me get this straight,' said Mustafa, 'You told me you were sick when you weren't just so I could settle down and look after you?' 'I'm sorry,' she said, 'But I'm cancer free.' The hosts called Maria's son live on-air so she could finally confess to her deception. Pictured: hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson Jackie, 49, then asked whether he could forgive his mother for her year-long lie. 'It'll take me a while because I'm just lost for words. I don't know what to say,' Mustafa said. Kyle wrapped up the segment by claiming Maria did 'the wrong thing for the right reasons.' 'I don't know about that,' replied Mustafa, 'I think we need to have a talk, mum.' Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel Karp thanked fans for their support on Tuesday after reluctantly revealing her breast cancer diagnosis on her iHeartRadio podcast. 'I wanted to do a quick video to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, and from my entire family, for the enormous outpouring of love and support and encouragement you have sent me since I announced my breast cancer diagnosis,' the 43-year-old former child star - who boasts 3.3M social media followers - gushed in an Instagram video. 'I absolutely only talked about it publicly because I know how unbelievably important it is, in my case, that I found my cancer when I did and I found it very early. It is non-invasive and it is stage zero.' Danielle said the only reason she found it early was because she 'prioritized myself into making sure I got a mammogram.' 'I wanted to pass along that message. And I've been hearing from so many of you!' Fishel continued. Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel Karp thanked fans for their support on Tuesday after reluctantly revealing her breast cancer diagnosis on her iHeartRadio podcast 'That you did indeed make your mammogram appointment or you pressured your mother to make her mammogram appointment or your best friend to make her mammogram appointment. And this isn't just woman specific. Men, stay on top of your testing as well. If you have those yearly exams that you're supposed to be getting, go and get them. Nobody ever wants to get news, "Hey, your test results were abnormal." Nobody wants that.' DCIS: THE MEDICAL FACTS Ductal carcinoma in situ is the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer. Ductal means the disease originates inside the milk ducts, while carcinoma refers to any cancer than begins in the skin or other tissues. Meanwhile, in situ indicates the cancer has not spread, and instead remains in its original place. DCIS, as it is more commonly known, is not considered a life-threatening form of the disease, but being diagnosed with the condition can increase a woman's chances of later developing more serious 'invasive' forms of the disease. DCIS generally has no signs or symptoms, though some women may notice a lump in the breast or discharge from their nipple. The National Cancer Institute says 80 per cent of DCIS cases are found by mammography. Typical treatment for DCIS is a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, though in some cases women will be advised to undergo a mastectomy. Chemotherapy is generally not needed, because DCIS is a form of cancer that has not spread, so there is no need to target cells that may have traveled to other parts of the body. Source: breastcancer.org Advertisement The two-time Children's & Family Emmy Award nominee added: 'But if you stayed on top of that, hopefully, God willing, you can find out you have something when it is stage zero like I did. I just really wanted to say thank you so much for the love and support, I appreciate it more than you could ever know.' Danielle's post received sweet comments from her celeb pals John Mayer, Candace Cameron Bure, Lance Bass, Sasha Farber, Snooki, and Larry David's daughter Cazzie. It's been two days since Fishel confessed to her Pod Meets World co-hosts Rider Strong and Will Friedle that she was 'recently diagnosed with DCIS which is a form of breast cancer.' 'It is very, very, very early. It's technically stage zero,' the Arizona-born beauty explained. 'I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS with micro invasion. And I'm going to be fine. I'm having surgery to remove it. I'm going to be on some follow-up treatment. I've had to make a lot of decisions over the last couple of days.' According to breastcancer.org, DCIS is contained to your milk ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) only, and it makes up 20% to 25% of new breast cancers diagnosed in the States. Treatments for DCIS include a lumpectomy, radiation therapy, a mastectomy, and hormonal therapy. Danielle's second husband Jensen Karp said 'she's the strongest person I've ever met' and he's so 'proud of her for using her platform to raise awareness.' On Tuesday, the 44-year-old producer commented on her Instagram post: 'So proud of you spreading the word. Always selfless.' On August 29, Fishel and Jensen will celebrate the third birthday of their son Keaton Joseph Karp, and they're also parents of five-year-old son Adler Lawrence Karp. The 43-year-old former child star gushed: 'I wanted to do a quick video to say thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, and from my entire family, for the enormous outpouring of love and support and encouragement you have sent me since I announced my breast cancer diagnosis' Danielle continued: 'I absolutely only talked about it publicly because I know how unbelievably important it is, in my case, that I found my cancer when I did and I found it very early. It is non-invasive and it is stage zero' Fishel said the only reason she found it early was because she 'prioritized myself into making sure I got a mammogram' and urged others to do so The two-time Children's & Family Emmy Award nominee's post received sweet comments from her celeb pals John Mayer, Candace Cameron Bure, Lance Bass, Sasha Farber, Snooki, and Larry David's daughter Cazzie It's been two days since Danielle confessed to her Pod Meets World co-hosts Rider Strong and Will Friedle that she was 'recently diagnosed with DCIS which is a form of breast cancer' Fishel continued: 'I was diagnosed with high grade DCIS with micro invasion. And I'm going to be fine. I'm having surgery to remove it. I'm going to be on some follow-up treatment. I've had to make a lot of decisions over the last couple of days' The Arizona-born beauty's second husband Jensen Karp (R, pictured December 28) said 'she's the strongest person I've ever met' and he's so 'proud of her for using her platform to raise awareness' On Tuesday, the 44-year-old producer commented on her Instagram post: 'So proud of you spreading the word. Always selfless' On August 29, Danielle and Jensen will celebrate the third birthday of their son Keaton Joseph Karp, and they're also parents of five-year-old son Adler Lawrence Karp (pictured in 2023) Fishel originally began her dormant acting career, at age 10, but her breakout role was playing hippie-turned-lawyer Topanga Matthews on the ABC sitcom (1993-2000) and the Disney Channel spin-off Girl Meets World (2014-2017) The married couple of five years attended Calabasas High School together, but they didn't begin dating until 2017. The Lopez vs. Lopez director previously divorced her Cal State Fullerton sweetheart Tim Belusko in 2016 after a little more than two years of wedded bliss. Danielle - who runs a vegan haircare line called Be Free - is every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for brands like Hyundai, Keebler, Topps, and True Botanicals. Fishel originally began her dormant acting career, at age 10, but her breakout role was playing hippie-turned-lawyer Topanga Matthews on the ABC sitcom (1993-2000) and the Disney Channel spin-off Girl Meets World (2014-2017). The Lost Paradise music festival has announced its lineup for its New Year event. The festival, which has been held in Glenworth Valley New South Wales since 2014, has an exciting lineup to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Kicking off on December 28 and running for five days, the event will feature performances by DJ Fisher, Marlon Hoffstadt, and Sammy Virji. Also performing at the festival will be R&B superstar Tinashe, Royel Otis, Caribou, Flight Facilities, Telenova, Nick Ward, Interplanetary Criminal, Dameeeela, and more. It will give festivalgoers plenty to explore as the event will be split across different spaces including the Lost Disco & Paradise Club, Arcadia stage, and Shambala Field. The festival's organisers announced the official lineup on Wednesday with a poster shared to Instagram. 'Magic: that's Lost Paradise, summed in a single word,' the caption said. 'Each December, like grass glistening after the summer rain, a brimming oasis springs to life amongst the picturesque surrounds of Glenworth Valley (Darkinjung Country) one hour north of Sydney/Eora. Lost Paradise music festival has announced its blockbuster lineup for 2024 as it prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary The festival will kick off on December 28 with performances by DJ Fisher (pictured), Marlon Hoffstadt, and Sammy Virji 'Across the last four nights of 2024, we invite you to experience a glimpse of Paradise; our vibrant and kaleidoscopic pop-up village under the stars,' the caption read. For the first time in 2024, all tickets are priced the same, with no tiered releases. Tickets will also include camping access, ensuring fairness for everyone from early buyers to late purchasers. Tickets go on sale Wednesday August 28, with an exclusive presale available the day before. However, the organisers encourage people to get in quick. 'Blink and you'll miss it - Paradise is fleeting and capacity is limited. We hope you'll join us for another NYE to remember this December.' Abbie Chatfield has launched an extraordinary spray against Blake Lively and her new romance movie It Ends With Us, claiming it glamorises domestic violence. The reality star, 29, discussed Lively's, 36, new movie on her It's A Lot podcast and did not hold back when criticising the Hollywood movie star. 'Blake is a deeply unlikeable person. She is claiming this movie is for domestic violence survivors, but she isn't talking about the DV in it,' Abbie began. 'You can't do a film about a serious topic like this and not want to speak about that topic and act offended when people ask about it.' Lively's new movie is based on a 2016 novel by US author Colleen Hoover and depicts a violent relationship between Blake's and her co-star Justin Baldoni's characters. Abbie added she believed the movie had been mismarketed as a romantic comedy rather than the sobering portrayal of domestic violence that it was. 'The marketing of it from Blake Lively has been f***ing atrocious. I just hate that there's an opportunity for it to be a realistic story about DV in the limelight and it just feels like fan fiction. 'It feels like Twilight, like with a bit of violence in there as well, without trigger warnings and being marketed as a romcom.' Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has launched an extraordinary spray against Blake Lively and her new romance movie It Ends With Us, claiming it glamorises domestic violence She added it was a severe oversight for Lively and the film's marketing department to not consult with real survivors of domestic violence for advice on how to promote the movie. 'I don't think Blake Lively was equipped for this movie. You could have asked any DV support network or charity how you think they should market this. And they would have had a spokesperson. 'Why don't they have a DV survivor who did align with the book, who was helped by the book, who works for a charity and is able to speak about their experiences now?' Chatfield asked. The reality star, 29, discussed Lively's, 36, new movie on her It's A Lot podcast and did not hold back when criticising the Hollywood movie star. Pictured It follows reports that Australian victim-survivors of domestic abuse are being 'triggered' and 're-traumatised' by Lively's new film, according to one prominent activist. The Gossip Girl alum has been embroiled in a firestorm of negative publicity and public outrage in response to her lighthearted and sarcastic promotion of the film in recent weeks. Netizens are in an uproar about Blake's joking response to a question posed by reporter Jake Hamilton during a virtual sit down with her co-star Brandon Sklenar. When asked how she would respond to an affected viewer approaching her with their story, the actress was sprawled on a couch with her head leaning on her bent arm and replied sarcastically: 'Maybe asking for, like, my address, or my phone number. Or, like, location share?! I could just location-share you and then we could' Laughing, she trailed off, as Sklenar sat silently. Abbie said the movie had been mismarketed as a romantic comedy rather than the sobering portrayal of domestic violence that it was 'It was really weird,' What Were You Wearing founder Sarah Williams exclusively told Daily Mail Australia. The 23-year-old, who founded the not-for-profit behind Australia's national No More Violence Against Women rallies, said Blake's interview was problematic, but that she's more concerned about the movie itself after having seen it. Lively is known for playing leading ladies in romantic dramas and has also come under fire for lightheartedly telling women to 'wear their florals' to the cinemas for the occasion. Kim Kardashian is once again being accused of copying Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori's wild style. The SKIMS founder, 43, drew comparisons to the Yeezy architect, 29, after uploaded new glamour shots to her Instagram on Tuesday. In the photos, a blonde Kim who is currently in NYC with daughter North is seen exiting a Los Angeles grocery store in a cheeky white leotard and tights. The skin-tight outfit showed off her curves as she walked around the store's parking lot with her entourage. The outfit looked extremely similar to the daring leotard and tights combos made famous by Bianca. Kim Kardashian is once again being accused of copying Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori's wild style The SKIMS founder, 43, drew comparisons to the Yeezy architect (right in March), 29, after uploaded new glamour shots to her Instagram on Tuesday Unlike Bianca, Kim kept it PG by protecting her modesty with the proper undergarments. The mom-of-four threw on a pair of heeled flip flops, a silver chain pendant necklace and a wrist cuff to complete her outfit. Her blonde hair was noticeably damp and her makeup natural as she hopped out of her custom silver Rolls-Royce. She was joined by a brunette woman and a tall man with dyed blonde hair during her nighttime grocery run. Though the photos were posted Tuesday, they were most likely taken a few months ago while Kim was still blonde. She returned to her natural brunette color in June. Many of Kim's 361million followers flocked to the comment section to call out her Bianca-inspired look even playfully referring to Kim as 'Kimberly Censori.' Some also pointed out that Kim's outfit looked similar to silhouettes Kanye's Yeezy clothing brand sent down the runway in 2016. This isn't the first time Kim's been accused of copying her husband's new wife. Back in April, Kim stepped out in bleached blonde hair and an 'apron' top nearly a year after Bianca debuted the look. But Bianca is also guilty of pulling inspiration from Kim. Most recently, she enjoyed a date night in LA with Kanye while wearing a plunging white dress that looked nearly identical to the one Kim wore on her 34th birthday party 10 years ago. In the photos, a blonde Kim is seen exiting a Los Angeles grocery store in a cheeky white leotard and tights The skin-tight outfit showed off her curves as she walked around the store's parking lot with her entourage Many of Kim's 361million followers flocked to the comment section to call out her Bianca-inspired look even playfully referring to Kim as 'Kimberly Censori' She's also been photographed on countless occasions rocking skin-tight catsuits and metallic bikinis that are Kim's signature. Kim and Kanye split in February 2021 after six years of marriage and four children North, 11, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and Psalm, five together. Weeks after their divorce was finalized in November 2022, Kanye tied the knot with Bianca, who works as an architect at his Yeezy company. Since marrying Kanye, Bianca has shocked the globe by gallivanting in public in X-rated outfits including see-through frocks and pant-less, braless looks. A source previously dished to DailyMail.com that Kim warned Kanye not to let Bianca wear her revealing outfits in front of their children. 'Kim instructed Kanye to never let Bianca dress like that around their kids,' the insider revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com in February. 'She is truly surprised that Kanye would let his wife leave the house like that.' Since then, Bianca has gone out of her way to cover up while in the company of North, Saint, Chicago or Psalm. Unlike in his marriage with Bianca, Kanye used to frequently ask Kim to change her outfits if he felt she was showing too much skin, with the rapper heavily influencing her fashion choices during their six-year marriage. 'Kanye did the same thing he is doing with Bianca to Kim throughout their marriage,' DailyMail.com's source explained. 'The difference is that when Kanye dressed Kim, he was respected as a person as an artist. Unlike Bianca, Kim kept it PG by protecting her modesty with the proper undergarments She was joined by a brunette woman and a tall man with dyed blonde hair during her nighttime grocery run Kanye and his new wife Bianca tied the knot in December 2022 weeks after he and Kim finalized their divorce; seen in February 2024 'Unfortunately, Kim knows what Bianca is going through but she feels Bianca should have known what she was getting into.' A different source previously revealed that Bianca's parents were 'mortified' by her near-naked ensembles and feared she was 'being controlled' by Kanye. But it appears some of Bianca's style choices have rubbed off on her 11-year-old stepdaughter North. Just last week, North was spotted wearing a brown fur hat over long braids while out with mom Kim in NYC. Bianca wore a similar style of hat back in December 2023 while spending time with husband Kanye and fashion designer Amina Muaddi. She unveiled a string of eye-catching swimwear earlier this week. And Kylie Jenner didn't disappoint when she revealed new Khy bikinis to her fans late on Tuesday night. Her latest post for her clothing line, which she launched late last year amid allegations that some of her clothing plagiarized other designers, featured the busty 27-year-old reality star flaunting her figure in a neon green two-piece swimsuit. She was practically bursting out of the strapless bandeau top, which was ruched in the middle to draw attention to her cleavage. The item was from Khy's new 'satin' summer 2024 drop, labeled '010.' Kylie Jenner revealed a sizzling new neon green bikini late on Tuesday night. The Khy suit featured a busty bandeau top and ruched string bottom, and she also wore a matching miniskirt coverup Another photo in her Instagram post showed her baring her taut tummy in a lustrous ruched orange bikini that was similar to an item in the same color that she unveiled in July Kylie's post featured a photo of her in an unusual position, as she stood outdoors against a wall and leaned down to her side as if looking at something on the ground. The position highlighted her collar bones and flexed her trim midriff, and she appeared to close her eyes while pouting her lips. Kylie, who wore her medium-length raven tresses tied back in a casual bun, paired her top with high-cut ruched string bikinis that emphasized her hourglass figure. She also gave her 398 million Instagram followers a look at a matching coverup, a slim green mini skirt, which appeared to be wrinkled up so as to cover even less than usual. Another new photo showed the cosmetics mogul in a striking orange bikini. It had ruched cups with dual strings, as well as bottoms in the same design as the green swimsuit. She previously unveiled a two-piece suit in a similar hue on her Khy account in July, though that orange suit had a halter top design with single straps, and it featured much more prominent tied-off straps on the bottom. Kylie also reposted photos of a lustrous gray halter one-piece suit with temperature-raising cutouts on her sides, as well as a silky baby blue bikini. It was part of her summer 008 drop, and she boasted at the time that the items would run in sizes from XXS to 4X, with the individual pieces ranging from $34 to $88. She previously unveiled a two-piece suit in a similar hue on her Khy account in July, though that orange suit had a halter top design with single straps, and it featured much more prominent tied-off straps on the bottom It was part of her summer 008 drop, and she boasted at the time that the items would run in sizes from XXS to 4X, with the individual pieces ranging from $34 to $88 Kylie recently shared photos of herself in a delicate white knit bikini top while on a yacht as part of her birthday celebrations in the Bahamas But the Instagram photos concerned several fans, as they showed leaning against the metal railing of the ship's deck while lighting was visible in the background. Lighting in the distance could still put her at risk, as strikes can happen within six to 10 miles thunderstorm clouds Kylie recently shared photos of herself in a delicate white knit bikini top while on a yacht as part of her birthday celebrations in the Bahamas. However, the billionaire concerned several of her fans with her Instagram photos. They showed her leaning against the metal railing of the ship's deck while lighting was visible in the background. Multiple worried fans noted that lighting seen in the distance could still put her at risk, as lightning strikes can happen within six to 10 miles from the base of a thunderstorm cloud, according to the National Wexather Service. A shocking video of Madonna slamming her 'fat, unattractive and spotty' fans has resurfaced in recent days. The popstar, 66, branded her fanbase mostly 'overweight girls or guys' who have 'lots of acne and pester her' in an unearthed chat from 1991. The toe-curling interview went viral on Monday - and has reached 554,100 views on X - 25 years after it was published. In the interview with the Washington Post, Madonna said: 'I dont mind when people come up to me in a restaurant and go, "God, I think youre great". I love that. Its the obsessive fanatics whose attention seems very hostile. 'Its beyond admiration. Its very crazy . . . its always fat people, too. They are the most unattractive social outcasts, like really overweight girls or guys with lots of acne that follow me around and pester me. A shocking video of Madonna, 66, slamming her 'fat, unattractive and spotty' fans has resurfaced in recent days The popstar branded her fanbase mostly 'overweight girls or guys' who have 'lots of acne and pester her' in an unearthed chat from 1991 'Its frightening because not only are they bothering me but theyre horrible to look at, too.' Fans were appalled at the resurfaced interview, with one commenting on X: 'that last part is so embarrassing for her'. After the tweet spiralled online, Madonna hit out at fans, who were slamming her interview in two social media videos she posted on Monday. According to The Sun, she said: 'I dont give a f*** if you think its selfish of me to say no for a photo or for your time or for a hug. 'Thats not normal. Thats weird. Its weird how people think you know a person just because you see them online or because you listen to the art they make. 'Im allowed to say no to creepy behaviour.' Madonna recently shared a plethora of glamorous snaps from her epic 66th birthday celebrations to Instagram. The songstress posted snaps from her lavish celebrations in Italy to her account on Monday morning, featuring photos of her birthday bash with her new boyfriend Akeem Morris, 28, and her six children. The interview resurfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday night and has gained 553.9k likes The toe-curling interview went viral on Monday - and has reached 554,100 views on X - 25 years after it was published (Madonna pictured in 1991) Fans were appalled at the resurfaced interview, with one commenting on X: 'that last part is so embarrassing for her' Madonna recently shared a plethora of glamorous snaps from her epic 66th birthday celebrations to Instagram The post included a sweet family shot of Madonna with her children, Lourdes Leon, Rocco, David Banda, 18, Mercy, 18, and 11-year-old twins Stella and Estere Fans were given a glimpse into Madonna's luxury celebrations which saw the Material Girl songstress enjoy a lavish feast with a seat right next to her boyfriend Not only did Madonna ring in her 66th birthday a few days ago, but her son Rocco Ritchie also celebrated his 24th birthday this past month. The carousel, captioned 'La Dolce Vita', showed Madonna holding hands with her new boyfriend Akeem as they strode about surrounded by their entourage. The family in attendance included her Lourdes Leon, 27, Rocco, David Banda, 18, Mercy, 18, and 11-year-old twins Stella and Estere. Fans were given a glimpse into Madonna's luxury celebrations which saw the Material Girl songstress enjoy a lavish feast with a seat right next to her boyfriend. Sara Al Madani shared the horrific moment she discovered that her former maid was involved in an alleged plot to kidnap her seven-year-old son, Maktoum. The TV personality, 38 - who recently got into a heated argument with co-star Caroline Stanbury - opened up about the details in the latest episode of Bravo's The Real Housewives Of Dubai. At one point, she revealed to her friends Saba and Nina that her maid had been covering the security cameras at her home 'for the past six months' and had also brought men inside. Nina yelled out, 'What!' upon hearing the shocking news, with Madani adding, 'The men asked her for my picture and his picture, the times I go out, when I come back.' 'What a psycho,' Nina replied in disbelief. Sara's son also joined in on the conversation, and revealed that both he and his mother had gone to the police station 'three times' over the situation. Sara Al Madani, 41, shared the horrific moment she discovered that her former maid was involved in an alleged plot to kidnap her seven-year-old son, Maktoum At one point, she revealed to her friends Saba and Nina that her maid had been covering the security cameras at her home 'for the past six months' and had also brought men inside In a confessional, Sara expressed that, 'Ever since I came back from Bali - the magic of Bali has been over.' 'There are texts of these men commenting on my son's pictures saying, "Oh my God, he's cute, we love his hair, we love his skin." And these men were asking her what time does he come home? Who waits for him? Do they have money?' 'I mean, all these questions indicate one thing: kidnap, ransom. Right now, I'm dealing with a court case, police case, my son traumatized, this is what I come home to.' After the reality star filed charges against her maid - who was also fired - she was arrested and put in jail. Madani recalled telling the maid, 'I was like, "Just leave the house. It's over, I don't want to see you again."' 'But then I go to her room while she's packing, and I start seeing my stuff. My gold necklace, my mom's earrings,' she said, with her son cutting in to say her 'underwear' was also in the maid's room. Nina said, 'She was probably plotting to take him for ransom,' with Sara agreeing. In another confessional, Madani expressed that Maktoum 'is really traumatized at the moment. Like, he finds it hard to sleep at night, he doesn't like to be alone, he doesn't even go to the toilet alone.' Nina yelled out, 'What!' upon hearing the shocking news, with Madani adding, 'The men asked her for my picture and his picture, the times I go out, when I come back' 'There are texts of these men commenting on my son's pictures saying, "Oh my God, he's cute, we love his hair, we love his skin." And these men were asking her what time does he come home? Who waits for him? Do they have money?' She continued, 'I had no choice but to disclose everything...When I realized it was my son's life and safety, I went into full beast mode' 'However, I had to expose all the details because the police had to ask him, "Did any men come into the house? Did any men try to touch you? Did any men talk to you?"" She continued, 'I had no choice but to disclose everything...When I realized it was my son's life and safety, I went into full beast mode.' 'I was like, no mercy. I am not dropping any charges,' Sara explained. 'Because if I let her go, she'll do this to another family.' The terrifying ordeal comes after she got in a heated confrontation with Caroline Stanbury after she defended Caroline Brooks' behavior. 'You are ridiculous,' Sara, 41, shot back at Stanbury, 48 'You couldn't bear this woman last year,' Stanbury, 48, said. 'You are a hypocrite, Sara. You are a f***ing hypocrite!' Stanbury told her she was also ridiculous. 'You are ridiculous,' Sara, 41, shot back. 'Oh, shut up Sara,' Stanbury said. 'This is like Squid Games over here,' Taleen Marie, 36, said. The episode titled 'Deserted Friendships' opened with the ladies having lunch out in the desert when Taleen accused Brooks of 'stirring the pot' and of being very hurtful. Sara tried to stick up for Brooks. 'I don't know why Stanbury's getting so worked up,' Lesa Milan, 35, said in a confessional. 'This is who Sara has always been. She's a walking Instagram meme.' 'You are brands from head to toe but zero class,' Sara said. 'Oh shut it,' Stanbury said. 'You're pathetic.' 'In this country, I would probably not talk to an Emirati woman like that but that's because I don't want to go to jail,' Lesa said in a confessional. She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan. Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain. Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years. After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans. Katie, now 46, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017. Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, MailOnline takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price. The many faces of Katie Price: MailOnline takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts 1995 - Barefaced beauty At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling. At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan. Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age. 1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling 1998 - First boob job Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C. The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure. Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters. 1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C 1999 - Second and third boob job Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21. Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to a F cup. Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones. 1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21 2001 - Lip fillers At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers. While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene. Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions. 2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers 2004 - Botox Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.' At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.' 2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines 2006 - Fourth boob job Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup. The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle. She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox. 2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup 2007 - First nose job and veneers At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers. 'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.' Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!' 2007:Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers 2008 - Fifth boob job Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup. The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job 10 years prior. Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range. 2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup 2011 - Sixth boob job Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup. Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers. The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'. 2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup 2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh. Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.' Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup. 2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast 2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust. The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis. Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration. 2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup 2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift. The procedure is designed to lift a sagging cheeks and blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features. However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml. 2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word 2018 - Second face lift Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it. She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had He agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.' 2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 2019 - Third face lift, boob job first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation. The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck. Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup. 2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck 2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel. The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure. Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.' 2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job 2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum. The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal. The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash. 2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts 2022 - Another brow and eye lift Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage. Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.' It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work. Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years! 'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow. 'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched. 'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face. 'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.' 2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to to travel to Turkey for more surgery 2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th. The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium. She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size. Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more. 'I would go bigger as well and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look. 'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.' 2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th 2024 - MORE facial surgery In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing. The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure. A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court. Rove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton were spotted taking a stroll on Sydney's famed Bondi Beach with their 10-year-old daughter Ruby on Monday. The family held hands and appeared in good spirits as they made the most of their day out. Rove, 50, looked smart and ultra fit after his evening at the Logie Awards on Sunday. He wore a white tee shirt with thin horizontal stripes and black jeans paired with a bomber jacket. He completed his look with designer sunglasses and white runners. Tasma wore a dark puffer jacket over a black knit sweater she paired with a pair of red floral pants and black runners. The former Home and Away star, also 50, wore her short dark hair in a side part and went make-up free for the outing. She accessorised with a pair of dark sunglasses. Rove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton were spotted taking a stroll on Sydney 's famed Bondi Beach with their 10-year-old daughter Ruby on Monday. All pictured Ruby smiled as she walked hand in hand with her dad Ruby, meanwhile, smiled as she walked hand in hand with her mum and dad. She cut a colourful figure in a pair of floral tights, a light blue hoodie and a pink leopard print zip up jacket. She completed her look with a pair of runners which featured a flower print. It comes after Rove and Tasma announced that they wished their daughter to grow up without being forced to conform to conventional ideas about gender. Tasma wore a dark puffer jacket over a black knit sweater she paired with a pair of red floral pants and black runners Ruby cut a colourful figure in a pair of floral tights, a light blue hoodie and a pink leopard print zip up jacket The couple, who have been married for 13 years, try to make their household free of 'boy and girl' stereotypes. Back in 2022 Tasma told Stellar Magazine that the idea was first sparked when a classmate told Ruby that blue was a 'boy's colour'. 'We're telling our little girl, ''That's silly, isn't it?'' Nobody has ownership of a colour. Anybody can like any colour they want,' she said. 'The parents of little boys should be having those conversations, too,' she added. The star went on to explain that she doesn't limit was kinds of toys or activities her daughter enjoys. 'It's a fine line to walk between acknowledging the reality of the 'guidelines' we have in place in society, but also trying to give her the courage and excitement to know that she's not bound by those perceived rules,' she said. 'As the choices you make don't hurt anybody else or any other living thing, then you can do and be whoever you want.' The funny man was seen to share a joke with his daughter Rove and Tasma tied the knot back in 2009, and Ruby is their only child Rove and his TV star wife, who grew up in Western Australia's Geraldtown, tied the knot back in 2009, and Ruby is their only child. While a prominent producer in the Australian TV landscape, Rove is still best known for his weekly evening talk show Rove Live on Network Ten. The popular tonight show ran from 1999-2009 before he relocated to the US to host Rove LA on Fox8 from 2011 to 2012. He recently made a return to TV with guest spots on The Project, which his Roving Enterprises produces. In 2020, the couple purchased a $2million home in Perth, after completing renovations on their $6.4million mansion in Sydney's Bronte. Victoria Beckham is preparing to film a tell-all documentary about her fashion brand after landing a huge deal with Netflix. The Spice Girl, 50, will share an insight into her working life after the success of husband David's, 49, BAFTA and Emmy-nominated docuseries BECKHAM with the streamer. The beloved mother will delve deep into her fashion brand in the documentary and follow her journey as she prepares for Paris Fashion Week next year. Her new documentary will offer a 'behind-the-scenes' look at her journey from becoming a Spice Girl to a creative director of her successful fashion and beauty brand. The couple married in 1999 and share four children together - Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13. Victoria Beckham, 50, is preparing to film a tell-all documentary about her fashion brand after landing a huge deal with Netflix The Spice Girl will share an insight into her working life after the success of husband David's, 49, BAFTA and Emmy-nominated docuseries BECKHAM with the streamer Victoria launched her fashion brand in 2008 and lately launched a collection with the high-street fashion brand Mango. After the success of her clothing brand, Victoria released her own beauty and skincare line in 2019. At this year's PFW, Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour sat front row alongside close friend Kim Kardashian supporting in the sidelines. Victoria reached new heights in May when Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor was the first to wear a bespoke made Victoria Beckham gown to the Met Gala. Emmy-nominated Nicola Howson, who worked on David's series, will act as executive producer on the Victoria edition alongside Bafta-nominated producer Julia Nottingham. David's Beckham documentaries - which released in October 2023 - has received five Emmy nominations and as well as a BAFTA nom earlier this year. The series gave an unprecedented look at David's career journey and a glimpse at the start of their romance and marriage. The beloved mother will delve deep into her fashion brand in the documentary and follow her journey as she prepares for Paris Fashion Week next year Her new documentary will offer a 'behind-the-scenes' look at her journey from becoming a Spice Girl to a creative director of her successful fashion and beauty brand The couple married in 1999 and share four children together - Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13 After the success of her clothing brand, Victoria released her own beauty and skincare line in 2019 Victoria reached new heights in May when Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor (pictured in the gown) was the first to wear a bespoke made Victoria Beckham gown to the Met Gala David's Beckham documentaries - which released in October 2023 - has received five Emmy nominations and as well as a BAFTA nom earlier this year The four-part series was nominated for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 2024 Emmy ceremony, going up alongside Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Telemarketers and The Jinx - Part Two. It was also nominated for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing and Outstanding Music Composition. His documentary amassed a record breaking 3.8million viewers during its premiere week. According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB), the first episode saw 3,813,100 fans tune in. The second instalment was also a success reaching 2,868,800 viewers by the week ending October 8. Kirstie Allsopp has doubled down on letting her 15-year-old son interrail across Europe for three weeks over the summer, but admits she 'emotionally struggled' while he was gone. The Location, Location, Location presenter, 52, received mixed opinions online after revealing she allowed her 15-year-old son to go interrailing across Europe with his 16-year-old friend this summer. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday, Kirstie questioned if parents being fearful of their children exploring the world is due to the 24-hour news coverage and a belief that the world is a 'worse place'. Kirstie agreed to it as she feels he is a 'very sensible young man', but admitted she struggled emotionally as she missed him over the summer break. Reflecting on how perspectives have changed on allowing young people freedom, she said: 'In previous generations, people did things far younger. Kirstie Allsopp has doubled down on letting her 15-year-old son interrail across Europe for three weeks over summer The Location, Location, Location presenter, 52, received mixed opinions online after revealing she allowed her 15-year-old son to go interrailing across Europe with his 16-year-old friend this summer 'We are looking at a mental health crisis with young people. A lot of people are talking about it and writing about it. 'We have to ask ourselves - how much of this is because of our fear and our worry, and how much of our fear and worry stems from 24-hour news and a lot of belief that the world is a worse place?' She went on to add that her elders had taken on major pursuits as teenagers, including her father-in-law joining the Arctic convoys of the Second World War aged 16, her mother-in-law going to university in South Africa aged 15 and her father joining the army at 17. The discussion came after Kirstie found herself under fire last night after she allowed her 15-year-old son to go interrailing across Europe. The TV presenter revealed on social media that her youngest son Oscar Hercules was returning home after three weeks of travel across the continent, alongside a 16-year-old friend. However, some users claimed that her child was too young to be travelling around the continent without adult supervision. One told the mother-of-two on X that 'if things had gone wrong, you would have taken responsibility and never forgiven yourself'. Another added: 'You can't wrap them up in cotton wool but it can be a dangerous world and 15 is not mature enough for all encounters.' Kirstie defended Oscar saying that he and his friend independently organised the nine-stop trip around Europe. Kirstie defended Oscar Hercules, who turned 16 this week, saying that he and his friend independently organised the nine-stop trip around Europe In defence of allowing her young son to travel without parents, Ms Allsopp said she had travelled at the same age The Location, Location, Location presenter added that 'if we're afraid our children will also be afraid, if we let go, they will fly'. She wrote: 'For obvious budget reasons interrailing isn't on the cards for everyone, but in this increasingly risk-averse world it's vital that we find any ways we can to give our children the confidence that only comes from trusting them.' Kirstie added that 'if we're afraid our children will also be afraid, if we let go, they will fly'. Kirstie, who also has 18-year-old Bay Atlas with Ben Anderson, also came under criticism from those claiming that she would not let a 15-year-old daughter take part in the same trip. However, Kirstie said she had travelled at the same age, adding that 'sexual assault is far more likely to come from someone you know than a stranger and boys are more likely to have a violent interaction with a stranger than girls'. There is no minimum age for teenagers to go Interrailing, although the European network says that it requires written consent for minors to travel without their parents. The Mail has approached Kirstie's representatives for comment. Joan Collins dazzled in a glamorous silver dress as she attended PR guru Massimo Gargia's 84th birthday in Saint-Tropez on Tuesday night. Italian promoter and PR guru Massimo often throws star-studded bashes and Joan and her husband Percy Gibson are usually in attendance. Joan, 91, looked sensational in the shimmering number which featured stylish cut-out arms and a plunging neckline as she posed at the Hotel de Paris. She added a touch more glamour with dangly silver earrings, a diamond necklace and a pop of red lip. Joan posed for another snap with husband Percy, 59, who looked smart in a white suit and black under T-shirt. Joan Collins dazzled in a glamorous silver dress as she attended PR guru Massimo Gargia's 84th birthday in Saint-Tropez on Tuesday night Italian promoter and PR guru Massimo often throws star-studded bashes and Joan and her husband Percy Gibson (left) are usually in attendance Joan was also seen posing with her rarely-seen brother Bill at one of the swanky dinner tables. Bill, a property developer who divides his time between the US and Britain looked smart in a dark grey jumper. Italian born Massimo is known for his jet-setting lifestyle and is well known among France's social elite. Joan and Percy tied the knot in 2002, the fifth time walking down the aisle for the star. It comes after last week Joan looked sensational in an all white outfit as she spent time with Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian in the south of France. Joan posted the series of photos to her Instagram and made sure to include a loved-up snap with her husband Percy. The Golden Globe award winner wore a chic white dress and accessorised with large dangling pear land gold earrings and a matching ring. In another photo Joan and her husband posed beside Elizabeth, 59 and her model son, 22. Joan, 91, looked sensational in the shimmering number which featured stylish cut-out arms and a plunging neckline as she posed at the Hotel de Paris with Percy Joan was also seen posing with her rarely-seen brother Bill at one of the very swanky dinner tables The model and actress captioned her snap: 'Hanging with the Hurleys, having a ha ha ha '. Fans rushed to the veteran actress's Instagram to remark on how youthful she looked with one writing: 'Best looking women in her 90s I've ever seen'. Another commented: 'Looking very bronzed and super glamorous'. And a third wrote: 'Even the stunning Liz can't outshine Joan'. Damian also took to the comments and left a string of black love heart emojis for the star. Elizabeth and Joan are firm friends and in May, she shared a video honoring the star on her 91st birthday. She captioned the montage full of adorable snaps of the pair over the years: 'Happy Birthday to the glorious ' Joan is both brilliant and beautiful in equal measures '. The wife of the country star thanked fans for their well wishes Country star Brad Paisley's wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley has thanked fans for the flood of well wishes and spoke out about her surgery recovery after she underwent a laryngeal nerve procedure to correct ongoing issues with her vocal cords. Kimberly has previously opened up about her health challenges as she admitted that she lost her voice nearly two years ago while on stage at her annual Alzheimer's fundraiser in Nashville. Just a few days ago, the 52-year-old Father Of The Bride actress revealed she underwent the lengthy surgery, which is said to take about five to nine hours, and made sure to let her fans know she was in good spirits following the procedure. After a successful surgery, the wife of the Remind Me hitmaker is now giving a special shoutout to her followers who stood by her side amid her health problems. She was all smiles as she took to social media to express her gratitude for 'all the love' she received from fans prior to her surgery. Country star Brad Paisley's wife Kimberly has thanked fans for the flood of well wishes as she detailed her health status after she underwent laryngeal nerve to correct ongoing issues In a post shared to Instagram, Kimberly looked as vibrant as ever as she donned a gorgeous blue sweater, a straw hat and a pair of black shades. The Hollywood heavyweight kept a scarf tied around her neck that covered up her scar. In the caption, she admitted that she was doing 'really well' and waxed lyrical about her followers. The actress said: 'Thank you so much for all the love and support following my last post. You reminded me of the power of authenticity, vulnerability and hope. I'm feeling validated and seen and ever more grateful. I read and responded to as many comments as I could and I'm still going! Thank you. I see you too. 'Recovery is on track and I'm feeling really good. With much love and gratitude, Kim.' Over the weekend, she posted a photo of herself in hospital after the procedure and her scar, which she had drawn over to look like a smiley face. The actress admitted that she has had a 'challenging' couple of years and her voice never fully returned throughout this time. 'It's been a challenging couple of years, but we finally got to the bottom of it. Kimberly Williams-Paisley has previously opened up about her health challenges as she admitted that she lost her voice nearly two years ago The 52-year-old Father Of The Bride actress underwent the lengthy surgery, which is said to take around five to nine hours 'I have damage to my laryngeal nerve. I tried everything I could to heal it (so thank you but please don't give me any tips!). I was finally able to have surgery this week,' the Nashville-based actress said. One 'bada** scar' along her neck later, Kimberly said she now sounded 'so much better.' 'I haven't wanted to share about this much until now because it felt too vulnerable. I took for granted my ability to "use my voice" before for my career, for a good cause, for a timely joke, for self-expression, for a loud dinner part,' she shared. 'Instead, I've been the quietest in the room. I've felt meek. New people I've met thought I was a shy or reserved person. I've felt trapped in my body.' Kimberly said she's undertaken 'all kinds of training,' and through bouts of 'shame and self-loathing' has been supported by friends, family and medical staff. The mother-of-one then detailed what went into her surgery, sharing that she was awake for the three-hour procedure to 'plump up my paralyzed vocal cord so it hits the other one.' Kimberly said she's undertaken 'all kinds of training,' and through bouts of 'shame and self-loathing' has been supported by friends, family and medical staff The actress and country star tied the knot in 2003 and have been enjoying many happy years since 'I watched a lot of it on a video screen above my head as it happened and all I can say is modern medicine is miraculous' Kimberly joked. Although she wasn't able to speak properly over the past two years, the actress said she's found her voice in other ways. 'I've healed old emotional wounds. I've learned the strength and beauty of silence. I've become a serious meditator. I'm deadlifting over a hundred pounds. I'm taking better care of my body. I'm managing stress. I'm dissolving shame. I'm feeling more whole, empowered and joyful,' she gushed. The actress and country star tied the knot in 2003 and have been enjoying many happy years since. He's been known to own some of the worlds most expensive restaurants in the world. And now Gordon Ramsay, 57, is bringing his reputation as a culinary star to the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he opens a pop-up restaurant that will cost 28,000 per head. Opening at the 2027 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ramsay is set to transform a F1 garage into 'Ramsays Garage.' Set to open during the race which takes place from November 21, Ramsay is said to be offering a 'new culinary experience'. Priced at 28,000 per person, guests will also have access to the paddock, 'pit lane walks' and 'guided track tours' along with the meal as they mingle with stars. Sources have said celebrities including Tom Cruise and Rihanna have been invited to cook alongside Ramsay. The chef also wanted James Corden to join his venture but he is busy with filming commitments for Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Gordon Ramsay, 57, is bringing his reputation as a culinary star to the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he opens a pop-up restaurant that will cost 28,000 per head (pictured in Las Vegas 2023) Opening at the 2027 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ramsay is set to transform a F1 garage into 'Ramsays Garage' (Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix practice in November 2023) One insider said: 'Gordon wants people like Tom and Rihanna, he wants big names and also those who like going to the Grand Prix. Rihanna went last year, so did Tom. The plan is that the A listers join him to make a course or too.' 'He is so, so excited.' The chef, who has been known to have a passion for the sport, will display three culinary themes throughout different nights and one night will be inspired by the UK, nicknamed the Cool Britania evening. The second night will be a pop-up of Chef Ramsays Lucky Cat restaurant, an Asian-inspired 'eating house' modelling itself after Tokyo drinking dens from the 1930s. Several 'surprise' guests are said to be expected and then on the Sunday Ramsay will serve up a traditional lunch. Speaking of the project Ramsay said: 'Im so thrilled to be bringing Ramsays Garage so close to the action of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.' 'Being a massive F1 fan, Ive seen firsthand how intertwined food and the sport is. 'So having been to so many races as a spectator, Ramsays Garage truly is a dream come true.' In 2006 Ramsays Royal Hospital Road restaurant in Chelsea was named one of the worlds most expensive restaurants by Forbes Magazine. Set to open during the race which takes place from November 21, Ramsay is said to be offering a 'new culinary experience' (pictured at Silverstone Circuit in July) Priced at 28,000 per person, guests will also have access to the paddock, 'pit lane walks' and 'guided track tours' along with the meal as they mingle with stars (pictured with his daughter Holly at Silverstone in July) The three Michelin-starred restaurant was found to cost $183 (98) per person for dinner with one glass of wine. And in 2022 he was asking for up to 1200 per guest for the restaurants set festive menu. Said to be worth 200 million, already has multiple restaurants in Vegas including Hells Kitchen in Ceasars Palace and Gordon Ramsays Steak House. As of January 2023, Gordon has 58 restaurants across a variety of names. Sources have said Hollywood icon Tom Cruise, 62, has been invited to cook alongside Ramsay (pictured in February) Rihanna has also reportedly been invited, one insider said: 'Gordon wants people like Tom and Rihanna, he wants big names and also those who like going to the Grand Prix' (pictured in June) One of the largest privately owned restaurant groups in the UK, Gordon has expanded his branches to the US, France, Dubai, Singapore and more. He owns two burger restaurants including Gordon Ramsay Burger, which is the go-to destination for burger lovers and offers markets across the globe both classic and innovative burger variations. Meanwhile, his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has held three Michelin stars for over two decades and both traditional and modern culinary techniques are employed to create elegant French cuisine. His Bread Street Kitchen restaurant also features a globally inspired menu of classic Gordon Ramsay dishes. Said to be worth 200 million, Gordon already has multiple restaurants in Vegas including Hells Kitchen in Ceasars Palace and Gordon Ramsays Steak House (pictured in 2017) As of January 2023, Gordon has 58 restaurants including his successful burger restaurant Gordon Ramsay Burger which offers markets across the globe both classic and innovative burger variations Restaurant 1890 pays tribute to culinary legend Georges Auguste Escoffier, The Savoy Hotels restaurant boasts a modern French menu with European influences. He also has a restaurant in Heathrow airport which opened in 2008 named Gordon Ramsay Plane Food, which has been delighting passengers' palates ever since with a delicious array of dishes, from Asian inspired noodles to burgers and breakfasts. Gordon also brought the charm of a Great British pub to the United States as he opened Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. It was revealed on Wednesday that Ramsay will star in a Netflix series, about being Gordon Ramsay, which will follow him over nine months in the lead up to his biggest restaurant venture to date: the opening of 5 culinary experiences in Londons 22 Bishopsgate. : ... Malin Andersson showed off her toned figure as she stripped down to lingerie for a new Instagram post on Wednesday. The Love Island star, 32, who shot to fame on the second season of the show in 2016, has become a vocal campaigner for body confidence, the dark side of fame and the problems with social media since moving into the limelight. And in her latest post she encouraged her followers to 'throw away the weighing scales'. She looked incredible in a sheer pink bra and orange lace briefs as she put on a confident display. Malin penned in the caption: 'THROW AWAY THE WEIGHING SCALES BECAUSE EACH TIME YOU STEP ON THEM YOU'RE TELLING YOURSELF YOU ARE UNLOVABLE AND NOT WORTHY OF YOUR OWN TRUST AND GUIDANCE WITHIN YOURSELF.' Malin Andersson showed off her toned figure as she stripped down to lingerie for a new Instagram post on Wednesday She looked incredible in a sheer pink bra and orange lace briefs as she put on a confident display She wore her brunette tresses in a choppy bob and opted for a glowing, natural makeup look. Malin has used her Instagram to document her journey and weight loss, showing her dedicated fitness regime and how it helps her both mentally and physically. Earlier this year she issued a stark warning to followers about the perils of surgery in an Instagram post. Having spoken previously about her regrets over surgery, in the new post shared with her followers she posed in sportswear while pulling down her shorts to show her stomach - which she branded 'lumpy and strange'. Malin explained that she had ventured to Turkey seven years ago to undergo the fat removal, however carrying both her daughters, Xaya, two, and Consy, who tragically passed away at just 30 days old in 2019, left her skin damaged. In an accompanying caption, she penned: 'When you get liposuction 7 years ago, have two babies but you still have lumpy strange skin on your stomach from it 'Just a little warning to anyone that's thinking of getting liposuction done, especially Turkey. This is 7 years on. YOU LIVE AND YOU LEARN. Or I would have never evolved. 'Funny how I've learnt to love every part of me through ALL of the pain. I just don't want anyone making the same mistakes I did.' Malin has used her Instagram to document her journey and weight loss, showing her dedicated fitness regime and how it helps her both mentally and physically (pictured before left and after right) Earlier this year she issued a stark warning to followers about the perils of surgery in an Instagram post The star shot to fame after appearing on Love Island all the way back in the second series in 2016 (pictured) She then posted in the comments section: 'Remember surgery is anyone's choice. But it doesn't fix anything INTERNAL. You heard it here first.' Malin has been very candid about her experiences with domestic violence and has campaigned for abuse survivors. Her former boyfriend Tom Kemp was jailed for 10 months in 2020, after admitting to an assault on her that left her 'black and blue' with a broken hand. He was the father of Malin's baby girl Consy, who tragically died with a heart defect in January 2019, just one month after being delivered at 33 weeks. The couple met in late 2017 and Malin has been open about the abuse and emotional torment she suffered while in the on/off relationship. Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible figure in a wetsuit in her latest fashion shoot this week. The Euphoria star, 26 who recently put on a busty display in a black corset took to Instagram to announce that she was the new 'Director of Dude' for Italian shoe brand, Hey Dude, in a joint post with the company on Wednesday. Teasing her identity, the star sat on a chair that read 'Director of Dude' while facing the ocean and suddenly turning around leaving fans stunned. The star flashed her toned legs and svelte frame as she took to the waves, rode through rough terrain and swung off a cliff. 'Hey dude, its Syd. And were just getting started,' she penned in the caption. Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible figure in a wetsuit in her latest fashion shoot this week She modeled the brand's slip on shoes as she went on the outdoor escapade. She shared: 'Being the Director of Dude is truly just embracing the power of being a woman, and being able to do absolutely anything I set my mind to, and showing others that you can do anything too if you just want to try it out. 'I tried wake surfing for the first time a couple weeks ago and it was super fun, I also like to build tree houses or go rock climbing,' the Anyone But You star added. Later on Wednesday, Sydney opened up to People about wanting to jump into the fashion world and support the brand she has 'obsessed with.' 'I've definitely noticed that the brand's really popular among young men. And I always gravitate towards brands that I want to bring to a younger female audience because I really think that this footwear is for everybody. Everybody should be comfortable and confident,' she told the outlet. She explained: 'Fashion is a really fun way of embracing different sides of yourself. Some days, I might feel very girly, some days, I might feel edgy. 'Others, I might feel like I want to be more laid-back. It's a way of being able to express those different sides of how I feel or who I am,' she said. Touching on her style she added, 'It's always going to change. That's what's so amazing, especially about being a woman, is being able to embrace all the different sides of ourselves, because we are so multifaceted and there's so much going on. I can never imagine being one thing for the rest of my life.' Showing off her adventurous side, the blonde siren took on ocean waves, rode through rough terrain and swung off a cliff 'Hey dude, its Syd. And were just getting started,' she penned in the caption She modeled the brand's slip on shoes as she went on the outdoor escapade She shared: 'Being the Director of Dude is truly just embracing the power of being a woman, and being able to do absolutely anything I set my mind to' Teasing the her identity, the star sat on a chair that read 'Director of Dude' while facing the ocean and suddenly turning around leaving fans stunned The actress explained that being a spokesperson for HeyDude inspires her to be confident in her identity and hopes it evokes the same emotion for fans Sydney put on a very cheeky display as she posed for a thirst trap during a scenic break this week After enjoying a break from work on a vacation in the Greek Isles and Paris, the actress will soon be getting back to work. Sweeney has several projects lined up. Eden, directed by Ron Howard and co-starring Ana de Armas, Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby, is scheduled to debut in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. The action adventure follows a group of people who turn their backs on society and move to the Galapagos Islands for a new start, but things don't go as planned. The story is based on the fact-based The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to Eden. The Emmy nominee has also revealed that she'll be returning to the set for production on the third season of Euphoria in 2025. Sweeney revealed in an interview with Cosmopolitan that there will be a time jump in the series to account for the break since production was completed on season two in November 2021. 'We did have a long time between season one and season two, but especially now with the time jump, its a new process for me,' she told the outlet. 'Im kind of just learning as I go and being open for whatevers to come. But Im also really excited. I love Cassie,' she said. 'She is always such a thrilling character to play, so Im really looking forward to whats gonna happen in her life.' Movie fans have gone nuts for Hugh Grant's seemingly unrecognizable transformation in the trailer for the upcoming horror film Heretic. British star Hugh Grant sported a buttoned-down shirt and sweater with large glasses while speaking with and later trapping two Mormon women in his home. The two women, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), were lured into the house by a seemingly friendly Mr. Reed in the new thriller. Many film buffs, who can watch Grant's spine-chilling performance in theaters on November 15, have said the actor is almost unrecognizable after switching from 'good guy' roles to playing the villain. 'Hugh Grant's turn to villainy over the past few years (at least in terms of the roles he's taken) has been very inspiring,' an X user wrote. Social media users were excited to see an 'unrecognizable' Hugh Grant in a June 25 trailer for the film Heretic Grant portrays Mr Reed - a seemingly friendly man who discusses religion with two Mormon women before trapping them in his house Grant captured filmgoers' hearts for his performances in films like Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Bridget Jones' Diary. However, his antagonistic roles have begun to surprise social media users. 'I wonder if he's just really good at it, or if it's something where our collective expectation of who his is on film makes his villain turns more eerie,' a Reddit user wrote in June. One of his villainous roles that Reddit and X users mentioned was of Forge Fitzwilliam - a con artist in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Now, in the words of an X user, Grant is 'parlaying his foppish rom com charm and channeling it into devious maniacs.' Grant's character, Mr Reed, requests two Mormon women Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) to choose an exit based on their faith Fans have described their excitement for the upcoming movie starring Hugh Grant Various X users showed interest in the film due to Grant's decision to take on more antagonist roles. 'This looks interesting and promising. Have Hugh Grant as the antagonist in a horror film is great,' an X user tweeted. Another person referred to his appearance as a man in 'his grumpy era on steroids,' and an X user wrote that he 'made the face' in the film trailer. 'This gives me H.H. Holmes vibes - the serial killer that created the murder castle, like a play on that story but modern take,' a person tweeted. I know it hasnt come out yet but whoever Hugh Grant plays in the Heretic movie. pic.twitter.com/IHimBRPof1 Hannah V. (@hanthegrand) July 28, 2024 X users have been praising Hugh Grant's decision to take on more antagonistic roles, and one person called his character a 'monster' Reddit users were also impressed with Grant's antagonist performance. 'This sounds fantastic. I'm sure Hugh Grant will play a total nutter,' a Reddit user wrote in a June post. Another person wrote: 'I think he's having a great time playing villains, and he's doing it brilliantly.' Others have begun making predictions on what will happen to Grant's character, and if movie viewers would see his so-called wife. 'It would have been interesting if they thought he had sinister motives the entire movie and at the end his wife comes out with blueberry pie and he was telling the truth the whole time,' wrote a Reddit user. 'From what they show in the trailer this is not the case, still looks interesting.' Various Reddit users have mainly praised his portrayal of the Heretic antagonist rather than his appearance Over 12.5 million YouTubers watched the Heretic trailer that was released by A24 on June 25. At least YouTubers believe it will be 'fun' to watch Grant's portrayal, while others were stunned to see just how evil the actor can be in a film. 'I never realized that Hugh Grant would make a great psycho killer,' wrote one person. Another person wrote: 'I love the awkward face he pulls when he says "It may even make you want to die." Classic Hugh Grant.' Rachel Riley had her 'Marilyn moment' as she was caught off-guard by the wind while leaving the Countdown studio. The 38-year-old presenter got a shock on Wednesday as she left the quiz show's studios in Manchester. Rachel was surprised by a gust of wind as she made her exit, with her short blonde locks flying across her face. She was donning a figure-hugging red halterneck dress when she was snapped, paired with a cream cardigan. Rachel finished off her look with a pair of chunky gold sandals and huge hoop earrings, as well as an elegant bracelet. Rachel Riley had her 'Marilyn moment' as she was caught off-guard by the wind while leaving the Countdown studio in Manchester on Wednesday The TV personality was slammed earlier this year for her 'embarrassing' and 'pathetic' apology after being accused of 'racism' and 'Islamophobia' for her tweet about the Sydney mall massacre. She then faced calls to be sacked from Channel 4 amid claims she appeared to falsely compare Saturday's horror attack in Australia to Islamist terrorism. The bloody rampage was carried out by English tutor Joel Cauchi, 40, from Queensland, who police said had been suffering from mental health issues. It had no link to terrorism, authorities confirmed. In her now-deleted tweet, Riley appeared to link the violence, in which six people were killed before Cauchi was shot dead by police, to the 'globalised Infitada' movement - before later insisting her comments had been 'misunderstood'. 'Globalize the Intifada' is a term often used by pro-Palestinian activists that calls for aggressive resistance against Israel and those who support the country - and has been linked to wide-spread demonstration and protests in London. Riley - who is Jewish and has been vocal on her support of Israel amid the war on Gaza - has since released a grovelling apology on X in which she said she was 'sorry' if her message had been 'misunderstood'. But she faced furious backlash on social media over her 'pathetic defence' of the post, with one person declaring: 'Its getting embarrassing at this point. @channel4 sack this woman and put her out of her misery please.' The 38-year-old presenter got a shock on Wednesday as she left the quiz show's studios in Manchester Rachel was surprised by a gust of wind as she made her exit, with her short blonde locks flying across her face Rachel recently apologised after being accused of Islamophobia following her tweet about the Sydney mall massacre 'Just to clarify, my intention with this tweet was not to say this attack was caused by any ideation or to link it to Islamic extremism,' the presenter wrote. Her apology came after she sparked mass outrage on X and was accused of writing a racist statement about the Sydney stabbing. In the now-deleted tweet, Riley wrote: 'For 6 months now, people have been out on our streets proudly calling for the 'Intifada Revolution. 'If you want to know what "Globalised Intifada" looks like, see the Sydney Mall. In her apology, Riley said her message had been 'misunderstood' and that this was 'not my intention' Riley's apology came after she sparked mass outrage on X and was accused of writing a racist statement about the Sydney stabbing (she is pictured on Countdown) '5 victims stabbed to death and 8 transferred to hospital, including a baby, due to one man and a knife. 'In the second intifada over 1,000 Israelis were murdered in restaurants, on buses and in the streets by suicide bombings, stabbings, stoning, lynching, shooting rockets. The youngest victim was just 9 hours old. 'Sydney mall, multiple times over is what they've been proudly calling for.' Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice had some fun with trolls on Wednesday. The TV star reposted a photo of herself in an event ad with the tag saying, 'Haters will say it's fake.' The ad was indeed incredibly fake as it had an arm missing; the image of her in a plunging gold swimsuit was Photoshopped onto a sandy beach with a big blue chair. It also was the same photo that Teresa used to wish Larsa Pippen a happy 50th birthday in a Photoshopped beach snap. She was busted for the fake photo and it became a popular meme, but Giudice good-naturedly laughed it off. This comes after the TV star was slammed for Photoshopping her ivory bikini images while in Greece with husband Luis Ruelas. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice had some fun with trolls on Wednesday. The TV star reposted a photo of herself in an event ad with the tag saying, 'Haters will say it's fake' It also was the same photo that Teresa used to wish Larsa Pippen a happy 50th birthday in a Photoshopped beach snap She was busted for the fake photo and it became a popular meme, but Giudice good-naturedly laughed it off The event Teresa was promoting was a party at Caddy's on Saturday in Treasure Island, Florida. She will be there in person to greet fans. Tickets are $50 for a meet and greet and $75 for a VIP Beach bash ticket. 'Teresa Giudice will be at Caddys Treasure Island Saturday, 8/24 from 12-3PM! ,' it said on the Caddy Instagram page. 'Teresas throwing the ultimate beach bash - meet & greets, VIP cabanas, music, food, and drinks! If you dont want to party, you can dine at Caddys and still do a meet & greet. 'Will we see you there? Click the link in bio for tickets!' Last month Teresa wrote on Instagram: 'I cant come to Tampa Bay and not have a BEACH BASH! 'Come to Caddys Treasure Island on August 24 12-3P and party with us! Meet & Greet, VIP Cabanas, Music, Food, Drinks! If you dont want to party you can also just dine at Caddys and still do a meet & greet! Cant wait! Love love love you guys.' She then noted there will be $9 Patron Silver Margs (Traditional, Flavored, or Signature Pineapple Jalapeno). Before the gold swimsuit snap was posted, Teresa could be seen in a bikini in an ad for the same event. That image was cut and pasted in as well In July she was accused of Photoshopping her bikini images while in Mykonos, Greece. The wife of Luis Ruelas was told she was so heavily airbrushed while in a colorful bikini that she looked like her teen daughter Milania. Trolls were at it again as the TV star was seen in a bikini from Luxsea Swimwear with a scarf on her head and big sunglasses on. Follower Shonta Haayes asked in the comments section, 'Why is the railing bent?' Indeed the railing did look bent but it was hard to tell if that is the way it was built or if that was the way the wood had aged, or if Teresa had used editing tools that caused that bend. A follower named MostlyBravo added a crazy face emoji as she wrote, 'The bend in the railing.' Another pulled up her sister in law Melissa Gorga's name saying she resembled her costar: 'Trying to look like Melissa.' Most of the comments, however, raved about how great the reality TV siren looked in her little beige and ivory swimsuit Giudice was accused of Photoshopping her bikini images while in Mykonos, Greece Indeed the railing did look bent but it is hard to tell if that is the way it was built or if that was the way the wood had aged, or if Teresa had used editing tools that caused that bend The cookbook author - who has four children with ex-husband Joe Giudice - certainly looked sensational in her colorful bikini the day before. But the 52-year-old reality star must have used a strong filter as at first glance it did not look like her. There was not one wrinkle, stretch mark or pimple in sight as the Bravo star was flawless from head to toe. One follower made a one word statement: 'Photoshop.' Some Instagram followers did not believe it was her. 'Wow I thought it was Milania at first! Can I have your body, dammit?!' said one follower. Milania is Teresa's 18-year-old daughter. She also is mom to Gia, 23, Gabriella, 19, and Audriana, 14. Another follower compared her to a Real Housewives Of Atlanta veteran: 'Shes turning into Kim Zolciak.' She has been with her 49-year-old husband Ruelas in Mykonos for several days. There were no bent railings in this image of Teresa with Luis on a boat Teresa posted this image where she had on a green bikini and Luis wore an Alo cap She tied the knot with Luis Ruelas in 2022 and upon their anniversary admitted that it has all been 'very easy' for them.' She told E! News: 'He's amazing. He's great. I guess when you're in love it's very easy. And you just got to respect each other and always stay in your love bubble.' Teresa and her ex-husband Joe have daughters Gia, 23, Gabriella, 19, Milania, 17, and 14-year-old Audriana. They separated long before then after they pleaded guilty to financial fraud in 2014. Zoe Kravitz says she wants to continue her professional relationship with fiance Channing Tatum following the completion of their thriller Blink Twice. The 35-year-old actress who made her directorial debut with the film began dating Tatum, 44, in 2022 as they were creating the upcoming feature. They got engaged last year, and Kravitz, 35, shared with People, 'Art is our love language. I think it's what we love, and we love talking about it, and experiencing it, and supporting each other.' She added that watching her future husband play a villain a role that she co-wrote was 'awesome.' In Blink, Channing portrays charming tech billionaire Slater King, who invites two women (Naomi Ackie and Alia Shawkat) to his private island with ulterior motives. Zoe Kravitz says she wants to continue her professional relationship with fiance Channing Tatum following the completion of their thriller Blink Twice ; pictured in September 2023 The 35-year-old actress - who made her directorial debut with Blink Twice - began dating Tatum, 44, in 2022 as they were creating the upcoming feature; pictured August 19 Zoe explained, 'It was awesome because he was doing such a good job, and as an actor, I'm like, "This is delicious stuff that he's never gotten a chance to do." 'And also, he's doing this part because he's an ally. He wants to tell this story.' She added, 'Its the ultimate support to look horrible so that he can serve the story.' The Batman star described how she leaned on her fiance during the process of shooting their movie. 'After the first day of filming, I was just like, "Oh, my God. I don't know what I've gotten myself into." 'And then the edit process was very long, and the movie did not work for a very long time,' she shared. The High Fidelity actress elaborated: 'It was like this cycle. There'd be good days, and bad days, and [Channing] just kind of had to be like, "Which version of Zoe is walking into the house today? Is she excited, or is she a puddle?"' The Magic Mike sensation echoed Kravitz's 'love language' sentiment during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The couple got engaged in 2023. Kravitz, 35, shared with People, 'Art is our love language' The duo pictured at the London premiere of their new movie on August 19 Zoe and Channing recently attended a Taylor Swift concert in London 'Creating is our love language. We really just enjoy that. I didn't have any fear going into making a movie with somebody who's the love of [my] life,' he said. Zoe recently told Access that completing the project felt 'surreal.' 'I started writing this seven years ago, so to be here now is kind of surreal,' she noted. The Hollywood fixture, whose parents are rockstar Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, added: 'I feel like, when you stick with something that long, it means that you really care for it and you really believe in it. So Im really proud of what weve made.' On July 23 she took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes look at her time on set with her 7.7 million followers. 'ONE MONTH TILL #BLINKTWICE. IN THEATERS AUGUST 23,' she wrote. Coldplay dedicated a song to Swifties during their Vienna gig on Wednesday night. Taylor Swift was forced to cancel her three gigs in the Austrian city this month after it emerged ISIS had planned to target her fans. And Chris Martin was keen to do his bit to cheer up any Taylor fans in the audience for his gig, belting out the pop icon's classic track Love Story. Joining forces with their support act on tour Maggie Rogers, the band delighted fans with the acoustic rendition. But a nervous Chris joked that he hoped the cover would be good enough for Taylor, telling the crowd before he began: Coldplay dedicated a song to Swifties during their Vienna gig on Wednesday night Taylor Swift was forced to cancel her three gigs in the Austrian city this month after it emerged ISIS had planned to target her fans Chris: "If this is not good please please don't put it on YouTube because I don't want to get in trouble with Taylor" Chris singing Love Story with Maggie Rogers at #ColdplayVienna dedicating it to all the swifties of the recently canceled Vienna concert. pic.twitter.com/R54KmybYYa Neil (@neilenore) August 21, 2024 'If this is not good, please, please don't put it on YouTube because I don't want to get in trouble with Taylor. If you can sing with us that would be wonderful.' It has been a difficult time for Taylor who was forced to cancel her Vienna concerts due to a foiled terror plot, shortly after three young girls were murdered at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside. Taylor was due to perform in front of an estimated 170,000 fans on August 8, 9, and 10 at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion, which was set to be reinforced with more security measures before the three shows were cancelled. 'Taylor has been devastated by this. She is devastated for the fans who have been waiting for years to see her,' an insider told The Mirror, in the first indication of Swift's reaction following the news. 'But the thought of what could have happened if the concerts had been targeted by a terror attack is horrifying, and she would never risk the safety of her fans. 'The memory of what happened at Ariana Grande's concert in Manchester is still very vivid in everyone's minds. But she has told her team that she wants to try to return to Vienna as soon as possible in the future. She is very conscious of how disappointed her fans in Austria are.' Chris Martin was keen to do his bit to cheer up any Taylor fans in the audience for his gig, belting out the pop icon's classic track Love Story. | Chris Martin of @coldplay performs "Love Story" in Vienna pic.twitter.com/8k4dyCTxMh Taylor Swift Updates (@swifferupdates) August 21, 2024 Joining forces with their support act on tour Maggie Rogers, the band delighted fans with the acoustic rendition The hitmaker has not made any public statements since the alleged plot was uncovered. Taylor was back on stage this week though, rounding up the European leg of her Eras tour with another string of dates at London's Wembley arena. The star delighted sold out crowds as she performed with friends Ed Sheeran and Florence Welch during the live dates and made history, becoming the first solo artist to perform eight dates at Wembley in a single tour, The Danish partygoer who Tommy Fury reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split from Molly-Mae Hague has spoken out. Boxer Tommy, 25, jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub, leading Molly-Mae to announce their split last week after five years together. Onlookers have claimed the boxer 'didn't seem to care' who saw him brazenly kiss the blonde as he downed vodka and partied at a nightclub at 2am. Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman.' Danish partygoer Milla Corfixen who Tommy Fury reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split from Molly-Mae Hague has spoken out Boxer Tommy, 25, jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub, leading Molly-Mae to announce their split last week after five years together (stock image) Speaking to The Sun, Milla said she was shocked when she found out about Tommy and Molly-Mae's split and insisted she will try and talk to the Influencer to share her side of the story. Milla has revealed she has a boyfriend, while Tommy has previously denied he has cheated on Molly. 'I am the girl but nothing happened. We just had fun,' she has explained. 'I dont know what hes been doing but someone else must have kissed him.' Danish Milla spends her summers in Ohrid where she has family, and is said to be regular on the party scene in the region. She revealed that she partied with Tommy and his friends on three separate occasions during the boxer's holiday after meeting him through members of his security team, who she is friends with. She recommended night spots and beach clubs for the group to party at and later saw them at Latin bar Cuba Libre. 'They invited us to his table and we had fun and that's it. We did not do anything. I would never have done anything with a married man, as he's basically married, with a little child.' Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman' Speaking to The Sun Milla said she was shocked when she found out about Tommy and Molly-Mae's split and insisted she will try and talk to the Influencer to share her side of the story (pictured with their daughter Bambi) Tommy posed for snaps with fans during his lads holiday in North Macedonia, before it was claimed he cheated on his fiancee Molly-Mae Hague during a night out She also saw Tommy on his last night of the trip at Omnia club, but she explained: 'We were at the same places but we were not together, although at Cuba Libre we were close. He didn't flirt with me, he was just being friendly.' Just hours after Milla spoke out, Tommy was also accused of 'sending messages to another woman after spotting her on a night out in Manchester', while he and Molly-Mae were engaged. A woman called Kay Keogh has shared that while the pair were still together, Tommy sent her a direct message after they met on a night out - and she says she has proof. Kay took to TikTok to share a screenshot of a message from an account which was allegedly Tommy's, which read: 'Are you in Manchester?' 'I was thinking about whether I should make this video or not, but I am going to,' she said. 'So, me and my friends were out in Manchester and we actually met him [Tommy] one night. 'Basically, we were on a night out with a group of guys and I didn't really put two and two together of who he really was. 'One of the guys asked for my Instagram, which I gave to him. We were all together, but basically after looking at my phone and seeing his name pop up, that's when I realised who he was. 'Obviously, after I saw his name pop up I was thinking 'What the hell'. Then I obviously realised who he was, but I literally have DMs and I don't know whether I should put them out or not.' In a second video, Kay added: 'So this is part two of the Tommy situation, my friend was there so she is going to explain what happened as well.' Just hours after Milla spoke out, Tommy was also accused of 'sending messages to another woman after spotting her on a night out in Manchester' Her friend then said: 'I am not from the UK so I did not recognise him until we looked at the DM and obviously we were on his page.' It comes after it was reported that devastated Molly-Mae is 'bracing herself' for more girls to come forward with claims that Tommy 'cheated on her' following their shock split. Molly-Mae is convinced more women will speak up and claim 'Tommy cheated on her with them'. 'Molly-Mae isn't just worried about it, she's expecting it,' a source told The Sun. 'She thinks girls will come forward and claim Tommy cheated with them. She's devastated.' MailOnline have contacted Molly-Mae and Tommy's representatives for a comment. On Tuesday, the influencer broke her social media silence after announcing her shock split from Tommy last week. Returning to Instagram on Tuesday Molly-Mae commented on elder sister Zoe's latest honeymoon snaps saying: 'Stunning pics'. Tommy, who shares daughter Bambi, 20 months, with the former Love Island star, has denied any cheating claims and has said he is 'horrified' by the 'false allegations'. Amid the drama, Molly-Mae has been supported by her friends and loved ones, who have been rallying around her at her 3.5million Cheshire mansion. Molly-Mae was also said to have been growing tired of Tommy 'gallivanting around the world while she was looking after their child', it has been revealed. In recent months Tommy has travelled to Germany, Hungary, Dubai and North Macedonia. Friends of the couple say the split was a 'long time coming' as Molly-Mae grew tired of his lifestyle while she looked after Bambi, The Mirror revealed on Sunday. A source said: 'Problems had been growing for a while. Increasingly, it seemed like they were living two very different lifestyles.' On August 7, just seven days before their split, Molly-Mae posted a YouTube video in which she said she had been 'struggling' and 'solo parenting' Bambi. In a candid video posted on social media the Love Island star said she had spent weeks looking after their daughter Bambi on her own while her fiance was working elsewhere. In recent weeks friends have revealed the couple had gone through a rocky patch and have been leading increasingly separate lives with cracks showing in their normally tight-knit relationship on social media. In the clip, Molly-Mae explained Tommy had been predominantly absent from their family home while he was recording his audiobook. She said: 'Actually I've been solo parenting for like, two weeks now, basically because Tommy's just been so busy. 'When he's home from doing work and stuff, he's so incredible and so helpful. I can't say any different, like, he's such an incredible dad, but I have been this week, like, just really mum life has been mum lifing.' Since the pair's split Molly has been pushing aside her feelings in order to prioritise daughter Bambi's wellbeing. Molly-Mae's Instagram post in which she says she is 'extremely upset to announce that mine and Tommy's relationship has come to an end' Tommy shared a separate post in which he asks his followers to 'respect our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time' For his part, Tommy has denied the claims, saying he is 'horrified' by the 'false allegations'. Yet MailOnline understands that the reality star is paying it no attention to all the drama and has been pushing her thoughts and feelings about Tommy aside to focus on her 20-month-old daughter. Amid the drama, Molly-Mae has been supported by her friends and loved ones, who have been rallying around her at her 3.5million Cheshire mansion. On Monday, the star was visited by fellow influencer Tay Blue, who kept a low-profile in all-black. The pair then headed out for a drive wearing oversized sunglasses. Delivery men were also seen dropping off giant boxes of flowers and extravagant bouquets, no doubt sent by sympathetic loved ones. A source previously told the Mail: 'She's put on a brave face and everyone is telling her she will be a strong single mum.' Meanwhile Tommy was seen returning to the pair's house on Saturday for a very brief 55 minutes. Molly shielded her eyes behind huge shades when she left the property shortly after the boxer in her Mercedes-AMG G 63 Magno Edition. A source previously told the Mail: 'She's put on a brave face and everyone is telling her she will be a strong single mum' Tommy looked equally despondent as he pulled into the drive way of the house in his 180,000 Mercedes G Wagon at 2:25PM before leaving shortly after at 3:20PM. Friends of Molly-Mae have since told The Mail her decision was not made in haste and that she is resolute. No one was as shocked as Tommy himself who his team insists is 'gutted and will fight to get them back'. Fans were left bewildered after Molly-Mae announced her split from the boxer on Wednesday after five years together - saying in a statement that she 'never thought our story would end this way'. She has been seen clearing out their home, with a skip pictured on the drive way this weekend. According to representatives it has been there 'a while.' The Love Island star ordered boxer Tommy out of their lavish Cheshire pad after discovering he had cheated 'multiple times'. Neighbours on the exclusive street revealed how Tommy was told to leave as distraught Molly-Mae called time on their five-year romance. One neighbour told MailOnline: 'You don't see him very often, he comes and goes a lot. But I heard that Molly has thrown him out of the house in the last week or so and he's not living there anymore.' As Alaska Air and Hawaiian Airlines get one step closer to merging with one another, one expert is warning that flights may get even more expensive. News broke Tuesday that the US Department of Justice will not mount an antitrust challenge to the $1.9 billion deal that would see Alaska Air take over Hawaiian and its $900 million of debt. Alaska Air and Hawaiian have both claimed that the proposed acquisition, which would preserve both airline brands, will expand benefits and the number of nonstop routes available for passengers, especially those residing in Hawaii. Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for flight aggregator site Going.com, said Alaska Air's acquisition could also lead to less budget flights overall. A 'merger between two airlines - whose route maps have a portion of flights that overlap would result not in more cheap flights for consumers but, to some extent, fewer,' Nastro told Fox Business. Alaska Air and Hawaiian Airlines have nudged one step closer to merging with one another now that the Department of Justice has declined to challenge it. Experts have mixed opinions on how this will affect airfare prices in the future She added that the failed JetBlue-Spirit merger would have been far more disruptive to the overall market. 'If the Justice Department allowed JetBlue and Spirit to merge, there would be one fewer ultra-low-cost carrier helping to pull down prices,' Nastro said. And a judge agreed, issuing a ruling in March that said the $3.8 billion deal violated antitrust law and would drive up fares. It's not entirely clear why the DOJ, which has shown an extreme willingness to challenge supposed monopolies, declined the opportunity to block the Alaska-Hawaiian deal. Especially because if Alaska and Hawaiian were to combine - a prospect that's increasingly likely - they'd make up 8.4 percent of the total domestic market share based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That's not too far off from the 10 percent JetBlue and Spirit would have controlled if they had merged. While Clint Henderson, the managing editor of The Points Guy, was surprised that the DOJ let the review period of the Alaska-Hawaiian deal to lapse, he was keen to explain how this merger isn't likely to be 'as anticompetitive as a merger between larger players.' 'In this case, while both airlines are large in the market between Hawaii and the mainland, there is still a lot of competition in the market including from Southwest, Delta, American and United,' Henderson told Fox Business. Henderson also believes this won't have any major impacts on prices. 'Alaska also has no flights between Hawaiian islands, so that is not a competitive threat. Its mostly Southwest and Hawaiian that operate interisland flights,' he said. The biggest winners in the merger would be Hawaiian frequent flyers, whose accumulated miles would become a lot more valuable since Alaska Air is part of the premium Oneworld airline alliance. Hawaiian customers would be able to transfer their miles to luxury partners such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qatar Airways. The Alaska-Hawaiian deal still needs to be approved by the Department of Transportation, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both Alaska Air and Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, have been working with the DOT to iron out lingering issues, the filings said. Ford has abruptly cancelled plans to produce a three-row electric SUV, and has delayed building a new EV plant in Tennessee. The pullback marks a major shift for the car company, amid slowing demand for electric cars. Axing the electric SUV and pulling back on its new plant plans could cost the carmaker around $1.9 billion. The manufacturer will also drop its spending on EVs to 30 percent of its annual investment, down from 40 percent. Ford will now focus on developing hybrid and more affordable models, the company said on Wednesday. Ford has bet big on electric vehicles but expects to make loses of $5.5 billion this year The now-delayed plant in Tennessee, which is still under construction, is meant to be producing a next-gen full-size electric pick-up. Ford already expects to lose $5.5 billion from its EV unit this year alone. 'This is a tremendous pivot for us, and we're not going to make a tremendous pivot without doing a lot of homework to convince ourselves this is the exact right plan,' CEO Jim Farley said of the shift. 'I'm very confident,' he added. Ford said shifting its EV strategy, including rethinking its battery-sourcing, is in part due to the need to compete with lower-cost Chinese options. 'An affordable electric vehicle starts with an affordable battery,' Farley said. 'If you are not competitive on battery cost, you are not competitive.' Despite the pullback Ford's EV business continues to grow, with its Ford F-150 Lightning the best-selling electric truck in the country. Yet Americans are increasingly put-off by the cost of EVs, concerned by their battery range and increasingly interested in hybrid models. By focusing more on hybrids, longer ranges more affordable vehicles Ford is aiming to assuage these concerns and meet customers where they are. 'We learned a lot as the No. 2 U.S. electric vehicle brand about what customers want and value, and what it takes to match the best in the world with cost-efficient design, and we have built a plan that gives our customers maximum choice and plays to our strengths,' Farley explained. Ford said it was focusing more on hybrid vehicles, which have become increasingly popular 'This is a tremendous pivot for us, and we're not going to make a tremendous pivot without doing a lot of homework to convince ourselves this is the exact right plan,' CEO Jim Farley said of the shift It comes after electric car maker Tesla reported last month its profits dropped 45 percent in the second quarter of the year, as Americans' demand for electric vehicles slows. In the face of falling interest in EVs, Elon Musk's company had been forced to offer discounts and cut prices to lure in buyers - piling pressure on profit margins. The electric car manufacturer also had a significant number of unsold vehicles on its books at the end of the first quarter of the year. The company's global deliveries fell 6.5 percent in the first half of the year as American's demand for EVs has continued to soften. However, Tesla said it was on track to roll out a cheaper EV, said to cost around $25,000, by early 2025 - which analysts say will boost sales. LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA The likelihood of reduced choice for decorative coatings in the COMESA member States of Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe has been prevented by the intervention of the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC). This reduced choice for consumers would have come with the Akzo Nobel NV proposed acquisition of the Decorative Coatings Business of Kansal Plascon East Africa Proprietary Limited and Kansai Plascon Africa Limited in Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Willard Mwemba, this was the first merger which was prohibited by the CCC and it was prohibited in three COMESA member States; Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Dr Mwemba was addressing members of the media from the different COMESA member States gathered at Livingstone, Zambia for their 8th Business Reporters Workshop. The workshop started on Monday and yesterday, the commission held a press conference to highlight some of its work and achievements for the past year. Producer It is worth noting that Akzo Nobel NV is a paint producer of which their popular brand in Eswatini is the Dulux Paint, while Kansai Plascon is also another paint producer of the popular Plascon paint. Both brands are sold countrywide. The merger was notified to the CCC in 2022. It involved merging parties who were active in the manufacture and supply of decorative and industrial coatings in the Common Market. It was noted from the analysis that the merging parties were each others closest competitors in terms of price and quality, and that the merger would substantially lessen competition in the common market. It is important to state at this point that, competition regulators seek to ensure where a proposed merger raises competition concerns, those concerns should not outweigh the procompetitive effects and public interest considerations envisaged in that market. In this present merger, which the CCC prohibited, the following concerns were noted. Strengthening According to the CEO, the merger would have resulted in the creation and/or strengthening of market power in the broad market for decorative coatings.Dr Mwemba said the popularity of the brands of the merging parties and their perceived quality level would have led to no effective substitutes to whom customers and or retailers could reasonably turn to if the merged entity were to engage in abusive conduct.He said the merging entities proposed remedies to these competition concerns, which were observed in Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, the remedies were not (in the CCCs view) sufficient to address the competition concerns and hence the prohibition. The Competition Commission of South Africa also had an opportunity to review the merger, on aspects affecting the South Africa jurisdiction, and they too observed similar concerns as noted by the CCC, thus resulting in a prohibition in that country. Another intervention by the CCC in 2023 was involving Heineken/Distell/ Namibia Breweries Merger. Transaction This merger transaction was notified to the CCC in July 2022. It involved the increase of shareholdings by Heineken in Namibia Breweries and acquisition of Distells flavoured alcoholic beverages, wine and spirits businesses. The CCC noted that the three parties to the merger were all active in the production and distribution of various types of alcoholic beverages and some non-alcoholic beverages within the common market of the COMESA Region. There were various competition concerns identified by the CCC with respect to this transaction in particular COMESA member States, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was noted that Heineken and Distell were the only two significant suppliers of ciders at the time of the consideration of the merger, thus this merger could lead to monopolisation of the ciders market in Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was also particularly noted as follows: In Eswatini, the merging parties were effective rivals in the ciders markets and thus the transaction could result in eliminating all effective competition. Alternative In Zambia and Zimbabwe, it was noted that Heinekens brand accounted for a relatively small share of the market, however, its presence on the market offered an alternative choice to consumers of the Distell brands. In his address, Dr Mwemba said the CCC, having taken note of the competition concerns, issued a conditional approval of the merger to ensure that competition is maintained in the market, in light of the merger. Competition authorities usually issue conditions in transactions where they note competition concerns. However, these concerns can be managed.Thus, the adjudicative arm of the CCC, the Committee Responsible for Initial Determination, issued conditions of divestiture, being the first substantial divestiture to be imposed by the CCC, and behavioural remedies (which included the restriction on bundling of beer and cider brands) and requiring an objective criterion in appointment of distributors. The divestiture involved the selection of Cider House Investments Proprietary Limited (CHI) as the buyer for Heinekens Strongbow business in Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in December 2023. CHI is a partnership between Signal Hill Products Holdings Proprietary Limited and Livor Investments Proprietary Limited. An extensive assessment was carried out by the CCC to ensure that the terms and conditions of the Trademark Licence Agreement would not affect the ability of CHI to manufacture and distribute Strongbow as an independent competitive brand in the affected member States and thus, its ability to establish and effectively compete in the common market. Agreement Furthermore, the parties committed to amending the Trademark Licence Agreement to make it clear that any restrictions on passive sales referred to in their agreement shall not be applicable in any part of the COMESA. Another intervention reported was the COMESA Competition Commission imposing fine on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and beIN Media Group LLC for Breach of the COMESA Competition Regulations. CAF is the governing body of football in Africa and has 54 member associations, which includes the national football associations of the African countries. It has exclusive rights to organise a number of competitions in Africa. Africa Cup of Nations is one such competition. India is a high-performing market for Adobe in Asia-Pacific region and among the fastest-growing globally, Adobe India Vice-President and Managing Director, Prativa Mohapatra has said, adding that momentum on productivity, creativity and personalisation are driving digital opportunities across new sectors. In an interview to PTI, Mohapatra said India is a big innovation hub and a great market for Adobe. Adobe in India is a microcosm of Adobe as a whole... Today we have research, we have products and the market... And it is the second-largest base for Adobe, beyond the US, Mohapatra said, asserting that the companys focus on talent and infrastructure investments in the country, continue. Describing Artificial Intelligence as very transformative technology, she said the company is of the firm belief that AI has to be responsible. Technologies that are transformative have to be really dealt with very responsibly, Mohapatra said, pointing out that the company operates within AI-ethics framework of accountability, responsibility, and transparency. The power of digital has turned every business into a technology business irrespective of the sector they operate in, she further said. We as Adobe, and India in particular, are in space where we are focused on productivity, creativity and experience, and that is where the opportunity lies. The opportunity is how do we make everyone creative, how do we bring productivity across business and people, and how do we upgrade personalised experiences for every customer, Mohapatra said. Businesses are experiencing AI-driven experiential growth, and new age technologies are set to unleash the power of personalisation. In terms of evolution, the era of experience... Personalisation is here, she said. For three consecutive years now, India has been the best-performing market in the Asia Pacific region for Adobe India and one of the fastest-growing markets globally, she said. So that is really a great place to be in, and demand continues to be across sectors. A couple of years back, the demand was in sectors like banking and financial services, and in travel and transportation... These consumer-driven industries were early adopters of our technology... The good news is that B2B sectors are now adopting digital... Growth is expanding and we are unlocking new sectors, she said. The governments sharp focus on technology and digitisation have also opened up opportunities in areas such as citizen services and e-governance. I am sure that with all the focus that the government has on technology, there will be lot of opportunities in that space in reaching out to citizens, bringing e-governance and productivity at scale, Mohapatra said. Organisations have started acknowledging the power of digital in driving business momentum, she said. We are tracking where can digital use cases become real... New ways of digital use are emerging, say, in how you buy your new car, or how you experience a new washing machine, she said. Smaller cities and towns are offering massive runway for growth. Tier 2-3 cities are emerging as growth drivers, as tech companies are going into these markets. Also, there are skills available in smaller cities, and accordingly a lot of growth potential. Even the government is talking about skill-building and that is another big positive we are seeing in the market. At the same time policy frameworks are getting more and more user-friendly, and organisation-friendly, Mohapatra said on the business drivers. Government's decision to grant a 20 per cent premium on natural gas from the state owned new wells has added complexity to the gas pricing regime The decision of the Union Government to grant a 20 per cent premium over the APM price (a jargon for administered or controlled price) for any natural gas (NG) that state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) will produce from the new wells or well interventions from their nominated fields has made the NG pricing more complicated. It is an outcome of a thought process that focuses on unshackling the oil and gas industry from price controls to start with but ends up exercising more controls. Every year, India consumes 59.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of NG. Of this, nearly 54 per cent or 32.13 bcm is produced domestically, and the balance is met from imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Of the domestic gas, around two-thirds is from blocks given on nomination to ONGC and OIL and from fields given under the New Exploration and Licensing Policy (NELP) (launched in 1999) as well as those given to private firms before the NELP. NG supplies from the aforementioned fields (known in common parlance as legacy fields) are governed by a particular pricing regime. Before April 2023, under the pricing guidelines effective since November 2014, supplies from these fields used to be a weighted average (WA) of prices of NG at four international locations: Henry Hub (the USA), Alberta Gas (Canada), NBP (National Balancing Point) (the UK), and Russian Gas. The prices used for arriving at the WA were over twelve months. It was revised every six months in a financial year (FY). The four global hubs have fairly mature gas markets and the prices obtained there are pretty reasonable. Moreover, considering that the prices for twelve consecutive months were used for arriving at the WA, it smoothened out the month-to-month variations thereby ensuring that the price to the consumers was stable. From April 1, 2023, the government changed the above system based on the recommendations of the Kirit Parikh committee (2022). Under the new formula, for any given month, the price expressed per million British thermal units (Btu) (energy units used globally for setting NG prices) is arrived at by taking 10 per cent of the monthly average of the basket of Indian crude oil in the preceding month. The price thus calculated is subject to a price band of US$4 - 6.50 per Btu.The shift to link the price of NG with the crude oil price is flawed as natural gas is not a replacement for crude oil. The pricing of NG has to be on its own, especially when nearly half of the gas is used for urea production and power generation. Given the intimate connection of these sectors to food security and the need for affordable electricity (especially, for farmers and poor household consumers) and heavy subsidies are involved, the gas price has to be reasonable and stable. While the earlier formula met both these requirements, the new one effective from April 2023 doesnt as the volatility in crude prices and monthly revisions in NG price linked to crude can create uncertainties for both sectors. To avoid this, the government has put a price band. What this means is even when the price determined based on crude linkage turns out to be higher (at the current Indian basket price of USD 77 per barrel, the NG price comes to US$ 7.7 per Btu) than the ceiling of US$ 6.50 per Btu, the price will be set at US$ 6.50 per mBtu. Given the movement in crude price since April 2023 and considering that in the near term, it will continue to rule well above US$ 75 per barrel, the formula-based price will always be much more than US$ 6.50 per Btu. So, the ceiling price will be the price to consumers thus rendering the formula redundant. Effectively, thus there is control on the gas price for two-thirds of domestic production and that too at a level, the government wants. One wonders whether a premium of 20 per cent allowed on gas supplied from the so-called new wells or well interventions in the nomination fields of ONGC and OIL will make any difference to the situation on the ground. Applying a 20 per cent premium to the formula-determined price of US$ 7.7 per mBtu (77x0.1), we get US$ 9.24 per mBtu. But, then there is a cap of US$ 6.50 per mBtu. So, the price remains at US$ 6.50 per Btu. The purpose of giving premiums is defeated.On the other hand, if the government intends to build a 20 per cent premium on the ceiling price and give US$ 7.8 per mBtu then, it makes no sense to put a cap in the first place. The moot point is: if anyway ONGC and OIL are to be given a good price, let this be driven solely by the formula and putting a cap is unwarranted. At least, there is an element of predictability; firms on their own can calculate as to what price they will be getting. But, here we have an APM price namely US$ 6.50 per mBtu (call it base price) that is arrived solely at the discretion of the bureaucrat. And, yet another price for supplies from the so-called new wells or well interventions which is arrived at by adding 20 per cent to this. This too is at the discretion of the bureaucrat. Moreover, which fields get the benefit of interventions will also be at his discretion. Even the pricing of the remaining one-third of domestic NG supplied from the so-called deep/ultra-deep and high-pressure/high-temperature fields (KG-D6 operated by Reliance Industries and neighbouring KG-DWN-98/2 operated by ONGC in Krishna-Godavari basin off the Andhra Pradesh coast fall in this category) isnt free from discretion and arbitrariness. Technically though, the firms can go for competitive bidding to determine the price for such supplies (referred to as a premium price), this too is subject to a ceiling linked to the prices of alternate fuels including fuel oil, naphtha, and LNG. On taking charge in 2014, the Modi government started the process of reforming gas pricing by introducing formula-based pricing for legacy gas and thereafter in 2016 by permitting market-based pricing for supplies from deep/ultra-deep and high-pressure/high-temperature fields. But, it has ended up exercising control of both. Meanwhile, the Kirit Parikh committee had recommended the de-regulation of difficult gas fields prices by January 1, 2026, and the de-regulation of APM prices for gas supplies from the legacy fields by January 1, 2027. But, the government is silent on these recommendations. In fact, by adding more categories (read: new wells and well interventions), it has given a signal that the administered/controlled pricing regime for NG and attendant bureaucratic red tape is here to stay. Delivering the 75th Independence Day address on August 15, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the country a target to achieve self-reliance in energy production by boosting the gas-based economy (besides giving a push to electric mobility and hydrogen production). He wanted the share of NG in the total energy mix to go up from the current around 6 per cent to 15 per cent. But, in the absence of a stable and predictable policy environment particularly when it comes to themost crucial aspect of pricing of gas, this wont be possible. (The writer is a policy analyst; views are persona) The silent struggles of healthcare workers, often overlooked, reveal a disturbing reality of increasing violence in hospitals and clinics During his Independence Day address, the Chief Justice of Telangana proudly announced that he had recommended a Protection of Advocates Act to the state government. The applause that followed made me think of the resident doctors marching through the rain in Delhi, gathering their courage to demand a law that protects healthcare professionals from the increasing violence in spaces that are supposed to be the safest. In 2019, the draft Healthcare Service Personnel & Clinical Establishments Bill was introduced, seeking to penalise those who assault healthcare workers. However, the Home Ministry opposed it, stating that no separate law was necessary for doctors. A Right to Information (RTI) response from the Health Ministry later revealed that the draft Bill had been withdrawn. On July 26, 2024, the Health Minister further rejected the idea of a central law, asserting in the Lok Sabha that the newly enacted BNS and BNSS laws provided adequate protection for medical professionals. Despite this, healthcare professionals anger is justified. Why doesnt the public show the same solidarity as they did during the Nirbhaya case, where the horrific rape and murder of a physiotherapy student led to nationwide outrage? Even amid a national strike by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) over the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, another tragedy was overlookedthe brutal killing of a nurse, a single mother, who went missing from a hospital in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. Her body was found in Uttar Pradesh after she had been strangled and bludgeoned to death. Similarly, in Gujarat in 2020, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker was raped while on duty. According to a study published in the *Journal of Global Health Reports*, 32% of ASHA workers face sexual violence, while 88% experience emotional and economic abuse. Disturbingly, 12% report sexual violence from their husbands, and 64% from beneficiaries and their families. These incidents highlight the pervasive threat healthcare workers face. Last year, a doctor allegedly raped a nurse at a clinic in northeast Delhi. In another case, a Bhopal doctor was accused of confining and raping a 19-year-old patient. Just recently, at the same medical college in Bhopal, a resident doctor was suspended for inappropriate behavior with a cancer patient. Violence against healthcare workers also extends beyond sexual violence. Last month in Manipur, armed assailants attacked a children's hospital, and two weeks later, a patient was shot dead at Delhi's GTB Hospital due to mistaken identity. These violent acts, whether committed against doctors, nurses, paramedics, or patients, must be addressed with the same urgency and seriousness. However, the IMA has yet to make a statement regarding the rape and murder of the nurse in Rudrapur. Have they suspended the membership of the Principal of RG Kar Medical College, implicated in the Kolkata case? Has the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) taken action against its accused member? A journalist recently tweeted during a doctors' protest, asking where the female doctors were in leadership positions. This raises a crucial point. According to a study published in PLOS Global Public Health, out of 46 professional medical associations in India, only 9 (less than 20%) are headed by women. Neither the Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA) nor the IOA has ever had a female president. This is despite women demonstrating remarkable leadership in healthcareboth my hospital and medical college are currently led by women doctors, and more than 50% of the heads of departments are women. Clearly, women are capable of leading in healthcare, but they remain underrepresented in top positions. Of the 64 individuals currently serving as presidents and secretaries of the 32 state chapters of the IMA, only three are women. Its time to move beyond token representation. Women doctorsmust be given more leadership opportunities. One of the most balanced and comprehensive statements on the issue of healthcare violence has come from Women in Global Health India. Their statement calls for an end to sexual violence in all healthcare settings, and it emphasizes that anyonewhether doctor, nurse, paramedic, or even political party memberwho commits such violence must face severe consequences. Eleanor Roosevelt, who played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, once famously said that human rights begin in small, often overlooked places. In the context of todays healthcare system, that means the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College or the private hospital in Rudrapurspaces where violence has occurred, but which remain untouched by reforms. (The writer is director-professor at the University College of Medical Sciences and a disability justice advocate. Views are personal) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Commander-in-Chief of Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Moiseev with a focus on boosting maritime cooperation between the two sides. Admiral Moiseev is on a visit to India. The discussions underscored mutual commitment towards enhancing maritime security, deepening strategic cooperation and fostering a stronger defence partnership between the two nations, the headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff said. Indian Navys Frontline Frigate INS Tabar visited St. Petersburg in Russia last month, in reflection of growing maritime security ties between the two sides. The ship participated in the 328th Russian Navy Day Parade celebrations. The visit by INS Tabar was aimed at strengthening the longstanding friendship and exploring newer avenues of bolstering maritime ties, the Indian Navy had said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was looking forward to sharing perspectives with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. The Prime Ministers comments came on Wednesday shortly before he embarked on a two-nation trip to Poland and Ukraine. Modi on Wednesday said his maiden visit to Poland will add momentum to the bilateral friendship and benefit the people of the two countries as he arrived here on the first leg of his two-nation visit during which he will also travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Modi, who will meet Polands President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he was looking forward to the various programmes in the Polish capital here. Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations, Modi said in a post on X soon after his arrival at the Warsaw military airport here. On the first leg of the visit, Modi is visiting Polish capital city of Warsaw on August 21 and 22. Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on August 23 in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. In a departure statement, Modi, referring to the Ukraine conflict, said as a friend and partner, India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region. From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine, he said. I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, he said. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, he added. Modi said he was confident that his visit to Warsaw and Kyiv will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead. The Prime Minister will travel to Kyiv from Poland in a Rail Force One train that will take around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration. A number of world leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv by train after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Modis visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which drew criticism from the US and some of its Western allies. India has been calling for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. In his summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, Modi said a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs and bullets. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said Modis visit to Ukraine would be a landmark and historic one. Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties. And it can only be a negotiated settlement, said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA. On our part, India continues to engage with all stakeholders, he said. My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe, he said. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership, he said. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday cancelled its advertisement for recruitment to bureaucracy through lateral entry following a directive to this effect from the Centre. The cancellation comes amid a political row erupting over the issue. The UPSC had on August 17 issued a notification for recruiting 45 Joint Secretaries, directors and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry referred to as appointment of specialists (including those from the private sector) in the Government departments. This move had drawn criticism from the Opposition parties, which claimed it undermined the reservation rights of SCs, STs and OBCs. It is for information of all concerned that the advertisement pertaining to lateral recruitment for 45 posts at the level of Joint Secretary/director/Deputy Secretary in different departments published in the Employment News, various newspapers and on the website of the Commission on August 17, 2024 stands cancelled as requested by the requisitioning authority, read a cancellation notice by the UPSC. Earlier in the day, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh wrote to UPSC chairperson Preeti Sudan asking her to cancel the advertisement so that marginalised communities get their rightful representation in Government services. In the letter, Singh made it clear that for Prime Minister Narendra Modi reservation in public employment is a cornerstone of our social justice framework aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity. Since these positions have been treated as specialised and designated as single-cadre posts, there has been no provision for reservation in these appointments. This aspect needs to be reviewed and reformed in the context of the Prime Ministers focus on ensuring social justice, he said. I urge the UPSC to cancel the advertisement for lateral entry recruitment issued on 17.8.2024, he said. Singh said this step would be a significant advance in the pursuit of social justice and empowerment. It is well known that, as a principle, lateral entry was endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission which was constituted in 2005 under Veerappa Moily as its Chairperson. The recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in 2013 were also in the same direction, he points out. However, both before and after that there have been many cases of high-profile lateral entry, Singhs letter mentioned. Under earlier Governments, posts as important as that of Secretary in various Ministries, leadership of UIDAI, etc, have been given to lateral entrants without following any process of reservations, Singh said. Further, it is well known that the members of the infamous National Advisory Council used to run a super-bureaucracy that controlled the Prime Ministers Office, he said. While most of the major lateral entries before 2014 were made in an ad hoc manner, including cases of alleged favouritism, the efforts of our government have been to make the process an institutionally-driven one, transparent and open, the Minister said. Further, the Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in the Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation, Singh said. Meanwhile, reacting to the latest development, Union Minister Chirag Paswan asserted that the Modi Government at the Centre has reaffirmed its commitment towards the SCs, STs and OBCs by asking the UPSC to withdraw the advertisement for lateral entry into the bureaucracy. Addressing a Press conference in Patna, Paswan also slammed the Congress-led Opposition for selective criticism of the ruling NDA and accused the previous Governments of failure to fill up posts reserved for the deprived castes. I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This Government has set a precedent. We hope regimes of the future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments, Paswan said. Asked about the criticism being faced by the Government over the issue, he said, When the Opposition points an accusing finger at us, it needs to remember three fingers get pointed at it. Why didnt these parties, while in power, ensure recruitments against posts reserved for SCs, STs and OBCs? In apparent reference to the issue, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Congress would protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs and foil conspiracies of the BJP. We will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs. We will foil the BJPs conspiracies like that of lateral entry at any cost, Gandhi said in a social media post in Hindi. I am saying it again - by removing the 50 per cent reservation cap, we will ensure social justice based on caste census, the former Congress chief said. Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal on Tuesday said that as many as 2,03,27,631 voters in the State will be able to exercise their right to vote in the Assembly election. Out of these, 1,08,19,021 are male, 95,08,155 are female, and 455 are third-gender voters. Agarwal said that tThere are 4,82,896 young voters in the 18 to 19 age group. Similarly, there are 1,49,387 voters with disabilities, and 2,42,818 voters who are over 85 years old. Also, there are 9,554 voters who are over 100 years old. The 20 to 29 age group includes 41,52,806 voters, he added. The Election Commission of India has declared the schedule for the Haryana Legislative Assembly general elections. The official notification for the election will be issued on September 5, 2024. Talking to reporters, the Chief Electoral Officer said that nomination papers can be filed until September 12. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on September 13, 2024, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until September 16. Voting in the state will be held on October 1 and the counting of votes will take place on October 4. He also said that the final voter list will be published on August 27. If the names of young individuals who turned 18 by July 1, are not on the voter list, they should contact their respective BLO and complete the necessary form to get their vote registered. The last date to receive nomination papers is September 12, and applications for voter registration can be submitted up to September 2. Agarwal said there will be 20,629 polling booths in the state, of which 7,132 will be in urban areas and 13,497 in rural areas. These polling booths have been set up at 10,495 locations across the state. He further said that Haryana has 90 assembly constituencies, out of which 17 are reserved constituencies. Furthermore, candidates can spend up to Rs 40 lakh on their election campaign. They must provide details of a separate bank account to the District Election Officer for this purpose. Apart from this , candidates and political parties must publicly disclose any criminal background of their candidates in newspapers and on TV news channels at least three times. This information must be published between August 16 and September 30. Political parties must also display this information on their official websites as well. He stated that candidates can use the "Suvidha App" to get approvals for election rallies, roadshows, helipads, etc. Voters can use the "KYC App" to get information about the background of their candidates and a special app called "Saksham" has been developed to assist voters with disabilities , he added. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Tuesday criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government over the water logging situation in Delhi following the rains, saying the people of Delhi are once again suffering due to the negligence of the Delhi government. The onset of rain leads to water logging, submerging most areas of Delhi. He said the rains on Tuesday morning rain caused waterlogging from Badarpur to ITO, from I.T.O. to Mundka, from Chhatarpur to Sangam Vihar, from Badarpur to Karkardooma, and from Vasant Kunj to Najafgarh. As Delhiites headed to work, they were surrounded by water, and the city came to a standstill until the afternoon. Sachdeva mentioned that an auto driver narrowly escaped a fatal accident under the Minto Bridge, and a similar situation was seen at the Zakhira underpass. BJP state chief said the Delhi Government, its Jal Board, and their 60 MLAs have failed to address the issue of water logging, which has turned the entire city into a slum cluster. Expressing deep concern over the water logging, he said in the upcoming Assembly elections, the Kejriwal government's failure to address water logging problem and provide clean drinking water will be a major issues. Due to the negligence of the Aam Aadmi Party government, accidents are continuously occurring in Delhi, but the Kejriwal government is not taking any concrete steps to address the issue, he claimed. Sachdeva said, "This is 100% government negligence. The Delhi government is only interested in corruption and has no concern for the lives of the people. Why has the Delhi government become an enemy of its citizens?" He added that the Kejriwal government does not act in time, and when situations like water logging occur in Delhi, they only stage dramas on the streets for photo opportunities. The Delhi BJP President demanded that a list of permanent water logging sites be prepared, and security marshals be deployed there to prevent people from approaching such sensitive locations. He said if the Kejriwal government could take a break from indulging in corruption and looting the people of Delhi, then they might make some decisions in the interest of the citizens. Delhi police and security authorities were yet again on high alert on Tuesday as bomb threat emails targeted multiple locations, including around 50 private and government and hospitals such as AIIMS, Safdarjung, Apollo, Moolchand, Max and Sir Ganga Ram hospitals and upscale malls like Chanakya Mall, Select CityWalk, Ambience Mall, DLF, and Cinepolis. A police officer said the pattern of these threat emails matches with those sent earlier to hospitals, schools, universities and other government buildings, where the sender did not mention the dateline in the email. Tuesday's mail threat warned that explosives would go off in a few hours, prompting authorities to launch searches on their premises, police officials said. A call was received at 1.04 pm from a hospital in Nangloi and another from Primus Hospital at 1.07 pm in central Delhi's Chanakya Puri informing that they had received bomb threats, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said.A thorough checking is being conducted by teams of the police, the dog squad, and bomb disposal squad while fire tenders were rushed to the spots. The mailing list mentioned around 50 government and private hospitals, including AIIMS, Safdarjung, Apollo, Moolchand, Max, Primus, AAkash Healthcare, Venkateshwar, and Sir Ganga Ram hospitals, police said. "We have placed many explosives inside your building. They are placed in black backpacks. The bombs are set to go off in a few hours," the email, sent through Gmail at 12.04 pm, stated. "You will end up in a pool of blood, none of you deserve to keep living. Everyone inside the building will lose their lives. I incessantly have nothing other than scam for humanity. Today will be your last day on earth," it said. Blinken's latest Mideast tour unlikely to bridge Israel-Hamas divide over Gaza ceasefire deal, analysts say Xinhua) 13:10, August 21, 2024 CAIRO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Qatar on Tuesday night, concluding his ninth tour to the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over 10 months ago. Like his previous eight trips, this one has hardly achieved anything. Before arriving in Qatar, Blinken visited Israel and Egypt. His tour comes at a time when the world expects urgent progress toward a Gaza ceasefire, as the Palestinian death toll in the enclave has surpassed 40,000. Concerns over a wider conflict have intensified after Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah vowed retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of senior Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut's southern suburbs at the end of July. Despite Blinken's warning that the latest push for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal was "probably the best, possibly the last opportunity" at the start of his latest tour, there has been no advancement on the horizon. Israel continued to strike Gaza on Tuesday, and Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing an agreement by imposing new conditions and demands, indicating a lack of progress toward reconciliation. DISPUTES UNRESOLVED The latest round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations took place in Doha last week with the U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators having issued a joint statement that the talks had made "constructive" progress and that relevant parties would continue their efforts this week to negotiate the details of the deal's implementation. After meeting with Netanyahu on Monday, Blinken announced that Netanyahu had accepted a bridging proposal aimed at narrowing Israel's differences with Hamas. Speaking to the press at Doha airport on Tuesday, Blinken vowed to "do everything possible" in the coming days to "get Hamas on board with the bridging proposal." On Monday night, U.S. President Joe Biden accused Hamas of "backing away" from a potential hostage deal with Israel that could halt the ongoing fighting in Gaza, according to Israeli media. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hamas called Biden's remarks "misleading," which reflect complete American bias toward Israel and serve as a renewed green light for the Israeli government to "commit more crimes against defenseless civilians in pursuit of the goals of exterminating and displacing our people." Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, said that "reports which reflect optimism are very much exaggerated or express wishful thinking rather than realistic situation." "The gap between the two sides (Israel and Hamas) is very wide, particularly regarding Philadelphi Corridor and Israel's demand that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) stay there in the day after," he said. "The Americans, deep in their mind, know that the gap between Israel and Hamas is very deep," he added. Kheir Diabat, a professor from the International Affairs Department at Qatar University, said, "Despite the declared optimism from the American side, American mediation could not solve the problem between Hamas and Israel, because reaching an agreement will not be easy due to the fundamental differences between them." Fighting continued on the ground in Gaza on Tuesday, with the IDF saying that they had killed approximately 40 militants in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, through a combination of close-quarters combat and airstrikes. NO WEIGHTY PRESSURE FROM U.S. Rounds of ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled since the outbreak of the conflict. Israel insists that the conflict can only end with the complete dismantling of Hamas, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire rather than a temporary one. According to Mostafa Amin, an Egyptian researcher on Arab and international affairs, the failure of U.S. mediation in the Middle East and its inability to solve the problem from the outset until now arise from the lack of real pressure from Washington on Israel to stop the war, while it continues to supply Israel with weapons to kill the Palestinians. Amin said that Netanyahu and the far-right officials in the Israeli government had realized that the Biden administration is unable to apply meaningful pressure on Israel due to its preoccupation with the upcoming presidential election and its unwillingness to jeopardize relations with Israel. In reviewing U.S.-Israel relations since the outbreak of the ongoing Gaza conflict, there have been notable public rifts between Biden and Netanyahu. However, experts believe that their disagreement was more about political maneuvering for domestic electorates than a substantive clash over Gaza. In May, the Biden administration announced a pause in the shipment of heavy weapons to the Israeli government out of concerns over its plans to attack Rafah. However, this move now appears to have been more of a smokescreen. Blinken's latest Middle East tour comes just days after the Pentagon revealed that he approved a potential sale of fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel, valued at over 20 billion U.S. dollars, on Aug. 13. "I don't believe the United States genuinely seeks sincere, authentic, lasting, and sustainable peace in the region," said Baris Doster, an academic at Istanbul's Marmara University. Were such a peace to be achieved, the United States would have no reason to remain in the Middle East and would lose the basis for its presence there, he noted. According to Doster, the instability in the Middle East serves several key interests for the United States: securing access to the region's energy resources and routes for exploitation; addressing Israel's security needs; countering the influence of other major countries; pursuing regime change in Iran; and facilitating arms sales in the region. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) MBABANE - The Eswatini International Trade Fair will host the Gospel Worship Experience on Sunday, September 1, 2024, featuring the South African Gospel ensemble Worship House. Created by Bishop Isaac Dagada in 2003, the award-winning, Limpopo-based Worship House has since released numerous albums of high-energy Gospel music. Gates will open at 10am with a supporting act from Phathwakahle, one of Eswatinis most popular Gospel artists. The event will take place at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre. Siphesihle Nkhabindze, Trade Fair Spokesperson, said, The Gospel Worship Experience to be hosted on September 1, 2024, is not to be missed. We look forward to having local Gospel on the line-up. We are also delighted to be having Worship House as part of the show. They will bring some regional talent to the fore, as they lead us in praise and worship together with our local talent. We encourage Gospel lovers from around Eswatini and the region to come out in their numbers to attend this worship experience on the third day of the Trade Fair. Decision Tickets will cost E100 for adults and E30 for children. No VIP tickets will be sold. Fans can buy tickets on the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) App by selecting the tickets tab. Tickets will also be available at the gate on September 1, 2024. Nkhabindze concludes, We have decided to open gates at 10am to allow the public seamless entry into the venue. We also want to create a family atmosphere by hosting this show primarily during the day, with performances going into the late afternoon and early evening. The decision to do this is driven by an understanding of the Gospel community, which prefers to enjoy their choice of music in a family environment. We want every member of the family to enjoy the line-up we have prepared. The Eswatini International Trade Fair is Eswatinis biggest trade show. In 2024, it runs from August 30 to September 8, featuring business exhibitions and seminars, sports, music, family entertainment, cultural dance, government services and more. Those who would like to stay updated on the Eswatini International Trade Fair can visit the Eswatini International Trade Fair LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram pages for more information. In Bhopal, junior doctors of Hamidia Hospital set up a parallel OPD outside the main building, where patients were attended. Doctors are protesting across the country against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 8. The Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) said that we have withdrawn the strike respecting the High Court's order. But, we will continue our protest by running a parallel OPD. Earlier on Monday, junior doctors had protested against the Kolkata incident by taking out a bike rally. JUDA spokesperson Kuldeep Gupta said that after the court's order, junior doctors have returned to work, and we are attending patients by running our parallel OPD. If the patient is in an emergency condition, we are referring to specialist doctors from all departments present here. More than 50 doctors are doing OPD. Our priority was earlier, is still there and will remain so in future that the patient does not suffer any kind of harm. We are constantly seeing that we are upset with the indifferent attitude of the Kolkata government, and are also demanding the Central Doctor Protection Act. Junior doctors ended the strike after the order of the High Court in Madhya Pradesh. Junior doctors had stopped work from 12 midnight on August 15. About 46 hours later, they announced the end of the strike. Actually, on August 9, a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. Violence took place in the same hospital late on the night of 14 August, after which IMA decided to protest across the country. Earlier on August 17 afternoon, the High Court had ordered the junior doctors to end the strike. The court said that they should withdraw their strike by August 20. The bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sach Deva and Justice Vinay Saraf said that this method of strike is not right at all. If someone is dying, will you give them medicine after two days? The High Court had advised the doctors to return to work. Meanwhile, after the case of rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory for all the hospitals in the country, in which it has been said that security arrangements in hospitals should be tightened further. Keeping in mind the security challenges in government hospitals, instructions have been issued to take several steps. In response to the growing influx of Lord Ram devotees into Ayodhya, the Yogi Adityanath government is fortifying the city with advanced high-tech security measures. The comprehensive security plan includes placing Ayodhya under extensive CCTV surveillance, ensuring both the safety of pilgrims and the maintenance of cleanliness. This system also allows authorities to monitor suspects from the Command and Control Centre while also keeping an eye on the basic amenities provided by the municipal corporation at intersections and streets. The Yogi Adityanath government has already linked CCTV cameras installed outside homes, businesses, hotels, and offices to the control room in Amaniganj. Following the installation of Ram Lalla idol in the Ayodhya temple, there has been a significant surge in the number of devotees visiting from across the country and abroad. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emphasised that Ayodhya should be adorned and beautified in a way that inspires every visitor to return repeatedly. In line with this vision, the municipal corporation has taken a major initiative under the Safe City project. The municipal corporation teams are actively encouraging local residents and traders to link their cameras to the monitoring room of the Command and Control Centre. Under the Safe City project, the responsibility for implementing the citys security and monitoring systems has been assigned to Allied Digital Services Limited, with the project valued at Rs 8.49 crore. As part of this initiative, roadside cameras have been connected to the server at the ITMS office in Jalkal. A total of 312 locations were identified for this project, and 1,324 CCTV cameras have been connected. These cameras will enable comprehensive monitoring from the control room, not only ensuring cleanliness but also overseeing other essential services. The municipal corporation employees will be stationed in the control room to relay information about the citys sanitation, water leakage, and streetlight issues to relevant departments. Upon receiving alerts, the municipal corporation personnel will promptly address and resolve the issues on-site. The cameras being installed are expected to significantly enhance security in Ayodhya. These cameras will enable continuous monitoring of incidents across the city, providing valuable support to law enforcement in investigating and resolving cases. The project is also viewed as highly effective in ensuring the safety of the increasing number of devotees visiting Ayodhya. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the jail authorities here to treat as representation a plea by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar seeking five virtual meetings with his counsel every week. Chandrashekar, who is lodged in Mandoli jail, has said he is only permitted two virtual meetings of 45 minutes each per week with his lawyers which are not enough for "managing the complex and extensive legal matters he faces". Justice Amit Mahajan asked the jail authorities to take a decision on Chandrashekar's request. In his petition, Chandrashekar relied on a high court order granting similar relief of additional weekly meetings to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in judicial custody in an excise policy related case, and said he faces "significant personal challenges" and requires substantive consultation with his counsel. Asserting his right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner under the Constitution, he urged the court to allow him three additional meetings. "The petitioner, an undertrial prisoner involved in multiple cases across various jurisdictions, contends that the limited virtual meetings are inadequate for managing the complex and extensive legal matters he faces. The Petitioner's involvement in high-profile cases, including those concerning corruption and extortion allegations, underscores the necessity for increased legal consultations," said the petition. "Denying the petitioner this essential legal consultation undermines his constitutional protection and adversely affects the fairness of the legal proceedings," it added. Chandrashekar is facing criminal proceedings in several cases, including a case for allegedly duping the spouses of former promoters of Ranbaxy, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore. In a remarkable display of medical excellence and dedication, AIIMS Bhopal has successfully conducted a kidney transplant today despite the ongoing nationwide protests related to the incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. The successful transplant was made possible through the collaborative efforts of doctors from the departments of Urology, Nephrology, and Anesthesia. The transplant operation was led with precision and care, reflecting the high standards of patient care at AIIMS Bhopal. Professor Dr Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, emphasized the institution's unwavering commitment to patient care even in adverse conditions. "Despite the ongoing challenges, AIIMS Bhopal remains deeply committed to providing exceptional medical services and ensuring the well-being of our patients. This successful kidney transplant is a testament to our dedication and the skilled teamwork of our medical professionals," said Professor Singh. Both the kidney donor and the recipient are reported to be recovering well and are expected to be discharged from the hospital soon. The successful outcome of this transplant is expected to inspire hope among patients and encourage more people to consider organ donation. Bhopal: In a remarkable display of medical excellence and dedication, AIIMS Bhopal has successfully conducted a kidney transplant today despite the ongoing nationwide protests related to the incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. The successful transplant was made possible through the collaborative efforts of doctors from the departments of Urology, Nephrology, and Anesthesia. The transplant operation was led with precision and care, reflecting the high standards of patient care at AIIMS Bhopal. Professor Dr Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, emphasized the institution's unwavering commitment to patient care even in adverse conditions. "Despite the ongoing challenges, AIIMS Bhopal remains deeply committed to providing exceptional medical services and ensuring the well-being of our patients. This successful kidney transplant is a testament to our dedication and the skilled teamwork of our medical professionals," said Professor Singh. Both the kidney donor and the recipient are reported to be recovering well and are expected to be discharged from the hospital soon. The successful outcome of this transplant is expected to inspire hope among patients and encourage more people to consider organ donation. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has directed "surrendering of the services" of an IAS officer at the disposal of Department of Personnel and Training for repatriation to his parent cadre over his alleged "lackadaisical approach" in finalising a tripartite agreement. In a communication to DDA Vice-chairman Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary to LG Saxena said several meetings were held under Saxena over utilising drone surveys. Hon'ble Lt. Governor has taken a dim view of lackadaisical approach of Commissioner Land Management, Vikas Singh (lAS). He has taken a strong exception to the lack of seriousness and diligence which is expected of an officer of this seniority. His contribution in the work assigned to him has been sub-par. Lt. Governor has desired that his services may be surrendered at the disposal of Department of Personnel and Training for repatriation to his parent cadre immediately, Kundra said. "I am writing to address a critical issue regarding utilising drone surveys to generate and analyse the data to determine the current status of the land, including encroachments, unauthorised constructions, change detection etc, which was discussed and deliberated in meetings chaired by the Lt Governor on June 6, August 2, and August 16," read the communication. These meetings attended by the chief secretary of Delhi, commissioners of the MCD and other senior officials, focused on expanding the scope of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) dated August 23, 2019, between the DDA and the Survey of India (Sol) into a tripartite agreement by including the MCD. "This expansion is intended to ensure that the outputs of the drone surveys benefit all concerned government organisations and citizens of Delhi. "It has been noted with grave concern that despite commitment in June itself to finalise the tripartite agreement of the DDA, MCD and Survey of India within a week and to start the work on ground, nothing has happened in this regard," it noted. The communication alleged that in a meeting on August 16, the commissioner land management, DDA, "tried to cover up regarding agreement not being done by stating that Survey of India had flagged some issues", whereas, the officials present in the meeting said they have not even received a copy of the agreement yet. "His contribution in the work assigned to him has been sub-par. Hon'ble Lt Governor has desired that his services may be surrendered at the disposal of Department of Personnel and Training for repatriation to his parent cadre immediately," said the communication. The letter also emphasised the "continued delay on flimsy grounds" undermines the directives issued by Saxena stressing upon the use of advanced technologies for maintaining records for land management, and also, the directives issued by the High Court of Delhi in different cases, "which is unacceptable". Three IAS Officers, two Special Secretaries and the Secretary of the Health Department, of Delhi government have written to Health Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, who has been habitually writing notes to them and shifting the blame for failures of the health infrastructure of the AAP Government. During the past few months, Bhardwaj has been writing these notes and putting them out in public domain through the Media / Social Media. In their comprehensive note to the Minister, the officers have pointed out the various failures of the Minister / the Government by way of sitting on files and returning them time and again, without any concrete reason. The issues raised by the officers include delay in construction of ill-planned 11 green field and 13 brown field hospital projects by over 03 years leading up to 100% cost escalation. Despite a total cost of Rs 8,000 Cr required for completing these projects a meagre Rs 400 Cr. had been budgeted in FY 2024-25 ; Secondly, non-implementation of the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) even after 08 years of its announcement simply due to the fact that the Minister did not want to implement NICs NextGen e-Hospital Software, which was costed far less Rs 55 Cr in comparison to the tendered amount of Rs 130 Cr. Thirdly, non-preparation of the Essential Drug List (EDL) since as long as 2016 and making the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) infructuous. Fourthly, non-implementation of PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat) pointing out that Delhi is tragically among three States in the country, which has not implemented PMJAY. It has been pointed out that the file in this regard had been pending with the Ministers since 2018 and is causing a major problem in providing healthcare to huge migratory population, a major chunk of which consists of building and construction workers, labourers, domestic workers and artisan, etc., who do not have ration cards in Delhi and therefore, cannot avail of Delhi Governments schemes. The officers also flagged non-implementation of PM-ABHIM for creation of Urban Health And Wellness Centres (UHWCs), District Integrated Public Health Lab (DIPHL) and Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), despite the Central Government providing Rs 2406 Cr. for the same; They have pointed out that in spite of higher expenditure and shorter working hours, AamAadmiMohalla Clinics (AAMCs) are not providing preventive care like immunization, pre-natal / post-natal check-ups and various National health programs. The design of AAMCs revolve around per patient payment basis, which makes it exorbitantly expensive. The officers have requested the Minister for an early decision on all these crucial issues saying that it will resolve all the problems. The officers the Minister has been sending notes about the Department in bunches everyday about 1. Non Availability of medicines in AAMCs/Hospitals/etc. 2. Non Availability of equipments/space crunch in Hospitals, overcrowding of Hospitals, poor maintenance, lack of cleanliness etc. 3. Resolving the issue of construction of Hospitals/Polyclinics etc as requested by various elected representatives (i.e. Honble MLAs) and duly forwarded to Honble Minister to this office for taking action. The officials said the Minister may further use his high office to find ways to increase the Budget of the Department by almost doubling the same to ensure completion of all the badly delayed projects for the benefit of citizens of Delhi. The Minister may also decided on the issue of PM-ABHIM for augmenting the resources to improve the health infrastructure and to provide seamless treatment to citizens of Delhi to avoid untoward incident like denial of service to the patients, regular maintenance of Health Infrastructure for safety of the patients and citizens of Delhi. Similarly, a decision is required for the implementation of PMJAY Ayushman Bharat Scheme to benefit the migrant population of Delhi. In case, these are not approved, Honble Minister may lay down a clear plan with clear budget and creation of manpower for doing the same so that all issues raised by Honble Minister can be resolved by the Department. Without deciding upon these crucial issues, sending multiple notes to take action will only lead to wastage of manhours of the officials in the Department and divert the health personnel from core work (in preparing replies for the same) leading to poor service delivery and monitoring, the officials said in a note to Bharadwaj. Berasia police have arrested two accused who cheated a 27-year-old victim to the tune of Rs 1.97 lakh. Harassed by the accused, the victim had committed suicide last year in the month of July; 6 mobile phones and more than 12 registered SIM cards were recovered in the action. The deceased identified as Dev Narayan Vishwakarma a resident of Berasia, Bhopal, was duped of Rs 1,97,491 in the name of a loan. He was harassed by agents to transfer the amount to different accounts for processing, fees and refund in the name of loan from Dhani app. Upset by this harassment, Dev Narayan committed suicide on July 31 last year. This disclosure has been made by Bairasia police in the investigation of the suicide case of the youth. Also, two accused in the case have been arrested from Nalanda, Bihar. Apart from fraud, the police have registered a case against the accused for forcing to commit suicide. The police said that Dev Narayan Vishwakarma was constantly receiving calls from agents for giving loans from the Dhani app. The registered SIM of the phone number coming on the youth's mobile was issued fraudulently from West Bengal. After getting the mobile SIM from West Bengal, the accused were calling Dev Narayan from Sarabahdi village in Nalanda district of Bihar. To arrest the accused Shatrughan Ravidas and Hardev Paswan police raided Sarabahadi of Manpur police station area of Nalanda district in Bihar. Berasia police said that the accused Shatrughan Ravidas and Hardev Paswan arrested in the Dev Narayan Vishwakarma suicide case have been produced in the court and taken on remand. Both the accused are being questioned about other members of the gang and the method of cheating. According to the police, the arrested accused have confessed to cheating Dev Narayan of Rs 1. 97491 lakh in the name of facilitating loan. It has also been said that they were pressurizing Devnarayan to transfer more money. Due to the fraud in the name of getting a loan, Devnarayan committed suicide at home on July 31,2023 after being mentally harassed. The much-anticipated release of Bollywood actress-cum-BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranauts upcoming film Emergency has been met with significant controversy as Punjabs Independent MP from Faridkot Sarabjit Singh Khalsa has raised serious objections over the portrayal of Sikhs in the film. Scheduled to release on September 6, the movie, which depicts the events during the Emergency imposed by the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi portrayed by Ranaut has sparked concerns about its potential to disturb communal harmony. Khalsa, who is known for his strong stance on protecting Sikh identity and heritage, has written to the Central Government, demanding that the films release be halted until the scenes in question are reviewed and necessary corrections are made. His concerns primarily stem from the films trailer, which he claimed contains scenes that could portray Sikhs in a negative light, potentially igniting unrest within the community. The portrayal of Sikhs in Emergency is not only misleading but also dangerous. It is a deep conspiracy aimed at defaming the Sikh community by depicting them as separatists or terrorists. Such a portrayal not only distorts history but also threatens the peace and law and order situation in the country, said Khalsa in the letter. He further warned that if the film is allowed to release in its current form, it could lead to widespread agitation and disrupt communal harmony. The films trailer, which was released recently, has been the focal point of the controversy. It included scenes depicting the infamous Operation Blue Star carried out by Indian Army in 1984 to flush out militants from the Golden Temple, and portrays Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Khalsa argued that these scenes have been sensationalized and manipulated to depict Sikhs in a negative manner. The depiction of Bhindranwale and the events of Operation Blue Star in this film is highly problematic. Bhindranwale is viewed by many as a martyr who fought for Sikh rights, and any misrepresentation of his character could lead to widespread anger and resentment, Khalsa added. Khalsa, who is the son of Beant Singh one of the assassins of Indira Gandhi, emphasized that the Sikh community has made immense sacrifices for the country and that their contributions should be honoured, not distorted. He accused the filmmakers of attempting to rewrite history in a way that maligns the image of Sikhs and fuels communal tension. The MP also pointed to a broader pattern of anti-Sikh sentiment in Indian media and popular culture, which he claimed has led to an increase in hate crimes against the Sikhs. In a country where Sikhs have been targeted in hate crimes, this film can only serve to exacerbate the situation. The Government must intervene to prevent any further damage to the social fabric of the nation, he urged. This is not the first time that a film related to Indira Gandhi has faced controversy. In 1975, during the Emergency, the film Aandhi was banned by the Indira Gandhi Government due to its perceived criticism of the Prime Minister and her administration. Khalsa drew parallels between the two situations, warning that Emergency could similarly provoke unrest if released without addressing the concerns raised. As the release date approaches, pressure is mounting on the filmmakers and the government to address these concerns. Khalsa has made it clear that if the issues are not resolved, he will mobilize the Sikh community to protest the films release, potentially leading to significant public demonstrations. The Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Shri Vijender Gupta, has reminded PWD Minister Atishi of Chief Minister Kejriwal's promise to the people of Delhi that he would make Delhi's roads like those in London, Paris, and Singapore. Gupta said that far from making roads like those in London, the roads in Delhi are now in such a bad shape that motorists cannot even drive on them properly. During the monsoon rains, 80 percent of Delhi's roads have deteriorated, leading to frequent accidents. The Leader of the Opposition expressed his disappointment, stating that it is unfortunate that neither the Delhi Government nor the Municipal Corporation has repaired the roads or constructed any new ones. This indicates that Chief Minister Kejriwal neither cares about the development of Delhi nor is he concerned about the troubles being faced by its residents. Citing a report from last year, Gupta noted that the report highlighted the poor condition of 80 percent of Delhi's roads. He mentioned that 1,400 kilometers of roads fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department, yet the PWD is neither repairing them nor constructing new roads. The Leader of the Opposition has demanded that PWD Minister Atishi urgently repair these roads. Gupta added that the poor condition of the roads not only contributes to the spread of pollution due to dust but also causes severe traffic jams, leading to the wastage of crores of rupees in fuel. Moreover, if an ambulance gets stuck in such a jam, it would take divine intervention to save the patient's life. Gupta recalled that last year, PWD Minister Atishi stated that a plan involving crores of rupees had been made for the maintenance of Delhi's 1,440 kilometers of roads. However, the Leader of the Opposition noted that, like many other government plans, this one seems to have been wrapped in the files. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of former all-India coordinator of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and former provincial pracharak of Awadh Balkrishna Tripathi, and paid tributes to the departed soul. Tripathi, who was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Medical Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow on Friday due to illness, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of around 88 years. His body will be in Bharti Bhawan for the last darshan from 7:30 am to 10 am. The last rites will be performed at Bhairav Ghat in Kanpur. Taking to X, Yogi wrote: The passing of @RSSorgs senior Pracharak and former state Pracharak of Awadh, Shri Balkrishna ji, is deeply saddening. I offer my humble tribute. May Lord Shri Ram grant the departed soul a place at His feet and provide strength to the bereaved RSS volunteers and family members in this time of immense sorrow. Om Shanti, he added. MBABANE - Success Films, in association with Rival Visuals, released a trailer for their highly anticipated film, Litsambo Lami, written by Mayibongwe Magagula and Siyabonga Nkambule. The film is a gripping drama that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The film delves into the complexities of love, loss, and revenge, set against the backdrop of Eswatini culture and tradition. One of the producers, Mayibongwe Magagula, highlighted that this is a zero-budget film that cost them E40 000 to E50 000 including equipment, rentals, props, transport fees and post-production. Litsambo Lami tells the story of Senzo Simelane, a dedicated teacher who is overjoyed by the arrival of his baby daughter, Khetsiwe, with his girlfriend, Gugu Dlamini. Happiness However, their happiness is shattered when Khetsiwe is kidnapped by Senzos vengeful ex-girlfriend, Khulile. Siyabonga Nkambule, another producer praised the crew for their exceptional work. The film was produced in May and it was well planned to perfection, I believe. The cast and crew worked together peacefully with a common goal, he said. Hloniphile Sihlongonyane, who plays the role of Gugu in the film, said that she enjoyed every scene. I play the role of Anti Skuta, who is very strict and is a no nonsense aunt. I really believe that people will love the film because it is very dramatic, but it touches on some reality issues, and people will relate to those, added the actress. Mayibongwe Magagula echoed his partners words, as he believes that their film will be a hit. I am sure that everyone who watches will relate to and love it because it is not Western. This film is a testament to the power of passion and dedication. We faced countless challenges, but the teams unwavering belief in the story and our shared vision kept us going. We didnt have the luxury of a big budget, but we found creative ways to overcome limitations and deliver a powerful and impactful film. Exploration Magagula went on to elaborate that he is proud and grateful for the experience, as it has taught him that even with limited resources, one can create something truly special if they have a compelling story and a team that believes in it. Litsambo Lami will provide a platform for reflection on the values and beliefs that shape Eswatini culture, and the exploration of its complexities, including its joys, heartbreaks, and sacrifices, will likely resonate with viewers who have experienced love. It will also help people cope with loss, raise awareness of the consequences of seeking revenge, and help people understand the importance of forgiveness. Litsambo Lami is open for licensing to local or international channels. With its compelling storyline, talented cast, and authentic portrayal of Eswatini culture, the film is sure to resonate with audiences across the globe. A sub-divisional officer (SDO) was accidentally hit by police personnel while managing law and order during Bharat Bandh protests over community-based reservation here on Wednesday. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra told PTI that while police were lathicharging to disperse protesters blocking traffic at Dak Bunglow Chowk, an officer inadvertently hit the Sadar-Patna SDO, who was leading the force. Mishra described the incident as a human error, and said the police officer did not recognise the official. The Patna District Administration later confirmed that the incident was an honest mistake and said no disciplinary action will be taken against the police officer. Bihar Police on Wednesday lathi-charged and used water cannons to disperse protesters who put up rail and road blockades in support of Bharat Bandh over community-based reservation. Protesters disrupted train services at Darbhanga and Buxar railway stations and blocked traffic in Patna, Hajipur, Darbhanga, Jehanabad, and Begusarai districts following which police baton-charged to quell them. The Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday extended support to the day-long Bharat Bandh called by some Dalit and Adivasi groups to protest against the Supreme Court's recent verdict on the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs). The party also accused the BJP and the Congress of colluding to end reservation. It said these parties and others should understand the necessity of reservation and not play with it. "BSP supports the Bharat Bandh because there is anger and resentment against the Supreme Court's August 1 decision regarding the sub-classification of SC/ST and the creamy layer among them due to the conspiracy against reservation by parties like BJP and Congress and their collusion to make it ineffective and eventually end it," BSP president Mayawati said in a post in Hindi on X. "In this regard, the people of these classes will submit a memorandum to the government today as part of the Bharat Bandh and strongly demand that the changes made in reservation be abolished through a constitutional amendment...," she said. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further said that the constitutional right of reservation given to the OBC community along with SCs and STs is the result of the continuous struggle of B R Ambedkar. "BJP, Congress and other parties should understand its necessity and sensitivity and not play with it," she said. Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for the Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court order, which they have said will harm the basic principles of reservation. In a landmark verdict on August 1, the Supreme Court held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward among them. The apex court, however, made it clear that states have to make sub-classification on the basis of "quantifiable and demonstrable data" of backwardness and representation in government jobs and not on "whims" and as a matter of "political expediency". President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said India is ready to face the challenges posed by the fourth industrial revolution and take advantage of the opportunities that arise from it. At the 5th convocation of the J C Bose University of Science and Technology here, Murmu said technology should be used for proper and sustainable development and public interest. Today the world is in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. India is also ready to face the challenges of this revolution and take advantage of opportunities arising from it, she said. In achieving this national goal, the role of institutions like J C Bose University of Science and Technology will be very important, she noted. The president noted that the university has entered into agreements with many industrial and academic institutions over the past few years. Many multinational companies have also established Centres of Excellence on the university campus to train students. Today, several avenues of progress have opened up due to the development of technology, she stated. For example, access to the internet in remote areas has created online employment opportunities. But we should remember that technology should be used for proper and sustainable development and public interest. Its wrong use can be disastrous, she said. The president appreciated the university for playing an important role in making the youth skilled and self-reliant. The President said the university is named after great scientist and pioneer of modern science Jagadish Chandra Bose who was probably the first scientist in the world to prove scientifically that even trees and plants have feelings. His revolutionary discovery changed the way we look at the botanical world, the president said, while urging students to take inspiration from his life and bring positive change in society through technology. The convocation was presided over by the Haryana Governor and University Chancellor Bandaru Dattatreya. The president conferred 13 PhD degrees and awarded two medals and certificates to the students. A total of 1,536 students and researchers who completed their degrees in 2023 were conferred degrees, including 998 graduates, 525 postgraduates, and 13 PhDs. Among the recipients, there were 874 male and 662 female students. With 43 per cent of the degree recipients being female students, Murmu lauded the significant representation of women and expressed her desire to see the ratio improve further. The president praised the university's efforts to promote research, including the introduction of the J C Bose Young Scientist Award and provisions for seed money for research. Murmu said that the new National Education Policy focuses on promoting research and a scientific approach, with an emphasis on holistic education, the inclusion of research and internships in graduate courses, and the establishment of the National Research Foundation to promote quality research. The president appreciated the university's initiative to implement the NEP and provide education aligned with its goals. She also acknowledged the contribution of the Institution in making the youth skilled and self-reliant for over five decades and highlighted the impressive list of alumni who are excelling in various fields and supporting students financially and through mentorship. Speaking on the occasion, Dattatreya commended the significant participation of women researchers in the convocation, highlighting their growing presence and contributions in the field of technology. He emphasised the crucial role that technology plays in elevating the nation's standing on the global technological landscape. Vice Chancellor Sushil Kumar Tomar said the university currently offers more than 60 diverse courses, reflecting its commitment to comprehensive education. He said the university has taken proactive steps to implement the NEP, effective from the academic year 2023-24. This includes a special focus on fostering research work, encouraging startups, promoting innovation, and enhancing placement activities, he said. A UK-based Indian students group organised a protest in Scotland and submitted a memorandum to the Indian mission in Edinburgh demanding urgent steps to address gender-based violence in the wake of the rape and murder case of a medic in Kolkata. The Students Federation of IndiaUnited Kingdom (SFI-UK) held a peaceful demonstration outside Indias Consulate in Edinburgh on Monday and a delegation submitted their memo to the Acting Consul General of India, strongly condemning the brutal rape and murder of the on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The group is planning further protests, including a gathering in Liverpool on Wednesday, to continue to highlight their demand for justice in a case that has sent shockwaves across India and among the diaspora. Instead of actively working towards redressing the problem of gender violence and social injustice in the state of West Bengal, we are seeing the state machinery led by Mamata Banerjee indulge in theatrics and the targeting of protesting voices, said Nikhil Mathew, a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and one of the organisers of the protests as SFI-UK secretary. The government has clearly failed to provide a safe space for working women in the state, added Alakta Das, another PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and one of the organisers as SFIs Edinburgh Subcommittee Member. In their memo handed over to the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, SFI-UK accused the state government of severe laxity in its response to the incident and demanded a gender-just workplace for all women.This incident is a symptom of the rising violence against women and the negligence of the state towards its citizens. The absence of investment in public infrastructure and safety measures has a disproportionate impact on women, who are already marginalised by the patriarchal social conditions, reads the memo. It goes on to demand a thorough judicial inquiry into the incident and the implementation of adequate workplace security measures for all medical staff. We stand in absolute solidarity with all those who are engaged in a determined and resolute struggle against gendered violence and social injustice steeped in power disparities, and demand immediate justice for the victim of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, the memo concludes.The group had issued an open letter over the weekend following a peaceful protest staged outside India House in London. A peaceful demonstration by British Indian women doctors is also planned at Parliament Square in London, near the Mahatma Gandhi statue, on Thursday. The 31-year-old junior doctor was raped and murdered while on duty and her body was discovered at the seminar hall in the hospital premises on August 9, with a civic volunteer arrested in connection with the attack the following day. It has triggered widespread doctors agitation and a CBI inquiry into the case is ongoing. Capital Investment Counsel Inc boosted its stake in shares of Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY Free Report) by 1.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 39,111 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 625 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Incs holdings in Sysco were worth $2,792,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Summit Global Investments increased its stake in shares of Sysco by 181.2% during the second quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 75,320 shares of the companys stock worth $5,377,000 after purchasing an additional 48,536 shares during the period. Focus Financial Network Inc. grew its holdings in Sysco by 56.4% in the 2nd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 5,044 shares of the companys stock valued at $379,000 after buying an additional 1,818 shares in the last quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC increased its position in Sysco by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 317,388 shares of the companys stock worth $22,658,000 after buying an additional 21,058 shares during the period. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Sysco by 29.5% during the second quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. now owns 22,658 shares of the companys stock worth $1,618,000 after buying an additional 5,161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of Sysco by 3.1% in the second quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 11,509 shares of the companys stock valued at $822,000 after acquiring an additional 342 shares in the last quarter. 83.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Sysco alerts: Sysco Price Performance Shares of SYY stock traded down $0.37 on Tuesday, reaching $76.54. The company had a trading volume of 1,408,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,098,295. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.12 billion, a PE ratio of 18.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.19. The businesss 50-day moving average is $73.27 and its 200 day moving average is $75.96. Sysco Co. has a one year low of $62.24 and a one year high of $82.89. Sysco Dividend Announcement Sysco ( NYSE:SYY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $20.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.51 billion. Sysco had a net margin of 2.48% and a return on equity of 102.09%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.34 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Sysco Co. will post 4.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 4th will be given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 4th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.67%. Syscos dividend payout ratio is presently 49.76%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Sysco from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Sysco from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Sysco from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Guggenheim raised Sysco from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Sysco from $87.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $85.27. Get Our Latest Report on SYY About Sysco (Free Report) Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the marketing and distribution of various food and related products to the foodservice or food-away-from-home industry in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and internationally. It operates through U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sysco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sysco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lowered its position in AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 78,488 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,025 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.06% of AvalonBay Communities worth $16,238,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of AvalonBay Communities during the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Byrne Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 270.0% during the first quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 185 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1,877.8% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 178 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the period. BROOKFIELD Corp ON purchased a new stake in AvalonBay Communities during the 1st quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. grew its position in AvalonBay Communities by 50.0% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 225 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. 92.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have weighed in on AVB. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $218.00 to $216.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on AvalonBay Communities from $203.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. Argus lifted their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $188.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $207.00 to $214.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $210.00 to $228.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $211.12. AvalonBay Communities Price Performance Shares of AvalonBay Communities stock traded up $0.66 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $216.70. The companys stock had a trading volume of 360,011 shares, compared to its average volume of 725,163. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $205.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $192.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The stock has a market cap of $30.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.17, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.96. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a one year low of $160.45 and a one year high of $218.79. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The real estate investment trust reported $1.78 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.71 by ($0.93). The company had revenue of $726.04 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $718.49 million. AvalonBay Communities had a return on equity of 7.16% and a net margin of 29.61%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.66 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.97 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other AvalonBay Communities news, SVP Keri A. Shea sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.17, for a total transaction of $414,340.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,383 shares in the company, valued at $908,026.11. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other AvalonBay Communities news, CIO Matthew H. Birenbaum sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $208.90, for a total value of $1,044,500.00. Following the sale, the executive now owns 65,967 shares in the company, valued at $13,780,506.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Keri A. Shea sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $207.17, for a total transaction of $414,340.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,383 shares of the companys stock, valued at $908,026.11. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. AvalonBay Communities Profile (Free Report) As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 299 apartment communities containing 90,669 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lowered its position in The Allstate Co. (NYSE:ALL Free Report) by 0.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 144,111 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 1,267 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Allstate worth $23,009,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ALL. Focus Financial Network Inc. increased its position in Allstate by 3.7% during the second quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 4,508 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $770,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Allstate in the 2nd quarter valued at $2,893,000. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. lifted its holdings in Allstate by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 57,907 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,245,000 after purchasing an additional 696 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Allstate by 1.0% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 818,489 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $130,680,000 after purchasing an additional 8,454 shares during the period. Finally, Vista Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Allstate by 55.9% in the second quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 3,884 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $620,000 after purchasing an additional 1,392 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.47% of the companys stock. Get Allstate alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Allstate In other Allstate news, EVP Elizabeth Brady sold 49,481 shares of Allstate stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.09, for a total value of $8,861,552.29. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 19,163 shares in the company, valued at $3,431,901.67. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Elizabeth Brady sold 49,481 shares of Allstate stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.09, for a total transaction of $8,861,552.29. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,163 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,431,901.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Suren Gupta sold 45,775 shares of Allstate stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.28, for a total value of $8,114,992.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 89,930 shares in the company, valued at $15,942,790.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock. Allstate Price Performance Shares of NYSE ALL traded down $0.22 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $180.40. The company had a trading volume of 1,261,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,564,359. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.36. The Allstate Co. has a one year low of $104.29 and a one year high of $184.30. The firm has a market cap of $47.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.67, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.48. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $166.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $165.73. Allstate (NYSE:ALL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The insurance provider reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by $1.28. Allstate had a return on equity of 24.05% and a net margin of 5.03%. The company had revenue of $15.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.04 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($4.42) earnings per share. Allstates revenue was up 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that The Allstate Co. will post 13.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Allstate Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $0.92 dividend. This represents a $3.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Allstates dividend payout ratio is presently 81.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ALL. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Allstate from $213.00 to $226.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Allstate from $193.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Allstate from $177.00 to $175.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Allstate from $188.00 to $196.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com cut Allstate from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $191.94. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ALL Allstate Profile (Free Report) The Allstate Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides property and casualty, and other insurance products in the United States and Canada. It operates in five segments: Allstate Protection; Protection Services; Allstate Health and Benefits; Run-off Property-Liability; and Corporate and Other segments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Allstate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allstate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hall Laurie J Trustee acquired a new position in shares of GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 1,847 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $317,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the second quarter worth about $27,000. First Community Trust NA purchased a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. purchased a new position in shares of GE Vernova during the second quarter worth about $32,000. Get GE Vernova alerts: GE Vernova Stock Down 0.8 % Shares of GE Vernova stock traded down $1.40 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $184.00. 1,131,949 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,961,672. The companys 50 day moving average is $174.06. GE Vernova Inc. has a 12 month low of $115.00 and a 12 month high of $190.80. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GE Vernova ( NYSE:GEV Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $0.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $8.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.42 billion. On average, research analysts anticipate that GE Vernova Inc. will post 3.43 earnings per share for the current year. Several analysts have issued reports on GEV shares. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on GE Vernova in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $178.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on GE Vernova from $196.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $180.00 target price on shares of GE Vernova in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on GE Vernova in a research note on Friday, June 21st. They issued an outperform rating and a $201.50 target price for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on GE Vernova from $174.00 to $202.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $189.83. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GEV About GE Vernova (Free Report) GE Vernova LLC, an energy business company, generates electricity. It operates under three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. The Power segments generates and sells electricity through hydro, gas, nuclear, and steam power. Wind segment engages in the manufacturing and sale of wind turbine blades; and Electrification segment provides grid solutions, power conversion, solar, and storage solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for GE Vernova Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GE Vernova and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report issued on Monday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a $19.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanleys target price suggests a potential downside of 1.55% from the stocks previous close. Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. JMP Securities boosted their target price on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Hamilton Insurance Group from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $20.50. Get Hamilton Insurance Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on HG Hamilton Insurance Group Stock Performance Shares of HG stock opened at $19.30 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $16.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $15.39. Hamilton Insurance Group has a 52 week low of $12.44 and a 52 week high of $20.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.14 billion and a PE ratio of 5.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported $1.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $587.94 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $502.37 million. Hamilton Insurance Group had a net margin of 19.11% and a return on equity of 18.53%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Hamilton Insurance Group will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HG. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in Hamilton Insurance Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new position in Hamilton Insurance Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. American International Group Inc. bought a new position in Hamilton Insurance Group during the 1st quarter worth about $115,000. Fifth Lane Capital LP bought a new position in Hamilton Insurance Group during the 1st quarter worth about $151,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in Hamilton Insurance Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $156,000. 29.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Hamilton Insurance Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides underwriting specialty insurance and reinsurance risks in Bermuda and internationally. The company operates Hamilton Global Specialty, Hamilton Select, and Hamilton Re underwriting platforms. The company offers casualty reinsurance products, such as commercial motor, general liability, healthcare, multiline, personal motor, professional liability, umbrella and excess casualty, and worker's compensation and employer's liability reinsurance; property reinsurance and insurance; and specialty reinsurance solutions, including accident and health, aviation and space, crisis management, mortgage, financial lines, marine and energy, and multiline specialty. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Hamilton Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hamilton Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:ISNPY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 15,800 shares, a decline of 7.6% from the July 15th total of 17,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 218,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Intesa Sanpaolo Trading Down 0.5 % Shares of OTCMKTS:ISNPY opened at $23.98 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $23.16 and a 200-day moving average of $22.05. Intesa Sanpaolo has a 12 month low of $14.84 and a 12 month high of $24.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.07 billion, a PE ratio of 9.35, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.20. Get Intesa Sanpaolo alerts: Intesa Sanpaolo Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. provides various financial products and services primarily in Italy. It operates through six segments Banca dei Territori, IMI Corporate & Investment Banking, International Subsidiary Banks, Asset Management, Private Banking, and Insurance. The company offers lending and deposit products; corporate, investment banking, and public finance services; industrial credit, factoring, and leasing services; asset management solutions; life and non-life insurance products; and bancassurance and pension fund, and fiduciary services. Receive News & Ratings for Intesa Sanpaolo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intesa Sanpaolo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MBABANE The Ministry of Health has cited the use of traditional herbs (timbita) as a contributing factor to perinatal deaths, reported in 19 health facilities. The ministry said this following a recent report, where a total of 416 perinatal deaths were cumulatively reported, between January and August 3, 2024. The observation was made in 19 health facilities providing maternity services. According to the report compiled by the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, issued by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit, the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital as well as the Mbabane Government Hospital had the highest reported cases of 117 and 96, respectively. Calvin Dlamini, the Health Promotion Officer, said the use of traditional herbs (timbita) by some women, to escape labour pains, had led to some losing their unborn babies. He, however, said such cases had declined, because of the awareness raised in various communities. Women take such concoctions to get rid of the labour pains. They forget that labour pains play a major role for the child to be born. After drinking the concoction, the womb gets contracted very fast, forcing the child to come out under high pressure. The child gets suffocated and later dies. It is good for a pregnant woman to undergo labour for six to eight hours before giving birth, he said. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), perinatal death is the death of the foetus or a newborn in the perinatal period that commences at 24 weeks gestation. According to the ministry, week 31 had 12 perinatal deaths, which were reported in 19 health facilities, with early neonatal deaths (three), fresh stillbirths (three), and macerated stillbirths (six). The ministry cited various reasons, such as the delay in pregnancy check-ups, use of traditional herbs (timbita), congenital abnormalities in the womb, various delays, complications during labour, long or short placenta, and gender-based violence. The use of medication without a doctors prescription was also included among contributing factors of perinatal deaths. Dlamini said such deaths were expected to be high, since they received an influx of patients across the country daily. he also stated that those hospitals were used as referrals anytime patients encountered complications. Hospitals Another reason for the increase, according to the health promotion officer, was the accessibility of the mentioned hospitals. He said a majority of patients preferred seeking medical help where it would be convenient for them. During the antenatal care, some experience complications before they are transferred to other hospitals. Some children die at the time their mothers arrive in hospital, during the delivery stage or a few hours after birth, he said. He also mentioned that at times there were delays by expectant mothers in undertaking medical check-ups soon after discovering that they are pregnant. He said delays and late detection of any abnormalities had led to some women losing their children. Dlamini also highlighted congenital anomalies, while the child is still in the mothers womb. Various reasons have resulted in such deformities. He said the manner in which women conducted themselves before getting pregnant had contributed immensely to the birth of children with abnormalities. Some women engage in bad behaviour, such as drinking alcohol and smoking, among other things, which have led to some of the complications. That is why we encourage women to take care of themselves, by not consuming substances are a threat to the unborn child. Some of the implications occur three months after the mother has conceived, said the health promotion officer. Dlamini further said delays, either from the hospital or patients side, had also contributed to such reported cases. On the hospitals side, Dlamini said the nurse-patient ratio was wide apart. He said it was, therefore, impossible for a single midwife to attend to many patients at the same time. Some pregnant women come late to the hospital due to transport issues. Some take a long time to reach hospitals, because of poor road infrastructure. Others delay intentionally coming to the hospital, when it is time to deliver their babies. They then start to blame hospitals when they lose their babies, forgetting that they also arrived late, he said. iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:SCJ Get Free Report)s stock price were up 1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $75.64 and last traded at $75.43. Approximately 24,002 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 35% from the average daily volume of 36,897 shares. The stock had previously closed at $74.70. iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF Stock Up 1.0 % The stocks 50-day moving average price is $71.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.54. The company has a market cap of $128.23 million, a P/E ratio of 12.96 and a beta of 0.60. Get iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF A hedge fund recently raised its stake in iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF stock. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:SCJ Free Report) by 1.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 62,760 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the quarter. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC owned about 3.69% of iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF worth $4,456,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. About iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF The iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Japan Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of small-cap Japanese stocks. SCJ was launched on Dec 20, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Japanese (LON:JFJ Get Free Report) fell 0.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 545 ($7.08) and last traded at GBX 547 ($7.11). 176,128 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 46% from the average session volume of 326,450 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 549 ($7.13). JPMorgan Japanese Stock Down 0.4 % The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 536.49 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 527.59. The stock has a market cap of 797.20 million, a PE ratio of 1,608.82 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.41. About JPMorgan Japanese (Get Free Report) JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Japanese Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Japanese and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. lessened its holdings in SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:SRLN Free Report) by 2.8% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 60,800 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,741 shares during the period. SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF accounts for 0.9% of Legacy Capital Group California Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Legacy Capital Group California Inc.s holdings in SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF were worth $2,541,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SRLN. State of Tennessee Treasury Department grew its holdings in shares of SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 4,675,173 shares of the companys stock worth $196,030,000 after purchasing an additional 387,485 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF by 67.6% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,954,862 shares of the companys stock valued at $165,827,000 after buying an additional 1,595,780 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF by 338.4% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,588,299 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,993,000 after buying an additional 1,997,841 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF by 234.9% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 2,419,362 shares of the companys stock worth $101,879,000 after acquiring an additional 1,696,862 shares during the period. Finally, Bain Capital Credit LP boosted its position in shares of SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF by 343.8% during the 4th quarter. Bain Capital Credit LP now owns 1,376,780 shares of the companys stock worth $57,728,000 after acquiring an additional 1,066,566 shares in the last quarter. Get SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF alerts: SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF Stock Up 0.1 % SRLN traded up $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $41.64. 3,418,968 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,349,362. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $41.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.80. SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF has a twelve month low of $40.71 and a twelve month high of $42.15. About SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF The SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF (SRLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund provides actively managed exposure to noninvestment-grade, floating-rate senior secured debt of US and non-US corporations that resets in 3 months or less. SRLN was launched on Apr 3, 2013 and is managed by State Street. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SRLN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:SRLN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG Free Report) by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 5,879,191 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 217,799 shares during the quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLCs holdings in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group were worth $63,495,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,525,821 shares of the companys stock worth $27,279,000 after purchasing an additional 104,256 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 86.4% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 63,285 shares of the companys stock worth $647,000 after purchasing an additional 29,336 shares during the last quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. Traveka Wealth LLC now owns 37,775 shares of the companys stock worth $408,000 after purchasing an additional 980 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital increased its position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by 46.4% in the second quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 25,782 shares of the companys stock worth $285,000 after acquiring an additional 8,176 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group in the second quarter worth approximately $167,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.59% of the companys stock. Get Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group alerts: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Stock Down 1.1 % Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group stock traded down $0.12 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $10.50. The stock had a trading volume of 1,316,804 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,633,874. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.27. The company has a market capitalization of $123.12 billion, a PE ratio of 12.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.61. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $7.43 and a 1 year high of $11.72. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Company Profile Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company for MUFG Bank, Ltd. that provides various financial services in Japan, the United States, Europe, Asia/Oceania, and internationally. It operates through Digital Service Business Group; Retail & Commercial Banking Business Group; Japanese Corporate & Investment Banking Business Group; Asset Management & Investor Services Business Group; Global Corporate & Investment Banking Business Group; Global Commercial Banking Business Group; and Global Markets Business Group segments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MUFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments lessened its position in shares of Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Free Report) by 9.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 73,624 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 7,562 shares during the quarter. Owens Corning makes up about 0.9% of Summit Global Investments holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Summit Global Investments owned about 0.08% of Owens Corning worth $12,790,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Owens Corning by 112.9% during the 1st quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 149 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in Owens Corning during the first quarter valued at about $26,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Owens Corning by 794.1% in the 2nd quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 152 shares of the construction companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Owens Corning during the first quarter worth $28,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in Owens Corning in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.40% of the companys stock. Get Owens Corning alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on OC. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Owens Corning from $211.00 to $213.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Barclays cut their target price on Owens Corning from $190.00 to $189.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and set a $187.00 price target on shares of Owens Corning in a research note on Monday, June 17th. Benchmark restated a hold rating on shares of Owens Corning in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Owens Corning from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $178.00 to $191.00 in a report on Thursday, July 11th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $184.23. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, VP Mari Doerfler sold 240 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.05, for a total transaction of $43,692.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,954 shares in the company, valued at approximately $901,875.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO Todd W. Fister sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $173.65, for a total transaction of $520,950.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 31,626 shares in the company, valued at $5,491,854.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Mari Doerfler sold 240 shares of Owens Corning stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.05, for a total transaction of $43,692.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,954 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $901,875.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 15,937 shares of company stock worth $2,833,258 over the last ninety days. 0.89% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Owens Corning Stock Performance Shares of OC traded down $1.99 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $160.59. The stock had a trading volume of 455,567 shares, compared to its average volume of 674,392. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $171.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $166.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The firm has a market cap of $13.96 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 1.42. Owens Corning has a one year low of $109.95 and a one year high of $191.13. Owens Corning (NYSE:OC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The construction company reported $4.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.37 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.92 billion. Owens Corning had a return on equity of 26.33% and a net margin of 10.66%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $4.22 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Owens Corning will post 15.38 EPS for the current year. Owens Corning Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 15th were given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 15th. Owens Cornings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.43%. About Owens Corning (Free Report) Owens Corning manufactures and sells building and construction materials in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Roofing, Insulation, and Composites. The Roofing segment manufactures and sells laminate and strip asphalt roofing shingles, oxidized asphalt materials, and roofing components used in residential and commercial construction, and specialty applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Owens Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Owens Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Rentokil Initial plc (NYSE:RTO Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Hold by the seven analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation, one has issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $29.00. A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on RTO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Rentokil Initial in a report on Tuesday, April 23rd. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded Rentokil Initial from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 1st. Barclays upgraded Rentokil Initial to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised Rentokil Initial from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Get Rentokil Initial alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Rentokil Initial Institutional Trading of Rentokil Initial Rentokil Initial Trading Down 0.4 % Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rentokil Initial by 0.7% during the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 16,139,724 shares of the companys stock valued at $486,610,000 after purchasing an additional 105,248 shares in the last quarter. Gates Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Rentokil Initial by 11.4% in the 4th quarter. Gates Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,155,193 shares of the companys stock worth $147,490,000 after buying an additional 528,409 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its stake in Rentokil Initial by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 3,884,020 shares of the companys stock valued at $111,122,000 after acquiring an additional 81,134 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Rentokil Initial during the 4th quarter valued at about $77,547,000. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group boosted its holdings in shares of Rentokil Initial by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 2,025,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,949,000 after acquiring an additional 246,253 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.91% of the companys stock. Shares of Rentokil Initial stock opened at $31.71 on Friday. Rentokil Initial has a 1 year low of $23.39 and a 1 year high of $38.43. The company has a 50-day moving average of $30.29 and a 200 day moving average of $28.71. Rentokil Initial Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.2034 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. Rentokil Initial Company Profile (Get Free Report Rentokil Initial plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides route-based services in North America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and internationally. It offers a range of pest control services for rodents, and flying and crawling insects, as well as other forms of wildlife management for commercial customers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Rentokil Initial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rentokil Initial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW Get Free Report) insider Jacqueline P. Canney sold 94 shares of ServiceNow stock in a transaction on Monday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $825.92, for a total transaction of $77,636.48. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,019 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,319,372.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. ServiceNow Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSE NOW traded up $5.66 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $838.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 784,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,314,847. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 1 year low of $527.24 and a 1 year high of $850.33. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $772.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $757.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $171.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 89.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.82 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.12. Get ServiceNow alerts: ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The information technology services provider reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.85 by $0.28. ServiceNow had a net margin of 11.51% and a return on equity of 14.52%. The company had revenue of $2.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.61 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.77 EPS. The firms revenue was up 22.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 6.84 EPS for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Creekmur Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in ServiceNow in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in ServiceNow by 466.7% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 34 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC lifted its stake in ServiceNow by 3,900.0% in the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 40 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. acquired a new position in ServiceNow during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ServiceNow in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 87.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on NOW shares. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $885.00 to $900.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Wolfe Research restated an outperform rating and set a $830.00 target price on shares of ServiceNow in a report on Friday, May 10th. TD Cowen increased their price target on ServiceNow from $870.00 to $900.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on ServiceNow from $830.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and issued a $900.00 target price on shares of ServiceNow in a report on Thursday, July 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and twenty-five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ServiceNow presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $849.62. Get Our Latest Research Report on NOW ServiceNow Company Profile (Get Free Report) ServiceNow, Inc provides end to-end intelligent workflow automation platform solutions for digital businesses in the North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Now platform for end-to-end digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, and collaboration and development tools. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ServiceNow Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ServiceNow and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Eastern Airlines Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:CHEAF Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 970,000 shares, a decline of 7.3% from the July 15th total of 1,046,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 85,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 11.3 days. China Eastern Airlines Trading Down 2.1 % Shares of China Eastern Airlines stock opened at $0.23 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $0.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.25. China Eastern Airlines has a twelve month low of $0.22 and a twelve month high of $0.36. Get China Eastern Airlines alerts: China Eastern Airlines Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry in the Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally. The company offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, tour operations, air catering, and other miscellaneous services. Receive News & Ratings for China Eastern Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Eastern Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Saturday morning. Natural Resource Partners Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSE:NRP opened at $87.88 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $91.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $90.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. Natural Resource Partners has a 12-month low of $64.04 and a 12-month high of $102.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.49 and a beta of 0.51. Get Natural Resource Partners alerts: Natural Resource Partners Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 20th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 20th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.41%. Natural Resource Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 22.16%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Resource Partners Natural Resource Partners Company Profile A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Natural Resource Partners by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Meixler Investment Management Ltd. now owns 28,182 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,609,000 after buying an additional 630 shares during the period. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Natural Resource Partners during the 4th quarter valued at $278,000. Anthracite Investment Company Inc. acquired a new position in Natural Resource Partners during the 4th quarter valued at $1,260,000. ING Groep NV boosted its holdings in Natural Resource Partners by 24.5% in the 4th quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 25,400 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $2,351,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP grew its position in Natural Resource Partners by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 9,939 shares of the energy companys stock worth $914,000 after purchasing an additional 999 shares during the last quarter. 31.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Free Report) Natural Resource Partners L.P., together with its subsidiaries, owns, manages, and leases a portfolio of mineral properties in the United States. It operates in two segments, Mineral Rights and Soda Ash. The company owns interests in coal, soda ash, trona, and other natural resources. Its coal reserves are primarily located in the Appalachia Basin, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin in the United States; industrial minerals and aggregates properties located in the United States; and oil and gas properties located in Louisiana. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Natural Resource Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Natural Resource Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments grew its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Free Report) by 11.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 70,478 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 7,053 shares during the quarter. Summit Global Investments holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $4,647,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group during the second quarter valued at $73,000. Focus Financial Network Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 8.7% during the second quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 5,824 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the period. Cidel Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 40.2% during the second quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 126,752 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $8,357,000 after purchasing an additional 36,349 shares during the period. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 1.1% during the second quarter. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,997 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $989,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the period. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group during the second quarter valued at $36,000. 19.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Stock Down 0.8 % Shares of RIO traded down $0.49 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $61.99. 2,241,414 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,729,899. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of $59.31 and a 12-month high of $75.09. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $65.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $66.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The company has a market cap of $77.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.67. Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. Rio Tinto Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.30%. RIO has been the subject of several research reports. HSBC raised Rio Tinto Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. StockNews.com raised Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 21st. Hsbc Global Res raised Rio Tinto Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Berenberg Bank cut Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Rio Tinto Group to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. View Our Latest Research Report on RIO Rio Tinto Group Profile (Free Report) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MBABANE While men are welcoming the idea of mandatory DNA testing before anyone pays child maintenance, organisations advocating for womens rights say this is not the solution. This follows a call by some of the countrys lawmakers for obligatory deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing, which they argued is essential to prevent cases where individuals are unjustly compelled to support children who are not biologically theirs. Such, they said, could also help reduce gender-based violence (GBV) cases linked to disputes over childrens paternity. Among those who welcomed the move was a judicial officer, who stated that the paternity of his two children was questionable. Supported The officer, who has children with different women, stated that he discovered that the child was also being supported by another man, but opted to keep it a secret as he had a wife. However, Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Communications Officer Sakhile Dlamini said DNA was a reactionary measure, when challenges were encountered. Dlamini said it is important to deal with the root cause, which include prevention of pregnancy, which eventually lead to disputes. According to Dlamini, there is no logic that people could fail to pay E800 for maintenance but afford E5 000 for DNA. Dlamini said if the issue of maintenance was to be addressed and verification of a childs biological parents done, there were other ways of doing it. In regard to ending GBV, Dlamini said DNA is not a preventative measure. She said if the legislators were keen to address GBV, it should be addressed at the root as opposed to the end. She said there are issues of prevention, which should be promoted before people could find themselves in problems whereby they found they had to pay for expensive DNA tests. These, she said, could involve safe sex and family planning. We are coming from tackling condom misconception, whereby people were engaging in unprotected sex and they would state that condoms compromised sex, Dlamini said. The spokesperson said there was another intervention of preventing unwanted pregnancies, which is contraceptives but again, men complained about how women become during sexual intercourse. She said all the mistaken beliefs come from men most of the time. According to Dlamini, what causes the maintenance problems is that the children are not planned for, and paternity issues arise. She stated that DNA testing could result in challenges whereby people would not be able to pay for it and cases dragged as a result. Men have been using paternity as means not to pay maintenance for their children. On the other hand, One Billion Rising Director Colani Hlatjwako said they welcomed initiatives to assist in child maintenance and GBV associated with the paternity of a child. DNA testing could be one way of partly solving the issue of child maintenance. She said if the DNA testing would be mandatory, government should bear the costs. Currently, she said the person who has questions regarding paternity pays for the costs. She said the legislators needed to discuss the role to be played by government on the issue of paternity testing, in order for the process not to be halted due to the non-availability of funds. Hlatjwako said they had seen cases of some men not maintaining their children, knowing that they were the biological fathers. She said it is true that maintenance also triggered violence, adding that when someone had raised a child, only to discover that she or he was not theirs, they ended up killing the spouse, the children and themselves. Hlatjwako said they discouraged such things. Meanwhile, social media was abuzz on the issue. Some members of the public on Facebook recommended that it should be done during the birth of a child, free from costs. Against However, others were against the idea, as they felt it would divide families. They added that the DNA testing might assist parents but there would be a lot of children who would be negatively affected by same. This, they stated, is because the results do not show who the father of the child is, when they come out negative. They were of the view that to wait until maintenance claims were made would not totally curb the problem. According to some of the Facebook users, men had in many instances supported children who did not belong to them. They sated that mandatory DNA testing before requiring child support payment is sensible, considering that some women have five men supporting one child. First Colombia Gold (OTCMKTS:FCGD Get Free Report) and Taseko Mines (NYSE:TGB Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, earnings and dividends. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for First Colombia Gold and Taseko Mines, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get First Colombia Gold alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score First Colombia Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Taseko Mines 0 0 2 1 3.33 Taseko Mines has a consensus target price of $3.50, indicating a potential upside of 58.37%. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets First Colombia Gold N/A N/A N/A Taseko Mines 13.07% 18.82% 4.78% Valuation & Earnings This table compares First Colombia Gold and Taseko Mines net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares First Colombia Gold and Taseko Mines revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio First Colombia Gold N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Taseko Mines $388.86 million 1.67 $61.28 million $0.24 9.21 Taseko Mines has higher revenue and earnings than First Colombia Gold. Insider & Institutional Ownership 17.9% of Taseko Mines shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of First Colombia Gold shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.3% of Taseko Mines shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility & Risk First Colombia Gold has a beta of 0.1, suggesting that its stock price is 90% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Taseko Mines has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its stock price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Taseko Mines beats First Colombia Gold on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About First Colombia Gold (Get Free Report) First Colombia Gold Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties. The company operates through Energy and Mining divisions. It holds interests in 96 oil wells with a gross acreage of 4,302 acres in the counties of Cumberland, Monroe, Overton, and Clinton. The company is also involved in the precious minerals exploration business. It owns 2 unpatented mining claims in the Skip Silver prospect covering an area of approximately 40 acres in central Montana. The company was formerly known as Amazon Goldsands Ltd. and changed its name to First Colombia Gold Corp. in November 2010. First Colombia Gold Corp. was founded in 1997 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. About Taseko Mines (Get Free Report) Taseko Mines Limited, a mining company, acquires, develops, and operates mineral properties. It explores for copper, molybdenum, gold, niobium, and silver deposits. The company's principal asset comprises 100% interest owned the Gibraltar mine located in British Columbia. It also holds interest in the Yellowhead copper project, the Aley niobium project, and the New Prosperity gold and copper project located in British Columbia; and the Florence copper project located in Arizona. Taseko Mines Limited was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for First Colombia Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Colombia Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hall Laurie J Trustee decreased its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 7.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 620 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 50 shares during the period. Hall Laurie J Trustees holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $559,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Liberty One Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 78.6% during the second quarter. Liberty One Investment Management LLC now owns 250 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $226,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 4.3% during the second quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,196 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,931,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. bought a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger during the second quarter worth about $291,000. Vista Investment Partners LLC lifted its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 1.7% in the second quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,961 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,672,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oakworth Capital Inc. bought a new position in W.W. Grainger in the second quarter worth about $62,000. Institutional investors own 80.70% of the companys stock. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of brokerages have issued reports on GWW. Robert W. Baird cut shares of W.W. Grainger from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from $1,000.00 to $975.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 29th. Erste Group Bank reissued a hold rating on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Friday, June 14th. Loop Capital cut their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $1,000.00 to $975.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 29th. Stephens raised shares of W.W. Grainger from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $1,000.00 to $1,250.00 in a report on Monday, April 29th. Finally, Baird R W cut shares of W.W. Grainger from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 29th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,017.13. Insider Activity at W.W. Grainger In related news, SVP Matt Fortin sold 511 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $915.20, for a total value of $467,667.20. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 1,848 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,691,289.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 9.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. W.W. Grainger Stock Performance Shares of GWW traded up $4.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $962.40. 147,532 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 245,778. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 12 month low of $674.41 and a 12 month high of $1,034.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 2.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.17. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $937.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $951.68. W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.58 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.35 billion. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.86% and a return on equity of 53.25%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $9.28 EPS. Equities analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 39.1 earnings per share for the current year. W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 12th will be paid a $2.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 12th. This represents a $8.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.85%. W.W. Graingers payout ratio is currently 22.64%. W.W. Grainger Profile (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments trimmed its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,617 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Summit Global Investments holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $376,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1,677.8% in the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 320 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Raymond James reissued a buy rating and issued a $124.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, April 24th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 29th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $128.00 to $119.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $120.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $125.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Tuesday, June 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.00. Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.4 % NYSE ABT traded up $0.45 on Wednesday, reaching $111.22. The stock had a trading volume of 2,139,544 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,992,095. The firm has a market capitalization of $193.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $89.67 and a 12-month high of $121.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $105.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $108.70. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $10.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.37 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.65% and a return on equity of 20.18%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 15th were paid a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 15th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 68.54%. Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eleven analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $41.73. A number of brokerages have issued reports on BAX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Baxter International from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Baxter International from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. TD Cowen lowered Baxter International from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $40.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Baxter International from $38.00 to $37.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Get Baxter International alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on BAX Institutional Trading of Baxter International Baxter International Stock Performance A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BAX. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Baxter International in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the first quarter worth $39,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in Baxter International by 205.4% in the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 953 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 641 shares in the last quarter. United Community Bank acquired a new position in Baxter International in the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in Baxter International by 974.2% during the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,332 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208 shares in the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Baxter International stock opened at $36.24 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. Baxter International has a 12-month low of $31.01 and a 12-month high of $44.01. Baxter International (NYSE:BAX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.02. Baxter International had a net margin of 17.79% and a return on equity of 18.47%. The company had revenue of $3.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.75 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.55 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Baxter International will post 2.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Baxter International Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.20%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Baxter Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.31%. About Baxter International (Get Free Report Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Baxter International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baxter International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Terreno Realty Co. (NYSE:TRNO Free Report) by 3.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 870,755 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 29,489 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned 0.90% of Terreno Realty worth $51,531,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of TRNO. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Terreno Realty by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,981,741 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $861,988,000 after acquiring an additional 919,851 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Terreno Realty during the 4th quarter valued at about $54,302,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Terreno Realty by 16.4% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 5,155,458 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $342,322,000 after purchasing an additional 727,995 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado increased its stake in Terreno Realty by 91,086.2% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 713,076 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $44,688,000 after purchasing an additional 712,294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Terreno Realty by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,162,332 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $276,381,000 after purchasing an additional 291,051 shares in the last quarter. Get Terreno Realty alerts: Terreno Realty Stock Performance NYSE TRNO traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $68.05. 92,925 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 699,157. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $63.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.35. The company has a current ratio of 2.34, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.89. Terreno Realty Co. has a 52 week low of $50.42 and a 52 week high of $69.74. Terreno Realty Increases Dividend Insider Activity at Terreno Realty The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th will be given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.88%. This is a positive change from Terreno Realtys previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. Terreno Realtys payout ratio is 93.75%. In related news, President Michael A. Coke sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.53, for a total transaction of $513,975.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 402,164 shares in the company, valued at $27,560,298.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Terreno Realty news, President Michael A. Coke sold 7,500 shares of Terreno Realty stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.53, for a total transaction of $513,975.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 402,164 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,560,298.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Jaime Jackson Cannon sold 4,998 shares of Terreno Realty stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.39, for a total transaction of $341,813.22. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,927 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,970,787.53. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 18,643 shares of company stock worth $1,277,581. 2.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have weighed in on TRNO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Terreno Realty from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 13th. Wedbush restated a neutral rating and set a $70.00 price objective (up from $57.00) on shares of Terreno Realty in a research note on Friday, August 16th. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Terreno Realty in a research note on Tuesday, June 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $68.00 price objective for the company. JMP Securities raised their price objective on shares of Terreno Realty from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Terreno Realty from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Terreno Realty presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.89. Read Our Latest Analysis on Terreno Realty About Terreno Realty (Free Report) Terreno Realty Corporation (Terreno, and together with its subsidiaries, the Company) acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: Los Angeles, Northern New Jersey/New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Miami, and Washington, DC All square feet, acres, occupancy and number of properties disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial statements are unaudited. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Terreno Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Terreno Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the four brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $18.50. Several analysts have issued reports on CLB shares. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Core Laboratories from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Core Laboratories from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Core Laboratories from $18.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Core Laboratories from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Get Core Laboratories alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on CLB Hedge Funds Weigh In On Core Laboratories Core Laboratories Trading Down 4.8 % A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CLB. Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN raised its stake in Core Laboratories by 446.8% in the second quarter. Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN now owns 4,460,720 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $90,508,000 after buying an additional 3,644,963 shares in the last quarter. Ariel Investments LLC raised its stake in Core Laboratories by 20.4% in the first quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 10,825,657 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $184,902,000 after buying an additional 1,837,258 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA raised its stake in Core Laboratories by 17.6% in the first quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 1,606,745 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $27,443,000 after buying an additional 240,989 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC raised its stake in Core Laboratories by 6.3% in the second quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 3,286,438 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $66,682,000 after buying an additional 195,756 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gendell Jeffrey L raised its stake in Core Laboratories by 101.7% in the first quarter. Gendell Jeffrey L now owns 326,890 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,583,000 after buying an additional 164,797 shares in the last quarter. 97.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Core Laboratories stock opened at $18.33 on Friday. Core Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $13.82 and a fifty-two week high of $26.49. The firms fifty day moving average price is $20.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.07. The stock has a market cap of $859.68 million, a P/E ratio of 20.83, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 2.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.39. Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.01. Core Laboratories had a net margin of 5.44% and a return on equity of 15.20%. The business had revenue of $130.58 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $132.85 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.23 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Core Laboratories will post 0.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Core Laboratories Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 5th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.22%. Core Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 4.55%. Core Laboratories Company Profile (Get Free Report Core Laboratories Inc provides reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States, and internationally. It operates through Reservoir Description and Production Enhancement segments. The Reservoir Description segment includes the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock and reservoir fluid samples to enhance production and improve recovery of crude oil and gas from its clients' reservoirs. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Core Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Core Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dingdong (Cayman) Limited (NYSE:DDL Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,580,000 shares, a decline of 7.1% from the July 15th total of 1,700,000 shares. Approximately 1.1% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 491,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.2 days. Dingdong (Cayman) Price Performance Shares of DDL stock opened at $2.02 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $477.18 million, a PE ratio of -67.33 and a beta of 0.25. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $1.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1.62. Dingdong has a 1 year low of $1.07 and a 1 year high of $2.38. Get Dingdong (Cayman) alerts: Institutional Trading of Dingdong (Cayman) Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Dingdong (Cayman) by 0.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,849,609 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,917,000 after acquiring an additional 17,900 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dingdong (Cayman) in the 2nd quarter worth about $86,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Dingdong (Cayman) during the 1st quarter worth about $54,000. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in Dingdong (Cayman) by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 9,308,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,963,000 after purchasing an additional 166,736 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Dingdong (Cayman) by 63.4% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 690,200 shares of the companys stock worth $1,373,000 after purchasing an additional 267,700 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.66% of the companys stock. Dingdong (Cayman) Company Profile Dingdong (Cayman) Limited operates an e-commerce company in China. The company offers fresh groceries, including vegetables, meat and eggs, fruits, and seafood; prepared food, and other food products, such as baked goods, dairy, seasonings, beverages, instant food, oil, and snacks. It offers its products through traditional offline, as well as online channels through Dingdong Fresh app, mini-programs, and third-party platforms. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Dingdong (Cayman) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dingdong (Cayman) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE:GBTG Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,660,000 shares, a decline of 7.1% from the July 15th total of 3,940,000 shares. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 833,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.4 days. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently commented on GBTG shares. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Global Business Travel Group from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Global Business Travel Group from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Get Global Business Travel Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Global Business Travel Group Global Business Travel Group Stock Down 2.3 % Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global Business Travel Group Shares of NYSE GBTG opened at $6.92 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $3.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -17.74 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. Global Business Travel Group has a 12 month low of $4.49 and a 12 month high of $7.16. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $6.62 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.18. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GBTG. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Global Business Travel Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $143,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its stake in shares of Global Business Travel Group by 70.9% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 54,588 shares of the companys stock valued at $360,000 after acquiring an additional 22,650 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in shares of Global Business Travel Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $489,000. Amalgamated Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Global Business Travel Group by 299.1% during the 2nd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 4,342 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 3,254 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in Global Business Travel Group by 431.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 105,700 shares of the companys stock worth $698,000 after acquiring an additional 85,800 shares during the last quarter. 82.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Global Business Travel Group (Get Free Report) Global Business Travel Group, Inc provides business-to-business (B2B) travel platform in the United States and internationally. The company's platform offers a suite of technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and clients; travel content suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and aggregators; and third-party travel agencies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Global Business Travel Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Business Travel Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (LON:JAR Get Free Report) declared a dividend on Thursday, August 1st, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 22nd will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share on Wednesday, October 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 22nd. The official announcement can be seen at this link. Jardine Matheson Stock Performance Shares of JAR opened at GBX 62.50 ($0.81) on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of 158.65 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 223.21 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.82, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.90. Jardine Matheson has a 1-year low of GBX 34.29 ($0.45) and a 1-year high of GBX 62.50 ($0.81). The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 60.31 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 61.18. Get Jardine Matheson alerts: About Jardine Matheson (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates in motor vehicles and related operations, property investment and development, food retailing, health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction, and transportation businesses in China, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Receive News & Ratings for Jardine Matheson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jardine Matheson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,853 shares of the companys stock after selling 39 shares during the period. Legacy Capital Group California Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,678,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC now owns 811 shares of the companys stock worth $734,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Verum Partners LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Verum Partners LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the period. Acorn Creek Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Acorn Creek Capital LLC now owns 927 shares of the companys stock valued at $840,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 736 shares of the companys stock worth $573,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the period. Finally, Innova Wealth Partners boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Innova Wealth Partners now owns 1,068 shares of the companys stock worth $831,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LLY has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $994.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Barclays increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $913.00 to $1,025.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Argus increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $770.00 to $840.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 14th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $885.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $956.88. Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance NYSE LLY traded up $1.58 on Wednesday, hitting $951.55. The stock had a trading volume of 1,880,307 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,097,677. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $881.72 and a 200-day moving average of $810.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.35. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $516.57 and a 52-week high of $967.00. The company has a market capitalization of $904.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 139.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.41. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th will be given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 76.58%. Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total value of $197,362,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 96,943,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,109,731,514.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total transaction of $197,362,200.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 96,943,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,109,731,514.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Johna Norton sold 7,056 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $819.38, for a total transaction of $5,781,545.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 25,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,835,194.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 1,214,704 shares of company stock valued at $1,066,841,316. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) shares rose 1.3% on Monday . The company traded as high as $50.93 and last traded at $50.87. Approximately 1,874,548 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 10,901,280 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.21. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth NEM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Scotiabank upgraded Newmont from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $48.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on Newmont from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 16th. National Bank Financial cut shares of Newmont from an outperform overweight rating to a sector perform overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Newmont from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Cibc World Mkts upgraded shares of Newmont from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.92. Get Newmont alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NEM Newmont Stock Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $45.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $40.38. The company has a market cap of $59.81 billion, a PE ratio of -19.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 0.47. Newmont (NYSE:NEM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The basic materials company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $4.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.13 billion. Newmont had a negative net margin of 13.16% and a positive return on equity of 8.35%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 64.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.33 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Newmont Co. will post 2.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Newmont Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.93%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. Newmonts dividend payout ratio is presently -37.45%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Thomas Ronald Palmer sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.51, for a total transaction of $990,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 311,469 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,420,830.19. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Newmont A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NEM. LRI Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Newmont in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in Newmont in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Manchester Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Newmont by 171.9% during the 4th quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 628 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 397 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Newmont in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Heritage Wealth Advisors lifted its stake in Newmont by 1,310.4% during the first quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 945 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 878 shares during the last quarter. 68.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Newmont Company Profile (Get Free Report) Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments acquired a new position in shares of Louisiana-Pacific Co. (NYSE:LPX Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 18,204 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock, valued at approximately $1,499,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. LifeSteps Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Louisiana-Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Louisiana-Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Whittier Trust Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Louisiana-Pacific in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Louisiana-Pacific by 258.5% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 441 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 318 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Louisiana-Pacific by 57.3% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 486 shares of the building manufacturing companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. 94.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Louisiana-Pacific alerts: Insider Activity at Louisiana-Pacific In related news, Director Ozey K. Horton, Jr. sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.10, for a total value of $76,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 29,008 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,787,668.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Louisiana-Pacific news, Director Ozey K. Horton, Jr. sold 800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.10, for a total transaction of $76,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 29,008 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,787,668.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Lizanne C. Gottung sold 3,591 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.18, for a total value of $320,245.38. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 23,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,095,819.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Louisiana-Pacific Stock Performance Shares of LPX stock traded up $0.99 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $93.32. 115,258 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 912,258. The company has a market cap of $6.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 13.92 and a beta of 1.89. The companys 50 day moving average is $89.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $82.88. Louisiana-Pacific Co. has a 1 year low of $49.47 and a 1 year high of $101.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 3.32 and a quick ratio of 1.75. Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The building manufacturing company reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.23. Louisiana-Pacific had a return on equity of 20.87% and a net margin of 9.74%. The business had revenue of $814.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $797.26 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.55 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 33.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Louisiana-Pacific Co. will post 5.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Louisiana-Pacific Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 20th will be paid a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 20th. Louisiana-Pacifics payout ratio is currently 28.57%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on LPX shares. Loop Capital started coverage on Louisiana-Pacific in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. They issued a hold rating and a $82.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $105.00 price objective (up from $101.00) on shares of Louisiana-Pacific in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Seaport Res Ptn cut Louisiana-Pacific from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 9th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Louisiana-Pacific from $101.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Louisiana-Pacific from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Louisiana-Pacific has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $94.88. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on LPX Louisiana-Pacific Profile (Free Report) Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides building solutions primarily for use in new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structure markets. It operates through Siding, Oriented Strand Board, LP South America, and Other segments. The Siding segment offers LP SmartSide trim and siding products, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish trim and siding products, LP BuilderSeries lap siding products, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions; and engineered wood siding, trim, soffit, and fascia products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Louisiana-Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Louisiana-Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI increased its holdings in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,847 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 165 shares during the period. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FIs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $231,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BK. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 82.1% in the 1st quarter. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 510 shares of the banks stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Olistico Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Able Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors own 85.31% of the companys stock. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bank of New York Mellon news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.11, for a total value of $961,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 173,930 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,150,652.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock. Bank of New York Mellon Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:BK traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $65.24. The company had a trading volume of 2,830,157 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,841,793. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $58.62. The firm has a market cap of $48.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.09. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 1-year low of $39.66 and a 1-year high of $65.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.70. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 12th. The bank reported $1.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $4.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.53 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 9.40% and a return on equity of 11.87%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.38 EPS. Research analysts predict that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, July 22nd were paid a $0.47 dividend. This is an increase from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 22nd. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 43.52%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $61.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a report on Monday, July 15th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an outperform rating and set a $75.00 price target (up from $70.00) on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.14. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BK About Bank of New York Mellon (Free Report) The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UWM Holdings Co. (NYSE:UWMC Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Reduce by the seven brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $7.29. A number of research analysts recently commented on UWMC shares. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of UWM from $8.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Wedbush lifted their price target on shares of UWM from $7.00 to $8.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of UWM from $7.50 to $8.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of UWM from $5.00 to $6.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of UWM from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Get UWM alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on UWMC UWM Price Performance Shares of NYSE:UWMC opened at $9.25 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day moving average is $7.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.17. UWM has a 52 week low of $4.49 and a 52 week high of $9.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $884.10 million, a P/E ratio of 308.33 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. UWM (NYSE:UWMC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.06 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $507.09 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $540.31 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.11 EPS. Analysts anticipate that UWM will post 0.28 earnings per share for the current year. UWM Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 19th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.32%. UWMs dividend payout ratio is currently 1,333.33%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Quadrature Capital Ltd raised its holdings in shares of UWM by 124.3% during the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 54,778 shares of the companys stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 30,361 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in shares of UWM by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 57,948 shares of the companys stock valued at $421,000 after purchasing an additional 3,207 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of UWM by 1,743.3% during the 2nd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 239,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,662,000 after purchasing an additional 226,819 shares in the last quarter. Azora Capital LP bought a new position in UWM in the 4th quarter worth $6,705,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in UWM by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 277,580 shares of the companys stock worth $1,985,000 after acquiring an additional 5,478 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 53.59% of the companys stock. UWM Company Profile (Get Free Report UWM Holdings Corporation engages in the residential mortgage lending business in the United States. The company offers mortgage loans through wholesale channel. It originates primarily conforming and government loans. UWM Holdings Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for UWM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UWM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Veracity Capital LLC lessened its holdings in First Majestic Silver Corp. (NYSE:AG Free Report) (TSE:FR) by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,634 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 2,028 shares during the period. Veracity Capital LLCs holdings in First Majestic Silver were worth $87,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cetera Advisors LLC raised its stake in First Majestic Silver by 3.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 53,577 shares of the mining companys stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 1,601 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of First Majestic Silver in the 1st quarter worth about $1,373,000. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in shares of First Majestic Silver by 6,929.4% during the 1st quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 5,174,889 shares of the mining companys stock worth $30,406,000 after purchasing an additional 5,101,271 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in First Majestic Silver during the 1st quarter valued at about $62,000. Finally, Bayesian Capital Management LP lifted its holdings in First Majestic Silver by 93.9% during the 1st quarter. Bayesian Capital Management LP now owns 61,300 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $360,000 after purchasing an additional 29,686 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 27.16% of the companys stock. Get First Majestic Silver alerts: First Majestic Silver Stock Up 1.6 % Shares of NYSE:AG traded up $0.09 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $5.85. 4,856,266 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,608,190. First Majestic Silver Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $4.17 and a fifty-two week high of $8.44. The stock has a market cap of $1.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -36.00 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 2.33, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $5.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.10. First Majestic Silver Dividend Announcement First Majestic Silver ( NYSE:AG Get Free Report ) (TSE:FR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The mining company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $136.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $129.74 million. First Majestic Silver had a negative return on equity of 4.41% and a negative net margin of 15.37%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.02) earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that First Majestic Silver Corp. will post -0.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 30th. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.0046 per share. This represents a $0.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.31%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. First Majestic Silvers payout ratio is -6.25%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently weighed in on AG shares. HC Wainwright restated a buy rating and issued a $8.50 target price on shares of First Majestic Silver in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of First Majestic Silver from $5.50 to $6.50 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 23rd. Get Our Latest Stock Report on AG About First Majestic Silver (Free Report) First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. Its projects include the San Dimas mine covering an area of approximately 71,867 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico; the Santa Elena that covers an area of approximately 102,244 hectares located in Sonora State, Mexico; and the La Encantada covering an area of approximately 4,076 hectares located in Coahuila State, Mexico. See Also Receive News & Ratings for First Majestic Silver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Majestic Silver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Uber starts rides with Pets in Bangalore 08 Oct 2024 | 7:29 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) In a good news for pet lovers, Uber, an app based transportation and ride-sharing technology company on Tuesday announced the launch of Uber Pet in Bangalore allowing riders to bring their beloved pets along for the ride. see more.. ICICI Bank partners with PhonePe to offer instant credit on UPI 08 Oct 2024 | 6:57 PM Hyderabad, Oct 8 (UNI) ICICI Bank on Tuesday announced that it has partnered with PhonePe to offer instant credit on UPI to its pre-approved customers on the app of the digital payments company. see more.. Torrent Power gets LoA from MSEDCL for supply of 2,000 MW Energy Storage Capacity 08 Oct 2024 | 6:52 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) Private integrated power utility firm Torrent Power Limited has received letter of award from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) for long-term supply of 2,000 Megawatt (MW) Energy Storage Capacity from InSTS Connected Pumped Hydro Storage Plant. see more.. Kottayam-Kochi Rubber market Rates 08 Oct 2024 | 5:13 PM Kottayam Oct 08 (UNI) Following were the Rubber Market rates announced by the Rubber Board here on Tuesday per quintal Kottayam RSS FOUR: 21000 RSS FIVE : 20700 ISNR TWENTY: 18900 SIXTY PERCENT LATEX: 13950 Kochi RSS FOUR: 21000 RSS FIVE: 2070 International Rates (Bangkok) RSS One: 23805 RSS Two: 23654 RSS Three: 23516 RSS Four: 23441 RSS Five: 233328 Kuala Lumpur SMR TWENTY : 17873($212.85) SIXTY PERCENT LATEX : 14919($177.65) UNI PA BD. see more.. Will not leave any stone unturned to fulfill aspirations: Modi after Haryana win 08 Oct 2024 | 11:16 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked the people of Haryana for voting teh BJP back to power and said he will not leave any stone unturned to fulfill their aspirations". see more.. Top most priority is to restore statehood to J&K : Congress 08 Oct 2024 | 10:04 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) The Congress on Tuesday congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for giving a clear manadate to the National Conference and Indian National Congress alliance in the Assembly election. see more.. BJP scores stunning Haryana hattrick, NC-Congress alliance gets majority in J&K 08 Oct 2024 | 9:22 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday pulled off a historic third straight triumph in Haryana, virtually snatching victory from the claws of the Congress which was widely being seen as the potential winner in the Assembly election. see more.. BJP set for Haryana hat-trick, NC-Congress alliance gets majority in J&K 08 Oct 2024 | 8:20 PM New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday pulled off a historic third straight victory in Haryana, virtually snatching victory from the claws of the Congress which was widely being seen as the potential winner. see more.. In a clear demonstration of its commitment to defense readiness, Taiwan conducted a large-scale military exercise at the Jiupeng military base in Pingtung County. The exercise featured successfully launching two U.S.-made Patriot PAC-2 missiles alongside locally developed Sky Bow III anti-ballistic missiles, hitting targets approximately 30 kilometers off Taiwans eastern coast. Get alerts: Show of Force During Escalating Pressure This exercise comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as a breakaway province. Beijing has intensified its military activities around the island, including frequent incursions by warplanes and naval vessels near Taiwans coast, prompting concerns about a potential invasion. Colonel Kao Shu-li, the spokesperson for the exercise, stated that the training aimed to test the effectiveness of the weapon systems and the soldiers in a joint air defense scenario. The decentralized command model employed during the exercise highlighted Taiwans focus on improving responsiveness and coordination of forces in potential conflict situations. PAC-2 Missiles: A Key Component of Taiwans Defense Strategy Strengthening Defense Capabilities Through Diversification The Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) is a highly sophisticated air defense system designed to operate in all weather conditions and altitudes. Its ability to intercept ballistic missiles makes it a critical component of Taiwans defense strategy against potential Chinese aggression. Weighing approximately 900 kg and measuring 5.8 meters in length, the PAC-2 boasts a range of up to 70 km and utilizes a powerful 90 kg warhead. Its advanced guidance system, based on a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, ensures precise target tracking and interception. Taiwans utilization of the PAC-2, supplied by the United States, underlines its strategy of diversifying its weapon systems. This approach combines procuring advanced military equipment from allies, particularly the United States, with bolstering its domestic arms industry. The recent announcement of a 6% increase in the defense budget for 2025, bringing it to 647 billion Taiwanese dollars (approximately 19.8 billion U.S. dollars), reflects Taiwans commitment to strengthening its defenses. Transparency and International Messaging The recent exercise marked a significant departure from previous practices, with the Ministry of Defense inviting the press to witness the live-fire demonstration. This increased transparency, a first in twelve years, is interpreted as a deliberate effort to reassure the Taiwanese population and send a strong message to the international community about Taiwans resolve to defend its sovereignty. Ministry of Defense spokesperson Sun Li-fang emphasized the importance of the exercise in verifying the effectiveness of the weapons systems and the robust training of the soldiers. The simulated combat conditions under which the missile launches were conducted served to validate the operational capabilities of Taiwans armed forces. Deterrence and Diplomacy: A Two-Pronged Approach As China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, the island nation is pursuing a multifaceted strategy that combines strengthening its military capabilities with active diplomacy. The recent exercise serves as a powerful reminder of the tense geopolitical situation and underscores Taiwans determination to deter any attempt by China to take control by force. Alongside military preparedness, Taiwan is actively engaging with unofficial allies like Japan and South Korea to solidify its international support network. A Future Defined by Uncertainty The recent military exercise, showcasing Taiwans advanced defense capabilities, highlights the islands commitment to safeguarding its autonomy. While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Taiwan is preparing to defend its sovereignty in the face of growing pressure from China. The balance of power in the region remains delicate, and the world watches closely as Taiwan continues to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. The live-fire launch of the PAC-2 missiles serves as a powerful symbol of Taiwans unwavering commitment to self-defense and its determination to secure a future free from coercion. Sheikh Hasina faces nine additional cases of murder, ICT Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNI) At least nine new cases were filed against ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday on various allegations, including murder, across the country, media reports said. One of the cases was related to the May 5, 2013 crackdown on a Hefajat-e-Islam protest in the Shapla Chattar of Motijheel area of this capital city. The opposition BNP as also hardline Islamic groups have consistently accused the Hasina-led erstwhile Awami League government of committing genocide during the crackdown, a charge denied by her regime.. The charge was submitted with the International Crimes Tribunal's investigating office today, accusing the former Prime Minister and 23 others of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during Derry will host an in-conversation event between Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza and Derry Girls star Jamie Lee ODonnell to raise funds for the victims of Israels war on Gaza. Organised by the Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the event is set to take place in the Guildhall on Thursday, August 22. IPSC spokesperson Catherine Hutton believes the event is incredibly important for the struggle Palestinians are still facing in Gaza. She said: Motaz has brought the plight of the Palestinians to people who would have been unaware prior to October 7. He was on the frontline recording what was happening in Gaza. It was his and several other works from the very start that exposed what the Israelis were doing. They exposed the displacement, indiscriminate bombing, starvation, and lack of humanitarian aid getting in, showing how the children and the people were suffering. We only know what's happening there because of Gazan journalists. He left in March this year and has been touring the world to keep people informed of what is happening, so it is not forgotten. As of today, there are 169 of them dead; two of them were shot in the past couple of days. Israel continues to restrict the access of journalists to Gaza, particularly broadcasters, with Israels parliament passing a bill in April allowing it to close Al Jazeeras office in Israel, block its website and ban local channels from using its coverage. These actions fill Mrs. Hutton with concern, and she believes media outlets should be pushing for more access to Gaza to report. She said: There has been very little outcry in the media about what is happening to the journalists looking to report what is happening in Gazathe silencing being done by the Israelis as soldiers target journalists, particularly Palestinian journalists. There should be a push by the media to get in there and report on it, show what is happening and hold the Israelis to account for their actions. The event was sold out within hours, but people wishing to welcome and greet the award-winning photojournalist, Derry, can do so when he is presented at Free Derry Corner at 4pm. People have been encouraged by the IPSC to come down with flags to provide a Derry welcome to Mr. Azaiza. Mrs. Hutton said: Motaz will be getting a tour of the Museum of Free Derry on Thursday with the with the Chairman of Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust, Tony Doherty. I was speaking to a Palestinian recently at an event, and he spoke about how he feels at home in Derry, and it is because of the people. That spoke a lot to me, and I feel Motaz will see that, as there is no welcome like a Derry welcome. We are going to walk from Free Derry Corner to the Guildhall, which was part of the Civil Rights route in 1972 that never happened because of the events of Bloody Sunday and actions taken by the British soldiers. I think it will be a very symbolic afternoon, even before the event that night. The event is set to start at 7pm with chair Jamie Lee ODonnell, perceived as the perfect fit for the role, according to Mrs. Hutton. She said: The reason we thought of Jamie-Lee and approached her was because of her support and solidarity. She has put herself out there in the line. It takes a lot of guts to put your head above the parapet when you have a public persona and actually stand up for what is right and by your morals. There are plenty of celebrities, entertainers, and personalities who have kept very quiet and are afraid of losing their brand deals and impacting their following. Staff at Derry-based elections tech firm Modern Democracy are preparing to step out for a unique charity drive that will see them complete a Three Bridge Challenge around the city. The initiative, in aid of Cancer Research UK, will see the Modern Democracy team circumnavigate Derry with a route that takes in the Craigavon, Foyle and Peace bridges. The walk is part of the wider Public Sector Challenge 2024 in which teams across the UK will tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. The team from Modern Democracy, which provides a digital voter check-in and registration platform to local authorities across the UK, decided to take their own local slant on the challenge. They will embark on the 12km walk on 6th September, with the route expected to take around three hours to complete. Stella Coyle, Modern Democracy, said: Working closely with our customers in local authorities across the UK, we are delighted to join them for this years Public Sector Challenge. With the main challenge taking place in Yorkshire, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to put our own unique twist on the event. Over the coming weeks, Modern Democracy will take to the footpaths along the route as they build up towards the challenge which will take place on the same day as the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. The event forms part of Modern Democracys wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Earlier this year, the team participated in a walking challenge in aid of Dravet Syndrome UK, raising around 1,500 for the cause. Cancer Research UK works to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. It is the world's leading independent cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information. For more information or to make a donation, visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/team-modern-democracy Tributes have been paid to renowned Derry journalist Nell McCafferty, who has died. She died in the early hours of Wednesday morning at a County Donegal nursing home, her family confirmed this morning. She was among the early cohorts of Catholics admitted to Queens University in Belfast, where she studied arts and got involved in civil rights politics. She spent time teaching briefly before beginning her journalism career. She worked for several publications including the Irish Times, the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press and was a regular panellist on radio and television programmes. Mrs McCafferty was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement. In 1971, she travelled to Belfast with other members of the Irish Women's Liberation Movement in order to protest the prohibition of the importation and sale of contraceptives in the Republic of Ireland. The incident, which attracted extensive publicity, became known as the 'Contraceptive Train'. Leading the tributes, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins described Nell McCafferty as a 'pioneer' who had 'a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness'. President Higgins said: "It is with great sorrow that so many people will have learnt of the death of Nell McCafferty. "Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. "For example, Nell knew that standing behind the rituals of courts and unfortunate defendants, there was always a complex story which she had a gifted empathy to understand. In her column, In the Eyes of the Law, she opened peoples eyes to the operation of the District Court and its interaction with those who found themselves before it. "Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. "Across so many areas, including her work on the Kerry Babies case captured in her book A Woman to Blame, the Troubles, her own life experience and so many other areas beside, Nells writing remains a compelling and courageous record of those decades. "As a writer and activist, including as a co-founder of the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, Nell McCafferty played a vital role and leaves a true legacy in fighting for feminism and womens rights across the island. "Paying tribute to Nell on her 80th birthday earlier this year, I said that those who have had Nell as a friend and an ally are very fortunate in their being given the gift of experiencing humanity in all its possibilities and vulnerabilities, and delivered as she did it with a sense of humour that paid tribute to the authenticity of her Derry upbringing. "Sabina and myself were privileged to be friends of Nell and to have experienced her enduring strength, courage, warmth and humour. She will be deeply missed by us all. "May I express my deepest condolences to Nells family, colleagues and many friends. Taoiseach Simon Harris described "fierce, fearless and fiery" campaigner who suffered no fools. "If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it," he said. "Her passion and wrath was not scattergun, it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. "As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. "In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. "Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. A man has been remanded in custody at Magherafelt Magistrate's Court, sitting in Derry, today charged with the murder of Sophie Watson on Sunday. Andrzej Pajaczkowski (43) of Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt was charged with one count of murder on August 18. A police officer connected the accused to the charge. The court heard that Pajaczkowski was a Polish national who has been resident here for 20 years. A defence solicitor Owen McKenna said his client had 'a workable knowledge of the English language' but an interpreter was on hand if required. He said that his client, who appeared by Sightlink from Musgrave holding centre in Belfast, had said not guilty after the charge was put to him. Mr McKenna said there was no challenge to the connection to the connection or any application for bail. He added that he was 'conscious' of the ongoing police investigation and added that the defence were currently looking into a bail address. The solicitor said that there was also medical issues in what he described as 'complicated and complex case'. District Judge Oonagh Mullan told the defendant that as he had not applied for bail there would be a remand in custody. Pajaczkowski will appear again on September 18. 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. The community in Magherafelt is in shock today following the arrest of a man for the murder of Sophie Watson, a local councillor has said. Sophie Watson, 57, was found unresponsive at the property in Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt on Sunday afternoon. She had suffered a number of stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrzej Pajaczkowski, 43, also of Ashgrove Park in Magherafelt, appeared before a district judge on Wednesday morning via video-link from the Serious Custody Suite at Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast. The Polish national spoke briefly at the outset of the short hearing to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that he understood the charge against him. A detective constable told district judge Oonagh Mullan that she could connect the accused to the charge. Pajaczkowskis defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna noted to the judge that his client had replied not guilty after being charged. He made no application for bail but said such an application may be made at a later point. The judge remanded the accused in custody to appear before the same court, via videolink, on September 18. SDLP councillor and Chair of Mid Ulster Policing and Community Safety Partnership Christine McFlynn said that the murder of another woman underscores the urgent need to tackle violence against women and girls. Cllr McFlynn said: People in Magherafelt are shocked this morning. News of Sophies death on Sunday left the community reeling and the arrest of a man for murder today has compounded that feeling. Our thoughts are with Sophies family at this traumatic and tragic time. No one should have to deal with the loss of a loved one in these circumstances. "I want to thank the PSNI for their swift action and would encourage anyone with information to come forward to police. The murder of another woman underlines again the need for us all to get to grips with the pandemic of violence against women and girls. "No one should have to live in fear that theyll be attacked, abused or killed and yet its far too often the case in our society. This must be an urgent priority. Women's Aid NI expressed their deepest condolences to the loved ones of Sophie Watson following the news of her tragic murder. A spokesperson said: Please know our thoughts are with you and the wider Magherafelt community during this incredibly difficult time. Sophie is the 21st woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, the vast majority of whom are also killed in their own home. If you have any information that can help the police with their investigation, no matter how insignificant you think it is, please contact the PSNI by calling '101'. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by submitting information to their website: crimestoppers-uk.org. Detectives have said they are continuing their inquiries into the murder and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward to them or anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers. The family of renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty have said they are humbled and comforted by the tributes following her death. The celebrated writer, 80, died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Fahan, Co Donegal following a long illness. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Derry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty, who was raised in Derrys Bogside area, authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. McCafferty had previously been in a long term relationship with fellow author Nuala OFaolain, who died in 2008. A statement from McCaffertys family to the PA news agency concluded with Goodnight Sisters the phrase she used to sign off at the end of TV appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings. There arent words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell, said the family. We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day. We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led the tributes, describing McCafferty as a writer who had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Nell McCafferty https://t.co/IlvxH3OsnK President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 21, 2024 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. I want to express my deep sadness at the death of former journalist, author and campaigner Nell McCafferty today. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in pic.twitter.com/sg8hLAk4kh Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) August 21, 2024 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure. Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon Nell McCafferty. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. Nells remains are reposing at her sister Carmel's residence, 43 Belmont Crescent from 3.30pm this afternoon, Wednesday, August 21. Funeral leaving from there on Friday, August 23 at 11.45am for 12.30pm Requiem Mass in St. Columba's Church, Longtower. A private cremation will take place afterwards in Lakelands Crematorium, Co. Cavan. Wake house will be private from 10.00pm in the evenings. Nells Requiem Mass can be streamed live via the link: https://longtowerchurch.org/webcam/ No flowers please, donations in lieu if desired to The Foyle Hospice c/o the immediate family or Mr. Kieran Connor, McClafferty Funeral Directors, Unit 3a, Rathmor Business Pk, Derry, BT48 0LZ. Plans for a major new 870 bedroom student accommodation scheme in south Belfast have been announced. The Murrays Exchange site was formerly occupied by Murrays Tobacco Factory which closed in 2005, and is also adjacent to the new Belfast Grand Station which is due to open next month. The plans announced by Elkstone come as student accommodation in Belfast is estimated to be around 5,000 beds short of requirements. The accommodation is set to include a mix of clusters, with single bedrooms including ensuites, a shared kitchen, living and dining space and self-contained studios with private kitchens. It will also have amenities such as a gym, cinema room, study room, and a social hub. Ciaran McIntyre, Elkstone co-founder and head of Real Estate, said the project will help revitalise the area. Whilst Murrays Exchange was constructed in 1900, a large part of the site has laid vacant for almost 20 years, he said. Our plans would not only assist in bolstering the supply of much needed student beds in the city but would also assist in revitalising the rich history of the development site. Located close to both Queens University and Ulster Universitys Belfast campus, Murrays Exchange is an exciting proposal for Belfast that will allow students to reside in modern, city centre facilities. Shriram Properties to double its annual sales to Rs 5,000 crore by 2027 Bengaluru, Aug 21 (UNI) Shriram Properties, a prominent Bengaluru-based real estate developer, has unveiled an ambitious growth strategy, targeting a significant increase in sales and profits over the next three years. The company plans to double its annual sales to Rs 5,000 crore and achieve a profit of over Rs 250 crore by the fiscal year 2027. Gokul Krishnan, the Executive Director and Group CEO of Shriram Properties, outlined the company's roadmap during a press briefing on Wednesday. "We are setting the stage for substantial growth, aiming to scale our annual sales from 4.5 million square feet last year to 8-9 million square feet over the next three years. This would mean a cumulative sale of approximately 20 million square feet," Krishnan stated. In a significant move, Shriram Properties is set to enter the western Indian market, with its first project slated for Pune. The Pune expansion is expected to contribute an additional 2 million square feet to the companys sales over the next three years. This marks a pivotal step in the companys strategy to broaden its geographical footprint. The company has also refreshed its brand identity, introducing SPLNxT, which reflects its renewed focus on the mid-market and mid-premium segments. This segment, encompassing homes priced between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore, will now constitute over 90% of Shriram Properties' portfolio, a marked increase from the previous 67%. Despite this shift, the company will continue to cater to the luxury housing segment. As Shriram Properties celebrates its 25th year, it is poised for rapid growth, supported by a robust project pipeline. The company currently has 42 projects in development, with a combined potential of 42 million square feet. Of this, 24 million square feet are already under construction. Krishnan highlighted the companys intent to double its future project inventory from 18 million square feet to over 35 million square feet within the next 18-24 months. Financially, the company reported a net profit of Rs 75 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24, with total revenue of Rs 987.35 crore. The company estimates it will need between Rs 300 crore and Rs 500 crore to fuel its three-year growth plan, with expectations that internal funds will sufficiently cover these needs. In line with its expansion, Shriram Properties plans to launch two new mobile applicationsShriram Parivaar for customers and Shriram Synergy for channel partnerswithin the current quarter. These apps are designed to enhance customer service and streamline partner interactions. With its strategic initiatives, Shriram Properties is not only reinforcing its presence in its existing markets but also exploring new territories to ensure sustained growth and profitability in the competitive real estate sector. UNI BDN CS1746 By Chip Interfaces Modern Artificial Intelliegence (AI) chips are designed to meet a variety of rigorous requirements to handle the intensive demands of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. These chips need high computational throughput to execute numerous parallel operations efficiently, with low latency to support real-time processing. Energy efficiency is critical, balancing high performance with manageable power consumption to reduce operational costs. High bandwidth is essential for rapid data transfer between processing units, minimizing bottlenecks. The architecture must also support scalable and flexible designs to accommodate various AI models and deployment environments, from edge devices to large data centers. Efficient data handling and communication capabilities are vital to ensure swift data movement across different chip sections and between multiple chips, supporting heterogeneous computing environments. Additionally, robust error handling features are necessary to maintain data integrity. These architectural needs drive the development of sophisticated interconnect solutions to maximize the performance and reliability of AI chips. The Interlaken protocol is an advanced interconnect technology that effectively addresses the architecture and design requirements of AI chips. It provides high bandwidth through multi-gigabit-per-second lanes, facilitating the handling of large data volumes and sustaining high computational throughput. Its design minimizes latency, ensuring efficient, low-overhead communication crucial for real-time AI applications. Interlaken is optimized for energy-efficient data transfer, reducing power consumption by maximizing payload efficiency. The protocols scalable architecture allows for configurable bandwidth, making it suitable for a range of AI deployments from edge to cloud. Interlakens high-speed serial links ensure fast data movement across different chip sections and between multiple chips, supporting heterogeneous computing environments. Robust error detection and correction mechanisms enhance data reliability. By fulfilling these critical requirements, Interlaken enhances the performance, efficiency, and reliability of modern AI chips. Case study of what makes Interlaken great for chip to chip communications for AI To understand what makes Interlaken great for chip to chip communications lets explore an AI (Artificial Intelligence) application case study where multiple AI chips are placed on a single card. This use case also scales equally well to a case of multiple AI Chiplets within a single die with the difference there being the type of Serdes being used. Short distances in the chip matrix require a light weight point to point communication without the need for routing. In this use case Interlaken with its low overhead and small footprint is the perfect candidate. Interlaken Controller Related Card to Card communications from the chips on the edge of the matrix can be efficiently carried out with the use of Ethernet IP and when connected via switches it further allows for message routing and reduces the need for the number of communication lines to reach multiple targets on other cards. While high speed Ethernet MAC solutions offer a latency of around 200ns, Chip Interfaces Interlaken can offer a Ultra Low latency solution of sub 100ns round trip, that AI applications can truly benefit from. Low latency and small footprint are not the only benefit of Interlaken. The ability to do flow control on individual source data channels, and the capability to recover from errors either via the Retransmission mechanism of with the use of Reed Solomon Forward Error Correction all happening in the Controller IP transparent to the application is a great benefit to solution performance. Interlaken can operate on the same serdes technology as 100G Ethernet effectively allowing for an architecture where the limited device I/O can be shared over the same PHY via Ethernet and Interlaken. This allow for a truly flexible design of a multiplexed architecture, when building an array of chips or chiplets, where devices are interconnected with Interlaken and the edge devices of the matrix make use of the Ethernet capabilities for further Ethernet Switched networking. A single card will carry multiple AI chips, and Card to Card connectivity will be carried out over ethernet with routing. Chip Interfaces Interlaken IP The Chip Interfaces Interlaken IP core is a highly optimized silicon and PHY agnostic implementation of the Interlaken Protocol version 1.2 targeting both ASICs and FPGAs. Our Interlaken controller supports up to 2.6 Tbps high-bandwidth performance and comes with an integrated Media Access layer. The Interlaken Controller can be widely used in chip-to-chip transfers, it has an extensive feature-set available and allows scalability in number of logic channels (up to 2048), lanes (up to 48) and lane speed (up to 116 Gbps). Features the RS FEC extension when operating PAM4 Links and the Retransmit capability removing the need for the Application layer to handle data retransmission. In band and Out of Band flow control is available to backpressure channels and allow for rate matching on the links. Key Features: 48 Lanes up to 116 Gbps per lane. 2.6 Tbps total bandwidth per IP instance. Fast Amba CXS Application side interface 256-8192 bit wide with 2-8 segments FEC Extension, for use on noisy links or with PAM 4 signaling Retransmit Extension to handle data errors without Application assistance Up to 2048 Channels, multiple sources of data, allows burst interleaving In Band and Out of Band, per channel, Flow Control allowing Rate Matching How Taiwan attracts foreign students to strengthen its semiconductor leadership Since 2012, Taiwan's integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced positive growth for 11 consecutive years. Since 2014, it has officially surpassed the petroleum, coal products, and chemical raw materials industries to become the leading sector in manufacturing. In 2023, the direct export ratio reached a staggering 88.1%, making it a crucial contributor to Taiwan's foreign exchange (forex) earnings. In particular, Taiwan's 12-inch wafer foundries hold a significant competitive advantage in advanced process technologies, positioning them as global leaders in the field. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the IC industry can be subdivided into IC design, 12-inch wafer foundry, sub-8-inch wafer foundry, DRAM, and others. The 12-inch wafer foundry sector, driven by demand for high-performance computing and AI, has fueled growth in the IC industry's output value. In 2022, the sector achieved a 45.4% growth, surpassing the NT$2 trillion (approx. US$62.7 billion) mark for the first time and setting a new record at NT$2.4226 trillion. Looking ahead to 2024, the industry is expected to break records once again. The prosperity of Taiwan's IC industry has drawn the envy and attention of many countries. However, these countries have also realized that achieving high yield rates and reducing costs in IC manufacturing is not simply a matter of purchasing equipment and materials; it requires extensive knowledge and a steady supply of resilient and skilled engineers. For foreign governments aiming to establish a competitive chip manufacturing sector, adopting Taiwan's talent education model may be a key formula for future success. The success of Taiwan's semiconductor talent education Recognizing that semiconductor and IC manufacturing talent is a unique competitive advantage for Taiwan, National Taiwan University (NTU) will officially launch the "Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors" in September 2024, taught entirely in English. NTU's Shuiyuan Campus building will undergo a complete renovation, supported by donations from TSMC, to provide international students with a four-year experience of semiconductor education and life at NTU. Among the first class of students in the "Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors" are students with SAT scores high enough to be admitted to Harvard University. The second class in 2025 is expected to enroll 50 students, with overseas Chinese and international students each making up half of the class. The success of Taiwan's semiconductor talent education can be attributed to several factors: low tuition fees, world-leading industry technologies, widespread support from both the government and parents, and the abundant availability of research institutes at universities. Most notably, graduates can secure employment immediately, often at world-class companies, without having to move abroad. Additionally, salaries in the semiconductor industry are higher than in Taiwan's overall manufacturing sector and significantly better than in the service sector, making it a highly attractive career path for students. According to interviews conducted by DIGITIMES with electronics engineering (EE) students from NTU, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University (NYCU), as well as conversations with winners of the Macronix Golden Silicon Award, students are highly enthusiastic about the opportunity to work at top-tier IC design and IC manufacturing companies after graduation. Given the high demand for semiconductor talent, students are open to working at either foreign or domestic chip companies. What it means to study in Taiwan While there is much to celebrate in terms of technological progress and Taiwan's international recognition due to its semiconductor industry, however, more than 50,000 Taiwanese students study abroad each year. NTU's Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors is just launching its first year. The question remains whether Taiwan can leverage its semiconductor expertise to attract top international talent to study in Taiwan. Those familiar with education and academia know that the US maintains an unshakable position in higher education. Institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, Harvard University, UC Berkeley, and CalTech are renowned for their academic achievements, graduate employability, student-to-faculty ratios, citations, and international student presence. Taiwan also hosts 3,100 US students, but most are enrolled in short-term language learning programs rather than degree programs related to electrical engineering, electronics, materials science, nanodevices, semiconductors, or other fields closely tied to the IC industry. In fact, when it comes to the number of new fellows in global forums such as the ISSCC and the IEEE, Taiwan's academia lags behind China. Additionally, at the International Conference on Nitride Semiconductors, Taiwan accounted for only 2% of the 1,000 compound semiconductor papers selected, while China claimed 25%. These indicators suggest that Taiwan's universities and research institutes are not quite at the level to claim themselves as the premier global destinations for studying semiconductor knowledge and skills. Fortunately, in February 2024, the US National Academy of Inventors (NAI) published its list of the top 100 global universities by the number of US patents granted. Taiwan's NTU, NTHU, NYCU, and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) were all included in the top 100, providing some validation of Taiwan's academic and research prowess. Taiwan's academic institutions still maintain visibility in IC design sectors such as analog, digital, power management, memory, and wireless communication, though the glory days of the past may be difficult to replicate. Furthermore, Taiwan is no longer in a position to look down on its Chinese competitors. Recruiting international students Recognizing the challenges Taiwan faces in maintaining its semiconductor academic strength, TSMC has taken action. In June 2024, its board approved an NT$4 billion fund to support semiconductor talent education. Part of this funding will help Taiwan's top universities recruit outstanding professors from institutions like Stanford and UC Berkeley and retain current ones. Another portion will fund the construction or renovation of semiconductor teaching and research facilities. Some funds will also be allocated to help four universities recruit international students. As Taiwan grapples with an increasingly serious low birth rate issue, the Ministry of Education has made it a priority to encourage universities to attract overseas Chinese and international students, even urging universities to follow the industry's lead by organizing collective recruitment drives abroad and offering scholarships. If Taiwan wants to address the talent shortage crisis, it must avoid desperate measures. Transforming Taiwan into a top destination for international students and immigrants may be the most effective and direct approach. NTU's Global Undergraduate Program in Semiconductors, which has already attracted students who can be admitted to Harvard, is a promising start and a crucial indicator of Taiwan's ability to continue drawing top international talent in the future. UK urged to rethink semiconductor strategy amid US and China influence Following the UK general election, attention has shifted to the country's national semiconductor strategy. An upcoming report urges the new government to conduct a comprehensive review of the semiconductor supply chain to ensure effective resource allocation. The report underscores the UK's significant dependence on the United States and expresses concerns about Chinese investments in the sector. It advocates for closer collaboration with the European Union to enhance supply chain resilience. Gaps in the National Semiconductor Strategy As reported by The Register, after considerable delays, the previous UK government finally unveiled its National Semiconductor Strategy in May 2023. The strategy emphasizes the UK's strengths in intellectual property (IP), research and development (R&D), design, and compound semiconductors, with a planned investment of GBP1 billion (US$1.3 billion) over the next decade. The UK Semiconductor Handbook, published by the London School of Economics in October 2023, identifies five key industry clusters: South Wales for compound semiconductors, Cambridge for academic institutions and science parks, Bristol for chip design, Scotland for photonics and prototyping, and the Northeast for advanced materials and compounds. However, a new report provisionally titled "Towards A Data-Driven UK Semiconductor Strategy," co-authored by the University of Sussex and King's College London, critiques the current strategy. The report notes that, unlike the United States and the European Union, the UK has not conducted a comprehensive investigation into its semiconductor supply chain, relying instead on general market analysis and feedback from individual industries. This approach risks overlooking vital details in ownership structures and supply chain dynamics. The report also criticizes the exclusion of the Midlands industrial cluster, despite its significant contribution to the semiconductor industry. Statistics reveal that 24% of jobs and 18% of revenue from the UK's 61 major semiconductor companies come from the Midlands. Without a complete understanding of the semiconductor ecosystem, including overlooked regions and emerging sub-sectors, the report warns that the UK's strategy may lead to misallocated resources and missed growth opportunities. It recommends that the new government conduct a comprehensive review. US and Chinese interests in UK semiconductor firms An analysis of the 61 major semiconductor companies shows that US investors own an average of 27.5% of shares, the highest of any country. Additionally, 54% of these companies' customers and 53% of suppliers are based in the United States. The report warns that overreliance on a single country could jeopardize supply chain resilience. Concerns about Chinese investments are also raised. The UK government had previously reversed the acquisition of Newport Wafer by Nexperia, a subsidiary of China's Wingtech, citing national security concerns. The South Wales-based plant was later acquired by US company Vishay in March 2024 after receiving conditional government approval. The report details other Chinese investments, such as Beijing-based venture capital firm Canyon Bridge's ownership of Imagination Technologies and the Chinese state-owned CRRC group's ownership of Dynex Semiconductor Limited. It suggests the creation of a dedicated unit to monitor foreign investments in high-tech sectors, not just major acquisitions but also the accumulation of smaller investments. Furthermore, Brexit has created trade barriers, regulatory discrepancies, and restrictions on talent mobility, complicating the role of EU countries in UK semiconductor production networks. Most UK companies are also ineligible for direct subsidies under the European Chips Act. Given the uncertainties surrounding the upcoming US presidential election in November and potential supply chain risks, the report advises the UK government to consider measures to strengthen supply chain resilience and improve semiconductor trade relations with EU member states, including simplifying customs procedures. AMD's new game in town: US$4.9 billion bet to challenge Nvidia's AI dominance In a bold move to bolster its position in the fiercely competitive AI and data center markets, AMD has acquired ZT Systems for US$4.9 billion. This strategic acquisition signals AMD's intent to close the gap with Nvidia and marks the latest in a series of acquisitions and corporate investments supporting its AI strategy. The deal, which brings approximately 1,000 systems design engineers under AMD's wing, is primarily focused on enhancing the company's expertise in AI clusters and complex data center solutions. AMD plans to divest ZT Systems' manufacturing segment, avoiding direct competition with its customers while retaining valuable systems design talent. By bringing this talent into its fold, AMD aims to bolster its capabilities in delivering comprehensive systems solutions beyond mere chipsets. AMD is essentially buying the expertise to design rack-scale systems. The move aligns with AMD's broader strategy to concentrate on high-margin areas and meet the increasing demands of its hyperscale customers, who require complete systems rather than individual components. By assembling a full ecosystem that includes hardware, software, and networking, AMD aims to position itself as a more formidable competitor to Nvidia, which has long dominated the AI and data center markets with its fully integrated solutions. Furthermore, the integration of ZT Systems could also provide AMD with valuable insights from real-world deployments, potentially enhancing its ability to develop customer-centric solutions. DIGITIMES Research analyst Luke Lin observes that the data center AI chip business has evolved beyond mere chip sales. Success in this sector now requires offering comprehensive solutions such as accelerator cards and subsystems, similar to Nvidia's HGX. Lin notes that under Nvidia's influence, the market has shifted towards demanding fully integrated system-level and rack-level solutions for customers and ODM partners. Lin highlighted a key question arising from this move: "AMD is likely targeting a sale price of around US$3 billion for these assets. The question now is who will step in to take over ZT's manufacturing and sales operations from AMD. For Inventec, the decision is pivotal: opting out could severely shrink their export channels for general and AI servers, while taking the plunge would require a substantial financial outlay." Jim Hsiao, another analyst at DIGITIMES Research, further explained the scenario: With its factory located in the US, the decision could be influenced by various factors. Taiwanese manufacturers eyeing expansion, or US-based OEMs specializing in AI servers, might find this an attractive prospect. The Texas location of the plant could also affect its valuation, given the considerations around local electricity costs and infrastructure. For AMD, this acquisition is more than just a foray into manufacturingit's a strategic move to offer integrated system-level products, akin to Nvidia's approach. Previously concentrated on chip design, AMD can now strengthen its system-level capabilities, positioning itself to deliver more sophisticated and complete solutions in the future. As AMD works to close the gap with its more established rivals, the success of this acquisition will largely depend on how effectively it can integrate ZT Systems' talent and leverage its expertise to drive innovation in the rapidly evolving AI and data center sectors. While the road ahead remains challenging, AMD's CEO Lisa Su remains optimistic. "This acquisition is a critical step in our long-term strategy to provide comprehensive solutions to our customers," Su stated in a press release. "We're not just selling chips anymore; we're building the future of AI and cloud computing." In July, AMD announced the acquisition of Silo AI, Europe's largest private AI lab, for around US$665 million. Over the past 12 months, AMD has invested over US$125 million in a dozen AI companies and acquired Mipsology and Nod.ai to strengthen its AI ecosystem. As the dust settles on this major industry move, all eyes will be on AMD to see if this US$4.9 billion gamble can shake up the AI chip market or will merely be a footnote in Nvidia's continued dominance. 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. Xiaomi 2Q24 financial statement to be released as automotive, mobile endeavors draw attention Xiaomi's financial statement for the second quarter of 2024 is expected to be released on August 21. It is worth noting that Xiaomi's first electric vehicle, the SU7, was announced at the end of March, with the second quarter being its first complete sales quarter. The public's attention is on the performance of its automobile sales and whether there are any new strategies to be revealed. In addition, although Xiaomi's mobile business has been experiencing extreme pressure recently in the Chinese market, it has discovered new treasure troves in others including Japan, India, and the Middle East. Whether it would be able to further raise its mobile sales performance and how it would increase high-end mobile sales are also points that have drawn the public's attention. From its release of the SU7 to July, Xiaomi has completed 10 thousand vehicle deliveries with the MAX model being the most popular. Xiaomi is aiming to complete its goal of delivering 120 thousand vehicles in 2024. Although Xiaomi's automotive business is still in its early stages, it has already set itself up for global expansion. In addition to making plans to push its automotive business into the European market, it also hopes to squeeze into the global top five car manufacturers within fifteen to twenty years. In addition, Xiaomi achieved CNY46.49 billion (US$6.5 billion) for its mobile revenue in the first quarter of 2024 with 40.6 million shipments. According to Omdia's compilation, global mobile phone shipments achieved 290 million units in the second quarter, a 9.3% year-on-year increase. Xiaomi achieved 42.3 million mobile shipments in the second quarter, a slight increase from the first quarter. Those in the industry believe that the main reason why Xiaomi's mobile shipment performance rose in the second quarter was due to its recent success within markets including Japan, the Middle East, Latin America, and India. Despite Xiaomi's sales not performing as well as brands like Vivo, Honor, and Oppo in the Chinese market, Xiaomi's mobile sales are second only to Samsung Electronics in areas such as Latin America and the Middle East. In addition, it has reclaimed its throne for number one mobile sales in the Indian market. What is worth paying attention to is that despite the arrival of the off-season for mobile sales in the second quarter, Xiaomi's overall mobile sales have increased. However, it appears that Xiaomi still needs to find a way to raise its market share by utilizing the popularization of AI-assisted mobile phones and formulating strategies to deal with the highly competitive Chinese market. Additionally, different from its performance in China where sales of products other than mobile phones have taken up 50% of its revenue there, 80% of its overseas sales still come from mobile products. As such, to expand its IoT ecosystem, it can be expected that Xiaomi will focus on accelerating the replication process of its new retail model in China to overseas markets. Touching the Greater Bay Area: International students explore environmental protection project in S China's Guangdong 14:15, August 21, 2024 By Tian Yi ( People's Daily Online In recent years, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has heavily invested in clean energy and environmental protection. Li-xian Choong and Romano Tucci, two students from Cambridge University, paid a visit to an offshore wind farm operated by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) while participating in "Touching the Greater Bay Area", a cultural exchange program co-organized by Guangdong Radio and Television, and People's Daily Online (UK). They were joined by Hui Cheuk Chi, a student from Hong Kong. The offshore wind farm consists of 104 wind turbines and was put into operation in December 2023. Located at the Huizhou Port in south China's Guangdong Province, the project is the largest wind power generating farm in the Greater Bay Area. As an integral part of new quality productive forces, clean energies have become essential in making people's lives better and more sustainable. "The annual power output equals that produced by 1 million tonnes of standard coal. The wind farm can reduce 2.35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which is equivalent to planting 6,750 hectares of trees," said Chen Yansheng, the deputy manager of CGN New Energy Holdings Co. (Huizhou). In the first half of the year, around 35.1 percent of power generated came from renewable resources in China, of which solar and wind power combined generated 20 percent of the total electricity nationwide, marking a year-on-year increase of 23.5 percent, according to data released by China's National Energy Administration. Having previously worked in the environmental sector, Malaysian student Choong was deeply inspired by the project and accentuated the importance of green energies to Asia and ASEAN. "To see that China has been able to innovate this far, it's really interesting. It's really interesting implications for green tech and green energy throughout the rest of the world, especially in Asia and ASEAN where I'm from," said Choong. Majoring in Chinese and fluent in Mandarin, Romano Tucci is no stranger to China. However, the visit to the wind farm was beyond his expectations and strengthened his support for clean energies. "This is the first time I've ever been in a place like this," said Tucci. "There is no planet B. We need to divest in fossil fuels and probably invest in this [wind farm]." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang) Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemned an appeals court's recent decision to again block the Biden administration's student loan repayment plan, calling it a politically motivated obstacle to essential relief for borrowers. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling on Friday extends a temporary halt on the SAVE plan, preventing its implementation until the court resolves ongoing litigation. The court's 3-0 decision labeled the plan as a "vast assertion of newfound power" and criticized the administration for lacking clear congressional authorization. Cardona argued that the ruling, if upheld, would force millions of borrowers to pay significantly more each month and potentially deny loan forgiveness to those who have made faithful repayments over up to 25 years. He decried the decision as an attack on a 30-year practice of providing loan forgiveness and vowed to continue defending the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan in court. In July, the court granted an emergency motion brought forward by several Republican-led states to temporarily block parts of the SAVE plan that hadn't been blocked by a lower court judge. "It's shameful that politically motivated lawsuits waged by Republican elected officials are once again standing in the way of lower payments for millions of borrowers," Cardona said in a Monday statement. The SAVE plan, which aims to restructure repayment terms for student borrowers, was introduced after the Supreme Court struck down a previous universal debt relief program. It was designed in two phases: the first, effective last fall, increased the income threshold for protected payments and waived accrued unpaid interest; the second, set for July, would have reduced the income repayment percentage and expanded forgiveness options. Cardona promised that borrowers affected by the ruling would be placed in an interest-free forbearance while the administration fights the legal challenge. "It wasn't so long ago that a million borrowers defaulted on their student loans every single year, mainly because they couldn't afford the payments. The SAVE plan is a clearly authorized and urgently needed effort to fix what's broken in our student loan system and make financing a higher education more affordable in this country," he said. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The Conlon family, who run two popular delicatessens and a catering service, are celebrating 40 years in business in Dundalk. The family-run business, Conlon's Food Hall, was first established in town by Peter Conlon in 1984 and is still a thriving business and real hub of the community 40 years later. To mark the special milestone there were celebrations at Conlon's Food Hall on Church Street on Saturday with a barbecue, DJ and a raffle, which raised money for the Irish Sepsis Foundation in memory of Peter Conlon who sadly passed away from the illness in 2016. As the family mark the 40th anniversary of their business Peter's daughter Deborah talks about how it all started saying: Dad worked in hotels; he was a chef in hotels and worked in the Derryhale and the Imperial and a few others. But he didn't like the unsocial hours any more as he had a two year old at home; and Christopher, who now runs the business, was on the way, so he decided to look about opening a delicatessen in order to work more social hours. The goal was to be able to work around the family, but he still put in a lot of hours at work. He originally opened the business on Patrick Street in 1984. He was there for about a year and then he moved to Church Street for two years and then finally moved and stayed put in 14 Church Street. Deborah recalls how when her father decided to open the delicatessen people told him it would never work. But as they celebrate being 40 years in business he clearly proved the nay-sayers wrong. When Dad opened it first he was told that a delicatessen would never survive and he may give up before he had even started. We get a good wee giggle out of that now, Deborah laughed. He proved them wrong. Not only are we here on Church Street 40 years; we have a Conlon's Food Hall on the Avenue Road; a canteen in St Vincent's school; we are doing school lunches for St Daighs and the catering is flying. It is down to Dad's sheer determination and hard work; and a good support system. Our Mom Margaret was a teacher in Realt na Mara, she is retired now, and she would have worked a bit in the office and helped him out where she could. And my granny worked there for a while; and we have Kathleen O'Callaghan, who started with us in the beginning and still works with us today. You need good people around you and a strong work ethic. Peter's son Christopher now runs the business but all five of his children have worked for the family-run Conlon's Food Hall. Christopher worked in the business since graduating college. Christopher did a Degree in Business Management and Dad said to him 'sure come and work with me until you find whatever it is you want to do' and he is still there. I worked alongside him and have taken on more responsibilities since Dad passed away. Martin worked as a delivery driver, my other brother Garrett worked in the shop growing up, and my sister Rachel worked in the shop growing up too. All five of us worked in the shop. Our cousins, Dad's cousin, neighbours also worked in the shop over the years. We are very lucky that a lot of the people that work with us, stay with us. We have fantastic staff, a lot of them have been with us a long time, like Kathleen for 40 years and others have been with us 32 years, 25 years. I like to think that anyone who comes in the door of the shop has good craic with us and they feel welcome; and they want to come back not just for the food but for the service as well. A lot of things have changed over the years with the one flagship delicatessen on Church Street growing into a thriving business that includes another Conlon's Food Hall on the Avenue Road and a successful catering service. Deborah said: Dad did a fair bit of work over the years; the kitchen in Conlon's Food Hall on Church Street when he first opened was a lot smaller than the kitchens we work out of now. We extended the kitchens around 20 years ago, so our production kitchens now would be considerably bigger than when Dad started. Our Avenue Road shop is 10 years old in January. We are St Vincent's secondary school, in the canteen, and we have been there since I was in second year, we won't say how long ago that is, Deborah joked. We also have other long-standing relationships, like with St Daighs school in Inniskeen, we do their school lunches and lunches for St John of God's. We also have a lot of long-standing customers and many who use our catering service. We have been privileged to have been part of a lot of family celebrations in some way for a lot of people in the town and surrounding areas over the years. Deborah told how supporting local businesses is very important to the family. We try to keep things as local as possible, she said. We know, being a local business, the importance of keeping things local. Our butcher Ronan Crosby is based in Collon, he is actually married to my cousin. Tony Kieran, our neighbours, is one of our main suppliers; our packaging comes from Don Keating, McCann and AV Direct; all local companies. Whenever possible we go local. It is so important to go local and support local business and economy. And aside from that you can ring up people you know there has been more than once we have been in a panic for something we need last minute for catering and it pays to have those types of relationships with people that you can ring in a panic who will help you out. To mark the business's import anniversary they have been treating lucky customers to a free gift. We have been doing giveaways to customers in our stores for the last 40 days 40 gifts for 40 days to celebrate 40 years, Deborah explained. And on Saturday they marked the 40th anniversary with a party at the flagship store on Church Street and a raffle that raised money for the Irish Sepsis Foundation in honour of their Dad. All the money we are raising is for the Irish Sepsis Foundation Deborah said. They are a fantastic organisation, which dedicates a lot of time to raise awareness about sepsis and the symptoms of sepsis. Dad passed away from sepsis in 2016. We didn't know about sepsis, we didn't recognise the symptoms. We wanted to highlight the work they do and make a few more people aware of what the symptoms of sepsis are so somebody else might recognise them. Deborah concluded: Dad has been very much missed, we have all been thinking about him a lot as we celebrate the business's 40th anniversary. Louth dog owners are being encouraged to clean up after their dogs as part of Vision Irelands campaign, Clear Our Paths, with data provided to Vision Ireland by the local authority showing that there was just one dog fouling fine issued in Louth in 2023 overall. The call comes after Vision Ireland published a survey exploring people who are blind or vision impaireds experiences of footpath obstacles. Over a third of respondents were impacted by by dog waste in public spaces. Not only does dog fouling present a slipping hazard, but it can also be a problem for white cane users whose canes are often dirtied by faeces. Vision Ireland says that according to data provided to it by local authorities, there was one dog fouling fine issued in Louth in 2023, and overall, very few dog fouling fines were issued across the country just 46, a reduction of 36 fines from 2022. Kerry County Council had the highest number of fines for dog fouling offences, with just 13 issued. 18 out of the 31 local authorities issued no fines at all. While the number of fines issued across the country was low, Vision Ireland has welcomed efforts by local authorities to help reduce dog fouling. A number of councils have run awareness campaigns in order to highlight the issue of dog fouling. Meath County Council developed responsible dog ownership information leaflets. Clare County Council provides dog litter bags at its area offices and other busy locations within its jurisdiction. Both Tipperary County Council and Longford County Council provide Mutt Mitts, which allow dog owners to dispose of dog waste safely. Cars parked on footpaths also have an adverse impact on the ability of people who are blind or vision impaired to navigate public spaces. 70% of survey respondents identified parked cars as blocking their route when using public paths. Data provided by local authorities revealed that over 22,000 fines were issued to motorists who parked on footpaths. There were 175 parking on footpath fines issued in Louth in 2023. Kevin Kelly, Head of Policy, Partnerships and External Affairs at Vision Ireland said, Parked cars and dog waste are two of the biggest hazards people who are blind and vision impaired in Louth face on our footpaths. The number of parking fines issued alone is astounding and gives an idea of the many thousands of obstacles people with sight loss face in their daily lives. "Fines alone will not solve these problems. We must all work together and do our part to clear our paths. If everyone takes more responsibility for their actions, we can work towards making paths in Louth safer for all. Chantelle Smith, Vision Irelands National Access and Mobility Manager said When people who are blind and vision impaired encounter obstacles like parked cars on footpaths, they often result in them having to take the decision to step off the footpath onto the roadway into traffic. "Unfortunately, this places them at significant risk as drivers may not be expecting them to do so as it is not a crossing point. Vision Ireland is calling on the public and motorists alike to be considerate of the needs of vulnerable pedestrians. Vision Ireland is encouraging motorists in Louth as well as dog owners to consider the hazards they may be creating and how they can affect people who are blind or vision impaired. The organisation has created a dedicated web page to assist those in learning more about how to Clear Our Paths. Find out more here: Clear Our Paths Applications were invited for projects that helped to promote: co-operation and joint initiatives between organisations and institutions on a North/South basis; cultural tourism on a North/South basis; or the provision of cultural outreach programmes on a North/South basis. The project for which Cooley Connect Well is to receive funding has been described as follows: "The cultural farming and community heritage of the Mourne and Cooley Mountains reflects a deep connection to the land, a tradition of agricultural knowledge and practices, and a strong sense of community and stewardship. "The project will explore and record the living memories of both communities, North and South, and how this shared heritage can inform future local initiatives on food security and rural community integration. Video best connects with the younger digital population." Announcing the funding today, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, said that: the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme supports valuable projects with cultural elements on both sides of the border. It allows an exchange of ideas and brings communities together for a shared purpose. The scheme encourages individuals and groups to bond over a common interests while creating new talents and friendships along the way. Sharing our culture can have many benefits including building relationships & establishing trust, this in turn, can decrease fear and isolation and promote a sense of unity among communities." Hospices are a beacon showcasing the best of humanity at a time when there is a lot of negativity and anxiety in the world, actor Brendan Gleeson has said. The Irish star, who has featured in films including The Banshees of Inisherin and In Bruges, is asking the public to support a nationwide fundraising campaign for hospices. The Oscar-nominated actor, who has fronted several campaigns championing hospices, said Irish people are generally good at confronting death. If you dont take on board how final death is, you dont really get a proper perspective on how delicious life can be, he told the PA news agency in Bewleys Cafe in Dublin city. The hospice movement generally has been a kind of a little bit of a beacon, in the sense that its given a degree of positivity to the way life is framed, which I find really refreshing. Both of Gleesons parents, Pat and Francis, spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin. The hospice found a way for me to be able to say goodbye to my parents in a way that seemed actually beautiful, he said. I found that a remarkable triumph over circumstance, and it gave me kind of a faith in the humanity it takes to make that happen, because it doesnt happen by mistake. He added: At the moment, I can have a chat at any point with the memory of when my folks were well and not fighting the last throes of life when they were in their fullness. So, I can have the conversation with those entities and so I feel theyre never really gone. With the hospice, you feel this is something thats perpetuating a feeling that goodness is paramount within this particular world and its very hard to keep that front and centre the way things are happening. Theres an awful lot of negativity, anxiety and a lot of it well-founded but its always been this way. Weve always been careering towards our own destruction and, at the same time, elevating ourselves beyond any other life form, and its just the human condition. So, I find tipping the scales on the good side is the hospice movement and I feel honoured to be a part of it. People who wish to register to host a coffee morning on September 26, or on a different date, can visit hospicecoffeemorning.ie or make a donation on the same website. Gleeson said it was exciting that an in-patient unit with 24 single rooms was planned for St Francis Hospice, which would offer more privacy to families and their loved ones. He said his father Francis spent time in a four-bed room: The conversation was a little inhibited; you are in hearing distance of others, trying not to earwig, and at the same time attempting an intimate conversation with your loved one in quite a loud voice. Because patients are at that stage, you have to speak fairly loudly. Single rooms make it so much easier. The Dubliner was speaking before travelling to Los Angeles ahead of the worldwide release of his latest work in Joker: Folie a Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. He said he agreed to take part in the movie because he thought Phoenixs performance in Joker was one of the most remarkable things Ive ever seen. He said the actor inhabited this extraordinary place thats so conflicting, thats so sympathetic in some ways, and utterly repulsive in others. It took the idea of mental instability into a place where we have to accept some culpability when it gets out of control, and at the same time theres an element of wildness in that, where youre sort of saying, I dont know if anybody can contain whats been released now. He said it is increasingly difficult to get a storyline like that offered by the Banshees of Inisherin, as there is a trend of cinema emphasising visuals and action sequences. But he said that when done right, superheroes are just a different way of exploring the nature of humanity, and cited Heath Ledgers portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight as proper character study. Turning to the Phoenix Joker movies, he said: I was mesmerised by the first film and thrilled to be a part of the second. I havent seen it yet, but I just love the bravery of taking it on and bringing Lady Gaga into the mix, and having music as a part of it. I cant wait to see it, to be honest. Gleeson, who turns 70 next March, said that he is aware of his age, but said he was once told good health is a golden crown which only those who are ill can see. I try to keep an eye on the crown and as long as Im motoring around alright, I appreciate life. He told PA: I do think that curiosity, the maintenance of curiosity in the freshness of the world, and seeing the world again in the framework of how precious it is and how transient, if you can maintain it, then life keeps coming up with things that are wonderful. We all know it can be the simplest thing in the world. The mortality thing, I understand you do the math, as I say. But I feel in bonus country, in a way. Ive been allowed to see my kids grow up. Ive been allowed to see things through a little bit. Its all bonus country anyway. So we continue with the bonus country. Columbia University Irving Medical Center CEO Katrina Armstrong has been tapped to lead the school following the sudden resignation of President Minouche Shafik. Shafik stepped down on Wednesday after a tenure marked by intense criticism, particularly over her response to the pro-Palestinian protests that began in April. In a statement after her appointment was announced, Armstrong expressed gratitude to her predecessors and recognized the challenges facing the campus community as she assumes leadership. "Challenging times present both the opportunity and the responsibility for serious leadership to emerge from every group and individual within a community. This is such a time at Columbia," she said. "As I step into this role, I am acutely aware of the trials the University has faced over the past year. We should neither understate their significance, nor allow them to define who we are and what we will become." The Board of Trustees backed Armstrong as well, calling her "the right leader for this moment." Here's everything we know about Columbia's new president: - Armstrong is well-known to the Columbia community. She currently serves as CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a title she will retain during her stint as interim president. She also serves as executive vice president for health and biomedical sciences, and dean of the faculties of health sciences and medicine and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. - She earned her bachelor's degree from Yale University and a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. - Prior to joining Columbia, Armstrong served as physician in chief at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2013 to 2022, and was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania for 16 years. - According to the Board of Trustees, Armstrong has completed extensive research in cancer, mental health, the roles that segregation and discrimination play in health care, as well as health disparities in rural areas, particularly among Native American tribes. - Regarding the conflict between Israel and Gaza, Armstrong and her colleagues issued a letter in October 2023, urging the community to "come together and to embrace each other with compassion and empathy" for those affected in the region. - During a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Summit in November, Armstrong referred to Hamas as a terrorist organization and condemned its October attack on Israel. "Equally clear, and of great importance in this discussion, is that the Palestinian people are not Hamas and are not terrorists," she added. "... We must describe Hamas as it describes itself - as an entity openly committed to the destruction of Israel and to attacking the Jewish people - to provide our Jewish colleagues the comfort that comes with knowing that others understand what occurred on October 7 and the terrible psychological impact of that terrorist attack." A judge has ordered Western Kentucky University to release sexual misconduct records related to investigations of its employees following a year-long lawsuit between the university and two student news organizations. The original records requests were filed in 2015 by the University of Kentucky's student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, and in 2016 by WKU's student newspaper, the College Heights Herald, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Both student organizations requested Title IX investigation records revealing sexual misconduct allegations made against university employees. WKU initially refused to turn the records over after the requests were filed; however, student reporters filed an appeal with the Kentucky Attorney General's Office. The school then sued the student newspapers in Warren Circuit Court to block access to the records. WKU argued that releasing the names of employees who were accused of sexual misconduct or incorrectly accused could reveal their identities. Last week, The director of student publications at WKU, Chuck Clark, said he was pleased with the ruling, despite how long it took. "Initially, this case was about getting any records at all, but over the past couple of years, it has been about what the students saw as excessive redaction of those records," Clark said in an email to the Herald-Leader. Jace Lux, a spokesperson for WKU said, "Since the litigation began, the university's intention has been to protect the privacy interests of employees in compliance with the law who were found to have not violated university policy." The Kernel and the Herald also requested that WKU pay its attorney's fees and costs in the lawsuit, but that was denied in the order. Originally published by Headlines & Global News A new North Cork community group is hoping to help save the lives of their neighbours as they establish a new first responder group. The Emergency Medical Response Charity CRITICAL has established the Community First Responder group to cover the Duhallow area of North Cork, who will respond to 999/112 calls including cardiac arrests, stroke, and breathing difficulties. The Blackwater CFR group will cover an area that spans 147 square miles in total which includes towns such as Millstreet, Banteer, Rathmore, Ballydesmond and Kiskeam. Millstreet Vintage Club presenting funds they raised to Critical. Picture John Tarrant The group currently has 10 active and fully-trained responders with an additional 13 in training, including people from the local fire service, factory workers, IT workers and the HSE. Witnessed Donie Lucey, a fundraising support officer with CRITICAL is among the people who set up the Blackwater CFR group. He said that he had witnessed first-hand the benefits of having responders in an area. Our volunteers can be at the scene in minutes providing vital treatment to a patient before the ambulance arrives. The training that our volunteers receive is fantastic and only recently one of our Blackwater CFR volunteers put his skills to use when one of his relatives began choking. The biggest reward for us is knowing that weve helped save the life of someone in our community, whether that be a friend, family or neighbour. Donie is also a member of the Millstreet Vintage Club which recently raised 12,500 in support of CRITICAL, funds which will ensure the group has access to lifesaving equipment when they respond to a 999 call in the area, such as defibrillators and training equipment. These funds will also ensure the groups life support bags can be kept fully stocked with disposable medical products, like breathing assistance tools and defibrillator pads. David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, added: The Blackwater CFR group is the latest addition to the charitys network which is expanding its presence around Ireland. We have seen the impact of our CFR groups in other areas and I am sure that this latest group will be a major benefit to the North Cork area. For information on joining contact info@criticalcharity.ie. See https://criticalcharity.ie/ or call 021 4190 999 to donate. A Cork charity said it has seen a marked increase in demand for its services ahead of children returning to school at the end of the month, and is appealing for donations of school-related materials. With some schools returning next week, Cork Penny Dinners volunteer co-ordinator Caitriona Twomey said the charity has noted a sharp rise in people seeking its help in recent weeks. People are being cut to the quick and juggling what money they have, but if you dont have it, you cant juggle it, she said. Ms Twomey said she has been swamped with calls from parents seeking help, and the charity is seeking donations of hardback copybooks, highlighters and markers, geometry sets, pencil sets, and schoolbags, as well as help with school uniforms and new, warm winter coats. We would hope to be able to help as many as 150 children, but we need the publics assistance to do that, she said. Ms Twomey added that Joe Byrne, the proprietor of Josephs Hair Salon in Glasheen, was an unsung hero for organising donation drives around this time of year. Mr Byrne said that while the Governments decision last year to provide free books at primary school level had undoubtedly helped families, it had the unintended effect of reducing the level of donations, while some families still required help. People say, Sure havent they got the school grant now, they dont need as much?, but the need is still there, he said. A spokesperson for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) said the provision of free schoolbooks at primary level had resulted in a drop in calls to SVP offices at back-to-school time and the charity expected to see a similar result this autumn, as free books are provided at Junior Cert cycle. However, they said, SVP volunteers deal with many parents who are struggling with costs for additional school materials, school uniforms, and voluntary contributions. The charity has called on government to introduce free schoolbooks for senior cycle, and to increase the capitation grant by 30% to reduce the need for parental contributions in the forthcoming budget. It comes as Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he wants to examine how children can be provided with hot school meals outside of school term to address holiday hunger in disadvantaged families. Speaking at a Fine Gael event in Dublin, Mr Harris said the measure was being considered by his departments child-poverty unit. Noting that the hot-school-meals programme had been expanded, meaning that more than 345,000 primary pupils were now eligible, he said the next step was to address holiday hunger. He added that there will be a range of cost-of-living supports and measures for businesses in the Budget, adding it was important to use a financial surplus to support struggling families. I want parents, working families and people right across Ireland to know were eager to do more, Mr Harris said. The Taoiseachs comments come amid growing speculation that the general election, which has to occur by March 2025, will be called between the budget on October 1 and Christmas. Johns Hopkins University in Maryland will again require SAT or ACT standardized test scores for undergrad admissions starting in fall 2026. After three years of test-optional policies brought on by the pandemic, the university decided last week that standardized test scores are too important to leave out. The change affects students applying to the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering. Those applying for fall 2025 can still choose to skip the test, but Johns Hopkins is encouraging them to submit scores if possible. After a deep dive into recent admissions data and academic research, the university found that test scores, when viewed alongside other factors, are a solid predictor of student success at Johns Hopkins. The review also hinted that going test-optional might have unintentionally held back some applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds who could have benefited from submitting their scores. "Johns Hopkins has long utilized a holistic approach to its admissions process and will continue to do so. This approach is one that examines students' academic character, impact and initiative, and personal contributions through a multifaceted lens that considers the entirety of their high school career," officials said. Johns Hopkins has followed the growing trend of schools bringing back the requirement for standardized tests following years of making the test optional due to limited access during the pandemic. As of this year, more than 2,000 bachelor-degree granting institutions are not requiring standardized exams for fall 2025 admissions, according to a study by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. However, many Ivy League schools and other top universities have begun reinstating these tests by 2025, including Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Georgetown, MIT, Stanford, as well as Florida and Georgia's public state university systems. The search for six people rescuers fear are trapped inside a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily is set to enter its third day. The Italian Coastguard has not ruled out the possibility that those missing, including technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank. Among those missing are also Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Jeremy Bloomer, Jonathan Bloomers twin brother, told the BBC: Its a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we dont know. Its still wait and see, so fingers crossed. The body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the Bayesian superyacht, the Italian Coastguard told Sky News. Gareth Williams, a friend of the chef, told the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit. Another friend, Eli Fuller, told the outlet Mr Thomas was friends with everybody, always positive and sought after in his profession. Area hit by storm Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at around 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm. Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said the six missing tourists were feared dead. Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he said: Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not. He told the PA news agency: We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea. Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. Italian emergency services near the area off the Sicilian coast where the search continues for British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, who are among six tourists missing after a luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Sicily. Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco said it is developing a plan to enter the wreckage of Bayesian, which is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres. It described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts. Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer of mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said the next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors trapped inside the wreck. The speed at which the vessel sank (a few minutes, according to survivor and witness accounts) and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside, he said. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. A sign the rescuers may be looking for is a banging noise at regular intervals. This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year. But whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is simply impossible to predict. Of the 22 passengers and crew onboard, 15 including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat. The Mirror reported Ms Bacares is in a state of shock and sadness as she awaits news of her husband. She has reportedly been joined by the couples elder daughter who was not aboard the boat. More of the yachts rescued crew members were named by the Italian Coastguard on Tuesday, with Leo Eppel and South African nationals Leah Randall and Katja Chicken all confirmed as having been on board. Survivors are recuperating at a hotel complex in Porticello where authorities are gathering witness statements. 'We didn't see it coming' The Telegraph reported authorities are investigating whether hatches left open by crew members contributed to the sinking, as well as what onboard measures were taken in preparation for the storm. The ships captain James Calfield, 51 told Italian media: We didnt see it coming. Mr Lynch, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of conducting a massive fraud relating to the 11 billion US dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. Mr Lynch is of Irish heritage his father was a fireman from Co Cork, and his mother was a nurse from Co Tipperary. Mike Lynch who is missing after the luxury yacht, Bayesian sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal. The Financial Times reported that Mr Bloomer appeared at trial as a defence witness for Mr Lynch, while media reports suggest the pair are close friends. A spokesperson for Morgan Stanley said the bank was shocked and saddened while Clifford Chance said it was a tragic incident. David Tabizel, Mr Lynchs Autonomy co-founder, told Sky News: Im just heartbroken for him and his family and I hope theres a miracle about to occur. If anyone has the resilience to survive this he does. And I hope hes found an air pocket. Mr Tabizel added: He has been one of the most influential, intelligent and most honourable human beings I have ever had the honour of knowing. The former school of Mr Lynchs daughter has said its thoughts are with their family and everyone involved. A spokesperson for Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said: We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates. Ed Llewellyn, British ambassador to Italy, met some of the survivors of the sinking at a hotel. Ayla Ronald, a New Zealand national working at Clifford Chance, survived the ordeal. Her father Lin Ronald confirmed to the Telegraph she had been invited aboard as a thanks for assistance in Mr Lynchs recent court case. Another of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Emsley, told la Repubblica she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning. Charlotte and Sofia were treated in hospital, as was Sofias father, James Emsley. In a separate incident, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in his US fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. In a statement released through Cambridgeshire Police, Mr Chamberlains family said: Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible." The New Zealand Rose, Keely O'Grady, was last night named as the 2024 International Rose of Tralee. The 21-year-old is a fourth-year student at Canterbury University and is studying a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy. She hopes to work in the healthcare or disability sector, helping children to communicate effectively. The Rose of Tralee festival is now in its 64th year. New Zealand Rose Keely O'Grady has been named as the 2024 International Rose of Tralee celebrating under the fireworks at Denny Street for Midnight Madness. There was a strong Cork contingent taking part in this year's event. Cork Rose Shauna OSullivan was among the favourites to be named as Rose of Tralee. Coming from Araglen just outside Fermoy, a village that borders Limerick and Tipperary, Shauna is a recently qualified pharmacist. She also plays a leading role in her local community as a member of the organising committee for the Araglen Carnival. Six other roses had strong links to Cork including Ciara OSullivan, from Newmarket, who represented Dubai; Perth Rose, Maria Collins, who hails from Coppeen in mid-Cork; and San Franciscos Maggie Baglin, whose Cork connections come via her fathers family who hails from Gurranabraher and Glanmire. Billie Cooper, the New York Rose grew up in Cavan but her father is from Cork; Molly Ronan, the Florida Rose has links to Cork city; and Megan Cahill, who represented Chicago in this years festival has roots in Cork and Clare. A group on Corks northside have said they are devastated and appalled that there could be more than 4,000 homes built on the last natural green space in the area. An email sent by the Murphys Rock and Bride Valley Support Group to Cork city councillors, as well as to Taoiseach Simon Harris and the minister for housing, has opposed potential housing units for Dublin Hill. A view towards Cork City from the top of Murphy's Rock near Dublin Hill. Picture: David Keane. The Land Development Agency (LDA) announced last week that 41 hectares in Dublin Hill are to be surveyed to assess their suitability for affordable and social housing. The land, and its potential to provide housing, was identified in the Report on Relevant Public Land published by the LDA in 2023, where it was estimated that it could yield 3,250 to 4,420 homes with estimated total costs of between 1.07bn and 1.3bn for the project. We are devastated and appalled to understand that the LDA have begun a feasibility study to prepare for building of housing units in Murphys Rock ahead of public consultation, said Murphys Rock and Bride Valley Support Group chairwoman Joan Lewis. Murphys Rock is the last natural green space available in the northside of Cork city. Their email explained that the area is a natural habitat and building of any sort here is likely to devastate very delicate ecological balance in this natural wild space. It will also be detrimental to public health. We strongly believe that any development should cease in Murphys Rock until the Local Area Plan for Blackpool/Kilbarry is completed and the public have a chance to review how they see this area being developed. We understand this Local Area Plan is currently being compiled by the Cork City Council with a plan to go to public consultation. The development of Murphys Rock as a public amenity as a wilder space is essential to public wellbeing and has been proposed under this plan. Green Party councillor for Cork City North East Oliver Moran told the group that the LDA will not proceed with any developments until the North Blackpool/Kilbarry framework plan is completed. This will include a public consultation, and I have already spoken with officials about including your group in a pre-consultation phase, he said. He said the public consultation on the framework plan will take place over the next 18 months, led by the strategic planning directorate in Cork City Council, who he said are very familiar with the area, its value, and its sensitivity. A 12-year-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after her home in North Cork was attacked during what has been described as a heinous and reprehensible incident. It is understood a group of about five men, all wearing balaclavas, arrived at a house on the New Line in Charleville on Monday night and damaged a car outside the residence before damaging the front door of the house where there was a mother and young children inside. It is understood the 12-year-old girl suffered serious head injuries during the incident. She was treated at the scene before being rushed to Cork University Hospital, but has since been transferred to Childrens Health Ireland at Temple Street. It is understood the men fled the scene in a vehicle, and that gardai are trying to establish the type and make of vehicle and the direction in which they travelled. The Garda Superintendent overseeing the investigation, Superintendent Gary McPolin, implored anyone with information to come forward. Were appealing for CCTV [footage], dash-cam [footage], independent witnesses to come forward, he told The Echo. Its heinous and reprehensible that this should happen to a young child inside in the private environs of their home. It is believed the incident may be linked to a feud involving families in Cork and Limerick. Gardai were alerted to a disturbance at a residence on the New Line at approximately 11.30pm on Monday and attended the scene. Considerable criminal damage to a vehicle and house was observed, a garda spokesperson said. A female child was transferred from the scene by ambulance services to Cork University Hospital. She has since been transferred to Childrens Health Ireland at Temple St in what is described as a serious but stable condition. The scene of the incident was preserved, and a technical examination has been conducted by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit. Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward or who may have been in the vicinity of the New Line area on Monday, August 19, between 10.30pm and 12am. Additionally, anyone with camera footage, including dash-cam footage, from the area at the time are encouraged to provide it to investigating gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station at 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. In the wake of the incident, councillors in the Kanturk-Mallow Municipal District, which takes in Charleville, moved to support the appeal for witnesses. Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden said he was shocked to hear of the incident, urging anyone with information to contact the gardai. This was echoed by his party colleague, councillor John Paul OShea, who said he wished to offer his full support to gardai and hoped that the perpetrators would be swiftly brought to justice. The minister of state for disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, has been urged to keep a promise made to the parents and teachers of St Killians Special School ahead of the upcoming academic year. She has been called on to release funding that would fund the return of therapists to the school on Corks northside. The principal of St Killians, Sue Lenihan, told The Echo that a multi-disciplinary team of therapists from a reputable company used by the HSE was ready to come to the school in September. The sum involved, 150,000, was promised by Ms Rabbitte to a delegation from the school, including parents and the principal, which met with her in Leinster House last November. They were told that the sum was less than 2% of the unspent budget dedicated to disability services in the department. The demand to deliver on the promise comes following the announcement that four schools from Cork are to be included in a pilot scheme which would see therapists return to schools this term. The schools were eventually named as St Pauls Special School, Montenotte; Our Lady of Good Counsel Special School, Ballincollig; Rochestown Special School; and Carrigaline Community Special School. Ms Lenihan, as well as the parents of the 104 children attending St Killians Special School, said they were extremely disappointed not to be included, and a protest is planned for tomorrow at the school. We went to the meeting, we were told there was money available, and that other schools were undertaking the same process, said Ms Lenihan. We were told if we found a provider and put a proposal together that it would be looked at and the money would be there, she added, saying that they were told that it would be able to start within weeks. Cork North Central Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould said that Minister Rabbitte should deliver on the promises made to the school, irrespective of the pilot scheme. What were asking now is, if the money is there and we know it is, that the Minister would authorise the spending of 150,000 to the school so they can provide the therapists, theyve secured a private contractor to do it, if they dont include them in the first pilot, were asking for that money to be allocated. The Echo has asked Ms Rabbitte for comment. Renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty has died at the age of 80. She died in the early hours of Wednesday morning at a Co Donegal nursing home, her family said. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Derry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement. Taoiseach Simon Harris has paid tribute to Nell McCafferty describing her as "fierce, fearless and fiery". In a statement he said: "If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun, it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. "As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. "In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. "Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style." Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner and the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights". Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist & campaigner - the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights & womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. (1/2) Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 21, 2024 Irelands Press Ombudsman, the journalist Susan McKay, paid tribute to Nell McCafferty. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. The leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she was deeply saddened to hear of Nell McCaffertys death at the age of 80. She described the journalist as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she said on X. Primary school teachers in Cork are being encouraged to register their students for the Blue Star Programme. In its 14th year, the award-winning programme teaches children about the European Union (EU). More than 1,200 schools and an estimated 200,000 pupils have completed the course, with 31 schools in Cork participating last year. European Movement Ireland is inviting teachers across the country to take part, with a particular focus on classes from Gaeilscoileanna, island schools, and Deis schools. Schools will have the chance to enrol in the programme until October 11. Culture European Movement Ireland CEO Noelle OConnell said the Blue Star Programme provides young people with the opportunity to not only learn about but develop a true appreciation for European culture. The programmes curriculum is creative and accessible, and it helps to foster a genuine interest in and a desire to learn about the EU. We are very grateful to all the participating teachers and pupils that have and continue to take part in the programme," she said. Their passion and creativity are what fuels this programmes success, and wed like to welcome primary schools from across the country to participate. Participating classes will learn about European history, geography, culture, and the EU institutions in an informative and accessible way that complements the national primary curriculum. Aspects of the programme include cross-cultural activities, such as learning basic phrases in other European languages and celebrating European cultural days. It is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs. For more information, see https://www.bluestarprogramme.ie. Parents and pupils at St Killians Special School on Corks northside will carry out a sensory protest at the school gates at lunchtime tomorrow, as their campaign to get the funding needed to hire therapists at the school moves up a gear in advance of the reopening of schools next week. A spokesperson for the St Killians Unite group of parents described the sensory protest as essentially a quiet protest. Its a sensory protest, keeping in mind that autistic children that have sensory differences will be present, the spokesperson said. This is a quiet protest so that the children wont feel completely overwhelmed by any noise or any flurry of activity. Statement In a statement issued at the weekend by the parents group, following the confirmation that St Killians Special School would not be among four special schools to participate in a pilot scheme announced almost two weeks ago, the group called for the grant of approximately 150,000 which they say Anne Rabbitte, the minister of state for disability, promised them when during a meeting in Leinster House last November, to be released so they could hire therapists privately if the school was not to be included in the pilot scheme. In the absence of any explanation or clear criteria for the selection of schools for the pilot, the exclusion seems to stem from the incorrect perception that the children who attend St Killians do not have as many complex needs as those in other special schools, said the spokesperson. They added the perception was entirely unfounded. St Killians Special School currently serves 104 students, of whom 79 have a dual diagnosis of autism and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, said the spokesperson. Additionally, many of these children have further diagnoses, including ADHD, dyslexia, and complex medical needs, among others. A significant number of the students are non-verbal, and many are not independently trained for toileting. Furthermore, other students contend with a range of complex needs, including severe dyslexia, dyspraxia, speech and language difficulties, emotional and behavioural challenges, and severe self-injurious behaviour and suicidal ideation and are in urgent need of mental health support yet, currently, none of these needs are being met through therapeutic intervention. Therapeutic intervention in St Killians was withdrawn in 2020, and the school has had to operate without a single therapeutic hour allocated to it since then. Frustration Speaking to The Echo yesterday, Workers Party councillor in Cork North East Ted Tynan expressed his frustration over the difficulties in which the exclusion from the pilot scheme had placed the St Killians Special School community. There are children who require that extra bit of attention and help to allow them to get on with their lives and grow and prepare them for adult life vital time is being lost now by the lack of investment by the Government, he said. A small sum of money would enable the school to hire these therapists. Repeated attempts were made to contact Ms Rabbitte to get her response. The protest will take place at the school gates, commencing at 1pm. Audiences have been enjoying The Empty Nest at the Cork Arts Theatre this week. From the pen of Oisin Flores Sweeney, and directed by Geoff Gould, its the tale of life after the kids have left. Now the grandchildren are invading, while Tony and Sheila wonder where their own lives went. Hilarious, yet sharply true to the reality, it stars Seamus ORourke and Joan Sheehy. Runs until Saturday, with performances at 1pm and 8pm today and tomorrow, 8pm Saturday. Next week, its Making A Show Of Myself, a one-woman show by Mary Kate OFlanagan. With a busy day job as story consultant for film and television, Mary Kate claims that she really comes alive at night when she tells true-life stories on stage to an audience. This one was a sell-out at Smock Alley last winter, and is likely to get house full notices here too. Runs Wednesday to Friday, daytime 1pm, evenings Wed-Sat 8pm. Call 021 450 5624 or see www.corkartstheatre.com for all Cork Arts Theatre bookings. Its your last chance to see the Souls, Shadows And Secrets at Everyman tonight. Written and directed by Barry Monahan, this new play gives voice to three of Irelands most prominent historical figures - Constance Markievicz, Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera - set against the backdrop of a young womans personal tale in the years between the 1916 Easter Rising and the early years of the Free State. Tomorrow night, acclaimed American songwriter Bonnie Prince Billy is here, with guests Nuala Kennedy and Eamon OLeary. He is at the Everyman for the first time as part of his summer Irish tour following the release of his latest album, Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You. 8pm start for both. On Saturday, Pitchd Festival Gala promises to be an electrifying evening of breathtaking aerial displays and mesmerising routines from the Circus Factory. Performers include Giulia Pasquale, Siolta Circus, Sadbh Grehan, Circus 250 and Symmetry Circus. That one begins at 7pm. From Thursday to Saturday next week, Gatman is back in Tadhg Hickeys one-man show about the eccentricities of Cork city. Call 021450 1673 or see www.everymancork.com Now, here are two lovely new opportunities for those of you looking to do something different this autumn. The newly-formed Mallow Musical Society is planning to create a gala performance of a big show next February, and has issued an invite to anyone interested to come along and audition. Now why not? Just what you needed if you live in or near Mallow. Open Call Auditions for Mala Gala: The Musical will be held at CDYS Small Gym, New Road, Mallow, on Monday and Tuesday, September 2 & 3 between 7 and 9pm. Put it in your diaries now! For more information, email mallowmusicalsociety@gmail.com. And there are only about six weeks to go if you want to make your mark as a playwright by entering the 10x10 Minute Play Event at the Cork Arts Theatre! The call for submissions has already gone out, with the deadline of Sunday, October 6. Time to polish off those short plays, or get moving on that idea you have always had. Note that, due to the very large numbers of entries in recent years, they are only accepting submissions from writers resident in Ireland and the UK this time. Important points to note: plays should be no more than 10 minutes in duration (do a live reading to be certain) and should have a simple setting (minimal props and furniture). Other than that, they are open to plays of all genres - comedy, tragedy, farce, fantasy, horror, whatever. The final 10 chosen will be performed from December 3-8. Any other queries, email theatre@corkartstheatre.com. Get to that desk! And finally, dont forget Conor McPhersons Rum & Vodka at the Roundy House tonight. A classic tale of booze and debauchery, it is absolutely not suitable for anyone under the age of 16! Directed by Tommy Daly, and performed by Eoin OReilly, it starts at 7pm (doors 6.30pm) and runs for one hour. Tickets on https://www.ticketsource.eu/. By Rebecca Black, PA An arson attack on a restaurant in Co Antrim, which is believed to have been racially motivated, has been condemned as deplorable. Graffiti was also reported at the premises in the Ballyclare Road area of Newtownabbey in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement, police said they received a report at around 1.50am that the premises had been set alight. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended and dealt with the fire, which is being treated as deliberate ignition, they said. Inquiries are continuing and at this stage, the incident is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to the incident, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 68 21/08/24. North Belfast MP John Finucane. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. North Belfast MP John Finucane described the attack in Newtownabbey as sickening and deplorable. He added: This business operates to serve our community and employ workers. It is totally unacceptable that it has been targeted in this way. These disgusting and disgraceful attacks which are fuelled by racism, hatred and discrimination have no place in our inclusive and forward-looking society. Those intent on causing hate and stirring up division must face the full force of the law, and I would appeal to anyone who may have information on this incident to bring it forward to police. by Derek Neal Th e Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker is a novel about paying attention. After you read a chapter, you, too, begin paying attention to things youve never noticed before. On my way to work this morning, gliding down quiet, leafy streets in my 2012 Mazda 3 GS-SKY, I noticed a new sign. It was planted in the soil around a tree that had been planted into the sidewalk. In certain cities, this would not have been possible. Ive noticed that when a tree is planted into the sidewalk, there are three options when it comes to the block of cement that has been replaced by the tree. The most common choice, and the choice that my city has made, is to fill in the square with dirt or mulch. This was why the sign could be planted there, because there was soft ground in which to insert the two metal rods that held the sign. Another choice is to cover the empty square with a grate. To my mind, this is the sensible choice. If you dont cover the square, trash and cigarette butts will quickly fill in the square, which will be difficult to remove because you cant simply sweep them upthe level of the dirt is not flush with the sidewalk, so a sort of divot is created in which trash can collectinstead, a city worker will be forced to pick up the trash with some sort of picking device, or theyll have to maneuver a dust bin and broom into the square space around the tree, which must be difficult, considering that the dust bin and broom may not fit easily into the square. This is why the grate is the correct choice: it creates a flush seam with the surrounding sidewalk, prevents trash from collecting in the area around the tree, and makes cleaning easier. Another benefit of the grate is that when you are walking you dont have to change your stride. Without the grate, you have two choices: You can change your route to avoid the dirt around the tree. The issue here is that if you are walking with someone, you will enter into their path and possibly disrupt them, or, if youre able to, you can place one foot in front of the other, as if on a balance beam, and walk three or four steps in this way, all while maintaining your balance, so that on one side, you dont bump into your companion, and on the other side, you dont fall into the area around the tree. You can step into the area around the tree. The issue here, besides the trash, is that the area around the tree is slightly lower than the level of the sidewalk. You expect to hit ground at a certain pointyour body seems to know this intuitivelybut the ground is not there, and so your foot picks up speed and hits the ground with more force, as when you expect a step to be there at the end of the stairs, but its not. Now theres the possibility for injury. There was a recent topic of controversy in my city that has some connection to this issue of sidewalk trees. It concerned the slope of the sidewalk when it connects to a driveway on one side and a road on the other side. In a suburb, this is not an issue, because in between the sidewalk and road there can be a strip of driveway that slopes to connect the two, but in a city, when this space isnt available, the sidewalk has to slope to connect the road and driveway, which creates a problem for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk, since they will suddenly be on uneven ground. There are two ways to address this problem: The sidewalk slopes at a steady rate from the street to the driveway. The sidewalk slopes steeply from the road, then levels out and is flat from the middle of the sidewalk to the driveway. Choice B is usually considered the correct choice, because although it creates the possibility for a car to scrape its bumper if it enters the driveway too quickly, it also allows for two people to walk on the sidewalk without changing their stride. In the case of option A, if two people are walking then at least one of them will be forced to walk on an uneven slope, with one foot hitting the ground at a lower level than the other foot, much like the case of the dirt area around a tree in a sidewalk square. Besides the grate and the dirt area, there is also the possibility of filling in the square with cement or asphalt, in which case the tree simply protrudes from the sidewalk. This seems to be a less common optionI havent seen it muchand it surely looks good at first, but the issue is that over the years, as the tree grows, the roots will cause the cement to crack and buckle, eventually creating the need to replace at least that square of cement and possibly others as well. These choices, of course, have implications for public safety, the government budget, and more generally, the atmosphere of the city itself and our day-to-day experience. Each individual choice adds up to something greater than itself. As the narrator in The Mezzanine notes, after describing the way plastic straws came to displace paper straws in the 80s, resulting in floating straws that one had to stoop down to drink when using with a soda can: In this way the quality of life, through nobodys fault, went down an eighth of a notch (5). One could say that choosing the mulch/dirt option rather than the grate option also decreases our quality of life, although Im not in a position to say how much, being much less skilled in this sort of domain than the narrator of The Mezzanine. But the sign. The sign, which was for a fast casual restaurant called Pita Pit, said GET IN HERE FOR A SMOOTHIE!! The first thing I registered, when looking at this sign, or rather, when the sign entered my field of vision before quickly disappearing as I glided by in my 2012 Mazda 3 GS-SKY, was that Pita Pit was talking about smoothies. Upon reflection, this makes sense. I wouldnt have known that Pita Pit offers smoothies if I hadnt seen this sign. Ive never patronized Pita Pit on my lunch break, not because I dont like its offeringsin fact, I do like kebabs, souvlaki, gyros, and shawarma, and I often get one of these wrapped sandwich combinations for my lunchbut because there are simply too many good options in the area surrounding the university where I work to go to a chain like Pita Pit. The next thing I noticed was the use of two exclamation marks. Why two? Why not one? The people at Pita Pit, perhaps thinking that they could connect better to the college students who are their main customers, had apparently opted for two exclamation marks to give their sign a casual feel, a friendly feel, an off the cuff feellike a text messagerather than the ever so slightly more formal single exclamation mark. However, this choice felt misguided to me, because I am not a customer of Pita Pit, and the sign is seemingly directed at people like mepeople who dont go to Pita Pit and are thus unaware that they offer smoothiesbut I dont feel the closeness with their establishment that would permit the use of two exclamation points. The other issue I have with the sign is the use of the imperative mood, the fact the sign is ordering me to GET IN HERE. If the sign were inviting me for a smoothie, perhaps I would consider it, but the brusqueness of GET IN HERE, even when accounting for the attempt at a facetious tone, didnt resonate with me. Needless to say, I have no plans to visit Pita Pit anytime soon. Normally I would not have given the sign a second thought, but as I said at the beginning of this piece of writing, Ive been reading The Mezzanine. This novel takes place, as the narrator notes, during a specific lunch hour several years ago, although even this is too expansive; the duration of the novel is just more than the time it takes to ride an escalator up one floor, from the ground floor to the mezzanine of an office building. How does one write 135 pages covering a period of less than a minute? One pays attention. In a way, the novel imagines if In Search of Lost Time was just the madeleine scene, the beginning being the dipping of that biscuit into the tea, and the end being when Marcel swallows the spoonful of tea with the dissolved madeleine in it. The few seconds in between, the time it takes Marcel to drink the tea and the madeleine, would contain all of the thoughts, memories, reflections, and plotlines of the novel, and these stories would be nested inside one another, like a Matryoshka doll. Another way to think of The Mezzanine is as an exercise in defamiliarization. Instead of using the technique as a literary device within a larger work of fiction, The Mezzanine asks what it would be like to eliminate plot altogether, creating an entire novel built on drawing the readers attention to the familiar, everyday world by making it unfamiliar, strange, and mixed with the narrators memory. The novel takes this idea to an extreme point by choosing the most nondescript place possiblean office building at the end of the 1980s. The topics for attention are likewise banal and ordinary: a carton of milk, a plastic bag, a shoelace, Scotch tape, staplers, office small talk, but the achievement of the novel is to convince us that even in this world there is beauty and meaning, that a stapler, for example, has followed: the broad stylistic changes we have witnessed in train locomotives and phonograph tonearms, both of which they resemble. The oldest staplers are cast-ironic and upright, like coal-fired locomotives and Edison wax-cylinder players. Then, in mid-century, as locomotive manufacturers discovered the word streamlined, and as tonearm designers housed the stylus in aerodynamic ribbed plastic hoods that looked like trains curving around a mountain, the people at Swingline and Bates tagged along, instinctively sensing that staplers were like locomotives in that the two prongs of the staple make contact with a pair of metal hollows, which, like the paired rails under the wheels of the train, forces them to follow a preset path, and that they were like phonograph tonearms in that both machines, roughly the same size, make sharp points of contact with their respective media of informational storageAnd then the great era of squareness set in: BART was the ideal for trains, while AR and Bang & Olufsen turntables became angularno more cream-colored bulbs of plastic! The people at Bates and Swingline again were drawn along, ridding their devices of all softening curvatures and offering black rather than the interestingly textured tan. And now, of course, the high-speed trains of France and Japan have reverted to aerodynamic profiles reminiscent of Popular Science cities-of-the-future covers of the fifties; and soon the stapler will incorporate a toned-down pompadour swoop as well. Sadly, the tonearms stylistic progress has slowed, because all the buyers who would appreciate an up-to-date Soviet Realism in the design are buying CD players: its inspirational era is over (14-15). This is what the novel isdigressions, tangents, memories, anecdotes. When I purchased the novel at a cafe-cum-bookstore a few days ago, I had a nice chat with the barista who turned out to be a sort of Nicholson Baker aficionado, having read most of his novels and even reread a few. He was excited for me, as The Mezzanine is my first Baker novel, the only reason I picked it up in the first place being that Id seen it mentioned by the writer Jordan Castro. The barista informed me that Bakers novels are without stakes, and having read the book, I understand what he means, but I also have to disagree with him. The act of paying attention has incredibly high stakes because if the whole complex lives of many people go on unconsciously, then such lives are as if they have never been (Tolstoy as cited in Shklovsky). The novel makes you feel this as you read it, the capacity one has for noticing things and thinking about them, and how frequently we lack attention and exist in a state of extended distraction. After passing the sign, I continued on down the street, still rolling smoothly and at low speed in the 2012 Mazda 3 GS-SKY, before turning left, then left again, and finally coming to rest in my usual spot, on the street next to a local park. I got out of my car and began to cross the park, which is the first part of a walk that I divide into three parts in my headpark, neighbourhood, main streetthat I take to arrive at work each day, a walk of 12-15 minutes. Upon entering the park, I noticed another new sign. This one had children playing next to it along with a few adults, which helped to explain the sign, which said, Early ON, and then below this, ON y va. I was immediately more receptive to this sign than to the Pita Pit sign, and as I continued my walk, I set to work deciphering its meaning. The first thing to know when viewing a public document in Canada is that it is likely to include both English and French. In Ontario, government documents will be in both languages, as will packaging on all items, but other things wont be, like the Pita Pit sign. Because of the nature of English, which often has adjectives before nouns, compared to French, which often has adjectives after nouns, and because there are so many cognates, sign makers can kill two birds with one stone when complying with these rules by following the order English adjective, noun, French adjective, thus avoiding repeating the noun twice. For example, as a kid I went one summer to Space Camp Spatial, which is how it was written on t-shirts and pins, saving space and repetition. As I exited the park and entered the neighbourhood stretch of my walk, I suspected something similar was at work with Early ON/ON y va, yet I was perplexed by the double ON. Why repeat the ON? Or was the repetition necessary, this not being a case of noun-adjective-noun but rather a more complex use of the English/French combination particular to Canada? I then realized, focusing on the capitalization of ON, that the province of Ontario was being referred toON being the abbreviation for Ontariowhile also having a second meaning as on is a word in both English and French. In French, on y va would most likely be translated in this instance as lets go. So we have, in a sense, Early ON/Lets go. As I thought about the sign and its layers of meaning, turning right onto the street that would take me to my office, I became more and more impressed. We had a reference to the province, which had been integrated with a pun in two languages, and rather than a literal translation between English and French, we had two different expressions that had a similar spirit yet somewhat different meanings. To appreciate the full meaning of this sign, I realized, one had to understand both French and English, such that the premise of providing both French and English to accommodate monolingual speakers inadvertently produced a third thing, a French/English combination where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Putting it all together, I concluded that this must be some sort of government sponsored daycare program, and when I looked it up upon arriving at my office, I was correct! Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. By Rebecca Black, PA A woman has been arrested by police investigating disorder linked with anti-immigration protests in Belfast. The 42-year-old has been charged with disorderly behaviour and two counts of obstructing traffic in a public place. She is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on September 17th. PSNI officers man road blocks in Belfast following an anti-Islamic protest outside Belfast City Hall (PA) As is usual procedure all charges will be reviewed by the PPS, a police spokesperson added. Some 42 people have now been arrested by officers investigating rioting earlier this month which came after anti-immigration protests. There have been 33 people charged in the same investigation. Focus on the task you set for yourself each day. If you are kangoing, only think about the end of your chisel going around each stone, enjoy the process you are building your forever home. Thats the advice of designer Virginie Laveau who is almost single-handedly restoring a derelict property in West Cork, and turning it into her dream home. Virginie, originally from France and living in Cork since 1999, is documenting the project on her Instagram account where her followers are enthralled by her determination, grit and tenacity. She shares frequent time lapse videos, and says the process is as much for herself to look back on, to show herself how far shes come. The 44-year-old arriving here 25 years ago, when she was 19, thinking shed stay for six months and become fully fluent in English. Six months turned to 25 years, and the tenacious French woman has had a career in IT, worked as a horticulture therapist, with Cork Association for Autism, and has been self-employed since 2014. The derelict property in West Cork. Virginie is a familiar sight at markets all over Ireland, where she sells handcrafted jewellery and her kimonos which she designs here and produces in India, which she calls her other home from home. For the past 13 years, she had rented a house-share near The Lough, and admits she never had a major calling to own her own house because her landlord was so good to her. But while travelling to Bantry Market in 2015, she fell in love with what was to be her future home. I climbed over the wall to look at it, when I got to the trees behind the house I pictured an L shape table and my friends around it and my best friend serving wine to everyone. I felt this was the place. In July, 2022, she signed on the dotted line and the place was hers! Virginie wasnt at all daunted by the epic challenge she had taken on: a derelict cottage, no doors, no windows, no septic tank, and in need of two new roofs. I grew up on building sites, my father restored old houses, and seeing old buildings being brought back to life was always a passion of mine. Work in progress. Naturally, the restoration project hasnt been without its twists and turns along the way, with some lessons learned the hard way. I spent the first year at the end of a kango hammer to remove all the old concrete and repoint the walls with lime. I remember I started out with a hand-held chisel and a hammer (I was afraid I would take down the walls), and by the end of an entire afternoon I hadnt even covered a square metre, so I went to buy myself my first hammer drill with a chisel bit and two weeks later I bought a professional Makita kango hammer. Virginie painstakingly researched how to use hemp and lime to insulate the walls a slow and laborious process - but found a quicker way to do it. The end result will be to have a comfortable, and extremely dry house. Through acquaintances at Bantry Market, she got a contact for her builder, an amazing man and his second equally amazing, as the house needed a new roof, windows, the works. I was blessed by the gods to have found the two of them, and through them I met my electrician and plumber, she said. For a year and half, she slept in her van outside the house, when working on it . She officially moved in on her birthday this year on April 29 even though she didnt have a toilet, electricity or running water. It was the only thing I wanted to be in my house. Im able to wash in the river which is two minutes from the house, or in a 40 litre bucket when its too late. Virginie Laveau at her home. To be honest, not having electricity has been the least of my worries Ive a generator and I can charge an awful lot from my van. And I have my Insta famous 1960 gas cooker to cook dinner, she said. Breaking her shoulder mid-way through, after missing a step on the stairs, was an unfortunate blip, but she always sees the positives. Her builder ended up doing work she had originally planned on doing herself, which saved her a lot of time. When I look back, it was a blessing. I would have probably fallen off the ladder insulating the high ceilings in the kitchen on my own, she said. Virginie hasnt put any timeline on the project. Im working as fast as I can, four days per week on the house, three days trading at markets, making jewellery late in the evenings, two days per months running our art collective with a few friends in Midleton - the Wildflower Collective. So it will be finished when it will be finished but its really taking shape right now. I remember I bought The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle, and that book looked at me for years, I never opened it. But today Im living it. I have learnt to live in the present, it is magic! At no point has she felt like giving up, thanks to that attitude, and the support of her wonderful friends and online community too. She credits a lot of her resourcefulness to her upbringing. My parents had me young and separated when I was seven. Following a family tragedy that same year, I grew up quickly. I moved into my own flat when I was 16 until I came to Ireland when I was 19. You can sit and cry or get up and move on. I moved to Ireland. I met my best friend Susan the first week I arrived in Ireland. Her family has become my family, her son Ryan is my godson. Ireland has been so good to me on so many levels. Personally, professionally. Moving here was the best decision Ive ever made. If you gave me a magic wand today to change anything, I wouldnt know what to do with it. Im grateful for all the experiences who made me who I am today. She financed the house buy through a Credit Union loan and the project through savings and her work. She has so far invested around 100,000 into the build. Virginie also qualified for the county council derelict housing grant, and well grant, worth a combined 76,000. She has four months left out of the 13 months to complete the task and she feels on track with it. To qualify, I must have certified electricity and also plumbing, tax clearance from my main builder, all my invoices, a flushing toilet, boiling kettle, a heating system and a bed in place by October, she said, unfazed. Ive an awful lot of energy Im not sure if its undiagnosed ADHD, but whatever it is, its a blessing! If there were 48 hours in the day, Id still ask for more. My only worry right now is what Ill do when Im finished with this project But Virginie is looking forward to having more creative time for her jewellery-making in her future studio in her forever home. Cork is most definitely home now for this lady, and her precious rescue dog Manny: Its actually very similar to where I grew up in Limoges in south-west France, except for the sea. The plan is to live off-grid, water- and energy-wise. And hopefully fully off-grid in terms of food maybe in the years to come. When people ask me if I feel proud of what Im doing, I dont, I feel grateful. So grateful to be fulfilling my dream of bringing an old house back to life. Its not about the end destination but the journey. "Im a firm believer that what you send out is what you get, and I feel so grateful that the universe decided to give me this chance. Follow Virginie at @onthevergeonline on Instagram or Facebook Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Picnic Pond in Brunswick, Maine was left covered in firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals after a fire suppression system accidentally discharged at the former Brunswick Naval Air Base on Aug. 19, 2024. Steve Walker via Maine Public More than 1,600 gallons of firefighting foam were discharged by a malfunctioning fire suppression system at the Brunswick Executive Airport, formerly the Brunswick Naval Air Station, in Maine on Monday. According to WBUR, the foam was released in an airport hangar by a malfunctioning system early on Monday. After it discharged, the foam ran off into local sewer and storm water drains. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is now working to clean up the foam pollution. There was a large black outlet pipe, just discharging, pumping, basically foam out in the downstream side of the pond, Steve Walker, director of the Brunswick-Topsham Landtrust that owns a nature preserve next to the airport, told Maine Public. So the entire stream bed was covered in this thick foam, getting up into the tree branches. It was so, so high. And then later this afternoon, as the wind started kicking in, the stuff went airborne. The released foam, known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), contains per-and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, or PFAS, for smothering flames, particularly in fuel fires. In 2021, Maine restricted the use of AFFF based on environmental and public health concerns over the PFAS in this type of foam. The states government website includes a list of several potential health impacts of PFAS, including decreased fertility, increased blood pressure in pregnant people, reduced ability of the immune system to fight infections, low birth weight and increased risk of certain types of cancers. Not only do PFAS bring up several concerns for human health and risks to the environment, but these compounds, also known as forever chemicals, are difficult to break down and can remain in the environment for long periods of time. To me, the bigger concern is not the immediate cleanup, but the fact that this is going to add to the already not insignificant amount of PFAs and other dangerous chemicals that are in the soils and the waters, Matthew Klingle, environmental historian at Bowdoin College, told Maine Public. As explained on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection website, common methods of removing PFAS from water include adsorption or reverse osmosis technologies. We take this situation very seriously and are committed to addressing the cleanup with the utmost urgency and transparency, Kristine Logan, executive director of Maine Regional Redevelopment Authority, told The Associated Press. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, and the cause of the malfunction that led to the discharged foam is under investigation. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Wind farm operators in Australia are being encouraged to use the simple method of curtailment increasing the wind speed required for turbines to start rotating which a new study has found can drastically lower how many bats are killed by the enormous blades. The tactic is already being used in the United States, Canada and some European countries, but has not been widely embraced in Australia, reported The Guardian. A wind farm north of Ames, Iowa on June 10, 2020. Simon Ringsmuth / Flickr [T]he construction of wind turbine facilities may fragment and degrade habitats, making them unsuitable for breeding, foraging, commuting, and migration, the authors of the study wrote. Furthermore, large numbers of volant vertebrates, such as raptors and bats, are killed by wind turbines. With bats accounting for the majority of vertebrate fatalities at wind turbines, global wind energy production is the leading cause of multiple mortality events in bats. The study, Toward solving the global greengreen dilemma between wind energy production and bat conservation, was published in the journal BioScience. Most wind turbine blades begin rotating and generating power cut in when wind speeds reach approximately 6.71 miles per hour, with maximum output of energy at from 22.4 to 33.6 mph, The Guardian reported. The research team discovered that an increase in the speed at which wind turbines begin to cut in to 10.1 mph reduced the average number of bat deaths by 40 percent, with even better results at higher speeds. Ecologist Emma Bennett, who has taken bat and bird surveys at wind farms since 2005, estimated annual bat mortality in Victoria at 25,000 to 50,000. Bennett said the sheer numbers of dead bats she had collected and identified had spurred her to find a solution. A four-month trial led by Bennett at a wind farm in Victoria where the speed of cut in was raised to 10.1 mph resulted in 54 percent fewer bat deaths, with a power output reduction of just 0.16 percent and only 0.09 percent less revenue for the operator of the wind farm. I am persevering. I feel like theres no other situation in Australia where we would be killing so many mammals accidentally, where we wouldnt change our behaviour, Bennett said, as reported by The Guardian. A draft of new federal government onshore wind farms guidelines are set to be finalized soon that list curtailment as a potential mitigating step in reducing bat deaths. New South Wales draft guidelines have also included curtailment. New research in Victoria with the purpose of reducing bat and bird collisions with turbines is set to be finished in October. Co-author of the study professor Justin Welbergen, a Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment ecologist, said curtailment was effective because low wind speeds often coincide with periods of high activity for bats, though there were variations in the specifics depending on the species of bat and the location. Welbergen explained that, though there had been extensive surveys, the issue was still not well understood in Australia because data had not been made accessible or centralized. This meant that testing and investigating solutions that applied to the Australian context was difficult. [W]e all want more green energy that will benefit our climate and, by extension, biodiversity including our bats, Welbergen said. The Australasian Bat Society said that, while it supports renewable energy, the number of bats being killed on wind farms was already unacceptably high and is expected to increase further as more wind farms are being developed. Among 10 principles that the society outlined to support a viable wind industry that had no net loss to bat populations were not allowing wind turbines to spin when there was no energy being produced, reducing the risks of bat collisions through curtailment, avoiding wind energy development in inappropriate places and providing better data sharing and transparency. Professor Brendan Wintle, an ecologist with University of Melbourne and the Biodiversity Council, said Australia could develop a renewable energy system that was cost-efficient and beneficial for nature, including bats. Its just a matter of getting the planning right and getting the regulatory environment right to ensure that happens, Wintle said, as The Guardian reported. The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) efforts to ban noncompete agreements has been blocked by a federal judge in Texas. According to The Washington Post, US District Judge Ada Brown has determined that the agency doesn't have the authority to enforce the rule, which was supposed to take effect on September 4. She reportedly wrote in her decision that the FTC only looked at "inconsistent and flawed empirical evidence" and didn't consider evidence in support of noncompetes. "The role of an administrative agency is to do as told by Congress, not to do what the agency thinks it should do," she added. FTC Chair Lina M. Khan explained that "noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism" when the agency voted 3-2 in favor of the ban. Noncompete agreements are widely used in the tech industry, and preventing companies from adding them to contracts would mean that workers will be able to freely move to a new job or start a business in the same field. The two Republican commissioners in the FTC, Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson, voted against the ban and also said that the agency "overstepped the boundaries of its power." In July, Brown temporarily blocked the rule's enforcement to assess the lawsuit filed by Dallas tax services firm Ryan LLC mere hours after the FTC announced the ban. The US Chamber of Commerce and other groups of American businesses eventually joined the tax firm in challenging the new rule on noncompete clauses. "We are disappointed by Judge Brown's decision and will keep fighting to stop noncompetes that restrict the economic liberty of hardworking Americans, hamper economic growth, limit innovation, and depress wages," FTC spokesperson Victoria Graham told The Post. "We are seriously considering a potential appeal, and today's decision does not prevent the FTC from addressing noncompetes through case-by-case enforcement actions." A federal judge in Florida also blocked the rule last week, though only for the lawsuit's plaintiffs. Meanwhile, another judge in Pennsylvania ruled last month that the agency has the authority to enforce the ban in a separate case filed by a tree-care company in the state. All three cases could still be appealed and could even make their way to the Supreme Court. This year, Google decided not only to update the design of its Pixel phones but also put its AI features front and center. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are the first Pixels that have swapped the Assistant for Gemini. With its latest flagships, Google continues to improve its cameras, by upgrading its primary sensor and expanding its suite of editing tools. And to power all those new AI tricks, the company has equipped the devices with its newest Tensor processor, designed to handle on-device Gemini tasks. For the first time, too, the Pro-branded Pixel is available in two sizes, with a smaller version joining the family. Better yet, if you go for the Pixel 9 Pro, youll be getting a largely identical phone to the pricier 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. Please note: no camera compromise here, Apple. But this isnt just another flagship Android: its a concerted effort to get you hooked on Googles AI-powered image editing, email assistance and more. The Pixel 9 Pro delivers on all these aspects, with varying degrees of success. Google 94 100 A smaller pro-level Pixel phone Pixel 9 Pro With a refined design, much-improved telephoto camera and great battery-life, the Pixel 9 Pro cements its status as the smartphone with the best camera. Pros Great camera features and improved telephoto camera A year of Gemini Advanced for free Incredible battery life A beautiful, bright screen thats easy to use outdoors Tensor G4 runs cooler than its predecessor Cons Slower charging speeds than the XL Not the best phone for gaming $999 at Google Explore More Buying Options $999 at Amazon$999 at Best Buy Design and display Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget As I opened the box, I knew this was the most premium Pixel yet. The Pixel 9 Pro has softer curved corners than its predecessor, while the edges have been flattened. It also felt somehow familiar like my iPhone. I had to double-check, and they weighed the same, down to the gram (all 221 of them). Thats not bad: the iPhone Pro is the de facto phone to beat. The Pixel 9 Pro has a similar matte satin finish. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I don't know if the flattened sides make it easier to grip than the Pixel 8 Pro, but I found the substantial camera module did help with stability, occasionally resting on my finger or thumb during shots. The cyclops bar is gone, replaced with a more conventional but just as substantial camera array. The temperature sensor is, for some reason, still here, although a Thermometer app update coming this week will let it save the things youre most regularly measuring and even offer some AR guidance to ensure youre the right distance away from the object youre scanning. Without the camera bar, which felt a bit much, the Pixel 9 Pro doesnt feel like Google trying to make an aggressive design statement. The camera module is huge, however. Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget Like last year, Google has kept the display almost entirely flat. The Pixel 9 Pro XLs 6.8-inch screen is 0.1 inches bigger than last years Pixel 8 Pro and brighter, too, peaking at 3,000 nits. It makes sense for Google to make its bigger pro Pixel even larger to match the XL in its name, but like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pro XL is a little too big for me. My not-exactly-small hands struggled to reach the search bar or dropdown menus in the top corners. (Sidenote: I can move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen on my iPhone, but not on Android? What gives?) Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch panel is roomy enough to see plenty of lines of text at once, without me having to almost sprain a finger to reach its edges. Both Pixel 9 Pros have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on their displays as well as across the satin-finish backs, like last years flagship phone, meaning theyre about as durable as before. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement With the XL, youre consciously deciding you want a Big Phone this is S24 Ultra territory. Fortunately, its another bright, vivid screen from Google, with variable refresh rates from 1-120Hz for smooth scrolling when needed. The XL Pixel Pros resolution of 1,344 x 1,992 translates to a pixel density of 486 ppi, which is lower than the Pixel 9 Pro (495 ppi). But good luck discerning that in real life. Google continues to lean towards more understated color tones on its screens, compared to rival phones from Samsung and Apple. Still, I think it suits the shades of Androids Material Design palette, as well as this years hardware color options. Both Pixel 9 Pro sizes arrive in black, white, hazel and rose quartz. I was sent the hazel version, which is subtle to the point of looking almost gray. My colleague Cherlynn Low is infatuated with the rose quartz Pixel 9 Pro shes tested. Cameras Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget The Pixel camera is still the best smartphone camera. Last year, we called Pixel 8 Pro the most powerful smartphone camera on the market, and Google has tried to hold on to that position. Hardware-wise, the sensors are the exact resolution as the Pixel 8 Pro, aside from the leap to a 42-megapixel front-facing camera, up from 10.5 megapixels last year. Google has also improved the autofocus, and it takes surprisingly decent crisp shots and video. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But were all here to discuss the triple camera array on the back. Theres a new 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. The upgraded hardware doesnt result in noticeable improvements over the Pixel 8 Pro in most of the photos I compared until I started using the telephoto sensor. There, I saw huge improvements to detail and color. Google has addressed some of the Pixel 9 Pros video-recording weaknesses too I didnt notice any overheating issues with the new Tensor chip, even when recording multiple video clips at maximum resolution. New camera software features Google has once again augmented its cameras with software features that walk the line between gimmick and game-changer. Add Me could be the latter for me. As the guy with the newest smartphone in my friendship group and family, Im usually the one taking candid and group shots for everyone. But that means there often arent many photos of me. Add Me is a new camera mode which combines Googles computational photography expertise with augmented reality to scan and frame an area and group of people. Once youve taken the first photo, you trade places with someone else, the Pixel 9 Pro will ask that person to align the frame, and take a second shot. Its a little like the Best Take feature from last year, which could swap out faces to ensure everyones giving their best smile, the Pixel then processes and combines those two images together. Its a simplified Photoshop clone tool, sure, but it looks good. I will be using this at the next birthday/wedding/christening/future 40th birthday party. (Ed. note: We get it, Mat, youre popular.) Ugh, not two of me. (Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget) The Pixel 9 Pro arrives with several features initially teased a year ago, including Zoom Enhance and Video Boost. Zoom Enhance is pretty self-explanatory, using AI to increase both detail and sharpness on your most aggressively zoomed photos. The results can be mixed. Its not as egregious as Samsungs super-imposed moon photography, but Zoom Enhance does its best work on shapes, structures and patterns, sharpening up brickwork, foliage and more. It still usually makes a mess with humans. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There are use cases for Zoom Enhance (it does a great job sharpening up Londons Tower Bridge) but Im not sure itll rescue your concert pics from the back of the venue. Not unless you want a nightmarish vision of Taylor Swifts face massaged by AI. Notably, Zoom Enhance is one of the camera AI features thats processed on-device. Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget With Video Boost, the Pixel 9 Pro records video in a special mode (that you will have to toggle in settings before recording) and those clips are automatically uploaded to the cloud for server-side processing. Whats new for the Pixel 9 Pro is that you can shoot videos with up to 20x zoom or create boosted videos with 8K resolution. Youll need to record at 1080p to create 4K videos, and capture in 4K to make 8K clips. This is upscaled 8K, so while clips seem crisper in places, dont expect 8K footage thats comparable to what youll get with dedicated cameras. Video Boosted 8K seems more like a spec boast for Google rather than a feature youll use with any regularity. Having said that, Google has improved Video Boost substantially since it first launched, adding smoother transitions between focal lengths and different camera sensors. With Video Boost, leaping from a standard wide view to 5x zoom is far less jarring, and Google has fixed the color imbalances between its trio of sensors it looks much like it was filmed on a single-lens camera. It also offers a boost to any video captured in low light. It wont make pitch-black footage visible I did try but does improve the color and detail of dim video clips. You can also punch in to 20x digital zoom if youre using Video Boost for surprisingly functional footage. Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget Once youve taken your photos, an upgraded Magic Editor brings the same content-aware fill features as last year, capable of deleting unwanted objects and people from your photos. This year, Google adds more generative AI power. First up, Autoframe will let the Pixel try its hand at improving your photos composition, cropping and even extending your photos, generating backgrounds and adding elements, sometimes successfully. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Reimagine puts Googles generative AI skills to use with more creative tasks, allowing you to select backgrounds, items or other areas of your photo, and create dreamy composite images. I was able to swap out my living room for a Hawaiian sunset, make the floor lava in a nearby park and more. Get too specific with your wording, though, and the results arent quite as impressive. But thats the state of smartphone generative AI, for now. The pro camera controls, introduced with the Pixel 8 Pro, are still here. They let you manually tweak exposure, shutter speed, and ISO, and are still super useful for those who know what theyre doing. Software On the Pixel 9, you may notice a few surprise apps that you never installed. But this isnt quite bloatware: theyre Googles new Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. Instead of adding more complication to the Photos app, these have been made into standalone apps, which Im very glad to see. For now, youre unable to edit photos with people in Pixel Studio, which dampens a lot of the fun. If you want standard generative-AI cartoon images and renders, Pixel Studio can oblige, although my creations arent quite as cohesive as the examples shown. While Pixel Studio offers the ability to title your designs, most times that text will get turned into the usual AI-generated squiggles, defeating the purpose of making most things with this app. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Its a little too early to draw conclusions on Pixel Screenshots, too. It uses AI to parse through all your screenshots, making information like prices, reservations and dates searchable. However, the Pixel 9 doesnt populate your screenshots automatically, nor could I find a way to pull my existing screenshots (years of them!) from my Google Photos backup, which seems like a miss. The Photos app already silos them as screenshots, so there must be a way to transfer them across. Is this a privacy issue? Weve asked Google. This means the tool offered limited utility during my first week of testing. What could be incredibly useful is how Gemini AI can gradually learn to identify whats captured in the screenshots beyond simply reading the text. Screenshots in general are just smarter on the Pixel 9 Pro. I captured some travel itinerary emails, and before I even had to open an app, the Pixel suggested adding my hotel stay to Google calendar. These are the touches I love. (Of course, I could hold the power button to summon Gemini and ask it to do so similarly.) Both Pixel 9 Pros get a years subscription to Google One AI Premium, a bundle of 2TB storage as well as the use of Gemini Advanced. The latter lets the AI directly dabble in apps like Gmail and Google Docs, to summarize text, PDFs and email conversations, although I didnt spot it in my own Gmail app. I was still able to test this in a Chrome tab elsewhere, as the subscription extends to every device you use with Google products. Theres also access to Gemini Live, a conversational mode thats almost entirely voice-based. Im not sure how much Id use this mode, however. I prefer to type my specific requests. Gemini Live will tick along in the background as you use other apps, which adds to the utility, and stores all your requests and results on the main Gemini screen. I was able to barrel through about 15 different voice requests for shows I wanted to see at this years Edinburgh Fringe, and it could already parse showtimes and venues, faster than I could manually find them. It struggled with some names and couldnt identify some notable comedians at all. Google has made AI-assisted search a functional part of how I use my phone. Its been fun seeing what Gemini Advanced is capable of. After taking an obtuse photo of several skyscraper buildings in central London, I asked Gemini Advanced to identify where the photo was taken. The AI initially said it could be New York, suggesting one of the buildings was One Vanderbilt. Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget Then I said that was incorrect and that it was taken in London. Gemini Advanced circled back, identifying not only one of the buildings but also the address, which was roughly 100 feet away from where I took the photo. The sheer seamlessness of the experience on Android was what impressed me most, but this is part of Gemini Advanced and after the one-year trial ends, Google expects you to pay $20 a month to keep your access. At a time when all my payments for Netflix, Spotify and more are climbing, Google isnt offering enough to make me add another subscription to the pile. Performance and battery life Along with 16GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 series features the Tensor G4, Googles latest slice of silicon, designed to breeze through AI tasks and generative AI requests. But If youre a mobile gamer this isnt going to blow you away. The G4 is more powerful than the Tensor G3, sure, but it doesnt quite match the smoothness of the latest Snapdragon chips from Qualcomm. Tensor G4s improved abilities are put to use most with new AI tasks: for example, Google says its Add Me feature taps into augmented reality software along with 15 different on-device AI models. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We havent quite got to the point where we can compare the speeds and efficiencies of generative AI tasks. For the most part, the Pixel 9 Pro behaves like a typical flagship phone. Chrome is unlikely to stutter, and the Pixel 9 Pro seems capable of handling heavy video editing and processing with ease, as well as new Magic Editor features for your photos. These features still take a moment, but the fact that so many AI tools work on-device, with no connection needed, impresses me. The Pixel 9 Pro XLs 5,060mAh battery is almost identical to the Pixel 8 Pro (5,050mAh), and it delivered over 22 hours in our looped video rundown test. The Pixel 9 Pro, meanwhile, managed to run for almost 25 hours. However, maximum charge wattage differs between the two Pros too. The Pixel 9 Pro charges at 27W, less than the Pixel 8 Pro's 30W, while the new Pixel 9 Pro XL charges at 37W. This means the XL should charge faster than the base Pro. Google says the Pixel 9 Pro can get up to 55 percent in 30 minutes, while the XL will reach a heady 77 percent in the same time, using the companys own 45W charger. My Pixel 9 Pro showed similar figures, speedily recharging to over 50 percent in under 25 minutes. Wrap up Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget The Pixel Pro has never looked better and feels like the premium devices Googles always wanted to make. Naturally, theres a premium cost associated. Given that last years 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro was $999, the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 more expensive, while the Pixel 9 Pro, with the same cameras, storage, processor and AI hooks, but a smaller screen, costs the same $999. However, compared to rivals like Samsungs Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1,300), the Pixel 9 Pro devices remain competitively priced. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Pixel 9 Pro is a showcase for Gemini, Googles AI assistant, and its been given a huge opportunity to shine as Pixel 9 Pro owners enjoy a year of free access to the more advanced model. Its early days for some of the new software features, like Pixel Studio and Screenshots, however. Competition from Apple and Samsung over the last few years may have chipped away at the competitiveness of Pixel features like Night Sight, but Google continues to improve the Pixels imaging prowess further. The Pixel 9 Pro cements the Pixel series status as the best smartphone camera. Its so good that I dont mind that chonky camera cutout it changed my mind. Some of these new features are crucially ones I will regularly use, like Add Me. Elsewhere, Google taps into cloud processing to beef up your video with the might of its server network. At the same time, the Pixel keeps many of its computational photography tricks on-device, with the temperamental Zoom Enhance available without the need for an internet connection. It all culminates in a phone with unique tricks and incredible battery life, regardless of which size you go for. It's so good that my iPhone will have to go without its SIM for a little longer: the Pixel 9 Pro will be my main phone for just a bit more. Ben Affleck was all smiles with his first wife Jennifer Garner just hours before his now-estranged wife Jennifer Lopez officially filed for divorce from him Tuesday. Affleck was photographed stepping off a private jet with Garner and their second child, Fin. Photos obtained by the Daily Mail showed the Oscar winner in good spirits and grinning as they arrived back in Los Angeles. Ben Affleck glows next to ex Jennifer Garner on his 2 year wedding anniversary to Jennifer Lopez - after dropping Violet at college https://t.co/wC9PYMdFWu pic.twitter.com/3qxIEklGw6 Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 20, 2024 Affleck sported a white button-down shirt, dark blue slacks, Nike sneakers, and aviator sunglasses. Garner, for her part, rocked a casual outfit consisting of a tight black shirt, army green pants, and white sneakers. The exes had traveled to New Haven, Connecticut, over the weekend to help their eldest child, Violet, prepare for her freshman year in college. Fin appeared to hint at Violet's school with the Yale sweatshirt they were seen wearing at the airport. Affleck and Garner were spotted getting into a black BMW, with the actor driving his ex-wife and child away from the airport and to their home. The exes -- who were married from 2005 to 2018 -- also share a son named Samuel. The sighting came just hours before news broke that Lopez filed divorce papers at the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The "Ain't Your Mama" hitmaker notably initiated the divorce proceedings on the same day as the second anniversary of her and Affleck's lavish Georgia wedding, which was held on Aug. 20, 2023. They first tied the knot in a private ceremony in Las Vegas on July 16 of that year -- just a little over a year after rekindling their romance. According to the documents cited by TMZ, Affleck and Lopez have been separated since April 26. Around that time, rumors began to surface that the two stars' marriage was on the rocks since they hadn't been seen in public in over a month. The "Justice League" star further fueled this speculation when he moved out of their marital home in Beverly Hills, ditched his wedding ring, and skipped the premiere of Lopez's movie "Atlas." Affleck and Lopez putting up their shared home for sale and the actor buying a new house in LA appeared to further confirm that they were over. While it's been nearly four months since they broke up, TMZ suggested that Affleck and Lopez's divorce may not be finalized anytime soon. According to the outlet, they did not sign a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot in 2022, which means their earnings over the past two years will be considered community property. Lopez does not want spousal support for both her and Affleck, according to her filing, but they have yet to agree on the settlement they will each receive in the split. The Segunda Marquetalia group could deal the final blow to Columbian President Gustavo Petro's new peace plan. Heres what you need to know. Experts are urging farmers to report and investigate all abortions and stillbirths to understand disease status and identify how to protect their herds in future. To help build reporting all abortions into farmers calving routine, the Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) group has launched new resources. These include a flyer and online hub with FAQs, all with an aim to help reduce the barriers of reporting abortions and submitting samples for investigation. They have been created in consultation with experts from Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) and Animal Health NI. The intent for the flyer is that it should be printed off for farm notice boards as well as saved to the phones of all members of the farm team to help increase the rate of abortions reported. Colin Mason, a veterinary investigation officer based at SRUC's disease surveillance centre in Dumfries, said investigating causes of abortion could help improve herd efficiencies and protect staff as well as contribute to better industry insights. By asking farmers to investigate all abortions and stillbirths by sending abortion tissues and blood samples to be tested, farmers and vets alike will achieve better herd health planning outcomes by gaining insights into what is causing abortions, he said. Once a pregnancy is established and particularly in the latter stages, the expectation is that a viable calf will be born at term. "When this does not happen this is an unforeseen event which should be investigated as part of the health planning process with your vet. This includes finding out the status of infectious diseases and identify the risk levels of zoonotic disease for your farm. Understanding disease risk is mportant for the wider industry too, with the current strain of bluetongue, BTV-3, as well as Schmallenberg, both pertinent at the moment. Both diseases can cause late term abortion, stillbirth or deformities in calves, so there's a genuine notifiable disease reason why all abortions need to be investigated. Collective data showing what is causing abortion and stillbirth on-farms also helps inform the national disease status, plus identify any virus changes or emerging threats. Mr Mason explained why understanding prevalence of zoonotic disease was also a vital reason to submit abortion samples and protect farm staff. Increasingly coming to the fore, are the disease risks of Q fever and Salmonella Dublin. Testing for them will help understand whether some of these diseases are active on-farm or passive on-farm, he said. From a worker, farmer or vet point of view, knowing a little bit more about the risks on-farm, and being able to manage that risk for anyone coming into contact with the herd is a positive action farmers can do. Submitting all abortion cases to be investigated is also going to find out the prevalence of brucellosis and improve brucella surveillance. This will increase the confidence in which we can say in the UK that we are free of brucella. Ultimately, the more you can find out about your animals by investigating these unexplained abortion losses, the better for your farm, your animals and the industry. The Environment Agency has warned farmers and landowners to be vigilant for criminals who target their land and buildings to dump illegally collected waste. The agency has warned that networks of organised criminal gangs operating across the country are targeting privately owned property and land, particularly in rural locations, to dump rubbish collected through illegal means. In 2023, its survey found 85% of the landowners and farmers who took part reported being affected by small-scale fly-tipping and 20% by large-scale fly tipping. This June, research conducted by the NFU also revealed 85% of respondents felt the problem of fly-tipping in their area had either not changed or become worse in the last five years. If waste is dumped on privately owned land, it is the responsibility of the property or landowner to clean it up at their own expense. Those affected can face costs of more than 200,000 to clear illegally dumped waste from their premises, according to the Environment Agency. Waste crime costs the economy in England an estimated 1 billion a year through evaded tax, environmental and social harm, and lost legitimate business. The Environment Agency said it is taking action against these criminals, conducting site inspections and prosecuting guilty parties to the full extent of the law. The agency's deputy director of waste regulation, Steve Molyneux, warned that there are networks of criminal gangs operating across the country "just waiting to spoil it for everyone". He said: They may offer owners cash to store waste at their property or on their land, promising to remove it later. They wont. Some dont ask. They break in, dump waste theyve illegally collected and disappear. Waste criminals need access to places to dump the rubbish they illegally collect but your vigilance can stop them. Shutting them out of property and land is just one tactic to scupper these rogues. Country Land and Business Association (CLA) president, Victoria Vyvyan warned that fly-tipping "is a crime that is blighting rural communities". Farmers and landowners bear the cost of removing rubbish and they pay on average 1,000 to remove waste, she said. "This is not a victimless crime in some cases they have paid up to 100,000 to clear up other peoples mess or risk facing prosecution themselves. Its not just litter blotting the landscape, but tonnes of household and commercial waste which can often be hazardous even including asbestos and chemicals endangering farmers, wildlife, livestock, crops and the environment." Steps to take The Environment Agency has compiled steps for farmers and landowners to follow to protect themselves against waste criminals: Check any empty land and property regularly and make sure it is secure; Carry out rigorous checks on prospective and new tenants; Be vigilant and report any suspected illegal waste activity to the Environment Agencys 24-hour incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60.? Eating red meat raises the risk of type 2 diabetes. Eating ham sandwiches can cause type 2 diabetes Research involving two million people around the globe provides compelling evidence of a link between meat consumption and the health condition as it was found that eating just two slices of ham per day increases the danger of the disease by 15 per cent. The experts conducted analysis on people from 20 countries across the world and say that their findings support recommendations to limit the amount of red meat that humans eat in order to cut the huge amount (totalling over 400 million) of people being diagnosed with the condition. Professor Nita Forouhi, a senior author of the study at the University of Cambridge, said: "Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes. "It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce type 2 diabetes cases in the population." Germany's foreign trade balance showed a surplus of 138.8 billion (approximately $154.29 billion) in the first half (H1) of 2024, despite a decrease in both exports and imports, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This surplus represents a 28.7 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023, when the trade surplus stood at 107.9 billion. Germany's foreign trade surplus reached 138.8 billion (approximately $154.29 billion) in H1 2024, a 28.7 per cent increase from the previous year. Exports fell by 1.6 per cent to 801.7 billion, while imports dropped by 6.2 per cent to 662.8 billion. In June 2024, exports decreased by 4.4 per cent, and imports by 6.4 per cent year-on-year. German exports decreased by 1.6 per cent to 801.7 billion year-on-year in the first half of 2024. In contrast, imports into Germany saw a more significant drop, decreasing by 6.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2023, with goods worth a total of 662.8 billion imported in the first six months of 2024, as per Destatis. In June 2024, German exports were down 3.4 per cent on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis compared with May 2024. Imports, however, saw a slight increase of 0.3 per cent over the same period. When comparing June 2024 to June 2023, exports fell by 4.4 per cent, while imports dropped by 6.4 per cent. Provisional data showed that after calendar and seasonal adjustment, Germany exported goods worth 127.7 billion and imported goods valued at 107.3 billion in June 2024. The foreign trade balance for the month showed a surplus of 20.4 billion. This is a slight decrease from the calendar and seasonally adjusted surplus of 25.3 billion recorded in May 2024, but higher than the 19 billion surplus registered in June 2023. Trade with the European Union (EU) remains a significant portion of Germanys foreign trade. On a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis, Germany exported goods worth 69.7 billion to EU Member States in June 2024, while imports from these countries totalled 56.3 billion. Exports to countries outside the EU (third countries) amounted to 57.9 billion in June 2024, with imports from these countries reaching 51 billion, based on calendar and seasonally adjusted figures. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) Uzbekistan recently discussed with Poland ways to raise export of textile products to the latter and adapt modern Polish technologies. An Uzbek delegation, including representatives from the ministry of investments, industry and trade and textile companies, was on a visit to Poland to strengthen economic relations. Uzbekistan recently discussed with Poland ways to raise export of textile products to the latter and adapt modern Polish technologies. Both sides will open a store for Uzbek textiles and footwear in a wholesale trade complex near Warsaw. Uzbek enterprises will supply yarn, gauze, knitwear, underwear and home textiles to Poland-based firms. The delegation visited wholesale trade complex GD Poland International near Warsaw and held discussions with its president Felix Wang as well as Janusz Piechocinski, president of the Poland-Asia Chamber of Commerce. Both sides agreed to open a store for Uzbek textiles and footwear in this wholesale trade complex, where special discounts and rental benefits would be offered to the Uzbek side. The delegation also visited the Union of Polish Weavers and major companies like yarn manufacturer Legs, Przedsiebiorstwa Produkcyjno Handlowo Uslugowego (PPHU) and Jola Styl, according to Uzbek media reports. A joint business discussed the potential relocation of Bangladesh company Rusinagency and Ukraines Arlen Textile Group to Uzbekistan, as well as the implementation of new technologies and innovations to modernise Uzbekistans light industry. Uzbek enterprises Uztex Group, Aisha Home Textile, Korajon Textile and Parvoz Humo Ravnaq Trans signed agreements with Poland-based Rusinagency, Arlen Textile Group, Legs, PPHU, Jola Styl, SWP, Ptak and Colorinvest for the supply of yarn, gauze, knitwear, underwear and home textiles to Poland. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Madhur Bhandarkar recently revealed that Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan reduced their market prices to work with him in Fashion and Heroine respectively. The filmmaker mentioned their names whilst discussing high entourage costs. Madhur said, Every female actor slashed her price when they were working with me. Since, I only had a budget of a1.5 crore for Chandni Bar, Tabu didn't not charge any fee for the film. She took money against Bombay or Delhi territory, and nothing else apart from that. She worked with such conviction. Raveena Tandon (Satta) and Bipasha Basu (Corporate) reduced their prices. Speaking about Priyanka and Kareena he said, Even Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor slashed their fees. They didnt charge the market price from me because they were keen on making these movies. The entire film was resting on their shoulders so everybody slashed their prices. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. (TSXV: HOH) ("High Arctic Overseas" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has received final approval to list the common shares of the Corporation ("Common Shares") on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Common Shares are expected to commence trading on the TSXV at the market opening on August 16, 2024, and the CUSIP number for the Common Shares will be "42964K101". On August 12, 2024, High Arctic Energy Services Inc. ("High Arctic") and the Corporation completed the previously-announced reorganization of High Arctic to separate High Arctic's North American and Papua New Guinea businesses, by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") between the Corporation and High Arctic. Pursuant to the Arrangement, among other things: High Arctic transferred all of the outstanding ordinary shares of High Arctic Energy Services Cyprus Limited, the subsidiary that owns and operates High Arctic's Papua New Guinea focused energy services business, to the Corporation; each shareholder of High Arctic received as consideration, one-quarter of one (1/4) Common Share and one-quarter of one (1/4) common share of post-Arrangement High Arctic for each common share of High Arctic held; the Corporation became a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan; and High Arctic retained its interests in its existing North American energy services business and remained listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and continues to trade under the trading symbol "HWO". Following the completion of the Arrangement, the Corporation has 12,448,166 Common Shares outstanding, and positive working capital of approximately US$19 million inclusive of US$13 million cash on hand. Further details regarding the Corporation and the Arrangement are contained in the Corporation's TSXV Form 2B Listing Application, which is available under the Corporation's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Arrangement was approved by shareholders of High Arctic, along with a distribution of $0.76 per share to its Shareholders by way of return of capital (the "Return of Capital") and other matters, at the annual general and special meeting held on June 17, 2024. For more information on the Arrangement and the Return of Capital, please also see the management information circular of High Arctic dated May 9, 2024, and news releases of High Arctic dated May 11, 2024, May 21, 2024, May 29, 2024, June 12, 2024, June 18, 2024, June 27, 2024, June 28, 2024, July 31, 2024, August 2, 2024 and August 12, 2024 available on High Arctic's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. About High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. High Arctic Overseas is a market leader in Papua New Guinea providing drilling and specialized well completion services, manpower solutions and supplies rental equipment including rig matting, camps, material handling and drilling support equipment. For further information, please contact: Mike Maguire Chief Executive Officer 1.587.318.3826 High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. Suite 2350, 330-5th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L4 www.haes.ca Email: info@higharctic.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Corporation's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Corporation's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this press release. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, the commencement of trading of the Common Shares on the TSXV. The Corporation's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth above and elsewhere in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are given only as of the date of this press release. The Corporation does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law. Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2024) - International Prospect Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: IZZ) (the "Company" or "IZZ"), is pleased to provide an update on its gold prospects in the Eastern Pilbara of Western Australia. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Valroc Ventures Pty Ltd. ("Valroc"), currently holds 14 tenements (8 Exploration and 6 Prospecting licences) totalling approximately 11,790 hectares in the Eastern Pilbara (the "Properties"); all 14 tenements, referred to as the Mosquito Creek Properties ("MCP"), overlie prospective areas of the Mosquito Creek Basin (aka Mosquito Creek Formation). The MCP are located between approximately 22 km and 55 km northeast of Calidus Resources Limited's ("Calidus") Nullagine Gold Project (acquired in December 2023 from Novo Resources) and cover regional gold-bearing structural trends (e.g., the Middle Creek Fault, Blue Spec Fault, and the Eastern Creek and Woods Creek areas) with historically reported gold-bearing quartz veins (leaders) and multiple shear/structural zones (DMIRS, WA, 2024). The MCP are proximal to several of Calidus' exploration projects, including the Blue Spec (190 koz at 24.3 g/t Au) and the Parnell-Vulture Trend (near Valroc tenements P46/2101 and E46/1390), both located along the Blue Spec Fault. Additional Valroc tenements are located close to the Middle Creek Fault which is host to multiple historical gold occurrences and historical small-scale mines. On 21 January 2022, Novo Resources reported Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling results from the Parnell-Vulture property of 7.0 m at 7.75 g/t Au from 31.0 m, 4.0 m at 10.19 g/t Au from 31.0 m, 13.0 m at 2.51 g/t Au from 21.0 m, and 8.0 m at 10.02 g/t Au from 4.0 metres. The Parnell-Vulture Trend is just one of a number of structural trends that are part of Calidus' Nullagine Gold Project which is targeting more than 24 greenfield and brownfield exploration opportunities northeast of its 1.8 Mt per year Golden Eagle oxide gold ore processing pant which was put on care and maintenance in August 2022. Calidus acquired the Nullagine Gold Project from Novo Resources to provide an immediate option to restart production at Golden Eagle on a campaign basis to process free-milling ore sources, and also a longer-term option of a centring a new future production hub at Nullagine to treat sulphide ores. Having a gold processing plant in the immediate area of the MCB could be beneficial to future production opportunities for Valroc and IZZ. As of June 2024, Calidus reported current free-milling mineral resources (oxide, mixed and sulphide) from the Nullagine Gold Project of 260 kt at 4.02 g/t Au Measured (34 koz Au), 3.84 Mt at 2.21 g/t Au Indicated (273 koz Au), and 2.77 Mt at 1.89 g/t Au Inferred (168 koz Au) from six deposits including Beatons Creek. There are 16 additional historical resources, outside of the current resources reported by Calidus, that are yet to be updated and reported (Calidus news release dated 14 June 2024). Tenement Exploration (June 2023-August 2024) Since the last update of June 2023 (IZZ news release dated 19 June 2023), the Company has continued to use its symbiotic relationships with its WA-based network of independent local prospectors ("Fossickers") to complete prospecting and metal-detecting on its tenements. Since June 2023, Valroc has received more than 38 direct prospecting requests and Section 40E Permits from Fossickers. The Fossickers have been identifying prospective areas on Valroc's tenements, such as gold-bearing and potentially gold-bearing structures, and areas with high density of gold nuggets. This is a low-cost and effective way to develop target areas for follow-up. The Company is also working closely with a WA prospector who holds an approved Programme of Work (POW) on Valroc's tenement E46/1197. The POW is being worked through mechanical methods (ground disturbance) including "dry-blowing" - in the absence of water, this technique takes advantage of gold's high density, using air to separate the gold nuggets from their host gravels and sands- and has discovered numerous nuggets, some several ounces in weight (Figure 1). The Company is planning more conventional exploration programs to be deployed over the target areas as circumstances and financings permit. Gold Nuggets and Visible Gold in Quartz Veins Since 2019, Valroc has engaged third-party prospectors to explore and report on results found on tenements within the Mosquito Creek Formation. To date, third party prospecting has reported more than 2,059 gold nuggets ranging from 0.1 g to more than 250 g, the two largest nuggets being about 250 g and 119 g and totalling approximately 2,367 g of gold (approx. 2.4 kg or 76 oz Au). In addition to gold nuggets, prospectors have continued to locate quartz veins or leaders (IZZ news release dated 19 June 2023) containing visible gold; further prospecting work is being planned for these areas. A selection of photos provided by the third-party prospecting parties are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. Selection of photos from third party prospectors (Fossickers) working Valroc's 14 Mosquito Creek Gold Properties. (A) Largest nugget reported to date at more than 250 grams gold. (B) Multiple gold nuggets ranging for 0.05 to several grams, typical of nugget discoveries on the tenements. (C) Latest large nugget and second largest to date at nearly 119 grams gold. (D) Multiple gold nuggets - note the irregular, angular shapes suggesting they are derived from a local source. (E) Prospectors (Fossickers) ready for the challenging field conditions in the Eastern Pilbara. (F) Visible gold (yellow circles) in quartz vein/leader. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7051/220520_88adf601d4388bd5_002full.jpg Mosquito Creek Formation The Mosquito Creek Formation ("MCF") is a succession of Archaean siliciclastic rocks (sedimentary sequences) that occupies much of the central part of the Mosquito Creek Basin ("MCB") in the northern part of the eastern Archaean Pilbara Craton of Western Australia. The exposed part of the MCF is at least 60 km long and 30 km wide, multiply deformed, and has been metamorphosed under low-grade conditions (Bagas et al., 2004). The MCF correlates with the sedimentary De Grey Supergroup and is interpreted to extend at least 20 km eastward and 100s of km westward beneath cover rocks of the Hamersley Basin, and Eriksson et al. (1994) interpreted the MCB as a forearc basin and accretionary complex situated to the north of a subduction complex. The MCF is host to numerous small-to moderate-sized disseminated, vein- and shear-hosted mesothermal gold deposits, interpreted to have formed at ca. 2.90 Ga. The majority of deposits within the MCF are situated proximal to two major east-northeast trending thrust fault / shear zones; the Middle Creek Fault (Shear) and the Blue Spec Fault (Shear). The Middle Creek Fault is host to all of the current mineral resources reported by Calidus, excluding Beaton's Creek. Mineralisation in general is characterized by sulphidic auriferous quartz veins contained within altered sericitic and chloritized sandstone, pelite, siltstone and shale from the turbiditic sequences of the MCF. Gold is variably associated with pyrite arsenopyrite and minor chalcopyrite, in veins that form en echelon and ladder structures within shear and fault strike corridors, defining lodes of mineralisation. Mineralisation is considered syn-deformational to the main structural features of the MCF (Calidus news release dated 14 June 2024). The Beatons Creek deposit is outside of the MCB, hosted within the Hardey Formation of the Hamersley Basin, which unconformably overlies the MCB. The Hardey formation comprises a sequence of sandstones and conglomerates, with lesser interbedded siltstones and shales (Calidus news release dated 14 June 2024). Future Exploration Plans The Company plans to continue to acquire additional tenements to add to its already 14 tenements and aims to add value to its Western Australia Eastern Pilbara tenements with the completion of early-stage exploration programs. Valroc will also continue work in cooperation with local third-party local prospectors and fossickers, which to date has proven to be a very effective exploration "tool". In addition, the Company is actively seeking industry partners to further advance its current properties, while retaining Net Smelter Return royalties, and is constantly reviewing new opportunities in Western Australia within and outside of the Pilbara. Qualified Person Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans, (P.Geo., PhD, PMP), a Director and Vice-President Exploration for the Company, is a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release as it relates to the Properties. Results reported herein are from third-party prospectors and have not been independently verified by the QP. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220520 SOURCE: International Prospect Ventures Ltd. Fort Worth, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2024) - Boomer Benefits, an award-winning Medicare insurance agency founded in 2005 in Fort Worth, TX, is proud to announce a new set of extensive Medicare information available on its website. The Boomer Benefits Medicare Content Center is dedicated to educating individuals on a wide range of Medicare topics, providing valuable insights and up-to-date information to help readers make informed decisions about their healthcare and retirement planning. Boomer Benefits- Medicare Agency The Boomer Benefits Medicare Content blog covers a variety of subjects related to Medicare, including the latest updates on Medicare policies, detailed explanations of different Medicare plans, and practical advice on navigating the complexities of Medicare enrollment. The hub also addresses important retirement topics, offering guidance on how to maximize benefits and plan for a secure future. The Boomer Benefits Medicare Content Center, regularly updated with new content, is a reliable resource for anyone seeking to understand Medicare's intricacies. The team at Boomer Benefits is committed to publishing high-quality, informative articles that cater to the needs of their audience, ensuring that readers have access to the most current and relevant information available. "Our goal at Boomer Benefits is to empower individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare and retirement. The Boomer Benefits Medicare Content Center is an essential part of this mission, providing a wealth of information on Medicare and retirement topics that are crucial for our readers," said Kelsey Mundfrom, CEO of Boomer Benefits. By offering a comprehensive and accessible platform for Medicare education, Boomer Benefits continues to demonstrate its dedication to serving the needs of its clients and the broader community. The Medicare Content Center is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to stay informed about Medicare and retirement planning, ensuring that they have the resources they need to navigate these important aspects of their lives. For more information on the Boomer Benefits blog and to explore the latest articles, visit the Boomer Benefits website. About Boomer Benefits Founded in 2005 in Fort Worth, TX, Boomer Benefits is an award-winning Medicare insurance agency for national insurance carriers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Mutual of Omaha and many other A-rated carriers. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220611 SOURCE: Boomer Benefits 78% of Flooded Properties From Hurricane Debby Were Outside High-Risk Flood Zones DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2024 / FloodSimple, a leading flood insurance agency, is urging homeowners and renters to reassess their flood insurance coverage in light of a recent report from First Street.org. The report reveals that 78% of properties flooded by Hurricane Debby were located outside of FEMA's designated Flood Zones, resulting in $12.3 billion in damages. Of these losses, $9.7 billion occurred in areas previously considered low-risk. "This report serves as a stark reminder that flood risks extend beyond FEMA's high-risk flood zones," said Stephen Schramke, CEO of FloodSimple. "With the majority of damages occurring outside high-risk flood zones, it's clear that many homeowners are underestimating their risk. We want to ensure that everyone, regardless of where they live, understands the importance of having flood insurance." Flood insurance should be a key component of every homeowner's protection plan. "Flood insurance can be more affordable than many people realize," added Schramke. "If your neighbor's home floods, yours could be at risk too." Even in areas not classified as high-risk, shopping around can help homeowners and renters find a plan that fits their budget while offering peace of mind. FloodSimple is calling on homeowners and renters, including those in moderate or low-risk areas, to take proactive steps in securing their homes against unexpected flood risks. The findings from the First Street.org report make it clear that a broader understanding and preparation are crucial. About FloodSimple: For homeowners looking for cost-effective insurance options, FloodSimple offers a streamlined solution to secure affordable flood insurance. By leveraging advanced comparative pricing technology, FloodSimple has saved its customers $3.6 million in premiums, ensuring they receive the most competitive rates available. Visit FloodSimple's website to explore comparison rates and start saving on flood insurance today. Contact Information Holly Lawrence PR hollyl@floodsimple.com SOURCE: FloodSimple View the original press release on newswire.com. Regulatory News: Reference is made to the simplified tender offer which has been filed by TCC Group Holdings Co., Ltd ("TCC" or the "Company"; TWSE: 1101) on 8 July 2024, with the French Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF")(AMF notice no. 224C1129), through its indirect subsidiary Taiwan Cement Europe Holdings B.V., on the shares of NHOA S.A. (EURONEXT PARIS: NHOA.PA) ("NHOA") at the price of EUR 1.10 per NHOA share (the "Tender Offer On 19 August 2024, NHOA announced that the ad hoc committee of its Board of Directors expressed some reservations as to the fairness of the EUR 1.10 price per NHOA share in cash proposed by TCC and has therefore asked it to express its intentions regarding the Tender Offer. The Board of Directors of TCC has taken note of these reservations and, in this context, has approved on 20 August 2024 the increase of the price of the Tender Offer to EUR 1.25 per NHOA share. The increased price of EUR 1.25 per NHOA share represents a 114% premium over the closing share price as of 12 June 2024 prior to the announcement of the Tender Offer, as well as premiums of 114%, 94% and 82% respectively compared to the volume-weighted average prices over the 60, 120 and 180 trading days preceding that date. Accordingly, an updated draft offer document will be filed with the AMF by mid-September 2024. The timing of the Tender Offer will be adapted accordingly. Discussions with the ad hoc committee of NHOA's Board of Directors and its advisors will resume on that basis. Shareholders and potential investors of NHOA should continue to exercise caution when dealing in the securities of NHOA, and if they are in any doubt about their position, they should consult their professional adviser(s). Disclaimer This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation to sell NHOA shares in any country, including France. There is no certainty that the simplified tender offer mentioned above will be opened. Under French law, the offer may not be opened until the AMF has issued a clearance decision (declaration de conformite). Any decision relating to the offer must be based exclusively on the information contained in the offer documentation. The dissemination, publication or distribution of this press release may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The offer will not be addressed to persons subject to such restrictions, either directly or indirectly, and will not be accepted from any country where the offer would be subject to such restrictions. Accordingly, persons in possession of this press release are required to inform themselves about and to comply with any local restrictions that may apply. The Company declines all responsibility for any breach of these restrictions by any person whatsoever. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820108685/en/ Contacts: Press Office: Claudia Caracausi and Davide Bruzzese, Image Building, +39 02 89011300, nhoa@imagebuilding.it Financial Communication and Institutional Relations: Chiara Cerri, +39 337 1484534, ir@nhoagroup.com Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus. Korrektur als Einstiegschance Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen. 3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential Im neuen, kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir drei aussichtsreiche Unternehmen vor, die bei einem weiteren Anstieg uberproportional profitieren konnten. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! The asset acquisition enables an efficient hybrid data capture approach for retailers to maximize sales and optimize on-shelf performance ZURICH, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scandit, the leader in smart data capture, today announced the asset acquisition of shelf audit automation technology from MarketLab, a Polish image recognition and AI software company specializing in the retail industry. As part of the transaction, MarketLab's expert team will join Scandit to build and expand the new offering. MarketLab's expertise in fixed camera solutions complements Scandit's existing ShelfView mobile capture approach to provide a hybrid data capture shelf intelligence solution for retailers. The global retail sector loses approximately $634 billion annually due to problems with on-shelf availability alone, according to research from IHL Group. Delivering increased workforce efficiency and automating time-intensive store operations processes, the new hybrid solution will enable retailers to gain insights into on-shelf availability, planogram compliance, pricing issues, and more to maintain optimal store conditions, maximize sales, and reduce lost revenues due to stockouts, particularly in high-SKU volume environments like grocery stores. It will also provide AI-enabled notifications to improve store key performance indicators and flag issues in near-real time to store associates and management. "The acquisition marks a new milestone in Scandit's evolution as we continue to broaden our smart data capture capabilities for the wider retail industry. Integrating MarketLab's fixed camera-based shelf recognition experience and technology into ShelfView strengthens our ability to empower retailers to enhance their overall store performance, boost store associate efficiency and optimize the monetization of shelf data with CPG partners," said Samuel Mueller, CEO and co-founder of Scandit. "We are delighted to join forces with Scandit. Combining our complementary technologies, we look forward to delivering additional value, ROI, and insights to grocery retailers globally so they can benefit from increased visibility into their shelves, ensure accurate stock availability, and ultimately enhance the customer experience," said Piotr Wardaszko, CEO of MarketLab. Leveraging the strengths of mobile capture and fixed cameras offers retailers a complete, scalable, and flexible solution for all store formats, with a seamless path to more efficient and cost-effective shelf management. Mobile capture, via smartphones or handheld computers, is easily deployable using existing devices, adaptable to different store environments and can be scaled quickly. The addition of fixed cameras provides continuous high frequency data capture for near-real-time shelf monitoring while freeing up store associates to devote their time to higher-value tasks such as customer engagement. The acquisition strengthens Scandit's retail shelf management and analytics solution, ShelfView, which leverages object recognition, augmented reality and other advanced computer vision technology to process images for more intelligent and efficient store operations. Thanks to Scandit's AI and machine learning capabilities, ShelfView delivers alert accuracy at 99.7% - crucial for delivering reliable insights quickly in rapidly changing shelf situations. With Scandit's large existing retail customer base, including eight out of the top ten US grocers plus MarketLab's existing accounts including Carrefour Poland, Scandit is well positioned to drive further growth and retail innovation. The acquisition opens new routes to market by providing valuable insights to consumer packaged goods (CPGs) and merchandising agencies to maximize revenues through higher on-shelf availability, accurate pricing, promotions and planogram compliance as agreed with their retail partners. Beyond the retail sector, Scandit sees future potential in fixed camera deployments in other environments such as warehousing to automate logistics workflows. The acquisition of MarketLab signals a new phase of growth for Scandit and advancement as the smart data capture leader. Today's announcement follows Scandit's $150m Series D investment in 2022 which has helped accelerate its R&D, with a focus on AI/ML capabilities, reflected in recent product developments such as ID Validate, ID Bolt, MatrixScan Find and more. About Scandit Scandit is the leader in smart data capture giving superpowers to workers, customers and businesses by providing actionable insights and automating end-to-end processes. Our Smart Data Capture platform enables smart devices, such as smartphones, handheld computers, drones, digital eyewear, robots and fixed cameras to interact with physical items by capturing data from barcodes, text, IDs and objects with unmatched speed, accuracy and intelligence. Speed up scanning workflows by 5x on any smart device. Scan accurately in any challenging lighting, at angles, damaged labels or across multiple codes. We enable innovation that delivers significant cost savings, increases employee retention and customer loyalty. Scandit partners with customers at every step with trials, solution design, integration and customer success support included. Visit scandit.com to learn why market leaders across retail, transport and logistics, healthcare and manufacturing like Instacart, Levi Strauss & Co., Sephora, Lufthansa and FedEx trust us. For more information on ShelfView, visit https://www.scandit.com/products/shelfview/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2485746/Scandit.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2485747/4868083/Scandit_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/scandit-acquires-marketlab-to-boost-retail-shelf-intelligence-capabilities-302226618.html The deal is a vital component of Nortal's expansion plans in the UK This strategic acquisition strengthens the company's cybersecurity and defense offerings in Europe, the US, and the GCC, and provides access to highly skilled and experienced talent LONDON, Aug. 21, 2024, the strategic innovation and technology company, announced today its acquisition of 3DOT Solutions Limited, a well-known UK cybersecurity consultancy and a certified supplier to the UK Armed Forces and Intelligence Services. With this acquisition, Nortal will strengthen its footprint in the UK and bolster its cybersecurity and defence business in Europe, the US, and the GCC. Founded in 2012, 3DOT Solutions is an established UK cybersecurity consultancy focused on delivering end-to-end cyber security solutions for private and public sector customers with some of the most demanding cyber and IT security challenges. The company's clients include central government departments, military agencies and intelligence services. "The combination of long-term experience in the defence sector, a formidable reputation among its customer base, and strong cybersecurity expertise makes 3DOT Solutions an ideal partner for us. Importantly, with this acquisition, we will significantly enhance our cybersecurity capabilities and address the growing demand for cybersecurity services in the US, the GCC and across Europe, both in defence and other sectors," commented Priit Alamae, CEO and founder of Nortal. 3DOT Solutions' experts will join Nortal's global team of more than 2,000 professionals, extending the company's services in the UK and addressing the growing demand for cybersecurity services in Europe and the US. Together with 3DOT Solutions, Nortal will offer an extensive range of cybersecurity services, from information and security architecture consultations to cyber resilience and compliance, cybersecurity programme creation and execution, IT/OT security and cyber range and R&D services, catering to businesses, national defence, and security organisations. "Joining Nortal represents a new and exciting growth opportunity for the 3DOT Solutions team and an excellent chance to deliver greater value to our customers. We are excited to realise our shared ambition of increasing our presence in the UK and expanding our footprint into Europe, NATO countries, the "Five Eyes," and globally across new markets and geographies. The combination of Nortal's existing success and 3DOT cyber and defence expertise creates a unique opportunity to service our customers' needs now and in the future," said Michael Hampson, CEO of 3DOT Solutions. The cost of cybercrime worldwide is estimated by Statistaat 9.22 trillion U.S. dollars, with the average cost of a data breach amounting to 4.35 million U.S. dollars. According to Hampson, this number is expected to rise due to both the increasing speed of digitalisation as well as escalating geopolitical tensions. "Our goal is to help government authorities as well as businesses from SMEs through to large corporates to build cyber-resilient organisations with robust digital cores, secure systems, and protected supply chains," added Hampson. More information available at www.nortal.comand www.3dot.co.uk Contact: press@nortal.com SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GLOBUS EVENTS, the organizer of Pet Fair Asia - Asia's leading international pet show -has reached an agreement with Beijing Lanneret International Exhibitions (a local Beijing based organizer) for making a strategic investment in its China Beijing International Pet Products Exhibition, also known as China Pet Expo (CPE). The official deal signing ceremony took place on August 20th, the day before the opening of the 26th edition of Pet Fair Asia in Shanghai. The powerful combination of experience and know-how of both organizers aims to create a greater influence and synergy in China's pet market and provide a more efficient and comprehensive trade platform for the industry. The first results of the partnership will be shown at the China Pet Expo 2025, planned to be brought to the audience with an upgraded concept and higher professional services. From 2026 onwards, the show will be managed by a new JV company established by both organizers. China Pet Expo, which held its 11th edition in March 2024, is one of the largest pet products exhibitions in northern China, recognized by the industry for the strong brand recognition and market position in its region. Since its establishment in 2014, it has always taken place in Beijing during spring time, creating an important year start procurement platform for the pet industry, with great growth potential and profitability. Pet Fair Asia is the largest and most influential B2B and B2C international platform for the pet industry in Asia. This year the show will host an all-time record of 300,000 sqm exhibiting space occupied by over 2,500 exhibitors who will showcase the most ground breaking innovations of the pet industry at 360 degrees. The show is expected to welcome more than 100,000 professional visitors and 350,000 consumers and influence over 3.5 million pet lovers. Pet Fair Asia's continuous growth and success has led to the establishment of its satellite events in Beijing (Pet Fair Beijing) and Shenzhen (Pet Fair South China). In 2021 it also launched Pet Fair Southeast Asia, the only dedicated B2B International show in Southeast Asia, which takes place every year in Bangkok. Mr. David Zhong, Founder of Pet Fair Asia, said: "Both Pet Fair Asia and China Pet Expo have been deeply involved in the pet industry for many years and assisted its rapid development. I believe that through resource integration and complementary advantages, the two parties will be able to jointly create more opportunities and add value for the pet industry. This investment is not only a further milestone in Pet Fair Asia's growth strategy, but also a reflection of our confidence in the future of the pet industry. I look forward to now serve the industry through a close cooperation between the parties and continue meet the growing needs of enterprises and pet owners." Mr. Edwin Tan, CEO of GLOBUS EVENTS said: "We are extremely excited about this investment, which aligns with our strategy to continue enhancing our role in the pet industry. Both organizers are a perfect fit from business operations, resource background, and industrial culture point of view. Our strong management expertise and brand building capabilities, together with the vast industry resources, make it possible for us to keep our crucial role as one of the world's largest offline trade platforms for the pet industry." Mr. Cao Lin Hun, General Manager of Beijing Lanneret International Exhibitions said: "We are very pleased to join forces with GLOBUS EVENTS, a well-recognized exhibition organizer with a strong background in the pet industry. Through the joint expertise of both parties, our China Pet Expo will enhance its brand positioning, upgrade its model and growth, with the purpose to provide its participants with continuous professional services and more trade opportunities." As the global pet market continues its growth, this investment is a testimonial of Pet Fair Asia's commitment to accelerate its role as an unmissable trade platform for the industry and create more value and opportunities for the worldwide players in China and beyond. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/globus-events-enlarges-its-pet-portfolio-by-investing-in-china-pet-expo-302224217.html The global hemodynamic monitoring market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as the increase in prevalence of chronic diseases such as heart failure and hypertension and technological advancements in hemodynamic monitoring devices. WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices Market by Product (Disposables and Monitors), Type (Non-invasive, Minimally Invasive, and Invasive), End User (Hospitals, Home Care Settings, Laboratory Settings, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033". According to the report, the hemodynamic monitoring devices market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $1.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2024 to 2033. Request Sample of the Report on Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices Market Forecast 2033 - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A122626 Prime determinants of growth The hemodynamic monitoring market is being propelled by several key drivers such as technological advancements such as the development of minimally invasive devices and wearable sensors are enhancing patient comfort and providing real-time data. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and chronic conditions necessitating continuous monitoring further fuels market growth. Additionally, the rising adoption of hemodynamic monitoring in critical care settings and operating rooms to optimize patient outcomes and reduce complications presents significant opportunities for market expansion. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics in hemodynamic monitoring systems is anticipated to revolutionize patient care by providing predictive insights and personalized treatment strategies. Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $1.2 Billion Market Size in 2035 $1.9 Billion CAGR 4.70 % No. of Pages in Report 260 Segments Covered Product, Type, End User, and Region Drivers Growth in geriatric population prone to cardiovascular ailments Increase in Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Technological Advancements in Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices Opportunities Increase in adoption of wireless and remote monitoring solutions for enhanced patient care Growth opportunities in emerging economies Restraint High cost associated with advanced hemodynamic monitoring devices Stringent regulatory requirements for product approval Have a Question? Connect to our Analyst - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A122626 Segment Highlights Increase in adoption of disposables due to rise in number chronic diseases and surgical procedures Disposables such as catheters, sensors, and probes, are essential components used in hemodynamic monitoring procedures. Their demand is driven by factors such as the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the increasing adoption of minimally invasive procedures. The growing preference for cardiac catheterization procedures over traditional open-heart surgeries has led to a higher demand for disposable catheters used in hemodynamic monitoring. Additionally, advancements in technology have resulted in the development of disposable sensors with improved accuracy and reliability, further fueling their adoption. On the other hand, hemodynamic monitors play a pivotal role in continuously measuring and displaying key parameters such as blood pressure, cardiac output, and oxygen saturation. The market for hemodynamic monitors is driven by factors such as the growing demand for critical care monitoring in intensive care units (ICUs) and operating rooms, as well as the increasing emphasis on patient safety and early detection of hemodynamic instability. For instance, advanced hemodynamic monitors equipped with features such as non-invasive monitoring capabilities and wireless connectivity are gaining traction in healthcare facilities for their ability to provide real-time data and facilitate remote monitoring. Advantages of Non-invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring Non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring is witnessing significant growth due to its advantages over invasive techniques, including reduced patient discomfort, lower risk of complications, and ease of use. Advancements in technology, such as wearable sensors and portable monitoring devices, are driving adoption. In addition, minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring techniques, such as central venous catheterization and arterial catheterization, offer a balance between invasiveness and accuracy, making them suitable for a wide range of clinical scenarios. Furthermore, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, which involves the insertion of catheters into central veins or arteries, remains a basis in critical care settings, including intensive care units (ICUs) and operating rooms, where continuous and accurate hemodynamic monitoring is essential for patient management. The market for invasive hemodynamic monitoring is driven by the increasing prevalence of complex medical conditions, such as sepsis, heart failure, and traumatic injuries, which require precise hemodynamic assessment and tailored interventions. For Purchase Related Queries/Inquiry - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/A122626 Regional Outlook North America to maintain its dominance by 2035 By region, North America held the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2023 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to its advanced technology infrastructure, strong demand & availability of hemodynamic monitoring products, supportive regulatory environment, and collaborative ecosystem fostering innovation and market growth in the market. Key Players Edwards Lifesciences Corporation GE HealthCare Baxter ICU Medical Koninklijke Philips N.V. Sramek BioDynamics, Inc. OsypkaCardiotek GmbH Deltex Medical Group Masimo Medtronic PLC The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global hemodynamic monitoring market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Recent Developments In June 2023, Mindray Medical and Edward Lifesciences Corporation collaborated to integrate the Edwards FloTrac sensor in Mindray's hemodynamic monitor- BeneVision N. The product is expected to launch in the European market, post-market acceptance in China. In May 2023, Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd. announced to develop VORTX, a respiration technology expected to improve hemodynamic performance and reduce oxygenator failures. In January 2022, Medtronic received approval from the National Medical Products Association (NMPA) for Evolut PRO TAVR System. The system aids in treating severe aortic stenosis while providing full hemodynamic performance. In March 2021, Koninklijke Philips N.V. launched the IntelliVue X3 system. The system provides advanced hemodynamic measurements and improves the clinical focus during different procedures. In October 2020, Getinge launched NICCI, an advanced non-invasive monitoring solution to reduce the complications associated with low blood pressure. AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) Offered by Allied Market Research: AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports. Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About Allied Market Research: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on: LinkedIn Twitter Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hemodynamic-monitoring-devices-market-to-reach-1-9-billion-globally-by-2033-at-4-7-cagr-allied-market-research-302226636.html TAIPEI, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lootex is taking a significant step in advancing the NFT ecosystem by launching a strategic Base Chain NFT trading event, Lootex Base Summer, running from August 21 to September 11, 2024. With a $25,000 prize pool and the introduction of an integrated OpenSea Aggregator, Lootex aims to enhance cross-chain NFT accessibility and support the growing Base Chain ecosystem. This initiative, coupled with the new GP points system, is designed to streamline the user experience and drive further adoption within the NFT market. Base Summer Campaign: A Hotspot for Community-Favored Projects on the Base Chain The three-week-long Lootex Base Summer event offers NFT enthusiasts the opportunity to earn up to $25,000 in rewards from buying and selling community-favored projects. Participants can receive cash back and extra bonuses by purchasing NFTs and inviting friends to join the event. Lootex has curated a selection of featured collections on Base Chain, including well-known projects like BasedNouns, NFToshis, SoMon OwOG, MissToshi, and Phenoms, all available for trading on the Lootex platform. By inviting friends to participate and complete NFT transactions, both parties can earn additional rewards. Whether you are a seasoned NFT collector or new to the scene, this event offers a wealth of opportunities to maximize your returns. Supporting the Base Chain and Lootex's Vision Lootex is committed to advancing blockchain and NFT technology and sees immense potential in the Base Chain. Recent market data shows that Base Chain's transaction volume has surged by over 150% in the past six months, attracting numerous influential projects to its ecosystem. Lootex CEO Justin stated, "Launching the Base Chain-themed NFT trading event and the new GP points system is a significant step in our efforts to support the growth of the ecosystem and respond to the community's interest in recent Meme trends. We believe that as the Base Chain continues to expand and market demand increases, it will play an increasingly important role in the future digital economy. Our goal with these new features is to provide users with a more convenient and efficient trading experience, driving further growth and prosperity for our platform and the broader ecosystem." Introducing the GP Points System: Enhancing User Experience To further elevate the user experience, Lootex has introduced the GP points system, as outlined in the $LOOT white paper. GP is designed to help users reduce the burden of Gas fees, making transactions smoother. Through Lootex's innovative Smart Account (ERC-4337) and Gas Fee subsidy mechanism, users can purchase GP, load it into their Smart Account wallet, and use it to pay Gas fees across multiple chains, eliminating the need to buy extra tokens. In addition, Lootex has launched the GP Center, offering daily check-ins, referral bonuses, and transaction missions, allowing users to easily earn more GP. Whether checking in daily, inviting friends, or completing transactions, participants have numerous opportunities to earn GP rewards, further lowering transaction costs and enhancing the overall experience. NFT Aggregator Beta: Now Live Simultaneously, Lootex proudly unveils the Beta version of its NFT Aggregator, enabling users to purchase NFTs directly from OpenSea listings via the Lootex platform. This innovative feature integrates popular NFT projects from ETH, BASE, Polygon, and Arbitrum networks, providing users with a seamless shopping experience. While using the Lootex Aggregator, users can also participate in seasonal or event-specific rewards, enjoying multiple benefits in one place. For further information about Lootex and its innovative offerings, visit lootex.io. https://twitter.com/LootexIO https://facebook.com/lootex.io https://go.lootex.io/_dc https://lootexio.medium.com/ About Lootex Lootex is an innovative NFT marketplace designed for gamers and NFT lovers. Our mission is to make web3, blockchain, and new technologies more understandable and accessible. We aim to bring virtual assets to life and empower gamers and traders with the best experience they need. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lootex-drives-nft-growth-with-strategic-base-chain-event-and-integrated-opensea-aggregator-302227326.html LONDON, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresha, the leading marketplace platform for beauty and wellness, today announced it has secured a $31 million venture debt facility from J.P. Morgan. This funding will accelerate Fresha's expansion into new markets and drive the growth of its machine learning capabilities and AI-powered robotics, further advancing its innovative all-in-one platform. Fresha's platform empowers beauty businesses, such as salons, barbershops, spas, and aesthetics clinics, to operate efficiently and independently. By offering a subscription-free business software with embedded payment processing and a consumer marketplace, Fresha helps businesses streamline their entire operations and connect with more customers, levelling the playing field for businesses of all sizes. To date, Fresha has raised over $185 million in venture capital funding, including a $150 million Series C round in 2021 led by General Atlantic. As Fresha approaches profitability, this new relationship with J.P. Morgan will further fuel its ambitions to revolutionise the beauty and wellness space. Fresha's platform allows consumers to discover, book, and pay for beauty and wellness appointments with local businesses through its marketplace. Beauty and wellness professionals' benefit from an all-in-one platform that includes free business software and financial technology solutions to manage their operations seamlessly. This approach aligns with Fresha's vision of fostering innovation and accessibility across the industry, enabling every business to thrive in a competitive landscape. The Fresha ecosystem offers merchants everything they need to run their businesses effectively, including appointment bookings, point-of-sale, customer records management, marketing automation, loyalty programs, beauty product inventory, and team management. The consumer marketplace leverages online bookings and automated marketing through mobile apps and advanced integrations with major tech platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Google, unlocking significant revenue potential for partner businesses. By removing barriers to advanced technology, Fresha ensures that all beauty professionals can enhance their services and expand their reach. Fresha boasts a network of over 110,000 merchants, with a strong presence in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. The platform's reach extends across 120 countries, where customers book tens of millions of appointments monthly. To date, Fresha has facilitated transactions worth over $35 billion in gross merchandise volume, showcasing its significant impact on the global beauty and wellness industry. In 2023, the company grew revenues by 67% year-over-year, with a similar level of performance expected in 2024. "We're delighted to support Fresha on their continued growth journey," said Alexandra Wyatt, U.K. Innovation Economy banking at J.P. Morgan. "Fresha is steering the rapidly expanding beauty and wellness space with its innovative technology and strong unit economics. Their unique business model is transforming the industry landscape, and it's precisely the type of innovation we want to help drive globally." J.P. Morgan serves venture-backed and high-growth companies, founders and venture capital firms across the globe in industries like technology, fintech, disruptive commerce and internet, life sciences, climate tech and healthtech. The firm provides deep industry expertise, local support, global products and services and a robust network of investors and partners to meet clients' commercial, investment and private banking needs. "We are thrilled to be working with J.P. Morgan," said William Zeqiri, Founder and CEO of Fresha. "The beauty and wellness industry is a dynamic world, buzzing with creativity, innovation, and an endless quest for service enhancement. Today, there is so much potential to be unlocked. Beauty service providers need a 360-degree view of each client, including booking behaviour, preferences, payment methods, and lifetime value. Extracting insights from every transaction has become a key competitive advantage, allowing our users to offer highly tailored and personalized services." Zeqiri continued, "The next exciting frontier for Fresha is expanding our research and development in machine learning and integrating AI into daily business operations. By embracing cutting-edge technology, we are not just enhancing our services; we are creating opportunities and redefining what's possible. Our vision is a world where innovation and creativity flourish together, driving progress and enabling everyone to reach their full potential. In the not-so-distant future, we envision AI-powered robots working alongside humans in the beauty and wellness space. Robots can handle repetitive tasks, such as managing bookings, mixing colours, welcoming customers, or managing inventory, freeing up valuable time for stylists to focus on personalizing their services and honing their craft." About Fresha Fresha is the world's #1 beauty and wellness marketplace powered by all-in-one free business software with integrated payments. With over 100,000 partner venues in more than 120 countries, Fresha simplifies business operations and enhances customer experiences. To learn more, visit fresha.com, download Fresha on the App Store and Google Play, or follow Fresha on Facebook and Instagram. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486639/Fresha.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fresha-secures-31-million-in-financing-from-jp-morgan-to-invest-in-machine-learning-and-ai-powered-robotics-302227349.html Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY)(OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce the results of two drill holes from its ongoing Phase III drill program at the Copper Creek Project, located in Arizona, U.S. ("Copper Creek"). The two holes were drilled to continue to evaluate the near-surface mineralization in the American Eagle area. Paul Harbidge, President and CEO, commented "Drilling in the American Eagle Area continues to provide very exciting results, with the discovery of the Banjo breccia, which has returned the best grade-width intercept of this drill campaign to date. The Phase III drilling shows the potential for a large near-surface resource to be defined above the current underground resource. The current interpretation suggests characteristics similar to the Mammoth breccia. Mammoth connects with the Keel underground zone and is the most vertically continuous mineralized system defined so far on the property. Drilling continues with the emphasis on both delineation of the Banjo breccia and testing additional breccias in the American Eagle area." Highlights Drill hole FCD-24-070 is the discovery hole for the high-grade Banjo breccia and confirms significant mineralization above the American Eagle underground resource. Drill hole FCD-24-070 intersected 117.90 metres ("m") at 1.01% copper and 1.87 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver from 323.52 m, including 15.89 m at 2.15% copper and 2.48 g/t silver from 390.00 m. This intercept is within 269.65 m at 0.64% copper and 1.32 g/t silver from 229.49 m. Mineralization remains open. At the American Eagle breccia, intersected 88.16 m at 0.39% copper and 1.43 g/t silver from 188.34 m in drill hole FCD-24-071, including 15.80 m at 0.93% copper and 3.71 g/t silver from 188.34 m. Confirmed vertical continuity of near surface breccia hosted mineralization to the porphyry mineralization at depth in the American eagle area. (For true width information see Table 1.) The American Eagle area as mapped on surface, covers approximately 800 m by 1,000 m and is host to numerous prospective breccias and porphyries which have strong copper geochemical signatures. These surface expressions locate above the large underground porphyry mineral resource, which is approximately 500 m to 1,100 m depth below surface. Historically, the near-surface mineralization was not adequately tested as previous drilling was vertical to steeply inclined. Mapped geology, isolated historical drill intercepts and historical small-scale mining highlight the potential for near-surface mineralization. The Company has reported assay results for eight drill holes from this area as part of the current program (for drill holes not reported herein, refer to news releases dated June 25, 2024 and July 25, 2024). These results provide a broad framework of the geology, structure, and alteration and confirm the potential for significant near-surface copper mineralization. Drill hole FCD-24-070 was collared approximately 240 m southeast of the American Eagle breccia and drilled to the north (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5). Porphyry and breccia intervals alternate in the first 81 m. From 81 m to 242 m, the hole intersected mainly granodiorite crosscut by up to 20 m wide breccia intervals and porphyry domains. Breccias in this upper part of the hole are pyrite and quartz cemented. From 242 m to 450 m, hydrothermal breccia is characterized by intense sericite alteration. Mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite together with pyrite and quartz breccia cement and to a lesser degree in veinlets. The last 50 m of the hole contain chalcopyrite mineralization associated with early halo veins. Drill hole FCD-24-071 was collared approximately 140 m southeast of the American Eagle breccia and drilled to the northwest (Figures 1, 3 and 4). It intersected mostly igneous cemented breccia, variably sericite altered, from surface to 98 m, and granodiorite cross-cut by porphyry until 192 m. Alternating hydrothermal breccia and porphyry domains are present until 244 m, after which the hole enters granodiorite cross-cut by porphyry. Copper mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite in breccia cement and veinlets below 188 m downhole, or 110 m below surface. Chalcocite occurs locally with chalcopyrite. Molybdenite is abundant from 238 m to 241 m. Sericite and tourmaline are dominant alteration minerals associated with hydrothermal breccia domains. Next Steps Phase III drilling continues with the following objectives: Reconnaissance and follow-up drilling on new targets; Expanding the Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"); and Better delineating high-grade mineralized zones. The current focus of drilling is on near-surface mineralization in the American Eagle area. As part of the Phase III program, 36 drill holes have been completed and results for 34 have been released. Thirteen holes were drilled in Area 51, ten in the American Eagle area, five in the Bald area, three in the Copper Prince - Copper Giant area, three near Old Reliable and two in the Titan breccia. The assay results for additional completed drill holes will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company. Figure 1: Plan View Showing Surface Geology and Location of Drill Holes in the American Eagle Area Note: The open pit shell is based on constraints used in the MRE as presented in the report titled "Copper Creek Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment" with an effective date of May 3, 2023 (the "Technical Report") available on the Company's website at www.faradaycopper.com and on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Figure 2: Cross Section Showing Drill Hole FCD-24-070 at the Banjo Breccia Figure 3: Cross Section Showing Drill Hole FCD-24-071 at the American Eagle Breccia Figure 4: Isometric View Showing Phase III Drill Holes in the American Eagle Area Note: The open pit shells and underground footprint are based on constraints used in the MRE as presented in the Technical Report available on the Company's website at www.faradaycopper.com and on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. For drill holes not reported herein, refer to news releases dated June 25, 2024 and July 25, 2024. Figure 5: A Core Sample from Drill Hole FCD-24-070 Table 1: Selected Drill Results Drill Hole ID From To Length True Width Cu Au Ag Mo (m) (m) (m) (m) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) FCD-24-070 229.49 499.14 269.65 190 0.64 0.02 1.32 0.0010 including 323.52 441.42 117.90 83 1.01 0.03 1.87 0.0016 Also including 390.00 405.89 15.89 11 2.15 0.05 2.48 0.0009 FCD-24-071 188.34 276.50 88.16 68 0.39 0.01 1.43 0.0041 including 188.34 204.14 15.80 12 0.93 0.03 3.71 0.0022 and including 238.00 252.07 14.07 11 0.64 0.02 1.69 0.0203 Note: All intercepts are reported as downhole drill widths. Mineralization includes bulk porphyry style and breccia mineralization true widths are approximate due to the irregular shape of mineralized domains. Table 2: Collar Locations from the Drill Holes Reported Herein Drill Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Target Depth Depth (m) () () (ft) (m) FCD-24-070 549,224 3,623,279 1309 340 55 Banjo 1,521.4 499.14 FCD-24-071 549,123 3,623,273 1295 307 40 American Eagle 977.6 320.74 Note: Coordinates are given as World Geodetic System 84, Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 12 north (WGS84, UTM12N). Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Company's geologists and the chain of custody from Copper Creek to the independent sample preparation facility, ALS Laboratories in Tucson, AZ, was continuously monitored. The samples were taken as core, over 2 m core length. Samples were crushed, pulverized and sample pulps were analyzed using industry standard analytical methods including a 4-Acid ICP-MS multielement package and an ICP-AES method for high-grade copper samples. Gold was analyzed on a 30 g aliquot by fire assay with an ICP-AES finish. A certified reference sample was inserted every 20th sample. Coarse and fine blanks were inserted every 20th sample. Approximately 5% of the core samples were cut into core and submitted as field duplicates. On top of internal QA-QC protocol, additional blanks, reference materials and duplicates were inserted by the analytical laboratory according to their procedure. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to ensure accurate and verifiable results. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Faraday's VP Exploration, Dr. Thomas Bissig, P. Geo., who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About Faraday Copper Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek Project is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with significant district scale exploration potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY". For additional information please contact: Stacey Pavlova, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications Faraday Copper Corp. E-mail: info@faradaycopper.com Website: www.faradaycopper.com To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com. Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the exploration potential of the Copper Creek property and the likelihood of the Company increasing the resource on the Copper Creek Project. Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of mineral resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence. SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This September, Canon will be championing the work of photojournalists for the 35th consecutive year, as part of its decades-long partnership with Visa pour l'Image. During the festival's Pro Week (September 2-7), held in Perpignan in the south of France, Canon will honour the craft of documentary storytelling, awarding two project grants and providing a cohort of 25 young emerging talent with access to the festival through the brand's Student Development Programme. Canon to recognise outstanding contributions to photojournalism with two grants For the 24th year in a row, Canon and Visa pour l'Image will award an 8,000 grant to a female photojournalist pursuing a long-term documentary project. This year, the jury - consisting of journalists and editors from CNN Digital, FOAM magazine and others - have chosen to award Dutch photojournalist Cynthia Boll for her ongoing project 'Reshaping home: Indonesia's capital migration' with the Canon Female Photojournalist Grant. The Indonesian capital is sinking fast, up to 20 centimetres per year due to deep ground water extraction. Home to 10 million people and still growing, authorities have made the decision to move Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to the emerging city of Ibu Kota Nusantara - a monumental endeavour with far-reaching implications. With the support from the grant, Cynthia hopes to document the routines and rituals of daily life in the new city from the perspective of these pioneering citizens. Alongside this, Canon together with Visa pour l'Image are pleased to be presenting London-based filmmaker Alan Lau with the 5th Canon Video Grant for his short-film documentary project 'The Gordian Knot", shining a light on young Nepali cattle facing the fate of slaughter - and the surrounding influences of authorities, religion and economic pressures in a developing region. Paving the way for the next generation of photojournalists Canon is committed to supporting and nurturing new talent, and for the 8th consecutive year will be providing emerging photographers from across Europe, Middle East and Africa with a unique opportunity to develop skills and advance in their careers as part of its acclaimed Student Development Programme. 25 talented photography students will attend a prestigious five-day workshop to network with and learn from prominent professionals during group as well as 1:1 portfolio review sessions, practical workshops and lectures. This year's speakers and reviewers include Canon Ambassadors Laura El-Tantawy (British/ Egyptian documentary photographer), Elisa L. Iannacone (cinematographer and journalist), Marco Longari (Chief Photographer in Africa for AFP), Ilvy Njiokiktjien (member of VII Photo Agency), Brent Stirton (Getty Images Senior Correspondent and National Geographic explorer) and Paolo Verzone (member of Agence VU'). A cohort of industry experts will also be present, including Thomas Borberg (staff photographer at Politiken), Fabiola Ferrero (photojournalist and World Press Photo contest winner), Elisa Medde (curator / former Editor-in-Chief at Foam Magazine), Massimo Nicolaci (filmmaker, cinematographer and National Geographic contributor) as well as Fiona Shields (Head of Photography at The Guardian). Following the workshops, students will have the opportunity to participate in a selection of guided tours of the festival's exhibition space, hosted by the artists themselves. 2023 Canon Female Photojournalist grant winner, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, will also showcase her grant winning work, '5K from the Frontline', documenting frontline communities in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Canon presence at Visa pour l'Image At the festival's headquarters in Perpignan's Palais des Congres, Canon will be hosting a dedicated product showcase area inviting visitors to experience the company's latest cameras, lenses and printers, including the highly anticipated EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II. Exploring the emotional impact of print and its potential to enrich lives, guests can also learn more about Canon's 'World Unseen' initiative with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), enabling people with sight loss to better engage with the visual world, while challenging sighted people to see imagery through their lens. Accredited photographers will also be able to get an image from their portfolio printed on Canon's latest fine art printing technologies and receive a complimentary check-and-clean service by expert technicians from Canon Professional Services (CPS). About Canon Middle East - Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East based in Dubai, UAE.???Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history with its commitment to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation.? Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei - 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions, and services.?Canon invests heavily in R&D, delivering the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realise their own passion for image. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at www.canon-me.com. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2267778/4870018/Canon_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/canon-and-visa-pour-limage-celebrate-35th-anniversary-of-long-standing-partnership-302227350.html WUXI, China, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sineng Electric is spearheading innovation in the energy storage sector and has been chosen to provide its string PCS MV turnkey stations for the world's largest sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS). The initial 50MW/100MWh phase of this ambitious 100MW/200MWh project in Hubei Province, China, has been successfully connected to the grid and commenced commercial operations. Notably, the commissioned project is also China's first 100-MWh-scale energy storage power station utilizing sodium-ion batteries. Developed and managed by Datang Hubei Energy Development, the 50MW/100MWh energy storage project can store 100,000 kWh of electricity on a single charge, supplying power to approximately 12,000 households for an entire day. In a bid to diversify from lithium, China has been exploring alternative energy storage technologies. Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a promising option due to their abundant raw material, superior performance at low temperatures, better round-trip efficiency, and excellent safety. The power plant consists of 42 BESS containers with 185Ah sodium-ion batteries, 21 power conversion system (PCS) units, and a 110kV booster station. Sineng's 2.5MW string PCS MV turnkey solution is meticulously designed to align with the sodium-ion battery energy storage system's wide DC voltage range, supporting rated output power from 700V to 1500V. Featuring cluster-level energy management, Sineng's solution amplifies the cluster-level balancing capability of sodium-ion batteries. Additionally, the string PCS units are engineered with IP66 protection rating to ensure durability in extreme temperatures and high humidity. As the project comes online, it effectively mitigates peak demand, enhances grid resilience, and guarantees a reliable power supply. This project marks a significant milestone in China's transition toward diversified energy storage solutions. Deploying sodium-ion battery technology on such a large scale demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of alternative energy storage systems, paving the way for their extensive adoption worldwide. Furthermore, it epitomizes Sineng's pioneering role in driving innovations in the industry, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of the global energy landscape. About Sineng Sineng Electric is the global leading supplier of a comprehensive product portfolio including PV inverters, energy storage inverters, and power quality products. By establishing four R&D centers and leveraging top-notch resources, Sineng's unwavering commitment to technological innovation has enabled more people to access cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable energy. Known for its engineering excellence, rigorous testing standards, and consistent quality, Sineng has earned recognition as a BloombergNEF tier 1 PV inverter maker and ranks No.4 in global PV inverter shipments for 2023. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486559/Image_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sineng-electric-to-supply-energy-storage-solutions-to-the-worlds-largest-sodium-ion-battery-energy-storage-project-302227351.html China auto association slams unfair EU tariffs on EVs Xinhua) 14:46, August 21, 2024 BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the European Commission's plan to slap hefty import duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Last month, the commission imposed provisional additional tariffs of up to 37.6 percent on Chinese EV makers, after it launched an anti-subsidy probe on Chinese EVs in October 2023. On Tuesday, the commission published a draft plan to make those tariffs definitive, at slightly revised rates, subject to approval by European Union (EU) member states. According to the disclosed information, the anti-subsidy tax rates for the three sampled Chinese EV companies, BYD, Geely, and SAIC, are 17.0 percent, 19.3 percent, and 36.3 percent, respectively. CAAM's statement highlighted the significant risks and uncertainties these high anti-subsidy tariffs pose for Chinese companies operating and investing in Europe, which could erode their confidence. The association warned that such measures could also severely impact the EU's automotive industry, employment, and efforts toward green and sustainable development. CAAM urged the European side to uphold dialogue and cooperation to foster a "fair, non-discriminatory and predictable market environment" conducive to the automotive industry's development. As a self-regulatory, non-profit social organization, CAAM represents enterprises, institutions, and groups involved in the production and operation of complete vehicles, auto parts, and related industries in China. Many Chinese auto companies had started or planned to invest or operate in Europe before the EU launched its anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs. But since the EU's decision to impose provisional countervailing duties, many Chinese EV enterprises have expressed concerns over the probe and the possible risks of investing in Europe. A spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday that the country will take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises in response to the EU's actions. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSX.V:HAN)(OTC PINK:HANNF) announces that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has requested the Company terminate the service agreement (the "Agreement") with Resource Stock Digest ("RSD") of Round Rock, Texas, that was previously announced by the Company on July 18, 2024. In accordance with Policy 3.4 - Investor Relations, Promotional and Market-Making Activities ("Policy 3.4") of the Exchange, and Exchange bulletin dated April 10th 2024, the Company made a submission to the Exchange on July 19, 2024, seeking the approval of the Agreement. The Exchange, however, has deemed that the engagement of RSD, which required the upfront payment of US$125,000 for a 3-month marketing campaign is close in proximity to the closing of the Company's private placement on June 27, 2024, (the "Private Placement") and determined that the Company was paying for this marketing campaign with shares, which is contrary to Exchange policy. While the Company disagrees with this conclusion, it respects the Exchange's decision. The Company has made no payment to RSD pursuant to the Agreement and looks forward to working with the Exchange in obtaining positive outcomes of future Exchange filings in support of the Company's marketing efforts. RSD is owned and operated by Gerardo Del Real and Nick Hodge, both of whom have participated in several of the Company's Private Placements and most recently purchased equity significantly in excess of the RSD contract fee. Both are long term shareholders and supporters of the Company. About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF) Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Latin America. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru and has recently optioned a copper-porphyry project in Northern Chile. On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information www.hannanmetals.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@hannanmetals.com Forward Looking Statements. Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases; the Company's expectations regarding its mineral projects; market conditions, the preliminary nature of the Company's operations; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and, community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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. SOURCE: Hannan Metals Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF), ("Altamira" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the discovery of newly discovered outcrops of porphyritic rocks within the Cajueiro project area. Highlights: Following the confirmation of a porphyry-style origin for the Maria Bonita gold mineralization by two respected consultants, and subsequent to the structural and geophysical studies of the entire Cajueiro claim block, the Company has identified several loci of potential porphyry mineralization within a 'prospective corridor' trending east-west through the Cajueiro district. Initial follow-up of these target areas has identified new outcrops of highly altered and brecciated porphyritic intrusive rock 1.6 kilometres to the east of the Maria Bonita target where recent drilling intersected 146m @ 1g/t gold. The area displays extensive sericitic alteration and shows the characteristic quartz veining seen in the mineralized porphyritic host rock at Maria Bonita. This work suggests that the mineralizing system at Maria Bonita may be much larger than previously envisaged and suggests new targets for future drilling. CEO Mike Bennett commented; "Given that porphyry deposits commonly occur in clusters or alignments along structural trends, we recognised the need to revisit our regional data sets in the light of recent independent confirmation that the gold mineralization at Maria Bonita is of porphyry origin. The new structural and geophysical re-interpretations have identified several new targets within the Cajueiro - Maria Bonita area, including a magnetic body 2km to the south-east of Maria Bonita which may be related to a causative porphyritic intrusive. Geological mapping in this area, called Mombaque, has recently identified new outcrops of similar host-rock intrusives and breccias to those found at Maria Bonita, suggesting that the Maria Bonita porphyry system may be significantly larger than previously envisaged." CAJUEIRO PROJECT The Cajueiro project is located approximately 75km NW of the town of Alta Floresta in the state of Mato Grosso (Figure 1) in central western Brazil and is easily accessible by road and has grid power and local water supply. Cajueiro is the most advanced of three key projects that Altamira controls in the region, the other two being Apiacas and Santa Helena (Figure1). Figure 1: Location of the Cajueiro, Apiacas and Santa Helena projects. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/220649_1d3646035499488a_001full.jpg The Cajueiro project has current NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000 oz in the Inferred Resource category (estimated using a gold price of US$1,500/oz). Included in these totals are near-surface oxide portions of the Cajueiro resource, containing an estimated 75,000oz of gold. Maria Bonita Target Maria Bonita is located 7km west of the Cajueiro mineral resource and is easily accessible by road. The initial round of discovery drillholes included 69m @ 1g/t gold (MBA005), 50m @ 1.1 g/t gold (MBA004), 55m @ 1.0 g/t gold (MBA002), 50m @ 1.0 g/t gold (MBA001) and 45m @ 1.4 g/t gold (MBA003) (see press releases dated September 7, November 16, 2022, and January 18, 2023). Significant results, previously reported, as part of the follow-up drill program include; MBA029: 146m @ 1.0g/t gold (MBA029), 90m @ 0.6g/t gold from 14m and 65m @ 0.4g/t gold from 118m (MBA016), 105m @ 0.5g/t gold from 23m and 24m @ 0.4g/t gold from 144m (MBA018), 72m @ 0.4 g/t gold from 59m (MBA020) and 53m @ 0.7 g/t gold from surface (MBA022) (see press release dated 22nd May 2024). These results confirm the presence of a multi-phase felsic quartz porphyry-hosted system of veins and breccias carrying gold. Gold is relatively uniformly distributed with a highest grade of 7.7g/t gold reported from the intervals listed above. The drilling at Maria Bonita has demonstrated that good mineralization exists, in places, below shallow barren cover. Consequently, targets that have positive structural attributes but weak to no gold response in soil may also have high potential at shallow depth. For this reason, a structural remote sensing study was let to ACA Howe International of the UK. This study involved the use of satellite multi-spectral imagery and radar data to interpret the local to regional structures controlling the current topography and sub-surface geology in the Maria Bonita district. In parallel, a re-interpretation of proprietary detailed aeromagnetics and radiometrics, acquired by a predecessor company (2011), was carried out by GeophysicsOne of Ontario Canada. The results of these two new studies were combined to produce an interpretative district map to guide further exploration (Figure 2). Figure 2: Prospective corridor and specific targets identified from aeromagnetic and structural interpretation studies. Background is magnetic TMI image showing subsurface magnetic bodies. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/220649_1d3646035499488a_002full.jpg The new interpretation shows a magnetic body, inferred to be a buried intrusive, centred approximately two kilometres to the south-east of the Maria Bonita porphyry at Mombaque (Figure 2). The Mombaque area is a source for eluvial and alluvial gold in an artisanal mining "garimpo" draining to the south-west. Outcrop is poor and follow up sampling is underway to trace this gold to source. A similar spatial relationship is apparent for the Novo Sonho gold-in-soil anomaly (approximately 3km to the west of Maria Bonita) and a sub-surface magnetic source. Figure 3: Surface rock samples of quartz porphyry breccia at the recently identified Mombaque target located 1.6 kilometres to the south-east of the Maria Bonita target. See figure 2 for location of samples. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/220649_1d3646035499488a_003full.jpg Ongoing mapping and sampling have identified outcrops of part of the porphyry suite of intrusives that host the Maria Bonita mineralization, both several hundred metres to the south-west of the drilled area and approximately 1.6 kilometres to the east (Figures 2 & 3), thus significantly expanding the extent of the prospective intrusive porphyritic host rocks within the Maria Bonita - Cajueiro project area. Sample results are pending ahead of defining potential scout drill targets. Qualified Person Guillermo Hughes, FAIG and M AusIMM., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Altamira Gold Corp. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold and copper projects within western central Brazil. The Company holds 6 projects comprising approximately 190,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The securities described herein have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Forward-looking Statements Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the extension of the Warrants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Notes Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220649 SOURCE: Altamira Gold Corp. Alset Capital Inc. (TSXV:KSUM)(OTC PINK:ALSCF)(FSE:1R60)(WKN:A3ESVQ) ("Alset" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a corporate name change from "Alset Capital Inc." to "Alset AI Ventures Inc." effective August 23, 2024 (the "Name Change"). Concurrently, the Company's trading symbol on the TSX Venture Exchange will change to "GPUS". The Company's trading symbols on the OTC Markets (OTC Pink) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) will remain unchanged. The Company's common shares will begin trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new name and trading symbol on August 23, 2024. The new CUSIP number for the Company's common shares will be 021155106, and the new ISIN number will be CA0211551068. The share capital of the Company will remain unchanged. "The name and symbol changes represent an inflection point for the Company as we intensify our focus on the rapidly evolving AI sector," said Morgan Good, CEO of Alset. "Rebranding as Alset AI Ventures Inc., with the new ticker GPUS, highlights our strategic dedication to innovation and growth within this dynamic industry. We believe that this new identity, along with our updated Investment Policy, better aligns with the Company's vision and future direction." The Company believes that this name change better aligns with its strategic commitment to building a portfolio of emerging companies that are advancing full-stack AI solutions, including AI services, AI software, AI GPU hardware, and AI data centers. Alset remains dedicated to supporting AI companies that demonstrate breakthrough technologies, robust business models, and exceptional leadership. The Company invests in both early-stage startups and established ventures, providing the financial and strategic guidance necessary to thrive in today's dynamic AI ecosystem. Its vision is to cultivate a diverse portfolio of full-stack AI offerings that drive innovation and growth. Updated Investment Policy to Focus on Artificial Intelligence The Company is also pleased to announce that it has amended and updated its Investment Policy to provide that its investments shall be primarily focused in the technology industry with an emphasis on artificial intelligence. The Company and its Board of Directors have determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to update its Investment Policy and believes that the updated Investment Policy better aligns with the Company's strategic goals, objectives, and ultimate vision. To view the Company's updated Investment Policy, please visit its website at alsetai.com . On behalf of Alset Capital Inc. "Morgan Good" Morgan Good Chief Executive Officer About Alset Capital Inc. Alset Capital Inc. is an investment issuer that is focused on investment in diversified industries such as technology, healthcare, industrial, special situations, operating businesses through both debt and equity using cash resources or shares in its capital. The Company is led by an experienced, entrepreneurial group of executives having a diverse industry and capital markets background. Alset Capital Inc.'s investment portfolio comprises 49% ownership of Cedarcross International Technologies Inc. and 49% ownership of Vertex AI Ventures Inc. For further information about Alset Capital Inc., please contact: Morgan Good, CEO and Director T: 604.715.4751 E: morgan@alsetai.com Cautionary Note regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "subject to", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to receiving regulatory and exchange approvals with respect to the Name Change. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, but the actual results may be materially different from any future expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements can be affected by known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited to, the equity markets generally and a failure to obtain the necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange. Accordingly, readers should not 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. SOURCE: Alset Capital Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Tortola, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Sailfish Royalty Corp. (TSXV: FISH) (OTCQX: SROYF) (the "Company" or "Sailfish") is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 ("Q2 2024"). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Q2 2024 Highlights: Gold ounces earned from stream interests of 365 and 456 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 (268 and 628 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023); Royalty revenue earned of $167,844 and $329,831 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 ($nil for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023); Total revenues of $1,026,242 and $1,384,197 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 ($529,648 and $1,206,126 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023); Gross profit of $565,681 and $813,768 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 ($292,348 and $658,528 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023); Net income of $1,141,470 and $1,289,505 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 (net loss of $434,676 and $1,044,232 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023); Repurchased for cancellation an aggregate of 983,400 common shares of the Company under the current normal course issuer bid for the six months ended June 30, 2024 (322,200 for the six months ended June 30, 2023); and Declared quarterly dividends of $0.0125 per common share on March 22, 2024 and May 28, 2024, which were paid on April 15, 2024 and July 15, 2024, respectively. Summary of Quarterly Results: Three months ended June 30, 2024 Three months ended June 30, 2023 Six months ended June 31, 2024 Six months ended June 31, 2023 Condensed interim consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) $ $ Revenues 1,026,242 529,648 1,384,197 1,206,126 Gross profit 565,681 292,348 813,768 658,528 Net income (loss) 1,141,470 (434,676 ) 1,289,505 (1,044,232 ) Basic loss per share 0.02 (0.01 ) 0.02 (0.01 ) Diluted loss per share 0.02 (0.01 ) 0.02 (0.01 ) For complete details, please refer to the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 and associated Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or on the Company's website (www.sailfishroyalty.com). Subsequent to Q2 2024 Highlights: On July 19, 2024, the Company announced that the TSX-V had accepted a notice filed by the Company of its intention to make a normal course issuer bid to be transacted through the facilities of the TSXV. The notice provides that the Company may, during the 12-month period commencing July 22, 2024 and ending July 21, 2025, purchase up to 3,539,756 common shares of the Company in total, being approximately 5% of the total number of shares outstanding as at July 16, 2024. Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company received 15,010 ounces of silver pertaining to its Silver Receivable. Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company cancelled 214,100 common shares. Subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company purchased 266,400 common shares on-market under the Company's normal course issuer bid. Renmark Financial Communications Inc. The Company is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. ("Renmark") to expand its investor relations activities. "We are pleased to announce that we have added Renmark to reinforce the Company's message with the investment community and enhance the visibility of our company as the Spring Valley Gold Project approaches final permits. We chose Renmark because of its track record of reaching institutional investors and family offices." - Paolo Lostritto, Chief Executive Officer. In consideration of the services to be provided, the monthly fees incurred by the Company will be a cash consideration of up to CAD$8,000, starting August 20, for a period of seven months ending on March 20, 2025. Renmark does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Sailfish or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. This agreement is subject to the approval of the TSX-V. About Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Founded in 1999, Renmark is a privately held full-service investor relations firm, located in Atlanta, New York, Toronto and Montreal. For the past 25 years, Renmark has provided services in investor relations, media relations and web development representing small, medium and large cap public companies listed on all major North American exchanges. On a daily basis our team of professionals enhance our client's visibility within the retail market space as corporate communicators. With the largest roadshow footprint in North America, and a state-of-the-art media studio, we host a multitude of live streaming Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows across North America and Europe. About Sailfish Sailfish is a precious metals royalty and streaming company. Within Sailfish's portfolio are three main assets in the Americas: a gold stream equivalent to a 3% NSR on the San Albino gold mine (~3.5 sq. km) and a 2% NSR on the rest of the area (~134.5 sq. km) surrounding San Albino in northern Nicaragua; an up to 3% NSR on the multi-million ounce Spring Valley gold project in Pershing County, Nevada; and a 100% interest in the Gavilanes Silver Project located in Durango State, Mexico. Sailfish is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "FISH" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "SROYF". Please visit the Company's website at www.sailfishroyalty.com for additional information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220623 SOURCE: Sailfish Royalty Corp. Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial. Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird. Nutzen Sie die Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! ANNAPOLIS, Md., Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alphyn, a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class Multi-Target Therapeutics, announced today that it has received a notice of claims allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering compositions and methods of use for the drug formulation of Zabalafin Hydrogel (AB-101a) for atopic dermatitis. Once issued, the patent will cover Zabalafin Hydrogel through 2042 and will be eligible for listing in the FDA's Orange Book providing additional protection benefits once Zabalafin Hydrogel is approved by the FDA. Zabalafin Hydrogel is Alphyn's lead product candidate and is being developed as the first therapeutic for AD to directly treat AD's itch, directly treat bacteria that are increasingly thought to cause AD's inflammation and flares and cause infected AD skin and directly treat AD's inflammation. Zabalafin Hydrogel is a novel, first-in-class complex single-source botanical drug with multiple bioactive compounds that provide multiple mechanisms of action, including anti-pruritic (anti-itch), antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The topical is derived from the company's Zabalafin Platform. "Zabalafin Hydrogel holds great promise as the first complete treatment for AD to directly tackle all the components that cause and worsen the disease," said Alphyn CEO Neal Koller. "We believe this allowance and the resulting patent would provide broad protection of this novel drug, as we aggressively build our intellectual property portfolio for both Zabalafin Hydrogel and our Zabalafin Platform globally." Zabalafin Hydrogel completed Phase 2a clinical trials in 2024, demonstrating that it is highly effective in treating AD's itch, and improving patients' quality of life with limited side effects and strong patient tolerability. The results indicate the potential of Zabalafin Hydrogel to be the "drug of choice" for patients ages 2 and older, as the first worry-free AD therapeutic for long-term continuous use. Alphyn anticipates Phase 2b trials will begin in the U.S., Europe, and Australia in 2025. ABOUT ALPHYN BIOLOGICS Alphyn Biologics is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class Multi-Target Therapeutics for severe and prevalent skin diseases based on its Zabalafin Platform. Its lead product candidate, Zabalafin Hydrogel, is being developed as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema. Zabalafin Hydrogel has demonstrated efficacy in Phase 2a clinical trials, and the company believes it will be the first AD drug to directly treat AD's itch, directly treat bacteria that are increasingly thought to cause AD's inflammation and flares and cause infected AD skin and directly treat AD's inflammation. Clinical trial results of Zabalafin Hydrogel suggest it has the potential to be the first AD treatment that is worry-free for long-term, continuous use. Alphyn's Zabalafin Platform has multiple bioactive compounds and, therefore, multiple mechanisms of action to support a robust pipeline of dermatologic therapeutics that have potential safety, side effect, patient tolerability, efficacy, and regulatory marketing authorization advantages. Alphyn is based in Annapolis, Maryland, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and has wholly-owned subsidiaries in Australia and Austria. The company became operational in 2020 and has raised approximately US$16 million. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1899346/4867066/Alphyn_Biologics__LLC__Logo_Hi_Res_Transparent_Bckgrd_Logov1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/alphyn-receives-notice-of-claims-allowance-for-us-patent-covering-zabalafin-hydrogel-302226990.html NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES ROK Resources Inc. (" ROK " or the " Company ") (TSXV:ROK)(OTCQB:ROKRF) has filed its interim Financial Results and Management Discussion & Analysis for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The Company executed on its previously announced post spring-break up drilling program in late Q2 2024, utilizing Funds Flow of $5.0 million towards the drilling of 4 gross (3.44 net) wells in Southeast Saskatchewan. The Company purposefully utilized Q1 2024 to deliver on: (i) debt reduction, (ii) improvement of operational efficiencies, (iii) strategic well optimizations, and (iv) advancement of the lithium project, and began its Southeast Saskatchewan development program in the second quarter. The Company remains well positioned to continue its 2024 drilling program through year-end, with the flexibility to allocate capital across its light oil prospects in Saskatchewan. Despite operational delays due to abnormally wet weather in Q2 2024, the Company's 2024 guidance remains relatively unchanged. 1H 2024 Guidance 1H 2024 Actuals 2H 2024 Guidance 2024 Year Guidance Capital Expenditures (MM) $ 9.50 $ 8.00 $ 16.00 $ 24.00 Exit Production (boepd) 1,2 4,000 3,805 4,500 4,500 Funds from Operations (MM) $ 15.00 $ 15.03 $ 15.00 $ 30.03 Exit Adjusted Net Debt (MM) $ 16.50 $ 15.10 $ 20.00 $ 20.00 Average WTI (US$) $78/bbl $80/bbl $75/bbl $76.50/bbl Notes: 63% liquids 300 boepd shut-in on June 15, 2024 at Kaybob due to AECO pricing 2H 2024 production guidance assumes Kaybob volumes are back on-stream before year-end Q2 2024 HIGHLIGHTS Production In-line with Forecast: Production averaged 3,937 boepd (63% liquids), a YoY increase of 19.4%; Operating Netback Increase: Operated Netback of $17.87 per boe compared to $16.06 per boe in Q1 2024; Successful Frobisher Drill Program: Drilled 4 gross (3.44 net) wells with an average IP30 of 148 boepd; Successful Optimization Program: Continued success with casing gas compressor installations on Midale producers, resulting in average capital efficiencies of $3,850/boepd and 4-to-6 month payouts; Adjusted Net Debt Reduction: Adjusted Net Debt reduced from $18.7 million at the end of Q4 2023 to $15.1 million at the end Q2 2024; and Credit Facility Renewed: The Company maintains a $22.5 million credit facility through June 30 th , 2025. 2024 OPERATIONS UPDATE AND OUTLOOK Year to date, the Company has successfully drilled 5 gross (4.33 net) wells in 2024, currently producing a total of 735 boepd (640 boepd net to ROK). In addition, since beginning casing gas compressor installations on existing Midale wells in Southeast Saskatchewan, the Company has added 280 boepd (IP90) to the base production levels of 15 wells. Management has identified an additional 22 locations for compressor installations over the next 18 months. Key initiatives for 2024 remain unchanged with the Company focusing on using its current balance sheet to target strategic opportunities in core areas, improving operational efficiencies through targeted well optimizations and undertaking operational cost reduction measures. The remaining drill program aims to add Frobisher drilling inventory while proving up Midale prospects with multi-lateral drilling. The Company anticipates completing its 2024 drilling program by drilling a total of 7 to 9 gross wells in 2H 2024. KAYBOB, ALBERTA, UPDATE As previously mentioned, with the current softening of the North American natural gas markets, the Company has continued to shut-in 300 boepd (80% natural gas) in its Kaybob, Alberta area. The strategic shut-ins are expected for the balance of Q3 2024 with reactivation expected by year-end. Q2 2024 FINANCIALS Financial Q2 2024 Q2 2023 YTD 2024 YTD 2023 Net income (loss) 81,503 (326,538 ) (5,530,751 ) (63,747 ) Basic ($/share) 0.00 (0.00 ) (0.03 ) (0.00 ) Diluted ($/share) 0.00 (0.00 ) (0.03 ) (0.00 ) Funds flow 5,000,885 4,955,562 11,343,103 14,639,438 Basic ($/share) 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.07 Diluted ($/share) 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.06 Expenditures on property, plant and equipment 5,275,862 3,559,136 7,094,622 9,004,786 Operating Oil and Natural Gas Sales 21,742,281 17,737,937 42,673,516 41,875,450 Royalties (3,782,175 ) (3,788,007 ) (7,737,218 ) (8,559,392 ) Operating Expenses (11,555,289 ) (9,770,012 ) (22,279,328 ) (19,241,548 ) Operating Income 6,404,817 4,179,918 12,656,970 14,074,510 Realized gain (loss) on commodity contracts (65,261 ) 2,459,098 860,756 5,125,545 Processing and other income 647,195 260,805 1,509,273 995,536 Funds from Operations 6,986,751 6,899,821 15,026,999 20,195,591 Average daily production Crude oil (bbl/d) 2,074 1,692 2,140 2,077 NGLs (boe/d) 411 340 435 370 Natural gas (mcf/d) 8,715 7,591 9,198 7,613 Total (boe/d) 3,937 3,297 4,107 3,716 Operating Netback per boe Oil and Natural Gas Sales 60.68 59.13 57.08 62.26 Royalties (10.56 ) (12.63 ) (10.35 ) (12.73 ) Operating Expenses (32.25 ) (32.57 ) (29.80 ) (28.61 ) Operating Netbacks ($/boe) 17.87 13.93 16.93 20.92 Funds from Operations ($/boe) 19.50 23.00 20.10 30.03 Operating Income Profit Margin 29.4 % 23.6 % 29.7 % 33.6 % Funds from Operations Profit Margin 32.1 % 38.9 % 35.2 % 48.2 % Share information Common shares outstanding, end of period 218,419,315 214,873,217 218,419,315 214,873,217 Weighted average basic shares outstanding 218,419,315 214,382,652 218,418,831 213,156,298 Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 236,352,197 252,620,714 236,351,713 261,173,477 Q2 2024 FINANCIAL SUMMARY In Q2 2024, the Company realized average daily production volume of 3,937 boepd (63% liquids), resulting in oil and natural gas sales of $21.7 million and realized hedge loss of $0.1 million. The Company realized Funds from Operations of $7.0 million, after royalties, operating expenses, and processing and other income. Operating costs, which include expenses incurred to operate wells, gather, treat, and transport production volumes, as well as costs to perform well and facility repairs and maintenance, were consistent with Company expectations for the quarter, averaging $32.25 per boe, with lower maintenance and workover costs for the period when compared to 2023. Operating costs are expected to average $30 per boe in 2024. Capital expenditures in the first half of 2024 totaled $8.0 million, which included $4.4 million towards the Company's drilling programs, $1.0 million towards well reactivations, $0.8 million towards land and seismic acquisitions, and $0.9 million towards facilities and gathering systems. Compared to the Company's first-half 2024 capital budget of $9.5 million, lower costs were incurred due to delays associated with abnormally wet conditions in Southeast Saskatchewan. NET DEBT Net Debt as at June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, as outlined below: June 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 Accounts receivable 12,439,856 13,021,111 Prepaids and deposits 347,352 364,090 Risk management contracts (1,634,514 ) 4,521,075 Accounts payable (17,924,739 ) (17,560,130 ) Adjusted working capital (2) (6,772,045 ) 346,146 Credit Facility (8.4%) (1) 9,982,332 14,501,748 Lease obligations (1) 475,173 545,851 Less: adjusted working capital (2) 6,772,045 (346,146 ) Net debt 17,229,550 14,701,453 Represents undiscounted face value of debt balances and lease obligations outstanding as of each respective date presented. Calculation of adjusted working capital excludes current portion of debt as presented on the statement of financial position. The mark-to-market fair value of the current portion of risk management contracts is included within adjusted working capital. ROK uses "Net Debt" as a measure of the Company's financial position and liquidity, however it is not intended to be viewed as an alternative to other measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. Complete reports and statements will be made available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company website www.rokresources.ca . About ROK ROK is primarily engaged in exploring for petroleum and natural gas development activities in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It has offices located in both Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ROK's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "ROK". For further information, please contact: Cameron Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bryden Wright, President and Chief Operating Officer Jared Lukomski, Senior Vice President, Land & Business Development Lynn Chapman, Chief Financial Officer Phone: (306) 522-0011 Email: investor@rokresources.ca Website: www.rokresources.ca Non-IFRS Measures The non-IFRS measures referred to above do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS Accounting Standards (" IFRS ") and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management uses this non-IFRS measurement to provide its shareholders and investors with a measurement of the Company's financial performance and are not intended to represent operating profits nor should they be viewed as an alternative to cash provided by operating activities, net income or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. The reader is cautioned that these amounts may not be directly comparable to measures for other companies where similar terminology is used. " Operating Income " is calculated by deducting royalties and operating expense from total sales revenue. Total sales revenue is comprised of oil and gas sales. The Company refers to Operating Income expressed per unit of production as an " Operating Netback ". " Operating Income Profit Margin " is calculated by the Company as Operating Income as a percentage of oil and natural gas sales. " Funds from Operations " is calculated by adding other income and realized gains/losses on commodity contracts ("hedging") to Operating Income. The following table reconciles the aforementioned non-IFRS measures: Q2 2024 Q2 2023 YTD 2024 YTD 2023 Oil and Natural Gas Sales 21,742,281 17,737,937 42,673,516 41,875,450 Royalties (3,782,175 ) (3,788,007 ) (7,737,218 ) (8,559,392 ) Operating Expenses (11,555,289 ) (9,770,012 ) (22,279,328 ) (19,241,548 ) Operating Income 6,404,817 4,179,918 12,656,970 14,074,510 Realized gain (loss) on commodity contracts (65,261 ) 2,459,098 860,756 5,125,545 Processing and other income 647,195 260,805 1,509,273 995,536 Funds from Operations 6,986,751 6,899,821 15,026,999 20,195,591 Sales volume (boe) 358,303 300,006 747,563 672,576 Per boe Oil and Natural Gas Sales 60.68 59.13 57.08 62.26 Royalties (10.56 ) (12.63 ) (10.35 ) (12.73 ) Operating Expenses (32.25 ) (32.57 ) (29.80 ) (28.61 ) Operating Netback 17.87 13.93 16.93 20.92 Funds from Operations 19.50 23.00 20.10 30.03 Operating Income Profit Margin 29.4 % 23.6 % 29.7 % 33.6 % Funds from Operations Profit Margin 32.1 % 38.9 % 35.2 % 48.2 % " Net Debt " includes all indebtedness of the Company, such as the Credit Facility and Lease Obligations (each as defined within the Company's interim condensed financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024), net of Adjusted Working Capital. " Adjusted Working Capital " is calculated as current assets less current liabilities, excluding current portion of debt and lease liability as defined on the Company's statement of financial position within the Company's interim condensed financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024. " Adjusted Net Debt " is calculated by removing the "mark-to-market fair value of the current portion of risk management contracts" and "lease obligations" (each as defined within the Company's interim condensed financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024) from Net Debt. The following table reconciles Net Debt to Adjusted Net Debt: June 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 Net Debt 17,229,550 14,701,453 Remove: Current portion of risk management contracts (1,634,514 ) 4,521,075 Remove: Lease obligations (475,173 ) (545,851 ) Adjusted Net Debt 15,119,863 18,676,677 " Funds Flow " includes all cash from (used in) operating activities and is calculated before the change in non-cash working capital. " Funds Flow Basic ($/share) " and " Funds Flow Diluted ($/share) " are calculated by dividing Funds Flow by the weighted average number of basic shares and weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding, respectively, for the relevant period, as presented within the Company's interim condensed financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024. These are considered key measures of operating performance and capital management as they demonstrate the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to repay debt and fund capital investments. Management believes that by excluding the temporary impact of changes in non-cash operating working capital, each of these provide useful measures of ROK's ability to generate cash that are not subject to short-term movements in non-cash operating working capital. The following table reconciles cash flow from operating activities to Funds Flow: Q2 2024 Q2 2023 YTD 2024 YTD 2023 Cash provided by operating activities 6,484,206 9,366,721 10,659,931 14,422,676 Change in non-cash working capital (1,483,321 ) (4,411,159 ) 683,172 216,762 Funds Flow 5,000,885 4,955,562 11,343,103 14,639,438 Conversion Measures Production volumes and reserves are commonly expressed on a barrel of oil equivalent (" boe ") basis whereby natural gas volumes are converted at the ratio of 6 thousand cubic feet (" Mcf ") to 1 barrel of oil (" bbl "). Although the intention is to sum oil and natural gas measurement units into one basis for improved analysis of results and comparisons with other industry participants, boe's may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf to 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. In recent years, the value ratio based on the price of crude oil as compared to natural gas has been significantly higher than the energy equivalency of 6:1 and utilizing a conversion of natural gas volumes on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value. Abbreviations bbls/d bopd barrels per day barrels per day boepd barrels oil equivalent per day IP Initial Production NGLs Natural Gas Liquids Mboe Mg/l Thousands of barrels of oil equivalent Milligrams per Litre MMboe Millions of barrels of oil equivalent PDP Proved Developed Producing TP Total Proved Reserves TPP Total Proved and Probable Reserves WTI CA$ US$ West Texas Intermediate, the reference price paid in U.S. dollars at Cushing, Oklahoma for the crude oil standard grade Canadian dollars U.S. dollars Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain " forward-looking statements " under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals, or future plans and the expected results thereof. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental, and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in ROK's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: ROK Resources Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously, is pleased to announce voting results from the annual and special meeting of the Company's shareholders (the "Meeting") held on August 20, 2024. At the Meeting, shareholders voted in favour of all resolutions brought before them. Details of all resolutions that were voted upon are set out in the Management Information Circular (the "Management Information Circular") dated July 22, 2024. The Management Information Circular is available on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). Election of Directors All of the board of director nominees listed in the Management Information Circular were elected as directors of the Company. Results of the vote were as follows: Nominee Votes For Richard Buzbuzian 99.86% Tony Di Benedetto 99.86% Karen Dunlap 99.86% John Leombruno 99.99% Philip Cortese 99.99% Chris Irwin 99.77% Other Items of Business In addition, at the Meeting, shareholders approved the appointment of the Company's auditors, KPMG LLP, and the annual approval and confirmation of the company's stock option plan. The results of the votes were as follows: Item Votes For Appointment of KPMG LLP as auditors of the Company 99.99% Approval of Stock Option Plan 99.86% As noted in the Company's press release dated August 15, 2024, the Company will seek the approval of its shareholders for the creation of Sol-Millennium Medical HK Limited and Nature Health Development (Hong Kong) Co., Limited as control persons of the Company at a special shareholder meeting to be held at a later date. The Company will update the market with the details of such meeting at the appropriate time. About NuGen NuGen is a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously. The Company is marketing and selling its next-generation InsuJet needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of millions of diabetics. InsuJet is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world. For further information, please visit: Websites: www.insujet.com, www.nugenmd.com, www.solm.com , and www.solm.com/insujet/ Instagram: @NuGenMD Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ and www.linkedin.com/company/sol-millennium-medical-group/ Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220605 SOURCE: NuGen Medical Devices Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (FSE: FR20) (OTCQB: FRERF) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Joel Sutherland has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Fremont and a director of the Company. Mr. Sutherland brings over 20 years of extensive experience in capital markets, having excelled as an Equity Research Analyst and in Institutional Sales at prominent firms including Merrill Lynch in Toronto and New York City, BMO Capital Markets, and CIBC World Markets. He has been recognized for his outstanding performance, notably being ranked as the top salesperson for Canadian equities across multiple Boston-based accounts over several years. In recent years, Mr. Sutherland has also played pivotal roles in corporate development and communications for various companies, with a focus on leading successful financing initiatives. A Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, Mr. Sutherland holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Queen's University (1994) and completed a Commerce program with an accounting specialization at McGill University (1995). Mr. Sutherland succeeds Dennis Moore as CEO, who will continue as President and a director of Fremont. Mr. Moore will concentrate on advancing Fremont's promising portfolio of Armenian copper and gold projects, identifying new business opportunities, and supporting ongoing marketing efforts. Mr. Moore commented, "As a founder of Fremont and its largest shareholder, I have full confidence in Joel's ability to lead the Company. His extensive capital market experience and management skills are exactly what Fremont needs to reach the next level. As CEO, Joel will focus on building Fremont's brand among key stakeholders, securing the necessary financing for exploration success, and managing the Company's daily operations. This will allow me to dedicate more time to resource discovery, project development, and identifying new business opportunities. Joel's expertise is a perfect complement to my own skills as a mine finder." Mr. Sutherland added, "Dennis has assembled a portfolio with tremendous potential for creating shareholder value. Having worked with Fremont for over a year as an advisor on corporate markets and finance matters, I am thrilled to officially join the team. With a portfolio of prospective tier-one copper and gold projects in one of the world's most promising mineral belts, combined with a highly skilled team of local geologists, technicians, and legal advisors, as well as strong community support in Armenia, the Company is well-positioned to achieve its goals. I look forward to collaborating closely with Dennis and the Fremont team to unlock the significant shareholder value embedded within our asset portfolio." As part of Mr. Sutherland's compensation package, he will receive annual cash compensation of US$125,000 and 600,000 stock options at an exercise price of C$0.095 per common share. The stock options have a term of five years and, of these options, 20% will vest immediately, with an additional 20% vesting every six months over the next two years. Subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval, Mr. Sutherland will also receive an aggregate of 580,000 common shares of the Company, issued as follows: (i) 116,000 common shares upon TSXV approval (the "Initial Issuance"); (ii) 116,000 common shares on the six-month anniversary of the Initial Issuance; (iii) 116,000 common shares on the 12-month anniversary of the Initial Issuance; (iv) 116,000 common shares on the 18-month anniversary of the Initial Issuance; and (v) 116,000 common shares on the 24-month anniversary of the Initial Issuance. The common shares will be issued at a deemed price equal to the market price of the Company's shares on the day preceding each issuance. About Fremont Gold Ltd. Fremont's management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality copper-gold projects within the central Tethyan Belt of Armenia, with the intention of making tier one size discoveries. The Company's portfolio includes the Vardenis copper-gold property in central Armenia and the Urasar District gold project in northern Armenia. Fremont continues to evaluate additional opportunities within this highly prospective mineral belt. 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward- Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve 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 including, without limitation, statements regarding advancing the Company's existing projects, identifying new business opportunities, securing additional financings, intention of making tier one size discoveries and the proposed share issuances to Joel Sutherland. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220650 SOURCE: Fremont Gold Ltd. Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Enduro Metals Corporation (TSXV: ENDR) (OTCQB: ENDMF) (FSE: SOG0) ("Enduro Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 2024 summer exploration program on its 100% owned Newmont Lake Project. The Company's 2024 exploration program will focus on two key objectives: Oriented-core diamond drilling at McLymont to test the structural controls on gold-bearing quartz-carbonate veins that carry the highest-grade gold and copper material drilled to-date in the area. Further exploration of copper-gold porphyry targets along the Copper-Line, particularly at North Toe (see Enduro news release November 29th, 2023). McLymont Fault The McLymont Fault will be the primary focus of the Company's exploration efforts in 2024. The greater than 20km long geological feature is prospective for high-grade gold and porphyry deposits of varying styles. Last December, Seabridge Gold discovered the upper part of a new porphyry with intermediate sulfidation epithermal mineralization at the southwest end of the McLymont corridor, highlighted by 277m of 0.80 g/t Au near the Enduro/Seabridge Gold property boundary (See Seabridge Gold news release December 14th, 2023). Cole Evans, CEO of Enduro Metals commented, "There are multiple styles of gold mineralization along the McLymont Fault, and our technical team, supported by third party review, has developed a new structural interpretation we believe may be the most important control for gold mineralization that will lend to building a high-grade gold and copper resource at McLymont. Drilling will be conducted in the opposite direction compared to historical work using precise, oriented-core diamond drilling methods. The objectives are to first test areas near zones of known gold mineralization and correlate sub-surface structures with those mapped on surface. This will be followed by down-dip drill testing of these zones in areas previously never drilled. The aim of the program is to help us understand the pathways gold has moved through at McLymont which is characterized by a >3km surface gold anomaly with similar geological characteristics to Cominco's past-producing Snip Mine located 20km to the southwest along the McLymont structural corridor." Figure 1: Cross-section of Pad 1 with 2 holes striking 120 degrees and dipping -45 and -75 into interpreted, NW-dipping mineralized structures. Holes are planned to an estimated total length of 300m. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/220628_b8be1758c477fbf0_002full.jpg Most historic drilling on the Newmont Lake property was done on the McLymont Fault. The main target was the NW Zone which has a historic mineral estimate based on 16,992m of diamond drilling completed between 1987-1990 by Gulf Minerals. Three different gold mineralization styles have been identified within the McLymont Fault: i) skarn, ii) epithermal, and iii) porphyry-like mineralization. Enduro's geological model has high-grade gold skarn near-surface, with gold being fed by underlying high-grade epithermal feeder veins sourced from an ultimate porphyry source. Highlights of recent drilling completed by the Company on the McLymont Fault include: Hole NW20-09 which intercepted 10.03g/t Au, 2.31g/t Ag and 0.36% Cu over 28.34m, including 31.09g/t Au, 6.54g/t Ag and 1.07% Cu over 8.85m; Hole NW20-01 which intercepted 19.44g/t Au, 25.29g/t Ag and 1.32% Cu over 2.12m; and Hole NW19-12 which intercepted 1.10g/t Au, 1.15g/t Ag and 0.09% Cu over 188.00m, including 4.04g/t Au, 4.06g/t Ag and 0.29% Cu over 44.13m. A table of significant assay results from drilling on the project prior to its acquisition by the Company is set out in Annex 1. The 2024 program is designed to explore gold bearing structures intersecting lithology previously thought to be the primary ore control. The structural interpretation is based on a third-party review of mineralization at the NW Zone. The analysis included orientated drill core and structural mapping undertaken during the summer of 2023. 2024's program will combine relogging of historic drill core, detailed surface mapping, and a highly targeted drill program to identify structures hosting the chalcopyrite-pyrite bearing quartz-carbonate veins with the highest gold grades in the known mineralization. The drill program is planned to be up to 2,000m of orientated diamond drilling from 2 drill pads. Figure 2: Cross-section of Pad 2 with 2 holes striking 120 degrees and dipping -45 and -60 into interpreted, NW-dipping mineralized structures. Holes are planned to an estimated total length of 500m.To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/220628_b8be1758c477fbf0_003full.jpg Copper-Gold Porphyry Target Generation Enduro will also continue to explore and advance other Copper-Gold porphyry targets across the wider Newmont Lake property. The main targets include North Toe / Big Toe along the Copper-Line (see Enduro news release May 24th, 2023). A combination of geophysics, bedrock sampling, channel sampling, and mapping will be used to enhance our understanding of these areas and develop drill targets for future exploration campaigns. The North Toe target is a newly exposed zone uncovered by recent glacial retreat. Geological prospecting in 2022 identified an area of quartz-chalcopyrite stockwork veining and encouraging porphyry-style alteration typical of alkalic copper-gold porphyry systems showing zones of potassic alteration in association with quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite+/-bornite stockwork veining on surface. Surface rock chip samples collected in 2022 from the target returned grades of up to 4.08% Cu and 57.83 g/t Au over an area of 2.5km. In 2023, detailed mapping was completed to identify the host intrusion and identify structural controls on mineralization. Rock samples from this campaign returned up to 0.78% copper and 0.21g/t gold. Additionally, 240-line km of drone magnetics were flown over the target with data emphasizing the structural importance of the area. North Toe is of comparable scale, and along strike of the Burgundy system with an ideal location for development, at low elevation and only 17.6km up valley from the Galore Creek Mine Road. Figure 3: Plan view map of detailed mapping area highlighting planned channel sample over mineralized monzonite networks where samples assayed B0017861: 0.31% Cu, 0.64 ppm Au, and B0017858; 0.78% Cu, 0.21 ppm Au. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6406/220628_b8be1758c477fbf0_004full.jpg Personnel will begin mobilization to Newmont Lake imminently and further information will be provided as groundwork begins. The Company also wishes to advise that Deborah Cotter has resigned as Company Secretary of the Company. The role of Company Secretary will be assumed by Malcolm Davidson, the Company's Chief Financial Officer. The Board wishes to thank Ms Cotter for her services to the Company and wishes her the best in her future endeavours. About Enduro Metals Enduro Metals is an exploration company focused on its Newmont Lake Project; a total 688km2 property located between Eskay Creek, Snip, and Galore Creek within the heart of British Columbia's Golden Triangle. Building on prior results, the Company's geological team have outlined multiple deposit environments of interest across the Newmont Lake Project including high-grade epithermal/skarn gold along the McLymont Fault, copper-gold alkalic porphyry mineralization at Burgundy, newly discovered copper-gold porphyry mineralization at North Toe, and a large 10km x 4km geochemical anomaly hosting various gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, and lead mineralization along the newly discovered Chachi Corridor. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, ENDURO METALS CORPORATION "Cole Evans" Chief Executive Officer As a continued effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication initiatives. If you have any questions online (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram) feel free to send direct messages or a post and include the hashtag askENDR. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Enduro's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Although Enduro believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Annex 1: Significant Historic Drill Results Completed on the McLymont Gold Project Prior to the Acquisition of the Newmont Lake Property by the Company Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) Copper (%) NW87-15 5.60 8.40 2.80 14.4 14.4 0.32 NW87-25 104.50 110.30 5.80 19.96 4.91 0.29 NW87-25 143.30 144.40 1.10 52.11 6.86 0.42 NW87-29 66.70 68.60 1.90 277.46 191.42 2.13 NW88-21 157.80 161.50 3.70 13.66 1.70 0.08 NW88-28 65.20 69.80 4.60 28.57 10.00 0.41 NW88-28 79.40 84.30 4.90 22.32 9.20 0.24 NW88-31 30.30 33.30 3.00 21.26 28.00 0.29 NW88-32 95.20 96.20 1.00 48.69 4.80 0.21 NW88-35 39.30 41.40 2.10 121.76 61.71 0.58 NW89-01 77.80 79.90 2.10 52.28 29.88 2.29 NW89-05 12.80 14.60 1.80 24.65 14.06 0.24 NW89-06 27.30 29.60 2.30 13.56 5.56 0.44 NW89-09 27.50 32.50 5.00 8.41 23.79 0.79 NW89-11 66.40 72.80 6.40 26.39 60.54 0.57 NW89-18 25.60 28.10 2.50 17.01 28.57 0.46 NW89-19 66.80 68.00 1.20 32.71 78.34 0.96 NW89-22 4.90 7.60 2.70 18.83 11.09 0.32 NW89-23 24.30 26.60 2.30 25.11 13.97 0.27 NW89-25 70.50 73.20 2.70 15.89 17.10 0.19 NW89-29 7.90 9.90 2.00 34.61 38.92 0.46 NW89-51 15.90 16.30 0.40 277.00 4.11 0.32 NW89-66 157.90 158.50 0.60 39.02 0.35 0.11 NW90-01 59.40 61.30 1.90 16.07 165.82 0.09 NW90-01 63.20 66.40 3.20 39.29 0.20 0.12 NW90-02 50.10 50.90 0.80 40.01 - 0.0100 NW90-02 76.80 81.70 4.90 22.09 - 0.0100 NW90-17 113.10 114.80 1.70 28.39 0.39 17700 NW90-18 104.40 106.40 2.00 363.24 - 0.010 NW90-26 32.60 35.40 2.80 25.06 - 0.010 NW90-27 15.20 16.20 1.00 31.89 - 0.010 NW90-30 24.10 25.60 1.50 28.94 - 0.010 NW90-31 10.10 10.80 0.70 113.93 - 0.010 R-07-09 13.72 16.76 3.04 19.71 12.6 0.45 R-07-09 26.61 28.96 2.35 27.32 9.96 0.46 R-08-07 25.25 27.13 1.88 179.14 109.28 0.19 R-08-11 137.22 138.44 1.22 51.7 33.7 0.50 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220628 SOURCE: Enduro Metals Corporation Transaction Advances AIR's Growth Strategy With New Capabilities Across Expanded Footprint and Diversified Customer Base Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. ("AIR" or the "Company") today announced the acquisition of Sewtec Automation ("Sewtec"), a leading industrial automation company based in the United Kingdom. The transaction expands AIR's geographic footprint, strengthens its engineering capabilities and further positions the Company to capitalize on the increasing global demand for manufacturing automation solutions across a diversified customer base. The transaction was funded primarily by an additional investment from an Ares Management Private Equity fund ("Ares"). Founded in 1983, Sewtec brings over 170 team members dedicated to advancing its mission to solve complex problems through engineering innovation and excellent customer service. Sewtec operates out of a 75,000 square-foot design and manufacturing facility, serving a range of brands across various sectors, including pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage, personal care, pet care and e-commerce. With over 7,000 industrial automation systems invented, Sewtec prides itself on its technical expertise, industry knowledge and experience working across a wide variety of sectors to develop solutions that improve its customers' processes. Sewtec joins Totally Automated Systems ("TA Systems") and Modular Automation ("Modular") as a foundational asset of the AIR portfolio. With the acquisition of Sewtec, AIR now has over 400 employees and an automation hub footprint of approximately 275,000 square feet across the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. By leveraging the significant engineering experience and capabilities in each of these hubs, AIR is advancing its goal to seamlessly deliver differentiated industrial automation solutions and service to its global customer base. With Ares' support, AIR expects to seek to further expand its platform through future strategic acquisitions of industrial automation companies with strong operational histories and tenured management teams, in addition to continued investment in its organic growth strategy. AIR Executive Chairman Brian Klos and Chief Executive Officer Darragh de Stonndun said, "The acquisition of Sewtec represents a significant milestone for AIR. We have long been admirers of the quality of the automation solutions Sewtec has developed for their loyal customer base. We believe that sharing the respective strengths of Sewtec, TA Systems and Modular through AIR will help accelerate our businesses' abilities to enhance efficiencies, drive technological innovation and deliver industry-leading automation solutions to our partners." Mark Cook, Co-Managing Director of Sewtec and newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of AIR, said, "This transaction represents an exciting new chapter in Sewtec's long history. I believe AIR is the right partner for Sewtec as we look to grow our business with existing and new customers. We look forward to leveraging the skills and know-how across AIR to further our ability to invent innovative solutions that help our customers solve complex operational challenges. As Chief Operating Officer of AIR, I look forward to working with team members across the Company to execute on our shared vision of creating a cohesive, global industrial automation platform." Matt Cwiertnia, Partner and Head of the Ares Private Equity Group, said, "Ares is proud to continue its support of AIR's growth through this latest acquisition of Sewtec. This reinforces our shared goal of building AIR into a scaled player with a global manufacturing footprint, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Company to meet the significant and growing demand for high quality automation solutions." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. AIR is an industrial automation company focused on acquiring and facilitating the growth of leading industrial automation companies serving diverse end markets with strong operational histories and tenured management teams. Grounded in a culture of safety, transparency and pursuit of excellent customer experience, AIR seeks to leverage complementary teams and technologies to deliver innovative, cost-competitive solutions to address the complex and challenging needs of global businesses. AIR is currently serving a global customer base across three facilities located in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. About Sewtec Automation Sewtec Automation provides industrial automation solutions for global blue-chip clients in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage, personal care, pet care and e-commerce markets. Sewtec specialises in providing bespoke solutions to address its customers' most challenging automation requirements. It currently employs over 170 high skilled people at its manufacturing facility in Wakefield, UK and at its new satellite office in Taunton, UK. For more information, please visit the Sewtec Automation website at https://www.sewtec.co.uk/. About Ares Management Corporation Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2024, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had over $447 billion of assets under management with more than 2,950 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820987074/en/ Contacts: Ares Management Jacob Silber, +1-212-301-0376 media@aresmgmt.com or media.europe@aresmgmt.com Acquisition Expands Supreme Group's Capabilities and Global Footprint Supreme Group today announced the acquisition of BioStrata, an award-winning agency offering comprehensive marketing communication services to the life science sector. Based in Cambridge, England, and servicing clients globally, BioStrata has helped more than 200 life science organizations achieve their business goals across life science research tools, medical devices, diagnostics, contract research and manufacturing, biopharma, and other areas. This strategic addition, backed by growth-oriented private equity firm Trinity Hunt Partners, will add BioStrata's best-in-class services to Supreme Group's platform dedicated to providing industry-leading business, marketing, and communications services to a broad range of life science and healthcare companies. "This fourth acquisition marks a significant milestone on our path to building a world-class platform serving a broad range of companies in life science and healthcare," said Tom Donnelly, CEO, Supreme Group. "BioStrata's integrated communications and marketing expertise will enable us to better serve the diverse needs of life science companies, broaden our client base, and further expand our footprint in the UK and Europe." BioStrata's leadership will remain in place, and the agency will continue to operate under its brand name as a standalone organization within Supreme Group. Clare Russell, co-founder and Managing Director of BioStrata, will take the role of President, while Paul Avery, co-founder and CEO of BioStrata, will assume the role of VP Marketing for Supreme Group. "Joining Supreme Group opens up exciting new possibilities for BioStrata, our clients, and our team," said Clare Russell. "This partnership strengthens our position in the life science marketing landscape and enhances our service offering with specialized digital expertise. It also brings new growth opportunities for our talented team. We're thrilled to work alongside Supreme Group's leadership, who share our commitment to excellence, passion for the life science sector, and dedication to fostering a positive, engaging, and prosperous work environment for our people." "At Trinity Hunt, we invest in people-based healthcare and business services companies that are leaders in their field," said Mike Steindorf, partner at Trinity Hunt. "The addition of BioStrata to our portfolio, alongside Supreme Optimization, Clarity Quest, and Health+Commerce, marks a key step to creating the world's premier life science marketing and communications provider. Under Tom's dynamic leadership as CEO, we're enthusiastic about nurturing these companies and exploring opportunities to welcome more outstanding businesses to the platform." Fabric Business Solutions, with a team led by Tim O'Connor and Mark Stroud, served as the exclusive advisor to BioStrata during this process. About Supreme Group Trinity Hunt-backed Supreme Group is a platform dedicated to providing best-in-class business, marketing, and communications services to a broad range of life science and healthcare companies. Supreme Group's acquisitions to date include Supreme Optimization, a life sciences-focused digital agency; Clarity Quest, a health IT marketing agency; Health+Commerce, an integrated marketing and public relations agency serving innovative healthcare companies; and BioStrata, an award-winning agency offering comprehensive integrated services to the life science sector. For more information visit www.supremegroup.io. About Trinity Hunt Partners Trinity Hunt Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm with over $2 billion of assets under management focused on building leading business, healthcare, and consumer services companies. Trinity Hunt's mission is to provide the talent and strategic, operational, and financial capabilities needed to build entrepreneurial services companies into market leaders. For more information, visit www.trinityhunt.com. About BioStrata Founded in 2014, BioStrata is an award-winning agency specializing in integrated marketing communications for the life science sector. With over 150 years of combined team experience and a track record of serving more than 200 life science organizations, BioStrata delivers strategic marketing solutions that drive tangible business results. The agency offers comprehensive services across the entire marketing mix, helping life science companies enhance brand awareness, generate leads, and convert prospects into customers. For more information, visit www.biostratamarketing.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821058819/en/ Contacts: Media contact: Anne Alo Health+Commerce annealo@healthandcommerce.com The strategic acquisition supports Infogrid's vision to optimize building operating budgets while advancing the industry's path to decarbonization. As commercial real estate moves beyond data monitoring and reporting to action and automation, Buildings IOT's adaptive buildings technology makes it faster and easier for clients to realize energy, carbon, and cost savings. Infogrid will integrate Buildings IOT's automated demand management, advanced fault detection, and grid interactivity offerings into its product suite, creating a one-of-a-kind solution for customers at scale across their portfolios. Infogrid, the building intelligence and analytics company leveraging AI and data to curb the impact of the global real estate sector on the planet, today announces its acquisition of Buildings IOT's market-leading adaptive buildings technology. This strategic move will enhance Infogrid's ability to deliver autonomous actions that optimize building efficiency and generate significant energy, carbon, and cost savings for clients at global scale, leading the industry in a transition from pure analytics to genuine building automation. The commercial real estate landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by the need to meet stringent net zero targets, increased regulation, fluctuating electricity costs and grid conditions, and changing patterns in space usage as the world embraces hybrid working. Adding to these pressures are widespread workforce shortages in skilled building engineering staff, making the integration of automation and AI into building operations more critical than ever. Infogrid and Buildings IOT have long shared a vision of transforming building operations through data and automation. The unique combination of their technologies will provide a significant advantage to real estate and facilities management organizations navigating current market dynamics. The addition of Buildings IOT's automated demand management, advanced fault detection and diagnostics, and grid-interactive capabilities will strengthen Infogrid's suite of energy analytics products, helping building owners and operators ensure their properties are operating at peak efficiency by proactively incorporating grid conditions and automating consumption- and demand-reducing measures. These innovations enable clients to see quicker time-to-value, maximize energy and carbon reductions while optimizing for costs and comfort, and mitigate operating expenses all while doing more with less. Infogrid CEO Kate Henningsen said, "This technology acquisition marks a pivotal moment in our mission to transform the built environment with technology that is as good for the planet as it is for the bottom line. By integrating Buildings IOT's adaptive buildings capabilities with Infogrid's suite of energy data and analytics tools, we can offer our clients unprecedented capabilities in automation that help them realize energy, carbon and cost savings faster and more easily than ever before. The combined technology represents a new milestone for real estate and facilities teams seeking to reduce their environmental impact and operating budgets at scale." "Buildings IOT was founded with the mission to revolutionize the way buildings operate," added Buildings IOT CEO Brian Turner. "Combining the Infogrid and Buildings IOT technologies will be essential in aiding the built environment's shift to low carbon and making significant strides towards decarbonizing operations." 12 members of Buildings IOT's US- and Canada-based team will join Infogrid as part of the acquisition as Infogrid looks to incorporate the Buildings IOT solution into its technology stack. Infogrid will maintain its corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and London. To learn more about the services on offer, visit www.infogrid.io and www.buildingsiot.com. About Infogrid: Infogrid is a data and analytics company on a mission to make every building smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. Recently ranked in the top 10 tech companies leading the charge on climate action, it offers an AI-powered suite of products that empower real estate teams to reduce costs, decrease time spent on routine work, and find and act on opportunities to save energy and carbon. Discover how Infogrid's solutions can unlock the potential of your assets and accelerate the transition to net zero. Visit us at www.infogrid.io to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820240031/en/ Contacts: Zoe Williams Director of Marketing, Infogrid zoe.williams@infogrid.io Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization (CRO) and a JSR Life Sciences company, today announced a strategic partnership with Clinical Trial Consulting Services (CTI), a renowned global full-spectrum research service provider, to bolster oncology-focused consulting services. This collaboration unites decades of expertise from both organizations in oncology drug discovery and development, leveraging Crown Bioscience's preclinical and translational models and CTI's well-established track record in the clinical and regulatory space. Customers will benefit from combined expert guidance, supporting the transition of oncology compounds from discovery through early-phase clinical trials more rapidly and effectively. This alliance aims to determine the optimal and most expeditious path to the clinic, ensure long-term drug development success and growth, and accelerate the delivery of superior oncology therapeutics to patients. From today, customers can access consulting services to ensure an integrated drug development approach, including: Strategic preclinical development planning Study data analysis, interpretation and advice Regulatory guidance De novo assay development assay development Grant review Alex Slater, Senior Vice President of Commercial, commented: ''Crown Bioscience has an established reputation for exceeding the typical services offered by a regular CRO. This initiative unites deep-seated expertise spanning all phases of drug development, marking a pivotal step towards delivering a true translational offer to our clients.'' Ryan Gifford, Vice President of Global Laboratory Services, Business Development, shares: ''We are delighted to collaborate with Crown Bioscience and view this as a valuable synergy. Crown Bioscience's leadership in early-phase oncology research and suite of preclinical services complement CTI's broad spectrum of capabilities. Together, we can offer enhanced support to our oncology clients and deepen our commitment to advancing cancer research.'' About Crown Bioscience Crown Bioscience, a JSR Life Sciences company, is a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to improving human health through partnering with biotech and pharmaceutical companies that drive the discovery and development of oncology drugs. We exclusively offer preclinical tumor organoid services using the well-established Hubrecht Organoid Technology, with over 600 organoid models available spanning 22 cancer indications. In addition, we have developed the world's largest commercially available PDX collection. Further committed to personalized medicine, our subsidiary, Indivumed Services, maintains an extensive biobank of liquid and tissue human biospecimens. Our focus on helping our customers develop novel therapies aims to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Founded in 2006, we have 12 facilities across the US, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.crownbio.com About CTI Clinical Trial Consulting Services CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services is a global, privately held, research service organization, delivering a complete spectrum of clinical trial and consulting services throughout the lifecycle of development, from concept to commercialization. CTI's focused therapeutic approach provides clinical and disease area expertise with nuanced regulator support. CTI also offers a fully integrated multi-specialty clinical research site and complete global laboratory services. Now in its third decade, CTI is one of the 20 largest contract research organizations in the world, with associates in more than 60 countries across six continents. CTI is headquartered in the Greater Cincinnati area, with operations across North America, Europe, Latin America, MEA, and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.ctifacts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821624556/en/ Contacts: Media Inquiries: Crown Bioscience Louise Stenson pr@crownbio.com HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / HNR Acquisition Corp (NYSE American:HNRA) (the "Company" or "HNRA") is an independent upstream energy company with productive oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin of New Mexico. Today, the Company announces successful oil production increases from a chemical stimulation treatment program started in late June 2024. What is the program: A chemical stimulation treatment restimulates producing wells that had not maintained previously achieved productions levels by removing scale build-up that restricts the flow of oil. The Company started the program in late June 2024 with a pilot program of chemically treating 24 producing wells. Upon confirming the viability of this proven methodology, the Company will expand and commence chemically treating approximately 100 less than optimal producing wells as a first phase. Then the Company will assess the balance of the 342 wells. What is the chemical treatment: Chemical stimulation is a process that increases oil production by increasing hydrocarbon flow from the reservoir into the well bore. The process for each batch of 3 to 6 wells first injects the wells with a paraffin solvent / dispersant, and then the two days later treats the well with an acid solution. The chemical stimulation being used is an innovative process introduced to the Company by our chemical supplier, Jacam Catalyst. The treatment is with a chemical blend with nano sized molecules that mobilizes hydrocarbons to increase the efficiencies of dissolving HCL (acid) soluble scales. The acid portion of this blend contains state-of-the-art corrosion inhibitors, and increased iron control capabilities to mitigate re-clogging of the oil well during the natural course of production. The chemical treatment also removes fine silts and scales, inhibits them from reappearing and increases the flow of oil. What are the results to date: The initial results of the pilot program have been successful and very encouraging with an additional production of 80-plus BOPD. The Company is starting the first phase of the program for 100 producing wells. Based on the initial response of the 24 wells in the pilot program, we estimate the chemical treatment program to increase oil production by 250 BOPD from the chemical stimulation treatment program by the end of 2024. "This program has resulted in a significant increase in production from these pilot wells," said Dante Caravaggio, President and CEO. Mr. Caravaggio continued with "The team, led by Jesse Allen, VP of Operations, and David O'Brian, Field Superintendent, will be expanding our chemical stimulation program to the next 100 wells we have already identified. We believe the unique combination and application of chemicals proposed by our chemical vendor for HNRA's specific needs and requirements, Jacam Catalyst, has given us a safer, better, faster, and more economical way to increase production across our 342 producers." "These chemical and acid treatments are proving worthwhile. They are ideal for the less than optimum producing wells," said Jesse Allen, the Vice President of Operations. "The cost is relatively inexpensive, and results will last for approximately six months before retreatment or other stimulation is required. I am encouraged by the initial results" he continued. About the Oil Field Property In November 2023, the Company acquired LH Operating, LLC ("LHO") including its oil and gas waterflood production holdings in New Mexico comprising 13,700 contiguous leasehold acres, 342 producing wells and 207 injection wells situated on 20 federal and 3 state leases in the Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field. The Grayburg-Jackson Oil Field is located on the Northwest Shelf of the prolific Permian Basin in Eddy County, New Mexico. Leasehold rights of LHO, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, include the Seven Rivers, Queen, Grayburg and San Andres intervals that range from as shallow as 1,500 feet to 4,000 feet in depth. The December 2023 reserve report from our third-party engineer, William H. Cobb and Associates, Inc. ("Cobb"), reflects LHO to have proven reserves of approximately 15.4 million barrels of oil and 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The mapped original-oil-in-place ("OOIP") in the LHO leasehold is approximately 876 million barrels of oil in the Grayburg and San Andres intervals and 80 million barrels in the Seven Rivers interval for a total OOIP of approximately 956,000,000 barrels of oil. Our primary production is currently from the Seven Rivers zone. In addition to proven reserves, the Company believes we may access an additional 34 million barrels of oil by adding perforations in the Grayburg and San Andres formations. With proven oil reserves of over 15 million barrels, combined with the potential 34 million additional barrels from the Grayburg and San Andres zones, LHO should produce oil and a revenue stream for more than two decades with a slow decline rate. About HNR Acquisition Corp HNRA is an independent upstream energy company focused on maximizing total returns to its shareholders through the development of onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States. HNRA's long-term goal is to maximize total shareholder value from a diversified portfolio of long-life oil and natural gas properties built through acquisition and through selective development, production enhancement, and other exploitation efforts on its oil and natural gas properties. HNRA's Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE American (NYSE American: HNRA) and our public warrants trade on the NYSE American (NYSE American: HNRAW). For more information on HNRA, please visit the Company's website: https://www.hnra-nyse.com/ Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expected. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "seeks," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "should" and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future results, based on currently available information and reflect the Company's management's current beliefs. A number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts and the risks relating to our business - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on EDGAR (see www.edgar-online.com) and with the Securities and Exchange Commission (see www.sec.gov). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Relations Michael J. Porter, President PORTER, LEVAY & ROSE, INC. mike@plrinvest.com SOURCE: HNR Acquisition Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com Appointment of Precision Drilling: Precision Drilling has been appointed as its Rig Contractor, bringing expertise and reliability to the drilling operation. Second Multilateral Well Spudded: Drilling has commenced on the Company's second multilateral well, with operations expected to last approximately twelve days. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / Trans Canada Gold Corp. (TSXV:TTG)(OTCQB:TTGXF) ("Trans Canada" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Operator (Croverro Energy) has hired Precision Drilling as the Rig Contractor, and has now spudded, and commenced drilling on the second multilateral and is expected to be drilling for approximately ten days. The lands for the well are currently controlled by a partnership led by Croverro, with the Company holding a 18.75% interest. This second multi-lateral horizontal well is based on similar wells drilled in the General Petroleum (GP) oil formation using surrounding well control combined with recently processed seismic lines. The new multilateral well is planned for 11 lateral legs in the GP sand. Precision Rig 145 The Company has acquired additional lands inside the Area of Mutual Interest ("AMI"), which will allow additional opportunity for multilateral wells. The lands are contiguous with our existing lands. The newly acquired lands, together combined with our existing lands have the oil resource potential in both the Sparky and GP producing zones. Commented Tim Coupland, "We now look forward to drilling our second multilateral well which is planned with 11 lateral legs in the GP oil reservoir. With the recent strategic land and lease acquisitions, together with well control and recently obtained and processed seismic data, the upcoming drill program in the GP sand has been de-risked as much as possible." "Our proven drilling and production strategy continues to deliver strong results, with our multilateral wells showcasing low decline rates that ensure steady, long-term output," commented Director Chris Timmins. "This approach not only maximizes our resource recovery but also provides a stable foundation for sustained growth and value creation for our shareholders." The Company continues to explore additional exploration drilling opportunities in Canada and the United States. ABOUT TRANS CANADA GOLD CORP. - OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION/REVENUE PRODUCING WELLS The Company is a discovery focused Oil & Gas Resource Development and Mineral Exploration Company that is currently focused on developing and drilling its' production of conventional heavy oil exploration properties, increasing production capabilities, and increasing future oil production revenues through responsible exploration. The Company identifies, acquires and finances with its working interest partners, the ongoing development of oil and gas assets primarily situated in Alberta Canada. The Company has qualified Senior exploration management and Geological teams of professionals, seasoned in exploration production, field exploration and drilling. The Company currently works with Croverro Energy Ltd., who has demonstrated proficiency, expected of an experienced oil and gas technical team that has proven oil production, and revenue success with large multi-lateral wells currently under their supervision. The Company has the necessary manpower in place to develop its natural resource properties and manage its production properties. The Company is committed to minimizing risk through selective property acquisitions, and responsible exploration drilling, and maximizing long term petroleum and natural gas resource assets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Tim Coupland, President and CEO Trans Canada Gold Corp. Tel: (604) 681-3131 astar@telus.com www.transcanadagold.com or Christian Timmins, Director Trans Canada Gold Corp. Tel: (403) 597-3410 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact Information Chris Timmins Director ctimmins29@gmail.com 403-597-3410 Tim Coupland CEO astar@telus.com 604-681-3131 SOURCE: Trans Canada Gold Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Hypercharge Networks Corp. (TSXV: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider and network operator, is pleased to announce it will provide Level 2 EV charging stations to SEAandSKY by Bosa Properties Inc. ("Bosa Properties"), a new community in Squamish, BC, with delivery scheduled by the end of August 2024. Bosa Properties is an end-to-end real estate company offering human-centered solutions for property development and management. Based in Vancouver, their diverse team of in-house experts work across residential, commercial, and master-planned projects and their growing residential portfolio includes more than 20,000 homes that are built or under development. SEAandSKY is an expansive master-planned, multi-use community in the heart of Squamish spanning over 53 acres and includes 1,144 strata homes, 295 rental homes, and commercial units. The Company will initially supply 18 Level 2 EV charging stations to rental residential buildings and 4 Level 2 EV charging stations for commercial units, supporting both public and Modo Carsharing Co-op use. "We are proud of our strong and local relationship with Bosa Properties that continues to grow with the supply of charging solutions to SEAandSKY," said Chris Koch, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Hypercharge. "This third new build project with Bosa Properties allows us to continue supporting their vision of building sustainable communities by ensuring reliable EV charging access for both residential and commercial tenants." About Hypercharge Hypercharge Networks Corp. (TSXV: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to offering seamless, simple solutions including industry-leading hardware, innovative and integrated software, and comprehensive services, backed by a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/. On behalf of the Company, Hypercharge Networks Corp. David Bibby, President & CEO Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the expected timing, delivery and installation of EV charging stations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "could", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220613 SOURCE: Hypercharge Networks Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Nova Pacific Metals Corp. (CSE: NVPC) (OTCQB: NVPCF) (FSE: YQ10) (WKN: A40GFH) (the "Company," or "Nova Pacific") is pleased to provide an update related to the ongoing advancement of the Lara Project. Recent compilation of historic drill hole data from the Coronation Zone has suggested a possible association between high-grade zinc, copper and lead intersections up to 17.46 m and significant precious metal grades (Table 1). These results highlight the polymetallic nature of the Lara volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit modelled as six discrete zones with a total strike length of approximately 1,180 meters. Within the current claim boundaries, substantial work by Laramide Resources during the 1980's included over 323 drill holes totalling 58,262 meters, complete with 679 meters of pre-production underground access and drifting. Unfortunately, further development and production of the deposit stalled in 1989 due to a severe downturn in the economy and the resultant fall of metal prices. Most of the drilling has been concentrated within the Coronation Trend, one of four mineralized trends identified on the southwest slopes of Coronation Mountain. A considerable number of these drill holes have returned high-grade results for gold, silver, zinc, copper and lead. Table 1. Select high-grade intersections, Coronation Trend, Lara Project 1 DDH From (m) To (m) Width (m) Wt. % Silver (g/t) Wt. % Gold (g/t) Wt. % Zinc (%) Wt. % Copper (%) Wt. % Lead (%) LA84-012 51.38 60.08 8.70 61.23 3.26 3.01 0.68 0.45 LA85-034 75.02 85.40 10.38 57.18 1.05 4.29 0.51 0.73 LA85-036 23.67 28.10 4.43 74.99 8.91 3.48 0.87 0.50 LA85-040 46.00 50.80 4.80 263.03 6.58 8.94 1.14 2.47 LA85-044 76.26 82.14 5.88 56.87 5.88 3.93 0.36 0.89 LA85-062 85.24 102.70 17.46 72.38 3.02 3.10 0.48 0.47 LA86-080 208.42 213.78 5.36 92.10 2.99 3.80 0.80 1.63 LA86-085 87.72 90.16 2.44 135.89 4.13 7.73 1.26 0.53 LA86-134 15.84 31.08 15.24 95.28 6.64 5.37 1.00 0.71 LA86-135 8.25 14.32 6.07 268.69 8.78 18.61 2.11 3.93 LA86-139 29.64 35.35 5.71 214.07 4.24 12.84 0.97 3.22 LA86-140 44.92 55.98 11.06 39.79 0.86 0.88 0.06 0.29 LA86-141 17.22 26.51 9.29 121.83 3.56 8.65 0.73 2.07 LA87-182 224.43 226.45 2.02 200.30 4.43 25.38 2.53 5.88 LA87-184 355.53 359.99 4.46 48.42 5.53 3.34 1.92 0.67 LA89-233 152.24 161.31 9.07 58.07 0.97 0.02 0.00 0.01 LA89-233 25.84 30.94 5.10 129.69 2.66 10.66 1.15 2.17 LA89-241 168.85 169.35 0.50 412.74 45.54 22.60 2.59 11.50 LA89-245 23.10 23.55 0.45 979.76 13.97 22.50 1.76 8.98 In addition, Drill hole 87-182 was excluded from the database as it was found to unduly influence the grade of the entire Inferred category over a composite interval of 2.02m containing: Table 2. Drill hole 87-182 results Zinc Silver Lead Copper Gold 25.37% 200.3 g/t 5.88% 2.53% 4.43 g/t The position of 87-182 is over 100 meters from surrounding samples within the plane of the zone, and therefore many Inferred blocks would have been unduly influenced by this interval. Importantly, drill hole 87-182 terminates within a high-grade zone at a true depth of approximately 200 meters; this portion of the Coronation Trend is an ideal location for definition drilling as this high-grade area is open immediately up-dip (~75 m) and across strike to the east-southeast. Nova Pacific's CEO, Mr. J. Malcolm Bell, stated, "A review of the recently completed NI 43-101 technical report and supporting drill data has shone a bright light on the high-grade nature of the Lara VMS deposit. Our plans are to further analyze the historical drill data to optimize hole locations for our proposed 40 hole in-fill drill program necessary to calculate a measured and indicated mineral deposit prior to undertaking a pre-feasibility study; subject to completing all necessary studies and obtaining the requisite permitting all with a goal of revitalizing the Lara project and bringing it into production." Readers are cautioned that this data is historical in nature and Nova Pacific has not performed sufficient work to verify the published data reported above. However, the Company believes this information to be considered reliable and relevant. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Nelles, P.Geo., a consultant to the company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI43-101"). About Nova Pacific Nova Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on pursuing projects with a significant mineral discovery thus providing a viable pathway to potential development. The key projects owned by the Company are its recently acquired Lara VMS project located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and its Deer Musk West Lithium project located in Clayton Valley, Nevada. The Company intends to continue its exploration and development efforts on its mineral projects with a view towards maximizing shareholder value. For additional Information please visit: www.novapacificmetals.com On behalf of the Board of Directors J. Malcolm Bell Chief Executive Officer, Director The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220641 SOURCE: Nova Pacific Metals Corp. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or for dissemination in the United States. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 22, 2024 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. (" FWTC ") (TSXV:FWTC) is pleased to announce that it has closed an issuance of $200,000 principal amount of unsecured convertible debentures. The debentures bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum and the principal amount is automatically convert into units ("Units") at a conversion price of $0.1126 (assuming completion of the proposed 10 for 1 consolidation of FWTC common shares (the "Consolidation")) on completion of the proposed business combination with Fraser Mackenzie Accelerator Corp. ("FMAC") (see press releases dated May 14, 2024 and July 22, 2024 announcing the proposed transaction). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of FWTC and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one common share of FWTC (a "Warrant Share") at a post-Consolidation exercise price of $0.1579 at any time prior to August 19, 2027. All interest will be paid in cash only In connection with the transaction a finder was paid an 8% finders fee and was issued 142,096 finder warrants that entitle the finder to acquire one common share of FWTC and one half of one Warrant (with the same terms as the Warrants described above) at a price of $0.1126 at any time on or before August 19, 2026. All securities issued pursuant to the financing are subject to a hold period of four months and one day expiring on December 20, 2024. About Forward Water Technologies Corp. Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSX.V:FWTC) is a publicly traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Forward Osmosis technology. The Company was founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada. The Company's technology allows for the reduction of challenging waste streams simultaneously returning fresh water for re-use or surface release. The Company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, DLE, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors. FWTC has immediate plans to treat brine from the direct lithium extraction (DLE) sector using is mobile pilot equipment this summer in conjunction with its partners. This project will establish FWTC's iFOTM technology as a valuable component in producing lithium carbonate from aquifer sourced brines for use in applications such as electric vehicle (EV) battery production. In addition, the Company has initiated early-stage R&D for the treatment of food and beverage process streams. For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com. Contact Information: Forward Water Technologies Corp. C. Howie Honeyman, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: howie.honeyman@forwardwater.com Telephone: (519) 333-5888 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. Caution Concerning Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the proposed transaction with FMAC, the Consolidation, the ability of FWTC and FMAC to meet the conditions of the proposed transaction in the required timeframes, obtaining the necessary exemptions and approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange or other regulatory bodies, including the business, name and function of the resulting issuer and certain financial information and forecasts. FWTC cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of FWTC, including expectations and assumptions concerning FWTC, FMAC, the resulting issuer, the proposed transaction, the timely receipt of all required shareholder and regulatory approvals (as applicable), including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, the satisfaction of other closing conditions in accordance with the terms of the definitive agreement for the proposed transaction, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described in FWTC and FMAC's respective disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of FWTC. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and FWTC does not undertake to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Flying Nickel Mining Corp. (TSXV: FLYN) (OTCQB: FLYNF) ("Flying Nickel") is pleased to announce, pursuant to the previously announced binding letter of intent with Norway House Cree Nation ("NHCN") dated July 21, 2024 (the "LOI"), that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with NHCN and 10197729 Manitoba Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NHCN, (the "Purchaser"), pursuant to which Flying Nickel proposes to sell its Minago Nickel project and its related assets located in the Thompson Nickel Belt of Manitoba, Canada (the "Minago Assets") to the Purchaser in consideration for $8,000,000 in cash and the surrender of 17,561,862 common shares in the capital of Flying Nickel ("Flying Nickel Shares") held by NHCN (the "Transaction") , by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under Section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). The Flying Nickel Shares held by NHCN represent approximately 11.4% of the total issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares. The Purchaser has deposited $500,000 in escrow in connection with the Arrangement (the "Deposit"). Information Regarding the Proposed Arrangement Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, the parties have agreed to close the Transaction by no later than December 15, 2024 (the "Outside Date") and expect to close the Transaction by October 16, 2024. As NHCN holds greater than 10% of the issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares, the Transaction is a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("Policy 5.9") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). In accordance with the provisions of MI 61-101, Flying Nickel is exempt from the formal valuation requirements under MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 pursuant to section 4.4(a) of MI 61-101 as an issuer not listed on a specified market. However, the Arrangement requires majority of the minority shareholder approval ("Disinterested Shareholder Approval") under MI 61-101. For the purposes of Disinterested Shareholder Approval, the Arrangement must be approved at the Meeting (as defined below) by at least a majority of the votes cast on the resolution to approve the Arrangement by Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting excluding all Flying Nickel Shares held by persons noted in Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. Therefore, Flying Nickel Shares held by NHCN will be excluded from the Disinterested Shareholder Approval. There has not been a formal valuation or prior valuation in respect of the subject matter of or relevant to the Arrangement in the prior 24 months. The Arrangement also requires approval of a special majority of 66 2/3% of the Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The Transaction is further subject to approvals from the TSXV and the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Arrangement Agreement is subject to termination in certain instances, including if the shareholders of Flying Nickel do not approve the Arrangement at the Meeting, if Flying Nickel receives a superior proposal and complies with its requirements under the Arrangement Agreement, or at the option of either party if the Arrangement is not completed before the Outside Date. For certain termination events, such as pursuant to the acceptance of a superior proposal, Flying Nickel has agreed to pay a termination fee of $400,000 (the "Termination Fee"). Details of the Arrangement (including full details of the Deposit, termination conditions, and the Termination Fee discussed herein) and the special meeting to approve the Arrangement (the "Meeting") will be set out in Flying Nickel's management information circular and proxy statement which will be mailed to Flying Nickel shareholders. The Meeting is scheduled to be held on October 7, 2024, at the offices of MLT Aikins LLP located at 2600-1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific Time). Blackstone Minerals Limited, Sparta AG, Oracle Commodity Holding Corp., and each of the directors and officers of Flying Nickel (together, the "Supporting Shareholders") have entered into voting support agreements in connection with the Arrangement. The Supporting Shareholders and NHCN collectively hold approximately 52% of the issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares on a non-diluted basis and the Supporting Shareholders represent approximately 45% of the Disinterested Shareholder Approval. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to customary conditions as set out in the Arrangement Agreement and receipt of all necessary court and regulatory approvals. The Arrangement Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and indemnities of each party. Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the meeting materials with respect to the Meeting, which will be available on the Sedar+ profile of Flying Nickel at sedarplus.ca. No finder's fee is expected to be paid by any of Flying Nickel, NHCN or the Purchaser to any party in connection with the Arrangement. The Arrangement is also not expected to constitute an Arm's Length Transaction as defined in the policies of the TSXV for Flying Nickel, due to the shareholding of NHCN as described herein. Name Change The Company is also proposing to be renamed to "CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp.", or such other name as the Board in its sole discretion may determine, upon the Transaction closing (the "Name Change"). The Name Change requires approval of a special majority of 66 2/3% of the Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. Additionally, the Name Change and the particular name chosen both remain subject to TSXV and regulatory approval. Board Recommendation Flying Nickel confirms that after careful consideration, including a thorough review of the Arrangement Agreement, the plan of arrangement, receiving the oral fairness opinion of Evans & Evans, Inc. (which will be followed by a written option), and conducting a thorough review of other matters, the board of directors of Flying Nickel (with Neil Duboff, NHCN's nominee, having recused himself) has determined in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, and based in part on the fairness opinion, that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Flying Nickel and its shareholders, and unanimously recommends (with Neil Duboff, NHCN's nominee, having recused himself) that shareholders vote FOR the resolutions to approve the Arrangement at the upcoming Meeting. Further information regarding the reasons for the board recommendation will be set forth in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Meeting. Additionally, after careful consideration, including a thorough review of the proposed Name Change, the board of directors of Flying Nickel has determined that the Name Change is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders, and recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the resolutions to approve the Name Change at the upcoming Meeting. Further information regarding the reasons for the board recommendation will be set forth in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Meeting. About Flying Nickel Mining Corp. Flying Nickel is an exploration-stage mining company focused on vanadium and nickel resources. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada, United States and a 100% interest in the Minago nickel project in the Thompson nickel belt in Manitoba, Canada. Further information on Flying Nickel can be found at www.flynickel.com. 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. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Disclaimers References to $ herein refer to the lawful currency of Canada. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. 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 absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. Completion of the Arrangement and the Name Change is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to the standard closing conditions contained in the Arrangement Agreement, TSXV acceptance, court and shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Arrangement cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Flying Nickel should be considered highly speculative. This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Arrangement including timing, closing and terms of the Arrangement, the number of Flying Nickel Shares owned and expected to be owned by certain parties who have executed voting support agreements, and the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite TSXV, shareholder, court and other approvals in connection with the Arrangement, as well as statements with respect to the Name Change including timing, the proposed name (CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp.) and the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite TSXV, shareholder, court and other approvals in connection with the Name Change. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Flying Nickel, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur, including, without limitation, that all conditions precedent to the Arrangement will be met and the realization of the anticipated benefits derived therefrom for shareholders of Flying Nickel and perception of (i) the quality and the potential of Flying Nickel's assets, (ii) the consideration offered to Flying Nickel, and (iii) the potential of Flying Nickel's business following completion of the Arrangement. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of Flying Nickel at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Flying Nickel, there is no assurance they will prove to be correct and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward- looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions; cash flow and availability of financing; the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite court, shareholder, TSXV and other third party approvals in respect of the Arrangement and the Name Change; exercise of any dissent rights, trades in the market, issuances of securities or exercises of convertible securities and other factors that could alter the share capital of Flying Nickel or other parties; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental consents and approvals; and other risks of the mining industry. These factors are discussed in greater detail in Flying Nickel's most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, which also provides additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Flying Nickel cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Flying Nickel believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Although Flying Nickel has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Flying Nickel undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Further, Flying Nickel may make changes to its business plans that could affect results. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220654 SOURCE: Flying Nickel Mining Corp. Value of Over US$110 Million Contract Signed between XCMG and Rio Tinto SimFer Covers Dozens of Mining Trucks and Mining Graders for the World's Largest Untapped Reserve of High-grade Iron Ore CONAKRY, Guinea, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG Machinery (SHE: 000425, "XCMG"), the world's leading construction equipment manufacturer, has entered into a landmark global cooperation framework agreement with Rio Tinto, the world's largest iron ore producer in Conakry, Guinea's capital. Another statement of work for the Simandou iron ore project, the world's largest untapped reserve of high-grade iron ore, has also been signed between XCMG and Rio Tinto SimFer, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto, and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings, involving the supply of a comprehensive suite of core mining equipment valued over US$110 million, including over 34 units of 230-ton mining trucks and over dozens of large mining graders with 350 and 550 horsepower, ancillary equipment and large production loaders and excavators. "This marks a new beginning of high-level friendly cooperation between XCMG and Rio Tinto and further demonstrates our leading technology and innovation capabilities in the field of heavy mining equipment." Liu Jiansen, Vice President of XCMG Machinery, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration. "Over the years, XCMG and Rio Tinto have developed a deep friendship through cooperation. We are honored to provide high-quality large-scale complete sets of mining equipment for the Simandou project in West Africa. We thank Rio Tinto for their trust," The statement of work for the mining project on-site, joining forces to assist in the mining of the Simandou project, is expected to have substantial positive impacts on local communities by creating jobs and enhancing technical skills among residents. Both companies are committed to investing in vocational training programs that will aid community development around the mining area. Located in the southeast of the Republic of Guinea, the Simandou mountain range is home to some of the highest-grade iron ore in the world, globally making it highly significant within international mineral markets. "Following a competitive tender process, we are pleased to award the HME contract to internationally renowned XCMG," said Chris Aitchison, Managing Director of SimFer. "This contract-with its robust provisions for community development and technical training-reflects our project partners' commitments to maximizing the benefits of the Simandou project through local content, prioritization of local employment and upskilling, and investment in vocational and technical skills." "The Simandou project can be a key driver of growth in Guinea - catalyzing a new wave of investment, building the country's entrepreneurial fabric and supporting development across the country. Through the promotion of local content and investment in local communities-both of which are embedded in this contract award-we can unlock the project's full transformative potential." said Aboubacar Koulibaly, Head of Rio Tinto Guinee. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486687/XCMG.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/xcmg-and-rio-tinto-forge-new-partnership-for-world-class-simandou-iron-ore-project-302227464.html A Celebrated Figure in Contemporary Sculpture SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / MIRAME Fine Art turns the spotlight on Edgar Zuniga Jimenez, an influential name in Costa Rican contemporary sculpture. Renowned for his large-scale and thought-provoking sculptures, Zuniga Jimenez continues to gain critical attention on national and international stages, reflecting his impact on the art world. https://miramefineart.com/artists/ Edgar Zuniga Jimenez, Nuevo Paradigma Sculpture in San Jose National Park MIRAME Fine Art proudly supports Edgar Zuniga Jimenez as the premier online Costa Rican art gallery dedicated to promoting the nation's finest artists. A Global Artistic Journey With a career that spans continents and decades, Edgar Zuniga Jimenez has established an impressive presence in the global art landscape. His sculptures and paintings are featured in prestigious collections across a diverse array of countries, including the United States, Mexico, Korea, Thailand, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Paraguay, Vatican City, Argentina, and Japan. This extensive reach underscores his significant influence and the universal appeal of his work. Exploring Human Dynamics Through Sculpture Zuniga Jimenez's sculpture explores the complexities of human experience and societal structures. His signature sculptures often juxtapose human figures with columns, symbolizing the tension between personal agency and social constructs. This exploration invites viewers to engage in a dialogue about transformation, resistance, and ethical reflection. Recent works by Zuniga Jimenez include large-scale, tall abstract sculptures that are ideally suited for outdoor environments. Pieces such as "Machu Picchu" and "Paisaje Nocturno" (Night Landscape) demonstrate his skill in blending Latin American cultural themes with contemporary sculptural forms. If you're in San Jose, don't miss his public installation at Parque Nacional, where three figures emerge from the ground in various stages, as if crawling into the park. One figure is partially buried up to the shoulders, while the final figure has only his feet submerged. This evocative sculpture not only symbolizes resilience and renewal but also underscores Zuniga Jimenez's prominent status in Costa Rica's art scene. A Commitment to Art in the Community Zuniga Jimenez is an active advocate for the arts. His involvement in various associations, symposiums, and conferences has made a significant impact on the art community, both within Costa Rica and abroad. His role as a jury member for international art competitions and biennials further emphasizes his influence in the global art scene. Zuniga Jimenez's work has been the subject of numerous documentaries, publications, and books, highlighting the depth of his artistic vision. His commitment to addressing personal and societal themes through sculpture continues to resonate, making him a pivotal figure in contemporary sculpture, within Costa Rica as well as Central and Latin America. Discover the Art of Edgar Zuniga Jimenez MIRAME Fine Art invites art lovers to explore the legacy of Edgar Zuniga Jimenez. His contributions to contemporary sculpture offer a compelling perspective on Costa Rican art and its dialogue with global trends. Contact Information Belinda Seppings Co-Founder belinda@miramefineart.com +447821591397 SOURCE: MIRAME Fine Art View the original press release on newswire.com. -- Laser Thermal, a leading instrument and service provider of small-scale thermal property measurements, is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a contract from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for its thermal conductivity tool Steady State Thermoreflectance in Fiber, SSTR-F. The CHIPS Metrology Program emphasizes measurements that are accurate, precise, and fit-for-purpose for the production of microelectronic materials, devices, circuits, and systems. The work will leverage NIST's proven measurement science expertise, foundational communications and computing research capabilities, standards development contributions, and stakeholder engagement practices to address the highest priority metrology challenges identified across industry, academia, and government agencies. The CHIPS Metrology Program aligns its research and development portfolios based on the identified metrology needs of the seven grand challenges: Metrology for Materials Purity, Properties, and Provenance Advanced Metrology for Future Microelectronics Manufacturing Enabling Metrology for Integrating Components in Advanced Packaging Modeling and Simulating Semiconductor Materials, Designs, and Components ??????????????Modeling and Simulating Semiconductor Manufacturing Processes Standardizing New Materials, Processes, and Equipment for Microelectronics Metrology to Enhance Security and Provenance of Microelectronic-based Components and Products Laser Thermal's SSTR-F will enable NIST to measure the thermal conductivity of thin films, interfaces, and bulk materials that are used in wide bandgap power electronics devices, packaging materials, and integrated chip components. The optical measurement technique is non-contact, non-destructive, spatially resolved, and can provide unique information about the thermal properties of thin film and multilayer material structures. SSTR-F represents the first commercially available tool that focuses on measurements at these length scales that traditionally have been difficult to obtain outside of academic lab settings. John Gaskins, co-founder and CEO of Laser Thermal explains, "While thermoreflectance is a powerful measurement technique, these tools are traditionally homemade, requiring dedicated and experienced staff to design, operate, and maintain. Laser Thermal is the first company to commercialize a thermoreflectance instrument based on our patented Steady-State Thermoreflectance in Fiber (SSTR-F) technology enabling direct measurements of thermal conductivity and thermal resistance. We are thrilled to work with NIST to help lead the advancement of metrology for microelectronics manufacturing, including helping make strides toward the standardization of reference materials, which are currently unavailable for thin films used in microelectronics applications." As NIST builds out capabilities in its thermal metrology program, SSTR-F will serve as an important tool as it continues to validate and improve emergent methods related to thermal measurements. These measurements will contribute to the goal of providing data, protocols, and reference standards that will guide the ongoing product and R&D roadmaps in the semiconductor industry related to thermal mitigation. There has been an increased emphasis on thermally focused design aspects as power handling and the need to dissipate heat continues to scale with power hungry applications such as AI and large-scale data centers. About Laser Thermal: Founded in 2020, Laser Thermal is a Charlottesville, Virginia-based company providing accessible thermal measurements of materials primarily focusing on thin films. Laser Thermal designs and manufactures thermal metrology equipment that can measure thermal properties down to nanometer scales. Utilizing optical techniques, Laser Thermal provides simple, accurate, and rapid measurements of the thermal properties of materials. Laser Thermal offers contract testing and tool sales to best serve customer needs. For media inquiries, please contact: Ron Fisher VP of Sales and Business Development www.laserthermal.com Ron.Fisher@laserthermal.com +1-330-842-4864 Laser Thermal 937 2nd St. SE Charlottesville, VA 22902 SOURCE: Laser Thermal WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / Erika Jayne Design + Build is proud to announce that their innovative kitchen remodel has been featured in House Beautiful. The article, "See How This Designer Made the Weirdest Kitchen Layout Work," by Kate McGregor, showcases their creative approach to tackling challenging design problems and delivering stunning results. Erika Jayne Design & Build Kitchen Remodel The project spotlighted is a 1956 home in Silver Spring, Maryland, with a uniquely challenging kitchen layout that includes a descending staircase right in the middle. Erika Jayne Chaudhuri, the founder and principal designer of Erika Jayne Design + Build, rose to the challenge by focusing on integration. Instead of boarding up the staircase, her team replaced two of the three half walls surrounding the stairs with an open wood railing, opening up the kitchen into an adjacent hallway and expanding the usable square footage. Erika Jayne Chaudhuri expressed her excitement about the feature: "Being recognized by House Beautiful is an incredible honor. This project was a true testament to our team's ability to think outside the box and deliver solutions that are both beautiful and functional. We love transforming challenging spaces into something our clients can truly enjoy." Erika Jayne Design + Build redefines residential remodeling with a commitment to thoughtful collaboration, architectural precision, and construction excellence. The team provides a hands-on approach, guiding clients with meticulous care from the initial design sketch to the final construction. The company upholds the highest standards of communication, detail-focused design, and rigorous project management to ensure that the home's transformation is not only completed to perfection but also resonates with the client's personal sense of sanctuary. Erika Jayne Design + Build are honored to be recognized by House Beautiful and excited to share their passion for innovative and practical design solutions with a wider audience. For more information about Erika Jayne Design + Build and to view the feature in House Beautiful, please visit House Beautiful. Contact: Erika Jayne Design + Build Website: www.erikajaynedesign.com Contact Information Susan PR 2406210060 SOURCE: Erika Jayne Design + Build View the original press release on accesswire.com SAN JOSE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / DuploCloud, the industry pioneer for DevOps automation with built-in compliance, today announced its sponsorship of the ELC Annual 2024 Conference, held from August 27-28 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. This exclusive event is designed to provide a refreshing departure from traditional conference formats, placing emphasis on dialogue, collaboration, and personal growth for the industry's leading engineers. DuploCloud Logo DuploCloud Logo As part of the conference, DuploCloud's Founder and CEO, Venkat Thiruvengadam, will be featured on a panel titled "AI and DevOps: The Future of Intelligent Automation," alongside Ajay Gulati, CEO and Co-founder of Kitecyber. This session will delve into how AI is revolutionizing DevOps processes, enabling organizations to achieve unprecedented levels of automation, efficiency, and compliance. Attendees of the ELC Annual 2024 Conference are invited to join DuploCloud's session and explore the cutting-edge capabilities of its DevOps Automation platform. Discover how DuploCloud is leading the way in making DevOps and Infrastructure-as-Code accessible for all developers through its low-code/no-code approach, empowering organizations to streamline operations while maintaining stringent security and compliance standards. To schedule a meeting with DuploCloud at either of these events or to learn more about their industry-leading DevOps automation solutions, visit https://duplocloud.com/company/contact-us/. About DuploCloud DuploCloud is the industry's only low-code/no-code DevOps Automation platform, designed to make DevOps and Infrastructure-as-Code accessible for all developers. Founded by the original engineers from Microsoft Azure and AWS, our software platform puts DevOps on autopilot, virtually eliminating the need for DevOps hiring and is tailor-made to empower developer self-service across growing startups, SMBs, and platform engineering teams. The DuploCloud platform translates high-level application specifications into meticulously managed cloud configurations, allowing organizations to streamline operations while maintaining rigorous security, availability, and compliance standards. Investors of the company include WestBridge Capital, StepStone Group, Mayfield and Monta Vista Capital. Learn more at https://duplocloud.com/. Contact Information Kate Pietrelli PR kate@pathadvisors.co 760-518-2633 SOURCE: DuploCloud View the original press release on newswire.com. Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment sparks clinical competency and thinking skills of nursing students Wolters Kluwer Health continues to bridge the academic-to-practice readiness gap for nurses with the introduction of Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment. The innovative tool enhances nursing education by integrating realistic, brief, and complex patient scenarios, thereby fostering clinical competency and critical thinking in nursing students. This is the latest solution to be added to the Lippincott Partnership for Nursing Education and Testing family of offerings for pre-licensure nursing education programs. "Case-based learning is vital in establishing connections between theoretical knowledge and real life practice, which will empower nursing students to become more clinically confident and ultimately improve patient safety," said Julie Stegman, Vice President, Wolters Kluwer Health Learning Practice. "These tools introduce students to a variety of diverse and multifactorial patients that they will encounter in practice not only helping ready students for the NCLEX, but also better preparing early career nurses to meet the demands of the field." Easy integration into class curriculum Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment is purpose built to develop the clinical judgment mindset of students, while making it easy for educators to assign practice with realistic patient cases. Intended for cross-curricular applications in every course area, the offering allows faculty to add engaging competency-based learning strategies to classes for clinical reasoning skill training. Nurse educators can expand students' exposure to clinical reasoning through frequent practice of patient-centered care activities that stimulate critical thinking, enabling students to safely navigate the complexities of diverse patient situations. Additionally, the solution integrates with most campus Learning Management Systems (LMSs) and is assignable with other Lippincott products in one platform for instructors and students. "Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment shifts the focus from abstract concepts and conditions to real-world patient scenarios that reflect the complexity of modern nursing, highlighting the importance of providing compassionate, safe, and high-quality care for patients," said Amy Walker, PHD, RN, Professor at Seattle University's School of Nursing. "Our students love it because it helps them understand the learning material and different aspects of their future nursing role better. The offering is a gamechanger for bridging the nurse education-practice gap and improving new graduates' practice readiness and clinical reasoning skills." Building clinical competence and confidence of nursing students Boasting an extensive collection of over 300 patient scenarios across 17 hospital units and more than 2,700 Next-Generation National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) style questions based on nurse educators' experiences, Lippincott Client Cases for Clinical Judgment broadens students' exposure to complex patient care scenarios that go beyond a single-disease condition. Case-based learning in nursing education provides a solid foundation for action-oriented learning methods found in virtual or screen-based simulations ultimately supporting competency-based education and preparing early career nurses to meet the demands of the field. Students will also use an evolving EHR tool within these cases to enhance the real-life experience and knowledge application needed when transitioning to patient care. Nurse educators can leverage the solution to expand their students' experiences in clinical practice situations while also building a learning remediation strategy with feedback and rationales. For more information about Wolters Kluwer, please visit: www.wolterskluwer.com About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2023 annual revenues of 5.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,400 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821139029/en/ Contacts: Josh DeStefano Manager, External Communications Wolters Kluwer Health +1 (917) 408-5125 joshua.destefano@wolterskluwer.com Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid), a business of Cassava Technologies, a leading technology group, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with American connectivity innovator Globalstar to deliver advanced 5G connectivity solutions across Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf. Strive Masiyiwa, founder and Chairman of Liquid Intelligent Technologies said, "I'm really excited by the connectivity solutions now emerging from breakthroughs in 5G private networks technologies. With this technology we are now able to provide services to large businesses like mines with their own 5G private networks that can also enable NextGen services like AI; this is huge." The partnership will provide Liquid with exclusive rights in the Gulf, Middle East and Africa regions to sell and distribute Globalstar's XCOM RAN private networks 5G access solution. This innovative technology that enhances the 5G experience also supports AI-driven applications, and is set to revolutionise the mining industry in Africa and high-end markets in the Middle East and Gulf regions. "We look forward to the opportunities this exclusive partnership with Globalstar will unfold for our existing and potential customers in these sectors. Globalstar's unique 5G enterprise solution will enable us to provide unparalleled connectivity to our customers on the continent, aligning with our ambition of becoming a leading technology company of African heritage, empowering businesses and communities with the reliable and high-speed internet access needed to thrive in the digital age," said Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava Technologies. Liquid will provide comprehensive customer support for Globalstar's products and services, including technical support and warranty services. The collaboration also includes potential expansion to Globalstar's satellite, Band n53 spectrum and IoT solutions on a non-exclusive basis. "Globalstar is pleased to join in partnership with Cassava and Liquid, a group of well-respected leaders with a sharp focus on technology deployments," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar. "The regions where Liquid is a leader are large and growing markets for our technologies which enable safe automation and remote control of mobile equipment in high value environments. Our 5G XCOM RAN product fundamentally differs from traditional wireless solutions and enables mission critical high performance wireless applications. Combining XCOM RAN with the globally licensed Globalstar n53 midband spectrum, creates a very unique offering for private and enterprise 5G networks. Together, Liquid and Globalstar will accelerate advanced wireless technology deployments in Africa, Middle East and Gulf regions." The partnership between Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Globalstar is yet another achievement, reiterating Liquid's commitment to partnering with global organisations that share the aim to foster progress and innovation through connectivity for businesses and individuals on the African continent and beyond. About Liquid Intelligent Technologies Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a technology company of African heritage with operations in 40-plus markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the Cassava group companies operate. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure with a 110,000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa. Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent. For more information, visit https://www.liquid.tech/. About Globalstar Globalstar empowers its customers to connect, transmit, and communicate in smarter ways easily, quickly, securely, and affordably offering reliable satellite and terrestrial connectivity services as an international telecom infrastructure provider. The Company's LEO satellite constellation assures secure data transmission for connecting and protecting assets, transmitting critical operational data, and saving lives for consumers, businesses, and government agencies across the globe. Globalstar's terrestrial spectrum, Band 53, and its 5G variant, n53, offer carriers, cable companies, and system integrators a versatile, fully licensed channel for private networks with a growing ecosystem to improve customer wireless connectivity, while Globalstar's XCOM RAN product offers significant capacity gains in dense wireless deployments. In addition to SPOT GPS messengers, Globalstar offers next-generation IoT hardware and software products for efficiently tracking and monitoring assets, processing smart data at the edge, and managing analytics with cloud-based telematics solutions to drive safety, productivity, and profitability. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240815373034/en/ Contacts: Alisa Moloney alisa.moloney@globalstar.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. Leading identity management firm hires Gooch to help transform organizations from their legacy identity solutions to Saviynt's innovative, secure, intelligent digital identity governance platform Saviynt, a leading provider of cloud-native identity and governance platform solutions, today announced that IT transformation and Security Services industry leader Simon Gooch has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Expert Services. Simon most recently served as Global Digital Identity Lead and Director of Security for CIO at Accenture. Over a 25+ year career at Accenture, Simon led key IT digital transformation projects for the company, including transforming its internal security architecture from a legacy, reactive on-prem approach to a dynamic cloud first, service oriented model with a focus on identity, access and data governance. Simon helped the company ensure the delivery of effective internal security and identity projects even as the company grew dramatically over his career. With his direct experience in large scale digital transformation projects, Simon also worked closely with many of Accenture's customers. "We are thrilled to strengthen our leadership team with the addition of Simon, one of the industry's most respected and highly-regarded IT and security visionaries," said Paul Zolfaghari, President at Saviynt. "He brings deep experience from one of the world's largest organizations to Saviynt where our customers will benefit from his strategic, future-focused perspective and vast knowledge. We are looking forward to making Simon's unique, exceptional expertise available to Saviynt's customers." In his role as Senior Vice President of Expert Services, Simon will be responsible for ensuring that existing customers realize the full benefit of Saviynt's identity management platform. Simon will also work with new companies who are considering an identity modernization initiative, showing them the achievable path to realize the value of this transformation with Saviynt's solutions. "As I start my journey at Saviynt, I have reflected on how this pivotal stage in my career aligns with what I see as an equally pivotal evolutionary stage in cybersecurity. I believe emphatically that only by truly making identity the fabric that binds, protects and enables all technology can you look to securely and effectively transform businesses," said Simon. "I am excited to be joining an organization that not only has the desire to play a key role in shaping this next evolutionary stage but has brought together a team of people whose passion, expertise and experience will set the blueprint for an innovative and successful future." Simon was instrumental in securing the technology that runs Accenture's business a critical role in a $150 billion global company with 780,000 people in 120+ countries and more than 400 office locations. Reporting to Accenture's CIO and working directly with Accenture's CISO, Simon had overall responsibility for the enablement of Accenture's digital identity vision, from strategy to implementation and running of all Identity and Access Management services. About Saviynt Saviynt empowers enterprises to secure their digital transformation, safeguard critical assets, and meet regulatory compliance. With a vision to provide a secure and compliant future for all enterprises, Saviynt is recognized as an industry leader in identity security whose cutting-edge solutions protect the world's leading brands, Fortune 500 companies and government organizations. For more information, please visit www.saviynt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821672500/en/ Contacts: Jacklyn Kellick jacklyn.kellick@saviynt.com CHICAGO, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autonomous Driving Software Market is projected to grow from USD 1.8 billion in 2024 to USD 7.0 billion in 2035, at a CAGR of 13.3%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. As automakers and technology companies plan to launch self-driving cars, demand for driving software solutions is likely to rise due to increasing investment in ADAS/AD technologies by OEMs and technology providers. The demand for L2+ vehicles is also growing. Rapid advancements in AI and sensor technologies, along with rising consumer interest in ADAS for improved safety, are expected to drive the demand for autonomous driving software in L2+ vehicles. Further, the shift to software-first architecture and technology sharing between leading OEMs and Tech Companies is also speeding up the shift to higher levels of Autonomy. For such developments, automotive software is being developed for applications such as perception & planning software, chauffeur software, interior sensing software, and supervision/monitoring software. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=247907500 Browse in-depth TOC on "Autonomous Driving Software Market" 240 - Tables 110 - Figures 360 - Pages Autonomous Driving Software Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 USD 1.8 billion Estimated Value by 2030 USD 7.0 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.3% Market Size Available for 2020-2035 Forecast Period 2024-2035 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Level of Autonomy, Vehicle Type, Propulsion, Software Type, and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Advancement in autonomous commercial vehicle technology Key Market Drivers Increasing advancements in ADAS technology Passenger car segment is estimated to hold the largest share during the forecast period. With increasing demand for safer and more comfortable vehicles, the passenger car segment will likely be the largest autonomous driving software market. This will further get impacted by growing demand for luxury vehicles. As per industry experts, by 2030, around 14-18% of the current L2 vehicle market share will be led by L2+ among passenger cars. Government mandate for safety features in passenger vehicles will also drive the market. For example, the EU expanded the scope of required ADAS technology to include Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA) in newer vehicles beginning in 2022 and extending to existing models in 2024. This law compels automakers to provide the aforementioned ADAS technologies in the region. Similarly, South Korea has mandated AEB and LDW systems for all new passenger vehicles since 2019. Furthermore, in May 2024, the UK government enacted the Automated Vehicle Act 2024, which encourages the use of automated vehicles and authorizes the commercialization of self-driving vehicles on British roads beginning in 2026. Several automakers, including Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Audi, are investigating advanced autonomous applications for their passenger vehicles. Companies are forming partnerships and investing considerably in autonomous driving software technology. For example, in February 2024, OXA launched Oxa Driver, its first commercial self-driving software, in passenger autonomous car shuttles in Jacksonville, Florida. Similarly, in February 2024, Pony.ai received approval for fully unmanned passenger testing of Autonomous GAC Toyota Sienna in Beijing, which allows the vehicle to conduct demonstrations of autonomous driving capabilities, available for user hailing through the PonyPilot+ app, concurrently in Beijing and Guangzhou. Electric propulsion segment is estimated to hold the largest share in the autonomous driving software market during the forecast period. Electric propulsion segment is estimated to hold the largest share in the autonomous driving software market during the forecast period. It is easier of EVs to incorporate ADAS systems, due to less mechanical systems and presence of central processing. These vehicles will be equipped with a variety of sensors, processors, and control systems that help the vehicle to navigate, recognize obstacles, and interact with other vehicles and people. With this technology, vehicles can be programmed to follow predetermined paths and make decisions based on their surroundings. Autonomous EVs can be used in a variety of applications, including delivery, commodity transportation, ride-sharing, and even military operations. The demand for an emission-free transportation option has prompted car OEMs all over the world to shift their focus to EVs. Many countries in the world are introducing emission and safety regulations. This is expected to improve road safety and reduce emissions. Many global OEMs, such as Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Audi, are looking forward to developing and manufacturing their L2+, L3 and L4 vehicles with electric propulsion. Several OEMs and autonomous driving software suppliers are actively investing in and developing EV autonomous vehicle technology. For example, in September 2023, Mobileye (Israel) partnered with Smart Europe GmbH (Germany). Smart's next special edition EV will include a Navigation Smart Pilot (NSP) and enhanced driving assistance features based on Mobileye SuperVision. It will also have Smart Pilot Assist 2.0. "North America is expected to have a significant share in the autonomous driving software market by 2035." The autonomous driving software market in North America is projected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to the growing demand for autonomous vehicles in the region. Domestic OEMs, such as Ford, GM, and Tesla, along with European and Asian OEMs, such as Toyota (Japan), Nissan (Japan), Hyundai (South Korea), BMW (Germany), and Volkswagen (Germany) already offer L2+ vehicles in the region. Some leading companies are also providing L3 Autonomous vehicles in the region. Mercedes-Benz, for instance, provides S-Class and EQS SUV L3 vehicles in US and Canada. Similarly, BMW provides its 7 Series with L3 autonomy. Autonomous driving software demand in L2+ vehicles in the region is likely to be driven by increased government legislation, which demands the use of sophisticated safety features in vehicles, as well as consumer knowledge and acceptance of autonomous driving. The rise of Al, cloud solutions, and machine learning is set to increase the need for autonomous driving software. With more automotive companies, tech firms, and suppliers joining forces, this demand is expected to grow in the region. The presence of leading automotive software providers, such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Waymo LLC and BlackBerry Limited, among others in the region will also drive the demand for software for autonomous vehicles. These companies contribute to the development of innovative software solutions and systems for self-driving vehicles. For example, Alphabet (US) said in July 2024 that it intends to invest USD 5 billion in Waymo, its autonomous vehicle company, over the next several years. This investment will allow Waymo to continue its expansion as a leading autonomous driving technology company. The US is anticipated to be the region's main market, with strong demand in California, where self-driving cars have been tested for years. Canada will also have a big market, with increased demand for premium vehicles and more concern about road safety. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=247907500 Autonomous Driving Software Market Dynamics: Drivers: Increasing advancements in ADAS technology Restraints: Lack of standardization in software architecture and hardware platforms Opportunities: Advancement in autonomous commercial vehicle technology Challenge: Compatibility and integration challenges in hardware and software components Key Market Players Autonomous Driving Software Market Industry: Prominent players in the Autonomous Driving Software Market include as Mobileye (Israel), NVIDIA Corporation (US), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (US), Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd (China), and Aurora Innovation Inc. (US). The break-down of primary participants is as mentioned below: By Company Type: OEMs - 24%, Tier I - 67%, and Tier II - 9%, OEMs - 24%, Tier I - 67%, and Tier II - 9%, By Designation: C- Level Executives - 33%, Directors - 52%, and Others - 15% C- Level Executives - 33%, Directors - 52%, and Others - 15% By Region: North America - 26%, Europe - 36%, and Asia Pacific - 38% Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=247907500 Autonomous Driving Software Industry Recent Developments: In July 2024, IVECO, part of the Iveco Group, together with PlusAI, dm-drogerie markt, and DSV, announced the launch of a semi-automated truck pilot in Germany. After several months of rigorous testing and validation, the pilot would utilize a new production-ready IVECO S-Way heavy-duty truck design, featuring PlusAI's driver-supervised highly automated driving software, PlusDrive. In June 2024, Rivian (US) and Volkswagen Group (Germany) announced plans for a joint venture to develop advanced vehicle software technology. Volkswagen Group would initially invest USD 1 billion in Rivian, with plans to invest up to an additional USD 4 billion. In June 2024, formerly called P3 Mobility, Verne (Croatia) collaborated with Mobileye (Israel) to launch its autonomous vehicle. The advanced Mobileye Drive AD platform would be integrated into the specially designed Verne vehicle. Autonomous Driving Software Market Size - Key Benefits of Buying the Report: The report will help market leaders/new entrants with information on the closest approximations of revenue numbers for the overall autonomous driving software market and its subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the market pulse and provides information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. The report also helps stakeholders understand the current and future pricing trends of autonomous driving software. This report provides insights on: Analysis of key drivers (Increasing development and adoption of autonomous vehicles, Growing adherence to safety regulations for vehicles worldwide, Increasing advancements in ADAS technology, Integration of 5G technology for vehicle connectivity), restraints (Data privacy concerns, Lack of standardization in software architecture and hardware platforms), opportunities (Rising demand for safer and sustainable transportation solutions, Increasing adoption of ADAS in modern vehicles, Growing deployment of sensor fusion in automotive, Advancement in autonomous commercial vehicle technology), and challenges (High operational cost of cybersecurity measures, Compatibility and integration challenges in hardware and software components). (Increasing development and adoption of autonomous vehicles, Growing adherence to safety regulations for vehicles worldwide, Increasing advancements in ADAS technology, Integration of 5G technology for vehicle connectivity), restraints (Data privacy concerns, Lack of standardization in software architecture and hardware platforms), opportunities (Rising demand for safer and sustainable transportation solutions, Increasing adoption of ADAS in modern vehicles, Growing deployment of sensor fusion in automotive, Advancement in autonomous commercial vehicle technology), and challenges (High operational cost of cybersecurity measures, Compatibility and integration challenges in hardware and software components). Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the autonomous driving software market. Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the autonomous driving software market. Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the autonomous driving software market across varied regions. Comprehensive information about lucrative markets - the report analyses the autonomous driving software market across varied regions. Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the autonomous driving software market. Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the autonomous driving software market. Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market ranking, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players like Mobileye (Israel), NVIDIA Corporation (US), Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (US), Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd (China), and Aurora Innovation Inc. (US) among others in autonomous driving software market. Related Reports: Autonomous / Self-Driving Cars Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Connected Car Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Autonomous Forklift Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Automotive V2X Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Get access to the latest updates on Autonomous Driving Software Companies and Autonomous Driving Software Industry Growth 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 Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/autonomous-driving-software-market-worth-7-0-billion-in-2035--marketsandmarkets-302227266.html Growing production of vehicles and rising vehicle maintenance requirements are the two significant drivers boosting the growth of the global automotive kingpin market. PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Automotive Kingpin Market by Product Type (Kits and Individual Parts), Vehicle Type (Light Commercial Vehicle, Heavy Commercial Vehicle and Off-Road Vehicle) and Sales Channel (OEM and Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2024-2033".According to the report, the automotive kingpin market was valued at $3.3 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $5.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2033. Prime determinants of growth Surge in production of vehicles and increase in vehicle maintenance requirements are the two primary factors driving the growth of the global automotive kingpin market. However, increase in focus on lightweight automotive component acts as the key restraining factor of the automotive kingpin market. On the contrary, high investment during manufacturing and threat from alternatives are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the automotive kingpin market during the forecast period. Request Sample of the Report on Automotive Kingpin Market Forecast 2033: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/A323776 Report coverage & details Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $3.3 Billion Market Size in 2033 $5.9 Billion CAGR 6.2 % No. of Pages in Report 250 Segments Covered Product type, vehicle type, sales channel, and region Drivers Surge in production of vehicle Rise in vehicle maintenance requirements Opportunities High investment during manufacturing Threat from alternatives Restraint Increase in focus on lightweight automotive components Procure Complete Report (250 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/automotive-kingpin-market-A323776 Segment Highlights By product type, the kits segment dominated the automotive kingpin market in 2023. This is attributed to the fact that kits provide a convenient solution for vehicle owners and mechanics by bundling all necessary components together for a specific repair and maintenance task. This convenience is particularly appealing in the aftermarket segment where time and ease of installation are crucial. Meanwhile, the individual parts segment is expected to grow at an increasing rate in the automotive kingpin market. This is due to the fact that some customers prefer the flexibility of purchasing individual kingpin components separately, allowing for customization based on specific vehicle requirements, preferences, and budget constraints. By vehicle type, the heavy commercial vehicle segment dominated the automotive kingpin market in 2023, as the demand for high-quality kingpins is higher among heavy commercial vehicles. Infrastructure development projects, industrial activities, and the expansion of logistics and transportation sectors are driving the demand for heavy commercial vehicles and, consequently, automotive kingpins. Meanwhile, the light commercial vehicle segment is expected to grow at an increasing rate, due to rapid e-commerce growth, growing urbanization, and rising last-mile delivery services. By sales channel, the OEM segment dominated the automotive kingpin market in 2023 due to increasing vehicle production and integration of advanced technologies. Meanwhile, the aftermarket segment is expected to grow at a significant rate in the automotive kingpin market, due to the increasing aging of vehicles and growing preference for high-quality replacement parts. Regional Outlook Region wise, Asia-Pacific region dominated the automotive kingpin market in 2023 due to the highest production of vehicles in the region. Meanwhile, North America region is expected to grow at a significant rate in the future due to the increasing sales of commercial vehicles in the region. To Talk With Our Industry Expert @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/A323776 Key Market Players Bosch (Germany) Continental SA (Germany) Valeo SA (France) ACDelco (U.S.) Michelin Group (France) Meritor Inc. (U.S.) Dana Limited (U.S.) PE Automotive (Germany) JG Automotive (Spain) Elgin Industries (U.S.) Diesel Technic SE (Germany) Belton Group (UK) Stemco Products Inc. (U.S.) Mulberry Fabrications Limited (UK) Schaffler Technologies (Germany) Ferdinand Bilstein GmBh (Germany) Lema Srl (Italy) GKN Automotive (UK) Thyssenkrupp AG (Germany) SKF Group (Sweden) NSK Ltd. (Japan) NTN Corporation (Japan) Hitachi Automotive Systems (Japan) Hyundai Wia (South Korea) Mando Corporation (South Korea) SAIC Motor (China) Nexxiot AG (Switzerland) Stemco (U.S.) The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global automotive kingpin market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launch, and collaboration to increase their market share in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Recent Developments In December 2021, Eurowagon, a polish based railway car pool company, collaborated with Nexxiot, a trade tech company, and launched safety digital products and services. Eurowagon and Nexxiot have extended their cooperation by moving to equip Eurowagon's fleet with the latest Kingpin sensors, which monitor the loading of semi-trailers onto pocket rail wagons. Nexxiot's Kingpin Monitor hardware offer new standards in safety and process automation to different asset types. In April 2021, Dana Inc. launched the new ultimate dana kingpin knuckle kits in conjuction with the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The kits include all of the top-quality components required to install a kingpin assembly for more robust off-road performance on Jeep vehicles. The solution is a time-saving alternative to searching and ordering each component individually. The kits feature an updated knuckle design that delivers added strength to the axle while improving turning radius and steering. Available for Jeep JK, JL, and JT models, the ultimate dana kingpin knuckle kits are the newest addition to the dana builder axle program. In 2024, Diesel Technic SE, a company based in Germany, launched a new automotive kingpin solution. This product is part of the DT Spare Parts brand and includes a comprehensive kingpin kit designed for commercial vehicles. The kit is built to meet high-quality standards, ensuring durability and reliability for heavy-duty applications. In 2024, Stemco Produts Inc., launched Qwitkit kingpin kit solution. The solution launched no-ream steel bushings and pins. These components are designed to provide optimal lubrication to high-wear areas and hold significantly more grease than standard sets, extending the lifespan of the kingpin. The QwikKit King Pin helps in rapid installations compared to traditional original equipment (OE) and aftermarket king pins, reducing shop time and maintenance costs. Browse More Trending Reports Reverse Logistics Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report, by Return Type, by End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Agricultural Tractors Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report by Power Output, by Drive Type, by Propulsion, by Operation: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Agriculture Supply Chain Management Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report by Component, by Solution Type, by Deployment Model: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Japan Bus HVAC Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report by Type, by Vehicle Type, by Sales Channel, by Input: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Automotive Keyless Entry System Market Size, Share, Competitive Landscape and Trend Analysis Report by Sales Channel, by Vehicle Type, by Product Type, by Device, by Technology: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com AMR Resource Center: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/resource-center Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/automotive-kingpin-market-to-reach-5-9-billion-globally-by-2033-at-6-2-cagr-allied-market-research-302227398.html Tradeshift's solution has unequivocally demonstrated its compliance with the requirements outlined in France's upcoming e-invoicing mandate, which will come into effect in 2026. Paris, France, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tradeshift today announces that it has achieved PDP (Plateforme de dematerialisation partenaire) registered status from the French Government. As one of the select few providers to achieve this significant milestone, Tradeshift's solution has unequivocally demonstrated its compliance with the requirements outlined in France's upcoming e-invoicing mandate, which will come into effect in 2026. PDPs are the official partners of the French authorities trusted to facilitate the exchange of documents and report on those transactions to the PPF. Around half of all businesses with more than 250 employees are expected to use a PDP to comply with the French Government's e-invoicing mandate. As one of the first wave of technology providers to gain PDP registered status, Tradeshift will participate in a large-scale pilot phase run by the French government in 2025. Tradeshift has teamed up with two of its most prestigious French customers to take part in the pilot programme. "This is the announcement that large organizations have been waiting for," said Raphael Bres, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Tradeshift. "Businesses with a footprint in France face a relatively short window to implement systems supporting the new mandate. They're understandably eager to move ahead with partner selection and can now do so with confidence. For Tradeshift customers, registered status means compliance in France is a giant step closer." The introduction of mandatory e-invoicing in France is part of a global trend. Over 80 countries worldwide have e-invoicing and clearance mandates, and 50 have announced their intention to impose new or additional mandates. The core goal is to reduce the VAT gap - the shortfall between theoretical and actual tax revenue - which currently costs the French government 13 billion annually. However, the lack of a common set of standards means businesses face a complex and often confusing matrix of requirements to which they must adhere. "What's happening in France is happening all over the world," added Bres. "We encourage every business with an international footprint to step back and see the bigger picture. Every PDP will be able to help businesses stay compliant in France. Few, if any, can match Tradeshift's global compliance capabilities. "Viewed strategically, and with a partner like Tradeshift, the French mandate can be a catalyst to transform business processes across your entire organization, yielding enormous benefits in terms of cost-savings, efficiency and business agility." Tradeshift currently supports e-invoicing in 71 countries and 10 Clearance Countries. Notably, it was the first Western company to support Chinese Fapio invoices transmitted via the Golden Tax System. Its flexible platform can adapt to any clearance needs mandated by local government and is part of Tradeshift's commitment to ensuring that achieving global compliance remains business as usual for every customer, wherever they do business. -ENDS- About Tradeshift Tradeshift is the business e-commerce and fintech platform that redefines how B2B buyers and suppliers connect, trade and grow. The Tradeshift network connects over a million companies, enabling them to transact seamlessly and digitally with customers and suppliers anywhere in the world. Our unique blend of e-invoicing, marketplace commerce and embedded fintech services gives businesses the tools to streamline finance and procurement processes, access new markets, source new suppliers, and optimise working capital to suit their needs. All in one place. Find out more at: Tradeshift.com . Attachment Detroit, MI - [21/08/2024] - A2MAC1 is thrilled to announce the relocation of its North America Headquarter to Newlab, located within the Michigan Central Station Innovation District, effective September 2, 2024. Since 2003, A2MAC1 has been at the forefront of automotive innovation in North America. In 2019, we expanded our Americas operations by opening a facility in Queretaro, Mexico, driven by the automotive industry's growth, led by Detroit. Now, with Detroit's resurgence as a global leader in mobility, we are proud to bring our sales operations to the heart of the city, contributing to Michigan's dynamic growth. Situated in Detroit's historic Corktown neighborhood, Newlab is an esteemed innovation hub housed in the newly renovated Book Depository building. Since its inception in April 2023, Newlab has spearheaded advancements in mobility and energy technologies. It's already home to over 100 companies advancing mobility and new energy technologies, ranging from established industry leaders to cutting-edge startups, who are pioneering innovations in critical areas such as climate tech and sustainable transportation. This fits well with the culture & service offerings of A2MAC1 as we continue to be a leader in mobility technology. "We are excited to establish our Americas headquarter in Detroit and to become part of the vibrant innovation community at Newlab," said Frank Bunte, CEO of A2MAC1. "This move aligns with our mission to remain a global leader in automotive benchmarking and technology insights. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the cutting-edge companies at Newlab and continuing to deliver world-class service and solutions to our clients." A2MAC1 is committed to reinforcing its strong U.S. presence by situating itself at the heart of the world's automotive capital, Detroit. We proudly serve over 1,000 global OEMs and Tier 1-3 suppliers in the automotive, truck, and mobility markets, driving innovation and shaping the future of transportation. Our partnership with Newlab will allow us to showcase our services to these valued customers and explore new avenues for more effective technological development, cost optimization, and advancing sustainability within the industry. For more information about A2MAC1 and our new Detroit headquarter, please visit https://www.a2mac1.com/ or contact Marie Bouthors-Rolland at mrolland@a2mac1.com . About A2MAC1 A2MAC1 is the global leader in automotive benchmarking and technology insights, providing detailed analysis and intelligence that drive product development and strategic decision-making for automakers and suppliers. With a strong global presence, A2MAC1 continues to empower companies to innovate and compete in the fast-evolving automotive industry. About Newlab at Michigan Central Newlab at Michigan Central is an innovation hub located in Detroit's historic Corktown district, dedicated to advancing mobility and energy technologies. Since its opening in 2023, Newlab has supported a diverse community of startups and established companies working to shape the future of transportation and sustainability. Key findings: Casualties among off-road vehicle riders, specifically persons under 16 years of age, have increased substantially in the past two decades. More than half of snowmobile riders (57.9%) and almost two-thirds (64%) of ATV/dirt bike users under age 16 dying in a crash were lone vehicle riders. 27 ATV/dirt bike riders aged 65 and older were killed in a crash in 2021 compared to five in 2000. 142 male off-road vehicle riders were killed in a crash in 2021 compared to 94 in 2000, and 23 female riders died in a crash that year, which is a concerning increase from six killed in 2000. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has released a new fact sheet, Fatally Injured Off-road Vehicle Riders in Canada, 2000-2021, made possible by sponsorship from Desjardins Insurance. Key findings from TIRF's National Fatality Database underscore the critical need to address the safe use of snowmobiles, ATVs and dirt bikes and focus particularly on topics such as impaired riding and helmet use. "The decrease in highway vehicle occupant deaths from 2000 to 2021 is not evident in the fatality numbers for off-road vehicle riders during the same timeframe," says Steve Brown, TIRF Research Associate & Data Collection. "In fact, there has been an overall rise in off-road vehicle fatalities over the last two decades. This highlights a need for enhanced safety measures and increased education." Data revealed there were 20 deaths of off-road vehicle riders under 16 years of age in 2021 compared to eight in 2000. Similarly, 27 off-road vehicle riders who were 65 and older died in 2021 compared to five in 2000. In contrast, there were 41 deaths of off-road vehicle riders among 20-34-year-olds in 2021, slightly fewer than 44 in 2000. Additionally, 142 male off-road vehicle riders died in 2021 compared to 94 in 2000. Although the 23 deaths among female riders in 2021 were fewer than those among males, this number still represents a significant increase from the six females killed in 2000. "The considerable number of off-road vehicle deaths in the under 16 age group is very concerning," continues Brown. "More than half (or 57.9%) of snowmobile riders and almost two-thirds (or 64%) of ATV/dirt bike riders under 16 years of age killed in a collision were lone vehicle riders." In terms of fatalities among both categories of off-road vehicle riders under 16 years of age, three-fifths of fatalities were the lone vehicle rider. Although data do not reveal the degree of adult supervision, operator experience or physical strength, deficits in any of these areas may compromise operator safety. Whether off-road vehicles are operated on public roadways, designated trails, or private property, educational campaigns could underscore the importance of adult supervision of younger riders. The issue of helmet use by off-road vehicle riders is reflected in the percentage of fatally injured snowmobile and ATV/dirt bike riders who were or were not wearing helmets at the time of the collision. Three-quarters of snowmobile riders (76.9%) compared to half (50.1%) of ATV/dirt bike riders were wearing their helmet. Education on the merits of helmet use could reduce the number of deaths among this population. Regardless of the reasons for not wearing a helmet (e.g., riding a short distance or where helmet use isn't mandatory), the laws of physics still apply and a fall from the vehicle can still result in serious injury or death. Of note, fatally injured operators of highway vehicles have consistently been less likely to test positive for alcohol than drivers of other vehicle types. Fewer than one in three (28.5%) highway vehicle drivers tested positive for alcohol in 2021 compared to 34.7% in 2000. For most years, snowmobile operators were the most likely to test positive for alcohol. In 2021, two-thirds (65.9%) of these operators tested positive for alcohol compared to 62% in 2000. Among fatally injured operators of ATVs/dirt bikes, 44.3% tested positive in 2021 compared to 40% in 2000. "While efforts to curb driving after drinking are well-established for drivers on public roads, the data described in this fact sheet clearly show more work is needed to address impaired driving for off-road vehicle users," says Ward Vanlaar, TIRF COO. "Also, the importance of using helmets to prevent deaths cannot be overstated. It is an essential safety device every rider of snowmobiles, ATVs and dirt bikes should wear. With a disturbing number of deaths in the under 16-year-old age group, helmet use by adults to set the example for safety could improve overall use." Download the fact sheet: Fatally Injured Off-road Vehicle Riders in Canada, 2000-2021 Fatality Database Disclaimer Data from TIRF's National Fatality Database may be subject to change as the closure of cases is ongoing. As such, there may be minor differences in this document compared to previous documents reporting on the same topic. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10180/219986_3a2100c9c4924a1a_002full.jpg About TIRF Canada: The vision of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) is to ensure people using roads make it home safely every day by eliminating road deaths, serious injuries and their social costs. TIRF's mission is to be the knowledge source for safe road users and a world leader in research, program and policy development, evaluation, and knowledge transfer. TIRF is a registered charity and depends on grants, awards, and donations to provide services for the public. Visit www.tirf.ca or find all TIRF websites and social media at linktr.ee/tirfcanada. - 30 - For more information, contact: To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/219986 SOURCE: Traffic Injury Research Foundation Prosus N.V. (Prosus) (AEX and JSE: PRX) The annual general meeting (AGM) of the shareholders of Prosus was held today. Shareholders are advised that all resolutions set out in the notice of the AGM were passed by the requisite majority of shareholders represented at the AGM and adopted. We note that the issued share capital of Prosus at the record date was as follows: Class of share Nominal value per share Number of votes per share Issued share capital Authorised share capital Ordinary Share N (N shares) EUR0.05 1 2,487,280,090 5,000,000,000 Ordinary Share A1 (A shares) EUR0.05 1 6,446,739 10,000,000 Ordinary Share B (B shares) EUR0.05 1 2,869,537,584 3,000,000,000 54,743,475 ordinary shares N were held in treasury by the Company as at the record date. Therefore, the number of ordinary shares that could have been voted at the meeting: 5,308,520,938. The total number of ordinary shares represented at the meeting was: 4,969,546,637 which is 92.66% of the total issued share capital. Details of voting results: NO. AGENDA ITEM VOTES FOR VOTES AGAINST VOTES ABSTAIN VOTES TOTAL % of ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL VOTED 3 To approve the directors' remuneration report 4 150 069 285 83,52 818 741 510 16,48 735 835 4 969 546 630 92,66% 4 To adopt the annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 4 966 299 011 99,99 653 913 0,01 2 593 706 4 969 546 630 92,66% 5 To make a distribution in relation to the financial year ending 31 March 2024 4 966 348 017 99,95 2 551 485 0,05 647 128 4 969 546 630 92,66% 6 To discharge the executive directors from liability 4 844 380 574 97,54 122 297 344 2,46 2 868 712 4 969 546 630 92,66% 7 To discharge the non-executive directors from liability 4 685 161 924 94,33 281 489 255 5,67 2 895 451 4 969 546 630 92,66% 8 To adopt the remuneration policy of the executive and non-executive directors 4 132 328 869 83,16 836 588 181 16,84 629 580 4 969 546 630 92,66% 9 To approve the remuneration of the non-executive directors 4 932 428 161 99,27 36 428 454 0,73 690 015 4 969 546 630 92,66% 10 To appoint Fabricio Bloisi as an executive director of Prosus 4 941 663 828 99,45 27 231 007 0,55 651 795 4 969 546 630 92,66% 11 To reappoint the following non-executive directors: 11.1 Hendrik du Toit 4 866 469 148 98,06 96 337 946 1,94 6 739 536 4 969 546 630 92,66% 11.2 Craig Enenstein 4 406 891 547 88,69 561 994 477 11,31 660 606 4 969 546 630 92,66% 11.3 Angelien Kemna 4 926 069 075 99,14 42 775 468 0,86 702 087 4 969 546 630 92,66% 11.4 Nolo Letele 4 873 174 381 98,09 95 102 544 1,91 1 269 705 4 969 546 630 92,66% 11.5 Roberto Oliveira de Lima 4 650 787 623 93,60 317 781 193 6,40 977 814 4 969 546 630 92,66% 12 To reappoint Deloitte Accountants B.V. as the auditor charged with the auditing of the annual accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026 4 963 446 284 99,89 5 447 443 0,11 652 903 4 969 546 630 92,66% 13 To designate the board of directors as the Company body authorised to issue shares 4 788 307 610 96,37 180 592 932 3,63 646 088 4 969 546 630 92,66% 14 To authorise the board of directors to resolve that the Company acquires shares in its own capital 4 741 219 859 95,42 227 468 433 4,58 858 338 4 969 546 630 92,66% 15 To reduce the share capital by cancelling own shares 4 961 541 466 99,85 7 237 428 0,15 767 736 4 969 546 630 92,66% Summary of statements from the annual general meeting: Our role in an AI-first world The technology sector is being reshaped by significant geopolitical movements from regulatory changes in major markets to shifting trade policies, these developments have profound implications. Our strategic focus on growth markets and disciplined capital allocation has enabled the group to adapt and grow in times of change. In doing so, we are actively helping to shape the technology ecosystem, ensuring our investments align with key global trends. Given the speed at which our daily lives are becoming more digital, our considerable technological capabilities are focused on artificial intelligence or AI and digital transformation. Equally important, we have integrated ethical AI frameworks to ensure our technologies are safe, transparent and equitable. Our commitment to innovation is evident in our strategic investments in high-potential areas, and our ongoing work to use AI in improving operational efficiencies and customer experiences. Throughout our group, we are not negotiable on adhering to accepted standards of ethical practice in deploying technology. Discount to net asset value In the past year, we made further progress on reducing the discount to net asset value at which Prosus and Naspers shares trade. We have created additional value for shareholders by continuing our open-ended share-repurchase programme, funded by small sales of Tencent shares. Since its inception in June 2022, this programme has reduced the free-float share count by 21% and generated US$32bn of value for shareholders. The combined holding company discount of Naspers and Prosus has reduced by some 21 percentage points, with a total value of US$17.1bn in Prosus ordinary shares N bought back. This translates to 8.2% accretion in net asset value per share. Importantly, this buyback programme increases our per-share exposure to Tencent. Given our confidence in Tencent's future, we are committed to remaining a large shareholder. Delivering our strategy During the year, we refined our strategic focus and simplified our operating structure to focus on what Prosus does best build valuable businesses that solve everyday problems for customers. We do this globally by backing innovative local entrepreneurs, but with a disciplined approach to capital allocation. We typically grow our capital commitments progressively as we learn and scale, intrinsically linked to future returns. In the review period, we made good progress on our strategy. We reached consolidated Ecommerce profitability ahead of target a milestone that reflects rigorous cost management, strategic investments in high-growth areas, and a focused approach on core market segments that promise high returns. Although this focus on profitability strengthens the company's financial health, it also emphasises our ability to generate long-term, sustainable value. Although we have recorded robust growth in several sectors, there are areas where we did not meet our expectations. Specifically the internal rate of return from our portfolio and the level of our holding-company discount. By facing these facts, we can make informed decisions about our future and implement the changes that need to be made. A year of progress The 2024 financial year was a transformative period for our group as we proved that growth and profitability can co-exist, and continued to outpace our peers in revenue growth. Group revenue grew 11% to US$5.5 billion, driven by strong performances across our key segments. In addition to reaching profitability six months early, consolidated trading profit for our Ecommerce sector improved by a sizeable US$451m to US$38m, driven by growth, scale and cost reductions. While we continue to look for long-term growth opportunities, external investment was limited to US$571m for the year. This is meaningfully below the US$6.3bn peak in 2022 as we maintained discipline in a challenging investment landscape. Our balance sheet remains strong and liquid, with cash of US$14.6 billion and debt of US$15.2 billion translating to net debt of just US$0.6 billion at year end. This provides internal opportunities to scale the core of each of our businesses and build their ecosystems. Externally, being well-capitalised allows us to invest in businesses setting the pace of growth for the future, particularly in areas like AI where we have real competence and institutional knowledge. Our capital allocation will be even more disciplined, given that investments now face a higher bar. We will continue to drive profitability, build scale and manage expenses and free cash flow, while investing for growth in high-conviction areas. Our role in society For every milestone we reach on our sustainability journey, new ones appear on the horizon. Worldwide, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders now expect more substance and transparency on how companies embed sustainability into their business practices meaningfully and measurably. We are a global technology group active in high-growth markets and invested in a world of exponential opportunity. Across our diverse portfolio, expert teams are discovering and scaling digital services and technologies that help address global challenges. We are committed to making a difference because we know that accelerating transition to more responsible consumption and greener business models is critical for whole economies to move towards a resource-efficient and low-carbon growth path. But sustainable development depends on economic growth. In Brazil, India and South Africa, our locally built businesses are driving this growth by innovating in key areas of life from finance to education while creating jobs, enhancing livelihood opportunities and promoting responsible consumption. In parallel, technology is creating solutions for pressing issues like climate action and social inclusion. For example, digital financial services reach the remotest regions to help people traditional banks cannot reach. Our edtech platforms give diverse users access to online learning anytime, anywhere, without the environmental footprint of a physical learning institution. Our grocery-delivery and etail platforms combine convenience with a lower carbon footprint, while our best-in-class food-delivery businesses create jobs in countries with high youth unemployment. They are also focused on curbing the environmental impact of delivery services through sustainable packaging initiatives and zero-emission vehicles. Our classifieds businesses are driving the transition to a circular economy built on reduce-reuse-recycle models. To illustrate, in just the vehicle and electronics categories, OLX sold over 9.3 million secondhand items last year. This conserved more than 2.5 million tonnes of materials and almost 430 million cubic metres of water while preventing 3 million tonnes of GHG emissions. Our strategic priority of being a force for good also translates into employment and livelihood opportunities. In our own workforce, the global shortage of digital talent remains a challenge. We are helping our people develop their full potential through a culture built on diversity, inclusion and learning, with competitive pay and benefits. We are also committed to ensuring our portfolio companies offer fair pay and working conditions for delivery partners, irrespective of how their engagement is classified. We are moving closer to global reporting standards on environmental, social and governance or ESG disclosure, including new requirements in the European Union. Despite broad differences in jurisdictional reporting requirements, we are committed to climate action and a transparent sustainability approach. To illustrate, we are on track to achieve our verified science-based corporate target of reducing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions to zero by 2028. More importantly, we are engaging with our portfolio companies to set their own science-based reduction targets by 2030. As proof of this commitment, climate action is built into the short-term incentive targets for our chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO). Aligning remuneration to performance and value creation Prosus operates in highly competitive, fast-changing markets, many characterised by the shortage of key skills. Our remuneration principles are simple: pay for performance; align with desired shareholder outcomes; achieve the business plan; and be consistent. Our remuneration structures therefore focus on attracting, motivating and retaining the best people to create sustainable shareholder value. This year, we made several changes to our remuneration structure to better align with our strategic goals and shareholder interests. We also carefully considered feedback from our shareholders and the investment community during our annual remuneration roadshow. Where possible, we incorporated these recommendations and made further disclosure and adjustments to the remuneration design for the CEO and CFO. The remuneration package for our new CEO, Fabricio Bloisi, was disclosed in detail after publishing year-end results. We have broadened our performance benchmarks and simplified our LTI disclosures for greater transparency. This is all part of our ongoing work to ensure our remuneration practices support our strategic objectives and maintain market competitiveness. Distributions to shareholders Shareholders approved the distribution to holders of ordinary shares N of 10 euro cents per share. Shareholders holding their ordinary shares N in South Africa via Strate will then receive a gross distribution of 198.0830 Rand cents per ordinary share N. Holders of ordinary shares B and ordinary shares A1 will receive an amount per share equal to their economic entitlement as set out in the articles of association. Dividends and capital repayments are declared and paid in euros. The above amounts are based on an EUR/ZAR exchange rate of R19.8083 as at 21 August 2024. Further details regarding the distribution will be published at a later date. Looking forward with confidence Our purpose is unchanged we aim to improve everyday life for people around the world by building leading companies that use technology to meet societal needs in better ways. We are excited about the opportunities ahead. Our focus on being a responsible business that has a sustainable, positive impact on the world and operates under high standards of corporate governance will continue to guide our work. Amsterdam, the Netherlands 21 August 2024 JSE sponsor to Prosus: Investec Bank Limited Euronext listing agent ING Bank N.V. Euronext paying agent ABN AMRO Bank N.V. About Prosus Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Each month, over two billion customers across the globe use the products and services of companies that Prosus has invested in, acquired or built. Prosus builds leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. The group is focused on online classifieds, food delivery, payments and fintech. The team actively backs exceptional entrepreneurs using technology to improve people's everyday lives. Prosus has a primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam (AEX:PRX) and secondary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (XJSE:PRX) and A2X Markets (PRX.AJ). Prosus is majority-owned by Naspers. For more information, please visit www.prosus.com Disclaimer This document contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the Market Abuse Regulation. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or any solicitation of an offer for securities in any jurisdiction. The information contained in this announcement may contain forward-looking statements, estimates and projections. Forward-looking statements involve all matters that are not historical and may be identified by the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should", "will", "would" and similar expressions or their negatives, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These statements reflect Prosus's intentions, beliefs or current expectations, involve elements of subjective judgement and analysis and are based upon the best judgement of Prosus as of the date of this announcement, but could prove to be wrong. These statements are subject to change without notice and are based on a number of assumptions and entail known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this announcement and neither Prosus nor any other person gives any undertaking, or is under any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to the date of this announcement or to update or keep current any of the information contained herein, any changes in assumptions or changes in factors affecting these statements and this announcement is not a representation by Prosus or any other person that they will do so, except to the extent required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821946224/en/ Contacts: Investor Enquiries Eoin Ryan, Head of Investor Relations +1 347-210-4305 Media Enquiries Charlie Pemberton, Communications Director +31 6 15494359 Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Expands Footprint in Virginia and Texas THOMASTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the grand opening of two brand-new locations this week in Christiansburg, VA and Alice, TX. Tidal Wave Auto Spa Logo To celebrate the grand openings, the Christiansburg and Alice locations are offering eight days of free car washes from August 21-August 28. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Clean Club unlimited wash membership plan during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40. "We're thrilled to open in Christiansburg and Alice this week," said Founder and CEO, Scott Blackstock. "Our teams are eager to share our exceptional car wash experience with both communities, and opening week is the perfect time to stop in and try our best wash at no cost. We're looking forward to providing the highest standard of clean and shiny cars to our customers for many years to come." Christiansburg, VA Location: 50 Peppers Ferry Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073 Alice, TX Location: 1914 E Main Street, Alice, TX 78332 Tidal Wave Auto Spa is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. Stop by for a single wash or join Tidal Wave's Clean Club for the ultimate experience. Members can wash every day of the month for one convenient monthly payment and save time with exclusive club member wash lanes - plus, memberships can be used at any Tidal Wave location. For those needing to wash multiple cars, Tidal Wave offers discounted monthly family plans and fleet plans for businesses with five or more vehicles. Tidal Wave currently has 13 Virginia express wash locations and 20 Texas locations. In the coming months, the company will open additional brand-new Texas locations in Early and Fort Worth. The company proudly serves customers at 279 express wash locations in 28 states across the South, Midwest and Northern United States. For additional information, including upcoming locations, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/. About Tidal Wave Auto Spa Tidal Wave Auto Spa is an industry-leading conveyor car wash company founded in 1999 by Scott and Hope Blackstock in Thomaston, GA. Tidal Wave is committed to providing cutting-edge car care technology and exceptional customer service at each of their 279 locations sprawling 28 states across the South, Midwest, and Northern United States. In 2020, Tidal Wave partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth across the country. Tidal Wave is one of the top five conveyor car wash companies in the country and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list for America's Fastest Growing Companies since 2020. The company was recognized as a 2023 Champion of Charity Honoree by Professional Carwashing & Detailing and has raised over $3 million dollars for organizations in their communities. Contact Information Heather Coleman Marketing Manager media@tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea Traylor Senior Director of Digital Marketing andrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220 Dustin Bixby pr@atlantamotorspeedway.com 7709463917 Tyler Head 7709467366 SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa View the original press release on newswire.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! Australian tech entrepreneur and avid adventurer, John-Paul Thorbjornsen (JP), gears up for an extraordinary expedition that will see him travelling over all seven continents in just 300 flight hours. JP Thor will attempt to be the first Helicopter pilot to cross the North and South Poles and circumnavigate the globe longitudinally. LONDON, ENGLAND / ACCESSWIRE / August 21, 2024 / Australian tech entrepreneur and avid adventurer, John-Paul Thorbjornsen (JP), gears up for an extraordinary expedition that will see him travelling over all seven continents in just 300 flight hours. JP's lifelong passion for aviation began at 16 and has only grown stronger over the years. Reflecting on his love for flying, JP shared, "My passion for flying started when I took my first lesson at 16, and I've never looked back. The ACH130 Aston Martin Edition brought me on a cross-globe journey where I experienced different cultures, made new friends, and created many beautiful memories with my family and friends. With this new ACH125, I'm looking forward to exploring the world in a different way." Unveiling his ambitious flight plan, JP described the upcoming journey as "an expedition like no other." The adventure will commence from his hometown in Darwin, where JP will embark on a global circumnavigation in a convoy of two helicopters. The journey will include his ACH130 Aston Martin Edition and an Airbus ACH125, accompanied by another pilot. The expedition will cover 30,000 nautical miles, starting with an 11,000 nautical mile journey to the North Pole, followed by a 12,000 nautical mile trek to the South Pole, and concluding with a final leg of 7,000 nautical miles across to Dubai. The entire expedition is expected to span six months, crossing 50 countries and passing the equator three times. About JP Thor JP, born and homeschooled in rural Northern Territory, excelled academically before joining the Air Force, where he graduated top of his class in Aeronautical Engineering and became a fighter pilot, amassing over 2,000 flight hours worldwide. In 2013, he shifted to crypto, founding THORChain under the pseudonym "Leena." By 2018, THORChain hit a $1 billion market value, and JP eventually revealed his identity in 2024, turning over the platform to the community. Today, it stands as the world's largest decentralized liquidity protocol with a market value exceeding $2 billion. Contact Information San Sunner PR Officer san@accel.co +4407925533947 SOURCE: JPThor.com View the original press release on newswire.com. MALVERN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 20, 2024 / Saint-Gobain Saint-Gobain North America, through its subsidiary CertainTeed Roofing, has enhanced operational practices and made process improvements at its glass mat facility in Charleston, South Carolina, saving over 16,000 MMBtu of energy (over 4,500 MWh), and saving carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to that of the average gasoline-powered passenger car traveling over two million miles.1 The project, which was honored as a top sustainability initiative for Saint-Gobain North America in 2023, is part of the company's continued efforts to implement its global Grow and Impact strategy, which includes ambitious environmental sustainability goals, such as reducing the company's consumption of energy and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Glass mat is a material composed of short fiberglass filaments that are uniformly distributed and bonded together by a polymer resin. The mat forming process produces a fabric that is strong, stable, and heat-resistant, and is a key component in the production of roofing shingles. By taking a data-oriented approach, the Charleston plant, which began operations in 1981, gained a holistic understanding of both its processes and how taking a series of small steps can lead to a large impact on its environmental footprint. These steps included adjusting equipment in its dryer loop to increase airflow and lower the necessary temperature for curing glass mat, adjusting the fine tune vacuum settings to improve de-watering of the glass mat before entering the dryer, and working to reduce dryer burner excess air. "By taking steps to reduce energy use and carbon emissions at our plants, we are embodying our mission to be the leaders in light and sustainable construction" said Carmen Bodden, Vice President and General Manager of CertainTeed Roofing. "I congratulate our Charleston facility on their success. I'm inspired by their collaboration and determination to make the world a better home." This project follows several other recent actions taken by the company to solidify its commitment towards sustainability: Last month, Saint-Gobain announced that it will save over 10 million gallons of water per year through the installation of smart water submetering systems and other equipment upgrades at its CertainTeed Siding facility in Jackson, Michigan. In April, Saint-Gobain achieved Core Living Building Ready designation from the International Living Future Institute for its CertainTeed Innovation Center in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In March, Saint-Gobain announced that its CertainTeed Siding business had reduced manufacturing related emissions by 96% at three facilities in the United States. In February, Saint-Gobain completed the installation of a heat recovery system at its gypsum facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, which will lead to a 15% reduction in Scope 1 carbon emissions. In September 2023, Saint-Gobain signed a 15-year, 100 MW power purchase agreement with TotalEnergies for the purchase of solar power, expected to offset Saint-Gobain North America's CO2 emissions from electricity by 90,000 metric tons per year. In August 2023, Saint-Gobain announced a circular economy initiative in its Ceramics business, where scrap finished goods from its Bryan, Texas facility are sent to other Saint-Gobain Ceramics plants to be reused in production, instead of ending in landfills. With over 145 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company's team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations, including in Charleston, can be found on the company's career website. About CertainTeed Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has helped shape the building products industry for more than 115 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, solar, fence, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings. www.certainteed.com. About Saint-Gobain Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group's commitment is guided by its purpose, "MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME". 47.9 billion in sales in 2023 160,000 employees, locations in 76 countries Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 1Data is approximate, based on EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Saint-Gobain on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Saint-Gobain Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/saint-gobain Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Saint-Gobain View the original press release on accesswire.com The PI3K inhibitors market is projected to witness remarkable growth by 2034, driven by advancements in cancer treatment and the increasing prevalence of oncological disorders. Enhanced research and development activities, along with strategic collaborations, are expected to further propel market expansion. LAS VEGAS, Aug. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's PI3K Inhibitors Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, emerging PI3K inhibitors, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted PI3K inhibitors market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Key Takeaways from the PI3K Inhibitors Market Report As per DelveInsight's analysis, the current market size of PI3K Inhibitors is anticipated to grow significantly in the 7MM by 2034. While the first approved PI3K inhibitors were limited to hematological cancer, the therapeutic window has now broadened towards solid tumors as well. Approximately 40% of people with HR-positive breast cancer have a PIK3CA mutation and often face poorer prognosis and resistance to endocrine treatment. of people with HR-positive breast cancer have a PIK3CA mutation and often face poorer prognosis and resistance to endocrine treatment. The first success is Novartis' PI3K inhibitor PIQRAY (alpelisib) , which was approved in 2019 for breast cancer in combination with FASLODEX. Now, Roche's Inavolisib is the strongest player in the pipeline expected to address the first line HR-positive, HER2-negative PI3K mutated Breast Cancer patients , which was approved in 2019 for breast cancer in combination with FASLODEX. Now, is the strongest player in the pipeline expected to address the first line HR-positive, HER2-negative PI3K mutated Breast Cancer patients Currently, PIQRAY leads the market for PI3K inhibitors in HR-positive, HER2-negative, and PIK3CA-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer, mainly for solid tumors. leads the market for PI3K inhibitors in HR-positive, HER2-negative, and PIK3CA-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer, mainly for solid tumors. Accelerated approvals in certain indications for four approved products have all been voluntarily withdrawn because of problems with confirmatory trials: Gilead Sciences' ZYDELIG; Bayer's ALIQOPA; Secura's COPIKTRA; and TG Therapeutics' UKONIQ . . Leading PI3K inhibitor companies such as Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Celcuity, Kazia Therapeutics, Rhizen Pharmaceuticals, and others are developing novel PI3K inhibitors that can be available in the PI3K inhibitors market in the coming years. and others are developing novel PI3K inhibitors that can be available in the PI3K inhibitors market in the coming years. Some of the emerging key PI3K inhibitors include Inavolisib, Gedatolisib, Paxalisib, Tenalisib, and others. Discover which therapies are expected to grab the PI3K inhibitors market share @ PI3K Inhibitors Market Report PI3K Inhibitors Market Dynamics The PI3K inhibitors market is characterized by dynamic growth and a rapidly evolving landscape driven by advancements in cancer research, increasing incidence of cancer, and rising awareness about targeted therapies. This market has garnered significant attention from pharmaceutical companies and researchers alike due to its potential to provide more effective and less toxic treatment options compared to conventional chemotherapy. As cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, there is a pressing need for new and innovative treatment options. PI3K inhibitors offer a promising approach by specifically targeting cancer cells, thereby minimizing damage to normal cells and reducing side effects. The growing understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression has led to the identification of the PI3K pathway as a critical target, further propelling the market. The regulatory landscape also plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the PI3K inhibitors market. The approval of several PI3K inhibitors by regulatory bodies such as the FDA and the EMA has boosted the market's growth. These approvals are often based on robust clinical trial data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of PI3K inhibitors in treating specific cancer types. However, the regulatory environment is also marked by challenges, including stringent approval processes and the need for comprehensive post-marketing surveillance to monitor long-term effects and potential adverse events. Competition within the PI3K inhibitors market is intense, with numerous pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in research and development to bring new and improved therapies to market. Key players are focusing on expanding their product portfolios through strategic collaborations, acquisitions, and partnerships. Additionally, the market is witnessing a surge in clinical trials aimed at exploring the efficacy of PI3K inhibitors in combination with other therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and other targeted therapies. These combination approaches hold promise for overcoming resistance mechanisms and enhancing treatment outcomes. Despite the promising outlook, the PI3K inhibitors market faces several challenges, including high development costs, complex regulatory requirements, and the emergence of resistance to PI3K inhibitors. Addressing these challenges requires continued investment in research and development, as well as collaboration between industry, academia, and regulatory bodies. As the understanding of cancer biology continues to advance, the PI3K inhibitors market is poised for significant growth, offering hope for improved treatment options for cancer patients worldwide. PI3K Inhibitors Treatment Market The PI3K pathway plays a key role in driving various cancers, and numerous PI3K-targeted therapies have been tested in oncology trials. This has led to the regulatory approval of the isoform-selective inhibitor ZYDELIG for certain blood cancers, such as relapsed/refractory third-line chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and third-line follicular lymphoma. While PI3K inhibitors have shown effectiveness in treating R/R CLL, their use has been limited due to the complex management of PI3K inhibitor-related side effects. For instance, ZYDELIG and COPIKTRA carry black box warnings for serious risks like hepatotoxicity, diarrhea/colitis, pneumonitis, infections, and intestinal perforation. There is growing interest in using PI3K inhibitors for solid tumors. Initially approved for blood cancers, these inhibitors are now being considered for solid tumors due to potential improvements in their tolerability and efficacy. Targeting the PI3K delta isoform is particularly promising for hematological malignancies. The landscape of PI3K delta inhibitors is rapidly changing. Previously prominent treatments like ALIQOPA (copanlisib), COPIKTRA (duvelisib), and ZYDELIG (idelalisib) were used for relapsed follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and small lymphocytic lymphoma. However, their market presence is declining due to significant side effects, including infections and liver toxicity, and the emergence of more effective therapies. At the September 2023 meeting of the UK Biochemical Society in Barcelona, experts discussed the PI3K pathway and suggested that advancing the understanding of PI3K biology and signaling could lead to a new generation of PI3K-targeting drugs with novel mechanisms of action. Emerging therapies in the pipeline have the potential to transform the drug approval market. As these new treatments progress, they could significantly alter the available therapy landscape. Additionally, there is increasing interest in combination therapies that aim to enhance efficacy while reducing adverse effects. The future of PI3K inhibitors may be revitalized through innovative drug development and strategic combination regimens, better meeting the needs of patients with hematological malignancies. Learn more about the FDA-approved PI3K inhibitors @ PI3K Inhibitors Drugs Key Emerging PI3K Inhibitors and Companies Key emerging players in the PI3K inhibitors market include Roche, Genentech, Celcuity,Rhizen Pharmaceuticals, Kazia Therapeutics, and others. Kazia Therapeutics' lead program is paxalisib, a brain-penetrant inhibitor targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, intended to treat various brain cancers. This drug, licensed from Genentech in late 2016, showed early signs of clinical efficacy in a completed Phase II glioblastoma study in 2021. Currently, it is undergoing a pivotal study in glioblastoma called GBM AGILE, with final data anticipated in the first half of 2024. Additionally, paxalisib is being tested in clinical trials for brain metastases, diffuse midline gliomas, and primary CNS lymphoma, with several trials showing promising interim results. The FDA granted paxalisib Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for glioblastoma in February 2018 and Fast Track Designation (FTD) for glioblastoma in August 2020. Furthermore, the FDA awarded it Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and ODD for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in August 2020, and for atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors in June and July 2022, respectively. Inavolisib is an investigational oral targeted therapy with the potential to be best-in-class, offering well-tolerated and durable disease control with potentially better outcomes for individuals with PIK3CA-mutated, HR+/HER2-advanced, or metastatic breast cancer. These patients often have a poor prognosis and urgently need new treatment options. Inavolisib is designed to minimize the overall treatment burden and toxicity, setting it apart from other PI3K inhibitors due to its high potency and specificity for the PI3K alpha isoform and its unique mechanism that aids in the degradation of mutated PI3K alpha. In May 2024, the FDA granted priority review to inavolisib for advanced HR+/HER2-breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation. The target date for the FDA's decision is November 27, 2024. Other PI3K inhibitors in the pipeline include Gedatolisib: Celcuity Tenalisib: Rhizen Pharmaceuticals The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies are poised to transform the PI3K inhibitors market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the PI3K inhibitors market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth. To know more about PI3K inhibitors clinical trials, visit @ PI3K Inhibitors Treatment Drugs PI3K Inhibitors Overview Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of enzymes involved in cellular functions such as growth, proliferation, and survival. Dysregulation of the PI3K pathway is commonly associated with various cancers, making PI3K inhibitors a significant focus in oncology. These inhibitors target the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is often overactive in cancer cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and survival. By inhibiting PI3K, these drugs can effectively reduce tumor growth and enhance the efficacy of other treatments. Several PI3K inhibitors have been developed and approved for clinical use, with some being specifically tailored to target certain isoforms of the enzyme to minimize side effects and maximize therapeutic efficacy. Despite their promise, PI3K inhibitors face challenges such as drug resistance and toxicity. Resistance can occur through various mechanisms, including mutations in the PI3K pathway or activation of alternative signaling pathways. Toxicity is another concern, as PI3K inhibitors can affect normal cells, leading to side effects such as hyperglycemia, rash, and gastrointestinal issues. Ongoing research aims to overcome these hurdles by developing more selective inhibitors, combination therapies, and personalized treatment strategies based on genetic profiling. The evolving understanding of PI3K biology and its role in cancer continues to drive the innovation and optimization of PI3K inhibitors in the fight against cancer. PI3K Inhibitors Target Population In the 7MM, the highest eligible pool of promising indications for PI3K inhibitors in oncology was seen in the United States, followed by EU4 and the UK in 2023. The PI3K inhibitors market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the 7MM segmented into: Incident Cases of Selected Indications for PI3K inhibitors Eligible Patient Pool of Selected Indications Treatable Cases of Selected indications for PI3K inhibitors PI3K Inhibitors Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 PI3K Inhibitors Report Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan] Key PI3K Inhibitors Companies Gilead Sciences, Secura Bio, Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Celcuity, Kazia Therapeutics, Rhizen Pharmaceuticals, and others Key PI3K Inhibitors ZYDELIG, COPIKTRA, PIQRAY, Inavolisib, Gedatolisib, Paxalisib, Tenalisib, and others Scope of the PI3K Inhibitors Market Report PI3K Inhibitors Therapeutic Assessment: PI3K Inhibitors current marketed and emerging therapies PI3K Inhibitors current marketed and emerging therapies PI3K Inhibitors Market Dynamics: Conjoint Analysis of Emerging PI3K Inhibitors Drugs Conjoint Analysis of Emerging PI3K Inhibitors Drugs Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, PI3K Inhibitors Market Access and Reimbursement Discover more about PI3K inhibitors in development @ PI3K Inhibitors Clinical Trials Table of Contents 1 Key Insights 2 Report Introduction 3 Key Highlights from the Report 4 Executive Summary of PI3K Inhibitors 5 Key Events 6 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 7 PI3K Inhibitor Market Overview at a Glance in the 7MM 7.1 Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2023 7.2 Market Share (%) Distribution by Therapies in 2034 7.3 Market Share (%) Distribution by Indications in 2023 7.4 Market Share (%) Distribution by Indications in 2034 8 Background and Overview 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Treatment 9 Target Patient Pool 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale: 7MM 9.3 Epidemiology Scenario in the 7MM 9.3.1 Total Incident Cases in Selected Indications for PI3K Inhibitor in the 7MM 9.3.2 Total Eligible Patient Pool for PI3K Inhibitor in Selected Indications in the 7MM 9.3.3 Total Treated Cases in Selected Indications for PI3K Inhibitor in the 7MM 10 Marketed Drugs 10.1 Key Cross of Marketed Therapies 10.2 ZYDELIG (idelalisib): Gilead Sciences 10.2.1 Product description 10.2.2 Regulatory milestones 10.2.3 Other developmental activities 10.2.4 Ongoing clinical developmental activities 10.2.5 Safety and efficacy 10.2.6 Product profile 10.3 PIQRAY (alpelisib): Novartis 10.3.1 Product description 10.3.2 Regulatory milestones 10.3.3 Others developmental activities 10.3.4 Ongoing clinical developmental activities 10.3.5 Safety and efficacy 10.3.6 Product profile *List to be continued in the full report 11 Emerging Drugs 11.1 Key Competitors 11.2 Paxalisib: Kazia Therapeutics 11.2.1 Product description 11.2.2 Other developmental activity 11.2.3 Clinical developmental activities 11.2.3.1 Clinical trial information 11.3 Inavolisib: Roche/Genentech 11.3.1 Product description 11.3.2 Other developmental activity 11.3.3 Clinical developmental activities 11.3.3.1 Clinical trial information 11.3.4 Safety and efficacy 11.4 Roginolisib: iOnctura 11.4.1 Product description 11.4.2 Other developmental activity 11.4.3 Clinical developmental activities 11.4.3.1 Clinical trial information 11.4.4 Safety and efficacy *List to be continued in the full report 12 PI3K Inhibitor: 7MM analysis 12.1 Key Findings 12.2 Market Outlook 12.3 Conjoint Analysis 12.4 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 12.4.1 Cost Assumptions and Rebates 12.4.2 Pricing Trends 12.4.3 Analogue Assessment 12.4.4 Launch Year and Therapy Uptakes 12.5 Market Size by Indications in the 7MM 12.6 Market Size by Therapies in the 7MM 12.7 United States Market Size 12.7.1 Market Size by Indications in the US 12.7.2 Market Size by Therapies in the US 12.8 EU4 and the UK Market Size 12.8.1 Market Size by Indications in EU4 and the UK 12.8.2 Market Size by Therapies in EU4 and the UK 12.9 Japan Market Size 12.9.1 Market Size by Indications in Japan 12.9.2 Market Size by Therapies in Japan 13 Unmet Needs 14 SWOT Analysis 15 KOL Views 16 Market Access and Reimbursement 17 Appendix 17.1 Bibliography 17.2 Report Methodology 18 DelveInsight Capabilities 19 Disclaimer 20 About DelveInsight Related Reports KRAS Inhibitors Market KRAS Inhibitors Market Size, Target Population, Competitive Landscape & Market Forecast - 2034 report deliver an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key KRAS inhibitors companies, including Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Verastem Oncology, Revolution Medicines, Cardiff Oncology, Immuneering Corporation, Jacobio Pharmaceuticals, BridgeBio Pharma, Mirati Therapeutics, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Elicio Therapeutics, InventisBio, Gritstone Bio, D3 Bio, among others. 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HER2+ Market HER2+ Market Size, Target Population, Competitive Landscape & Market Forecast - 2034 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key HER2+ companies, including Zymeworks, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Ambrx, AnBogen Therapeutics, Enliven Therapeutics, Roche, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +14699457679 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pi3k-inhibitors-market-to-observe-stunning-growth-during-the-study-period-20202034--delveinsight-302227422.html Princeton, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - TK-CHAIN and etera solutions are pleased to announce the launch of their new venture, marking a significant milestone in the life sciences consulting sector. Effective immediately, TK- CHAIN will operate under the name "eteraflex connects," a division of etera solutions. eteraflex connects offers unparalleled consulting services to companies in the life sciences field. eteraflex connects logo The partnership synthesizes the expertise and resources of TK-CHAIN, a leader in innovative life sciences solutions, with etera solutions' renowned biostatistical and statistical programming prowess. This integration enables eteraflex connects to deliver cutting-edge, comprehensive consulting services tailored to the unique needs of emerging life sciences companies. eteraflex connects focuses on providing a wide range of services, including strategic planning, market entry strategies, site management, decentralized clinical trials, biostatistics, regulatory compliance, and operational optimization. By leveraging the combined strengths of both organizations, eteraflex connects aims to support clients in navigating the complex landscape of life sciences with greater agility and effectiveness. "We are excited to merge within etera solutions and create eteraflex connects," said Santhosh Ramaraju Kinnera, Managing Partner of TK-CHAIN. "This union represents a significant opportunity to enhance our service offerings and deliver even greater value to our clients. Our combined expertise will drive innovation and growth for emerging life sciences companies." Reed George, Managing Partner at etera solutions, added, "The collaboration with TK-CHAIN aligns perfectly with our vision of expanding our consulting capabilities and addressing the evolving needs of the life sciences sector. eteraflex connects will provide a robust platform for companies to gain unparalleled expertise to achieve their goals." eteraflex connects will be headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, with a dedicated team of experts committed to delivering exceptional service and support. Clients can expect the same high level of dedication, service and quality that are the foundations for both TK-CHAIN and etera solutions. For more information about eteraflex connects and the services offered, please visit www.eteraflexconnects.com or contact us directly at info@eteraflexconnects.com. About eteraflex connects eteraflex connects, formed from the union of TK-CHAIN and etera solutions, is a premier provider of life sciences consulting services. The company specializes in strategic planning, biometrics, site management, market entry strategies, regulatory compliance, and operational optimization. With a focus on innovation and client success. eteraflex connects is dedicated to driving growth and excellence in the life sciences industry. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220696 SOURCE: Eteraflex Connects Aspiring students and researchers showcase the breadth of quantum computing in areas such as healthcare, energy and engineering IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and Classiq, leaders in the quantum computing industry, today announced that winners of this year's annual UK Quantum Hackathon hosted by the National Quantum Computing Centre's (NQCC) used IonQ quantum computers and Classiq's software among several other quantum systems, when developing solutions for novel quantum applications. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821108862/en/ IonQ QPUs and Classiq Software Power Winning Projects at the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre's 2024 Hackathon (Photo: Business Wire) This is the second year in a row that IonQ and Classiq have teamed up to enable hackathon teams to design, optimize and execute quantum algorithms for IonQ's quantum computers. Classiq's software simplifies the circuit design process by allowing users to define their quantum circuit parameters before the software converts it into an optimized quantum circuit. "We're delighted that IonQ's quantum computers were used by the best and brightest quantum computing talent in the UK. It's inspiring to be part of an incredible event that fosters the next generation of quantum leaders," said Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ. "The fact that the first place winning team and, in fact, all three winners used IonQ for their projects is humbling and an incredible honor." "It is impressive to see the projects submitted by these talented students and researchers. We're proud that Classiq's software and our integration with IonQ has enabled them to achieve these winning results," said Nir Minerbi, CEO and co-founder of Classiq. "The NQCC has delivered yet another world-class hackathon, and we believe it is a wonderful contribution to inspiring and developing future quantum talent." The winning teams presented quantum application use cases for areas like risk aggregation, evaluation for insurance losses, network design and National Health Service (NHS) forecasting. Each teams' approach was evaluated for scalability and how each application could address challenges in areas such as healthcare, energy and engineering. "One of the objectives of our annual UK Quantum Hackathon is to drive the advancement of practical use cases, facilitating the migration of quantum computing from academia to industry." said Dr Michael Cuthbert, Director, NQCC. "IonQ has been a quantum processing unit (QPU) provider that has powered Hackathon winners for the past two years. We congratulate all who have been involved in this successful event." The UK Quantum Hackathon is the NQCC's flagship annual event, delivered as part of their user engagement program, SparQ. From students to early career researchers, the event brought together teams of coders with industry mentors, to tackle practical challenges and develop solutions using quantum computing. During the three-day event, 13 teams including over 70 coders displayed innovative spirit and creativity. About IonQ IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing that delivers high-performance systems to solve the world's largest and most complex commercial and research use cases. IonQ's current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. The company's innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fast Company's 2023 Next Big Things in Tech List and Deloitte's 2023 Technology Fast 500 List, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com. About Classiq Classiq Technologies, the leading quantum software company, provides an all-encompassing platform (IDE, compiler and OS) with a single point of entry into quantum computing, taking you from algorithm design to execution. The high-level descriptive quantum software development environment, tailored to all levels of developer proficiency, automates quantum programming. This ensures that a broad range of talents, including those with backgrounds in AI, ML and linear algebra, can harness quantum computing without requiring deep, specialized knowledge of quantum physics. Classiq democratizes access to quantum computing and equips its users to take full advantage of the quantum computing revolution, including access to a broad range of quantum hardware. Classiq's core technology, algorithmic quantum circuit compilation, is engineered to power the quantum ecosystem of today and the future. Classiq works closely with quantum cloud providers and advanced computation hardware developers providing software for use with quantum computers, HPC and quantum simulators. Backed by investors such as HPE, HSBC, Samsung, Intesa Sanpaolo and NTT, Classiq's world-class team of scientists and engineers has distilled decades of quantum expertise into its groundbreaking quantum engine. Follow Classiq on LinkedIn, X or YouTube, visit the Slack community GitHub repository and website, www.classiq.io to learn more. IonQ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the company's technology driving commercial advantage in the future, the ability for third parties to implement IonQ's offerings to increase their quantum computing capabilities, the effect of increased availability of customer support functions, IonQ's quantum computing capabilities and plans, access to IonQ's quantum computers, increases in algorithmic qubit achievement, and the scalability and reliability of IonQ's quantum computing offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ's business; IonQ's ability to implement its business plans, forecasts and other expectations, identify and realize partnerships and opportunities, and to engage new and existing customers. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's filings, including but not limited to those described in the "Risk Factors' section of IonQ's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by IonQ from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821108862/en/ Contacts: IonQ Media contact: Tyler Ogoshi press@ionq.com IonQ Investor Contact: investors@ionq.co Classiq Media Contact: Michelle Allard McMahon Rainier Communications classiqPR@rainierco.com Adjusted EBITDA increases 31% YoY, consolidating strong results OncoMexico launched in Monterrey Auna (NYSE: AUNA) ("Auna" or the "Company"), a leading healthcare platform in Latin America with operations in Mexico, Colombia and Peru, today announced unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 ("second quarter 2024" or "2Q24"). Financial results are expressed in Peruvian Soles ("S/" or PEN") and are presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), unless otherwise noted. 2Q24 Consolidated Highlights Consolidated Revenue increased 18% YoY to S/1,120 million Operating profit increased 34% YoY to S/183 million Adjusted EBITDA increased 31% YoY to S/248 million, equivalent to 25% FXN (Foreign Exchange Neutral) Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 22.1%, up 2.0 p.p. YoY and 0.5 p.p. YTD Leverage ratio improved to 4.13x from 4.46x in 1Q24 and 4.89x in 2Q23 Recent Event On July 1, 2024, Auna announced the launch of OncoMexico, the country's first integrated oncology insurance, in Monterrey. The pilot phase during 2024 will develop and confirm the capabilities needed for full deployment in 2025. OncoMexico offers access to prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer, the third leading cause of death in Mexico. OncoMexico is the first step toward replicating in Mexico the vertically integrated healthcare model that Auna successfully operates in Peru. Message from Auna's Executive Chairman and President Second quarter results affirm again the effectiveness of our business model and how increased scale and maturity drive incremental value throughout our platforms of care. During the quarter we gained momentum, with Adjusted EBITDA increasing 31% YoY, or 25% FXN YoY, and keeping us on track to deliver at least 20% FXN Adjusted EBITDA growth this year. Our strong quarterly performance was achieved despite additional investments made to implement the AunaWay in Monterrey, where we continue to make headway recruiting the right physicians and expanding our delivery of high-complexity care. As more physicians recognize the many distinct advantages of the AunaWay and join our team, we are beginning to see increases in doctor productivity. New physician recruitment and compensation models are producing growth in a number of high-complexity services. During the remainder of the year and into 2025 we expect to harvest our efforts to raise occupancy levels in Mexico, particularly occupancy related to high-complexity care. All of this is a deliberate and gradual process that results from fostering our unique culture of patient care in Monterrey. Both our Peruvian and Colombian operations continued to perform well during the quarter, further validating our scalable business model and growth strategy. Given the increasing predictability of our diversified regional platform's performance, we remain confident in our plan to achieve similar performance levels in Mexico. Our payors are also integral to succeeding in Mexico, many of which are already familiar with Auna's high standards of care. We are offering them tailored products and bundled services similar to those in Peru and Colombia, where we have forged many win-win partnerships. We are very proud to have launched OncoMexico. Leveraging our 35 years of experience in integrated oncological services and AunaSeguros' (previously Dentegra) strong and extensive distribution platform in Mexico, we will gradually roll out OncoMexico, the country's first integrated cancer insurance plan. We intend to replicate our past success, including the goal of operating with the same long-term Medical Loss Ratio ("MLR") and high standards of OncoSalud. During the rest of this year, we will establish the necessary capabilities to roll-out OncoMexico at scale in 2025, including commercial, clinical and risk-underwriting operations, among others. Looking ahead, we remain excited about Auna's near and long-term growth opportunities, particularly given that we are in the relatively early stages of penetrating Spanish-speaking Latin America's fragmented and underserved healthcare market. Through our unique operating model and scalable regional platform, we will continue to disrupt, modernize, and increase access to integrated healthcare in the region, always with the aim of providing high value to our patients, their families, Auna staff, and shareholders. Overview of 2Q24 Consolidated Results Consolidated revenues increased 18% YoY to S/1,120 million, or 12.5% FXN, as a result of Auna's business mix, with revenues increasing 15% and 18% FXN in Peru and Colombia, respectively. In Mexico, revenues increased 3% FXN, reflecting an improved service mix through the implementation of the AunaWay. Auna's Peruvian operation continues to outperform, demonstrating again the success of the Company's vertically integrated business model when operating at scale. Adjusted EBITDA increased 31% YoY, or S/58 million, to S/248 million, or 25% on an FXN basis, with the corresponding margin expanding to 22.1% on solid revenue growth and increasing efficiencies across local and regional levels as the Company continues to capture synergies and streamline processes. Operating profit increased 34% YoY, mainly due to a 19% increase in gross profit. Net finance costs were S/182 million. When excluding FX effects, net interest expenses would have been S/133 million, an increase of 5% versus 2Q23. These FX effects include a negative non-cash accounting FX expense of S/49 million, corresponding mainly to the movement of the Peruvian Sol below the floor of USD/PEN hedges. Net Income was S/8 million in 2Q24, compared to a Net loss of S/8 million in 1Q24 and Net income of S/23 million in 2Q23. The increases in Operating profit and deferred tax benefits versus 2Q23 were offset by the abovementioned negative FX effect. Adjusted Net Income was S/13 million in 2Q24, lower than S/36 million in 2Q23 and S/22 million in 1Q24, mainly due to the negative non-cash FX effect explained above. On a quarterly per share basis, Auna reported Net Income of S/0.05 and Adjusted Net Income of S/0.12, both based on a weighted average number of outstanding shares of 73,970,299, which includes a stock-based payment for 52,722 shares granted but not yet issued. For a full version of AUNA's Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Release, please visit: https://aunainvestors.com/English/financial-information/quarterly-results/ Conference Call Details When: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, August 21st, 2024 Who: Mr. Suso Zamora, Executive Chairman of the Board and President; Mrs. Gisele Remy, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President; Ms. Ana Maria Mora, Head of Investor Relations Dial-in: +1 888 596 4144 (U.S. domestic), +1 646 968 2525 (International) Passcode: 3884034 To access Auna's financial results call via telephone, callers need to press to be connected to an operator. Webcast: click here Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements convey our current expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to, "or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements that appear in a number of places in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, regarding various matters, including, our expected 2024 Adjusted EBITDA growth, the expected impact on revenues and profitability of certain initiatives we are pursuing in Mexico and our target leverage level. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this press release may turn out to be inaccurate. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our expectations and forecasts as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release. For a discussion of the risks facing the Company which could affect whether these forward-looking statements are realized, see our Form F-1 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 2024 Financial Guidance Disclaimer Auna's guidance is based on management's current performance outlook and expected macroeconomic and regulatory conditions in the three countries where the Company operates. Any changes in these conditions could have an impact on the guidance provided. The 2024 financial guidance reflects management's current assumptions regarding numerous evolving factors that are difficult to accurately predict, including those discussed in the Risk Factors set forth in the Company's Form F-1 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Reconciliations of forward-looking non-IFRS measures, specifically the 2024 EBITDA guidance, to the relevant forward-looking IFRS measures are not being provided, as the Company does not currently have sufficient data to accurately estimate the variables and individual adjustments for such guidance and reconciliations. Due to this uncertainty, the Company cannot reconcile projected EBITDA to projected net income without unreasonable effort. The 2024 financial guidance constitutes forward-looking statements. For more information, see the "Forward-Looking Statements" section in this release. About AUNA Auna is a leading healthcare platform in Latin American healthcare company with operations in Mexico, Peru and Colombia, prioritizing prevention and concentrating on high-complexity diseases that contribute the most to healthcare expenditures. Our mission is to transform healthcare by providing access to a highly integrated healthcare offering in the underpenetrated markets of Spanish-Speaking Americas. Founded in 1989, Auna has built one of Latin America's largest modern healthcare platforms that consists of a horizontally integrated network of healthcare facilities and a vertically integrated portfolio of oncological plans and selected general healthcare plans. As of June 30, 2024, Auna's network included 31 healthcare network facilities, consisting of hospitals, outpatient, prevention and wellness facilities with a total of 2,308 beds, and 1.3 million healthcare plans. For more information visit www.aunainvestors.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821215904/en/ Contacts: IR Contact Email: contact@aunainvestors.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Wellfield Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WFLD) (the "Company" or "Wellfield") is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's June 3, 2024 news release (the "Original News Release"), the Company has decreased the aggregate indebtedness to be settled (the "Debt Settlement") through the issuance of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") to $676,970 (the "Debt") through the issuance of 11,043,395 Common Shares (the "Settlement Shares"). As previously announced in the Original News Release, the Settlement Shares will be issued to satisfy the Company's outstanding debt related to the principal and accrued but unpaid portions of the interest payments outstanding under certain convertible debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") as well as certain payables for consulting services provided to the Company (the "Consulting Payables"). The Settlement Shares are proposed to be issued to the creditors at a deemed price of $0.06 per Settlement Share with respect to the Debentures and $0.0714 per Settlement Share with respect to the Consulting Payables. The Settlement Shares issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement shall be subject to the statutory hold period of four months and one day, and the Debt Settlement remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). About Wellfield Technologies Wellfield is an R&D focused Fintech company that operates on public blockchains including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Company operates a regulated platform that onboards customers globally at scale, leveraging its proprietary decentralized technology to offer highly disruptive on-chain self-custody solutions. Wellfield operates through two brands: Coinmama, which with a growing base of more than 3.5 million registered users, is one of the most trusted and enduring global brands operating in the crypto space; and Wellfield Capital, which the Company announced in late 2022 to meet the needs of institutional users and professional investors. Join Wellfield's digital community on LinkedIn and Twitter, and for more details, visit wellfield.io Cautionary Notice on Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange of the transactions contemplated herein, which are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking information necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and results in to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the Company satisfying the conditions for TSX Venture Exchange approval of the transactions herein; and general business, financial market, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive and readers are encouraged to review the disclosure documents accessible on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) has approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release, nor do they accept 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/220732 SOURCE: Wellfield Technologies Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - IberAmerican Lithium Corp. (Cboe CA: IBER) (OTCQB: IBRLF) (FSE: W2C) ("IberAmerican" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Federico Restrepo-Solano and Mr. Laureano von Siegmund to the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"). Mr. Restrepo-Solano is an experienced executive and director who has over 25 years experience in the mining industry and Mr. von Siegmund has over 30 years of legal experience and expertise in several areas, including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and mining. Eugene McBurney, Chairman of Board, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Federico Restrepo-Solano and Mr. Laureano von Siegmund to the Board. Mr. Restrepo-Solano and Mr. von Siegmund bring with them decades of capital markets expertise, business acumen and mining industry experience and I look forward to working with them as the Company enters the next stage of its growth and continues to advance its Alberta II and Carlota Properties in Spain." The appointments of Mr. Restrepo-Solano and Mr. von Siegmund to the Board are subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals, including the final approval of Cboe Canada. About IberAmerican Lithium Corp. IberAmerican Lithium Corp. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Alberta II & Carlota Properties located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain. IberAmerican's properties are located in a favorable lithium district with world class infrastructure and a supportive and proactive mining jurisdiction. Additional information on IberAmerican is available at www.iberamericanlithium.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of IberAmerican to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2024, which is available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include but are not limited to, the risks associated with the mining and exploration industry, such as operational risks in development or capital expenditures, the uncertainty of projections relating to production, and any delays or changes in plans with respect to the exploitation of the site. Forward-looking statements contained herein, are made as of the date of this news release, and IberAmerican disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220672 SOURCE: IberAmerican Lithium Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news release dated August 12, 2024, the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of 5,150,000 units (each a "Unit"). The Private Placement was oversubscribed by 150,000 Units and on closing, the Company issued 5,150,000 Units at $0.06 per Unit for proceeds of $309,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one half of a non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant") with each whole Warrant exercisable into one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.08 per share for two years from the date of issue. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for exploration, maintenance of the Shotgun Gold project and for general working capital purposes. All Private Placement securities will be restricted from trading for a period of four months plus one day from the date of closing. ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP. TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company. Our business model provides a unique entry point in the creation of supply chains for critical materials like energy metals that are powering the energy rEVolution, and the gold industry that is providing a hedge for this stage of the economic cycle. Our portfolio provides a unique combination of assets with exposure to multiple aspects of the mining cycle: the power of blue-sky discovery and important partnerships with industry leaders as operators on the projects that have the potential to generate royalty cashflows that will contribute significant value for our shareholders. Over the past twenty-eight years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality global exploration projects. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, the potential of the Mariana Lithium Project and Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina among many others have been recognized. TNR holds a 1.5% NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina, of which 0.15% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. Ganfeng Lithium's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina ("LMA"), has the right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR royalty on the Mariana Project, of which 0.9% is the Company's NSR Royalty interest. The Company would receive CAN$900,000 and its shareholder would receive CAN$100,000 on the repurchase by LMA, resulting in TNR holding a 0.45% NSR royalty and its shareholder holding a 0.05% NSR royalty. The Mariana Lithium Project is 100% owned by Ganfeng Lithium. The Mariana Lithium Project has been approved by the Argentina provincial government of Salta for an environmental impact report, and the construction of a 20,000 tons-per-annum lithium chloride plant has commenced. TNR Gold also holds a 0.4% NSR Royalty on the Los Azules Copper Project, of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. The Los Azules Copper Project is being developed by McEwen Mining. TNR also holds a 7% net profits royalty holding on the Batidero I and II properties of the Josemaria Project that is being developed by Lundin Mining. Lundin Mining is part of the Lundin Group, a portfolio of companies producing a variety of commodities in several countries worldwide. TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources. The Company's strategy with the Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with a major gold mining company. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties. At its core, TNR provides a wide scope of exposure to gold, copper, silver and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and royalty holdings in Argentina (the Mariana Lithium project, the Los Azules Copper Project and the Batidero I & II properties of the Josemaria Project), and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value. 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives, changes in share capital, market conditions for energy commodities, the results of McEwen Mining's, Ganfeng Lithium's, Josemaria Resources' and Lundin Mining's preliminary economic assessments, Feasibility Study, or Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine and mine closure plans and improvements in the financial performance of the Company. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will be able to repay its loans or complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales; debt or other financing will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties challenging in the future the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on. In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc., Ganfeng Lithium, Josemaria Resources and Lundin Mining will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES 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/220739 SOURCE: TNR Gold Corp. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR TO BE TRANSMITTED, DISTRIBUTED TO, OR SENT BY, ANY NATIONAL OR RESIDENT OR CITIZEN OF ANY SUCH COUNTRIES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION MAY CONTRAVENE LOCAL SECURITIES LAWS OR REGULATIONS. This announcement is an advertisement and not an admission document or a prospectus and does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or a solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities nor should it be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction. Potential investors should not purchase or subscribe for any transferable securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information in the final form of an admission document (the "Admission Document") which may be published in due course in connection with the proposed admission of its issued and to be issued common shares ("Common Shares") to trading on AIM, a market operated by London Stock Exchange plc ("AIM"). Upon such publication the Admission Document will supersede this announcement and the information contained herein in its entirety and your investment decision, if any, must be made only on the basis of the information contained therein. It should be noted that an investment in any transferable securities referred to in this announcement carries a number of risks and that the value of investments may go down as well as up. Investors should take independent advice from a person experienced in advising on investment in securities such as those referred to in this announcement if they are in doubt. Pulsar Helium Inc. (TSXV:PLSR)(OTCQB:PSRHF) ("Pulsar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce receipt of an independent technical report of the Contingent and Prospective Resources for helium and CO2 from Sproule International Limited ("Sproule") from one prospect at the Company's flagship Topaz Project in Minnesota (the "2024 Sproule Report"). The evaluation relates to the Company's first half 2024 drilling of the Jetstream #1 appraisal well* and geophysical surveys conducted across the prospect. The contingent and prospective resource acreage covered in the 2024 Sproule Report represents approximately 13% of the Company's gross land position that it has under lease and exclusive option. Pulsar is also pleased to announce its intention to apply for the admission to trading of the Company's Common Shares on AIM, with a target admission date before the end of October 2024 (the "AIM IPO"). The AIM IPO is supplementary to the Company's existing listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") in Canada. Based on feedback from a recent corporate roadshow arranged for the Company by OAK Securities, the Company believes the AIM IPO will enhance its access to UK and European based investors, from whom it is proposing to raise approximately 5 million in connection with the AIM IPO. A principal of OAK Securities has agreed to cornerstone the IPO capital raising by advancing to the Company 1.125 million to fund the long lead items for the deepening of the Jetstream #1 well, expected to commence in October 2024, and the AIM IPO costs (the "Cornerstone Investment"). The mechanics of the Cornerstone Investment are detailed below. * In the State of Minnesota, the regulatory term is 'exploratory boring'. Resource Highlights from one prospect at the Topaz Project: Helium Resources Evaluation (unrisked, gross recoverable) 44% increase to Sproule's previous helium Contingent Best Estimate (2C) Gross Recoverable Resource, now 22.9 million standard cubic feet ("MMcf"), Pmean of 79.0 MMcf, and P10 of 174.0 MMcf 12,165% increase to the helium Prospective Best Estimate (2U) Gross Recoverable Resource, now 380.2 MMcf, Pmean of 1.3 billion cubic feet ("Bcf"), and P10 of 2.8 Bcf CO2 Resources Evaluation (unrisked, gross recoverable) Maiden CO2 Contingent Best Estimate (2C) Gross Recoverable Resource, 171.8 MMcf, Pmean of 597.7 MMcf, and P10 of 1.3 Bcf Maiden CO2 Prospective Best Estimate (2U) Gross Recoverable Resource, 2.9 Bcf, Pmean of 10.1 Bcf, and P10 of 21.3 Bcf Due to an ongoing shortage of CO2 in the USA, with bulk CO2 purchases increasing up to USD$32 per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf"), it has the potential to be a bonus and valuable by-product of Pulsar's helium production* Chance of commerciality The 2024 Sproule Report states: "Chance of Commerciality (Pc) is the likelihood that the Topaz Project will, in a timely manner, be able to be commercialized. The Topaz project has both commercial concentration helium and CO2 and there are no significant environmental nor logistical barriers to commercialization given its location. Therefore, given the Resource base, the Pc is fairly high for an early stage project with a value of 0.65." The contingent resources estimated in the 2024 Sproule Report relates to one prospect within the Topaz Project, comprising acreage under the Company's leases surrounding the Jetstream #1 well, and the acreage of the prospective resources is under the Company's leases and exclusive options. The contingent and prospective resource acreage covered in the 2024 Sproule Report represents approximately 13% of the Company's gross land position that it has under lease and exclusive option. Thomas Abraham-James, President & CEO of Pulsar, commented: "The resource evaluation is significant as it is based only on one prospect within the Topaz Project and data from only one well, Jetstream #1, which naturally flowed high-concentration helium of up to 14.5% to surface and without the presence of water. Such positive estimations received from a single and comparatively shallow well are hugely encouraging ahead of further exploration, which Pulsar has scheduled for Q4 2024. Data indicates that the well penetrated only the top of the helium-bearing fracture zone which is likely to persist for a further 1,650ft (500m) vertical depth. Therefore deepening of the Jetstream #1 well, scheduled for Q4 2024, is likely to have a significant impact on the next iteration of the resource estimation. We have made great progress in our first year as a listed entity and intend to build on this success and realise Topaz's full potential." Thomas further commented: "The process to dual-list the Company's securities on London's AIM market is underway, with AIM being an attractive exchange for growth industrial gas companies. We have very strong interest from UK and European investors, underpinned by an immediate 1.125m cornerstone investment in the IPO from a principal of our UK broker, OAK Securities." *This is for context and does not form part of the resource report. Outlook The Jetstream #1 well confirmed the presence of helium and CO2 bearing gas identified in the original LOD-6 discovery well and has substantially de-risked the Topaz Project. In addition, Jetstream #1 correlates with seismic data acquired by the Company which shows a distinct velocity anomaly at the depth of the gas zone that persists for a further ~500m and it is the Company's near-term intention to deepen Jetstream #1 to test the full scale of the seismic velocity anomaly. This is also proposed to be accompanied by a step out well and additional seismic acquisition with the intention of increasing the size of the resource base and delineating additional prospects. The Company intends to commission a third-party preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study, with the intention of identifying near-term production scenarios. Company Analysis of Material Changes from the 2022 Sproule Report Sproule last reported on Pulsar's Topaz Project with its "Evaluation of the Helium Resources of RGGS Land & Minerals, Ltd., L.P. in Minnesota, USA for Pulsar in April of 2022" (the "2022 Sproule Report"). There have been several material changes to the Topaz Project since that report, the most notable being Pulsar's drilling of the Jetstream #1 well. This well confirmed the presence of a fractured reservoir that contained native gas with high concentrations of both helium and carbon dioxide. In the 2022 Sproule Report, Sproule used a Low Case Reservoir Model of a single fracture which has now been disproven as the Jetstream #1 well has multiple fractures with gas shows. Additionally, the 2022 Sproule Report used a High Case Reservoir Model of a vugular dual porosity system which has likewise been disproven. Using conventional oil and gas testing equipment, the Jetstream #1 well tested reservoir pressures and flow rates and obtained multiple reliable gas analysis. Pulsar also acquired multiple geophysical surveys across the Topaz Project which have been integrated into the analysis of both the Jetstream #1 well and the historical mineral wellbores. These various geophysical surveys have been interpreted to show an extended gas filled fracture network deeper than the penetration of the Jetstream #1 well and more laterally extensive. These 3D volumes have been accounted for as Prospective Resources as they have yet to be tested by any wells. The Company's land holdings that are evaluated in the 2024 Sproule Report consist of a helium discovery located approximately 100 km northeast of Duluth, in Lake County, Minnesota, USA. Gas samples were taken from the flowing well test and analyzed by Isotech Laboratories. 21 samples over 12 days were compositionally analyzed and had a range of helium of 14.48-7.91% by volume with an average of 9.91%. The carbon dioxide percentages ranged from 21.5% to 71.28% by volume with an average of 62.49%. The Company notes that Jetstream #1 was drilled within 50ft (15m) of the LOD-6 discovery well (drilled in 2011), a mineral exploration borehole that encountered an uncontrolled gas from a depth of 1,778ft (542m), with concentration of 10.5% helium, measured in 2011. The gas flowed naturally to surface and showed no sign of pressure decline during the flow period of four days. Jetstream #1 was designed to twin this discovery and encountered gas which naturally flowed to surface at a similar depth of between 1,740 - 1,975ft and had a maximum measured absolute open flow rate of 821 Mcf/d from fractured igneous reservoirs, with 8.7-14.5% helium and 62-74% CO2 measured, with no formation water present. Total depth drilled was 2,200ft, and Jetstream #1 is in a suspended state capable of being either re-entered or used for production. In May 2024, the State of Minnesota enacted legislation that includes helium exploration, production and for leasing on state lands. The new regulatory framework allows the State of Minnesota to issue leases for exploration and production of non-hydrocarbon gases (including helium), with Pulsar already having lodged an application for new leases in areas of interest for helium and hydrogen. Prior to the new regulations, leases could only be issued on mineral rights that are privately held, accordingly all of Pulsar's existing leases are with private entities. Helium Contingent and Prospective Resources Report Prepared by Sproule, an Independent Evaluator Pulsar is pleased to share summary estimates from its Contingent Resources and Prospective Helium and CO2 Resources Report prepared by Sproule, an independent qualified reserves evaluator, dated August 21, 2024. All volumes are reported as unrisked and there is both a geological risk (Pg) and a Chance of Commerciality (Pc) that requires independent evaluation. The Chance of Commerciality (Pc) is the likelihood that the Topaz Project will, in a timely manner, be able to be commercialized. The Topaz Project has both commercial concentration helium (being not less than 0.5% by volume of gas) and CO2 and there are no significant environmental nor logistical barriers to commercialization given its location. Therefore, given the Resource base, the Pc is fairly high for an early stage project with a value of 0.65. The Contingent and Prospective Resources data presented in the 2024 Sproule Report was prepared in accordance with the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook") as of July 31, 2024. No economic evaluation was performed Sproule for any of the assigned resources. The evaluation adheres in all material aspects to the principles and definitions in the COGE Handbook. The Company is not deemed to be engaged in oil and gas activities and as such they are not required to disclose under National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. Additionally, Helium is not a defined "Product Type" in NI 51-101. Consequently, any reference to contingent or prospective resources in the 2024 Sproule Report should not be interpreted in being prepared in accordance with NI 51-101. Evaluated Helium Contingent and Prospective Resources as of July 31, 2024 (unrisked) Category / Level of Certainty Recoverable Contingent Recoverable Prospective Recoverable Contingent Recoverable Prospective Gross (MMcf) Gross (MMcf) Net (MMcf) Net (MMcf) Low Estimate 3.2 53.5 1.6 11.5 Best Estimate 22.9 380.2 5.9 40.3 High Estimate 174.0 2,785.7 34.9 205.9 Evaluated CO2 Contingent and Prospective Resources as of July 31, 2024 (unrisked) Category / Level of Certainty Recoverable Contingent Recoverable Prospective Recoverable Contingent Recoverable Prospective Gross (MMcf) Gross (MMcf) Net (MMcf) Net (MMcf) Low Estimate 24.2 410.2 11.9 88.0 Best Estimate 171.8 2,862.1 44.6 303.7 High Estimate 1,331.4 21,254.6 266.7 1,570.7 Notes : Low Estimate - P90; Best Estimate - P50; High Estimate - P10. The helium and CO2 resources are presented in millions of cubic feet (MMcf), at base conditions of 14.65 psia and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The resources are technical before any commercial or economic truncation. The net resources stated are derived from Sproule's calculation of the Company's Net Revenue Interest in the applicable resource. Net Revenue Interest was calculated by taking the gross recoverable volumes attributable to a particular lease multiplied by the working interest and accounting for any royalties, severances or other payments required. Additional Information Regarding the Contingent Resources Contingent Resources are those quantities of gas estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from known accumulations using established technology or technology under development but which are not currently considered to be commercially recoverable due to one or more contingencies. There is uncertainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. Contingent Resources do not constitute, and should not be confused with, reserves. Four contingencies are identified for the Topaz Project development: 1) Evaluation Drilling & Testing: There is a requirement for more evaluation drilling to confirm the geological continuity of the reservoir and to reduce the uncertainty of the area of continuity of the reservoir from the proven productivity of the near wellbores. It is anticipated that as the Company continues to pursue primary development of the reservoir, commercial productivity will be established by testing closer to and within the primary production contingent resource areas, at which time this contingency would be removed. 2) Corporate Commitment: There has been no final investment decision and endorsement from the Company to move forward with commercial development of this asset. Gathering of the additional technical data is required to establish the commerciality of the project and make the final investment decision. Additionally, a detailed development plan has not been determined and further work needs to be completed to confirm how the resources will be developed. Currently, the Company is working on securing additional acreage by exercising lease options, pursuing additional lands, engaging vendors for drilling activities and engaging with local government and regulatory bodies. It is anticipated that as the development plan is refined the Company would be able to make a final investment decision, at which point this contingency would be lifted. 3) Market Access: There is a viable helium and carbon dioxide market in Minnesota. Considering the early stage of the project, the Company will be required to build helium extraction facilities as well as execute a helium and/or CO2 sales contract to allow for the product to reach markets. Once determination of market access has been completed, or will be completed in the near term, this contingency may be lifted. 4) Demonstration of commerciality: Once the uncertainties on the reservoir size are reduced and the determination of market access has been negotiated the field development plan can be designed and the economics can be calculated to determine a basis for commerciality and reserve determination. Additional Information Regarding the Prospective Resources The estimated quantities of a gas that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project(s) relate to undiscovered accumulations. These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration appraisal and evaluation is required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially moveable non-hydrocarbon gases. Risk The Topaz Project has twice flowed and tested helium and carbon dioxide gas in volumetrically significant percentages and both wells demonstrated shut-in pressures that indicated a reservoir that extended beyond the immediate area of the wellbores. The Jetstream #1 well has been logged, cored and with an optical televiewer log has confirmed the presences of open, gas filled fractures. Therefore, the Geological Chance of Success for the Contingent Resource (Pg) has been assessed as 0.95. The Prospective Resources are defined by the integration of a variety of geophysical methods that have tied back to multiple boreholes, including the Jetstream #1 well. These resources by definition are untested and undrilled and have a much higher risk. The largest uncertainty is the ability to locate the fracture network with the drill bit and the amount of regional connectivity of the fracture network. The estimated Geological Chance of Success for the Prospective Resources is assessed as 0.25. The Company is planning additional 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition for the purpose of reducing these uncertainties and following the acquisition, processing and interpretation it is anticipated that the Pg of the Prospective Resources will increase. The Chance of Commerciality (Pc) is the likelihood that the Topaz Project will, in a timely manner, be able to be commercialized. The Topaz project has both commercial grade helium and CO2 and there are no significant environmental or logistical barriers to commercialization given its location. Therefore, given the Resource base, the Pc is fairly high for an early-stage project with an estimated value of 0.65. AIM Dual-Listing and Financing The Cornerstone Investment of 1.125 million will be made by way of a subscription for special warrants (the "Special Warrants") of the Company by Jerome Anthony Keen, a principal of OAK Securities (the "OAK Subscriber"), pursuant to a special warrant subscription agreement between the OAK Subscriber and the Company entered into on 21 August 2024. The Cornerstone Investment will be made by no later than 30 August 2024 and will form part of the 5 million that the Company is proposing to raise in connection with the AIM IPO. The Special Warrants will entitle the holder on the exercise thereof to receive, without payment of any further consideration, such number of depositary interests over Common Shares equivalent to 1.125 million divided by the AIM IPO price, to be priced in the context of the market, subject to admission to trading on AIM of the Common Shares occurring by 31 October 2024 (or such later date as the OAK Subscriber, in its absolute discretion, may notify the Company in writing). If the AIM IPO has not occurred by 31 October 2024 (or such later date as the OAK Subscriber, in its absolute discretion, may notify the Company in writing), the Special Warrants will automatically be deemed exercised and entitle the OAK Subscriber to receive, without payment of any further consideration, such number of Common Shares equivalent to 1.2x the amount of the Cornerstone Investment (being C$2,400,000) divided by the market price of the Common Shares at that time, subject to receipt of TSX-V approval. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the AIM IPO primarily to fund the cost of the ongoing exploration programs at the Company's Topaz Project and for general working capital purposes. As part of the AIM IPO process, the 2024 Sproule Report will be updated to produce a competent person's report in accordance with the requirements of AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies. In addition, the Company intends to augment the structure of its Board in readiness for the AIM IPO. Nomad & Broker Appointments In connection with the AIM IPO, Pulsar has appointed Strand Hanson Limited as its Nominated and Financial Adviser and OAK Securities as its Broker. About Pulsar Helium Inc. Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with the ticker PLSR and on the OTCQB with the ticker PSRHF. Pulsar's portfolio consists of its flagship Topaz helium project in Minnesota, USA, that has been drilled and flowed up to 14.5% helium, USA and the Tunu helium project in Greenland. Pulsar is the first mover in both locations with primary helium occurrences not associated with the production of hydrocarbons identified at each. For further information visit https://pulsarhelium.com, follow us on X https://twitter.com/pulsarhelium?lang=en and LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/company/pulsar-helium-inc. On behalf Pulsar Helium Inc. "Thomas Abraham-James" President, CEO and Director Further Information: Pulsar Helium Inc. connect@pulsarhelium.com + 1 (604) 599-0310 OAK Securities* info@OAK-securities.com +44 203 973 3678 *OAK Securities is the trading name of Merlin Partners LLP, a firm incorporated in the United Kingdom and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. 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. IMPORTANT INFORMATION The communication of this announcement is not being made, and has not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The contents of this announcement, which has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of the Company, has not been approved by either of Strand Hanson Limited ("Strand") or OAK Securities (a trading name of Merlin Partners LLP) ("OAK") for the purposes of section 21(2)(b) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended). Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken or transmitted, published or distributed, directly or indirectly, in, into or from any restricted jurisdiction or to any persons in any of those jurisdictions or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant securities laws of such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States, Australian, Japanese or South African securities laws. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any shares or other securities in any restricted jurisdiction. The distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the Admission in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and persons into whose possession this announcement, any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Neither this announcement nor any part of it nor the fact of its distribution shall form the basis of or be relied on in connection with or act as an inducement to enter into any contract or commitment whatsoever. This announcement is directed only at persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing and disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business and who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and are: (i) if in a member state of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), Qualified Investors as defined in article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "EU Prospectus Regulation"); (ii) if in the United Kingdom, are Qualified Investors as defined in article 2(e) of the EU Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and (a) fall within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order") or (b) are persons who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (c) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully distributed (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This announcement does not itself constitute an offer for sale or subscription of any securities in the Company. The Common Shares referred to in this Announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act") or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act or an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States. Any subscription for or purchase of Common Shares should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the final Admission Document to be published by the Company in connection with the Admission. The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may or should be placed for any purposes whatsoever on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, completeness or fairness. The information in this announcement is subject to change. However, the Company does not undertake to provide the recipient of this announcement with any additional information, or to update this announcement or to correct any inaccuracies, and the distribution of this announcement shall not be deemed to be any form of commitment on the part of the Company to proceed with the Admission or any transaction or arrangement referred to in this announcement. This announcement has not been approved by any competent regulatory authority. Strand and/or OAK and any of their respective affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase Common Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such Common Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Admission or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the Admission Document, once published, to the Common Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by Strand and/or OAK and any of their respective affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. In addition, Strand and/or OAK or their respective affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps in connection with which it or its affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Common Shares. Neither Strand nor OAK has any intention to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so. Strand, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is acting exclusively for the Company as the Company's nominated adviser for the purposes of the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules") and no one else in connection with the Admission, and Strand will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Admission or any other matters referred to in this announcement. OAK, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom is acting exclusively for the Company as the Company's broker for the purposes of the AIM Rules and no one else in connection with the Admission, and OAK will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Admission or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Strand, nor OAK nor any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents or any other person accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. The anticipated timetable for Admission, including the publication of the Admission Document and/or the date of Admission, may be influenced by a range of circumstances, including market conditions. There is no guarantee that the Admission Document will be published or that Admission will occur and investors should not base their financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to the Admission at this stage. The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance, and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. Certain figures contained in this announcement, including financial information, have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, in certain instances, the sum or percentage change of the numbers contained in this announcement may not conform exactly to the total figure given. Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement. Solely for the purposes of Paragraph 3.2.7R regarding the responsibilities of UK Manufacturers under the Product Governance requirements contained within Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Common Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Common Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of (a) retail investors, (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and (c) eligible counterparties, each as defined in UK Product Governance Requirements; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by UK Product Governance Requirements (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Common Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Common Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Common Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Fundraising. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to, the Common Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. EU Product Governance Requirements Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("EU MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing EU MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "EU MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the EU MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Common Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that the Common Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail clients and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by EU MiFID II (the "EU Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the EU Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Common Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Common Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Common Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The EU Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the possible Offer. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the EU Target Market Assessment, the Investment Firms will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the EU Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of EU MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Common Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Common Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Company's intention to apply for admission to trading of the Company's common shares on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and the timing of its targeted admission; the independent resource estimate for helium and CO2 at Topaz; the potential of CO2 as a valuable by-product of the Company's future helium production; the estimated Geological Chance of Success for the Prospective Resources and the Chance of Commerciality of Topaz; the potential for deepening Jetstream #1 and the potential impact of such deepening on the next iteration of the resource estimate; the Company's expectation that its application on an additional 32,949 acres for the extraction of non-hydrocarbon gases will be granted in the near term; and the intended use of proceeds from the AIM IPO. Forward-looking statements may involve estimates and are based upon assumptions made by management of the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company's capital cost estimates, management's expectations regarding the availability of capital to fund the Company's future capital and operating requirements and the ability to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals. No reserves have been assigned in connection with the Company's property interests to date, given their early stage of development. The future value of the Company is therefore dependent on the success or otherwise of its activities, which are principally directed toward the future exploration, appraisal and development of its assets, and potential acquisition of property interests in the future. Un-risked Contingent and Prospective Helium Volumes have been defined at the Topaz Project. However, estimating helium volumes is subject to significant uncertainties associated with technical data and the interpretation of that data, future commodity prices, and development and operating costs. There can be no guarantee that the Company will successfully convert its helium volume to reserves and produce that estimated volume. Estimates may alter significantly or become more uncertain when new information becomes available due to for example, additional drilling or production tests over the life of field. As estimates change, development and production plans may also vary. Downward revision of helium volume estimates may adversely affect the Company's operational or financial performance. Helium volume estimates are expressions of judgement based on knowledge, experience and industry practice. These estimates are imprecise and depend to some extent on interpretations, which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate and require adjustment or, even if valid when originally calculated, may alter significantly when new information or techniques become available. As further information becomes available through additional drilling and analysis the estimates are likely to change. Any adjustments to volume could affect the Company's exploration and development plans which may, in turn, affect the Company's performance. The process of estimating helium resources is complex and requires significant decisions and assumptions to be made in evaluating the reliability of available geological, geophysical, engineering, and economic date for each property. Different engineers may make different estimates of resources, cash flows, or other variables based on the same available data. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward- looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, that Pulsar may be unsuccessful in drilling commercially productive wells; the uncertainty of resource estimation; operational risks in conducting exploration, including that drill costs may be higher than estimates and the potential for delays in the commencement of drilling; commodity prices; health, safety and environmental factors; and other factors set forth above as well as under "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements and Market and Industry Data" and "Risk Factors" in the Final Prospectus dated July 31, 2023 filed on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. No assurance can be given that the forward-looking statements herein will prove to be correct and, accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Pulsar Helium Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - Veta Resources Inc. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release on June 28, 2024, MetaWorld Corporation (dba Syntheia) ("Syntheia") has received conditional approval ("Conditional Approval") to list the common shares of the Company following the completion of the amalgamation transaction between the Company and Syntheia (the "Resulting Issuer") on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). The Conditional Approval to list on the CSE (the "Listing") is contingent upon the Resulting Issuer meeting specific requirements set by the CSE, including, without limitation: (i) completion of the concurrent financing of Syntheia; (ii) posting on SEDAR+ the required documents, including Form 2A - Listing Statement and other forms that may be required by the CSE; and (iii) completion of any and all outstanding CSE application documentation and payment of fees pursuant to the policies of CSE. Syntheia is committed to satisfying these conditions promptly and expects to secure final approval following the completion of the final tranche of the ongoing concurrent financing. The Company and Syntheia will provide a further update with respect to the date of Listing upon completion of the final tranche of the concurrent financing and submission of the final documentation with CSE. About Syntheia Syntheia is an early-stage artificial intelligence technology company, channeling its efforts into refining and expanding its proprietary, conversational AI-based platform (the "Syntheia AI Platform"). The Syntheia AI Platform represents the integration of natural language processing ("NLP") technology, enabling it to not only understand but also respond to human language with accuracy. The Syntheia AI Platform, a generative, AI-powered algorithm equipped with a human-like voice, boasts self-learning capabilities derived from NLP methodologies. Currently in beta testing, the Syntheia AI Platform is crafted to offer a suite of automated solutions, particularly for retail-focused businesses where customer interaction and service are key to operations. At the heart of the Syntheia AI Platform is its use of AI to emulate human cognitive processes, combined with a sophisticated large language model, which is integral for interpreting and generating human-like language responses. The common shares of the Company or the Resulting Issuer have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and financial outlook (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Statements containing the words "believe", "expect", "intend", "should", "seek", "anticipate", "will", "positioned", "project", "risk", "plan", "may", "estimate", or, in each case, their negative and words of similar meaning, are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release, which includes, but is not limited to, information relating to Syntheia closing on the remaining amount of its ongoing subscription receipt financing; and Syntheia receiving any required final approvals from the CSE in relation to the listing of its common shares in the expected timeframe. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220714 SOURCE: Veta Resources Inc. Informa Markets, the world's leading B2B event organizer, proudly announces Danica Cullins as the newly appointed Executive Vice President of Health and Nutrition for North America, managing both the Natural Products and SupplySide portfolio of brands, and Carlotta Mast in a new role as Senior Vice President of Global Community & Content Strategy across all of Informa Markets. These newly created roles are indicative of Informa Markets' increased focus on improving the customer experience for community and audience groups and optimizing return on customer investment. Mast served in the commercial leadership role for the New Hope Network brands from 2021 until taking on this expanded role serving Informa Markets' global community and content strategy in June. In her new role, Carlotta will apply her extensive experience using content, partnership and purpose to build and strengthen the natural and organic products communities to support other businesses across Informa Markets. She will focus on sharing best practices, inspiring teams with new routes to market, and demonstrating the ROI of focusing on content, community and partnership to enable long term growth, all with the goal of improving the customer experience and extending Informa Markets' positive impact worldwide. Cullins served in the commercial leadership role for the SupplySide network of brands over a similar timeline. In this new role as EVP of Health and Nutrition, she will oversee growth, strategy and commercial success of both the SupplySide and New Hope Network portfolios. Cullins will be instrumental in advancing each brand, ensuring they are well-positioned for the future, unlocking opportunities, and delivering even greater value to our customers. Both promotions are a result of tremendous leadership, and belief in the growth of the sector. "Danica Cullins' exceptional capabilities and successful leadership with SupplySide will transfer tremendously into this new expanded role, propelling the health and nutrition verticals to maximum synergy, to create innovative opportunities for our customers across both businesses," says Nancy Walsh, President, Informa Markets North America. "The addition of this leadership role is a testament not only to Danica's leadership, but to the long term confidence in, and appreciation of, the Health and Nutrition community and its boundless potential. We want to deliver more for our customers, and Danica's stewardship will help us do that." Cullins offers an extensive 26 years of industry experience, touching across senior roles in operations and sales. In early 2021, Cullins was tapped to lead the SupplySide platform of events and robust content product suite, specializing in consultative selling strategies, sales group structuring, organizational development and leadership, with a strong foundation in portfolio management and strategic planning with exceptional results. Leading SupplySide, Cullins instills the manifesto of "more health for more people," as a directing principle to ensure customer experience meets the highest standards of the health and nutrition community. "Empowerment and accountability are core foundational values that drive success with intent across our teams which SupplySide and New Hope Network are known for," adds Danica Cullins. "We look forward to bringing renewed energy and continuing creative solutions to the Health and Nutrition offerings and customer experiences at Informa Markets, as the industry evolves, so do we to meet the transforming needs of our audiences." As the new leader for Informa Markets Health and Nutrition, Cullins will collaborate closely with Carlotta Mast, a reputable industry veteran, whose newly created larger divisional role will also be focused on helping verticals across Informa Markets expand their sustainability knowledge and practices as part of an enhanced customer experience. Mast reports to Chief Customer Experience Officer Anna Hill in this new role. With a rich 30-year career in content, Mast joined Nutrition Business Journal as an editor in 2008, working her way up the ladder to SVP of Content and Insights, and then becoming SVP & Market Leader of New Hope Network in 2021, where she helped transform New Hope Network into a community- and purpose-driven portfolio of event and media brands serving the natural and organic product community. "Community is at the heart of everything we do at Informa Markets, and community engagement and leadership have been critical factors in New Hope Network's continued growth and success," says Carlotta Mast, SVP Global Community & Content Strategy, Informa Markets. "The vision is to share the value of community engagement, partnership and experiences for our customers on a global scale, to deliver more value and return on investment while also helping the markets we serve become more resilient and prepared for a changing future." "Customer Experience is the critical frontier for the events industry, and Informa Markets aims to be the leader in how we build those connections and experiences for the communities we serve," adds Anna Hill, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Informa Markets. "Creating this new role celebrates the excellence Carlotta has created within the natural and organic products community, emphasizing her innate sense of storytelling, partnership-building strengths and communal awareness, and sharing those with others. Our goal is to be a catalyst for exceptional moments, collaboration, and shared learning with the businesses that we devotedly serve, and I'm confident in Carlotta's ability to help deliver that." Both Cullins and Mast assumed their roles prior to Informa Markets' latest show launch, a new concept called Newtopia Now, whose first edition will be held August 25-28, 2024, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The highly anticipated annual show SupplySide West and Food ingredients North America will take also place October 28-31, 2024, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. About Informa Markets Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.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 SupplySide SupplySide events are the premier gatherings for innovation and discovery in the development of finished consumer goods that drive the global business economy. SupplySide brings together thousands of suppliers and buyers to explore and learn the latest products, services, research, regulatory changes and more in the health and nutrition industry for more than 26 years. The following SupplySide events and information products are produced by the Health and Nutrition group at Informa Markets: SupplySide East, SupplySide West, Natural Products Insider?and?Food & Beverage Insider. Media Contact Casey Clemenza VP of Corporate Communications, Informa Markets casey.clemenza@informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS View the original press release on accesswire.com Space Intelligence, an Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based provider of nature mapping derived from satellite data, received an investment from AzureX Space Ventures and Intercontinental Exchange. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to expand its catalog of mapping data across the worlds forests to support the development and financing of forest carbon projects, as well as nature impact monitoring across corporate supply chains. Led by CEO Dr. Murray Collins, Space Intelligence is a NatureTech company enabling zero deforestation and mass restoration of biodiverse forests globally by providing high quality nature mapping data. It combines expertise in remote sensing, data analytics, and forest ecology to provide data for forest carbon project stakeholders and nature impact reporting. The nature data catalog currently spans 640 million hectares across seven countries, providing information on land cover, deforestation, and regrowth. By the end of Q2 2025, the companys dataset will expand to cover more than 35 additional countries. Space Intelligence co-founders Dr. Murray Collins and Professor Ed Mitchard have nearly 40 combined years of academic and on-the-ground research in remote sensing using satellite data. They have grown the company to employ more than 50 staff members, including 20 mapping scientists and ecologists. The companys products are used by some of the largest developers and investors in forest carbon projects globally. The company is also set to release new data products in Q4 of this year for near real-time monitoring of deforestation and degradation, enhancing risk management and monitoring. FinSMEs 21/08/2024 Vandria, a Lausanne, Switzerland-based mitochondrial therapeutics company, raised an undisclosed amount in its second Series A funding. The round, which brought the total amount to $30.7M, saw participation from Hevolution Foundation and Dolby Family Ventures joined ND Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Led by Klaus Dugi, CEO, Vandria is a mitochondrial therapeutics company, developing mitophagy inducers that rejuvenate cells to treat age-related and chronic diseases. Its lead program, VNA-318, is a brain-penetrant, patent-protected, mitophagy inducer which has been shown to acutely improve memory and learning and to have disease-modifying effects in models of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. VNA-318 is expected to enter the clinic in 2024. The company is also developing mitophagy-inducing small molecules to address muscle, lung, and liver diseases. A separate program targets ferroptosis, a form of cell death implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and ischemia reperfusion injury. FinSMEs 21/08/2024 With such a stellar cast and crew, the addition of Iain Glen only heightens the excitement around the project read more Recently, a leaked image from the set of Anupam Khers directorial film Tanvi The Great has caused quite a buzz. The photo features Iain Glen, known for his role in Game of Thrones, who we hear is set to have a significant role in the movie. The film, produced by Anupam Kher Studio, boasts a talented team including Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keervani and Academy Award-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty. With such a stellar cast and crew, the addition of Iain Glen only heightens the excitement around the project. Advertisement The shooting schedule of the film is still on. Actor-director Anupam Kher recently expressed his gratitude to the Mumbai Police officials for their promptness in catching two persons in connection with a burglary at his office earlier this week. In an X post, the veteran actor had shared that two thieves broke into his Veera Desai Road office and stole the negatives of a film produced by his company Wednesday. The police Saturday took Majid Sheikh and Daler Bahreem Khan into custody from the Jogeshwari area Friday night for committing the crime. In an X post, the veteran actor had shared that two thieves broke into his Veera Desai Road office and stole the negatives of a film produced by his company Wednesday. The police Saturday took Majid Sheikh and Daler Bahreem Khan into custody from the Jogeshwari area Friday night for committing the crime. Kher shared a gratitude note for the police in an Instagram post. My heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for #MumbaiPolice for catching both the thieves who ransacked my office, stole my safe and the negative of #MaineGandhiKoNaiMara. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Poland, marking the first visit by an Indian PM in over 40 years. In India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with Mallikarjun Kharge will embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Srinagar ahead of polls. Heres what else will happen today read more Its going to be a news-heavy Wednesday, as PM Modi is scheduled to visit Poland, while, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is going to visit Jammu and Kashmir ahead of key polls. The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for a Bharat Bandh, in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is going to visit the US, to finalise several high-profile defence agreements between the two countries. Theres also Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention. Advertisement The 2024 World Robot Conference is being held in Beijing, showcasing over 60 types of humanoid robots. it will feature an exhibition with participation from 169 global companies. Heres what the day looks like PM Modis Poland visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Poland for a two-day trip, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in over forty years. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. The Financial Express reports that these talks are expected to centre on defence cooperation, trade, and strategic partnerships. PM Narendra Modis visit is aimed at enhancing ties with Poland. File Photo/AFP During his visit, Modi will also connect with the Indian community in Poland. As reported by ThePrint, he is set to pay tribute at the memorials dedicated to the Maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur. His itinerary may also include visits to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the memorial for the Battle of Monte Cassino. Modis visit is anticipated to reinvigorate the relationship between India and Poland. A source told ThePrint, One can say that the ties have remained dormant. However, it is hoped that PM Modis push will give it the required push and take bilateral ties to a higher level. After his visit to Poland, PM Modi will travel to Ukraine. Rahul Gandhi to visit J&K Advertisement Ahead of the assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, are set to embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Srinagar. During their visit, the two leaders will conduct extensive meetings with local leaders and workers in both Jammu and Srinagar, aiming to revitalise and strengthen the partys cadre. Congress National General Secretary Gulam Ahmed Mir informed PTI of their plans. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge, are set to embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Srinagar. PTI After engaging with the party workers in Jammu, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will travel to Srinagar on Wednesday evening to meet with the cadre there. On the final day of their visit, August 22, they are scheduled to hold a press conference in Srinagar. Advertisement This visit follows a recent meeting where Congress President Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi, met with general secretaries, in-charges, and screening committee members from four states preparing for upcoming elections. Calls for Bharat Bandh The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for a Bharat Bandh on August 21, 2024, in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. The bandh has garnered significant support from SC/ST groups in Rajasthan and is anticipated to see widespread participation. Authorities have been instructed to ensure law and order is maintained during the protests. According to The Times of India, police have been directed to increase deployment across all districts to prevent any unrest. DGP UR Sahoo mentioned that the SPs have been instructed to maintain control and ensure the situation remains peaceful in connection with the Bharat Bandh. Advertisement Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has called for a Bharat Bandh on August 21, 2024, in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations. Image for Representation. PTI The Supreme Courts ruling, which allows states to create sub-categories within SC and ST groups to prioritise those in greater need of reservations, has sparked controversy. Various social and political organisations argue that this decision undermines the fundamental principles of reservation. While the Bharat Bandh is expected to cause disruptions, there is no clear indication if markets across the country will close, as market committees have yet to confirm their participation. Although public transport and private offices might be affected, emergency services, including ambulances, will continue to operate. Reports also suggest that schools, colleges, government offices, banks, and petrol pumps will remain functional during the bandh. Advertisement Rajnath Singh to begin US visit Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is embarking on a significant five-day official visit to the United States, beginning today. This visit holds particular importance as it may lead to the finalisation of several high-profile defence agreements between India and the US. Among these could be the deal to procure 31 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and GE-414 jet engines, both of which are expected to significantly enhance Indias next-generation fighter jets. his visit holds particular importance as it may lead to the finalisation of several high-profile defence agreements between India and the US A key highlight of the visit will be Singhs meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on August 23. This meeting is expected to cover a wide range of topics, with a particular emphasis on deepening military cooperation between the two countries. Discussions will likely focus on ongoing and future defence deals, the strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, and ways to strengthen joint military exercises and training. 2024 World Robot Conference in China The 2024 World Robot Conference is being held in Beijing from today until August 25 at the Beijing Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Centre, showcasing over 60 types of humanoid robots. This years event is set to attract more than 416 guests from around the world and will feature an exhibition with participation from 169 global companies, including major names like ABB, Tesla, Kuka, and SMC. A new addition to this years conference is the cutting-edge innovation area, where universities and research institutes will display advanced innovations, including six-legged guide robots and flying robots, reported _China Daily. _ The luxury yacht Bayesian, carrying tech mogul Mike Lynch and others, sank off the Sicilian coast, leaving rescuers racing against time to find potential survivors. Experts suggest that air pockets within the wreckage might be keeping them alive, but as days pass, hopes are fading. With the clock ticking and rescue efforts facing severe challenges, news of the missing passengers is awaited read more A drone view shows emergency and rescue service vehicles and personnel at a port near the site where a luxury yacht sank, in Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 20, 2024. Reuters The luxury superyacht Bayesian was engulfed by the sea early Monday off the Sicilian coast in Italy. The 184-foot yacht, registered to the wife of British tech magnate Mike Lynch, capsized and sank to the seabed approximately 160 feet underwater, following an unexpected and severe storm. As rescue teams continue their desperate search, the possibility of survivors still trapped inside has been a subject of intense speculation, hope, and anxiety. The yacht, which departed from the Sicilian port of Milazzo on August 14, was last tracked east of Palermo before the storm struck. Advertisement Watch: Onboard were 22 individuals, including Lynch, his daughter Hannah, and a number of distinguished guests. While 15 people managed to escape, including Lynchs wife Angela Bacares, six remain missing, sparking fears and prayers for their survival. Could survivors still be trapped in the wreckage? Search and rescue efforts have been ongoing since the tragic incident, with many clinging to the hope that the missing could still be alive, trapped within air pockets in the yachts wreckage. Its a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we dont know. Its still wait and see, so fingers crossed, Jeremy Bloomer, twin brother of missing Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, told BBC. Rescue personnel operate on boats on the sea near the scene where a luxury yacht sank, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 20, 2024. Reuters Expert opinions offer a mix of optimism and caution. Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer at Aston University, told Sky News, The speed at which the vessel sank and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favour the formation of small air pockets inside. This is obviously highly speculative and impossible to predict accurately. Also Read: What led to the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off Italys coast? Similarly, Nick Sloane, renowned for his work on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, highlighted the criticality of the next 24 hours, telling Sky News, Youve got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical. Advertisement However, despite these glimmers of hope, Italian authorities have expressed growing skepticism about the chances of finding anyone alive. Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not, Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coast Guard told the PA news agency. Who is still missing? Among the missing is Mike Lynch, often dubbed the British Bill Gates, a tech tycoon who made headlines for selling his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011. His daughter, Hannah Lynch, an 18-year-old who had just completed her A-Levels and was bound for Oxford, is also unaccounted for. Other missing passengers include Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a top New York City lawyer involved in Lynchs legal defence, and his wife, Nina, who reportedly runs a luxury jewelry line. Advertisement UK tech mogul Mike Lynch made headlines when he sold his company, Autonomy, to HP for $11 billion. However, a year later, the US giant accused him of artificially inflating the companys value. File Image/Reuters The only confirmed fatality so far is Thomas Recaldo, a Canadian-born chef whose body was recovered shortly after the yacht went down. The incident has also brought forth stories of survival and bravery. Charlotte Golunkski, a mother who was among the 15 survivors, managed to keep her 1-year-old daughter Sophie alive by holding her above water as they awaited rescue. Bacares, who also survived, is said to be deeply shaken by the loss of her husband and daughter. How have rescue efforts fared so far? The operation to locate and rescue any potential survivors has been fraught with challenges. Italian Coast Guard divers are working under difficult conditions, limited by the depth of the wreckage, which restricts them to just 12 minutes underwater at a time. Advertisement According to Italian newspaper Giornale Di Sicilia, parts of the vessel have been accessed, but the cabins, where survivors might be trapped, remain out of reach. Divers operate in the sea to search for the missing, including British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, after a luxury yacht sank off Sicily, Italy August 19, 2024. Reuters Rescue teams have also been employing techniques similar to those used in submarine rescues, listening for any signs of life, such as banging noises. This is common practice on submarines and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year, said Souppez. The harsh reality, however, is that the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes with each passing hour. Bayesian, a 56-meter-long sailboat, which later sank off the Sicilian capital Palermo, is seen in Santa Flavia, Italy, August 18, 2024 in this picture obtained from social media. File Image/Reuters If you heard banging from inside youd be able to take more risks to save a life. But if all the information is pointing towards the fact actually theres no evidence of air pockets, youve scoured the surface, and we think the casualties are in there, then itd be very difficult for them justify divers entering the vessel to go and recover casualties, Matthew Schanck, chairman of the UKs Maritime Search and Rescue Council told Business Insider. Advertisement Zagarola noted, We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat. With inputs from agencies Brian Niccol, who will helm Starbucks from next month, will fly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) three times a week from his home in Newport Beach, California, to the headquarters in Seattle on a corporate jet. Would you make such a long commute to work daily? read more The coffee giant has also promised to set up a remote office for Brian Niccol in Newport Beach, complete with an assistant of his choosing, all at Starbucks' expense. Image courtesy: X/ @integralPB Starbucks latest leadership change is making wavesnot just because of the top executive shuffle, but also due to the extraordinary commute the new CEO Brian Niccole will undertake. According to the new CEOs offer letter, starting next month, the top executive will be flying 1,000 miles (1,600 km) three times a week from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbucks Seattle headquarterscourtesy of a corporate jet. Not only this, but the coffee giant has also promised to set up a remote office for Niccol in Newport Beach, complete with an assistant of his choosing, all at Starbucks expense. Advertisement Heres what we know about Starbucks CEOs super offer Whats on the table for Niccol Earlier this week, Starbucks unveiled a substantial compensation package for its incoming CEO, Brian Niccol, which totals approximately $113 million (Rs 948 crore). This includes a $10 million sign-on bonus, a $75 million equity grant, and, starting in fiscal 2025, a potential annual equity grant worth up to $23 million. In addition to this, Niccol will receive a base salary of $1.6 million and an annual cash bonus that could range between $3.6 million and $7.2 million, contingent on his performance. A Starbucks spokesperson emphasised the companys confidence in Niccols leadership, stating, His compensation at Starbucks is tied directly to the companys performance and the shared success of all our stakeholders. Adding, Were confident in his ability to deliver long-term, enduring value for our partners, customers, and shareholders. Notably, in addition to a perk of up to $250,000 in personal travel on the corporate jet, Starbucks has promised to cover the cost of temporary housing and provide a personal chauffeur during his stays in Seattle until permanent secondary housing is arranged. Starbucks has promised to cover the cost of temporary housing and provide a personal chauffeur during his stays in Seattle until permanent secondary housing is arranged. Reuters Brians primary office and a majority of his time will be spent in our Seattle Support Center or out visiting partners and customers in our stores, roasteries, roasting facilities and offices around the world, the spokesperson for the company told CNBC. His schedule will exceed the hybrid work guidelines and workplace expectations we have for all partners. Raj Choudhury, a Harvard Business School professor who specialises in remote work, commented that this arrangement is a smart risk by Starbucks to snag a star executive. Advertisement This move comes at a critical time for the company, which has faced challenges, particularly in its key markets, the US and China. Under the former CEO Laxman Narasimhan, who recently stepped down, Starbucks saw a 23 per cent drop in share value and a disappointing $32 billion drop in market cap, highlighting the urgent need for a turnaround. ALSO READ: Why Starbucks fired Indian-origin CEO Laxman Narasimhan months after appointment Super commute becoming super common While most employees cant negotiate the freedom to work remotely, senior-level executives are often granted this flexibility to attract and retain top talent, according to Choudhury. This trend of super commutes is becoming more common among C-suite leaders. For instance, when Victorias Secret hired Hillary Super from Rihannas lingerie brand Fenty x Savage last week, they allowed her to work from the companys New York City office from next month rather than relocating to their headquarters near Columbus, Ohio. Advertisement Similarly, when Niccol took over as CEO of Chipotle, the company moved its headquarters from Denver to California just three months into his tenure to accommodate his preferences. When Niccol took over as CEO of Chipotle, the company moved its headquarters from Denver to California just three months into his tenure to accommodate his preferences. AP Choudhury notes, Its becoming increasingly common because were still in a competitive labour market. Executives arent accepting job offers if flexibility isnt on the table." Despite the rising trend, these super commute arrangements by Starbucks have sparked criticism on social media, with some questioning the companys climate change goals. Hypocrisy by Starbucks The announcement of Brian Niccols super commute plan has sparked widespread criticism on X, with many users expressing shock and disapproval. Critics were quick to highlight what they see as hypocrisy on Starbucks part, particularly in light of the companys recent environmental initiatives, such as replacing plastic straws with paper ones globally. One user vented, Flying a private jet three days a week just to go to work, but Starbucks had the unmitigated gall to tell us to use paper straws. I hate it here. Another remarked, You better stop giving paper lids and straws. That would be hypocritical. Advertisement Others echoed similar sentiments, with one person saying, We have to drink from paper straws, while their CEO commutes via private jets. The backlash is seen by some as a potential public relations disaster, with calls for Starbucks to reconsider the terms of Niccols contract. With input from agencies During recent campaign events, Tim Walz, Kamala Harris running mate, has repeatedly used the word damn, a term hes long incorporated into his political rhetoric. While some might find this language offensive, Walzs consistent use suggests a deliberate effort to connect with voters as a plainspoken, relatable candidate. This approach has deep roots in American political history, and despite the potential for negative perceptions, it hasnt hurt Walzs electoral success so far read more US Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks onstage at a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, August 20, 2024. File Image/Reuters During a campaign event with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in Michigan on August 8, Harris running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, used the word damn four times during his brief remarks, including in two sentences in a row: When you got a billion dollars, you dont give a damn about your Social Security check. But if youre like my mom and you depend on the Social Security check as your sole income, its pretty damn important, he said. Advertisement The following day, in Glendale, Arizona, Walz used the term eight more times. A day later, at a rally in Las Vegas, he made use of the expression an additional eight times. And in a social media post on Aug. 13, he declared that he was damn proud of his military service. Watch: These episodes clearly werent mistakes or momentary lapses in judgment. What was the vice presidential candidate trying to accomplish by repeatedly using a term that some people find offensive? Im a cognitive scientist who studies and writes about language and communication. One question that sprang to mind was whether Walz was speaking as he always had, or whether he was deliberately adopting a new way of expressing himself. Walzs history full of damn-s It turns out that Walzs use of damn in public is nothing new for him. In 2023, for example, he declared that Minnesota has been waiting too damn long for gun control measures. At a news conference in Iowa two months later, he asserted twice that people should mind their own damn business when it came to abortion, LGBTQ issues and school curriculum. Earlier, in 2022, he said that the Supreme Courts 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade wouldnt do a damn thing to prevent abortions. In 2020, he stated that a decision to ban police officers from using chokeholds on suspects was a pretty damn low bar. Advertisement US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris holds a campaign rally with her newly chosen vice presidential running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. File Image/Reuters And even before that, in 2015, then-US Representative Walz was quoted as declaring politics be damned when he cast his vote on free-trade agreements. Clearly, this term is part of the candidates normal speaking style and has been for many years. Even though research suggests that profanity causes people to be perceived negatively, its use doesnt seem to have hurt Walz at the ballot box. He has won eight out of eight elections during his political career, serving six terms in the US House of Representatives and two as Minnesotas governor. During this period, there was also a marked increase in profanity used by politicians on social media, and this may have made such language seem less objectionable to his constituents. Advertisement Profanity: Nothing new in politicians Walzs salty way of expressing himself has a long history in American politics. One of the earliest chief executives who publicly employed such language was the populist Andrew Jackson although the story that his foul-mouthed parrot had to be removed from his funeral service in 1845 may or may not be true. In the 20th century, Jackson would be joined by the likes of Harry Truman, who called Gen. Douglas MacArthur a dumb SOB. Lyndon Johnson was notorious for leavening his conversations with words like piss and shit. And other candidates for high office, such as Barry Goldwater, observed that only a damn fool would try to predict the future. Advertisement Vice presidents have also been known to turn the air blue in unscripted moments. Dick Cheney famously told US Senator Patrick Leahy to go fuck yourself during an altercation on the floor of the Senate. And then-Vice President Joe Biden told President Barack Obama that passing health care reform was a big fucking deal. And even presidents who didnt swear in public could be quite profane during their private meetings, as the transcripts of Richard Nixons Oval Office conversations made clear. Nixon had a penchant for the word damn and used it often when talking with his staff. In short, many lawmakers have chosen to express themselves, in other settings, in a way similar to Walz on the campaign trail. Advertisement But it is it worth the ink? Journalists seem to find these episodes notable enough to write about. In 2012, for example, Rolling Stone made much of Obamas referring to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as a bullshitter in an interview with the magazine. In 2016, The New York Times ran a story about Donald Trump, Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, Bernie Sanders and Lindsey Graham under the headline , detailing the candidates use of terms such as damn, hell and bullit. And in 2019, a Los Angeles Times columnist complained that Democratic presidential candidates Corey Booker, Steve Bullock and Beto ORourke were by employing terms like fed up. Why is such behavior considered newsworthy? In part, this may stem from our high expectations about how political leaders should comport themselves at least in public. When leaders use vulgar language, they stray from this exalted standard. This seems to be the case even after generations of politicians have failed to meet this ideal. Are there benefits to this? People often employ transgressive language in order to create a certain impression. And in the case of Walz, he may be trying to establish or to burnish his persona as a regular guy, an everyman. Some observers have pointed to Donald Trumps use of profanity as a sign of the former presidents authenticity. Younger adults are also more tolerant of profanity than members of older generations. The widespread use of profanity in hip-hop and other musical genres may be one reason for this. US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gestures during a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US, August 7, 2024. File Image/Reuters As Walz continues to campaign for the Democratic presidential ticket, it will be interesting to see whether he chooses to moderate his language or whether he views his plainspokenness as an asset rather than a liability. Roger J Kreuz, Associate Dean and Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the Dr Sandip Ghosh, the ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, has been in the eye of the storm since the rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the hospital premises came to light last month. Now, new accusations against him have emerged he allegedly molested a male nursing student in Hong Kong seven years ago read more Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, has found himself at the centre of a growing storm following the gruesome rape and murder case of a junior doctor that came to light last month. The brutal incident has sparked widespread protests across the nation, with many accusing Ghosh of playing a role in covering up the horrific crime at the state run hospital. But it doesnt end there as Ghosh is now under the scrutiny of central investigative agencies, including the CBI and ED, for alleged financial misconduct and corruption during his tenure at the hospital. Advertisement As the investigation unfolds, Ghoshs involvement in a slew of crimes and controversies continues to emerge. Heres a closer look at the mounting accusations against the embattled former principal. Molested a nurse in Hong Kong Seven years ago, Ghosh found himself in legal trouble in Hong Kong after being charged with sexual molestation. A 2017 South China Morning Post report detailed that an Indian orthopaedist, involved in a two-month clinical exchange program at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, had been accused of harassing a male nursing student. The nurse claimed Ghosh had patted his buttock, attempted to touch his genitals in the changing room, and asked him Do you like it? after making inappropriate physical contact, the Hong Kong-based newspaper reported. Ghosh denied the allegations in Kowloon City Court, pleading not guilty. He argued that the incident was a misunderstanding, explaining that he was demonstrating a method to fix a dislocated shoulder. Any contact with the nurses hip, he said, was accidental. Ghosh also claimed his words had been misunderstood due to his accent, stating he said, Do it like this, not Do you like it? The magistrates court ruled in Ghoshs favour while accepting his explanation and recurrent shoulder dislocation condition to clear him in the case. Purchased questionable properties The former RG Kar Medical College principal, Sandip Ghosh, and his wife, Sangeeta Ghosh, are currently under the scrutiny of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The agency is investigating questionable property purchases made by the couple, allegedly out of proceeds of crime." Advertisement In a statement issued on 6 September, the ED revealed that during a search operation at Ghoshs residence, they seized various incriminating documents, documents related to properties acquired by Sandip Ghosh and his wife Sangeeta Ghosh, and digital devices. The probe is based on initial suspicion that these properties were acquired using illicit funds. CBI officials produce the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, arrested in connection with the alleged financial misconduct at the establishment, at a City Court in Kolkata, Tuesday, September 3, 2024. PTI The ED had previously searched seven premises linked to Ghosh, including the homes of his relatives and associates. These searches were part of an investigation into misappropriation of funds at RG Kar Medical College. It was discovered that Sangeeta Ghosh, who was serving as an assistant professor at RG Kar during her husbands tenure as principal, had purchased two properties without the required approval from authorities. Advertisement The ED also noted that while Sangeeta had not initially obtained state government approval for her property acquisitions, she was granted post-facto approval in 2021. Sold unclaimed bodies Dr Ghosh has been accused of indulging in the business of corpses. Speaking to India Today TV, Dr Akhtar Ali, former deputy superintendent of RG Kar, alleged Dr Ghosh was selling bodies and embroiled in trafficking biomedical waste such as used gloves and syringes and medical supplies to Bangladesh. Sandip Ghosh used to do business with unclaimed dead bodies. A case was also registered against him. He was also involved in trafficking biomedical waste. He used to sell it to the people who were part of his additional security. It was then sent to Bangladesh, Dr Ali claimed. Advertisement He said he had filed a complaint against the former principal last July at the Vigilance Commission Anti-Corruption Department and Swastha Bhawan, reported The Hindu. Dr Ali said no action was taken against Dr Ghosh even after an investigation found him guilty. He further claimed that he had submitted a report against the ex-principal to the West Bengal health department but to no avail. The day I submitted the inquiry report, I was transferred on the same day. The other two members of this [enquiry] committee [against Ghosh] were also transferred. I did whatever I could to save the students from this man, but I failed, Dr Ali told India Today TV. Advertisement Firstpost has not independently verified the claims by Dr Akhtar Ali. Corruption allegations Dr Ghosh, who reportedly has close ties to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, has been accused of corruption. The complaint filed by Dr Ali last year to the state vigilance commission accused the then principal of misusing government money, nepotism in selecting vendors and accepting bribes, and irregularities in hiring contractual staff, reported NDTV. Dr Ali alleged the former RG Kar principal charged a commission on hospital-related tenders, which only went to two close aides of Dr Ghosh, as per the India Today TV report. [Dr Ghosh] failed students on purpose, took 20 per cent commission on tenders, took money for hostel allotments, staff selection commission, basically any work that happened in RG Kar like postings, transfer, or housestaffship, he used to take money for everything, the ex-deputy superintendent was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Dr Ali claimed students were deliberately failed so the ex-principal could solicit bribes to pass them, reported India Today TV. Amid raging protests over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor, Dr Ghosh was forced to resign as principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. However, he was transferred by the state government to Calcutta National Medical College hours after his resignation. The Calcutta High Court had come down heavily on the TMC government for Dr Ghoshs swift reinstatement, asking him to go on leave until further directions. Doctors shout slogans during a protest over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder of a trainee doctor, at Nirman Bhawan in New Delhi, August 19, 2024. PTI The West Bengal government, which was accused by the opposition of shielding Dr Ghosh, has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar from January 2021. Dr Ghosh became the principal of the medical college in mid-2021. The Kolkata Police has filed a case against Dr Ghosh under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Corruption Act among other charges, as per The Hindu. ALSO READ: Kolkata rape-murder case: Why doctors in India are in urgent need for a central protection law Domestic abuse, other charges The volley of allegations against Dr Ghosh also includes domestic abuse. The former neighbours of the ex-principal in Barasat, where he lived for about two years, claimed the doctor assaulted his wife 14 days after she gave birth. There was a war of words between me and Ghosh once. His behaviour was always bad. I later found out he was a doctor. During his time here, there was an incident where he beat his wife so badly that her Caesarean stitches tore, and she was bleeding. Initially, locals didnt interfere because it was seen as a family matter, but when it became too severe, everyone came out and protested, one of the neighbours told India Today TV. Dr Ali has alleged the ex-principal of RG Kar supplied alcohol to students at his guest house. I have not seen a worse man than him in my entire career. He is like a mafia raja. He used to have 20 people for his personal security and four bouncers. I have never seen a principal have this much influence, the former deputy superintendent told The Hindu. With input from agencies PM Narendra Modi has embarked for a two-day visit to Poland. At the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, the historic visit will mark the first by an Indian leader in 45 years. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Warsaw and New Delhi read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Poland from August 21 to 23. At the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, the historic visit will mark the first by an Indian prime minister in 45 years. It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Warsaw and New Delhi in 2024. PM Modis schedule on Day one of the visit The Prime Minister embarked for Poland on Wednesday morning at 9.30. Advertisement He will arrive at Warsaw Military Airport at 1400 Polish local time (5.30 pm IST), where he will receive a ceremonial welcome. PM Modi will then pay homage to the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial from 7.55 pm to 8.20 pm (IST). The Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial honours the memory of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji, the erstwhile Maharaja of Gujarats Nawanagar (now Jamnagar), as per NDTV. Often referred to as the Good Maharaja, he is renowned for his humanitarian deeds during World War II, having given shelter to hundreds of Polish children who were trying to flee the USSR. He is also scheduled to pay tribute to two other memorials: the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino and Kolhapur Memorial from 8.30 pm to 9 pm. Nagma Mohamed Mallick, the Indian Ambassador to Poland, told ANI, He will be the first Prime Minister to pay respects at all three memorials. She also mentioned that PM Modi will address the Indian diaspora in Poland, which is expected to be a rousing meeting. The community event, which will begin at 11.20 pm and is expected to go on until 11.55 pm, will be attended by around 600 people at Hotel Sheraton, as per Times Now. According to News9, which cited MEA Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal, around 25,000 estimated Indians are living in Poland, of whom 5,000 are students. During his visit, the PM will also hold meetings with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. Advertisement There are long-standing cultural ties between India and Poland, there is respect for Indian culture and ethos, including Yoga and Ayurveda. In addition to talks with Poland PM, Modi will also call on President Andrzej Duda, Lal said at a special briefing on Monday. After his Poland visit, PM Modi will depart for Ukraine on August 22 and arrive in Kyiv on August 23. Notably, this will be the first visit by the Indian PM to Ukraine after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992. During his brief visit, he will spend around seven hours in Ukraine and hold discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Advertisement He will then return to Poland. With inputs from agencies PM Narendra Modi is travelling to Poland today as part of a two-nation trip. Before heading to Ukraine, he has a busy schedule in Warsaw, including bilateral talks with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. Heres what else to expect read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make his way to Poland on a two-day visit on Wednesday (August 21), making it the first visit by an Indian premier in over four decades. From Poland, he will head to war-struck Ukraine. Both trips of Modi assume importance amid the rising geopolitical tensions. As he reaches Poland as part of his two-nation trip to Europe, heres what to expect. India-Poland ties India and Poland have longstanding friendly ties, with the two countries establishing diplomatic relations in 1954. Advertisement The two countries are united in their ideological stance against colonialism, imperialism and racism, according to the Embassy of India, Warsaw. India and Poland share historical relations. During the Second World War, the Maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur provided shelter to thousands of Polish refugees. In the 1940s, Jam Sahab Digvijay of Nawanagar (currently known as Jamnagar in Gujarat) accepted over 1,000 Polish refugees, mostly children, escaping the war. Jam Saheb, who is referred to as Good Maharaja in Poland, had provided refuge in his kingdom at a place called Balachadi. Similarly, a Polish camp was set up in Valivade in the Kolhapur Presidency (now in Maharashtra), ruled by Bhosale Chatrapati, during the war, noted The Sunday Guardian. Poland was close to the erstwhile Soviet Union. After the fall of Communism and in a post-Cold War world, Warsaw moved on to develop closer ties to the United States, as its relations with New Delhi took a backseat, as per ThePrint report. India and Poland maintained bilateral ties but it missed the strategic depth as before in 1979. Despite a dip in ties, Poland is Indias largest trading and investment partner in Central and Eastern Europe. The total bilateral trade between the nations surged 192 per cent, from $1.95 billion in 2013 to $5.72 billion in 2023. Poland is also home to a small Indian community. About 10,000 to 15,000 Indians work in IT, finance, business, and academic institutions in the European country, reported The Sunday Guardian. Advertisement Modis visit to Poland Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Poland after Morarji Desai in 1979. Before Desai, the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru went to the country in 1955, followed by Indira Gandhi in 1967. As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi will call on Polish President Andrzej Duda and hold bilateral talks with PM Donald Tusk in Warsaw. The discussions are likely to focus on defence collaboration, trade, and strategic alignment, as per Financial Express. He will also interact with the Indian community in Poland. Sources told ThePrint that the PM will also visit the memorials of the Maharajas of Jamnagar and Kolhapur. Advertisement Modi is also expected to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the memorial for the Battle of Monte Cassino, ThePrint reported. In 1944, Indian and Polish soldiers fought together in the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, against Nazi Germany. It was one of the toughest battles fought by Indian soldiers during the Second World War. VIDEO | Visuals of the Polish War Cemetery at Monte Cassino where PM Modi will pay respect to Indian and Polish soldiers killed in World War 2 during his #Poland visit. PM Modi is scheduled to visit Poland on 21-22 August. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime pic.twitter.com/CWngnRCp7V Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 20, 2024 Advertisement Why PMs Poland trip matters PM Modis visit to Warsaw and Kyiv comes in the wake of Russias war with Ukraine. New Delhi, which enjoys friendly ties with Moscow, has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict. Modi famously told Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022: This is not an era of war. While New Delhi has refrained from criticising Putin over the war, it has repeatedly stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue to end the Ukraine war. Advertisement PMs trip comes on the heels of his visit to Moscow in July. His bear hug with Putin had evoked a sharp reaction from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called it a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts. Poland, a part of the European Union (EU), is one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine. Warsaw is undertaking military modernisation efforts and will spend 4.12 per cent of its GDP on defence this year, according to NATO estimates. As Poland builds up its defence sector, New Delhi views an opportunity to enhance its own military capabilities through collaborative efforts, as per the Financial Express report. Polands strategic location in Europe and its key role in NATOs eastern flank matters to India, particularly in the broader context of European security. Earlier this year, India appointed a defence attache to Poland after years. This came after the EU posted a military attache to its mission in India for the first time last year. New Delhis similar move was reflective of the desire to expand two-way defence ties, PTI reported citing unnamed sources. Modis visit is likely to give a much-needed boost to the relations between India and Poland. One can say that the ties have remained dormant. However, it is hoped that PM Modis push will give it the required push and take bilateral ties to a higher level, a source told ThePrint. With inputs from agencies India and Polands ties are in the spotlight amid PM Narendra Modis visit to the European country. The two nations have historical connections, with a Polish woman named Wanda Dynowska, who went on to assume two more identities during her life, acting as a window and bringing the East and West closer in the 1900s read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. He will be in Warsaw on August 21-22, becoming the first Indian PM to visit Poland in 45 years. Modi will then head to Ukraine, undertaking a 20-hour train journey aboard Rail Force One. With the PM arriving in Warsaw, the ties between the two countries have come to the limelight. India and Poland share historical connections. A Polish woman came to India in the 1930s and made it her second home. Advertisement This is the story of Wanda Dynowska, a woman with three names. Who was Wanda Dynowska? Born in St. Petersburg in 1888, Dynowska came from a family of Polish nobility. Besides Polish, she was fluent in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latvian and English, according to Cosmopolitan Review. She knew Russian but largely refrained from speaking the language. Dynowska was enamoured with Theosophy at an early age as it gave unlimited perspectives; life has neither beginning nor end, it is an everlasting creativeness, an inseparable attribute of the highest consciousness, God, as per the Cosmopolitan Review article. She knew loss from early on as her fiance died in a war. After the tragic incident, she dedicated herself to spirituality, reported The Hindu. Dynowska, who was friends with British social reformer Annie Besant, supported the freedom of nations ruled by imperial powers like Poland and India. She returned to Poland after it regained its independence in 1918, at the end of World War I. Here, she attended lectures on theosophy and established the Polish Federation of the Order of Universal United Mixed Freemasonry, which included both women and men. ALSO READ: PM Modis Poland trip: Will it help in boosting ties between the two nations? Wanda Dynowska in India Dynowska arrived in India in 1935. She studied yoga and wrote extensively on Hinduism. The multilingual woman learnt two more languages after coming to India Hindi and Tamil. Advertisement Dynowska went on to translate Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan, Mahabharat and several other Hindu scriptures into Polish. She also translated many significant works of Polish poets into English, Tamil and Hindi, as per The Hindu report. Dynowska joined hands with Maurycy Frydman, a Jewish Pole and a fellow theosophist, to set up the Polish-Indian Library. She also played a big role in launching the Indo-Polish Library. Acting as a window for the two countries she helped to bring East and West closer. Interestingly during her visit to Poland, she poured Gangajal in Vistula, the longest and largest river of that region symbolising the meeting of the two cultures, ad filmmaker Sujata Sett, who produced the documentary Enlightened Soul: The Three Names Of Umadevi on the Polish woman, was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Advertisement Wanda Dynowska (Also Known as Umadevi ) Was Polish Philosopher , Writer , Social Worker. Born In 1888 , She Worked With Ramana Maharshi , Mahatma Gandhi, Annie Besant and @DalaiLama She Was Called Bearer of Light by Mahatma Gandhi . In 1971 She Died In Mysore #IndiaPoland pic.twitter.com/teAX5yJFTH indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) June 4, 2018 Dynowskas literary work included writing for newspapers in India, highlighting the social conditions of the rural population. She also wrote about the importance of instilling patriotism in children and the impact on Poland of the excesses of the Second World War. It was no surprise that Dynowska got involved in helping the Polish refugees who arrived in India to escape from the war. In the 1940s, Jam Sahab Digvijay of Nawanagar (currently known as Jamnagar in Gujarat) accepted over 1,000 Polish refugees, mostly children. Similarly, a Polish camp was set up in Valivade in the Kolhapur Presidency (now in Maharashtra) during the Second World War. Advertisement Dynowska befriended Mahatma Gandhi, who honoured her with the name Umadevi, meaning the bearer of light, for her support of Indias freedom struggle. Umadevi, who was in her 70s, helped settle Tibetan refugees after they fled China in 1959. She raised funds for them and placed children in schools across India. She insisted they wear their traditional clothes and speak their language to stay in touch with their Tibetan roots, as per Daily Pioneer. This was when Tibetans started calling her by a third name: Tenzin Chodon, or the keeper of the faith. The three identities came to her because of circumstances but at the core she was one who empathised with the displaced and oppressed. Having seen and faced persecution in Poland she knew how it affected ones identity and life, Sett said in 2016, as per The Hindu. Umadevi spent time with the Dalai Lama, inspiring him to become a vegetarian for a time. In his interview with Sett, the Dalai lama recalled, She (Umadevi) was mother, mother_ji_. The activist and philosopher was not cut off from the world. According to Sett, Umadevi was not a sanyasini per se who had renounced the world completely. On the contrary, spirituality made her receptive to suffering. While able to retreat to spiritual realm she never remain unaffected by what she saw around her and reacted in a positive manner. There is no dichotomy and in fact it is her sensitivity that makes her different. Umadevi died quietly at a convent in Delhi in 1971, as per Cosmopolitan Review. Some reports say the Polish woman passed away in Mysore. She combined Catholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism with consummate ease. Even though she adopted Indian (Umadevi) and Tibetan identities (Tenzin Chodon) identities, she remained a Polish patriot, the ad filmmaker was quoted as saying by IANS. With inputs from agencies Massive protests gripped Thanes Badlapur after two girls were allegedly sexually abused by an attendant hired by school authorities. The outrage grew after it was learnt that the parents of the victims were made to wait for 11 hours at Badlapur police station before the officials took note of their complaints read more Police personnel speak with people blocking railway tracks in protest at Badlapur railway station, in Thane district, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. PTI Trains were halted, stones were pelted and the school was vandalised. Massive protests led by parents of the school children and locals gripped Thanes Badlapur on Tuesday, August 20, after two girls were allegedly sexually abused by an attendant hired by school authorities. The outrage grew as shocking details emerged after the investigation continued into the case. Heres what turned the city into a battleground: The shocking incident Two kindergarten students at an English medium school in Badlapur were sexually abused by a male cleaning staff member on August 13. Advertisement Badlapur is a city in Thane district, Maharashtra state. The victims, aged three and four, were abused in the toilet of the school, as per NDTV. The assault came to light when a girl complained of pain in her private parts. She later told her parents that the accused touched her private parts when she had gone to use the toilet. The girls parents called the parents of the girls friend. They revealed to the former that their daughter shared their fear of attending school. Police personnel try to disperse people blocking railway tracks in protest at Badlapur railway station, in Thane district, Tuesday, August 20, 2024. PTI Following the childrens examination by a local physician, the parents learnt that both girls had experienced sexual assault. On August 17, the accused a 23-year-old man named Akshay Shinde was taken into custody. On August 1, 2024, he was appointed on a contractual basis. The accused is scheduled to appear in court today to be placed under additional police custody. An investigation found other shortcomings on the part of the school, including the absence of female attendants in the girls restrooms, which is a basic safety requirement. A large number of the CCTV cameras at the school were also broken. The schools administration has apologised for the incident and placed the company that was given the housekeeping contract on a blacklist, according to Deccan Herald. 11 hours to file an FIR The parents have alleged that they were made to wait for 11 hours at Badlapur police station before the officials took note of their complaints, as per PTI. Advertisement The incident occurred on August 13, but the FIR was filed on August 16, reported NDTV. The opposition parties have also made the same claims. Atrocities are committed on a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, a four-year-old girl, and at the police station, they (parents) are made to wait for 11 hours when they seek to file a complaint Is there any sensitivity left? I spoke to the police commissioner and told him that the woman police officer responsible for this delay must be suspended immediately, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar alleged. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded a fast-track trial and speedy justice on Tuesday. Advertisement Padma Shri awardee and advocate Ujjwal Nikam, who has worked on high-profile murder and terrorism cases, such as the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has been appointed as the special public prosecutor in the case. Rage and protests in Badlapur On Tuesday, thousands of angry parents and citizens stormed the school and vandalised it over the incident. They had flocked to the local train station in Badlapur in the morning and blocked the movement of trains. Police personnel deployed at the school in Badlapur a day after massive protests over alleged molestation of two school girls, in Thane district, Thursday, August 21, 2024. PTI After six hours, the crowds got larger, raising questions about law and order and the train movement. The crowd reacted to the governments attempts to diffuse the situation by chanting hang, hang, demanding that the 23-year-old cleaner who was reportedly involved receive the death penalty. Advertisement The demonstrators gathered on the railway tracks and threw stones at the officers after they were caned by the police. The situation was soon brought under control. The fact that the girls parents had to wait 11 hours at a nearby police station to receive a First Information Report infuriated the demonstrators even more. The administration has placed the three involved police officers on suspension. In the context of the recent controversy surrounding the rape and death of a young trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Thane protest seemed to have attracted attention from the neighbouring local communities also. In connection with the protest, the Kalyan Government Railway Police has registered a case against about 300 to 400 people and arrested 28 of them, as per The Times of India. Advertisement Meanwhile, eight women and two juveniles have been released after receiving notices. Action taken so far Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team, which will be led by IPS officer Arti Singh, as per PTI. Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde said action will be taken against the school, adding that the case will be fast-tracked and the guilty wont be spared. I have spoken to the Thane Commissioner of Police. The accused has been arrested. I have asked the case to be fast-tracked and book the accused under the charges of attempt to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. Maharashtra School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar said Vishakha committees will be formed in schools, which will also face action if CCTV cameras installed on their premises are found to be non-functional. The panels will provide a platform for raising grievances of female students, especially those in grades 9th, 10th, and junior college, the minister said. While the school management has suspended the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant over the incident, the state government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in probing the case. The orders of immediate suspension of the senior police inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable attached to Badlapur police station for dereliction of duty have been issued, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also hold the Home portfolio. NHRC involved The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Maharashtra, demanding a detailed report within two weeks. Among other things, the Commissions directive calls for clarity on the reasons behind the reported 11-hour delay in registering the FIR after the parents lodged a complaint with the police. With inputs from agencies Indians are travelling more than ever, be it to domestic or foreign destinations. The growing appetite to see the world propelled the countrys international travel growth last year. But whats behind this tourist boom? read more Travellers push carts with their luggage at the departure area of Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, December 14, 2022. File Photo/Reuters Indians are travelling the world. The countrys economic rise and higher disposable incomes have resulted in more spending on overseas travel. The growing middle class in India wants to travel the globe. Along with other factors, the easing of visa rules by many countries, including Thailand and Sri Lanka, is giving wings to this desire. Lets take a closer look. Indians exploring their love for travel 2024 is proving to be a record-breaking year for the Indian travel industry. Data from the Mastercard Economics Institutes May report titled Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries revealed that Indian airports received 97 million (9.7 crore) passengers in the first quarter of 2024. Advertisement Both domestic and international tourism have benefited. While domestic travel saw a significant uptick of 21 per cent in passenger traffic compared to 2019, international travel rose by 4 per cent. More Indians are travelling than at any time in history, the Mastercard report said. Indians shelled out $22.9 billion on overseas travel in 2019. As per forecasts, this figure will touch $42 billion this year. According to McKinsey & Company, Indians made about 13 million (1.3 crore) trips to foreign destinations in 2022. This is estimated to jump to more than 80 million (8 crore) annually by 2040. Indian travellers could make 5 billion (500 crore) trips in 2030, of which 50 million (5 crore) could be outbound departures, as per the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. The report by Booking.com and McKinsey predicts Indias total travel expenditure will reach $410 billion in 2030, with the countrys citizens likely to become the worlds fourth-largest spenders on foreign travel. Where are Indians going? Countries in Southeast Asia and West Asia have been vying to attract Indian tourists. As per an Economic Times (ET) report, Rajesh Magow, group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said the top international destinations for Indians last year were the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Maldives, Hong Kong, United States, Nepal, United Kingdom, Canada and Vietnam. Films, TV and OTT are also influencing Indians decisions when choosing to travel abroad. As per Skyscanners Travel Trends 2024 report, there was a 23 per cent month-on-month surge in Paris searches after the third season of the hit drama Emily in Paris came out in December 2022. Advertisement As per the Mastercard Economics Institutes report, about 59 per cent more Indians travelled to the US than in 2019. A Brand USA market survey estimates Indian arrivals would reach 1.8 million (18 lakh) this year and 2.3 million (23 lakh) in 2030. Japan has witnessed a 53 per cent rise in Indian visitors compared to 2019. Vietnam has also been successful in alluring Indian travellers, with a 248 per cent spike in passenger traffic to the Southeast Asian country, noted the Mastercard report. What explains this surge in travel? Indias burgeoning middle class, loosening visa rules and a younger population keen on travelling have fuelled the surge in international departures from the country. Advertisement Indias middle class is expected to make up 47 per cent of its population by 2030. By that year, the country is estimated to become the fourth largest global spender on travel, as per the Booking.com-McKinsey & Company report. People between the ages of 25 and 34 are most interested in travel. Indias youth population is set to reach 420 million (42 crore) this year. The number of passport holders in India increased from 52 million (5.2 crore) a decade ago to 93 million (9.3 crore) this year, as per The Economist report. While Indian passports are weak, the situation is improving as the country gets wealthier. Advertisement The relaxation in visa requirements also contributed to Indias international travel growth last year, Aloke Bajpai, CEO of ixigo, told ET. Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, Kenya, Vietnam and Sri Lanka have suspended visa requirements for Indians. Indonesia is also planning to ease visa rules for Indians. Tourists visit the Big Buddha statue in Phuket, In April, Japan simplified the e-visa process for Indians. The European Union eased entry restrictions for Indians in the same month. The UAE is offering Indians multiple-entry visas. The complicated visa processes of rich Western countries deter tourists, with some even refusing to visit. When a country relaxes its visa regulations, the adjustment not only facilitates entry for foreign visitors but also sends a strong signal of hospitality, Xiang Li, a tourism professor at the University of Central Florida, told Bloomberg. Advertisement Some countries are recruiting Bollywood stars as brand ambassadors to lure Indian tourists. Direct flights, hassle-free visa, economical fares, a range of accommodation options and a broad canvas of experiencesany destination that is able to get this mix right will be able to attract travellers from India, MakeMyTrips Magow told ET. As The Economist mentioned, The countries that welcome Indians will enjoy both the economic benefits and the cultural soft power that tourism affords. Direct flights are a major factor driving Indian tourists to international destinations. Thirty-one cities in India offer international flights to 322 destinations, a rise from 23 and 272 in 2015, reported The Economist. These figures are expected to increase further in the coming years. The development of airport infrastructure in Tier-2 and -3 cities, increased connectivity and affordable air travel options have contributed to the growth of air travel and first-time flyers in metros as well as non-metro cities, Bajpai of ixigo told ET. As peoples purchasing power increases, they are more likely to spend on tourism. With Indians having more money to spare, their travel appetite seems to have just begun. With inputs from agencies Pakistan authorities have arrested Farhan Asif, who claims to be an independent journalist, for spreading misinformation that led to the violence in Southport. Asif is linked to a now defunct website, Channel3Now, which put out a fake name of the assailant and claimed that he was an asylum seeker who had recently arrived in the UK on a small boat read more Over 1,000 people have been arrested across the UK for widespread riots and violence involving violence, arson and looting as well as racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants. The riots began after rumours spread online that three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in the northern English town of Southport on July 29 by an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain. Though the suspect was eventually identified as Axel Rudakubana a teenager born in the UK to Rwandan parents the damage had already been done. Advertisement Right-wing influencers had pinned the blame on immigrants and Muslims and violence had occurred across the UK. Theres a parallel universe where what was claimed by these rumors were the actual facts of the case, said Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think tank that looks at issues including integration and national identity. And that will be a difficult thing to manage. Now, police in Pakistan have arrested a man over the Southport riots. But who is this man? Why has he been arrested? Lets take a closer look: BBC reported that Pakistan police arrested one Farhan Asif for spreading misinformation that led to the violence. Asif has been charged with cyber terrorism. Police told the outlet that Asif had links to a website that put out a false name of the Southport attacker. The website suggested the assailant was an asylum seeker who had recently arrived in the UK on a small boat. The piece, published on the website Channel3Now, was widely quoted on social media after the attack. It claimed that the attacker was on an MI6 watchlist. Advertisement As per The Telegraph, the piece claimed that the assailant was a 17-year-old named Ali al-Shakati. According to Dawn, this claim was seen over 2 million times across social media before being deleted. Asif was first linked to the piece by an ITV News investigation. The website located Asif at a high-end housing estate on the outskirts of Lahore. Asif initially denied writing the piece and taking responsibility for the violence. A stabbing attack in northwest Englands Southport left three young girls dead and several others wounded. As per Dawn, Asif claims to be an independent journalist covering crimes in the US. A Facebook page of the same name says it is managed by people in Pakistan and the US. I dont know how such a small article or a minor Twitter account could cause widespread confusion, Asif told ITV News. Advertisement Channel3Now mentioned that [the suspect was] a Muslim and an immigrant, but this has no connection to the chaos, which is being caused by people in his own country. If there was misinformation, it could have been addressed calmly. Why was there such an uproar? Asif told the website four people lost their jobs over the piece. My understanding is that the article was deleted a day later, or it might have been done even earlier there was a full article with an apology. It stated that it shouldnt have happened, that it was a mistake by our team, and that they have been fired. Advertisement I think four people were fired, he added. The information search team, consisting of three to four people who worked on it together, were all fired. Channel3Now has since been shuttered. However, Asif seems to have changed his tune. According to BBC, Asif told Lahore police he wrote the piece based on information he got from a social media account in the UK. He did not verify the information. Advertisement Asif also claimed that he alone ran Channel3Now. Not intentional BBC got in touch with several people linked with the website and spoke to a person who claimed he was part of management. This person told the outlet that the publication of the piece with the fake name shouldnt have happened, but it was an error, not intentional. According to Mirror UK, Channel3Now on its website said it took full responsibility for the error. On 29th July, 2024, we published an article titled 17-year-old boy arrested in connection with the stabbings in Southport, England. Unfortunately, the information provided in that article was not accurate and did not meet our standards of reliability and integrity. Pakistans newspaper Dawn quoted officers as saying they think Asif copied the information from a social media post. Asif has admitted to providing misleading information to the BBC regarding his accomplices in an attempt to divert blame to others, the outlet reported. The Telegraph reported that Asif is now in the custody of Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency. A senior police official told the outlet He was running a news website. Interrogation is underway. He likely will be charged under the cyber terrorism section of Prevention of Electronic Crime(s) Act and will be produced before the relevant court after the interrogation is completed. AA.com quoted police as saying that Asif does not have a criminal record or a suspicious history of transactions. Violence broke out in cities across England and also in Northern Ireland, but there have been fewer instances of unrest since last week after efforts to identify those involved were ramped up. Police officers clash with protesters during rally in Whitehall, London following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday in Southport. AP Many have been swiftly jailed, with some receiving long sentences. The National Police Chiefs Council said in its latest update that 1,024 had been arrested and 575 charged across the UK. Those arrested include a 69-year-old accused of vandalism in Liverpool. A 13-year-old girl pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Basingstoke Magistrates Court, prosecutors said, having been seen on July 31 punching and kicking the entrance to a hotel for asylum seekers. This alarming incident will have caused genuine fear amongst people who were being targeted by these thugs and it is particularly distressing to learn that such a young girl participated in this violent disorder, prosecutor Thomas Power said. The last time Britain witnessed widespread rioting was in 2011, when the fatal shooting of a Black man by police triggered several days of street violence. Fast and tough judicial action was viewed as helping quell the unrest in 2011, when around 4,000 people were arrested over several weeks. With inputs from agencies The Indian Air Force reported that a fighter aircraft accidentally released an air store near the Pokhran firing range due to a technical malfunction. An investigation has been initiated, but no damage to life or property has been reported read more The Indian Air Force (IAF) reported Wednesday that one of its fighter aircraft inadvertently released an air store near the Pokhran firing range due to a technical malfunction. The IAF confirmed the incident via social media platform X, stating that no damage to life or property has been reported. The incident occurred during a routine operation when the air store - generally means munitions, bombs, or other military equipment carried by aircraft - was unintentionally deployed. The specific type of air store involved in the malfunction has not been disclosed. Advertisement An investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the technical issue. An inadvertent release of an air store from an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft took place near Pokhran firing range area, due to technical malfunction, today. An enquiry by the IAF has been ordered to investigate into the incident. No damage to life or property has been Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 21, 2024 The Pokhran firing range, situated in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, is a crucial site for testing and training exercises by the Indian armed forces. This incident recalls a similar event from March 2022, when a BrahMos missile was accidentally fired from India into Pakistan. The missile, which was unarmed, landed in Mian Channu in Punjab, Pakistan, causing damage to buildings and a crater in a field. Indian authorities quickly acknowledged the incident as an accident caused by a technical malfunction during routine maintenance, which led to a loss of 25 crore and resulted in the dismissal of three IAF officers, including a Wing Commander, for gross negligence. Procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones, proposed joint manufacturing of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and co-production of GE F414 engines in India are likely to be discussed in Singhs talks with Austin read more Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to meet top US officials during his visit there from August 23-26. File image/PTI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to embark on a four-day visit to the United States beginning Friday, with the aim of strengthening the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two nations. During his stay in Washington, Singh is scheduled to hold discussions with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, among other key officials. The visit is expected to further deepen and broaden the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the Defence Ministry announced, confirming Singhs visit from August 23 to 26. Advertisement Key agenda items Three critical topics are expected to be high on the agenda during Singhs talks with Austin: 1. Indias procurement of Predator drones: India plans to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predators, including 15 for the Indian Navy and eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force, at an estimated cost of $4 billion. According to a May report by Moneycontrol, the first deliveries are anticipated by the end of 2026. The Indian Navy, which already operates two Sea Guardians, has expressed satisfaction with their reconnaissance capabilities. The MQ-9B, manufactured by General Atomics, boasts a range of approximately 1,800 km and is currently in use by the US Air Force and NATO allies. 2. Joint-manufacturing of Stryker ICVs: In July, a report by the Times of India suggested that India and the United States are in advanced talks to jointly manufacture the latest generation of Stryker armoured infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) as part of their defence-industrial cooperation roadmap. Additionally, The Print reported last month that the Indian Army is considering the procurement of approximately 530 infantry combat vehicles (ICVs). 3. Co-production of GE F414 engines in India: Last June, GE Aerospace announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to co-produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The F414 engines are designated for use in the indigenous Tejas Mark-2 fighter jets. Advertisement The GE-HAL deal, which requires approval from the US government and legislature, is anticipated to see full-scale production of F414 engines in India and the Tejas Mark 2 beginning early in the next decade. In addition to these discussions, Singh will chair a high-level roundtable meeting with representatives from the US defence industry, focusing on ongoing and future defence collaborations. With inputs from PTI The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has offered Ducati a 200-acre land parcel free of charge to build a race track and training center, aiming to boost local growth and job creation. This initiative aligns with Uttar Pradeshs FDI policy, which supports significant international investments read more The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has extended an offer to Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, providing a 200-acre land parcel at no cost. This land is designated for Ducatis proposed development of a race track and training center similar to the Buddh International Circuit F1 track, situated along the 165km Yamuna Expressway. YEIDA Chief Executive Officer Arun Vir Singh announced the offer after a meeting with Ducatis Managing Director Bipul Chandra and Director Sunil Kumar Sharma. The land, located in Sector 22F, has been selected for its suitability for Ducatis needs. Advertisement Under Uttar Pradeshs Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, YEIDA can offer up to a 75% subsidy on land to foreign companies, with the authority taking a 25% equity stake. This policy enables YEIDA to provide the land free of charge, aiming to attract major projects that will stimulate growth and job creation in the region. The land in Sector 22F is free of legal disputes and was acquired from farmers in the past. Ducati is interested in this location due to its excellent infrastructure, including expressways, future Metro connectivity, and the upcoming Noida International Airport, which is expected to begin operations by the end of 2024. During discussions, Ducati officials also addressed concerns related to the upcoming MotoGP race event scheduled for March next year. They highlighted challenges faced during the September 2023 MotoGP race, including high costs associated with track modifications, taxes, visas, and fees. The proposed facility would provide a dedicated space for motorcycle racing, eliminating the need for costly modifications to the existing Buddh Circuit, which was originally built for car racing. Ducati has been advised to review the project proposal with senior company officials before making a decision. YEIDA remains committed to supporting international investments that align with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vision of creating opportunities for youth through substantial projects. The spread of radical forces in South Asia poses a risk to nearby peace and balance. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative effort from all nations in the region and the worldwide community read more If a societys practice of tolerance is inclusive of the intolerant, intolerance will ultimately dominate, eliminating the tolerant and the practice of tolerance with them, Karl Popper said in The Paradox of Tolerance in the 1940s. South Asia is a complex and volatile region characterised by its cultural diversity, religious affinity, political instability, marred history, and ideological fault lines. Home to over a quarter of the worlds population, it has the worlds largest population of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians, besides 35 million Christians and 25 million Buddhists. Advertisement Ironically, the rise of Islamist forces has posed an escalating threat to the regions peace and stability. The spread of toxic Islamist ideology of hate and its boom have marred the region with intolerance and violence, destabilising it. India, being the most populous nation with diverse religions and ideologies today, faces the paradox of tolerance as this fundamentalist zeal manifests across its landmass. Global Spread of Islamist Radicalism Islamist radicalism has left its footprints all across the globe. According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2023, deaths attributed to Islamist radical forces increased by 10 per cent globally from the previous 12 months, with over 18,000 fatalities recorded. The report highlights that areas, which include the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South and Southeast Asia, are in particular affected. In the Middle East and North Africa, organisations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda pose substantial threats, irrespective of the setbacks. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen an upward thrust in terrorism, with Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab expanding their operations. In Southeast Asia, the presence of Islamist radicals in the Philippines and Indonesia poses a threat. The GTI report also notes a trend of radicalisation among diaspora groups in Western Europe and North America, mainly due to sporadic, however deadly, lone-wolf assaults. These global footprints underscore the pressing need for international collaboration to combat the spread of Islamist radicalism successfully. Genesis in South Asia Islamist fundamentalism in South Asia has deep historical roots, intertwined with periods of significant violence and forced conversions. In India, it started with invasions of rulers like Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori and got more institutionalised under the Sultanate rule. Advertisement The Mughal Empire, known for its administrative skills and periods of relative tolerance under rulers like Akbar, also experienced intense violence and coercion, particularly under Emperor Aurangzeb, who sought to impose stricter Islamic practices. The decline of the Mughal Empire and the subsequent British colonial rule exacerbated communal tensions and marginalisation, leading to the violent upheavals of the 1947 partition, which intensified religious identities and partition based on a religious divide. The 1980s Afghan-Soviet War further fuelled Islamist fundamentalism as international support for Mujahideen groups, many with extremist agendas, spread these ideologies into South Asia. The rise of militant groups like the Taliban and various factions in Pakistan, driven by a desire to impose strict Islamic Sharia laws, has led to significant violence and instability, reflecting the complex legacy of historical violence and forced conversions in the region. Advertisement The Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba has framed the prophecy of Ghazwa-e-Hind as one in which India is defeated and united with Pakistan, unifying the South Asia subcontinent under Muslim rule. This has also been the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami. The spread of Islamist ideology has manifested in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, which were erstwhile parts of Hindustan and its rulers. The balanced nations of India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal are seeing a demographic change. This change can be attributed to conversions, cross-border infiltration, disproportionate population increase, and indoctrination through social media and education in Madrasas. In particular, there is the challenge of distinct demographic change in the border townships. Advertisement Country-wise Analysis Pakistan: Pakistan is the fountainhead of Islamist radicalisation in South Asia. Terror organisations such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have carried out numerous attacks within and outside Pakistan. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), Pakistan experienced over 1,500 terrorism-related incidents in 2022, resulting in more than 800 fatalities. The countrys tribal regions and urban centres have both been hotspots for radical activities. The governments complex relationship with these groups, often oscillating between covert support and military crackdowns, has further complicated efforts to curb their influence. As a state policy, Pakistan has been breeding proxy war in India based on the Islamist ideology of terror. Advertisement As per SATP assessment, domestic terrorism continues to thrive in Pakistan within a broader environment that the Establishment has created to facilitate the operations of foreign-oriented terrorist formations, both directed against neighbours as well as wider global formations, and sectarian (anti-Shia) terrorist groups, as well as armed proxies hit squads that are deployed against dissident and rebel elements, particularly in Balochistan. Significantly, the binding ideology of all these groups is Islamist extremism. Afghanistan: Afghanistans political landscape has been dramatically altered by the resurgence of the Taliban, which regained control of the country in 2021. The Talibans victory has emboldened other Islamist groups in the region. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has also gained a foothold, posing a direct threat to regional stability. In 2023, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported over 1,200 civilian casualties due to terrorist attacks, with ISKP responsible for a significant portion. The Talibans governance, marked by strict Sharia implementation and suppression of dissent, has created a fertile ground for radical ideologies to thrive. India: A recent report drawing on demographic data from the Association of Religion Data Archive (ARDA from 1950 to 2015), observes a 43.15 per cent rise in the Muslim population in India, increasing from 9.84 per cent to 14.09 per cent. Conversely, the Hindu majoritys share decreased by 7.82 per cent, from 84.68 per cent to 78.06 per cent. The Christian population grew by 5.38 per cent, from 2.24 per cent to 2.36 per cent, while the Sikh population saw a 6.58 per cent rise, going from 1.74 per cent to 1.85 per cent. The Buddhist population experienced a significant increase from 0.05 per cent to 0.81 per cent, though the report does not explicitly quantify this growth rate. Overall, the report suggests that the rise in minority populations in India reflects their improved well-being, despite global concerns about declining religious freedom in the country. Yet the rise of Islamist forces and the change in demography, particularly border states, is a matter of grave concern. India faces the challenge of Islamist radicalisation across its entire landscape. Groups like the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the resurgence of the Kashmir insurgency by Pakistan have kept security forces on high alert. The infiltration of radical ideologies through social media and online platforms has further exacerbated the problem. Additionally, Indias and South Asias vast and diverse Muslim population has been targeted by both domestic and international radical groups aiming across the canvas to recruit and radicalise youth through indoctrination at blooming madrasas and social media handles. Bangladesh: Bangladesh has witnessed an upward trajectory in radical Islamist activities, especially with the emergence of groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). The 2016 Dhaka cafe attack, which claimed 29 lives, highlighted the potent threat. According to the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), there were over 100 radicalisation-related arrests in 2022, indicating an ongoing security challenge. The recent revolt in Bangladesh was marked by widespread violence, human rights violations, and the destruction of religious institutions. Radical Islamist groups like Jamaat-E-Islami (JEI) exploited the chaos, targeting minorities, thereby attempting to establish their influence in the power vacuum. This could pose a serious threat to the nation and the region. Nepal: Nepal essentially remains dormant from Islamic terrorism**.** Yet an assessment states rampant conversion drives by Islamic religious groups remain a major problem in Nepal despite anti-conversion provisions. Due to poor implementation of money laundering and anti-terrorism finance laws, religious groups like DeI and TJ hold frequent congregations and indoctrination programmes with the support of foreign funding. Nepal also remains a transit point for Islamist terrorists and radicals. Thus a potential threat other than Maoist looms at large. Sri Lanka: The 2019 Easter Sunday bombings by the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ), which claimed over 250 lives, showed the looming shadows of terrorism. This incident underscored the capacity of radical Islamist groups to exploit ethnic and religious tensions in the country. The bombings highlighted the vulnerabilities in the kingdoms safety equipment and the capability of radical corporations to incite large-scale violence. Sri Lankan authorities have since then intensified their counter-terrorism efforts, but the risk remains. The Maldives: While the Maldives has recently been incident-free, the threat of radicalisation remains significant. The robust Islamist and anti-India sentiments of cutting-edge political leadership can additionally create an environment conducive to the resurgence of radical Islamist forces. The Maldives has a record of vulnerability to radical organisations like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, as seen in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. Bhutan: Bhutan has largely persisted as the only fortunate exception in an otherwise violence-torn South Asia. The last low-intensity bomb blast was on 20 January 2008, though IEDs and bombs being placed thereafter have been detected. United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB) claimed responsibility for these blasts. The character of low-level violence is essentially attributable to the Maoist, not Islamist, movement. Challenges and Causes of Radicalisation in South Asia Root causes of radicalisation: Islamic extremism flourishes in environments characterised by socio-economic unrest, discriminatory policies, and political grievances. Poverty, unemployment, and political instability create fertile ground for extremist ideologies. Addressing these roots is critical for sustainable fulfilment in countering extremism. The need is for regulations that promote economic equality, and foster political balance. Simultaneously, terrorism must have a universal definition and differentiate between one nations freedom fighter and another nations terrorist. Online radicalisation: The internet has become a powerful device for the dissemination of extremist ideologies. Social media platforms and online forums provide virtual areas for recruitment and radicalisation. Countering online radicalisation calls for a collaborative attempt among governments, tech corporations, and civil society to screen and combat extremist content effectively. Investment in content analysis and proactive measures to counter online recruitment strategies are crucial additives to this effort. Indoctrination through toxic education: Limited access to quality education contributes to the vulnerability of individuals to extremist ideologies. The flourishing of madrasas wherein toxic education is taught is the fountainhead of radicalisation. Investing in education, and ensuring that educational curricula are designed to instill values of tolerance, inclusivity, and critical reasoning is important. Political and religious divides: Political and religious polarisation can amplify the radicalisation of individuals who feel marginalised or oppressed. Building inclusive societies that are tolerant of diversity and defend minority rights is important for countering extremism at its centre. Governments should promote interfaith harmony and put in force rules that foster social harmony, emphasising shared values and common goals. Foreign policy implications: Global geopolitical events and foreign policy decisions can impact the rise of extremism. Addressing conflicts and promoting diplomatic solutions can help reduce the appeal of extremist narratives that exploit grievances related to foreign interventions. Refugee influx can be a source wherein radical elements may gain authority and subsequently be a destabilising factor in a moderate society. Countering Radicalisation: Strategies and Challenges Community engagement and empowerment: Engaging local communities is important for countering extremism. Empowering community leaders and educators to challenge extremist narratives and promote tolerance can be significant in preventing radicalisation. Governments must aid grassroots projects that address community desires, fostering a sense of belonging and resilience against extremist influences. Investment in education: Governments need to prioritise education as the primary tool for countering the extremism of youth. Developing and implementing instructional packages that foster harmony, tolerance, and respect for diversity can assist societies. The imperative is to review and adapt the academic curricula devoid of toxic ideologies and promote values and culture conducive to harmony and tolerance. Counter-narratives and media literacy: Developing counter-narratives against extremist ideologies is an essential ingredient to prevent minds from being poisoned. Media literacy capsules can empower individuals to significantly authenticate, lowering susceptibility to online radicalisation. For counter-narratives to be effective, there is a need for a collaborative approach between governments, civil society, and the media in conveying counter-narratives that appeal to the masses, are plausible, and rubbish the toxic false narrative of the extremists. Security measures and intelligence cooperation: Strengthening collective security mechanisms and intelligence sharing in the international system is important for countering terrorism, which has no defined borders. Sharing statistics about capabilities and threats and coordinating efforts to dismantle extremist networks may be effective in countering extremism. However, counterterrorism efforts must not inadvertently exacerbate grievances or open space for radicalisation and thus require due diligence yet firmness. Promoting inclusive governance: Grassroots-level governance that addresses the concerns of citizens, regardless of their religion or culture is an important aspect of choking the space for radicalism. Protecting minority rights, promoting political participation, and addressing socio-economic inequalities reduces space for extremists. International cooperation: Islamic extremism is a challenge that requires global cooperation. Nations must collaborate on intelligence-sharing, countering the propagation of radical ideology, and diplomatic efforts to cope with the root causes of extremism. Initiatives just like the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy should be strengthened, and nations ought to play a more proactive position in fostering cooperation among member states. An Iron Fist in an Iron Glove: There must be a zero-tolerance policy to tackle this menace before it grows out of proportion. The important caution must be to differentiate between the moderate and extremist, thereby retaining the secular character of the nation. The nation needs a farsighted view of this menace to institute measures to address the roots, not just the events. Conclusion The spread of radical forces in South Asia poses a risk to nearby peace and balance. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative effort from all nations in the region and the worldwide community. By focussing on protection, socio-economic improvement, education, digital tracking, and international cooperation, nations can mitigate the effect of radicalisation and build a more peaceful destiny. The author is former Director General Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Over the last decade, with Chinas aggressive expansionism, Malaysia has increasingly looked to India to help balance power in the region read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, welcomes his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim upon his arrival at the Indian presidential palace during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi, on August 20, 2024. AP Malaysias Anwar Ibrahim is on his debut three-day visit to India as Prime Minister the first such delegation from Malaysia since 2018. He aims to seek New Delhis support for Malaysias membership in the BRICS bloc, which comprises countries representing 45 per cent of the worlds population and offers preferential trade and investment opportunities among member nations. Its founder members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates later joining the bloc. Advertisement It seems that the Malaysian prime minister may also seek to bolster ties with India, benefiting from Indias status as Asias fastest-growing large economy, and rekindle a bilateral relationship worth over $16 billion in 2023. Malaysia submitted its application to join BRICS to the current chairman, Russia, last year, possibly not only to safeguard itself from trade tensions arising from the escalating US-China conflict but also to expand its foreign trade and investments. The relationship between Malaysia and India soured in 2019 when the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad, accused India of invading and occupying Kashmir a statement contrary to reality. However, with the change in leadership in Malaysia, the bilateral ties, which were under an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, have found renewed enthusiasm over the last two years. As this Enhanced Strategic Partnership marks a decade, the two prime ministers have decisively agreed to elevate the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to fully harness the economic and strategic potential of both countries. Recalibrating bilateral ties Like some other nations, the previous Malaysian administration also pledged much of its loyalty to China. However, over the last decade, with Chinas aggressive expansionism, countries like Malaysia have increasingly looked to India to help balance power in the Asia-Pacific. Chinas expansionist ambitions have proven detrimental to nations, which eventually crumble under debt, leading to the loss of security and strategic assets, ultimately threatening their national interests. For a safe, open, and secure Asia-Pacific, India is beginning to re-emerge as a pivotal force to counter Chinese expansionist pressures. With its large market, growing economic size, and rapid economic growth, India offers economic and trade opportunities for nations seeking to reduce their dependence on China. This has prompted many to take active measures to reset their ties with India. Advertisement A recent example is the Maldives, where a new administration came to power on an anti-India, pro-China mandate and subsequently enacted anti-India policies. India reacted by retreating, which caused severe economic distress to the nation. With an aggressive China as its only option, the Maldives felt the pressure to recalibrate its ties with India and has been making active efforts to reconcile with an upset India. Countries are witnessing the impact of being crushed under Chinese pressure and having to make strategic compromises, as seen in the cases of Sri Lankas Hambantota port and Pakistans Gwadar. There is also ample evidence of nations facing Chinas hostility in various projects within the Belt and Road ecosystem. This aggression has served as a wake-up call for several powers. Advertisement While Chinas actions in its periphery remain centred on a hierarchical order that serves its own interests, with its global economic and political agenda being singularly China-centric, India offers a stark contrast. Indias worldview aligns with the concept of a Kautilyan Universe, which embraces the coexistence of multiple political units, multistate systems, and a multiverse. Each unit, differing in power, strength, and potential, works harmoniously towards a common goal of peace, security, and prosperity. People-to-people ties As with much of its extended neighbourhood, India and Malaysia share deep civilisational ties. A strong community of 3 million Indians resides in Malaysia, constituting a significant portion of the population. They celebrate Indian festivals, culture, and contribute to Malaysias rich diversity. Many symbols of Indian heritage and history are woven into mainstream Malaysian life, such as the Sri Veera Hanuman Temple, which showcases tales from the Ramayana in its South Indian architecture and intricate details. Locals often speak of feeling the positive divine energy emanating from the temples vicinity. Advertisement A popular story tells of a Malay lorry driver who spotted a majestic apparition of a giant monkey in a warriors attire walking along the well-known Scott Road, capturing the peoples devotion to the temple. Many such tales have become part of Malay life, making Hanuman an intrinsic deity of worship for many. Students often visit the temple before exams for blessings, and those seeking spiritual recovery from evil spirits or black magic find solace there. These practices closely mirror the reverence Indians hold for Lord Hanuman, highlighting the shared cultural and spiritual heritage. The prime ministers of the two countries have now committed to strengthening these ties by promoting the ancient Indian science of medicine, Ayurveda, and establishing cross-country scholarships. Prime Minister Modi has reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering ASEAN through multiple foreign policy initiatives, with deepening ties with Malaysia being an intrinsic part of that effort. Just last week, we saw PM Modi make similar strides with Vietnam. Advertisement Additionally, he announced that India will fully support Malaysias upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN next year and will work decisively towards a Free Trade Agreement among ASEAN powers. A strong, economically powerful ASEAN, anchored by a robust India, is indeed the key to an open, inclusive, and plural security order in the Asia-Pacific. Priyam Gandhi-Mody is a noted author and political communications expert. She has written four best-selling books and is working on her fifth one. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. If the Bangladesh government approaches New Delhi for extraditing Hasina and her sister, that too after following the due processes as known to common law and also the provisions of the extradition treaty, then New Delhi might well be put in a fix read more Did the mass protests and consequent regime-change in neighbouring Bangladesh impact domestic politics here in India? For the first time possibly under Prime Minister Narendra Modis 10-plus years of the BJP-NDA regime, the Opposition acted responsibly and the government was responsive. There is no need to dissect as to who was in the wrong in the past. By taking the Opposition into confidence, both inside and outside Parliament, with the multi-party I.N.D.I. alliance standing by the government on matters Bangladesh, a new era of bi-polar politics has begun in the country. Advertisement Traditionally, the nations polity has stood as one when it comes to matters of national security and allied foreign policy concerns. Referring to Indira Gandhis leadership of the Bangladesh War (1971) in Parliament, then Jan Sangh leader (later BJP) Atal Bihari Vajpayee used the metaphor Durga on the Lion. The Opposition of the day hailed the nations achievement on Pokhran-I & II (1974, 1998) nuclear tests. As the Kargil War (1999) wound on, the then Congress Opposition pledged whole-hearted support to the national cause and stood by. They reserved criticism on alleged intelligence failure, delayed action and a corruption-ridden coffin-gate for post-war exchanges in Parliament and outside. Better still, the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP stood as one in getting the India-US civilian nuclear deal passed in both Houses. Betting too much In the weeks, months and years to come, strategic thinkers and academics, in the two countries and also the rest of the world, would surely be debating if New Delhi, independent of political leaderships, bent too much on Hasinas side to the near-exclusion of other political players in that country. Truth be acknowledged, India did not interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, there was possibly a failed system and faked elections. New Delhi was left with no choice but to deal with the government and Prime Minister that the people of Bangladesh elected, and repeatedly so. Remember how after Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans assassination, sections of the Bangladeshi strategic community blamed him for bending too much on the Indian neighbour. If they regretted the creation of Bangladesh and Indias interventionist role in it, they did not say so. If they now begin complaining, louder than ever, that Sheikh Hasina was too accommodative to Indias wishes, political, economic and strategic, again they are mistaken. Advertisement India had no role in the autocracy that runs in Bangladeshi minds. What father Mujibur Rahman was accused of doing, Hasina lived to repeat. In between, the various military-led regimes and that by her arch-rival and BNP president, Begum Khaleda Zia, were no different. To be fair to Hasina, she turned around the countrys economy and also wiped out terrorism, both in near-simultaneous swift moves. It was evident that the security forces stood by her leadership when it battled terrorism in the country, and also during the mutiny by the Bangladesh Border Guard (BDR), way back in 2009. This time round, however, there seemed to have been inherent limitations to the self-regulated role of the armed forces in putting down the peoples power. According to news reports, younger officers questioned the top brass over the wisdom and propriety of doing so, at the behest of the Hasina regime. They were reflecting the mood of the nation and that was not a good sign. That mood was not about economic recovery (which was already floundering, post-Covid) or terrorism, but was about democratic values. Advertisement Maybe, it all owed to the war and violence that a whole generation of Bangladeshis were parties to and witnessed, too. The fact remains, Bangladesh is possibly the only country in South Asia, where political clashes were rampant and their turning into big-time violence was not unusual and casual. Elsewhere in the region and in most other nations, where there are street-clashes of the kind, the State, represented by the police and other security forces, would be on the one side and violent protestors and mobsters, on the other. It was not always so in Bangladesh, where political clashes were invariably between the cadres of two political parties, invariably between Hasinas Awami League on the one side, and Khaledas BNP with or without the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was/is a patently an anti-India, radical Islamist force. Between the two phases of the nation-wide student-youth violence that ousted the Hasina regime, you had the government banning the Jamaat for a second time, on 1 August, blaming it for the unprecedented street-violence that refused to die down. Advertisement It is more than likely that the Jamaat, BNP and all frustrated political forces were behind the street protests and mob violence, yes. But it also shows how disconnected the Hasina regime had become after barring the Jamaat from contesting elections in 2013 (after her father had once banned the party in 1973) and putting political rival Khaleda behind bars, almost permanently. Whoever took the decision, almost the first one after Hasina left the country was to free Khaleda from prison. It is not unlikely that Hasinas rivals would want to give it back to her, now in the same coin. Advertisement Not right This brings in India, where Hasina has taken shelter for now. It is a difficult yet unavoidable scenario that New Delhi had to end up hosting her at a critical juncture in that nations history. Needless to say that the deposed leader and her advisors too would be alive to the fact that she cannot continue to stay on in India for more than required. Reports claimed that she was thinking in terms of migrating to the UK, but after obtaining political asylum; however, soon it turned out that it was not going to happen. No Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street could especially afford to have an Islamic fugitive from another country asylum in the UK when the country was facing anti-Muslim riots all across. But India has had another related problem on hand, or something that may be brewing. Travelling from Dubai to take over as the head of the interim government, 84-year-old Nobel laureate Mohummud Yunus said that it was not right for Hasina to stay on in India. He told an Indian interviewer how if the violence and crisis continued, it could well spill over into Indias border states and also Myanmar. If Yunus was cautioning New Delhi about a situation like one that prevailed in 1971, wherein a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented kind since Partition and Independence caused Indias diplomatic and military intervention, he did not say it at least, not yet. But his observation is loaded in multiple ways, whether or not he realised them all. A senior leader of Khaledas BNP leader, Gayeshwar Roy, lost no time in cautioning India over strained relations over New Delhis support for Hasina, meaning hosting her in the interim. Though it is more about the present and try to attribute motives where none exist, they often tend to forget how India under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had officially hosted Khaleda Zia, then still only an Opposition leader, for a week or so and she returned the compliment by cancelling an appointment with the visitor when he travelled to Dhaka not very long after, by tactically calling for a nation-wide bandh, of course against the Hasina regime, during the period. However, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, president of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association, was blunt in his social media post for India to arrest and send back Hasina and her sister, and send them back to that country. Now that a civilian regime of some title and character has taken charge in Dhaka, the question arises as to New Delhis reaction if and when approached for extraditing Hasina, to stand trial in local courts for alleged acts of commissions, under the law. Yunus too has since talked to Prime Minister Modi and promised the continuance of good neighbourly relations but that does not mean that his regime would look the other way on Hasina and massive allegations of her high-handedness and also corruption when in power. Already, demands for India arresting Hasina and sending her back to face trial nearer home have begun reverberating across Bangladesh. Some rivals have used the specific term extradition. The two nations, it may be recalled, signed an Extradition Treaty in 2013, which was amended in 2016, between the governments of Prime Ministers Hasina and Narendra Modi. It is anybodys guess if opponents in Bangladesh who are demanding Hasinas arrest and extradition knew of the existence of this agreement, but definitely, government officials in Dhaka, directed to handle criminal cases against her would know all about it. Hence, if the Bangladesh government approaches New Delhi in the coming weeks and months for extraditing Hasina and her sister, that too after following the due processes as known to common law and also the provisions of the extradition treaty, then New Delhi might well be put in a fix. Loaded message Even without it all, Bangladesh is faced with real problems of everyday kind, which goes beyond democracy, rule of law and the impending crisis, which the Hasina regime could only put off for another day, but not wipe out completely. When faced with a crisis, you now have a leader in Yunus, who, at 84, has no politico-administrative experience. The alternate leader in Khaleda is ageing at 78 and is also ailing with multiple health issues. Hasina herself is 76. In the transition, if that is what it is, Yunus is the chief advisor. There are 14 advisors, none of whom is a minister under the Constitution, which thankfully has not been suspended or abrogated, as used to be the case in such circumstances. When Hasina left, the army gave word that fresh parliamentary polls would be held at the earliest, to annul the results of the controversial one in January. On release from house-arrest, Khaleda wanted early elections, as early as three months. However, Yunus has since declared that holding elections was not his first priority, but restoring order alone is. It is anybodys guess how many more months or years it is meant to take. Already, there are indications that the army is going to stay behind the scenes but run the show all the same, if only to confer continued legitimacy of some kind on the propped up administration that is not elected. This can have consequences for the nation first and neighbours, next and the attack on Hindus and other minorities in the country was/is only one of them. Yunus talked to Prime Minister Modi and promised to end anti-Hindu violence across the country, after the latter mentioned it in public. For India, that might be a measure, but not the only one! The writer is a Chennai-based policy analyst and political commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. One alternative NASA is considering involves using SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft, which is currently docked at the ISS. A major issue is the incompatibility between the spacesuits designed for Boeings Starliner and those used on the Crew Dragon read more NASA is looking at the upcoming Crew-9 mission, set to launch in February, which could go up with just two crew members, leaving room for Williams and Wilmore. This would allow NASA to send up spare suits. Image Credit: NASA NASA is dealing with a tricky situation as it figures out how to safely bring astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). The two have been stuck up there since early June, and their planned ride home, Boeings Starliner, has been hit with a series of technical glitches that have everyone concerned. The original plan was for Williams and Wilmore to return in the Starliner, but given the ongoing issues with the spacecraft, NASA is now exploring other options. Boeing and NASA insist that Starliner is still good to go in an emergency, even with the risk of some thrusters acting up. But NASA is not taking any chances, considering the potential dangers. Advertisement One alternative on the table involves using SpaceXs Crew Dragon, which is currently docked at the ISS. But this idea comes with its own set of problems. For starters, the spacesuits that Williams and Wilmore have for the Starliner arent compatible with the Crew Dragon. This means that if they were to return on the SpaceX capsule, theyd have to do so without wearing a spacesuit something NASA confirmed in a recent call. Its a tough pill to swallow since these suits are designed to protect the astronauts in case something goes wrong during the return trip. Spacesuits used during launch and re-entry, known as intravehicular (IVA) suits, are crucial. Theyre not just for show; they protect against sudden cabin pressure loss and help regulate temperature. Without them, the astronauts would be much more vulnerable if anything went wrong on the way down. The reason behind this suit incompatibility goes back to NASAs Commercial Crew Program, which funded the development of both the Starliner and Crew Dragon. Unlike past space programs, where NASA was involved in every detail, this program gave Boeing and SpaceX more freedom to design their spacecraft, as long as they met NASAs broad requirements and safety standards. But this also meant that making sure the two companies systems worked togetherlike spacesuits fitting different spacecraftwasnt a priority. To make things even more complicated, the Crew Dragon currently at the ISS is already carrying four crew members, and while it was initially designed to hold seven, its been reconfigured to accommodate just four. Even if NASA could get compatible suits for Williams and Wilmore, the Crew Dragon doesnt have the necessary setup to support them. Advertisement Thankfully, theres a backup plan in the works. NASA is looking at the upcoming Crew-9 mission, set to launch in February, which could go up with just two crew members, leaving room for Williams and Wilmore. This would allow NASA to send up spare suits, making it a much safer and more straightforward solution. But all of this highlights the ongoing struggles with Boeings Starliner. After investing billions of dollars in the capsules development, seeing the astronauts return on a SpaceX spacecraft would be a significant setback for Boeing and raise more questions about the future of the Starliner program. As NASA continues to sort through its options, this situation is a reminder of just how complicated and risky space travel can be, especially when multiple private companies are involved. The decisions made in the coming weeks will be crucial, not only for the safe return of the astronauts but also for the future of commercial spaceflight. The 9% levy on Tesla is notably lower than the average 21.3% tariff imposed on companies that cooperated with the investigation, and much less than the 36.3% for those that did not. This tariff is in addition to the EUs standard 10% duty on EVs imported from China read more Tesla is set to face a 9 per cent additional tariff on its electric vehicles (EVs) exported from China to the European Union (EU), according to an announcement from the European Commission. This decision is part of a broader investigation into what the EU sees as unfair subsidies provided by Beijing to its domestic EV industry. The 9 per cent levy on Tesla is notably lower than the average 21.3 per cent tariff imposed on companies that cooperated with the investigation, and much less than the 36.3 per cent for those that did not. Advertisement This tariff is in addition to the EUs standard 10 per cent duty on EVs imported from China. The relatively modest 9 per cent tariff was assigned after Tesla requested individual consideration during the Brussels inquiry. It stands in stark contrast to the much harsher 100 per cent tariffs imposed by the United States on similar products. EU officials conducted an inspection of Teslas Shanghai operations in June, concluding that the company had indeed benefited from Chinese state subsidies. These subsidies included below-cost batteries, access to cheap land, and various grants aimed at exporters. The 9 per cent tariff is expected to be implemented by October 31, pending approval from EU member states. This decision comes as part of the European Commissions ongoing efforts to adjust tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. Alongside Tesla, other major Chinese EV producers are also facing revised tariffs. BYD, which is in close competition with Tesla for the title of the worlds largest EV producer, will be subjected to a 17 per cent tariff. Geelys tariff will be set at 19.3 per cent, while SAIC will face a 36.3 per cent duty. These rates have been adjusted downward following technical discussions with the companies involved, and there is a possibility of further changes. In a somewhat unexpected move, the EU also announced that no provisional tariffs would be imposed before the final tariffs take effect at the end of October. This decision was made because EU officials determined that European carmakers are currently facing a threat of injury from the influx of Chinese EVs rather than experiencing actual damage like factory closures or job losses. Advertisement However, officials warned that without action, the rapid growth of Chinese EV exports, driven by substantial subsidies, could soon cause material injury to the EUs automotive industry. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy provided some context earlier this year, estimating that Chinas subsidies to its EV industry amounted to approximately $5.6 billion in 2022. BYD was the largest recipient, securing $3.7 billion of that aid. While Tesla received significantly less than BYD, it still benefitted from about $426 million in support for its Shanghai facility, making it the second-largest recipient of Chinese aid. Further analysis from the China trade specialist website Soapbox, using data from the European Commissions Eurostat and Chinese customs authorities, revealed that between June 2020 and June 2024, 45 per cent of the total value of EVs exported by China was destined for the EU. Advertisement Interestingly, Chinese manufacturers ramped up exports in April 2024 in anticipation of the impending tariffs, and registrations of these imported EVs in the EU surged between April and May before tapering off. As the European Commission finalises its decisions, the automotive industry and consumers alike are closely watching the impact these tariffs will have on the availability and pricing of Chinese-made EVs in Europe. Tesla, along with other key players, will have to navigate these new financial challenges as the EU moves to protect its domestic car manufacturers from what it sees as unfair competition. Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Indias Ambassador to Poland, has had a distinguished diplomatic career, including roles in Paris, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and as High Commissioner to Brunei. She is noted for her expertise in managing bilateral relations and her leadership in various international postings read more Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Indias current Ambassador to Poland, has had a distinguished career in diplomacy, marked by a series of prominent roles both within India and abroad. Joining the Indian Foreign Service in 1991, Mallick has built an impressive resume through her work in key diplomatic positions, including postings in Paris, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, and Brunei. Known for her expertise in managing bilateral relations and her leadership in various diplomatic missions, Mallick continues to play a crucial role in strengthening Indias international presence and fostering global partnerships. Advertisement Here are ten key details about her work and personal life: 1. Nagma Mohamed Mallick started her diplomatic career in Paris, working at the Indian Embassy to the French Republic and the Indian Mission to UNESCO. 2. In India, she held various roles, including Desk Officer in the West Europe Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, and as part of Prime Minister I.K. Gujrals personal staff. She was also the first woman Deputy Chief of Protocol (Ceremonial). 3. Mallick served as First Secretary in Nepal and as Counsellor in Sri Lanka. She returned to Delhi as Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. 4. She managed Indias relations with Russia and CIS countries as Director in the Eurasia Division. 5. From July 2010 to September 2012, she was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Thailand. 6. Mallick served as Indias Ambassador to Tunisia from October 2012 to November 2015. 7. She was the High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam from December 2015 to December 2018. 8. From February 2019 to January 2020, she led the Policy Planning Division of the Ministry and was Additional Secretary (Africa) until August 2021, overseeing relations with Eastern and Southern African countries. 9. She is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Poland. Advertisement 10. Mallick joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1991. She has a Bachelors degree in English Literature and a Masters degree in Sociology. Fluent in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam, she is also interested in Indian classical dance and music, English literature, fitness, and nutrition. She is married with two children. The visit involves some key leaders who have important direct or indirect influence over the progression of the Ukraine war. It not only sends a clear signal to the West, but could lead to economic and geopolitical developments read more Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang on Tuesday (August 20) began his visit to Russia and Belarus. From the leaders involved to the purpose of his visit to the signal being sent to the West, here are six things to know about Lis trip: 1. Who are the leaders involved? The key leaders involved in the visit are Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko. Advertisement 2. What is the purpose of these visits? What will the discussions be about? The purpose of the visits is to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia, as well as to strengthen ties with Belarus. Discussions will focus on bilateral relations, practical cooperation in various fields such as trade, economy, energy, and emerging sectors like technological innovation and cross-border e-commerce, according to Xinhua. The leaders will also discuss key geopolitical issues and implement the strategic direction set by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 3. Why is the visit important in terms of timing? The visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Russia. But more importantly, it comes on the heels of Ukrainian military incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. It is the first high-level Chinese visit to Russia since this incident. The timing is important in terms of not only showing support to Moscow amid growing pressure, but also for Beijing to discuss implications of Ukraines latest offensive. Belarus, on the other hand, officially became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) just last month. It marked a transition from the observer state status it held since 2015. China and Belarus also put up a robust display of firepower in drills near the Poland border around the same time the Nato summit was happening. Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of Chinas regional rival, India, is visiting Poland and Ukraine around the same time, revealing New Delhis influence and ambitions in geopolitical relationship building. Advertisement 4. What kind of signal is being sent out to the West? The visit sends a clear signal to the West that China is steadfast in its support for Russia despite Western criticism and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It shows Chinas willingness to maintain and even strengthen its strategic partnership with Russia in line with its own interests, regardless of external pressures or geopolitical tensions. 5. What are the economic and geopolitical implications of the visits? Economically, the visits are likely to result in deeper trade and investment ties between China and Russia, particularly in sectors like energy, manufacturing, and technological innovation. The growing economic interdependence could help both countries mitigate the impact of Western sanctions and economic pressures. Advertisement Geopolitically, the visits reinforce the alignment between China and Russia in countering Western influence and promoting a multipolar world order. By strengthening ties with Russia and Belarus, China is solidifying its presence and influence in the region, which could have broader implications for global power dynamics and the ongoing geopolitical rivalry with the West. 6. Are China and Russia creating a broad alliance? According to DW, the visits by Li to Russia and Belarus will highlight a broadening alliance where Beijing and The approval marks an early win for Pezeshkian, a longtime lawmaker who found himself catapulted into the presidency after a helicopter crash in May killed his hard-line predecessor read more Iranian lawmakers attend an open session of parliament during the third day of debate on the 19 proposed ministers by President Masoud Pezeshkian, in Tehran, Iran. AP Irans hard-line parliament on Wednesday approved all members of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkians Cabinet, the first time in over two decades a leader has been able to get all of his officials through the body. The approval marks an early win for Pezeshkian, a longtime lawmaker who found himself catapulted into the presidency after a helicopter crash in May killed his hard-line predecessor. Getting his officials approved shows Pezeshkian picked a Cabinet of consensus with names palatable to all of the power centers within Irans theocracy, as opposed to going for controversial choices as well. Former Foreign Minister Mohamamad Javad Zarif, who campaigned for Pezeshkian in his election, later resigned as a vice president for the new leader over the Cabinet selections. Advertisement Underlining that point, Pezeshkian immediately posted an image online with him standing next to Irans judiciary chief, a Shiite cleric, and the countrys parliament speaker, a hard-liner he once faced in the election. Consensus for Iran, he wrote in the caption. Among those in Pezeshkians new Cabinet is Abbas Araghchi, 61, a career diplomat who will be Irans new foreign minister. Araghchi was a member of the Iranian negotiating team that reached a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015 that capped Tehrans nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal and imposed more sanctions on Iran. Pezeshkian said during his presidential campaign that he would try to revive the nuclear deal. The candidate who received the most support from lawmakers was the countrys new defense minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, who received 281 votes out of 288 present lawmakers. The chamber has 290 seats. Nasirzadeh was chief of the Iranian air force from 2018 to 2021. Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi received the lowest number of votes with 163. The only female minister proposed, Housing and Road Minister Farzaneh Sadegh, a 47-year-old architect, received 231 votes. She is the first female minister in Iran in more than a decade. The parliament also approved Pezeshkians proposed Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib, as well as Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi, both of whom served under the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Pezeshkian also put Raisis minister of industries, Abbas Aliabadi, in the post of energy minister. Advertisement Dropping proposed ministers has been a tradition in Irans parliament, making Pezeshkians success that much more striking. Former reformist President Mohammad Khatami was the only president who received vote of confidence for all of his proposed ministers in both 1997 and 2001. Spokesperson Oncu Keceli also said the call had taken place at the request of the U.S. side, adding the two ministers also discussed regional developments. He did not provide any further details read more Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the latest state efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in a phone call on Wednesday, Turkeys foreign ministry spokesperson said. Spokesperson Oncu Keceli also said the call had taken place at the request of the U.S. side, adding the two ministers also discussed regional developments. He did not provide any further details. More details awaited In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Johns Hopkins expert Dr Kari Debbink discusses the evolving risks, diagnostic methods and global response strategies to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreak read more A child under treatment for Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the Mpox virus that causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever, at a health centre in Munigi, Nyiragongo territory, near Goma in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 19, 2024. Reuters Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral infection that has recently garnered significant global attention. Historically confined to parts of West and Central Africa, Mpox saw a dramatic shift in its global impact beginning in May 2022. To understand the complexities of the outbreak and the current state of the virus, Firstpost spoke with Dr Kari Debbink, PhD, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr Debbink provides critical insights into the risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatment options and ongoing research related to Mpox. Advertisement Risk populations Dr Debbink highlights that certain groups are at higher risk for severe outcomes from Mpox. Children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk for severe Mpox outcomes, she explains. This underscores the need for targeted interventions to protect these vulnerable populations. Diagnostic methods On diagnosing Mpox, Dr Debbink emphasised the importance of PCR testing. PCR testing is the WHO recommended standard for diagnosing Mpox. This is because the PCR test is able to detect DNA that is specific to the virus, so it cant be confused with other viruses or conditions, she noted. This precision is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective response. Kari Debbink, PhD, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Current treatment options Regarding treatment, Dr Debbink mentioned that while no specific treatments for Mpox are approved, certain antivirals and treatments for smallpox are being tested. There are no approved treatments that are specific to Mpox at this point. However, there are some antivirals approved for smallpox that are in clinical trials to test effectiveness against Mpox in cluding TPOXX, Tembexa, and Vistide. There is also an immunoglobulin treatment (VIGIV) for smallpox that is being tested against Mpox, she said. Emerging therapies Dr Debbink also pointed out the promise of ongoing trials. There are several ongoing trials including the STOMP trial (US) and the PALM trial (DRC), she added. These trials are essential for identifying effective treatments and managing the disease. Advertisement Role of vaccines Dr Debbink discussed the role of vaccines in controlling Mpox outbreaks. There are a few vaccines recommended by the WHO for Mpox for those at high risk of being exposed to the virus (MVA-BN, brand names Jynneos/Imvamune/Imvanex and the LC16 vaccine). In US trials, MVA-BN showed ~86% vaccine effectiveness against Mpox in individuals who were fully vaccinated (had two vaccine doses), she explained. This information is vital for understanding the effectiveness of vaccination efforts. Research focus On current research, Dr Debbink highlighted the multi-pronged approach being taken. The efforts are multi-pronged and focus not only on drug development and vaccines but on surveillance and distribution of vaccines and healthcare resources to the most affected areas. Much of the fight against Mpox relies on detection of cases and the infrastructure to prevent transmission and spread, so making sure that the areas most affected get the appropriate aid is a primary way to fight Mpox. Further research on vaccine effectiveness for different Clades and for different populations will also be important in combatting Mpox, she said. Addressing these areas is crucial for combating Mpox effectively. Advertisement Overview of Mpox Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), related to the smallpox virus. It can result in a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever. Although most cases are mild, severe cases can occur and can be fatal. Traditionally, Mpox was limited to sporadic cases in Africa, with limited human-to-human transmission. The virus typically affected individuals with direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials. Initial outbreak (May 2022 - December 2022) In May 2022, Mpox began spreading outside its endemic regions, leading to a significant global outbreak. The initial surge saw thousands of cases, primarily in Europe and North America. The majority of cases were among men who have sex with men (MSM), though Mpox is not exclusive to this group. Advertisement To address the outbreak, public health interventions included enhanced surveillance, vaccination campaigns and educational efforts. By the end of 2022, case numbers began to decline, although the virus continued to circulate in various regions. Emergence of Clade 1b (2023 - 2024) In early 2023, a new variant, clade 1b, emerged in Central Africa. This variant demonstrated different transmission patterns and presented significant challenges for control efforts. The emergence of clade 1b emphasised the need for improved healthcare infrastructure in affected regions. The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024 due to the variants rapid spread and difficulties in accurate tracking and reporting. Advertisement Regional insights From May 2022 to July 2024, the United Kingdom reported over 4,000 cases of Mpox. Most cases occurred in 2022, with a decline in subsequent years. Public health efforts in the United Kingdom focussed on vaccination and education, particularly within MSM communities. In Central Africa, where clade 1b emerged, continues to face significant challenges. The regions limited healthcare infrastructure has exacerbated the situation leading to underreporting and delayed interventions. Efforts to improve diagnostic capabilities and provide international support are ongoing. Of late, the Mpox virus has spread to various countries in Asia like Pakistan, the Philippines and Malaysia. Vaccination and public health response Smallpox vaccines have been integral to the global response to Mpox. The WHO recommends vaccines like MVA-BN and LC16 for high-risk individuals. The effectiveness of these vaccines has been demonstrated in trials, with MVA-BN showing approximately 86% effectiveness. The WHO and national health agencies are working together to coordinate responses, share data and support affected regions. Public health campaigns aim to promote safe practices and vaccination to reduce transmission. Diagnostic and treatment advances Dr Debbinks insight on diagnostic methods emphasises the importance of PCR testing for accurate Mpox diagnosis. This method is crucial for differentiating Mpox from other conditions. Currently, no specific treatments for Mpox are approved, but antivirals and treatments for smallpox are under investigation. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the effectiveness of these treatments against Mpox. Ongoing trials, such as the STOMP and PALM trials, are crucial for discovering effective therapies for Mpox. These trials aim to identify new treatment options and improve management strategies. WHOs perspective In August 2024, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, emphasised that while Mpox poses serious concerns, it is manageable with the right response. He highlighted the importance of avoiding panic and ensuring a coordinated approach to control the outbreak. The WHOs strategic framework aims to enhance prevention and control efforts for Mpox. This framework includes goals for eliminating human-to-human transmission, reducing zoonotic spillovers and advancing research and access to countermeasures. On August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the Mpox upsurge in Africa a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Mpox remains a global health challenge with recent developments highlighting the need for sustained vigilance and international cooperation. While the situation has improved since the initial outbreak in 2022, ongoing challenges such as new variants and underreporting persist. Continued efforts in vaccination, public health education and global coordination are essential for controlling and eventually eliminating Mpox as a public health threat. Marking a significant shift in US defence policy, President Biden has discreetly endorsed a classified nuclear plan that prioritises countering Chinas rapid nuclear expansion read more (File) Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he walks with US President Joe Biden at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, US, November 15, 2023. Reuters In a decisive move, President Joe Biden on Tuesday approved a highly classified nuclear strategic plan in March marking a significant shift in the United States deterrent strategy. For the first time, the focus is explicitly on Chinas rapid nuclear expansion, signaling a new era in global power dynamics. Chinas growing nuclear threat The report which came out in the New York Times said that the Pentagon has raised alarms over Chinas burgeoning nuclear capabilities, projecting that within the next decade, Chinas nuclear stockpile will rival those of the United States and Russia in both size and diversity. This stark reality has necessitated a reevaluation of Americas nuclear posture as the traditional balance of power undergoes a dramatic transformation. Advertisement Secretive nature of the New Guidance Dubbed the Nuclear Employment Guidance, the revised strategy was quietly approved without public announcement. The document, updated roughly every four years, is so sensitive that only a few hard copies exist, accessible to select national security officials and Pentagon commanders. Despite its secrecy, White House spokesperson Sean Savett clarified that the guidance is not a response to any specific nation or threat, but rather a broader reorientation of US nuclear strategy. Evolving global nuclear landscape Historically, the notion that Americas adversaries could coordinate nuclear threats against it was considered unlikely. However, the deepening military ties between Russia and China, coupled with North Korea and Irans provision of conventional arms to Russia for the Ukraine war, have significantly altered Washingtons strategic calculations. Intelligence agencies are now investigating whether Russia is bolstering North Korean and Iranian missile programmes in exchange for their support. Despite former president Donald Trumps optimistic predictions that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would dismantle his nuclear arsenal following their three summits, the opposite has occurred. North Korea has expanded its nuclear arsenal to over 60 weapons, with the capacity to produce even more. This growing arsenal now poses a significant challenge to US missile defences and could potentially enable coordinated nuclear threats with Moscow and Beijing. New reality for the next US president The updated nuclear strategy serves as a stark reminder that the next US president, who will take office on January 20, will face a more volatile and unpredictable nuclear landscape. The past three years have seen unprecedented shifts, with Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly threatening nuclear action against Ukraine. The crisis in October 2022, where US intelligence intercepted concerning communications among Russian commanders, brought the likelihood of nuclear use alarmingly close to 50 per cent. Advertisement In response, President Biden, along with leaders from Germany and Britain, successfully persuaded India and China to publicly denounce the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, temporarily defusing the crisis. Chinas ambitious nuclear expansion The second major shift stems from Chinas nuclear ambitions. Under President Xi Jinping, China has accelerated its nuclear expansion at a pace that has outstripped even the most pessimistic predictions by US intelligence. Abandoning its longstanding minimum deterrent strategy, China is now on a path to match or surpass the nuclear capabilities of both the US and Russia. This rapid expansion has made Chinas nuclear complex the fastest growing in the world. Advertisement A new nuclear reality for US war plans The evolving global nuclear environment was bound to influence American war plans and strategy. The US-based Arms Control Association, however, noted that the core of US nuclear strategy remains unchanged from the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. While Chinas nuclear arsenal is expected to grow from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia, with its approximately 4,000 nuclear warheads, continues to be the primary driver of US nuclear strategy. Mali cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine in early August over comments by a spokesperson for Ukraines military intelligence agency, Andriy Yusov, about fighting in Malis north that killed Malian soldiers and mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group in late July. The military government of Niger followed suit days later in solidarity with its neighbour read more Heads of state of Mali, Assimi Goita, Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani and Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, pose for photographs during the first ordinary summit of heads of state and governments of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Niamey, Niger. File image/ Reuters The military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have written to the U.N. Security Council to denounce what they said was Ukraines support for rebel groups in West Africas Sahel region, Malis foreign ministry said. Mali cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine in early August over comments by a spokesperson for Ukraines military intelligence agency, Andriy Yusov, about fighting in Malis north that killed Malian soldiers and mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group in late July. The military government of Niger followed suit days later in solidarity with its neighbour. Advertisement Yusov had said Malian rebels had received necessary information to conduct a successful military operation. Mali and Niger interpreted Yusovs comments as an admission of Ukraines direct involvement in the conflict, and accused it of supporting international terrorism as a result. Ukraine has repeatedly called the allegations groundless and untrue. Its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. The country is still locked in heavy fighting with Russia more than two years after Moscows invasion. A Tuareg rebel alliance has also said it did not receive any Ukrainian support. Both ethnic Tuareg separatists and jihadist insurgents operate in north Mali. The Tuareg said they had killed at least 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers over days of fierce fighting in July. An al Qaeda affiliate separately said it had killed 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers in an ambush on one of those days. In their letter to the Security Council, the foreign ministers of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso asked it to take responsibility for Ukraines actions and to prevent subversive acts that threaten regional and continental stability. The letters text was posted on the Malian foreign ministrys social media account. Diplomats said it was circulated to the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday evening. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have turned their backs on traditional Western and regional allies in favour of Russia since their juntas took power over the past four years. Advertisement The July attacks, which took place in Malis northern Kidal region near the border with Algeria, are potentially Wagners heaviest defeat since it stepped in two years ago to help the junta fight jihadist insurgents. The ethnic Tuareg are a separate group who inhabit the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali. Tuareg-led separatists launched a rebellion in 2012 that was pushed back into Malis arid north and later hijacked by Islamist militant groups. A bus carrying Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan to Iraq crashed in central Iran, killing at least 28 people and injuring 23 others, with 14 in critical condition. The accident, blamed on brake failure, occurred near the city of Taft as pilgrims traveled to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen read more A bus crash in Iran claimed lives of several Pakistani pilgrims travelling to Iraq. Image used for representative purpose/Reuters A bus carrying Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan to Iraq crashed in central Iran, killing at least 28 people, an official said Wednesday. The crash happened Tuesday night in the central Iranian province of Yazd, said Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency official, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Another 23 people suffered injuries in the crash, 14 of them serious, he added. He said all the bus passengers hailed from Pakistan. There were 51 people on board at the time of the crash outside of the city of Taft, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Advertisement Iranian state television later blamed the crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by its driver. In Pakistan, media reports quoted a local Shiite leader, Qamar Abbas, saying as many as 35 people had died in the crash. He described those on the bus as coming from the city of Larkana in Pakistans southern Sindh province. Pakistans government offered no immediate comment. Iran has one of the worlds worst traffic safety records with some 17,000 deaths annually. The grave toll is blamed on wide disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services in its vast rural areas. The pilgrims had been on their way to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen. Arbaeen Arabic for the number 40 marks the death of the Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussein, at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history. Hussein was seen by his followers as the rightful heir of the prophets legacy. When he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate, he was killed in the battle, cementing the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam. Pilgrims gather in Karbala, Iraq, in whats regarded as the largest annual public gathering in the world. The event draws tens of millions of people each year. Advertisement A separate bus crash early Wednesday in Irans southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province killed six people and injured 18, authorities said. Out of a total of 18,910 cases in 2024, 94% or 17,794 were in Congo, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 535 of the 541 deaths reported read more Congo reported more than 1,000 new mpox cases in the last week up to Tuesday as African health authorities asked for desperately needed vaccines to help fight its growing threat on the continent. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreaks in Africa a global emergency. Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches, and mostly spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse. People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals. Advertisement While mpox has been reported in 12 of Africas 54 countries during these outbreaks, the vast central African nation of Congo has recorded by far the most cases this year. Out of a total of 18,910 cases in 2024, 94% or 17,794 were in Congo, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 535 of the 541 deaths reported. The figures are likely an underestimate, as only about one in five suspected cases in Congo are being tested for mpox. Africa CDC director-general Dr. Jean Kaseya said many affected African countries had limited testing and surveillance capabilities. Over the last seven days, Congo recorded 1,030 of the 1,405 new cases in Africa according to statistics provided late Tuesday by the Africa CDC. Only 16% of the cases have been confirmed by virus tests, but the infections meet the agencys definition of the disease. The rising mpox case count in Africa and a new form of the virus identified in Congo that might be more easily transmitted led the WHO to declare it a global health emergency last week. Some hope this will encourage donors to share vaccines and other help to curtail the outbreaks in Africa before cases spread internationally as Sweden recorded a case of the new mpox variant first seen in eastern Congo. The WHO has previously said its past efforts to raise donations for mpox failed to elicit even a single donor dollar. Africa CDCs Kaseya said that his organization had received a pledge of 215,000 mpox vaccines from the European Union and the vaccine maker, Bavarian Nordic, which were due to arrive in the next few days. The United States aid agency said it had donated 50,000 other doses of the same vaccine to Congo. Japan has also donated some doses to Congo. Advertisement But Africa likely needs much more. Congos health minister said his country alone needed 3 million vaccine doses to end the outbreaks there, which have spilled into at least four nearby African countries. A 2022 global mpox outbreak in more than 70 countries was shut down in the space of months with vaccines and treatments made available in rich nations, but hardly any doses reached Africa. It had been spreading largely unnoticed for years in Nigeria and elsewhere before it sparked international concern. Since then, the virus has continued to steadily sicken people in Congo, with few effective containment efforts. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the global response to the 2022 outbreak, calling it unfair as treatments and vaccines were made available to rich Western nations while Africa was given little support. In a statement, he urged the international community to guarantee equitable access to mpox diagnostics and vaccines this time. Advertisement Ramaphosas comments evoked memories of Africas anger at largely being shut out of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, Africa received doses much later than richer countries and had to pay more in some cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recommended last week that travelers to mpox-affected areas see if they might be eligible to get vaccinated, in a move that could increase pressure to secure mpox shots. Kaseya said mpox was now growing and spreading while countries waited for doses. While Congo was clearly the country causing the most concern, he said it was noticeable that cases in nearby Burundi had more than doubled to 572 in a week. Advertisement Kaseya also asked for solidarity from the international community in dealing with mpox and specifically urged against any COVID-like travel bans being placed on African countries that would isolate them as the disease is not as easily transmissible. Dont punish Africa, he said. We need you to provide appropriate support. This vaccine is expensive." Rich in resources and strategic opportunities, Africa has become the new hunting ground where China and the US are vying for influence. This rivalry, rooted mainly in economic ambitions rather than ideology, bears striking similarities to the old US-Soviet Cold War read more President of China Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa. File image/ Reuters From mining to road construction to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) to economic and political governance model training, China is ubiquitous in Africa. The West, espeically the US, today sees China as its principal challenger almost everywhere but despite the flare-ups in the Pacific particularly the South China Sea, the simmering tension is equally palpable in Africa. The US-led West might have missed the trick but Chinas Africa story begins in the 1950s, when Western powers rivalled, at times one another, to maintain their superiority in Africa. China along with India vouched for freedom and self-reliance of African countries through several channels and platforms including the most-famous Bandung conference hosted by Indonesia. Advertisement South Africas Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor (L), Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) and Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pose for a group photo during a meeting of the BRICS Plus Ministerial Council in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Reuters Seven decades later, the communist Chinas heft and growing presence in Africa have set up a race of one-upmanship in the Mother Continent. It is rivalling the US, the leading economic super-power in the world. Why call it a new cold war The intensifying rivalry, particularly between China and the US over the African continent, bears striking resemblances to the Cold War of the 20th century. Asia was the battlefield then as the US and the USSR, Soviet Russia, rivalled for hegemony. This time, the key players are not the United States and the Soviet Union, rather the US and China. Africa has emerged as a critical theatre in this geopolitical contest. Incidentally, the new cold war, if we can call it so, involves post-Soviet rising communist power which like the former seeks to challenge the leading capitalist power on the globe. Back then, Asia was seen as the hunting ground for its known exploitable natural resources and manpower, Africa is now viewed as the new minefiled to dig prosperity and security from. However, the crucial question remains: Is Africa really becoming the new battleground in this global power game? How China has expanded its footprint in the Mother Continent Africa is called the Mother Continent as the theory of evolution tells us that humanity sprang from the earlier branches of humans that shot from eastern African roots. In the post-War age of ideological expansion, China set its eyes on Africa as the USSR and the US-led West were involved at various points in Asia, East Europe and Central and Latin Americas. Advertisement Chinas relationship with Africa has been building for decades. At the Bandung conference, representatives from 29 Asian and African countries gathered to voice their opposition to colonialism and to seek economic cooperation among the Global South - back then called the Third World. Indonesian President Mohamed Suharto makes an opening speech at the Bandung Conference, 24 April 1985, marking the 30th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference. File image/ AFP In early decades, Chinas interest in Africa was primarily driven by a sense of solidarity with other nations that were also shaking off the chains of colonial rule. Fast forward to post-Cold War, especially after the 2008 global meltdown, and Chinas presence in Africa has grown immensely. The country has poured billions into the continent, building roads, railways, ports, and power plants. Advertisement China gradually in the middle years, and in recent years electrifyingly, overtaken the United States as Africas biggest trading partner, and its investments continue to shape the continents economic landscape. But these investments often come with strings attached, such as requiring African countries to use Chinese companies and materials for their infrastructure projects, further cementing Beijings influence. This isnt just about business its also about strategy. Africas wealth of natural resources, from oil and minerals to fertile agricultural land, is vital to Chinas booming economy. In return for access to these resources, China has offered financial aid, loans, and development assistance to African nations. Advertisement This hands-off approach made China a popular partner for many African leaders, even as it draws criticism from those who worry about the lack of transparency, environmental damage, and the support of authoritarian regimes. Chinas game in Africa has moved in phases solidarity in early decades to investments and low-interest loans in middle years to complete domination in trade and now to political governance training, something that African leaders earlier accused the US and its allies of doing. China earlier policy of non-political interference helped it edge out the Western countries in developing cooperation with African countries. According to the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has escalated its training of African party and government officials as part of CCP General Secretary Xi Jinpings new model of party-to-party relations, particularly in the Global South. Advertisement An indication of this renewed emphasis is the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School. Launched in 2022, the Nyerere School trains ruling party members from the Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa (FLMSA) coalitionAngola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, it says. However, political training by China is not new as they began this programme back in the 1960s. But the recent and rapid change is the emphasis on propagating the governance idea of Xi Jinping. The Nyerere School is the first institute to be modeled after the CCP Central Party School, which trains Chinas top cadres and leaders. It is also the first of its kind to cater to multiple African political parties. This school parallels the China-Africa Institute, a continental CCP initiative to train African party and government leaders. The Institute, which started in 2019, is based within the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing and the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], says ACSS. Why America is concerned and how it responds The US seems increasingly alarmed by Chinas growing influence in Africa as Washington DC sees Beijing as a challenge to American interests on the continent. For a long time, the US has been used to calling the shots in Africa. Now, with Chinas rise, that dominance has been seriously challenged. In several countries from Ethiopia to Uganda to Angola China has practically come to dictate market terms. American leaders, though overtly critical of Chinas action in the South China Sea, have been particularly concerned that China is exploiting Africa in ways that mirror the colonial powers of the past. There are fears that Chinese loans are leading African countries into a debt trap, potentially compromising their independence. The recent Kenya riots following an economic crisis linked to Chinese debts were seen as fitting similar patterns witnessed in countries like Sri Lanka. The US has also accused China of propping up corrupt and authoritarian regimes, turning a blind eye to human rights abuses, and undermining democratic institutionsall in pursuit of its own economic and strategic goals. Of late, the US has also courted some of the African dictators to counter Chinese influence on the continent. For example, US President Joe Biden hosted President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea reportedly to fend off Chinas efforts to build a naval base in that country. The naval base would give China a new military foothold in the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of West Africa. Biden ignored Americas own complaints of human rights abuse against the regime led by the worlds longest-serving ruler. Incidentally, Equatorial Guinea, too, is facing acute economic crisis and 82-year-old Obiang, who has been in power for 44 years, has appointed a former banker as the prime minister this week to fix economic woes of the country. The US, on its part, has been trying hard to counter Chinas influence with its own initiatives including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which aim to promote economic development and good governance in Africa. US President Joe Biden (C) participates in a family photo with the leaders of the US-Africa Leaders Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. File image/ AFP Additionally, the US has expanded its military presence across the continent, establishing a network of bases and partnerships designed to combat terrorism and protect its strategic As America continues to influence Africa in the face of Chinas relentless economic engagement, the cold war narrative looks only natural on the continent. What Africa is doing to stave off two rival powers While China and the US compete for influence, African nations are not just passive bystanders in the new geopolitical struggle. Several African leaders have become adept at playing both sides, using their relationships with China and the US to secure benefits for their countries. However, this balancing act is fraught with challenges, given their rivalry heats up over even a seemingly minor issue. Africas home to some of the worlds fastest-growing economies including Niger, Senegal, Libya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and the Gambia and holds vast reserves of the natural resources that, in the first place, make both China and the US interested in the region. Its rapidly growing population and increasing urbanisation makes Africa a massive future market for goods and services. At this junction, African countries usually take a middle path but that is also fraught with risks, given their sandwiched situation between Chinese money and Americas muscle. How the new cold war may shape up Africa It is a difficult proposition to predict the future of Africa in this new cold war as the post-Covid realities of the world are changing at a rapid rate. Chinas economy is stagnating. The country is witnessing a flight of big companies as Beijing continues to antagonise the West, which is home to most of the top multinational firms. However, there is another possibility that Africa may actually benefit tremendously from the increased attention and investment not only from rivals China and the US but also from emerging economic giants such as India and Brazil. For Africa to emerge stronger from this geopolitical oneupmanship, its leaders look for ways to pass through these turbulent waters carefully. The sudden collapse of growing economies like Sri Lanka have driven home the point that too much dependence on opaque Chinese loans may endager their long-term prosperity. Whether Africa can extract benefit from this China-US or communist-capitalist tug-of-war and build a secure future depends on how its current crop of leadership explores and chooses their options. For, the continent has to find solutions to its food, energy, environmental, and social crises that threaten to devastate not just Africa but potentially the entire world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he will discuss peaceful solutions for the Ukraine-Russia conflict during his visit to Kyiv this week, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations began 30 years ago. Modis trip follows recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and comes amid ongoing calls from India for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict read more Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan May 20, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday he will share perspectives on the peaceful resolution of the conflict between Ukraine and Russiaduring his visit to Kyiv this week. Modi departed for Poland on Wednesday and will visit Kyiv on Friday, a first visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since diplomatic relations were established 30 years ago. Modis trip to Ukraine comes weeks after his visit to Moscow during which he rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war, which began with Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. Advertisement Modi also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy last month. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, Modi said in a statement before his departure. India has repeatedly urged Ukraine and Russia to use dialogue and diplomacy to resolve their differences. Modis two-day visit to Russia last month coincided with a lethal strike on a childrens hospital in Kyiv, following which he told Putin that the death of innocent children was painful and terrifying and urged resolution of the conflict. Ukranian leaders have also pitched for India to help rebuild the countrys war-torn economy. The development, the first Taliban ambassador since one was appointed to China last December, underscored the international divide over how to deal with the government now in Kabul read more Afghan Taliban Envoy to the United Arab Emirates Badruddin Haqqani, far right, walks through an Emirates A380's business class on display at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Representational image/ AP The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday accepted the credentials of the Talibans ambassador to the oil-rich Gulf Arab state, the biggest diplomatic coup for Afghanistans rulers who are not officially recognised as the countrys legitimate government. The development, the first Taliban ambassador since one was appointed to China last December, underscored the international divide over how to deal with the government now in Kabul. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul confirmed the news about Badruddin Haqqani in a post on the social media platform X. The ministry did not respond to requests for information about Haqqani, who was previously the Talibans envoy to the UAE. Advertisement Haqqani is not related to the Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who in June met the UAE leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, but he is from his team. Sirajuddin Haqqani is the current leader of the powerful Haqqani network, a militant movement allied with the Taliban, and a designated global terrorist. He is wanted by the United States for his involvement in deadly attacks and is also on several sanctions lists. Even though the Taliban remain isolated from the West, they have pursued bilateral ties with major regional powers. Last week, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov arrived in Afghanistan in the highest-level visit by a foreign official since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan three years ago. The United Nations says that official recognition of the Taliban-run Afghanistan is nearly impossible while restrictions on women and girls are in place. In a separate development Wednesday, a U.N.-appointed rights expert decried the Talibans decision to bar him from Afghanistan. The special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett has frequently criticized the Talibans treatment of women and girls. Bennett said the Talibans announcement that they would no longer grant him access to Afghanistan was a step backwards and sends a concerning signal about their engagement with the U.N. and the international community on human rights. I urge the Taliban to reverse their decision and reiterate my willingness and availability to travel to Afghanistan, Bennett said. Advertisement A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Kabul warned that Bennetts activities were detrimental to the interests of Afghanistan and the Afghan people. It was deemed appropriate that Bennett continue his unprofessional conduct from the comfort of his office instead of tiring himself with needless travels, the spokesperson, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, told The Associated Press in a message. As Africa reels under the ongoing mpox outbreak, Europe is accused of hoarding vaccine doses just like during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic read more Shares in companies making and developing products against mpox have surged as the European Union's public health body raised its alert level for the virus spreading in Africa and beyond. Reuters As mpox spreads through Africa, there are concerns that the developed countries of Europe could make the same mistake as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic. Just like during the Covid-19 pandemic, there are concerns that Europe may hoard excess vaccine doses even as those in acute need in Africa go without jabs. The concerns come as a deadly strain of mpox drives the outbreak, which the World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared as a global health emergency. Advertisement Congo, which has recorded more than 90 per cent of mpox cases in Africa, has said it would like the EU to pledge more. Hundreds of thousands of doses pledged to Africa Europe has pledged to provide Africa with hundreds of thousands of doses, but thats not enough as per the assessments from Africa. Democratic Republic of Congos (DRC) Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba has said that his country alone needs 3.5 million doses and Africa would need around 10 million far from the doses pledged so far. The European Commission has already bought around 175,000 doses to send to Africa and the manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has topped it with a donation of around 40,000 doses. French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has said that his country would also send a shipment to Africa. The largest known donation so far has been pledged from Japan at 3 million. The United States has also pledged 50,000 doses. But is Europe delivering all it can? There is evidence that Europe is still sitting on doses despite pledging hundreds of thousands of doses to Africa. Data collated by Politico shows that there are around 3 million doses with Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany. The magazine reported that Spain has 500,000 vials, Netherlands 100,000 vials, and Germany around 117,000 doses. With a new technique of vaccination, a vial may deliver up to five doses. This means that the vials with these three countries may deliver in excess to over 3 million doses, but it is not known if they have individually committed to Africa. However, Spains Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla told Politico that the EU cannot repeat the mistake of accumulating vaccines in Europe while African countries are not being able to administer them to their population even if the great needs are there. Major General Aharon Haliva, a 38-year veteran of the military, announced his resignation in April and was one of a number of senior Israeli commanders who said they had failed to foresee and prevent the deadliest attack in Israels history read more Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on a residential building, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters Israels outgoing head of military intelligence took responsibility for his countrys failures to defend its border on Oct. 7 at his resignation ceremony on Wednesday. Major General Aharon Haliva, a 38-year veteran of the military, announced his resignation in April and was one of a number of senior Israeli commanders who said they had failed to foresee and prevent the deadliest attack in Israels history. The failure of the intelligence corps was my fault, Haliva said at the ceremony on Wednesday, and he called for a national investigation in order to study and understand deeply the reasons that led to the war between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement The Oct. 7 attack badly tarnished the reputation of the Israeli military and intelligence services, previously seen as all but unbeatable by armed Palestinian groups such as Hamas. In the early hours of the morning of Oct. 7, following an intense rocket barrage, thousands of fighters from Hamas and other groups broke through security barriers around Gaza, surprising Israeli forces and rampaging through communities in southern Israel. Some 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed in the attack, most of them civilians, and about 250 were taken into captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Some 109 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, around a third of whom are thought to be dead. The head of the armed forces, Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi, and the head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, both accepted responsibility in the aftermath of the attack but have stayed on while the war in Gaza has continued. Kamala Harris has reportedly raised an astonishing $500 million since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate. This record-breaking fundraising effort shows immense donor enthusiasm, propelling her campaign ahead of the November election read more US Vice President Kamala Harris election effort has raised around $500 million since she became the Democratic presidential candidate, sources told Reuters, an unprecedented money haul that reflects donor enthusiasm going into the November 5 election. Four sources familiar with the fundraising effort told Reuters that figure had been banked for Harris in the four weeks since she jumped into the race on July 21. Campaign cash is critical for advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts that help bring people to the polls and persuade undecided voters to swing a candidates way. Advertisement Harris entered the fray after President Joe Biden stepped aside from the top of the Democratic ticket, unleashing floods of funding that had dried up in the weeks after Bidens disastrous debate against Republican Donald Trump. Harris raised $200 million in the first week of her campaign while she quickly wrapped up support to become the partys nominee. Harris team raised $310 million in July, bringing the total amount of money raised by her and Biden before he dropped out to more than $1 billion, the most rapid crossing of that fundraising threshold in history, according to the campaign. Trumps campaign said it raised $138.7 million in July and had cash on hand of $327 million. The former presidents campaign outraised Biden in the second quarter. Enthusiasm for Harris, whose July cash on hand came in at $377 million, has continued into August, manifested by donations from small-dollar donors as thousands of people show up to her rallies in political swing states across the country. Bidens campaign committee raised $1.04 billion in the 2020 election cycle or $1.62 billion when combined with outside groups, according to OpenSecrets, a group that tracks money in politics. Harris lauded Biden on Monday on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the president, in his own remarks, touted his record and urged voters to back Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in November. Advertisement Former President Barack Obama, who is also a big fundraising draw, addresses the convention on Tuesday night, while Harris rallies voters in nearby Wisconsin. Obama attended two high-profile fundraisers with Biden and has offered to help Harris with more. Harris has repeatedly called herself an underdog in the race against Trump, in the hopes of preventing complacency among her voting and donor base. Ukraines military reported a series of heavy Russian assaults on Tuesday (August 20) in the Toretsk and Pokrovsk sectors of eastern Ukraine. On Wednesday (August 21), Russian air defences also intercepted 10 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow read more Russia has launched a heavy attack on Eastern Ukraine, around the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk. Image used for representative purpose/Reuters There has been much talk of the success of Ukraines unprecedented cross-border assault into Russias Kursk region. Kyiv now claims to control more than 80 settlements. However, in the dynamic situation on the battlefield, continuous victories are rare. While Ukrainian forces are holding their ground in Kursk, the situation in other aspects is not so positive for them. Recently, Russia has not only mounted a heavy attack in Eastern Ukraine, but also thwarted drones launched by Ukraine on Moscow. Advertisement Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine Ukraines military reported a series of heavy Russian assaults on Tuesday (August 20) in the Toretsk and Pokrovsk sectors of eastern Ukraine. The attacks included an offensive on Ukrainian positions around Toretsk, particularly targeting the settlement of Niu-York. While Ukrainian forces did not disclose the outcome, Russian sources previously claimed control over Niu-York. Firstpost could not independently verify the claim. The Pokrovsk front has become a focal point for Russias military efforts, with Ukraines forces reportedly repelling 49 Russian attacks on Tuesday, while another 13 clashes were ongoing, according to Ukrainian military statements. Moscow thwarts Ukrainian drone assault Russian air defences also intercepted 10 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, the citys mayor, Sergei Sobyanin,said on Wednesday (August 21). He characterised the incident as one of the largest drone attacks on the Russian capital to date. Moscows layered defence system has effectively repelled all UAV attacks, Sobyanin stated in a Telegram post, noting that no casualties or damage had been reported. Drone attacks on Moscow are rare. The last one had occured in May. Back then, a drone incursion similar to the latest one had led to temporary disruptions at two of Moscows major airports. Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russias energy infrastructure since the conflicts onset in 2022, labelling these actions as fair retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukraines own energy facilities. With inputs from agencies Divers searching the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily found four bodies Wednesday, as the search continued for two more missing passengers and questions intensified about why the vessel sank so quickly read more Italian firefighter scuba divers bring ashore, in the green bag, the body of one of the victims from the British-flagged vessel Bayesian, on Wednesday. AP Divers searching the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily found four bodies Wednesday, as the search continued for two more missing passengers and questions intensified about why the vessel sank so quickly. Divers and rescue crews unloaded two body bags from the rescue vessels that pulled into port at Porticello. Salvatore Cocina, head of the Sicily civil protection agency, said two other bodies had also been found Wednesday in the wreckage for a total of four. Advertisement The discovery indicated that the operation to search the hull on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) underwater was a recovery one, not a rescue, given the amount of time that had passed and no signs of life had emerged over three days of searching, maritime experts said. The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (a half-mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, and sank quickly. Fifteen people escaped in a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby sailboat. One body was recovered Monday that of the ships Antigua-born chef, Recaldo Thomas. Six people remained unaccounted for, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and associates who had successfully defended him in a recent US federal fraud trial. Investigators from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutors Office, meanwhile, were acquiring evidence for their criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy even though no formal suspects have been publicly identified. Questions abound about what caused the superyacht, which was built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, to sink so quickly, when the nearby Sir Robert Baden Powell sailboat was largely spared and managed to rescue the 15 survivors. Was it merely the case of a freak waterspout that knocked the ship to its side and allowed water to pour in through open hatches? What was the position of the keel, which on a large sailboat such as the Bayesian might have been retractable, to allow it to enter shallower ports? Advertisement Theres a lot of uncertainty as to whether it had a lifting keel and whether it might have been up, said Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and the editor of the Journal of Sailing Technology. But if it had, then that would reduce the amount of stability that the vessel had, and therefore made it easier for it to roll over on its side, he said in an interview. Yachts such as the Bayesian are also required to have watertight, sub-compartments that are specifically designed to prevent a rapid, catastrophic sinking even when some parts fill with water. Advertisement So for the vessel to sink, especially this fast, you are really looking at taking water on board very quickly, but also in a number of locations along the length of the vessel, which again indicates that it might have been rolled over on its side, Souppez said. Italian coast guard and fire rescue divers, meanwhile, continued the underwater search in dangerous and time-consuming conditions. Because of the depth of the wreck which is far deeper than most recreational divers are certified for and at a depth that requires special precautions divers working in tag teams can only spend about 12 minutes at a time searching. Advertisement The limited dive time is designed in part to avoid decompression sickness, also known as the bends, which can occur when divers stay underwater for long periods and ascend too quickly, allowing nitrogen gas dissolved in the blood to form bubbles. The longer you stay, the slower your ascent has to be, said Simon Rogerson, the editor of SCUBA magazine. He said the tight turnaround time suggests the managers of the operation are trying to limit the risks and recovery time after each dive. It sounds like theyre operating essentially on no decompression or very tight decompression, or theyre being extremely conservative, he said. Prime Minister Modi sets out on a landmark European tour, aiming to advance our partnership with Poland on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and to build upon previous discussions with Ukraine in hopes of fostering peace and stability read more Before departing for his two-nation tour on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of Indias relationship with Poland and underscored the significance of New Delhis ties with Ukraine. While the visit to Poland is the first by an Indian premier in over four decades, the upcoming trip to war-torn Ukraine highlights Indias strategic engagement in a rapidly evolving global landscape. My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to advance our partnership. I will also engage with the vibrant Indian community in Poland, Prime Minister Modi said in a statement. Advertisement From Poland, I will travel to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine. I look forward to building on our previous discussions with President Zelenskyy to strengthen bilateral cooperation and explore peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for a swift return to peace and stability in the region, he added. Looking forward to a successful trip, Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the visit will strengthen Indias ties with both countries and lay the groundwork for more robust and vibrant relations in the future. These visits are particularly significant against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions. PM Modi Poland visit LIVE Updates: Modi will hold talks Thursday in Warsaw with Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda, which are expected to focus on security, especially in the region bordering Ukraine read more It also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Warsaw and New Delhi in 2024. At the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, the historic visit will mark the first by an Indian prime minister in 45 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing what no Indian leader has done in over decades hes on his way to Poland on a two-day visit (August 21-22). One of the first stops that the PM will make after landing at Warsaw airport, will be to pay homage at the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. He will be in Warsaw on August 21-22, becoming the first Indian PM to visit Poland in 45 years. Modi will then head to Ukraine, undertaking a 20-hour train journey aboard Rail Force One. PM Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Poland in more than 45 years. Morarji Desai, the last Indian Prime Minister, visited Poland in 1979. India and Poland are marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties. During his visit to Poland, PM Modi will meet and interact with the Indian community there. I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland, Modi said before leaving for Warsaw. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Warsaw, Poland. PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/i7tlxzzZbD #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi's Poland visit | Artists are preparing at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw as they await to welcome PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/83a1wvEEPI Artists prepare at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw as they await to welcome PM Modi #WATCH | Warsaw | Members of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw are excited about the visit of PM Modi to Poland A member of the diaspora, JJ Singh says, "The Indian community is very happy. Polish people connected with India are also excited that an Indian PM is coming to their pic.twitter.com/hvjW9HOl9p #WATCH | Poland | "It is a matter of excitement for us that our Prime Minister is coming to Poland. this is an important visit which will improve India-Poland relations. This will help bring investments to India from Poland," says Rajpal Sabnani, a member of the Indian diaspora pic.twitter.com/11KGJw72jc 'An important visit which will improve India-Poland relations', says a member of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw #WATCH | Members of Indian diaspora are gathered outside the hotel where PM Modi will be staying during his visit to Warsaw, Poland "There is a vibrant Indian diaspora in Poland. All festivals including Holi and Diwali are celebrated. Indians are waiting for the visit of the pic.twitter.com/bKWb1fQjt6 7:55 pm IST 8:20 pm IST: Wreath laying at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial 8:30 pm IST 9:00 pm IST: Wreath laying at Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino and Kolhapur Memorial 11:20 pm IST 11:55 pm IST: Community event at Hotel Sheraton The discussions that the Prime Minister will hold with the Polish leadership will allow the two sides to exchange views at the top level on a variety of subjects, and that kind of detailed discussion we have not had in a certain period now. So it will be a kind of a real useful exchange of views, Indian Ambassador to Poland Nagma Mohamed Mallick told PTI Videos here. Prime Minister Modis visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years. During his stay in Poland, Modi will meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Narendra Modis discussions with the Polish leadership during his two-day visit will allow the two sides to exchange views at the top level on a variety of subjects and it will be a kind of a real useful exchange of views, Indias top diplomat here said. PM Modi's discussions with Polish leadership will allow 'useful exchange' of views to promote ties: Indian envoy #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the hotel in Warsaw, Poland; greets members of the Indian diaspora at the hotel PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. pic.twitter.com/L3SCh095Sn As PM @narendramodi arrives in Warsaw, here is an overview of his 2-day visit to Poland. pic.twitter.com/jUakWP87Hg #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi watches a performance by the artists, in Warsaw, Poland PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. pic.twitter.com/XSnuCJCIgV Shortly after he landed in Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to a hotel in Warsaw where a huge crowd, mostly members of Indian diaspora, had gathered to welcome him. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Ukraine on August 23. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine after establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992. (Visuals from Kyiv City) pic.twitter.com/XElSiNeiaS #WATCH | After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a member of the Indian diaspora in Warsaw says, "It is a very big thing to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think this is a wonderful day for India and Poland..." pic.twitter.com/J1T4ILwh2U Prime Minister Modis visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years. Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations, Modi said in a post on X soon after his arrival at the Warsaw military airport here. Modi, who will meet Polands President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he was looking forward to the various programmes in the Polish capital here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his maiden visit to Poland will add momentum to the bilateral friendship and benefit the people of the two countries as he arrived here on the first leg of his two-nation visit during which he will also travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland! Their energy embodies the strong ties that bind our nations. pic.twitter.com/mPUlhlsV99 Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland, says PM Modi During his ongoing visit to Poland, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino today. This visit highlights the enduring connection between India and Poland, especially honoring the brave Polish soldiers who fought in one of World War IIs most pivotal battles. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. pic.twitter.com/B1GorViHBH The monument commemorates Polish participation during the Battle of Monte Cassino, which took place in Italy during WWII, and saw Allied troops launch a series of attacks against German Nazi forces. The surviving Polish children have formed an Association of Poles, which meets on an annual basis in one of the major Polish cities, it said. In 1942, the Maharaja had provided refuge to about 1,000 Polish children from war-torn, occupied Poland and Soviet camps following the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. According to the Indian Embassy website, eight Polish primary and secondary schools are named after Jam Saheb, known as Good Maharaja in Poland. The monument was unveiled in October 2014 at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Ochota district in Warsaw. Modi, who arrived here earlier for a two-day visit, paid tributes to the monument commemorating Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar by laying a wreath during a small event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the Polish-Indian legacy at the Good Maharaja Square in the Polish capital here on Wednesday. Shortly after he was accorded a warm welcome by the members of Indian diaspora at a Warsaw hotel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon left to visit Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial where he laid a wreath, making him the first Prime Minister to pay his respects at the Warsaw memorial. VIDEO | PM Modi interacted with members of Indian community after paying homage at the Monte Cassino Memorial and the Memorial to Kolhapur Family in Warsaw. pic.twitter.com/WlKSMXFsz5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, embarked on a visit to Poland and Ukraine. Ahead of emplaning from New Delhi for his key visits to the two countries, Prime Minister Modi said that he looks forward to help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations with the two countries in the years ahead. The Prime Minister said that his visit comes as both the countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership, PM Modi said in a statement, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland, he said. He will travel to Ukraine following his Poland visit, at the invitation of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine. I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, the Prime Minister said in his departure statement I am confident that the visit will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead, he further added. PM Modi will be visiting Poland on August 21-22 at the invitation of his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. During his visit, PM Modi will hold meetings with his Polish counterpart and the President, and will also engage with the Indian community. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome in Warsaw. After concluding his visit to Poland, PM Modi will travel to Ukraine, where he will also share perspectives on the peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with the Ukrainian leadership. Poland has a rich history of yoga, which spans over 100 years. There are over 3 lakh yoga practitioners in Poland, with about 1,000 yoga centres and 8,000 teachers propagating the spiritual discipline in the country, according to Embassy of India in Poland read more Ambassador of India to Poland Nagma Mallick during the 10th International Day of Yoga. Image Courtesy: Radio Poland As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to Poland, the countrys love for yoga is back in spotlight. It was PM Modi who had floated the idea of International Yoga Day on September 27, 2014, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, where a resolution to establish June 21 as International Yoga Day was introduced. Ever since, Poland has been celebrating the Yoga Day with much enthusiasm and fanfare. Advertisement Poland, however, has a rich history of yoga, which spans over 100 years. According to Embassy of India in Poland, there are over 3 lakh yoga practitioners in Poland, with about 1,000 yoga centres and 8,000 teachers propagating the spiritual discipline in the country. The Association of Schools of Yoga, started in 2013 with 11 yoga schools, has now 50 yoga schools under its umbrella, reads the embassy document. The Art of Living Foundation, Brahma Kumaris University and the Association of Yoga Iyengoar are some of the prominent associations promoting yoga in Poland. While yoga is gaining traction in Poland, comprehensive data on its popularity across various age groups is still lacking. While yoga has been practiced in Poland for years, its acceptance is only increasing now, with more Polish citizens exploring its benefits. Historically, some skepticism has been influenced by traditional views within the Catholic Church regarding yogas connections to Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. However, as interest grows, yoga is steadily becoming a more prominent and embraced practice in Polish society. Meanwhile, PM Modi will be heading to Poland on a two-day trip starting August 21, and then will leave for Ukraine on August 23. PM Narendra Modi will be undertaking an official visit to Poland this week on 21st and 22nd August on the invitation of PM Donald Tusk. This is a landmark visit as the PM of India is visiting Poland after 45 years. This visit takes place as we also mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, Tanmaya Lal, secretary (West), MEA, said in a briefing on Monday. Advertisement With inputs from agencies China has tried to position itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict, but it shares with Russia high animosity toward the West read more Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. AP Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese premier Li Qiang Wednesday, hailing growing trade relations as Moscow becomes increasingly dependent on Beijing for political and economic support. Our trade relations are developing, developing successfully The attention that the governments of the two countries on both sides are paying to trade and economic ties is yielding results, Putin said at the meeting in the Kremlin. He also said that Russia and China have developed large-scale plans for economic and other projects. Advertisement Chinese-Russian relations are at an unprecedentedly high level, said Li, who earlier had met with his Russian counterpart, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The meeting took place as Russia struggled to push back an incursion by Ukrainian forces into the Kursk region that began more than two weeks ago. Moscow saw overnight drone attacks that officials said were one of the largest wave of drones on the Russian capital since the start of the Ukraine conflict. Russian news reports did not indicate whether Putin and Li discussed Ukraine. China has tried to position itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict, but it shares with Russia high animosity toward the West. After Western countries imposed heavy sanctions on Russian oil in response to Russia sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022, China strongly stepped up its purchase of Russian oil, increasing its influence in Russia. Putin underlined the importance of China by meeting in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping soon after being inaugurated for a fifth term in the Kremlin. A U.S. intelligence assessment released this year indicates that China has significantly increased sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry. Police said Khalusha and the other detainees escaped by cutting a security wire mesh at a basking bay and climbing a perimeter wall. A basking bay is a place where detainees can get fresh air read more Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, 33, looks on at the Kiambu law Courts in Kiambu on July 16, 2024. AFP Collins Khalusha, who had confessed to killing 42 women over the past two years and throwing their bodies into a quarry which is used as a dump has escaped the Gigiri police station where he was being held. The alleged serial killer was arrested in July after dismembered bodies were found at an abandoned quarry in Embakasi South in Kenyas capital city, Nairobi. A vampire, a psychopath At least 10 sacks with body parts were removed from the site, the police had said back then, according to a Guardian report. Advertisement The bodies were discovered during anti-government demonstrations that started in June, during which tens of Kenyans have been reported missing. We are dealing with a vampire, a psychopath, Mohamed Amin, the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, said of Khalusha at the time. Jailbreak: How it happened The 33-year-old prisoner was one of the 13 who managed to run out of jail on Tuesday (August 20). The other detainees were Eritreans who were held for allegedly being in Kenya illegally. Police said Khalusha and the other detainees escaped by cutting a security wire mesh at a basking bay and climbing a perimeter wall. A basking bay is a place where detainees can get fresh air. Around 5 am on Tuesday, when the officer in charge and the stations canteen manager went to serve the prisoners breakfast, they discovered that some of them had managed to escape, Guardian quoted a police report as saying. Inside help involved? Kenyan police have arrested eight officers over the escape of the 13 people, an official said. The eight, among them the head of the station, were on duty during the escape, the acting inspector general of police, Gilbert Masengeli, said. Our preliminary investigation indicates that the escape was facilitated by insiders, he told journalists at Gigiri police station. Any person found culpable will face the full force of law. Advertisement Masengeli said police have launched a manhunt for the 13 missing prisoners. Russian authorities have asked residents in areas bordering northeastern Ukraine to stop using dating apps and limit their social media activity to prevent Ukraine from gathering intelligence as it presses on with its incursion into the Kursk region read more A damaged monument to Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin stands in a central square in the Kursk region town Sudzha, Russia, on August 16, 2024. AP File Russian law enforcement authorities have advised residents in areas bordering northeastern Ukraine to stop using dating apps and limit their social media activity to prevent Ukrainian forces from gathering intelligence as it presses on with its incursion into the Kursk region. According to The Moscow Times, citing an Interior Ministry spokesperson who spoke to the state media, the warnings issued to residents of the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions also advised against using security cameras. Advertisement The use of online dating services is strongly discouraged. The enemy is actively using them to gather information, Moscow Times quoted the spokesperson as saying to Russian news agency Interfax. The spokesperson said that the enemy is identifying IP address ranges in our territories, remotely accessing unprotected security cameras, monitoring everything from private yards to strategic roads and highways. Unless necessary, it is better not to use security cameras, he added. The warnings comes two weeks after Ukrainian forces stromed across the border into the Kursk region. Since beginning their offensive, Kyiv claims that it has seized over 1,250 square kilometers of Russian territory and 92 towns and villages in the Kursk region. As Russian troops continue to engage with Ukrainian forces, Russias Interior Ministry has also recommended that military personnel avoid using phones with sensitive personal information and delete contact details of soldiers captured by the Ukrainians. It is important to monitor and moderate chats and to quickly delete the accounts of people captured by the enemy or those whose phones have been compromised, the spokesperson added. Security risks The security risks of social media and smartphone use in conflict zones are well-documented and soldiers have often prey to scammers, disclosing sensitive information through their phones. According to a CNN report, last year, the US and its Five Eyes allies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK warned that Russian hackers were targeting Ukrainian soldiers mobile devices to steal battlefield data. Advertisement In 2023, Russian media suggested that the murder of Russian submarine commander Stanislav Rzhitsky might have been facilitated by an assailant tracking him via Strava, a popular fitness app, as he used a public profile for his routes, added the report. Following a Ukrainian strike in Makiivka that killed nearly 100 Russian troops, Russias defence ministry blamed the widespread use of cell phones by soldiers for compromising their location, though some officials disputed this claim. Recently, Russian lawmakers proposed severe penalties for soldiers using smartphones in combat, including up to 10 days in prison for a first offense and up to 15 days for repeat violations. Advertisement The law would also ban other electronic devices capable of recording and transmitting location data. This isnt limited to Russia and Ukraine. In 2018, the US Department of Defense banned the use of geolocation features after fitness apps like Strava inadvertently exposed the locations of US bases worldwide. With inputs from agencies Following his criticism of the Talibans treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, the Taliban have barred UN Afghanistan envoy Richard Bennet from entering the country read more The Taliban have barred United Nations-appointed special rapporteur Richard Bennett from entering Afghanistan, the administrations spokesperson told local broadcaster Tolo, accusing the human rights watchdog of spreading propaganda. Bennett was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022 to monitor Afghanistans human rights situation after the Taliban took over the previous year. Bennett, who has previously said the Talibans treatment of women and girls could amount to a crime against humanity, is based outside Afghanistan but has visited several times to research the situation. Advertisement The U.N. Human Rights Council did not immediately respond to request for comment. Bennett could not immediately be reached for comment. The Taliban administrations foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi told Reuters Bennett had been unable to acquire a travel visa to Afghanistan. Even after repeatedly requesting Mr. Bennett to adhere to professionalism during work it was decided that his reports are based on prejudices and anecdotes detrimental to interests of Afghanistan and the Afghan people, Balkhi said. Taliban administration spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has previously said the Taliban respect womens rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law and local customs. He told Tolo that Bennett would not be allowed to come to Afghanistan, a rare public barring of an individual foreign official. Mr. Bennetts travel to Afghanistan has been prohibited because he was assigned to spread propaganda in Afghanistan He used to exaggerate minor issues and propagate them, Mujahid said, according to Tolo. Three years into their rule after foreign forces withdrew, the Taliban have not been formally recognised by any foreign government. Foreign officials, including Washington, have said the path towards recognition is stuck until the Taliban changes course on womens rights, having barred most girls over the age of 12 from schools and universities, banning women from parks, and stopping most long-distance travel by women without a male guardian. Afghanistans central bank assets have been frozen and many senior Taliban officials are subject to U.N. travel restrictions that require them to seek exemptions to enter other countries. Advertisement The U.N. has been trying to find a unified international approach to dealing with the Taliban. In June, top U.N. officials and envoys from up to 25 countries met the Taliban in Qatar, receiving criticism from human rights groups for not including Afghan women and civil society representatives at the meeting. The U.N. mission to Afghanistan also operates from Kabul and monitors and reports on human rights issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that for decades Indias strategy has been to remain equidistant from all other countries but now Indias strategy is to maintain equal closeness with all and also seeks development for all read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that for decades Indias strategy has been to remain equidistant from all other countries but now Indias strategy is to maintain equal closeness with all and also want development for all. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Warsaw on Wednesday, he said its the first time that an Indian PM has visited Poland. After 45 years, an Indian PM has visited PolandI visited Austria a few months ago, there also, an Indian PM was visiting after 4 decadesfor decades, Indias policy was to keep equal distance with all the countries but new Indias policy is to keep closeness with all countriesToday India speaks about everyones developmentand thinks about others. Today the world is respecting India as Vishwabandhu, said the PM. Advertisement #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Indian diaspora during a community event in Warsaw, Poland. He says, " After 45 years, an Indian PM has visited Poland...I visited Austria a few months ago, there also, an Indian PM was visiting after 4 decades...for decades, pic.twitter.com/zlAOY1VKPH ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 PM Modi said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to extend a helping hand. VIDEO | "If any country faces a crisis, India is the first nation to extend a helping hand. India is the land of Lord Buddha's legacy. Therefore, India advocates for peace in this region. India's concept is clear - this is not an era of war, and it is the time to unite to tackle pic.twitter.com/ZuwO6dmwJO Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024 India is the land of Lord Buddhas legacy. Therefore, India advocates for peace in this region. Indias concept is clear - this is not an era of war, and it is the time to unite to tackle the biggest challenges of humanity. Thus, India believes in dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflict, added the PM. Advertisement His remarks comes ahead of his trip to Kyiv - the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. Talking about India and Poland, he said the two countries share a thing in common, which is democracy. VIDEO | "India and Poland have a lot of similarities. One of them is democracy. India is not just the mother of democracy, but also a participative and vibrant democracy. People of India have a lot of confidence in democracy, and this was evident in the recent (Lok Sabha) pic.twitter.com/KDu8y2cWjQ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024 Advertisement India and Poland have a lot of similarities. One of them is democracy. India is not just the mother of democracy, but also a participative and vibrant democracy. People of India have a lot of confidence in democracy, and this was evident in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections. These (Lok Sabha) polls were the biggest elections of the history. Recently, elections were also held in the European Union in which 180 million voters participated. In India, this number was 640 million, said the Prime Minister. Advertisement He said Poland was one of the first countries to assist when Jamnagar and Gujarat were hit by an earthquake two decades ago. People of Poland have given a lot of love and respect to Jam Saheb and his family members, and the Good Maharaja Square is a testimony of that. Today, I have visited the Dobry Maharaja Memorial and Kolhapur Memorial. On this occasion, I want to announce that India has decided to launch Jam Saheb Memorial Youth Action programme, said the PM. He said as part of this programme, 20 Polish youths will be invited to India to learn about the country. Advertisement This way Poland youth will get to learn more about India, he added. He also thanked the people of Poland for the warm welcome he was accorded on his arrival. I am thankful to the people of Poland for the warm welcome that I have received here. From the past one week, a lot is being discussed in media about Poland and its people, said PM Modi. With inputs from agencies The proposed list singles out officials from Venezuelas National Electoral Council (CNE), the Supreme Court and the counterintelligence police who have been involved in political chaos in the South American country, said sources read more Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters during a march amid the disputed presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela on August 3, 2024. Reuters File The US has drafted a list of about 60 Venezuelan government officials and family members who could be sanctioned in the first punitive measures following the South American countrys disputed presidential election in July, two people close to the matter said. The proposed list singles out officials from Venezuelas National Electoral Council (CNE), the Supreme Court and the counterintelligence police who have been involved in political chaos, the people said. The US Treasury Department submitted the draft sanctions list in recent days to the State Department, which has the final say on who will be sanctioned, and the number could change, the people said. Advertisement The sanctions would impose travel bans on targeted officials and family members, and would prohibit US entities from doing business with them. The CNE proclaimed incumbent President Nicolas Maduro winner of the July 28 election without revealing full vote tallies. Venezuelas Supreme Court this month began a vote audit, but experts and electoral observers say it is unlikely to challenge the government. Washington and other governments have challenged Maduros claimed election victory. Rival candidate Edmundo Gonzalez also claimed victory, and results from more than 80% of ballot tallies published by the opposition show a resounding victory for him, with about 67% support. Hold to account It was not immediately clear when the measures would be announced and if any industry sanctions could accompany them. The US State Department declined to comment. The US Treasury Department and Venezuelas Foreign Affairs ministry did not reply to requests for comment. US Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, on Tuesday said on the social media website X that Washington would hold accountable those who enable electoral fraud and repression. Neighboring nations and the US, Canada, the European Union and the regional Organization of American States have stepped up calls for complete results to be published. However, they have so far shown little sign of tough action over what several condemned as voting fraud. Advertisement Senior US officials have said that electoral manipulation stripped Maduros victory claim of any credibility, and left the door open to fresh sanctions. In coordination with our partners, we are considering a range of options to incentivize and pressure Maduro to recognize the election results, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council told Reuters last week. Narrow options The US also is very concerned by the arbitrary repression and indiscriminate detainment of opposition supporters by Venezuelan security forces, the spokesperson added. Washingtons options to impose further sanctions are narrow. Five years ago, the U.S. announced the most severe measures yet, following Maduros unrecognized first re-election. These measures have hit the OPEC members oil sector since. Advertisement In April, the Treasury Department decided not to renew a broad license that had temporarily granted Venezuela the means to freely export its oil. The US instead issued individual licenses to some energy companies. Washington has already sanctioned many key Venezuelan officials, including the CNEs head, Elvis Amoroso. Hainan launches legislative research in free trade port to promote phase-out of fuel-powered vehicles Global Times) 14:49, August 21, 2024 To advance its 2030 goal of phasing out sales of fuel-powered vehicles, South China's Hainan Province plans to initiate legislative research on regulations to promote new-energy vehicle (NEV) development in its free trade port, demonstrating its commitment to a clean energy transition. The Hainan provincial government is seeking third-party institutions to conduct legislative research on regulations to promote NEVs within the Hainan Free Trade Port, a representative from Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology told the Global Times on Tuesday. The project involves evaluating the current state of NEV development in Hainan, identifying key challenges and needs, and proposing practical solutions. It also includes preparing draft regulations for review. Moving from planning to legislative research sends a strong message about Hainan's commitment to developing NEVs - this is a "must", the representative said. Hainan's initiative to phase out fuel-powered vehicles and strengthen regulations on promoting the development of NEVs plays a crucial role in advancing the green transition, experts said. Hainan is taking the lead in phasing out fuel vehicles because the scale of its auto industry is relatively small. Unlike other provinces with large-scale manufacturing and supply chains, Hainan is well suited to this transition, making it easier to implement, Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, told the Global Times on Tuesday. "This move builds on the full electrification strategy and serves as a valuable exploration of tax reform for NEVs in Hainan, setting a strong example nationwide," Cui said. Hainan has promoted the adoption of 63,000 NEVs in the first seven months of the year, according to the Hainan New Energy Vehicle Promotion Center. During this period, NEVs accounted for 53.9 percent of all newly registered vehicles in the province. By the end of July, the total number of NEVs in Hainan had reached 354,000, representing 17 percent of the total vehicle fleet. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Can India refuse to extradite Sheikh Hasina if the caretaker Bangladesh government makes a formal request? What do the provisions of the extradition treaty say? read more It is our call to you that you should hand her over to the government of Bangladesh in a legal way. The people of this country have given the decision for her trial. Let her face that trial, Bangladeshs main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Tuesday while seeking the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister, from India. This is not the official position of the caretaker government of Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. But given that the BNP is practically the leading political outfit in Bangladesh after the ouster of Hasinas Awami League, which won a controversial parliamentary election in January this year, the Yunus government would be under pressure to make a formal request. Advertisement Meanwhile, cases have been piling up against Hasina in Bangladeshs police records and courts ever since she fled the country on August 5 after a conversation with the Army chief who refused to aid her government in quelling the month-long youth agitation that began over a quota-based hiring system for government jobs but snowballed into a call for her ouster from power over a range of issues including corruption. As Bangladeshs politics heats up to the demand for Hasinas extradition from India, does New Delhi have a say in denying or holding back an official request? This question assumes immense significance given Hasina has been a loyal friend of India during her long premiership in Bangladesh, whose friendly outlook towards India holds strategic importance for New Delhi. The extradition treaty The extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India came up as New Delhis persistent quest to address insurgency in the Northeast. For decades, insurgent leaders operating in the Northeast and also West Bengal would cross the porous India-Bangladesh border to escape the law. The treaty was first signed in 2013, and was amended in 2016. India has benefitted from this treaty and so has Bangladesh, which faces challenges from terror groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and whose operatives were found to be hiding in West Bengal and Assam. India could get top United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leader Anup Chetia extradited from Bangladesh in 2015. India too has extradited a couple of Bangladeshi fugitives through this treaty. Advertisement The treaty lists conditions and crimes for extradition. India and Bangladesh are supposed to extradite fugitives who have been proceeded against or who have been charged with or have been found guilty of, or are wanted for crimes listed in the treaty as extraditable offence. Only crimes carrying a minimum one-year imprisonment can be extraditable offences, including those relating to financial irregularities. An important aspect in the operation of the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty is that the principle of dual criminality must be satisfied for an offence to be extraditable. This means that the offence should be punishable in both countries. Article 7 of the treaty deals with what is an extraditable offence and how the authorities in the two countries would respond to a request for extradition. Advertisement But there are exceptions The India-Bangladesh extradition treaty, however, cant be enforced in cases that are political in nature. Article 6 of the treaty has a list of political offences as exceptions. Other exceptions are mentioned in Article 8 of the treaty allowing both India and Bangladesh to refuse requests under certain circumstances. An extradition request can be denied if it has not been made in good faith and is not in the interests of justice. Article 8 says a request for extradition can be denied of the person of interest can satisfy the requested country about the trivial nature of the offence of which he is accused or was convicted, or, the passage of time since he is alleged to have committed it or to have become unlawfully at large, or, the accusation against him not having been made in good faith in the interests of justice, the offence of which he is accused or convicted is a military offence which is not also an offence under the general criminal law. Advertisement Also, if a person is facing a criminal case or convicted of a crime in the requested country, the request for extradition can be denied. So, can India deny a request for Hasinas extradition? Among the charges levelled against Hasina in Bangladeshs police and court files include those of murder, culpable homicide, assault, causing an explosion, the making or possession of an explosive substance or weapons by a person intending to endanger life; the use of a firearm with intent to resist or prevent arrest; damaging property with intent to endanger life; kidnapping or taking of a hostage; incitement to murder; and offences related to terrorism. Advertisement These offences are not covered under exceptions among offences of political nature. So, despite being a political figure, Hasinas case may not be covered under this exception. Also, these are neither trivial charges nor such time has passed as to invoke Article 8. However, the same article also talks about a provision for denying the extradition request by saying that the charges levelled against Hasina are in good faith and not in the interests of justice. But this carries a risk of hampering India-Bangladesh ties under a new non-Awami League government when the country capping the Bay of Bengal is fast becoming a playground for China and the US actors. India may opt for a diplomatic route to discourage the caretaker Yunus government from making a formal request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. The new 20 million facility, set to open in 2026 at MoD Boscombe Down, aims to protect military equipment from foreign GPS jamming read more The UK is to build a new facility to help protect military equipment against foreign GPS jamming, the defence ministry announced on Wednesday amid a rise in hostile threats. The so-called silent hangar site will aim to protect equipment from attempts to jam GPS devices and develop kit that can perform in the harshest electromagnetic environment on operations, the MoD said. The facility, which is due to open in 2026 and will be one of the largest in Europe, will be used to test military equipment including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, armoured vehicles and fast jets. Advertisement The tests will be conducted in a specialist hangar, which will reduce reflections, echoes or the escape of radio-frequency waves. It will be located at MoD Boscombe Down, a military aircraft testing site in Wiltshire, southwest England, with a 20 million ($26 mn) contract awarded to defence tech firm QinetiQ to build the facility. Hostile threats jamming GPS to disorientate military equipment has become increasingly common, said Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle. This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms, protect our national security and keep our Armed Forces better protected on global deployments, Eagle added. In April, Estonia and other Baltic states warned that widespread GPS jamming increased the threat of an aviation accident, with the NATO-member state blaming the interference on Russian hybrid activity. A month earlier, a British Royal Air Force plane carrying the then-UK defence minister had its GPS signal jammed as it flew near Russian territory. The testing we will conduct using this new facility will be integral to strengthening the resilience of military equipment, said Will Blamey, chief executive of UK Defence at QinetiQ. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered a review of the countrys armed forces in his first month in office in July, which would set out the path for the UK to increase defence spending to 2.5 percent of its GDP. UK spending on defence in 2023 stood at 2.26 per cent, according to latest official figures. Pacific Islands nations are valued in the defence plans of major world powers because of their strategic location, including for monitoring and controlling naval movements across the Pacific Ocean, said the Lowy Institute report read more Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. File image/ Reuters Geopolitical shocks could disrupt the political and security landscape and strain unity in the Pacific Islands region amid strategic rivalry between China and U.S. allies, a think-tank report warned ahead of an annual Pacific Islands leaders summit. Pacific Islands nations are valued in the defence plans of major world powers because of their strategic location, including for monitoring and controlling naval movements across the Pacific Ocean, said the Lowy Institute report. It noted intense rivalry between countries like China, and the U.S. and its allies Australia and Japan, for influence in the region. Advertisement Chinas outreach and activities in the region appear indefatigable and were being matched by U.S. allies including the largest aid donor Australia, it said. Faced with this new great game, Pacific Island countries have become diplomatic price-setters and are leveraging increased competition to maximise development benefits, said the report authors Mihai Sora, Meg Keen and Jessica Collins. It warned that this unbridled strategic rivalry challenged good governance and transparency, and small Pacific Island states risked being overwhelmed. The competing interests of donor countries were pulling Pacific Islands in different directions, swamping small bureaucracies, and risked distracting from local priorities, it said. China had became a major player in the region, in development finance, ports, airports and telecommunications, and has sought a greater role in the military, policing, digital connectivity and media. The Pacific Islands vulnerability to climate change was also being leveraged, with external partners offering assistance for access to the Pacific, the report said, without naming the countries. Mobilising naval and air assets for disaster response involves securing rights to use ports, airstrips, and maritime routes, prompting large powers to jostle to be the first to respond, the report said. China has hosted three Pacific Islands leaders for extended tours of the North Asian country ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Tonga, which begins on Monday. Fijis Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, even as Fijis government signed a deal with the U.S. Peace Corps to recruit software engineers and announced Google would build a $200 million data centre to support a new subsea cable. Advertisement The leaders of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands visited China in July. The report found Pacific Island countries were asserting their needs more boldly in international engagements, asking for better deals on trade, labour mobility, digital connectivity, and climate resilience. Shortly after he landed in Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to a hotel in Warsaw where a huge crowd, mostly members of Indian diaspora, had gathered to welcome him read more Shortly after he landed in Poland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to a hotel in Warsaw where a huge crowd, mostly members of Indian diaspora, had gathered to welcome him. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the hotel in Warsaw, Poland; greets members of the Indian diaspora at the hotel PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. pic.twitter.com/L3SCh095Sn ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 Advertisement In a video posted by ANI news agency, PM Modi is seen interacting with the excited members of the Indian community as they surround him to shake hands and take autographs. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets members of the Indian diaspora, in Warsaw, Poland PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. pic.twitter.com/sYBG4FKTaW ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 In another video, the PM is seen shaking hands and giving high fives to kids from Poland who have queued up to welcome him at the hotel. #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi interacts with children as he arrives at a hotel in Warsaw as he begin his two-day official visit to Poland. PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in the past 45 years. pic.twitter.com/r8Z9xKuot7 ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 Advertisement After meeting the members of Indian diaspora and others at Warsaw hotel, PM Modi took to X to thank them for the warm welcome. Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland! Their energy embodies the strong ties that bind our nations, PM Modi posted on X. Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland! Their energy embodies the strong ties that bind our nations. pic.twitter.com/mPUlhlsV99 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 Advertisement Earlier today, PM arrived in Poland on the first leg of his two-nation visit during which he will also travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. His visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years. During his stay in Poland, PM Modi will meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe, PM Modi said in his departure statement earlier today. Advertisement Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership, he added. PM Modi said he will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland. Prime Minister Modis discussions with the Polish leadership during his two-day visit will allow the two sides to exchange views at the top level on a variety of subjects and it will be a kind of real useful exchange of views, Indian Ambassador to Poland Nagma Mohamed Mallick told PTI. From Warsaw, PM Modi will travel to Kyiv on the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Shortly after he was accorded a warm welcome by the members of Indian diaspora at a Warsaw hotel, PM Modi soon left to visit Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial where he laid a wreath, making him the first Prime Minister to pay his respect at the Warsaw memorial. read more Shortly after he was accorded a warm welcome by the members of Indian diaspora at a Warsaw hotel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon left to visit Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial where he laid a wreath, making him the first Prime Minister to pay his respects at the Warsaw memorial. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Poland. pic.twitter.com/B1GorViHBH ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 Advertisement #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial in Warsaw, Poland He also laid a wreath here. pic.twitter.com/Ez4kXdcf21 ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 The Prime Minister also laid a wreath at Monte Cassino Memorial and later visited the Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays a wreath at the Monument to Battle of Monte Cassino, in Warsaw, during his two-day official visit to Poland The Battle of Monte Cassino was fought from May 11 to May 18, 1944, in World War II. The Polish forces suffered significant pic.twitter.com/W1G2V0vnXd ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi lays wreath at Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, Poland "Members of the Association of Polish in India from 1942 to 48 and myself, I wish you, the prime minister, much health and success in fulfilling the mission you undertook by visiting Poland and Europe. pic.twitter.com/9zoZHIrX0w ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024 The history behind these memorials connects Poland and India in a very special way, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. Advertisement During the Second World War, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar - which is now in Gujarat - not only saved the lives of several Jewish children by bringing them to India from Poland but also took care of them as a guardian. The Maharaja of Nawanagar opened his summer palace to displaced children. Warsaws Good Maharaja Square pays tribute to Jam Saheb Digvijaysinh. A group of about 1,000 Polish children, who were lost and orphaned amid death and destruction caused by WWII, departed for India in 1942 from Siberia, where they had been shifted after the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland. The children were welcomed by their benefactor, the Jam Sahib, but only after a tortuous journey. Advertisement The ships carrying Polish refugees from the former Soviet Union, including a large number of children, were denied entry when they called on ports while sailing through Iran to Bombay (Mumbai), then under British colonial rule. When the Maharaja, who was a member of the Imperial War Council, was made aware of the plight of the children in the gulags, he became concerned and established a camp in Balachadi, about 25 km (15 miles) from the capital city Jamnagar, for the Polish arrivals. Monte Cassino Memorial commemorates the victory of the soldiers of the Second Polish Corps at the Battle of Monte Cassino during the Second World War in 1944. The Second Polish Corps conquered the hill and the monastery on it. More than 900 Polish soldiers were killed in this battle. Advertisement Kolhapur Memorial has been set up in memory of the village in Kolhapur that hosted the Polish children whom the Jam Saheb of Nawangar had granted refuge. The children were moved to Valivade in Kolhapur in 1945. Valivade was chosen due to its favourable climate, located about 500 km south of Mumbai. It was expected to provide a better living environment compared to harsh conditions in other regions. After Polish refugees departed this place, its significance was preserved via various memorials. There is a cemetery in Kolhapur, which was restored in 2014 and honours the Polish individuals who died while they were in India. With inputs from agencies A Thai senator has called for a parliamentary investigation into Prawit Wongsuwon after the veteran politician slapped a reporter on the head, an act condemned as physical harassment. The incident occurred shortly after Paetongtarn Shinawatras election as prime minister, prompting widespread media criticism read more A senator in Thailand on Tuesday formally requested a parliamentary investigation into a veteran politician and former army chief who struck a television reporter on the head after she asked him a question. Prawit Wongsuwon, 79, a lawmaker and former deputy premier who was involved in the last two coups in Thailand, hit the female reporter on Friday while surrounded by journalists, video footage of which was widely circulated. A notorious political dealmaker and a central figure in Thailands two decades of political strife, Prawit, who leads the Palang Pracharat Party, served in the last junta and was deputy prime minister for nine years after a 2014 coup. Advertisement #Thailand: Women Press Freedom strongly condemns Thai politician Prawit Wongsuwon for slapping @ThaiPBSWorld journalist #DuangthipYiamphop as she approached him with a question. This violent behavior is unacceptable, especially from an elected official. We demand immediate pic.twitter.com/PetROVWw0V #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) August 19, 2024 This behaviour is physical harassment, said Senator Tewarit Maneechai, who told Reuters he had requested an ethics probe be conducted into Prawit. It is also disrespectful to a journalist who was doing her work, he added. Palang Pracharat Party spokesman Piya Tavichai said Prawit knew the reporter well and has apologised, adding he could clarify the facts in any parliamentary process. He was teasing her as someone who he is close to, Piya said. Because he was a soldier, the teasing could appear to be violent but those close to him know that he teases like this all the time. Prawit and the reporter, who works for broadcaster ThaiPBS, could not be reached for comment. The incident sparked widespread condemnation from Thailands media community. ThaiPBS asked Prawit to take responsibility for his actions. Senator Tewarit said he requested an investigation into Prawit through the Senate to be conveyed to the lower house of parliament, which will have 30 days to respond. He said he was unsure what penalty Prawit would face if found guilty. Advertisement The ethics code for Thai parliamentarians states members should respect the rights and liberty of others and refrain from threats, showing malice or use of force to harm others. The incident happened on Friday moments after the Pheu Thai Partys Paetongtarn Shinawatra won a vote in parliament to become prime minister, Thailands third premier from the billionaire Shinawatra family, with which Prawit has a bitter history. Prawit, who did not attend the vote, was asked his thoughts on Paetongtarns victory, to which he replied What are you asking? What are you asking? before striking the reporter, television footage showed. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announces: At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will pay a visit to China from August 22 to 24, during which the two foreign ministers will co-chair the 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia. On the morning of August 20, 2024, at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council left Beijing by chartered plane for Moscow to hold the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and pay an official visit to Russia. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong and other accompanying officials left Beijing on the same plane. On the afternoon of August 20 local time, Li Qiang arrived at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport by chartered plane. The Russian side held a grand welcoming ceremony for Li Qiang at the airport. Accompanied by senior Russian government officials, Li Qiang reviewed the guard of honor. Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng and State Councilor Shen Yiqin, who arrived in Moscow earlier to attend the regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, greeted the delegation at the airport. Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui also greeted them at the airport. Li Qiang said that over the past 75 years, China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the changing international landscape and grown from strength to strength. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, China-Russia relations in the new era have shown new vigor and vitality, with stronger political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation in various fields, deeply cherished friendship, and close and effective international coordination, setting a fine example of a new type of international relations and relations between neighboring major countries. Li Qiang pointed out that the two heads of state have met twice this year, laying out the top-level design and strategic plan for the new development of China-Russia relations at the new historical starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Li Qiang said, his visit to Russia is aimed at delivering on the common understandings reached between the two heads of state, carrying forward the enduring friendship from generation to generation, and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. He expressed the belief that with joint efforts of the two sides, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era will surely embrace a brighter future. Explore the rich history and architectural beauty of Trinity Episcopal Church in this captivating tour given by Reverend Jimmy Abbott. Join J.R., Lisa, Erika, and Reverend Jimmy in uncovering the layers of history, from its founding in 1841 to its role in wartime and natural disasters. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. The Grand Valley has been named alongside world famous regions like Sonoma in California and the Willamette Valley in Oregon as one of the countrys top 10 wine regions, according to USA TODAY. The Grand Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) came in 10th in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers Choice Top 10 Wine Regions in 2024. A panel of travel and wine experts selected nominees from hundreds of wine-producing regions throughout the country. Readers then voted for their favorite regions. The top region was Yakima Valley, Washington. The Colorado wine industry is thrilled that USA TODAY readers have recognized the quality and the energy embodied in Colorados Grand Valley AVA, said Kyle Schlachter, executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, in a statement. World-class wines that can only be grown on the terraces above the Colorado River make the Grand Valley truly one of the preeminent wine regions in the country for wine lovers to visit and explore. The Grand Valley is home to more than two dozen wineries, according to a release from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and the vineyards in the Grand Valley produce more than 75% of the grapes for the states 165 wine producers. Wineries from the Front Range to mountain towns use grapes harvested in the Grand Valley. Carlson Vineyards owner Garrett Portra said he thinks the USA TODAY list, as well as other recent positive stories in national media, are good for the industry and the areas economy in general. Carlson is located on the Fruit and Wine Byway in Palisade and has a tasting room on Main Street in Grand Junction. Were such a unique (wine region) in this country, Portra said. I think its cool were starting to get some attention for it. He said 2024 has been a good year for his business so far. More and more guests have been visiting the region for other reasons, like outdoor recreation and sporting events, he said and they are coming by for tastings as well. Overall he said the wine industry compliments other tourist attractions in the area and vice versa. The fun thing about wine is wine really represents its place, Portra said. Where those grapes are grown, where that wine is made, where that fruit comes from really makes a difference, especially to people who enjoy and love wine. This isnt the first time USA Today has shown a spotlight on the Grand Valley and recognized its wine industry. In 2017, the Colorado Mountain Wine Festival in Palisade was voted the top festival by USA Today. The wine festivals website, coloradowinefest.com, explained the contest, saying USA Todays 10Best website enlisted a panel of wine and travel experts to nominate 20 of the best festivals celebrating wine, wine culture and wine tourism across the countrys top wine-making regions. 2 indicted for stealing trade secrets for Chinese company ROC Central News Agency 08/20/2024 10:27 PM Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) The Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted two men for allegedly stealing technology from their former Japan-based employer on behalf of a Chinese company, the office said. The two men, surnamed Wu () and Huang (), are suspected of copying and revealing the company's core technology to a man surnamed Wang (), who owns a precision industry company in China, prosecutors said. They are accused of breaching trust and obtaining records from another's computer without good reason, in violation of the Criminal Code, according to prosecutors. They are also accused of violating the Trade Secrets Act and Copyright Act. Prosecutors added that their actions are believed to have resulted in the company losing at least NT$12.3 billion (US$385 million). Wu and Huang were employed as a research and development manager and a senior engineer. They were both involved in designing and developing manufacturing processes for the company's patented microactuators, prosecutors said. Wang approached Wu after setting up a research and development center in Taiwan as he sought to advance vertical integration for his Chinese company. He interviewed Wu in 2019, promising annual pay of NT$5 million. He also transferred US$98,000 and US$66,000 to Wu and his spouse and agreed to give the spouse stocks and a paid nominal company position, prosecutors said. Wu then recruited Huang, after which they proceeded with the alleged crimes before resigning from their former company in February and May 2020, respectively. The case came to light when the company was checking email records of former employees, upon which they reported the case to prosecutors. Prosecutors recommended the two men receive heavy sentences, to protect the stable development of high-tech industries and to ensure Taiwan's industrial competitiveness. (By Yeh Chen and Wu Kuan-hsien) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's state security authorities expose espionage cases involving postal deliveries Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 20, 2024 01:54 PM China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Tuesday disclosed several cases in which foreign espionage and intelligence agencies used postal deliveries to carry out espionage activities, including mailing alligator snapping turtles, American bullfrogs, and other species to China, with the aim to disrupt local ecosystem and biodiversity. The courier industry is not only closely related to economic and social development and the lives of the people but is also closely connected to national security. In recent years, foreign espionage and intelligence agencies have increasingly used delivery channels to carry out espionage activities, the MSS said in an article published on Tuesday. National security agencies have discovered that some packages and parcels from abroad have become channels for a clandestine biological invasion, threatening China's ecological balance and biological security, according to the MSS. In recent years, some foreign organizations and individuals have been mailing exotic species such as red-eared sliders, alligator snapping turtles, American bullfrogs, fall armyworms, and red imported fire ants into China. These invasive species have strong reproductive capabilities and, once they invade, they compete with local species for resources, disrupt local ecosystems and biodiversity, and pose significant risks to China's biological and ecological security. Additionally, they may also pose serious threats to the safety of people's lives and property, said the MSS. Some criminals have attempted to use non-contact methods such as "Internet + delivery" to carry out illegal activities related to terrorism and violence, according to the MSS. For example, a foreign organization, under the guise of a scientific project, mailed a certain chemical powder to a research institution in China. Unsure of the powder's composition and intended use, the staff member of the Chinese research institution promptly contacted national security agencies. Upon investigation, it was found that this type of powder could be used as a catalyst in various harmful chemical experiments. Had it been successfully infiltrated, it would pose significant risks to the key research projects undertaken by the institution, the article wrote. Recently, national security agencies have conducted a thorough investigation and identified a suspect surnamed Zhang after receiving a tip-off through a public reporting hotline 12339 on a potential leakage of a classified publication. The investigation revealed that Zhang had been recruited by a foreign espionage and intelligence agency and took advantage of his position, which allowed him to subscribe to classified publications, to send these publications to foreign espionage personnel via a courier company. Zhang was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison for leaking multiple documents classified as confidential and secret. The MSS warned the public in the article that according to China's Law on Guarding State Secrets, transmitting state secrets through ordinary postal services, couriers, or other channels without confidentiality measures; sending or consigning carriers of state secrets abroad, or carrying or transmitting carriers of state secrets abroad without approval from the relevant authorities, will result in disciplinary actions according to the severity of the situation. Any illegal gains will be confiscated, and if a crime is committed, criminal responsibility will be pursued according to the law. China's Postal Law also stipulates that no entity or individual shall use postal materials to post or deliver articles with content that aims to incite subversion of state political power and overthrow the socialist system, split the country and undermine national unity, or endanger state security. China's Biosecurity Law also stipulates that if foreign organizations or individuals transport, post, and bring dangerous biological factors into the country or otherwise endanger nation's biological security, they shall be pursued for legal responsibility according to law and other necessary measures may be taken. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sikorsky Completes Delivery of New Presidential Helicopters 23 VH-92A helicopters built in New York and Connecticut OWEGO, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2024 -- The U.S. Marine Corps formally accepted the 23rd and final next-generation VH-92A presidential helicopter built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company (NYSE: LMT) in recent ceremonies here, marking a significant milestone for the company whose aircraft have flown every U.S. president since 1957. "This delivery represents a significant milestone and new chapter in the rich, 67-year history of Marines providing helicopter transport of the president of the United States. The VH-92A Patriot brings increased capabilities for this no-fail mission supporting the Commander-in-Chief around the world," said Lieutenant General Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Aviation. "Sikorsky's contribution to Marine Aviation has enabled your United States Marine Corps to be a ready and lethal fighting force." The delivery demonstrates the success of the VH-92A helicopter program to design, build and deliver the program of record under budget and within the planned delivery schedule. Sikorsky: Continuing the Legacy The VH-92A helicopter will transport the President and Vice President of the United States and other officials. Sikorsky brings unmatched experience and a proven track record to this mission having flown every president since 1957. The VH-92A, also called a "White Top" due to its notable white and green livery, will continue this legacy for decades to come. "Once again, Sikorsky's highly-skilled employees have shown their ability to innovate, manufacture and deliver these next-generation VH-92A presidential helicopters that will be operating worldwide in support of presidential missions well into the future," said Richard Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. "This milestone is a credit to our valued and long-lasting partnership with the Marine Corps as we provide a highly-tailored solution for the Marine Corps' unique, critical mission." The VH-92A program ensures long-term affordability by utilizing the FAA certified Sikorsky S-92 aircraft, which is best-in-class for safety and reliability. The S-92 aircraft was modified at Sikorsky facilities in Owego, New York, and Stratford, Connecticut for the VH-92A mission based on government-defined requirements. About Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Final VH-92A presidential helicopter delivered Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Aug 19, 2024 NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. -- Presidential Helicopters Program Office (PMA-274) and the Marine Corps accepted delivery of the final VH-92A helicopter, built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, in August. The achievement signifies the completion of the program of record to deliver 23 new presidential helicopters in support of the executive lift mission. The total inventory of 23 VH-92A aircraft will consist of 21 operational and two test aircraft. This quantity allows for aircraft to be ready to support the executive lift mission, undergo various levels of maintenance, lifecycle upgrades, and provide assets for pilot/aircrew training. "This exceptional team has successfully completed the program of record for the VH-92A within budget and schedule," said Brigadier General David Walsh, program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault, and special mission programs. "This helicopter not only embodies the hard work and dedication of those responsible for building and delivering the aircraft, but it will remain a recognizable patriotic asset known around the globe for safety, security, and reliability." In May 2014, PMA-274, with approval from the Navy, awarded Sikorsky a contract to build the next presidential helicopter, the VH-92A, a derivative of the commercial S-92. The new presidential helicopter was built to increase performance and payload over the VH-3D and VH-60N. It will provide enhanced crew coordination systems and communications capabilities in addition to improving availability and maintainability. The Marine Corps works with the White House Military Office, PMA-274, and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) to ensure the conditions are set for a successful transition from the current in-service VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft to the VH-92A. Currently there are 10 VH-3D's, six VH-60N's, and 9 VH-92A's that support various missions assigned to HMX-1. "Between the program staff and artisans within Sikorsky and PMA-274, we have the best and brightest. These great American's are experts at their craft and put their all into this platform," said Colonel Alex Ramthun, PMA-274 program manager. "Not only have we delivered increased performance and reduced maintenance costs and time over the current fleet of presidential helicopters, but we have also delivered the next phase of Marine One helicopters. Knowing those who step aboard any of the 21 VH-92A will have absolute top-notch execution, maintenance, and service for the life of the aircraft makes me proud to be part of this amazing team." The VH-92A Patriot is in the midst of a phased plan to ensure a smooth, safe, and timely transition from the legacy VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft. PMA-274 expeditiously provides safe, ready, high-performing, and affordable aircraft, capabilities, and support to HMX-1. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnam arrests Montagnard for 'undermining solidarity' He was accused of receiving instruction from Montagnard 'terrorists' abroad. By RFA Vietnamese 2024.08.19 -- Police in Vietnam's Central Highlands have arrested a member of the Montagnard community on charges of collecting one-sided information and reporting it to other members of the ethnic minority group living abroad in order to oppose the government. Police investigators in Dak Lak province announced the arrest of Y Po Mlo, 63, last Thursday on charges of "undermining the solidarity policy" under Article 116 of the criminal code. Government officials "repeatedly educated, reminded and brought Y Po Mlo to self-criticism" for contacting and receiving instructions from U.S.-based Montagnard Y Mut Mlo, the Ministry of Public Security reported. Y Mut Mlo was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison on terrorism charges in connection with a fatal attack on two administration offices in Dak Lak province on June 11, 2023. The Ministry of Public Security also said that from last year until his arrest, Y Po Mlo used his Facebook account to contact and receive instructions from Montagnards seeking asylum in Thailand, including Y Min Alur, Y Thanh Eban and Y Pher Hdrue, and to pass on the information to other Montagnards in Dak Lak. It accused the three Thai-based Montagnards and U.S.-based Y Mut Mlo of being members of FULRO. The group, also known as the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races, existed from 1964 to 1992 and campaigned for the autonomy for minority groups in Vietnam such as the Monganards, Cham and Khmer. Vietnam has branded it a "terrorist organization." Montagnard means "mountain people" in French and is a term used by French colonizers for about 30 indigenous tribes living in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Many Montagnards are Christian and say they have suffered discrimination from local and national authorities over issues such as land rights and freedom of religion. Not terrorist organizations Radio Free Asia contacted two of the three Thai-based Montagnards but they deny having any connection with Y Po Mlo. "I don't know where this person is or what he looks like," Y Min Alur told RFA Vietnamese. "I'm in Thailand, where I speak out about the issue of religion and human rights, about issues such as religious oppression by the Vietnamese Communist Party and taking land from our ethnic people." Alur, 49, is a follower of the Evangelical Church in Phu Yen province. He fled to Thailand to seek asylum because of religious persecution and is waiting to be resettled in a third country. He said he was not a member of FULRO because the organization was dissolved in 1992. "Those who speak out about the Vietnamese Communist Party's suppression of religion are all considered FULRO," he added. Another Thai-based Montagnard, Y Pher Hdrue, said the claim that Y Po Mlo had connections with FULRO members was a "baseless and ridiculous" accusation "just to create an excuse for arrest and repression." When police searched Mlo's home they seized a number of documents related to Thai-based "Montagnards for Justice" and the U.S.-based "Montagnard Support Group," according to Vietnamese media. Montagnards Stand for Justice, or MSFJ, founding member Y Phic Hdok said members of the group are not terrorists and have no connection to FULRO. He called the government's claims about Mlo's international connections with Montagnard support groups "baseless slander." "After verifying with MSFJ members in Thailand, we confirm that we do not know who Y Po Mlo is and have never worked with him," he said. U.S.-based Y Phic Hdok, said his group collects information on human rights violations and religious repression against ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands and reports it to international human rights organizations and the United Nations. He said he was concerned that Vietnam's government arbitrarily arrested people, forced them to confess to trumped-up charges and labeled MSFJ a terrorist organization. Hdok said this proves that Vietnam had not improved on human rights and did not respect the law and international conventions on rights. He said the government's action was transnational repression, and it created false evidence to discredit MSFJ, and it plotted to extradite group member Y Quynh Bdap, from Thailand to Vietnam. Special Rapporteurs speak out In a joint letter sent to the Vietnam government on June 14, 13 special rapporteurs from the U.N. human rights mechanism spoke out about the repression of Montagnards in Vietnam and of organizations and individuals in Thailand. The letter was made public on Aug. 14 after the Vietnam government failed to respond and labeled MSFJ a terrorist group following the Dak Lak attacks on June 11, 2023. The group's founding member, Y Quynh Bdap, was convicted in absentia by a court in Dak Lak and sentenced to 10 years in prison for "terrorism." Bdap, who sought asylum in Thailand in 2018, was arrested by Thai police on July 11 at Vietnam's request and is being tried for overstaying his visa, facing deportation to Vietnam. The U.N. human rights experts said that labeling MSFJ a "terrorist organization" went against the requirements of due process and judicial protection under international human rights law. The rapporteurs said MSFJ was an organization that protected the rights of indigenous people. They also expressed concern that the Vietnamese government appeared to be continuing its cross-border repression by sending police to Thailand to seek the extradition of Y Quynh Bdap, other MSFJ members and other Vietnamese there. Referring to an incident on March 14, the rapporteurs said Vietnamese police entered boarding houses in two places in Thailand where Montagnards were staying and "threatened, harassed and coerced the refugees to force them to return to Vietnam against their will." The U.N. experts said the persuasion and intimidation of Vietnamese seeking asylum in Thailand in March was part of an intensified campaign of discrimination, repressive surveillance, security controls, harassment and intimidation against Montagnards in the Central Highlands. They said the 2023 attacks were the pretext for this escalation. Discrimination and repression against Montagnards contravenes Vietnam's international commitments on human rights and could fuel resistance among indigenous minorities in the Central Highlands, the experts stressed. They cited cases of Montagnard religious leaders being imprisoned or dying in suspicious circumstances, such as Y Bum Bya, who was found hanging from a tree in a cemetery near his home after going to meet police on March 8 this year. RFA Vietnamese emailed the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request for comment on the Special Rapporteurs' letter, but did not receive a response by time of publication. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn. 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 August 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 MV Cape Hudson Arrives at Indonesia for Super Garuda Shield 24 Offload US Navy 19 August 2024 From Grady T. Fontana BANYUWANGI, Indonesia -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) chartered Motor Vessel (MV) Cape Hudson (T-AKR 5066) arrived at the port of Banyuwangi, Indonesia, to offload equipment in support of exercise Super Garuda Shield 2024, August 12-13, 2024. The vessel embarked on its voyage from its home base in San Francisco and made stops to load cargo and personnel in Tacoma, Wash.; Honolulu; and Japan before arriving at Banyuwangi. Super Garuda Shield, one of the largest multinational exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, continues to solidify the U.S.-Indonesia Major Defense Partnership Defense Cooperation Agreement and advances cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. "This is not a typical commercial route," said contracted mariner Benjamin Day, ship's master, MV Cape Hudson. "We originated from the West Coast of the United States, then Hawaii and Japan, to bring equipment and a mission set all the way to Banyuwangi, Indonesia, to support (exercise Super Garuda Shield)." Oversight of the offload in Indonesia was conducted by a detachment of the U.S. Army's 835th Transportation Battalion, 599th Transportation Brigade, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), out of Okinawa, Japan. Within two days, the ship unloaded approximately 313 pieces of equipment and containers. Once the items were discharged off the ship, they were staged at the marshalling area for onward movement to the respective training area. Between the expertise of MSC, SDDC and Banyuwangi port officials, all gear was off loaded as scheduled. Cape Hudson is a 750-foot-long roll-on, roll-off container vessel with four decks of cargo space. The ship can accommodate 186,000 sq. ft. of cargo, which equates to about 4.3 acres of space that can equal roughly 38,000 tons of cargo. It is part of the Cape H-class of ships that include MVs Cape Horn and Cape Henry. Despite its massive presence, the ship's characteristically low draft allows for this tonnage while still getting into smaller ports. This ship has a significant cargo capacity and is multimodal, making Cape Hudson ideal for the charter. According to Day, his experience on commercial container ships differs from these types of ships and missions. "These ships are a lot different then what I'm used to," said Day, who has more than six years of experience with the Cape H-class ships. "Doing this type of mission is fun because the cargo is different, you're lashing it differently; it takes a broader skill set." Cape Hudson is part of the Ready Reserve Force fleet of vessels. The RRF is a subset of vessels within the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet ready to support the rapid worldwide deployment of U.S. military forces. As part of the crew of Cape Hudson, MSC also assigned a tactical advisor (TACAD), whose job is to deploy on commercial chartered vessels and act as a liaison between military higher headquarters and the ship's crew. The Navy Reserve is MSC's manpower solution for surge mission sets, and TACADs are typically Strategic Sealift Officers (SSOs), who are warfare qualified Navy Reserve Officers with civilian Merchant Mariner credentials and military training to support the activation, operation, and sustainment of the Sealift fleet. "I make sure the vessel gets from point A to point B safely and that we are in contact with higher headquarters," said Lt. j. g. Alexa Lumpkin, TACAD on Cape Hudson. "This involves establishing secure communications between the ship and military operations center. I also provide contested-maritime-environment training with the crew." Lumpkin is serving on her fourth TACAD mission. She stated she enjoys serving as the TACAD. In her civilian job, she is a merchant marine and sailing on her third mate's license as a merchant mariner can be stressful. "As a mate, I don't feel like I have a lot of time when we get to port," said Lumpkin. "But as a TACAD, it's a whole different experience. I get to work with lot of people; I get to be involved in missions such as this. I just like being a part of it." Additionally, to support the discharge of equipment, MSC deployed a three-member Reserve-component team from various Reserve Expeditionary Port Units (EPU) in the U.S. to assist with port operations. "We're here to help MSC and SDDC with the offload of Cape Hudson. Our role is to act as a liaison between SDDC, the ship, and port authorities, and to make sure that the port is suitable for the ship in Banyuwangi," said Quartermaster Chief Joshua Vest, senior enlisted leader, EPU 112, from Little Rock, Ark. "We're also making sure everyone involved is adhering to safety procedures. I think we've been maintaining a good schedule, and everybody has learned something valuable toward the expeditionary side of port operations." According to Vest, it makes a lot of sense to bring out EPUs to support these specialized missions. "EPUs play a crucial role that is sometimes overlooked," said Vest. "Their contributions are not tethered to certain tasks or responsibilities but on providing expertise in varying situations." According to the MARAD website, RFF provides nearly 50 percent of government-owned surge sealift capability. MSC Far East supports the U.S. 7th Fleet and ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific Region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations, with a workforce that includes approximately 6,000 Civil Service Mariners and 1,100 contract mariners, supported by 1,500 shore staff and 1,400 active duty and Reserve military personnel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 20, 2024 Transcript Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: Good afternoon, everyone. Just a couple of things here at the top and we'll get right to your questions. Secretary Austin spoke by phone yesterday with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov to discuss current battlefield dynamics, Ukraine's ongoing operations and Ukrainian reconstitution and training efforts. During their call, Minister Umerov provided an update on the impact of Russia's continued attacks in Ukraine. Secretary Austin and the minister also discussed the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, which will be held next month in support of Ukraine's urgent security assistance requirements. As we've said since Russia's illegal and cruel invasion two and a half years ago, the DOD will continue to support Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further Russian aggression. The full readout of the phone call is available on Defense.gov. Separately, the Department of Defense continues to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies. The department's recent adjustment to the US military posture in the region have enabled us to bolster US force protection, increase support for the defense of Israel and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies. As you've heard us say previously, we remain intently focused on de-escalating tensions in the region while also remaining focused on securing a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal to bring all of the hostages home and to end the war in Gaza. With that, I'll take your questions. We'll start with AP, Lita Baldor. Q: Thank you, Pat. Two things on Ukraine. One, have you or has the Pentagon seen any significant Russian movement back into Kursk at this point? Can you at least give us some sort of broad assessment about what you're seeing, even if it's you're seeing nothing at all. And then I have a second question. MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Sure. You know, again, without getting into an operational update here, we have seen indications of Russia moving, you know, a small number of forces into Kursk, the Kursk region, to respond. I would say, generally speaking, though, Russia has really struggled to respond, and you continue to see some Ukrainian advances in that regard. But again, I'd refer you to Ukraine to talk about its operations and to Russia to talk about its own forces. Q: And then secondly, did the Ukrainians ask anything or are they asking anything from the United States in order to help with the operation there? Are they asking for any specific weapon systems or other support? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah, I don't have anything to announce from the podium. As I mentioned, we'll be conducting the Ukraine Defense Contact Group here in September, which, again, is always the opportunity to meet with our allies and partners to talk about Ukraine's most urgent defense needs. And as I highlighted, you know, we're committed to making sure they have what they need to defend their sovereign territory and deter future Russian aggression. Q: Can I just put sort of on the record, could we please get an operational update? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Noted. Thank you. Welcome back again, Lucas. Q: [Laughter] General Ryder, how long do you plan to keep this additional firepower in the Middle East? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, as you know, we're not going to talk about operational timelines. We will preserve flexibility, as we always do. And again, we'll stay focused on the operational objectives that I highlighted. Q: What happened to as long as it takes, or is that just for Ukraine? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: You talking about the Middle East? Q: About the Middle East. But I'm saying for Ukraine, you constantly say the mantra in this building is for as long as it takes. Is that same with the Middle East? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, again, Lucas, I know you've covered this region for a while. We've had a significant force presence in the Middle East for a very long time, upwards of, you know, 30,000 plus US forces operating with partners throughout the region. And I don't foresee that changing anytime soon. Q: Are all options on the table with Iran? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: In what regard? Q: I mean, all regard. MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Like, where do you want to start, like diplomatic, economic, informational? Q: Leaders in this building said they're all options are on the table in dealing with Iran. Does that include striking Iran? Are all options on the table? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. I'm not going to get into a philosophical discussion. I think we've been very clear in terms of we're focused on Q: So, it's not MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, you're providing a very broad scope getting into, you know, geopolitics. And and so, if you can define your question a little bit better. Q: [Off mic] geopolitics? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. Q: All options are on the table when dealing with MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: You should become a spokesperson. Let's go over here to Will. Q: Regarding the forces the Russian forces that have been moving into Kursk, are they from inside Russia, or are any of them have been pulled from Ukraine or Ukrainian front lines? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah, I'm not going to have any further details to provide on that, Will. Thanks. Charlie? Q: Thanks, Matt. In terms of the destruction of the Glushkovo bridge, the Russians are suggesting weapons Western weapons were used, possibly HIMARS. Are HIMARS being used in this fight? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: So, I appreciate the question. Again, I'm going to have to refer you to the Ukrainians to talk about their operations and and what they are or are not using. Q: F-16s? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Again, I'd refer you to the Ukrainians to talk about what what they're employing in their operations. So, Brad? Q: So, when the secretary spoke with the Ukrainian defense minister yesterday, did they discuss long range strikes into Russia? And is the US considering reversing that policy? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: So, I'm not going to be able to provide more detail than what we've included in our readout other than to say, you know, our our policy when it comes to long range strikes has not changed. Thanks. Tony? Q: ATACMS in the Kursk offensive, does do the Ukrainians have permission to use ATACMS to blunt a Russian counteroffensive into their into the pocket they've captured? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: So, I'm not going to get into Ukraine's selection of capabilities as they conduct their operations. Our policy has not changed, which is in terms of using long range strike capabilities to conduct deep strike. You know, as you've heard us say, conducting counter fire defensive operations across the border is permitted. And I'll just leave it there. Q: Quick question. Last last week you were you took a question on Afghanistan in terms of over-the-horizon strikes. It was in the context of ISIS-K. You didn't really elaborate on the extent to which, since the pullout to since the withdrawal three years ago, the United States is conducting over-the-horizon either surveillance or strikes against ISIS-K elements. Can you elaborate a little bit on that, the extent to which the United States is conducting those? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, generally speaking, Tony, you know, we're going to read out, at the appropriate time, any type of strikes that we've taken. I'm not aware of any that we haven't announced at this point. Certainly, if we see imminent threats against the United States or our interests, we reserve the right to take appropriate action, to include conducting over-the-horizon strikes. But I don't have anything to read out to you right now. Q: Thanks. MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Thanks. Janne? Q: Thank you, General. Two questions. The US and South Korea, UFS, Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise, is underway in South Korea. North Korea accused this exercise of being aimed at invading North Korea. How will you react? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. I mean, that's just patently false. As you know, these exercises are defensive in nature. They're also longstanding, and these are opportunities for our forces to work together on interoperability and to learn how to operate in dissimilar environments. Q: Last weekend, the leaders of the United States and South Korea and Japan issued a joint statement commemorating the one year anniversary of the Camp David Declaration. What will happen to the US and South Korea and the US and South Korea and Japan agreement if the United States administration changes? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, as I'm sure you can appreciate, I'm not going to get into hypotheticals other than to say I think our alliance with Japan and South Korea are strong, stronger than they've ever been. And I think going into the future, you'll see them continue to get even stronger. Thanks. Let me go to the phone real quick here, take a couple. All right. Let's go to JJ Green, WTOP. Q: Thank you, General, for taking this question. I had a chance to speak with a spokesman from the Ukrainian military a day or so ago, and they mentioned that it would be very helpful for them if Western logistics and speaking of the US and the allies that are sending weapons, etc., to them, if the pace could be picked up to get those weapons to them sooner, considering what it is that they're doing and what they're engaged in now in Kursk and Belgorod. And just second really quickly, is this something that could be addressed at the next contact group, if not sooner? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah, thanks for the question, JJ. We are always looking at ways that we can expedite delivery of capabilities to the Ukrainians. And to your point, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group provides an excellent forum in which to have discussions to look at processes and procedures as it relates to ensuring that the Ukrainians have what they need on the battlefield to defend themselves. You know, it's important to remember, first of all, that from the very beginning, the United States has worked very, very hard to rush vital capabilities to Ukraine, and that hasn't stopped. You see organizations like the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, which serves as a focal point for ensuring the onward delivery of those capabilities, but also recognizing the incredible complexity, more than 50 nations working together to get this capability from their own stocks, in often cases, or contracting it and getting it to Ukraine. So, that is work that is constantly ongoing. And as evidenced by the fact that you continue to see Russian forces conducting offensive action in the the east of Ukraine, we also recognize the vital importance of of moving as quickly as possible. So, we'll stay after it. Let me go to Lara Seligman, The Wall Street journal. Lara, are you there? Q: Hi. Can you hear me? Just an update, Pat, on the F-16 training in Ukraine, how that is going and whether there are going to be American contractors helping out with the maintenance in Ukraine? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. So, right now, as I understand it, there continues to be F-16 training in Arizona and in Denmark. In terms of within Ukraine, I don't have any updates to provide. I'd have to refer you to the Ukrainians on that front. As you know, they have received some F-16s. And in terms of DOD contractors, US DOD contractors, I'm not aware of any right now. All right. Come back in the room, Oren? Q: Two questions on the Middle East and then one on Ukraine. Have the USS Abraham Lincoln or has the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and USS Georgia arrived in CENTCOM? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: They are still in transit, Oren, and we'll keep you updated on that front, but I do anticipate they'll be arriving soon. Q: So I'm just curious, when you talk about bolstering US force protection and increasing support for Israel, isn't it true then that most of what you're sending hasn't even gotten to the AOR yet? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: No, I don't think that would be a fair characterization. Again, as I highlighted earlier, we already maintain a significant force presence and it's also important to understand to look beyond episodic situations, right? So ensuring that we have the forces in theater to respond to something if it happens now, but also ensuring we have forces in theater to be able to respond to whatever could be next in terms of potential escalation and trying to de-escalate the situation. And that requires bolstering some of those capabilities, again, one, to send a clear message, but two, to be able to respond in a longer term scenario should we need to do that. So I'll just leave it there. Q: And then just a quick Ukraine question. Is the US ready to openly and publicly support Ukraine's operation in Kursk? If not, why not? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Look, again, we're continuing to have the discussions with the Ukrainians in terms of their focus. You heard President Zelenskyy say it was to create a buffer zone. So we're having those conversations to learn more about what their objectives are. Again, if you take a step back from a US perspective, our focus continues to be enabling Ukraine to be a free and sovereign country that can deter Russian aggression in the future. And so that continues to be our focus. As it relates to their operation in Kursk, as I mentioned, they clearly have compelled the Russians to struggle in their response. It has certainly demonstrated the creativity and the battlefield prowess of the Ukrainians. But when it comes to what their longer term objectives are here, that's something that we're still discussing with them. Thank you. Sir. Haven't seen you in a while. Welcome back. Q: Thank you very much, General. Actually, I was in Kurdistan. Many official sources including Minister of Peshmerga, they told me ISIS are serious threat in Iraq, in Syria and in the region and he believed it is very important for all of Iraq international coalition stay in Iraq. Do you have any comment on that? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, as you know, the conversations with the Higher Military Commission continue. I don't have any updates to provide on the outcomes of that other than to say that we, as part of the US Iraq Joint Security dialog which includes Peshmerga representation, is looking at what the transition for the coalition OIR will be and what the future of the US, Iraq bilateral security cooperation is. When it comes to ISIS, you're right. It does continue to be a threat. Certainly ISIS is not as capable as it was 10 years ago, but they do continue to pose a threat, particularly in ungoverned spaces within Syria and also as it relates to ISIS prisoners in al-Hol that need to be repatriated. So this is something that we are not going to take our eyes off of and we'll continue to keep you updated on that front. Q: Follow on question. Do you believe cooperation between Peshmerga and Iraqi Army is important, to Peshmerga, ISIS and especially in disputed areas like Kirkuk? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. Look, there's no question, first of all, that Iraqi security forces writ large, which includes Peshmerga, have played a vital role in terms of reducing the threat that ISIS poses. But as we've seen in places like Afghanistan, left unchecked, ISIS can start to make a resurgence. And so again, we'll continue to work with our Iraqi partners, our Peshmerga partners to address this threat. Let me go to Constantine and then I'll come to you, Carla. Q: Thanks, Pat. Yesterday, President Zelenskyy was quoted in Ukrainian media saying that he deliberately did not disclose plans of his Kursk mission to Western allies. Is that something that the Pentagon, that dynamic is something that the Pentagon expects to be part of the relationship going forward? And is that a source of concern in this building? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, look, I think our commitment and support for Ukraine is strong, right? And we're going to continue to support them for the long haul, as you've heard, Secretary Austin and others say. We're going to always keep those channels of communication open because the better we understand what Ukraine's objectives are, the better we can support them. And so this is why we have multiple mechanisms to include frequent phone calls between Secretary Austin and his counterpart and forums like the UDCG where we can have those discussions. But at the end of the day, again, it's important to take a step back in terms of what we're trying to achieve here and that's a free and sovereign Ukraine that is able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression. Q: So just a quick follow on, sorry. You would say that there's no change in the closeness of the relationship between MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Absolutely not. No. Q: OK. Thank you, Pat. A couple of follow ups. So follow up to Oren's question. USS Georgia is still not in the CENTCOM AOR, is that what you just said? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: It's in transit. Q: It's in transit? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Mm-hmm. Q: It is heading towards the CENTCOM AOR? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: It's been ordered to the CENTCOM area. Why are you asking your question so incredulously? Q: It's taking them an awful long time to get there. That's why I'm just trying to track, to make sure that it is indeed going to CENTCOM. OK. I just wanted to make sure. And then on Ukraine, just to follow up to Lita's question. There have been other attacks outside Kursk. There was a drone attack that targeted a fuel depot like 700 kilometers south of Kursk, about 250 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border. Is that pulling any Russian forces outside of Ukraine? Have you seen themif they're not moving into Kursk, have you seen them pull back to Russia? What can you say on how these attacks have updated and affected the battlefield in Ukraine? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah, broadly speaking, Carla, again what you see is the vast majority of Russian forces along the eastern front in Ukraine, occupying Ukrainian territory and focused on, in some areas, largely defensive, but in some areas focused on offensive operations, attempting to take additional Ukrainian territory. As it relates to any type of Ukrainian operations inside Russia that you're referencing, that's inside Russia. So I mean they already have forces inside Russia. I just don't have anything on that. All right, let me go back to the phone here. Jeff Schogol, Task and Purpose. Q: Thank you. Can you bring us up to date on the number of attacks and wounded in Iraq and Syria against US troops? And also, can the Defense Department name which cruisers were sent to the Middle East? I don't think I've seen those ships named. Thank you. MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. Thanks, Jeff. In terms of the injuries that were at Rumaila and landing zone, I think you were briefed on Monday, 11 personnel had been treated for TBI and smoke inhalation. All 11 of those, to my knowledge, have returned to duty. In terms of the cruisers, just to clarify something, so within the Department of Defense, we have an acronym that we typically use, CRUDES, which stands for cruiser destroyer. And so there was some information out there in terms of cruisers going to the AOR. Right now, there are no cruisers in the AOR, but we often use that term also loosely to refer to destroyers. So CRUDES, cruiser destroyer, so we do have destroyers in both the Yukon and the CENTCOM AOR. Hope. Hopefully that helps to clarify. All right. Let me go to Joseph Al-Arabiya. Q: Thanks for that. I just wanted to ask again on Iraq. Today, Iraq's foreign minister said several developments led to the postponing of the announcement at the end of the coalition presence in Iraq. But he also said there had not been any response to the attacks on US troops, particularly at al-Asad air base, due to what he said was diplomacy. Were you guys asked to hold off or not respond to any of these recent attacks, specifically the most recent one that led to, I guess, 11 injured US personnel? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. Thanks, Joseph. So a couple of things on that. So first of all, as Secretary Austin has said many times, we're not going to tolerate attacks on our forces, and we will always respond appropriately at a time and manner of our choosing. As for any type of diplomatic discussions, I don't have anything to read out to you, nor am I going to get into those types of private discussions. OK. Time for a few more. Yes, sir. Q: Thank you, General Ryder. My name is Mushfiqul Fazal [ph] representing South Asia perspectives. How does the Pentagon view the role of the Bangladesh Army in supporting peace and stability under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus [ph]? Is there any collaboration or communication between the United States and Bangladesh military during this transitional period? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Well, as you know, we do have a defense relationship with Bangladesh. We will look forward to working to support our shared values and interests, such as a free and open Indo-Pacific. I don't have anything to read out right now in terms of any types of contact. As it relates to the Bangladesh government, of course, you know, we would expect human rights to be observed and there to be an avoidance of any type of violence. But I would refer you to our State Department for any questions about the US-Bangladesh relationship writ large. Thank you. Charlie? Q: Thanks, General. Between the Theodore Roosevelt, the Abraham Lincoln, the ships that are in the Med now, I count around a dozen destroyers, a submarine that will one day get there. What kind of fight are you gearing up for? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: And so, first of all, let's be clear about you know, I noted a bit of snarkiness in your question there. But the submarine is in the Mediterranean, which is in the EUCOM AOR, ok? So, first of all, I mean, it's in proximity of the region that we're talking about, moving into the Central Command region, again, to provide capacity there. And in terms of what we're getting ready for is exactly what I read out at the top, which is enabling us to bolster force protection, the defense of Israel, and also be ready to respond to a wide variety of contingencies. I understand the focus on this moment in time, but we in the DOD are a planning organization. And in addition to being ready for now, we're going to be ready for that wide variety of contingencies of what may come. To do that, you have to have capability and you have to have capacity. And so, that's exactly what we've done and that's exactly what we'd be prepared to do going ahead into the future. Thanks. Sir? Q: Yeah. President Zelenskyy said it wouldn't have been necessary for them to move into Kursk if its supporters, including the US, cleared them to launch deep strike missions at military targets inside Russia proper. Is this fair or not, or is this true or not? What's the MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yeah. Yeah, I'm not going to comment on President Zelenskyy's statement. Certainly, you know, I'll let his comments speak for themselves. Again, there should be no question that the United States supports Ukraine in its fight for freedom and to preserve its sovereignty and to deter future Russian aggression. And that's what we continue to remain focused on. While you're going to see various shifts on the battlefield from time to time as we've been watching this for two and a half years, we remain laser focused on that end state in terms of enabling them to defend their sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression, both urgent battlefield needs and long term defense needs. And that's what we'll continue to stay focused on. Ultimately, at the end of the day, you know it's up to the Ukrainians to defend their country, and we're going to continue to communicate closely with them on what those needs are and evolve as the situation on the battlefield evolves. All right, last two. Yes, sir? Q: Thanks, General. So, on the two major wars that are going on in Ukraine and in Gaza, the civilian casualty rate in Ukraine by the Russian military is around 11,000 civilians, around 2,000 children. In Gaza, it's 40,000 civilians, 16,000 children. So, that's eight times the number of children killed in one-third of the time span by Israel. So, my question for you is if you could tell us about the moral calculus that has led this administration to spend over $100 billion supporting Ukraine to fight back against Russia while we're spending tens of billions aiding militaries aiding Israel's military campaign in Gaza and using rhetoric, you know, like Russia's aggression, defending Israel, we're getting ready to defend Israel for a regional war potential in the Middle East. So, with that stark civilian casualty contrast, why have you determined that Russia is the bad guy and Israel is the good guy? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: So, again, let's take a step back in time here and look at how these conflicts started. Number one, Russia's illegal, cruel invasion, February of 2022, essentially attacking its democratic sovereign neighbor unprovoked. October 7, Hamas killed over 1,200 innocent civilians, took over 250 hostages, half of whom are still being held today, and you continue to see the brutality of Hamas in terms of embedding itself within mosques, schools, hospitals, building a tunnel network underneath Gaza instead of spending money on the citizens that it purportedly was supposed to help govern, a tunnel network, oh, by the way, that's the size of New York City and goes multiple levels below the surface. So, again, when it comes to the death of any civilian, from a Department of Defense standpoint that's absolutely not something we want to see. And this is something that we constantly and repeatedly, publicly and privately, discuss with our Israeli counterparts. I think this is also why it's vital that this ceasefire be signed immediately and that the hostages can be returned so that this war in Gaza can end and innocent civilians can stop suffering, whether they be Palestinian or Israeli. Q: So, the so, the distinction real quick MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: I answered your question. Q: Though, was on the provocation. And so, are you saying that the tens of thousands of ethnic Russians MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: I think I answered your question. Q: In the Donbas who were killed prior to the war, that was not a provocation. The record high deaths in the West Bank, that wasn't a provocation of Hamas? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Yes, sir? Q: Thank you, General. Q: How do you how do you determine that? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: I answered your question. Q: A couple of questions. The Iranian proxy groups in Iraq say they have paused their attacks on US forces. But as long as the Imam Al-Hussein rituals stand, they will resume their attacks as long as the US forces remain in Iraq. Do you have any comment on it? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: Again, look, our relationship with Iraq is a strong one. We're there at the invitation of the government of Iraq and will continue to have the discussions through the Higher Military Commission and through our US-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation dialog to look at not only what the future of the coalition is, but also what our longer term US-Iraq bilateral security relationship will be. And so, again, we'll have much more to provide on that in the future. I just don't have any updates to provide right now. Q: And lastly, the deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria stated that an American Typhoon fighter jet approached Russian aircraft dangerously. Do you have any report? MAJOR GENERAL RYDER: I don't have anything on that. Thanks. All right. Thanks very much, everybody. Appreciate it. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3879555/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 20, 2024 Release DoD Releases Five Awards for Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program The Department of Defense recently announced seven additional awards to bioindustrial firms via the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP). This announcement brings the DBIMP to 13 awards to date totaling $23 million. The awardees include Battelle in Columbus, Ohio; Modular Genetics in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Genomatica in San Diego; Industrial Microbes in Alameda, California; ZymoChem in San Leandro, California; The Better Meat Co. in West Sacramento, California; and Biosphere, in Oakland, California. The awards are some of more than 30 expected to be conferred as part of the White House's Executive Order 14081, "Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy," aimed at bolstering America's bioeconomic strengths while helping the Department achieve advanced defense capabilities. "Expanding the Department of Defense's biotechnology capabilities is key to maintaining the United States' supply-chain and military superiority," said Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu, as she announced the conferment of this third batch of DBIMP awards during a moderated discussion at the National Defense Industrial Association's Emerging Technologies Conference on Aug. 7 in Washington, D.C. Through these agreements, companies will receive funding to produce business and technical plans that detail construction of domestic bioindustrial manufacturing production facilities under the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), a contract vehicle awarded and overseen by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. Successful projects that were selected under the competitive announcement can receive follow-on awards that would provide access to up to $100 million to build a U.S.-based bioindustrial manufacturing facility. "As we look to build resilient supply chains and address emerging threats," said Carla Zeppieri, deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial base resilience. "The DIBC OTA plays a pivotal role in DoD's efforts to develop mission-critical materials domestically and meet our national security needs." The department announced the first award for the DBIMP in July 2024. The remaining awards are expected to be announced throughout the coming month. Details of the current batch of awarded projects are as follows: Battelle, based in Columbus, Ohio, was awarded $1.85 million to plan a facility for producing less expensive chemicals that are needed to produce smokeless propellants and other energetic materials. Production is expected to occur at Battelle's Advanced Pilot Facility in Aberdeen, Maryland. Biosphere, based in Oakland, California, was awarded $1.5 million to plan a commercial-scale manufacturing plant for high-performance oils with direct use across defense application areas of food, fuel, and fabrication. The facility location is yet to be determined. Genomatica, based in San Diego, was awarded $1.51 million to plan a multiproduct biorefinery to domestically produce polymer precursors that have applications in the aviation and automobile markets. Facility sites in the U.S. Midwest are being considered. Industrial Microbes, based in Alameda, California, was awarded $1.55 million to plan a commercial-scale facility to convert ethanol feedstock into acrylic acid, which can be used in coatings, adhesives, sealants, lubricants, corrosion inhibitors, and wound dressings. The facility location is yet to be determined. Modular Genetics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded $2.53 million to plan a facility that is expected to bring overseas production of a vital precursor for energetic materials back to the U.S. industrial base. The company's proprietary technology reduces waste costs for industrial-scale production of this chemical. Production is expected to occur in West Virginia. The Better Meat Company, based in West Sacramento, California, was awarded $1.48 million to plan a bioproduction facility for mycoprotein ingredients that are shelf-stable, have high protein and fiber contents, and can be dehydrated. The facility location is yet to be determined. ZymoChem, based in San Leandro, California, was awarded $1.57 million to plan a bioproduction facility for biobased monomers used to fabricate military fabrics, tactical gear, parachute systems, aerospace materials, and other high-performance materials. Establishing domestic production of these monomers would reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. The facility location is yet to be determined. About the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program Following a competitive evaluation of proposed solutions, the Department entered negotiations with more than 30 selectees for business and technical planning efforts across focus areas for defense materials: fabrication, fitness, food, and fuel. Upon completion of planning efforts, businesses are eligible to enter negotiations to proceed to the next phase of the DBIMP under the DIBC, wherein the DoD will support building bioproduction infrastructure that increases the domestic supply of critical materials. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3878835/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Sanctions Evasion Scheme Tuesday, August 20, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Defendant Conspired to Unlawfully Export Millions of Dollars' Worth of Aircraft Parts from the United States to Venezuela's State-Owned Oil Company Through Costa Rica and Spain George Semerene Quintero (Semerene), 60, of Venezuela, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for his role in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), a Venezuelan state-owned oil company. "This defendant admitted to participating in an illicit scheme to procure millions in aviation equipment for the Maduro regime," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "Today's conviction demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to hold accountable those who seek to evade export controls and sanctions to prop up rogue authoritarians." "By lying to U.S. suppliers, falsifying customs forms and creating fake invoices, Semerene helped PDVSA evade U.S. sanctions," said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). "But, as today's guilty plea makes clear, what he couldn't evade are the consequences of breaking U.S. law." "Today, George Semerene Quintero admitted that he conspired to circumvent economic sanctions and export controls to aid Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela in obtaining critical aircraft parts from the United States," said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. "Together with the BIS and our law enforcement partners, we will continue to ensure that the integrity and intent of U.S. sanctions are preserved. Semerene's guilty plea reflects our steadfast commitment to holding those who violate sanctions accountable and to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect our nation's security." According to court documents, between January 2019 and December 2021, after learning of the sanctions imposed on PDVSA, Semerene and his co-conspirators devised a scheme to illegally procure aircraft parts, including bearings, rudder parts, joint slide flexes and actuators, from the United States to service PDVSA's aircraft fleet in Venezuela, in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls. Semerene, who was an employee in PDVSA's procurement department, and his co-conspirators concealed from U.S. companies that the requested parts were destined for Venezuela and PDVSA, and they utilized freight forwarders and shipping companies located in the Southern District of Florida to move the parts. Semerene and his co-conspirators carried out this scheme by (1) lying to U.S. parts suppliers; (2) making false declarations on customs forms and shipping documents; (3) fabricating supplier invoices; and (4) providing false end-user certificates. Semerene and his co-conspirators further utilized third parties in other countries, including Novax Group SA, a Costa Rican Aerofalcon SL, a Spanish company, to serve as the purported purchasers and end users for the aircraft parts ultimately destined for PDVSA. The indictment charging Semerene and nine co-defendants, including three other individuals associated with PDVSA, was unsealed in April, following Semerene's arrest upon his arrival in the United States. Semerene is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. BIS is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Stratton for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES) are prosecuting the case. CES Deputy Chief Matthew McKenzie provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Topics: Export Control National Security Components: National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Florida, Southern Press Release Number: 24-1034 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Tunisia - 65' SAFE Archangel Boats Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 23-31 WASHINGTON, August 20, 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Tunisia of 65' SAFE Archangel Boats and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $110 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Tunisia has requested to buy additional non-MDE 65' SAFE Archangel boats and additional non-MDE articles and services that will be added to a previously implemented case. The original FMS case, valued at $49.3 million, included non-MDE 65' SAFE Archangel boats and non-MDE articles and services, consisting of commercial variant marine global positioning systems; navigation systems; communications equipment; training; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $110 million. This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to play an important role in regional security and Peacekeeping Operations throughout Africa. The proposed sale will better equip Tunisia to contribute to shared security objectives, promote regional stability, and build interoperability with the United States and Western partners. The Tunisian Navy uses the 65' SAFE boats for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and other maritime-related operations to ensure security in the country and region. The boats will build on Tunisia's existing military capability. Tunisia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and services will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor is SAFE Boats International, located in Bremerton, Washington. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Tunisia. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Embassy in the Philippines condemns US statement on Xianbin Jiao collision as 'sowing discord, fueling tensions' Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 20, 2024 11:17 PM Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Tuesday urged the Philippines to earnestly observe the understandings and arrangement reached with China in terms of South China Sea disputes, refrain from taking actions that may complicate the situation following the recent clashes in Xianbin Jiao (also known as Xianbin Reef). The Chinese embassy also demanded the US to stop provoking confrontation in the South China Sea and cease actions that undermine regional stability and exacerbate tensions. On Monday, two Philippine coast guard vessels, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao and, in disregard of China Coast Guard's dissuasion and warning, acted dangerously by deliberately ramming the China Coast Guard vessel that was carrying out law enforcement operation. In response, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement on Tuesday that China is committed to handling maritime disputes with the Philippines properly through dialogue and consultation. China hopes the Philippines will honor its commitment, earnestly observe the understandings and arrangement reached with China, refrain from taking actions that may complicate the situation, and work with China to get the situation at sea under control. As the US State Department issued a statement on the Xianbin Jiao collision, embassies of the US and some of its allies in the Philippines also expressed condemnation of China's "dangerous actions" which they claim escalate tensions. The spokesperson said on Tuesday that Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Coast Guard have issued statements on this incident. On-site video footages have been released, and the facts are clear and the truth is evident. According to the spokesperson, on the day of the collision, the US State Department issued a statement, and embassies of the US and some of its allies in the Philippines also wasted no time in taking sides and making inflammatory statements, which raises questions about their underlying motives. On what factual basis and "concrete evidence" are their stance and their accusations against China founded? How did they so swiftly determine right from wrong? Are they self-appointed judges and juries? These countries unabashedly claim to uphold a "rules-based order." Talking about rules, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), after 22 years of repeated practice, has become an internationally recognized and integral part of the legal order in the South China Sea. "This is an undeniable factare they not aware of this?" read the statement. Article 5 of DOC stipulates that parties should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability. As an uninhabited reef, Xianbin Jiao should remain unoccupied and without facilitiesare they not aware of this? And if they care about peace and stability in the South China Sea, why do they persist in sowing discord and fueling tensions? The US and certain countries are not parties to the South China Sea issue and have no right to interfere in maritime matters between China and the Philippines, according to the statement. What China did was to respond to the Philippines' infringement activities, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also said on Tuesday, adding that China took those actions in order to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. They are just, lawful and beyond reproach, Mao said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Minister Kristiansen Tvinnereim on the reopening of the Adre crossing into Sudan Government of Norway News story | Date: 20/08/2024 'Norway welcomes the announcement by Sudan's Sovereign Council on the reopening of the Adre border crossing between Sudan and Chad. We urge this to be made permanent', said Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim. 'While the immediate implementation of the announcement will alleviate some suffering, we remain deeply concerned about remaining restrictions on humanitarian access into Sudan and across the lines of control between the parties to the conflict', said Kristiansen Tvinnereim. 'The Adre border crossing is essential for the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to the Darfur region in the west, where famine recently was confirmed in specific locations. The UN and international humanitarian organisations fear widespread famine if humanitarian assistance is not dramatically and immediately improved. More than half the population, some 25 million people, are currently facing acute hunger. Using starvation as a method of warfare against civilians is strictly prohibited', said Kristiansen Tvinnereim. 'The reopening of several border crossings is needed to ensure delivery of sufficient levels of humanitarian aid. Flooding in parts of the country underline the need for opening more access routes to reach civilians in need', said the minister. 'Unfettered humanitarian access between RSF and SAF-controlled areas is urgently needed. It is also essential to reach areas that are controlled by other armed groups. Denying access to humanitarian assistance is illegal according to International Humanitarian Law and may constitute a war crime', said Kristiansen Tvinnereim. 'Civilians must be protected. The safety of humanitarian workers must be ensured. The protection of civilians is a legal obligation and a prerequisite for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We expect all parties to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law always and everywhere.' NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Letter of Intent signed between Sweden and Moldova Government Offices of Sweden Press release from Ministry of Defence 20 August 2024 On Tuesday, Minister for Defence Pal Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin signed a Letter of Intent on strengthened defence cooperation between Sweden and Moldova. Sweden has good relations with Moldova and is one of its largest donors of development assistance. Sweden has also proactively supported Moldova's development of closer ties with the EU. Through this Letter of Intent, Sweden is now taking another step to further its cooperation with Moldova. This is being done in the shadow of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has negatively impacted the security situation in Moldova. The Letter of Intent aims to develop and expand Sweden and Moldova's defence policy cooperation within the following areas. enhance defence cooperation between the countries; enhance cooperation by tackling hybrid threats and combatting disinformation; expand cooperation regarding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security; increase exchanges of technology and knowledge. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance Targets Ain Al-Assad IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A member of the political office of the Iraqi 'Al-Nujba' movement said that a few days ago its fighters targeted the "Ain al-Asad" base, where American soldiers are stationed. Haider al-Lami, a member of the political office of the Iraqi Al-Nujba movement, in an interview with Al-Jazeera, announced the attack of the Iraqi resistance on the Ain al-Assad base a few days ago. "In the coming days, we will witness unprecedented attacks by the Iraqi resistance, which will surprise the enemy inside and outside of Iraq," he added. This member of the Al-Nujaba movement's political office also emphasized that the axis of resistance is ready to face any eventuality in all regions. On Tuesday morning (August 16), news sources announced a missile attack on the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq and said that a number of American soldiers were injured in this attack. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah conducts fresh drone, missile attacks on occupied Galilee, Golan IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Heavy drone and rocket attacks were launched by the Lebanese Hezbollah on the positions of the Zionist regime's army and Zionist settlements in the north of occupied Palestine, media sources reported. In this regard, Al-Manar network, quoting informed sources, announced that the siren has sounded in more than 16 towns and barracks in the north of occupied Palestine a few moments ago. According to these sources, following Hezbollah's drone and missile attacks, sirens were sounded in Beit Hillel, Kfar Gilead, Metula, Mayan Baruch, Moskav Aam, Kiryat Shmona, Margaliot, Al Manara, Dafneh, Havashrim, Al Hajjar, Dan Vashnir and Shear Yeshov. Some sources say that sirens have sounded in the northern occupied Golan. Media sources also reported the Lebanese Hezbollah's drone and missile attack on the mentioned areas. Some sources also announced that as a result of Hezbollah armed drones hitting areas in the occupied Golan, fires have occurred in several areas. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinians launch major attacks on Israeli positions in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance groups have launched several major attacks on the Zionist regime's positions in the Gaza Strip, inflicting more losses upon the Israeli occupation forces. In a statement on Tuesday, the Izz al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, announced that its fighters managed to detonate an anti-personnel bomb among a group of Israeli forces stationed inside a building near the Al-Qadisiyah school in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, causing several Zionists to killed or injured, the Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news network reported. Also, Al-Qassam Brigades added that its fighters targeted another group of the Zionist regime's army inside a house in the Tal Al-Sultan, west of Rafah, and destroyed a Zionist military tank (D9). Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades, a military wing of the Palestine Islamic Jihad Movement, announced in a statement that its fighters targeted the location of Zionist soldier gathering who had infiltrated near the Omar Al-Agha School in the al-Qarara area, northeast of Khan Yunis with mortar shells. The National Resistance Brigades also known as Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces has announced that its fighters detonated an anti-personnel bomb among the enemy soldiers, killing and wounding a number of them in the al-Salam neighborhoods of eastern Rafah. Palestinian resistance groups have been fighting Israeli soldiers in different parts of Gaza to defend the civilian population against the regime's intense attacks that have left more than 40,173 people dead since early October 2023. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah launches fresh attacks on headquarters of Zionist regime IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Islamic resistance announced that it carried out several new attacks against the positions of the Zionist military in the north of the occupied territories. According to al-Mayadeen news network, Lebanon's Hezbollah announced in a statement that within the framework of supporting the people of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance, the Zionist Barracks "Barnit" was targeted with a direct hit with suitable weapon. In another statement, Hezbollah added that in the framework of supporting the people of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance and responding to the terror committed by the enemy in southern Lebanon, the headquarters of the 146th Jatoun Brigade has been targeted by Katyusha rocket attacks. This morning, news sources reported that 60 rockets were fired in two stages from southern Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region in the northern occupied territories and the occupied Golan region of Syria. Following these missile attacks, the alarm was sounded in the Zionist settlement "Ortal" in the occupied Syrian Golan. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fresh Israeli attack leaves at least 14 martyrs, 16 injured in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Media have reported that at least 14 Palestinian citizens were martyred and 16 others were injured in the Zionist regime's army attack on the center and south of the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian media, Palestinian medical sources said that at least 14 Palestinian citizens were martyred in the Zionist regime's attacks on the center and south of the Gaza Strip since Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera quoted Palestinian sources as saying that the Israeli army targeted the tents of Palestinian refugees in Al Mawasi in the northwest of Rafah in the south of Gaza. According to these sources, as a result of these attacks, two Palestinians were martyred and 16 others were injured. Al Jazeera also reported the martyrdom of five members of a Palestinian family in Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Monday that since the start of Al-Aqsa Storm Operation on October 7, 202, 40,139 Palestinians were martyred and 92,743 others were injured in the Gaza Strip. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah pounds Israeli positions with 60 missiles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Various news sources reported on Tuesday that the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, fired 60 missiles from southern Lebanon towards the north of the occupied territories and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. According to Al Jazeera, 60 missiles were fired in two stages from southern Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee region in the north of the occupied territories as well as the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, targeting two headquarters of the Israeli regime's army. Following the missile attacks, sirens were sounded in the Zionist settlement of Ortal in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Sirens were also heard in various areas of the northern border of the occupied territories with southern Lebanon. At the same time, the sound of the explosion of the Israeli regime's missiles was heard in the airspace of the border villages of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah announced that in response to the enemy's attack on Lebanon's Beqaa Valley, its fighters targeted the headquarters of the Golan Division 210 at the Nafah military base, as well as the headquarters of the artillery regiment and the armored brigade of this division with a barrage of missiles. Hezbollah also declared in its latest statement that a number of Zionist troops tried to enter the area of Hadab Aita forest in southern Lebanon; however, the resistance fighters' vigilance led to the killing and wounding of a number of military personnel of the Zionist regime in this failed operation. Since October 8, 2023 - a day after the onset of Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip - Hezbollah has carried out its retaliatory attacks on the regime's positions in order to force it to stop the genocidal war. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Targeting civilians against rules of wars: UN official IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 New York, IRNA -- As Israel presses ahead with its genocidal war on Gaza and attacks on civilian areas in southern Lebanon, a senior UN official has criticized the regime's killing of innocent people, saying "even wars have rules and that civilians should not be targeted". Imran Reza, UN Deputy Special Coordinator, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon made the remarks on Monday local time, IRNA reported. "While the world has failed to protect civilians in the conflict and many around the world have lost hope in humanity. Our motto is that even wars have rules and civilians shouldn't be targeted," he was quoted as saying. The UN official, who was speaking on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, also said that he paid a visit to southern Lebanon, where seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli attack on a center belonging to the Lebanon Country Ambulance Association at the end of March. He also stated that he visited the families and the displaced villagers "who have been uncertain about their future for more than 10 months". The Israeli regime has repeatedly violated the sovereignty of Lebanon with its attacks on civilian areas in southern Lebanon over the past several months. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry announced that it had lodged complaint with the UN Security Council against the Israeli violation of Lebanese airspace and the breaking of the sound barrier in the skies over Lebanon by the regime's warplanes. In a statement, the ministry said that Israel's aggression is a clear violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, its airspace and Security Council Resolution 1701. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli war minister concerned about Iran, Hezbollah retaliation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Israel's Minister of War, Yoav Gallant has expressed fear that the probability of retaliatory by Iran and Hezbollah against the regime's target will increase in case of the failure to a Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to the Palestinian Samaa news agency, Channel 12 of the Zionist regime reported on Monday that Gallant had asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to present a draft on agreement with the Palestinian resistance to the cabinet. Gallant has always accused Netanyahu of trying to advance his own policies regarding the continuation of the war on the Gaza Strip and preventing a ceasefire. The statement of the Minister of War comes at a time when negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza are to be resumed in Cairo later this week and Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, who is in the region, also announced this country's plan for a ceasefire. Although Palestinians have rejected the plan unveiled by Blinken as an obvious US bias toward the Zionist regime. The Hebrew language Israeli daily, Yediot Aharnot also published a report and said the situation remains very complicated and sensitive, and if Netanyahu does not agree, no agreement will be reached. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas had earlier announced its readiness to implement the ceasefire base on proposals laid out by US President Joe Biden in May instead of debating new ones. Qatar, Egypt and the United States are mediating ceasefire negotiations but their talks ended without a breakthrough on Friday, which Hamas blamed on Netanyahu. The Palestinian resistance movement says the Israeli prime minister is creating obstacles to the ceasefire deal by setting new conditions. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz, a former member of the Zionist war cabinet, admitted in a statement that this regime had not faced a disaster like the Al-Aqsa Storm since its creation. We are not able to carry out our missions both in terms of knowledge and in terms of anti-Hamas operations, Gantz said as reported by the Zionist regime's i24 website on Tuesday morning. He was referring to the failure of the regime's intelligence about the October 7 operation launched by the Palestinian resistance groups in retaliation for the Israeli atrocities. He said Hamas must be pressurized to release the captives but warned against the repetition of what has happened in the Gaza Strip to the northern occupied territories. Gantz also stated that Benjamin Netanyahu should implement the potential agreement with Hamas not by words but by actions to allow the return of the captives held in Gaza. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zionist regime's warplanes pound southern Lebanon again IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli warplanes have bombed several areas of southern Lebanon as the Zionist regime intensifies its attacks on civilian targets in the Arab country. Lebanon's Al-Manar TV reported that the Zionist regime's fighter jets hit the Qsarnaba plain and Nabi Shith town in Bekaa Valley thrice on Monday night. The area between the towns of Bayut al-Siyad and al-Mansouri were also targeted, according to the same report. Lebanon's Ministry of Health has announced the attacks left at least 8 people injured in the Bekaa region. This the second night consecutive night of the aerial bombardment on civilian areas of southern Lebanon. The attacks followed yet another retaliatory strike by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement on an Israeli military target earlier on Monday. In a statement, Hezbollah announced that it had hit Israel's Beyaz Belida base in the occupied territory in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and in retaliation for the regime's attacks on Lebanese towns. Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza following the Al-Aqsa Storm operation by the Palestinian resistance groups, Hezbollah and the Zionist regime are engaged in exchange of fire almost on a daily basis. Hezbollah has largely targeted military bases and equipment such as tanks, personnel carriers and armored vehicles as well as espionage installation of the Zionists. A large number of Zionist soldiers have also been killed or injured in such operations over the past 10 months. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office Press Releases The 37th Government 20.08.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning: "Overnight our forces returned the bodies of six of our hostages that had been held by the murderous Hamas terrorist organization: Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg, Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtav, Yoram Metzger and Nadav Popplewell - of blessed memory. Our hearts grieve over the terrible loss. My wife Sara and I convey our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. I would like to thank the brave IDF and ISA fighters and commanders for their heroism and determined action. The State of Israel will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages - the living and the deceased." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address House ratifies PH maritime zones bill Philippine News Agency By Filane Mikee Cervantes August 20, 2024, 9:28 pm MANILA -- The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified the bicameral conference version of the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which is a priority measure identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). During the plenary session, the chamber ratified the final version that reconciles the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 7819 and Senate Bill No. 2492, seeking to define and declare the Philippines' maritime zones in accordance with the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Senate has already ratified the bicameral conference committee report on Monday. This means that the priority legislation will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s signature. The bill aims to clarify the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain, and at the same time specify the legal powers that the Philippines may exercise over. It shall set the archipelagic boundaries, the country's internal waters, and exclusive economic zones over which the Philippine government exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction. The measure also proposes renaming the Philippine Rise - a 13 million hectare underwater plateau located off Aurora province- into the "Talampas ng Pilipinas". (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH mulls expanding Ayungin Shoal 'provisional arrangement' with China Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra August 20, 2024, 3:00 pm Updated on August 20, 2024, 3:41 pm MANILA -- The Philippines is studying the possible expansion of the coverage of the "provisional arrangement" in rotation and resupply (RORE) missions in Ayungin Shoal with China to cover other areas of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Newly-appointed National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Alexander Lopez said this Tuesday following the latest incident in the WPS where two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels were damaged after being harassed and rammed by China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in the waters adjacent to Escoda Shoal early Monday. Lopez said the arrangement has been "useful" in ensuring the timely provision of supply to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. "Maybe that's one area where maybe the scope of the understanding between the two countries, baka (maybe) - this has been seriously studied by our Department of Foreign Affairs - baka pwedeng ma-extend (maybe we can extend it) in other areas in our maritime domain," the retired Navy official said in a Palace press briefing Tuesday. He said they will let the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) study the possible expansion of the arrangement. The provisional arrangement was agreed by the Philippines and China last month to deescalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation. This follows a series of confrontations in Ayungin Shoal, where the grounded BRP Sierra Madre serves as the country's outpost. BRP Sierra Madre stays in Ayungin Meanwhile, Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the PN is committed to ensuring the habitability of the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS. "BRP Sierra Madre will remain, we will not give up that ship," Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Trinidad said they will ensure that the Philippines' presence in Ayungin Shoal is "permanent." The Navy official also rejected China's "false narratives" against the BRP Sierra Madre and its call for the pullout of the troops manning the vessel. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH Navy sees no full blown war amid heightened WPS tensions Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno August 20, 2024, 2:52 pm Updated on August 20, 2024, 4:12 pm MANILA -- China's increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is not expected to result in a full-blown conflict, a Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday. "First and foremost, all of the actions of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and the maritime militia will be below the threshold of conflict, it will not reach the point that they will initiate escalation to the point of conflict," Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. He made this comment when asked if Beijing's latest act of harassment in Escoda Shoal, where two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships were damaged, could have been an offshoot of its aggression being moved or transferred out of Ayungin Shoal due to the ongoing Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between China and the Philippines. These ships were tasked to conduct resupply missions to troops on Patag and Lawak Islands when harassed by the CCG. "We should focus on the bigger picture of the vast expanse of the South China Sea, a portion of which is the WPS. Again, the presence of the agents of aggression of the Chinese Communist Party is causing all of the dynamics, all of the aggressive maneuvers in the WPS. This may shift from Ayungin Shoal to the eight other features to Bajo de Masinloc," Trinidad said. He said these "dynamics" of the Chinese Communist Party include the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force's act of dropping flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force plane conducting maritime patrol in the Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 8. Despite this, the naval official said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), along with the PCG, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, will continue to work in ensuring the integrity of Philippine territory. "We will not let down or back down from performing our mandate of showing the flag, of resupplying the troops, of rotating the men," he said. Trinidad added that Manila's actions in the WPS will be guided by the rules of engagement and international law. Pray for peace A former head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday urged the faithful to continue to pray for peace amid escalating tensions in the WPS. "Pray without ceasing. Pray everyday. We know there will be peace. We will be protected from war. We will be protected from conflict and violence by the power of prayer," Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a social media post at the conclusion of the 50-day Rosary Campaign. The archdiocese's Rosary Campaign started on June 27 and ended on Aug. 15. "Thank you for praying. And please, please, please don't stop praying. Don't stop believing," Villegas said. (with Ferdinand Patinio/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH eyes case vs. China after Escoda Shoal collision Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra August 20, 2024, 2:32 pm Updated on August 20, 2024, 2:49 pm MANILA -- The Philippines is eyeing to file a case before an international body against China after two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels were damaged after being subjected to "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" by China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in the waters adjacent to Escoda Shoal at the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Retired Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, the newly-appointed spokesperson of the National Maritime Council (NMC), said the country is looking at going beyond filing a diplomatic protest and elevating the incident to another body. "We are looking at that, especially at the part of the Coast Guard because they know more of how to go about it," he said in a Palace press briefing Tuesday. Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns Secretary Andres Centino said the Solicitor General was among the three new members of the NMC, which may complement the country's intent to pursue a legal action against China before an international body. "One of these three is the Solicitor General, so that actually signifies the intent of the government to consider, perhaps a filing of a case," Centino, a retired military general, said. Pressed what international body the country is looking to bring the case, Centino said: "I would suppose there are United Nation bodies." The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said the PCG's BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engano (MRRV-4411) were damaged after they were harassed and rammed by CCG vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak Islands near Escoda Shoal early Monday. Escoda Shoal is a coral reef formation just some 70 nautical miles off mainland Palawan, well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Diplomatic protest Meanwhile, a diplomatic protest over the incident is also in the offing, Lopez said, adding that the PCG has been tasked to collect and submit evidence to complement the filing. While the Philippines remains steadfast in protecting its sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, Lopez said the country continues to pursue diplomacy in addressing the WPS dispute. "We can never go wrong by using this diplomatic and peaceful approach and we are compliant to the Code of Conduct that we have signed in 2002 - that among others, parties will restraint 'no, will exercise restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or even escalate the dispute in the area among others," he said. Unified communication President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Lopez as the official mouthpiece of the NMC early August. Centino said Lopez' appointment aims to come up with a "unified messaging" into the issues related to the WPS. "His designation authorizes him to speak on behalf of the National Maritime Council and without prejudice, of course, to the roles of the different spokespersons of the agencies under the National Maritime Council," he said. Lopez boasts a 38-year military service in his background, including a stint as Commander of the Western Command which covers WPS. More Chinese naval, coast guard vessels seen In its latest report, the Philippine Navy (PN) said 18 China Coast Guard vessels (CCGVs) were spotted from Aug. 13 to 19 in the area, higher than the 13 CCGVs seen from Aug. 6 to 12. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels soared to 13, from last week's nine vessels. The number of Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs) spotted in the WPS also climbed to 98, from 68 in the previous week. However, no Chinese Research Survey Vessels (CRSVs) were sighted during this period, compared to the two vessels spotted last week. In the same report, the number of CMMVs are broken down into 41 in the Ayungin Shoal; 30 in Pagasa Island; 12 in Sabina Shoal; six in Bajo de Masinloc; three in Kota Island; three in Lawak Island; two in Iroquois Reef and one in Panata Island. Meanwhile, PLAN ships were spotted in the following locations in the WPS -- three in Bajo de Masinloc; two in Likas Island; two in Lawak Island; two in Patag Island; two in Sabina Shoal; one in Panata, and one in Pagasa Island. Out of the CCGVs, five were in Ayungin Shoal; five in Sabina Shoal; four in Bajo de Masinloc; two in Patag; one in Lawak; and another one in Pagasa Island. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 9 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on market in central Gaza Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 6:11 PM At least nine Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a crowded marketplace in Deir al-Balah. Tuesday reports said the market is in a street near the al-Birka roundabout. Several other Palestinians, mostly children, also sustained injuries in the drone attack on the very busy area, which has been classified by the Israeli military as a so-called "civilian safe zone." According to a report by Al-Jazeera, the wounded suffered critical injuries. "We are not allowed to enter the hospital. You barely have the space to walk because of the amount of blood, bodies and children on the floor. There was no warning, no sign that there is going to be a target, and this is the main reason why there are so many casualties. Most of those wounded in Israel's Deir el-Balah market strike are children," Al-Jazeera reporter Hind Khoudary said. She further said that the wounded were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which has been suffering from the lack of medical supplies for months. "Since Israeli forces took over the Philadelphi Corridor, there have been no supplies entering the Strip," Khoudary added. Earlier in the day, an Israel's attack on Mustafa Hafez School in Gaza killed at least 12 Palestinians. Israel launched its barbaric campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance groups conducted surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories. The regime has had in place a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced to a trickle the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory. So far, Israel has killed more than 40,000 Gazans, most of them women, children, and adolescents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lapid demands deal on Israeli captives 'before they all die' in Gaza Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 6:08 PM Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has renewed his call for an agreement for a Gaza truce and the release of captives in the besieged Palestinian territory. Lapid expressed concern in a Tuesday posting on X, stating that more captives are being lost as time passes. He also pointed the finger at Benjamin Netanyahu. Lapid censured the rhetoric employed by Netanyahu and his ministers, saying they were sabotaging prospects of any deal. "Enough with the briefings, enough with the tweets, enough with the rhymes in front of cameras," he wrote on X. "All of Netanyahu's attempts to sabotage the negotiations should stop. Deal now, before they all die." Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military announced the recovery of the bodies of six captives who had been held since October 7, 2023. The newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Israel was conducting examinations on the bodies of the six to determine if they were possibly killed by Israeli fire. According to the Israeli military, identification procedures and medical examinations are expected to provide insights into the circumstances of their death. The families of the Israeli captives hold the regime responsible for their death in Gaza. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has repeatedly said it would release the remaining Israeli captives in exchange for a complete cessation of Israel's barbaric campaign of death, destruction and genocide. Hamas has conditioned their release on the return of the displaced Palestinians, and an end to the siege Israel has imposed on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas decries Israel's attack on Gaza school, holds US accountable Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 5:36 PM Hamas says Israel's strike on another school housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City demonstrates the regime's criminal approach toward the people of the besieged territory. The Palestinian resistance group denounced Israel's attack on Tuesdays on Mustafa Hafez School that killed at least 12 Palestinians. "The criminal bombing carried out by the fascist Zionist occupation army ... is a confirmation of ...[the regime's] criminal approach, and its insistence on continuing the genocide war against our people in the Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday. The resistance group reiterated that it holds "President [Joe] Biden and his administration fully responsible for the continuation of these massacres against our people." It said the regime's bloodiest-ever military campaign "would not have continued without the full American complicity and the political and military support it provides to the Zionist extremist government." Three massacres in one day Gaza's Media Office issued a statement later in the day, saying that the Israeli army has committed three massacres on Tuesday, including the bombings of a market in Deir Al-Balah and a mobile phone charging point in Khan Younis, which killed 9 and 4 civilians respectively, on top of the deadly attack on the Mustafa Hafez School. "These massacres come as part of the ongoing genocide that the occupation uses various policies to complete, including targeting civilians in shelters and displacement centers and targeting gatherings of civilians," it said. "We strongly condemn the continued massacres by the 'Israeli' occupation army against shelters, markets, and civilian gathering points," the media office added. Last month, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said it tracked US-made bombs at the site of a deadly Israeli attack on al-Awda school, east of the city of Khan Yunis, where it described the number of victims as "unimaginable." The Geneva-based rights group said the victims a large number of whom children and women were "turned into body parts," according the group said. Israel has hit more than 500 Gaza schools in the past 10 months, according to an Al-Jazeera report. Within a 10-day period in August, the regime's military forces struck five schools in Gaza City, killing more than 179 people and injuring scores more. Schools in the Gaza Strip have been used to shelter nearly two million displaced Palestinians, since Israel launched its campaign of death and destruction in Gaza on October 7. The military forces have so far killed more than 40,170 people in the Palestinian territory, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken in Egypt: President Sisi warns of regional war, urging Gaza ceasefire Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 3:16 PM President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt warns US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that a catastrophic war could break out in the region unless Israel ends its atrocities against the Palestinians in Gaza. After talks on Tuesday with the US diplomat in the Egyptian coastal town of Al Alamein, el-Sisi said all parties must be wary of "the grave danger of the conflict expanding regionally, with potentially catastrophic consequences." "The time has come to end the ongoing war [in Gaza], and to resort to wisdom, and to uphold the language of peace and diplomacy." Sis said that a ceasefire in Gaza must be the beginning of broader international recognition of an independent Palestinian State. Egypt, along with Qatar, is brokering negotiations for a truce in the 10-month-old Israel's genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Blinken flew to Egypt from Tel Aviv on Monday, where he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a US "bridging proposal" aimed at narrowing the gaps between Israel and Hamas after peace talks last week in Qatar paused without a breakthrough. He urged Palestinian resistance movement Hamas to also accept the proposal as the basis for more Hamas, however, urged the international community to pressure Netanyahu to sign the deal proposed by US President Joe Biden on May 31 and backed by the United Nations Security Council on June 11. The resistance group said by shifting the terms, Washington is showing "blind bias" towards the Israeli regime and acquiescing to its demands. "The new proposal meets Netanyahu's conditions and aligns with them, particularly his refusal of a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip." It said Biden is enabling Israel to "commit more crimes against defenseless civilians, in pursuit of the goals of exterminating and displacing our people." The Palestinian movement has made clear that a ceasefire deal must result in a permanent end to Israel's atrocities in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden's 'misleading' claim about ceasefire status 'green light' for Israel to continue war: Hamas Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 1:55 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has denounced as "misleading" US President Joe Biden's claim that the group is backing away from a Gaza ceasefire deal, calling his remarks a "green light" for Israel to continue the genocidal war on the besieged enclave. Hamas made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, after Biden accused the resistance group of blocking a deal with Israel that would halt the ongoing war in Gaza earlier in the day. The "misleading claims... do not reflect the true position of the movement, which is keen to reach a ceasefire" agreement, Hamas said, noting that these remarks enable the Israeli regime "to commit more crimes against defenseless Palestinian civilians." The resistance group further stressed that it has agreed to a ceasefire proposal laid out by the US president in June. However, it said, the latest proposal put forward by the US and Israel includes new provisions contradicting the earlier framework. Hamas further noted that the latest US modifications to the proposal reflect a clear "bias" toward Israel and Washington's complicity in the "war of extermination against defenseless civilians in the Gaza Strip." It also described the latest amendments "a coup against" the previous framework, accusing Washington of "acquiescing" to conditions set by the Israeli regime. Hamas further emphasized that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is "always the one obstructing an agreement and setting new conditions and demands," calling on the US "to reverse its policy of blind bias towards the Zionist war criminals." It also urged the "mediators to assume their responsibilities" and oblige Israel to accept the original proposal. The latest development comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Egypt for talks on a Gaza ceasefire deal. He will then head to Qatar, which along with Egypt is brokering negotiations for a truce in the brutal Israeli assault. On Friday, the United States, Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement saying they held Gaza ceasefire talks in a positive atmosphere in the Qatari capital Doha, adding that the talks were "serious, and constructive." The mediators put forward a "bridging proposal" that would allow the "swift" implementation of a deal that would end the war in Gaza and see the release of Israeli captives, the joint statement said. Hamas has already said it would not accept new conditions from the Israeli regime as outlined in the new proposal. Israel launched its barbaric campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance groups conducted surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories. The regime has had in place a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced to a trickle the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory. So far, Israel has killed more than 40,000 Gazans, most of them women, children, and adolescents. Hamas has repeatedly said it would release the remaining Israeli captives in exchange for a complete cessation of Israeli aggression and the regime's full withdrawal from Gaza It has also conditioned their release on the return of the displaced people, and an end to the siege that Tel Aviv has imposed on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 12 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City school Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 10:27 AM At least 12 Palestinians have been killed and dozens of others injured as the Israeli military attacked a Gaza City school, the eleventh deadly strike against schools in the war-wracked territory in August alone. According to Gaza's civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal, the bodies of the victims, including children, were pulled out of the building "after an Israeli plane dropped a bomb on the second floor of the Mustafa Hafiz School building housing thousands of displaced people." The Israeli military claimed it targeted fighters in the school sheltering Palestinian refugees. Israel's military has repeatedly targeted Gaza's civic infrastructure including schools housing displaced people during the war, often claiming without evidence they are linked to Hamas, to evade international criticism. Earlier, some media outlets reported that at least 20 people had been killed in the school attack. The attack on Mustafa Hafiz School comes as the Israeli military has carried out at least 10 strikes against Gaza schools since the start of the current month, killing close to 180 Palestinians. The attack against the Al-Tabieen School in Gaza City on August 10 was the deadliest of Israeli school attacks this month. At least 100 people, who had been performing dawn prayers, most of them women and children, were perished. Three US-made bombs, some weighing about two thousand pounds, reduced the victims' bodies to "shredded pieces" and "burned parts", according to various reports. The devastating attack sparked international condemnation and outrage, and the Israeli regime, in a futile attempt to once again justify its war crimes, claimed it had targeted a Hamas command post and killed 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters. Later, the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor debunked the Israeli military's claim saying that its investigations showed that there were no military gatherings or centers at the school, and it was never used for any military objectives. It also noted that the victims listed by the Israeli military as resistance fighters were either ordinary civilians who had no ties to the resistance groups or were killed in previous attacks. In July, a similar cluster campaign targeting school shelters across the Gaza Strip killed nearly 50 people within a week. Recent data compiled by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) indicates that half of schools used as shelters in Gaza have been directly hit in the last 10 months since the genocidal war on Gaza began. Satellite imagery has shown that 85 percent of school buildings (477 out of 564) were directly hit (344) or damaged (133). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah hammers Israeli targets after eight wounded in regime's attacks on Bekaa Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 8:31 AM Tensions between the Israeli regime and Hezbollah have escalated as the Lebanese resistance group targeted Israeli military positions in response to the regime's overnight strikes on Lebanon's Bekaa region. Hezbollah launched "intense rocket barrages" at Israeli army positions in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as well as other targets in the upper Galilee region. In a statement, the Lebanese group says it targeted the headquarters of the Israeli army's Golan 210th Division in the Nafah barracks, as well as the headquarters of the artillery and armored regiments of the 210th Division in the Yarden barracks. On Monday night, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah's weapons storage sites in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and several areas of southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon's health ministry, eight civilians, including six Lebanese nationals and two Syrian children were injured. Footage from the location captured a massive blaze and a series of explosions erupting after the initial strike. At least three Israeli airstrikes hit towns in Lebanon's Baalbek District on Monday, Lebanese state media reported. Moreover, the Israeli regime claimed its fighter jets destroyed Hezbollah rocket launchers in Al Mansouri and Taybeh in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Monday strikes occurred hours after Hezbollah carried out fresh retaliatory airstrikes against Israeli forces deployed to the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories, killing and injuring a number of the regime's troopers. The movement's Monday statement likewise noted that the latest retaliation had also taken place "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance." For nearly three weeks now, the region has been on high alert for a significant surge in violence following Israel's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah's military chief, Fuad Shukr, prompting vows of retaliation from both Iran and Hezbollah. Lebanon has filed a new complaint with the UN Security Council (UNSC) against the Israeli regime's repeated violations of the country. The complaint noted that Israel is terrorizing all civilians and spreading panic among them, which particularly affects the most vulnerable segments of society, such as children. The Israeli regime has been conducting near-daily attacks against southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. At least 622 people in Lebanon have been killed since the start of the clashes last year, reports say. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aug 19: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 5:54 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 40,200 Palestinians so far, the majority of them children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Monday, August 19, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on August 19: Targeted Israeli forces gathered north of Hamad City in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, with mortar shells. Targeted three Israeli military Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells, a Namer armored personnel carrier, and a D9 military bulldozer with two Tandem shells in Badr Camp near Abd al-A'al Stadium in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah city. In a joint operation with Al-Quds Brigades, carried out a martyrdom operation, on Sunday night, in the city of Tel Aviv. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on August 19: Engaged in a fierce clash with Israeli forces storming the town of Jaba, south of the city of Jenin, occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices. Targeted Israeli forces stationed north of Hamad City, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, with mortar shells. Targeted Israeli military forces storming Al-Mureij Street in the city of Nablus, occupied West Bank, with a high-powered explosive device. Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces storming the city of Nablus, occupied West Bank, using machine guns. In a joint operation with the Ansar Brigades, targeted the position of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with mortar shells near the university college in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the southern Gaza Strip. Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on August 19: Targeted an Israeli military bulldozer that had penetrated the Saudi neighborhood in western Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, with an RPG. Targeted Israeli military concentrations around the Swedish village, west of Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip, with heavy mortars. Targeted Israeli military positions and soldiers around the Rafah border crossing, southern Gaza Strip, with heavy mortars. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on August 19: In a joint operation with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles east of Deir al-Balah with a barrage of 60mm mortar shells. Hezbollah's operations on August 19: Israeli forces who infiltrated Hadab Aita were targeted with rockets and artillery shells. The Zarit site was targeted with rockets and artillery shells. The Ya'ara site was targeted with drones. The Bayad Blida site was targeted with a Burkan missile. The Ramim site was targeted with rockets. The Zebdine site in Lebanon's Shebaa was targeted with artillery shells The Al-Samaqa site in Lebanon's Kfar Shouba was targeted with appropriate weapons. Military buildings in the settlement of Shomera were targeted with rockets. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EXPLAINED: The impact of climate change on the Tibetan plateau China announced a new study to identify how 'the Water Tower of Asia' is being transformed. By Lobsang Gelek for RFA Investigative 2024.08.20 -- The snow-covered mountains, expansive grasslands and crystal waters that cover the vast Tibetan plateau make this stretch of Earth a stunningly beautiful place. The plateau extends over 950,000 square miles across six countries. Most of the area lies in western China and encompasses the Tibetan Autonomous Region, as well as parts of Xinjiang and the Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. Little wonder that the peaks, glaciers and lands have spiritual meaning to Tibetans, whose Buddhist and Bon traditions connect deeply to the nature around them. Yet today, much of this culture and environment is under threat. This week, a new phase of a large scientific expedition to survey the impact of glacier changes on the ecology and geology of the plateau was announced in Lhasa, amid alarm over the rates at which these crucial formations are melting. Other changes, including the expansion of lakes due to glacier melt, the shrinking of permafrost and destruction from human activity are rapidly extracting heavy costs. Why is the Tibetan plateau's environment important? The Tibetan plateau is often referred to as the "Water Tower of Asia." Ten major rivers in Asia originate from the plateau, including the Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yellow, Indus and Yangtze. About 47% of the world's population - over 3 billion people - depend on these rivers. The plateau is also known as the "third pole" because it has over 45,000 glaciers, making it the largest glacier and permafrost reserve after the Arctic and Antarctic. How the waters and glaciers on the plateau behave directly affects the timing and strength of the annual Indian and East Asian monsoons, according to Tenpa Gyaltsen Zamlha of the Tibet Policy Institute, a think tank of the Tibetan government in exile. Worsening heatwaves in Europe and Northeast Asia are tied to the reduced snow cover on the plateau, he said. What are the most important glaciers in Tibet? Among the thousands of glaciers on the plateau, several stand out for their importance in Tibetan life and for the global environment. Amnye Machen, a mountain range in Qinghai province that consists of 40 glaciers, is one of the sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhism (revered as the home of Machen Pomra, the chief deity of Amdo, a traditional region of Tibet). It is also the primary source of Asia's second longest river, the Yellow River. Changes around the glaciers could threaten the lives of over 100 million people in the Yellow River Basin. "Amnye Machen has been sacred to us for centuries, but it's disheartening to see it melting rapidly due to climate change. I fear its stories may be lost with the mountain," Palden, a Tibetan journalist from Amdo Golog now living in Dharamshala, told RFA. Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpochen), located in Ngari in the western Tibetan plateau, is called the "Precious Jewel of Snow." Its glaciers are the primary sources of the sacred Lake Manasarovar () and the headwaters of four major rivers: the Brahmaputra, Indus, Sutlej and Ghaghara. These rivers are crucial for millions of people in Asia. Mount Everest (Qomolangma), which lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, is revered as the "Goddess Mother of the World." The glaciers on this mountain range have been rapidly losing ice. A 2022 National Geographic study found that Everest has lost the equivalent of 2,000 years of ice in just three decades. A recent study by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that since 1960, temperatures in the Mount Everest region have risen by about 0.33C (0.6F) each decade. Purog Kangri, () covering over 400 square kilometers, is the largest glacier in the world outside of the glaciers in the South and North poles. Some 560 kilometers (348 miles) from Nagchu town in north of Lhasa, Tibet, it is vital for water supplies, ecological balance and climate regulation. The glacier's melt is accelerating, Chinese scientists have found. The scientific expedition announced over the weekend will focus on studying this glacier, along with two key lakes and four rivers on the plateau. In what other ways are humans changing the plateau's environment? Mining and dam building are also hastening changes to the environment on the Tibetan plateau. Much of the activity is backed by the Chinese government, which argues that these projects drive economic growth, produce electricity and improve local people's living standards. In Qinghai, Beijing has recognized 346 gold mining sites. Just recently Chinese researchers have found 43.2 tonnes of gold with an estimated value of $2.77 billion in the region, which officials say will boost growth in mining industry investment. Chinese state-backed firms have been mining minerals such as copper, steel and gold around Amnye Machen since 1993. However, run-off from these operations have contaminated waters and heavily damaged nearby and downstream ecology. Locals in Maqin county () in Amdo Golog have repeatedly petitioned the Chinese government to stop these activities. According to Palden, the Tibetan journalist, mineral extraction continues near Amnye Machen today. China has been continuously building dams on the Yellow River since 1957. Between 2016 and 2019, the Chinese government built 12 dams on the river, RFA has reported. In 2023, China again approved a major hydropower plant on the Mekong River in the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, with an investment of more than 58 billion yuan (roughly $8.1 billion). Earlier this year, a new Chinese dam on the Ghaghara River in Ngari, close to Mount Kailash, appeared to be completed, reported Newsweek. This development could have major strategic consequences, potentially giving China the ability to influence water flow into India and Nepal. Dam building has led to ecological and cultural destruction: plans to build the Yangqu Dam on the river in Dege county in Kham Karze led to the demolition of an 113-year-old monastery earlier this year. A 2022 report on Yellow River from the Asian Development Bank noted that land use changes and human activities have increased soil erosion in the basin by about 40% and that the river's flow has declined. What changes are climate activists pushing for in Tibet? Experts warn that expanding lakes on the plateau could worsen global warming and affect the water supplies for millions of people downstream. Tibetans and environmental activists have urged the U.N. and world leaders to address climate change on the plateau, highlighting its crucial role on global systems. Why urgent action is needed on the Tibetan Plateau's climate crises? There have been calls to halt Chinese dam projects, plant new forests, recognize and protect sacred glacier mountains, and involve local Tibetan communities in the protection of natural resources. Chinese scientists have also called for further study and protections on the plateau. Yao Tandong, the leader of the Chinese scientific expedition, has warned that the decline in glaciers and snow cover on the Tibetan plateau might cause major changes in the Asian monsoon circulation, potentially leading to more frequent extreme weather events in China. "It is essential to strengthen the construction of early warning systems for glacial collapses and glacial lake outbursts, and to implement more effective measures for sustainable water resource management," he said. On the occasion of the U.N. COP26 climate conference in 2021, the Dalai Lama said that the preservation of Tibetan ecology is not only in the interest of the 6 million Tibetans but also millions of people in Asia. "The world belongs to all of us, so we need to stop consuming out of greed and be mindful of our actions," he said. Edited by Boer Deng. 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 August 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 Wider Europe Briefing: Leveraging Russian Assets And Armenia's Road To Going Visa-Free By Rikard Jozwiak August 20, 2024 Briefing #1: How The West Will Use Frozen Russian Assets What You Need To Know: The European Union and the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations are slowly gearing up new legislation that will allow a $50 billion loan to go to Ukraine by the end of the year. The political decision for that loan was already agreed when the G7 met in Italy for its annual summit on June 13-15. In the communique from the meeting, it was stated that "we decided to make available approximately $50 billion leveraging the extraordinary revenues of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets, sending an unmistakable signal to President Putin." There are roughly $282 billion worth of Russian frozen assets in G7 countries after these resources were targeted by sanctions in early 2022, mostly in the EU. And while no one is keen yet to face the legal consequences of actually confiscating the money -- as fears persist it could dissuade other countries from investing in the eurozone and thus undermine the euro -- there is momentum now to get creative in using the funds to financially support Kyiv. The G7 declaration stated as much by noting that "Russia must end its illegal war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. These damages now exceed $486 billion, according to the World Bank. It is not right for Russia to decide if or when it will pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. Russia's obligations under international law to pay for the damage it is causing are clear, and so we are continuing to consider all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations." Deep Background: Most Russian money located in the EU, the onus is on Brussels. EU leaders, including more Ukraine-skeptic nations such as Hungary and Slovakia, endorsed the G7 outcome at a summit in Brussels just a week after. They unanimously agreed on conclusions that urged the European Commission to take the work forward on this and added, "Subject to EU law, Russia's assets should remain immobilized until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war." It should be recalled that the bloc already has a mechanism in place to send the annual windfall profits from the frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. This is estimated to generate some 3 billion euros a year ($3.2 billion), with 90 percent of it going to military equipment and the rest for reconstruction. The first tranche of this money was disbursed over the summer. This new G7 initiative, however, goes a step further, bringing the interest proceeds from frozen assets via a loan that is guaranteed by the G7 countries. The preliminary division is that the EU and the United States will back this up with $20 billion each, and Japan and the United Kingdom will guarantee the remaining $10 billion between them. But a lot of nitty-gritty legal groundwork is still needed. Drilling Down The item was discussed for the first time by EU ambassadors at the end of July with the European Commission providing a one-page outline, seen by RFE/RL, of what the options are. The idea is that the commission will present a fully fleshed-out legal proposal at the end of August with EU ambassadors discussing the text on September 4. But from the one-pager it is already clear that there are essentially just two avenues available to take. The main issues to ensure are legal certainty and predictability. And that means that Russian assets remain frozen for a longer period. Brussels is looking to either agree on an open-ended immobilization of Russian assets or prolong this sanction by a longer period of up to 36 months. It's worth noting that all types of economic sanctions against Russia that Brussels has imposed currently are rolled over via consensus by the 27 member states every six months, with the latest prolongation confirmed on July 22. According to diplomats familiar with the initial discussion, the overwhelming majority favor an open-ended immobilization. The option paper says this option will still be "reviewed by the Council at regular intervals (e.g. 12 months), on the basis of clear predefined criteria (i.e. the end of the war of aggression and assurances of nonrepetition, the payment of compensation by Russia, etc. as set out by the EUCO - European Council)." It also adds that "ending the immobilization of the CBR (Central Bank of Russia) assets would require a new Council act, based on a report by the High Representative (EU foreign policy chief)/Commission assessing that the criteria for lifting are fulfilled." The question is, however, whether Hungary has the appetite to agree on this. So far, EU leaders have never threatened not to roll over the sanctions but at the same time they haven't been militantly against moving away from an extension beyond the six months mark. Budapest might go against both options outlined in the paper, and that would mean there isn't much of the legal certainty and predictability that the EU seeks. If the EU can ensure this, the question is whether the United States, in the middle of its election period, is ready to give a green light. The U.S. Congress needs to approve this loan, and if there are any fears that Hungary (or any other EU member states, for that matter) might threaten to block the renewal a couple of times a year, the whole scheme risks unraveling. That's why the United States initially wanted the EU to guarantee most, if not all, of the $50 billion and why most member states would prefer an open-ended immobilization. The diplomatic wrangling on this is likely to continue throughout the autumn. Briefing #2: Armenia's Long Road To Visa Liberalization What You Need To Know: EU foreign ministers officially gave the green light to the European Commission to commence visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia on July 22. The move came the same day as the bloc also rubber-stamped a 10-million-euro ($11 million) package of nonlethal military aid for Yerevan under the European Peace Facility (EFP) -- the first time ever that the South Caucasus republic got such support from Brussels. EU diplomats I have spoken to have noted that the two decisions signal closer cooperation with Armenia as the country appears to loosen its political and economic dependence on Russia. Of the two deals, the start of the visa liberalization dialogue is the bigger prize -- at least down the road. It would, if concluded positively in the future, allow Armenians with biometric passports to travel to all EU countries except Ireland plus non-EU Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland for 90 days in any 180-day period without any need for a visa. Ask any official from Georgia, Moldova, or Ukraine and you will get the answer that they have all benefited greatly from visa-free travel to the bloc. It is, however, worth noting that the recent green light given by EU member states only represents the first baby steps of a process that will take years. Deep Background: How long will it take? That's ultimately a political decision, of course. But I understand that the European Commission, which now is the EU body in charge of the matter, wants to launch the visa dialogue as early as this autumn. This is significant as the European Commission is on its last leg of its current five-year mandate. In December, a new commission should be sworn in if all goes well with hearings of the new commissioners (26 of them; President Ursula Von der Leyen already passed a vote in July) scheduled in relevant European Parliament committees in September and October. That means no time should be lost by waiting for a new team to take over in Brussels. After the dialogue is launched, the commission will work on a Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP), which is a sort of guiding document for what Armenia needs to do to get a visa-free regime. It's worth comparing the timelines for Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Kyiv went from launching the visa dialogue to getting a VLAP within a month -- largely because it had a big civil service that could expedite these things quickly. For Georgia and Moldova, it took around six months to go from one to the other, and it is likely to be something similar for Armenia. What will the VLAP contain? Essentially, it will follow the same format as with the three other Eastern partners that secured visa-free travel to the EU, even though it is expected from diplomats I have spoken to that there could be issues that are tailor-made for Yerevan though these are yet to be determined. Armenia will essentially have to undergo reforms in four areas: firstly, document security, including a fully functional system of providing biometric passports and a unified and secure electronic population registry. The second bloc of reforms is perhaps the trickiest to complete as it concerns migration management and asylum. Armenia will have to ensure strict rules when it comes to readmitting Armenian citizens that sought asylum in the bloc but failed to get it, preventing migration from happening in the first place, and increasing capacity for receiving and accommodating asylum seekers. The third area is called "public order and security" but essentially contains measures to fight corruption, terrorism and organized crime. The fourth and final issue is about fundamental rights -- essentially ensuring that everyone has the right to have access to official Armenian travel documents. Drilling Down After the VLAP is presented, the European Commission will issue progress reports on how Armenia is faring in the various fields every six to eight month or so. For Ukraine, for example, the VLAP was presented in November 2010 and the first report came in September the following year. The sixth and final report from the Commission on Ukraine was published in December 2015 and in the spring of 2016 it recommended visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens. So, all in all a process lasting nearly six years. For Georgia, on the other hand, it went faster. The VLAP was presented in February 2013 and only four reports were needed, from the period November 2013 to December 2015. The commission then recommended a visa-free regime in March 2016. So pretty much three years. But there is a catch. As mentioned above, this is politics, after all. Even if the European Commission, sometime in the future, assesses that Armenia has fulfilled all conditions, it doesn't mean Yerevan will get a visa regime right away. The move has to be agreed by both the European Parliament and all EU member states. And while the former rarely causes any problems when it comes to granting visa-free status, it can be hard to find consensus among EU member states. It took a year from the European Commission's recommendations to member states finally agreeing on granting Georgia and Ukraine visa liberalization -- both eventually got it in 2017. It's likely some member states will have reservations about Armenia going forward. In the discussion about starting visa liberalization dialogue with Yerevan, some fears were aired. France, which has a sizable Armenian diaspora, noted that it could not rule out that visa liberalization could lead to increased asylum claims. The Czech Republic worried that Russians could use it as an avenue into the EU as some have dual Armenian-Russian citizenship. Germany and Sweden aired concerns that visa liberalization for Georgia meant an increase in Georgian criminal gangs operating in their countries and the Netherlands and Austria, both with governments pushing for stricter European immigration policies in general, are cautious about potential visa liberalization being misused for that purpose. Looking Ahead The EU and NATO are still on the beach this week, but look out for two interesting visits on August 21. First German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due in Chisinau in what is a symbolic show of solidarity from the EU's most powerful member state to Moldova, which will hold a crucial presidential vote later this autumn and a referendum on whether the country should aim to join the EU. That same day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due in Warsaw and will travel to Kyivfrom there. The West has attempted to woo India for a long time and is hoping the country will be more vocal and practical in its support for Ukraine and opposition to Russia's invasion. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-ukraine- russian-money-armenia-visa-liberalization-eu-jozwiak/33084692.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 EU Rejects Accusation That West Played Role In Recent Anti-Mining Protests In Serbia By RFE/RL August 20, 2024 EU officials on August 20 again firmly rejected Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's claim that Western countries were behind recent protests against his government's lithium mining plans. "The European Union absolutely rejects any allegations that it would be involved in any kind of illegal or illegitimate activities linked to foreign interference. This is not what the European Union is doing," Peter Stano, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said at a European Commission news briefing. The protests oppose a lithium mining project set to be launched by the Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto in Jadar in western Serbia over fears that it will pollute water and land resources in a country that already suffers from significant environmental degradation, a legacy of communist rule. The protests took place after the European Union and the Serbian government last month signed a memorandum of understanding on a "strategic partnership" on sustainable raw materials, battery supply chains, and electric vehicles. The mining of lithium is necessary for Europe "to remain sovereign in a changing world and not be dependent on others," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on July 19 as he attended a Critical Raw Materials Summit in Belgrade, where the memorandum was signed. Germany is seeking to secure lithium for the manufacture of electric vehicles as the EU aims to reduce its dependence on imports from China of the critical substance, which is used in batteries for electric vehicles. Ana Pisonero, EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi's spokeswoman, stressed on August 20 that the EU "remains fully committed to developing -- jointly with Serbia and stakeholders -- concrete actions to put into practice the strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, battery value chains, and electric vehicles." Stano and Pisonero, who joined the press briefing via video link, made the comments in response to a question about Vucic's unsubstantiated accusation that recent demonstrations in opposition to the multibillion-dollar lithium-mining project were part of Western-backed "hybrid" warfare against his government. Moscow has also accused the West of being behind the protests, which demand a halt to Anglo-Australian metals and mining giant Rio Tinto's $2.4 billion lithium project in Jadar in western Serbia over fears it could pollute nearby land and water. The project has the capacity to supply 90 percent of Europe's current lithium needs and make Rio Tinto one of the world's leading lithium producers. It could also play a critical role in Western electric vehicle supply chains as Washington and Brussels seek to reduce dependency on rival China. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-lithium-mining-protests- european-union/33086180.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 CIA Chief In Bosnia To Emphasize U.S. Support And 'Worrying' Rhetoric Of Republika Srpska President By Meliha Kesmer August 20, 2024 SARAJEVO -- CIA Director William Burns was in Sarajevo on August 20 to discuss the "worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions" of the pro-Russian president and government of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Serb entity, a U.S. government official told RFE/RL. Burns, who arrived from a diplomatic mission to Israel as part of the U.S. effort to negotiate a cease-fire in Gaza, held meetings at the Bosnian presidency with colleagues in the intelligence community, members of the presidency, and the foreign minister, the U.S. official said. "They discussed issues of mutual interest, which include the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina," according to the official, who asked not to be named. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russia president of the Serb entity of Bosnia, has raised concerns among Bosnia's Western allies because of his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dodik reaffirmed in February after meeting Putin in the Russian republic of Tatarstan that Republika Srpska would not join Western sanctions against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dodik's statements have been one of the main stumbling blocks in Bosnia's progress toward EU membership since it became a candidate in 2022. Almir Dzuvo, the chief of Bosnia's Intelligence and Security Agency, confirmed earlier to RFE/RL that Burns was in Sarajevo. Burns "voiced his support for the cooperation of U.S. and Bosnian intelligence agencies" during his meeting with Dzuvo, the Bosnian intelligence chief told RFE/RL. Bosnia's head of diplomacy Elmedin Konakovic, who also met with Burns, said Bosnia "once again received confirmation of full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and condemnation of secessionist messages and moves." Konakovic told RFE/RL that while he could not comment on some parts of the discussion, a universal message was sent that the American administration is "very clear that Bosnia's foreign policy partner is still firmly with Bosnia-Herzegovina." Margarita Assenova, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, said Serbia has been stirring up trouble in Bosnia for some time and it's become "more visible and more dangerous." Burns's visit is a "very good message" to Serbia that the United States will not tolerate its actions, Assenova said. Trouble in the Balkans would play into the Kremlin's hands as it could distract the United States and Europe from Russia's war in Ukraine, she added, noting that President Joe Biden played an active role in U.S. foreign policy toward the Balkans while in the Senate and serving in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A visit from one of the top people of the U.S. government shows the commitment of the United States and that Bosnia "is at the very top of the priorities of American foreign policy, which is very important for us," he added. The last CIA director to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina was John Brennan in 2016. Sources told RFE/RL that Zeljka Cvijanovic, who has been designated for sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department due to threats to the Dayton accords, was at the meeting at the Bosnian presidency. She is a member of Dodik's Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and a member of State Presidency of Bosnia. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/cia-burns- bosnia-dzuvo/33085824.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 US Supports Israel's Refusal to Completely Leave Gaza's Border With Egypt Sputnik News 20240820 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US agrees with Israel's approach, according to which it cannot completely withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, media reported, citing an Israeli official familiar with the details of the meeting between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was visiting Israel on Monday to continue diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict in Gaza. The official stressed that Israel could not leave the Philadelphi Corridor entirely because it could not be sure that it would be able to return if necessary due to international pressure. The official said that the United States accepts Israel's approach to the Philadelphi Corridor and that efforts will continue this week to find a solution that will protect Israel's security interests, the publication said. The Israeli official also does not believe that a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas will deter Iran from attacking the Jewish state. According to him, Netanyahu believes that Iran will try to attack Israel in any case. The official also claims that Tehran is interested in ending the war so that Hamas can survive. If Israel agrees to end the conflict without achieving the goal of crushing Hamas, it will send a signal of its weakness to the entire region, he said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Wants to Build Wall Between Egypt, Gaza to Hinder Hamas Tunnels-Digging - Reports Sputnik News 20240820 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel insists on building a wall near the Philadelphia Corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to prevent Palestinian movement Hamas from building tunnels, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Arab mediators in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Israel also wants access to data from cameras and sensors monitoring the area, the newspaper said. A senior Egyptian official told the publication that Cairo was in favor of a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the corridor and the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. An Israeli technical team has completed meetings with its counterparts in Cairo to discuss the corridor and Rafah, but without much progress, according to Arab mediators. Last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he was continuing to work to advance a Gaza deal that would maximize the number of hostages released and insist that the Israeli army remain in the corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt. Israel closed the Rafah Crossing in December, it has not been opened since. Gaza ceasefire talks were held in Doha last week involving Qatar, Egypt, the United States and Israel. Hamas leadership refused to participate in the talks due to a lack of specifics on the terms of the truce. A joint statement by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, released by the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi, said the mediators had presented Israel and Hamas with a ceasefire proposal that narrowed the differences between the parties. The talks, which took place in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday and Friday, were serious and constructive and took place in a positive atmosphere, the statement said. Senior government officials from Egypt, the United States and Qatar will meet in Cairo soon in the hope of reaching an agreement in line with the terms proposed on Friday. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 20, 2024 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty today in Al Alamein. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister agreed to hold a strategic dialogue to further strengthen the bilateral partnership and increase people-to-people ties in areas such as culture, healthcare, and education. The Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for Egypt's sustained efforts to finalize a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would secure the release of all hostages, surge humanitarian assistance, and create a path for broader regional stability. They also discussed other regional issues and priorities relevant to our bilateral relationship. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also agreed to continue close coordination on ending the Sudan conflict, and the need for the Sudanese Armed Forces to join negotiations in Switzerland. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Egyptian President El-Sisi US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 20, 2024 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today in Al Alamein. The Secretary thanked the President for Egypt's partnership as a mediator on the ceasefire talks to secure the release of hostages and allow a surge of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The Secretary also stressed the importance of continuing to work together to prevent regional escalation in this critical time. The Secretary and the President also discussed continued efforts to end the war in Sudan. Secretary Blinken welcomed Egypt's active participation in the talks in Switzerland. The Secretary and President noted the importance of allowing unhindered humanitarian access to Sudanese civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Ukraine alert over new attacks, more Nicaragua NGO closures, disinformation in DRC 20 August 2024 - The UN's top humanitarian official in Ukraine on Tuesday condemned "yet another attack" carried out by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region. UN Resident Coordinator Matthias Schmale said that the attack damaged a transit centre in Pokrovsk town "where people already fleeing for safety had sought shelter". In a statement, he insisted that civilians and civilian infrastructure - including humanitarian facilities - were protected under international humanitarian law, "which must be adhered to". Humanitarian partners on the ground say that deadly strikes over the past week in Pokrovsk and the towns of Myrnohrad and Toretsk caused damage to homes and schools, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York. "Aid workers in Myrnohrad responded by delivering emergency materials and providing psychosocial support to impacted people", he said at the regular daily briefing. "Our humanitarian colleagues note that civilians - including humanitarian workers - are facing daily threats to their safety and hostilities in Ukraine." Support for pensioners In a related development, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that nearly half a million pensioners living near Ukraine's frontline have received vital cash assistance. The WFP programme runs in partnership with the Ukrainian authorities, with funding from several European Union countries and private donors. Nearly $50 million has been distributed in the last 12 months for pensioners who receive less than $81 per month from the Government. The UN agency also distributes food boxes in areas closest to the front line, "where food is hard to find or very expensive", and it provides daily hot meals for 90,000 schoolchildren across the country, among other assistance. News of the WFP assistance comes as the UN migration agency IOM warned that active hostilities in Ukraine continue "to harm civilians, damage homes and disrupt critical services", some two and a half years since the full-scale Russian invasion. Nicaragua ban of 1,500 more NGOs 'deeply alarming' The decision by the Nicaraguan authorities to ban a further 1,500 civil society organisations - half of them religious associations - is "deeply alarming", UN human rights office spokesperson Liz Throssell said on Tuesday. This is especially true considering that civic space in the Central American nation has been "fundamentally eroded in recent years", amid undue restrictions on religious freedom. The latest closure orders announced on Monday means that over 5,000 organisations, including NGOs, media outlets and private universities, have now had their legal status cancelled by the Government of Daniel Ortega - most of them since the end of June 2022. Government takeover "All of their assets are under Government control", Ms. Throssell continued noting that the "severe impact of these measures...makes the defence of human rights increasingly difficult in Nicaragua." It has also led some civil society groups which are still functioning, censor their own activities due to fear of closure. "We once again call on the Nicaraguan authorities to stop imposing severe restrictions on civic and democratic spaces in the country, and to ensure that human rights are respected, in line with Nicaragua's international human rights obligations", she concluded. Disinformation still rampant in DR Congo's North Kivu, stoking violence The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) MONUSCO said on Tuesday that disinformation, misinformation and hate speech continue to foment violence and social breakdown in the restive North Kivu area. Peacekeepers are tasked with protection of civilians across the eastern DRC, where multiple armed groups continue to battle Government troops, and carry out attacks on civilians. Peacekeepers were deployed to Gina in North Kivu in response to alerts that the Zaire armed group had surrounded the Congolese National Police office in the area, UN Spokesperson Dujarric told reporters on Tuesday. Peacekeepers provide deterrence "UN peacekeepers deterred the Zaire armed group fighters in close collaboration with the Congolese Armed Forces, prompting the Zaire fighters to withdraw", he added. MONUSCO also deployed a patrol to the Kwe mining site, near Bunia in Ituri province, after members of the CODECO armed group attempted to launch an attack. "Meanwhile, the Mission informs about the continued use of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, especially in the context of the M23 rebellion in North Kivu, which is threatening the social cohesion and security in the area", Mr. Dujarric continued. In response, MONUSCO organized a discussion forum for around100 local journalists and influencers in the regional capital Goma "to promote responsible reporting that supports peace and stability in the region." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken visits Egypt, Qatar for Gaza cease-fire talks but end to fighting still elusive By VOA News August 20, 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited with mediators Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday in search of a cease-fire deal to halt the war in Gaza. "Time is of the essence," he said, as he wrapped up his ninth visit to the Mideast. But both Hamas and Israel signaled they did not like aspects of a U.S.-supported proposal, and an agreement appeared as elusive as ever. In a new statement, Hamas said the latest proposal was a "reversal" of what it had previously agreed to and accused the United States of acquiescing to what it called "new conditions" from Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told relatives of hostages in Gaza that a key goal is to "preserve our strategic security assets in the face of great pressures from home and abroad." He noted the "capture" of a narrow buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border that Israel calls the Philadelphi Corridor. Neither Hamas nor Egypt wants an Israeli presence there. Later, a senior U.S. official said Netanyahu's "maximalist statements like this are not constructive to getting a cease-fire deal across the finish line." Netanyahu, in talks with Blinken in Tel Aviv on Monday, agreed to the basic parameters of a cease-fire deal, with Hamas yet to assent. "If both sides agreed to the bridging proposal, which Israel [on Monday] did, we hope Hamas will as well, said the U.S. official. "There will be additional conversations on technical specifics." Blinken met first with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi at his summer palace in El-Alamein. In a statement later, Sissi said the Israeli-Hamas conflict could expand into a broader, regional war if fighting is not halted in the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea. "The time has come to end the ongoing war, and to resort to wisdom, and to uphold the language of peace and diplomacy," the Egyptian leader said. Sissi said all parties must be wary of the "danger of the conflict expanding regionally" and that the risk of broader warfare would be "difficult to imagine." The Egyptian leader said a cease-fire in Gaza "must be the beginning of broader international recognition of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution, as this is the basic guarantor of stability in the region." Blinken later flew to Doha for talks with Qatari officials. During months of stalemated talks on a cease-fire in the 10-month war, the United States has maintained its support for a two-state solution, calling for creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. But Netanyahu has continued to oppose such an outcome as untenable for Israel's security. Egypt, along with Qatar and the U.S., have pushed negotiations for a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas but have been unable to complete a pact. It was Blinken's ninth trip to the Mideast since the Israeli-Hamas war erupted on October 7 with the militants' terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to Hamas health officials, although the Israeli military says the death toll also includes thousands of Hamas fighters. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced the bodies of six hostages had been recovered from Gaza. The U.S. put forward a bridging proposal during last week's cease-fire talks in Doha. Negotiations are set to resume in Cairo this week. Blinken said even if Hamas accepts the deal, there are still "complex issues" requiring "hard decisions by the leaders." He didn't offer specifics. "We're never giving up," said Blinken, when asked if time to take the deal could ultimately run out. He held a one-on-one meeting with Netanyahu for 2 hours. Some analysts were skeptical. "I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on, and I think the wishful thinking is because the stakes are now so high, because there is a potential for this conflict to escalate beyond its borders," Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told VOA on Monday. An Israeli government spokesperson told reporters on Monday that Netanyahu "stands firmly by the principle" that the Israel Defense Forces will maintain a physical presence in the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent what they describe as the resupply of Hamas' weapons. Earlier, Hamas accused Netanyahu of undermining the mediators' efforts. Sami Abu Zuhri, a member of Hamas' political bureau, dismissed claims that signs of progress after two days of talks in Doha were "an illusion." There is an increased urgency to reach a deal amid fears of broader regional escalation if Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, retaliate against Israel for the assassination of a top Hezbollah operative in Beirut and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has claimed responsibility for the Beirut attack but not the Tehran one, although it is widely presumed to have carried it out. Bodies of hostages returned The bodies of six hostages, including five who were previously announced dead, were retrieved from Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The military said it carried out the operation with the Israeli internal security agency Shin Bet. Among the bodies recovered was that of 79-year-old Avraham Munder, whose death was announced Tuesday by his kibbutz community. Kibbutz Nir Oz called Munder's death "murder," saying he endured "physical and mental torture for months." The other hostages were Yagev Buchshtab, 35, who was abducted with his wife, who was released after 50 days in captivity; Alexander Dancyg, 75; Yoram Metzger, 80, who was abducted with his wife, who was released after 53 days; Nadav Popplewell, 51, who was abducted with his mother, who was released after 49 days; and Chaim Perry, 80. In a statement early Tuesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Israel "has a moral and ethical obligation to return all the murdered for dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation." "The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal," the statement said. "The Israeli government, with the assistance of mediators, must do everything in its power to finalize the deal currently on the table." Netanyahu offered condolences to the families and pledged that Israel "will continue to make every effort to return all of our hostages the living and the deceased." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Renewed tensions test effort to maintain calm in South China Sea By William Yang August 20, 2024 Analysts say the latest collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels near a disputed reef in the South China Sea is part of a campaign by Beijing to force Manila to soften its position. They say it also raises questions about whether the two can maintain calm, despite reaching a temporary agreement to avoid clashes in July. Monday's incident, which left a gaping hole in a Philippine coast guard vessel, occurred near Sabina Shoal, an area that lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, or EEZ. China says the partially submerged reef is part of its territory. "China is trying to intimidate the Philippines and compel them to roll back their coast guard presence around [the contested reefs in the South China Sea]," said Collin Koh, a maritime security expert at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Koh said Monday's incident around Sabina Shoal is the first reported clash near the reef, and shows that the Chinese coast guard is using a systematic approach to impose its territorial claims near three major flashpoints in the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, Scarborough Shoal, and Sabina Shoal. "These clashes are no longer isolated incidents because the Chinese are using systematic approaches around the three flashpoints with the Philippines," Koh told VOA by phone. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, a main international trade route, including areas around Sabina Shoal. This is despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that China's claims have no basis in international law. Video evidence Much like previous incidents around Second Thomas Shoal, Monday's incident occurred when two Philippine coast guard vessels, Cape Engano and Bagacay, were on a resupply mission for personnel stationed on Flat Island, which Manila calls Patag, and Lawak Island, which Beijing calls Nanshan. Cape Engano first collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel at 3:24 a.m. on Monday, and another Chinese coast guard ship rammed the Philippines' Bagacay 16 minutes later. Manila accused the Chinese coast guard vessels of conducting "dangerous maneuvers" that caused serious structural damages to its vessels, while Beijing said the Philippine vessels "deliberately collided" with its ships despite repeated warnings. Both sides released video footage to support their accusations, and some experts say Beijing's swift release of visual materials, three hours after the incident happened, reflects the Chinese government's efforts to counter Manila's narrative about the collision. "We've seen a bit of adjustment on both sides when it comes to releasing information about these incidents, but China has become much faster about putting out its version of events, making [Manila's response] seem slow," Ray Powell, director of Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, told VOA by phone. Despite its relatively slow response to Monday's incident, Koh in Singapore said Manila's attempts to share information about the collisions were still more effective. "The Chinese are trying to copy what the Philippines were doing [in terms of releasing videos and images of the incidents,] but they are not doing it effectively since they haven't allowed any media outlet, including Chinese state media, to take part in their coast guard operations," he told VOA. On the contrary, Koh said the Philippines has let local and foreign media outlets embed in their patrols, which helps increase the transparency of the information they share and make their narrative of the collisions seem like "a more convincing proposition." International support for Manila Although Beijing has tried to frame the Chinese coast guard's conduct as "legitimate and restrictive measures," several nations quickly condemned China's actions and expressed support for Manila's attempt to defend its territorial interests. In a statement, the U.S. State Department referred to "the dangerous actions by the People's Republic of China [PRC] against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea." It added that the Chinese vessels' actions were examples of Beijing "using dangerous and escalatory measures" to enforce its "unlawful South China Sea maritime claims." The top diplomats in the Philippines from Japan, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia all issued statements condemning the Chinese behavior, as well. Since late last year, the Philippines has been working to strengthen cooperation with other democratic countries to safeguard its territorial claims in the South China Sea. In response, Beijing has increased the frequency of its own joint combat patrols near the disputed reefs, conducting a joint naval exercise with Russia in the South China Sea in July. Some analysts say the increased frequency of patrols carried out by Manila and Beijing may heighten the risk of miscalculation in the South China Sea. "The Chinese strategy is to try to push the adversary into a position where they may make a mistake and that might give Beijing the justification for using greater amounts of power," Stephen Nagy, a regional security expert at the International Christian University in Japan, told VOA by phone. However, Koh said Beijing is unlikely to elevate tensions with the Philippines into a serious military conflict. "Since a potential conflict in the South China Sea could have a knock-on effect on [its attempt to reunite with] Taiwan, which remains Beijing's grand prize, I don't think the Chinese would be keen to pick up a war in the disputed water," he told VOA. The quick escalation of tension between China and the Philippines comes after both claimed to have reached an agreement to halt fierce clashes near Second Thomas Shoal in July. Koh said this shows the possibility for Beijing and Manila reaching a sustainable de-escalation mechanism in the South China Sea is very low. "Both sides have differing interpretations of their respective claims in South China Sea, so they are not prepared to roll back their positions," he said, noting that conditions for recurring clashes will likely persist in the near future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thailand's Shinawatra dynasty back on top, but for how long? By Vijitra Duangdee August 20, 2024 Promoted to the prime minister's office after a court ruling took out her predecessor, experts say Thailand's youngest ever leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, may be the last card her political dynasty has to play as it seeks to win back the Thai electorate. But the risks of frontline Thai power have been spotlighted in recent weeks by judges who have once more shown they are willing to shape the politics of a kingdom trapped in a two decade-long political crisis. Paetongtarn is the 37-year-old daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been at the center of Thailand's political breakdown since he won a landslide election in 2001. On Sunday she formally became Thailand's 31st prime minister after the unexpected removal of real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin from office, by the Constitutional Court on an ethics probe. Paetongtarn was voted in by parliament, despite having limited direct political experience and never having been elected to office by the public. In her first press conference she insisted she will be her ''own person, with her own goals." But few believe that Thaksin, a 75-year-old billionaire who was twice prime minister before being dumped from office by a 2006 coup, will hold back from pulling the strings of government. He returned to Thailand on August 22 of last year after a 15-year exile in an apparent deal to share power with his former arch-royalist enemies and block the pro-democracy Move Forward Party (MFP) from government. ''Thaksin is still very much actively involved behind the scenes,'' said Verapat Pariyawong, who teaches Thai law and politics at the University of London SOAS and also advises Thai parliamentary committees. ''His daughter is about to take on one of the toughest jobs that he knows all too well." Shinawatra parties were once seen as the populist champion of the poor and therefore a threat to the royalist elite, which hit them with two coups and endless court cases. But the democracy cause has been taken up by Move Forward, which won the last election in 2023 and shocked the Thaksin-founded Pheu Thai party by beating it into second place. ''Since the Pheu Thai party lost the election their only priority is to win the next one, everything else is just a side dish," Sirote Klampaiboon, an independent scholar and political commentator, told VOA. "Their main course is winning the next election." Move Forward was dissolved a week before Srettha was removed from office by the same court, the latest move by what Sirote described as Thailand's ''parallel powers'' that favor a conservative settlement to power. The MFP has rebranded as the People's Party and is setting its sights on rebuilding toward a decisive victory in the 2027 elections. Damaged brand Paetongtarn's first task is to appoint a cabinet that reflects the interests of the coalition government, with powerful conservative factions likely to jostle for the biggest ministries. Thailand's economy is also sluggish and the removal of Srettha's government has put into doubt a nearly $14 billion digital cash handout to stimulate the economy as well as big infrastructure projects such as a "land bridge" across the south of the country to cut shipping times from Asia as well as a plan to legalize mega-casinos to boost tax revenue. In her first address as prime minister, Paetongtarn said she is "devoted to making every square inch of Thailand a land of opportunities, where everyone dares to dream, create and to write their own future." The problem, Paetongtarn's critics say, is many Thais no longer see their country as a place of opportunity. Household debt is at record levels [over 90 percent], wages are low and pro-democracy voters say the economy is divided by monopoly businesses and political power shared by a narrow elite, which is for now again dominated by Paetongtarn's family. "The Shinawatra 'brand' is unsellable these days, the populist policies proved that they don't work because 20 years gone by and people are still poor and indebted," Aat Pisanwanich, an independent scholar and international economy expert, told VOA. "Under this government, everything will be the same if not worse... based on many interviews by Paetongtarn, she has little grasp of our economic problems." There may also be threats lurking from inside Thailand's politics where loyalties and alliances quickly change and the courts are always on standby to intervene. Analyst Sirote says the government will be preparing for potential "nail-biting circumstances" such as cabinet picks being scrutinized for past wrongdoings or any dubious assets Paetongtarn may have. But you can never rule out a family that has had three direct members as prime minister and two others heading its parties, he adds. "Even if something were to happen to Paethongtarn politically, the Shinawatra brand will not just disappear from Thai politics." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Bangladesh, religious minorities targeted during political unrest By VOA Bangla August 20, 2024 Since student-led opposition protests led Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee Bangladesh on August 5, religious minorities say their communities have suffered violent attacks in the power vacuum. Bangladesh is around 90% Muslim, with Christians and Buddhists making up most of the rest of the population. According to Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council head Oikya Parishad, four people who belonged to the minority community were killed between August 5 and 8, following the deposition of Sheikh Hasina's government. Parishad's group estimates there have been more than 200 incidents where temples, religious crematoriums and other places of worship have also been vandalized and attacked by mobs. The Bangladesh interim government insists reports of violence against minorities are exaggerated and often fake. The interim government also says whatever violence is happening is political, not sectarian. Widespread violence largely subsided following the swearing-in of the interim government on August 8, minorities say the fear of persecution still looms over them during this time of political unrest. The motive of other attacks can be more difficult to discern. According to local media reports, on August 5 the house of a famous musician Rahul Anand in the capital Dhaka was attacked and vandalized. The assailants threw the family out, ransacked their home and set it on fire along with a large number of musical instruments that Rahul had made and collected. However Rahul, his wife and his wife's business partner later posted on Facebook that the attack on Rahul's house was not motivated by religious or communal reasons. For many, including Shravasti Bandopadhyay, a student of Mass communication and Journalism in Dhaka University, it has been difficult to tell who is out to hurt or help them. In a Facebook post shared by her teacher Kaberi Gayen at Dhaka University, Bandopadhyay wrote that she has had to abandon her home, staying with neighbors and sleeping in different places. "I can't make up my mind about what to think about my fellow countrymen as one the one hand, I'm dying in fear of death, because some of them had come to my house and threatened me , on the other hand there are others who took me to a safe place and still protecting me." Finding justice for victims Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, last week met with minority community representatives and said the government is focused on providing justice for all people, regardless of their faith, in remarks published by the Bangladesh news agency. "If there is justice, who will not get justice, tell me? Who of any religion, any caste, any community won't get it? Does the law say that these communities will go to this court, those communities will go to another court? Who has the power to discriminate here?" he said. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised concerns over the reported attacks on minorities and said via a post on X last week that he had spoken to Yunus, who pledged "protection, safety and security" of minorities in the country. The Indian government has set up a committee to monitor the India-Bangladesh border situation, reported Indian news media, NDTV. The committee will liaise with the authorities of Bangladesh regarding the security of the Indians staying there and the security of the minorities in Bangladesh. Human rights activist Noor Khan Lytton told VOA that while it's clear minorities have been under attack since the Sheikh Hasina government fell, political parties and social groups have stood up for targeted communities. "We hope this kind of attack will not happen in the future again," he said. The General Secretary of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council Rana Dasgupta told VOA that although violence against minorities appears to have waned in recent days, there is still the matter of bringing those responsible to justice. "In all the attacks on minorities in our country, we have seen a culture of impunity. Whether the new administration can come out of that culture of impunity remains to be seen" he said. Dasgupta also said that people who had been displaced must also be given back the land they own. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Ano of the Philippines August 20, 2024 National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Ano. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Ano discussed the continued historic momentum in the U.S.-Philippines Alliance, including the recent announcement of $500 million in U.S. Foreign Military Financing from the FY 2024 Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which, working with the U.S. Congress, will help modernize the Philippine armed forces and coast guard. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Ano discussed how this additional security assistance can bolster U.S.-Philippines cooperation in support of international maritime law in the South China Sea. Mr. Sullivan also condemned the People's Republic of China's deliberate collision with two Philippine Coast Guard vessels operating lawfully near Sabina Shoal in the Philippines 'exclusive economic zone on August 19. Mr. Sullivan reiterated the ironclad U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraftto include those of its Coast Guardanywhere in the South China Sea. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 9 killed by Israeli airstrike at school in Gaza City People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:58, August 21, 2024 GAZA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Palestinians were killed, and others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, Palestinian security and medical sources said Tuesday. The Israeli army targeted the Mustafa Hafez school in the al-Rimal neighborhood, which is sheltering hundreds of displaced families, killing and injuring some of its residents, according to the Gaza-based Palestinian Civil Defense. "So far, we have recovered nine bodies, while others remain trapped under the rubble," Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the civil defense, told Xinhua. "The Israeli army continues to target civilians in Gaza City, disregarding the lives of children, women, and the elderly," Basal added. He noted that civil defense crews are facing significant challenges in reaching the victims due to limited logistical capabilities and fuel shortages. Also on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the Israeli Air Force carried out a precise strike on "terrorists" operating within a Hamas command and control center. The IDF added that multiple steps were taken prior to the strike to minimize the risk to civilians. Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli military has killed 34 people and wounded 114 others, bringing the total death toll in the enclave to 40,173, with 92,857 injured since the start of the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 20 August 2024 - Day 909 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 Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to repel attacks of occupation troops. The situation in Pokrovsk and Toretsky directions remains tense. Russia is carrying out active offensive actions, in an attempt to improve the tactical position, Ukrainian defenders are causing the invaders significant losses in live force and equipment. So far, there have been 153 combat encounters in the current 24 hours. On the territory of Ukraine today, Russia launched six missile strikes with the use of ten missiles, 73 air strikes, dropping 95 KABs. In addition, Russian forces launched 595 kamikaze drones for strikes and carried out more than 3,300 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces nine times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk and Liptsiv. Fights are still ongoing in two locations. Today, Ukrainian defenders in the Kharkiv direction eliminated and wounded more than a hundred Russian occupiers, destroyed an artillery system, 36 aircrafts, two automobile units and five special equipment units, and three artillery systems, 11 cars and a special equipment unit of the occupiers were also damaged. 12 times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the kupans 12komu direction. Near the settlements of Petropavlivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Sinkivka and Stepova Novoselivka, Defense Forces units repelled ten offensive actions. The situation is tense, two confrontations are ongoing. In the Lyman direction per day Russian troops, supported by aviation, 18 times attacked Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Makiyivka, Novosadovoye, Grekivka and Dibrova. The Russian Opponent has been stopped. Five times, Russian forces tried to push Ukrainian defenders out of their positions in the areas of Vyimka and Pereyzny in the Siversky direction. All attacks are stopped. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped six attempts of the zagarbnikiv to advance near the time yar, klischyivka and Ivanivsky. There's a battle going on. The situation is under control. In the Toretsky direction, where aviation-backed occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions 23 times near New York, Nelipivka, Toretsk and Zaliznoy. 22 clashes have already been completed. The fight is going on near Nelipivka. The main efforts of the Russian enemy are directed in the Pokrovsky direction, here, during the day, Russian forces attacked 62 times in the areas of Vozdvizhenko, Mykhailivka, Kalinivka, Novogrodivka, Hrodivka, Mykolaivka, Bird, Boring and Green Field. 49 attacks Ukrainian defenders have already fought, 13 more boezitknen 49 continue. The Russian occupiers lost more than 280 troops killed and wounded and four vehicles destroyed today, according to preliminary estimates. Ukrainian defenders also caused damage to four Russian artillery systems. In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine Russian attempts to attack Ukrainian positions. Zagarbniki tried to advance near Konstantinivka, Krasnogorivka and Karlivka. The situation is under control. In the Vremivs komu direction today, Russian forces twice tried to storm the front edge of defense in the direction of Vodyany. Ukrainian soldiers stopped the attack of the Russian enemy, the battle is ongoing. In the Orihivsky direction, Russian units twice unsuccessfully tried to advance in the direction of Novodanilivka and near Mala Tokmachka. In the direction of the pridniprovsk, five Russian assault actions were not successful. A loss of positions is not allowed. Defense Forces of Ukraine continue their offensive operation in the Kursk direction. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Volchansk and Liptsy directions, units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd Mechanised Brigade, 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade, and 17th Tank Brigade near Zolochev (Kharkov region), Mogritsa and Lugovka (Sumy region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 troops, one tank, six motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle. The Zapad Group of Forces captured more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on the 115th, 116th mechanised brigades, and 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU near Kopanki (Kharkov region), Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Novosadovoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU suffered losses as follows: more than 450 troops, 11 motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M198 and 155-mm M777 howitzers, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun. The units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line, defeated manpower and hardware of the 23rd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Katerinovka, Konstantinovka, and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic). Two AFU counter-attacks were repelled. The AFU lost in total more than 680 troops, four motor vehicles, two U.S.-manufactured 155-mm M777 and 155-mm M198 howitzers, one 152-mm Msta-B gun, one 152-mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one Croatian-made 2S1-12 RAK-SA rocket launch vehicle, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer. Four ammunition depots were eliminated. As a result of active operations by the Tsentr Group of Forces units, a large group of the enemy troops was defeated and one of the largest settlements of the Toretsk agglomeration and a strategically important logistics centre of Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) were liberated. The 25th Air Assault Brigade, the 100th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and the 120th Territorial Defence Brigade have been hit near Toretsk and Kalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 585 troops, three tanks, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers. The Vostok Group of Forces' units captured more favourable lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade and 104th Territorial Defence Brigade near Prechistovka and Shakhtyorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses included up to 110 troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one French-made 155-mm Caesar howitzer. The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 31st and 118th mechanised brigades close to Novodanilovka and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 75 troops and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 133 areas during the day. Air defence systems have downed: one French-made Hammer guided aerial bomb, ten U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, 31 unmanned aerial vehicles, five of them beyond the special military operation zone. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 639 aircraft, 282 helicopters, 30,192 unmanned aerial vehicles, 575 anti-aircraft missile systems, 17,345 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,415 MLRS combat vehicles, 13,444 field artillery guns and mortars, and 24,945 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to repel the AFU attempt to invade the territory of the Russian Federation. Units of the Sever Group of Forces supported by Army Aviation and artillery thwarted the attempts of the enemy's assault detachments to launch attacks near Borki, Korenevo, Kremyanoye, and Russkaya Kanapelka. The AFU losses amounted to more than 60 troops killed and wounded, two tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue reconnaissance and search operations to locate and eliminate the enemy's small sabotage and reconnaissance groups in forest belts attempting to get to the depth of the Russian territory. Army Aviation and artillery strikes and actions of defending troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 22nd, 115th mechanised brigades, 80th, and 82nd air assault brigades near Apanasovka, Borki, Viktorovka, Kositsa, Lyubimovka, Plekhovo, Tolsty Lug, and west of Bogdanovka. Operational-Tactical Aviation delivered strikes at manpower and hardware concentration areas of reserves of the AFU 61st Mechanised Brigade, 101st, 103rd, 106th, and 129th territorial defence brigades near Aleksandriya, Belopolye, Volnaya Sloboda, Vorozhba, Loknya, Mogritsa, and Khoten. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses have amounted to up to 350 troops and 25 units of hardware, including four tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured personnel carriers, 18 armoured fighting vehicles, as well as eight motor vehicles, two mortars, and one electronic warfare station. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses have amounted to more than 4,130 troops, 58 tanks, 27 infantry fighting vehicles, 50 armoured personnel carriers, 299 armoured fighting vehicles, 131 motor vehicles, 27 artillery guns, five SAM launchers, seven MLRS launchers, including three of HIMARS system and one of MLRS system, six electronic warfare stations, four units of engineering vehicles, including two counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Battle of Kursk II - 20 August 2024 - Day 15 Ukrainian forces incursion into the Russian region of Kursk has gained significant ground, with over 1,000 square kilometres reportedly under their control. However, the offensive is slowing as Russian forces put up increased resistance, using drones to disrupt Ukrainian supply lines. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the creation of the Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk troop groups , formed to defend against Ukrainian attacks. It appears that they will operate on the basis of the previously existing state border group, which later became the North GI. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are likely to surround the Russian troops near the Seim river in the Kursk region. Thats according to BILDs analyst Julian Ropcke. As the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroy all the bridges over the Seim river in the north of the Glushkovsk district, they may surround 2000-3000 Russian soldiers if moves 5 kilometres further. The Russians are ready to resist such an offensive, but the situation may get nasty for them if the Ukrainian troops attack from the East where the AFU earlier captured Apanasovka. Previously, the Ukrainians destroyed the last stationary bridge over the river, this was confirmed by the Russian authorities. According to Ropcke, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already destroyed a pontoon bridge that the Russians attempted to build as well as lots of trucks that were supposed to cross the river and provide the Russian troops that are cut off with supplies. Ukraine's army chief said its forces have advanced 28-35 kilometres (17 to 22 miles) in Russia's Kursk region while Moscow was moving some of its troops from other directions to strengthen positions there. Oleksandr Syrskyi told a briefing broadcast by national TV that Russia was also sending additional troops to the Pokrovsk region in Ukraine's east, which has seen the most intense fighting of late in Russia's two-and-half-year-old invasion. The Ukrainian Armed Forces currently control over 1,260 square kilometers of territory and 93 settlements in Russia's Kursk region. Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said this at a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "A grouping of the Defense Forces is conducting an offensive defense on the Kursk axis in order to create a security zone and stop attacks from Russian territory, as well as to overtake the enemy. Since the offensive began in the Kursk region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced from 28 to 35 kilometers deep into enemy defenses, captured 1,263 square kilometers of territory and gained control of 93 settlements," he said. Syrskyi stressed that the enemy was conducting a maneuverable defense, trying to prevent the further advance of units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces deep into Russian territory, building up groups of troops and moving forces from other directions. He noted that "further actions of our troops on this axis will depend on the development of the operational situation." A destroyed reconnaissance group from the 61st mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had previously captured Gazprom's GIS "Sudzha" in the Kursk Region. A strike by an American small-sized high-precision aerial bomb GBU-39B SDB on a border village in the Kursk Region. The Ukrainians destroyed the last bridge across the Seim in the village of Karyzh, Glushkovsky District, Kursk Region. A Ukrainian source published satellite images of induced crossings across the Seim River in the Glushkovsky District, Kursk Region, after the destruction of road bridges with bombs. Russias military said its forces had thwarted attempted Ukrainian attacks on four settlements in its western Kursk region and taken control of what it described as the strategic logistics hub of Niu-York in eastern Ukraine. More than 122,000 people have left Russias Kursk region, where evacuations have been ordered since Ukraine mounted a major incursion two weeks ago, state-run media quoted the emergencies ministry as saying. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran rejects 'unsubstantiated' US election campaign hacking claims IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 New York, IRNA -- Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations has roundly rejected allegations about Tehran's interference in the 2024 US presidential election, calling the claim "unsubstantiated". According to IRNA, the Iranian mission issued a statement on Monday night local time, in response to questions regarding the claim of American intelligence and cyber agencies. "Such allegations are unsubstantiated and devoid of any standing. As we have previously announced, the Islamic Republic of Iran harbors neither the intention nor the motive to interfere with the US presidential election," the statement said. "Should the US government genuinely believe in the validity of its claims, it should furnish us with the pertinent evidenceaif anyato which we will respond accordingly," it added. In a joint statement, the FBI and several other US intelligence agencies claimed that Iran was involved in hacking of the campaign of Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the 2024 US presidential election, as well as trying to hack the campaign of Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate. Last week, the Iranian mission at New York, rejected a report published by an American digital newspaper claiming that it has access to documents about Iran's role in hacking the Trump campaign. "Iran itself is a victim of various cyber-attacks targeting the country's infrastructure, public service centers and industries. Iran's cyber power is defensive and in proportionate to the threats it faces", Iran's mission clarified last Friday. Iran does not have a goal or a plan for a cyberattack. The American election is an internal issue of this country, and Iran has no involvement in it, the statement from the Iranian mission then elaborated further. Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN had issued several such statement recently over claims implicating the Islamic Republic in the US election campaign hacking or a shooting incident during Trump's rally, calling those allegations "absurd, baseless and biased". 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Former Haitian President for Drug Trafficking U.S. Department of the Treasury August 20, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the former President of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly (Martelly), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 of December 15, 2021, "Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade." "Today's action against Martelly emphasizes the significant and destabilizing role he and other corrupt political elites have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti," said Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "The United States, along with our international partners, is committed to disrupting those who facilitate the drug trafficking, corruption, and other illicit activities fueling the horrific gang violence and political instability." The existence of widespread gang activity and human rights abuses in Haiti creates a permissive environment for drug trafficking activities, and the country is a transit point for illicit drugs entering the United States. Many of Haiti's political and business elites have long been involved in drug trafficking and have been linked to the gangs responsible for the violence that has destabilized Haiti. The United States is committed to promoting accountability and charting a more prosperous, democratic, and secure future for all Haitians. Martelly abused his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, destined for the United States. Additionally, Martelly engaged in the laundering of illicit drug proceeds, worked with Haitian drug traffickers, and sponsored multiple Haiti-based gangs. Martelly was previously sanctioned by the Government of Canada on November 17, 2022. Martelly was sanctioned today pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or having attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. Today's sanctions action imposes several prohibitions related to Martelly, and OFAC has added Martelly to the Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List (NS-MBS List). OFAC coordinated closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration on this sanctions action. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of this action, OFAC is imposing the following prohibitions described in section 2 of E.O. 14059: (1) U.S. financial institutions are prohibited from making loans or providing credit to Martelly; (2) Any transactions in foreign exchange that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and in which Martelly has any interest are prohibited; and (3) U.S. persons are prohibited from investing in or purchasing significant amounts of equity or debt instruments of Martelly. U.S. persons may face civil or criminal penalties for violations of E.O. 14059. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to sanction persons, but also from its willingness to remove sanctions consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the NS-MBS List, please refer toOFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here. For more information on the individual sanctioned today, click here. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief highlights 'unimaginable grief' stemming from terror attacks 20 August 2024 - The UN Secretary-General has paid tribute to victims and survivors of terrorism just ahead of the international day which spotlights the issue each year. This year's International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism on Wednesday, takes place under the theme Voices for Peace: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators. It highlights the powerful voices of victims, acknowledging how their experiences and stories contribute to raising awareness of the enduring impact of terrorism - and can ultimately foster positive change. The day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2017 to honour and support victims and survivors, while also promoting their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Scars 'never heal' UN Secretary-General AntAnio Guterres, said in his statement that acts of terrorism create a "wave of unimaginable grief". "The scars - both visible and invisible - never fully heal," Mr. Guterres said. Yet, the Secretary-General recognised that through torment and tragedy, there have been examples of "resilience and the enduring power of our common humanity." Mr. Guterres said he is paying tribute to all victims and survivors, including those who have shared their stories - an "act of immense courage." "This day urges us to listen and to learn," the UN chief said. "And it is a reminder that we must always seek out the light of hope." Learning 'how to live again' Ben Saul, UN expert on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, said the International Day of Remembrance provides a chance to renew global efforts to protect victims and survivors. Many victims feel like life simply got worse in the wake of being attacked, leaving physical and psychological 'scars' such as losing a job, a key relationship, or the ability to focus on studies. "I pay tribute to the many victims who show incredible courage and resilience as they 'learn how to live again', often with the help of their families, friends and communities," Mr. Saul said. State support Mr. Saul said victims need "comprehensive and sustained support" from their governments to rebuild their lives. Mr. Saul said countries should provide long-term assistance to victims, including medical and psychological support while ensuring their protection and access to justice. He emphasised the importance of independent investigations, accountability, and international solidarity in supporting victims, particularly vulnerable groups, and ensuring their full participation in legal proceedings. "I stand ready to advise any country that wishes to strengthen protection of victims of terrorism, improve compliance with international law when countering terrorism, or address conditions conducive to terrorism," Mr. Saul said. Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council to serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN system and national governments. They are not UN employees and do not receive a salary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indo-Pac partners maintain freedom of the sea By Lieutenant Jonathan Wills 20 August 2024 Australia's flagship regional engagement activity - Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) - began with a law of the sea workshop involving the defence forces of Australia and Sri Lanka in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The Australia Defence Force's Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law (IPCML) is a centre of excellence in military law in the region. IPCML deploys teams of legal officers to partner nations to provide legal training, capacity-building, information-sharing and other legal engagement activities. Lieutenant Commander Tim Quadrio, leader of the IPE Sri Lanka legal team, said this year's legal workshop focused on the application of the law of the sea to maritime surveillance and law enforcement operations. "Like Australia, Sri Lanka has vast areas of maritime jurisdiction and a large search and rescue region. These waters include busy shipping lanes and areas with rich marine biodiversity," Lieutenant Commander Quadrio said. "We are in Sri Lanka to share our experiences of conducting surveillance and enforcement operations that protect the sovereign rights granted by international law, while respecting navigational freedoms. "This workshop demonstrates our respect for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and shared interest in conducting maritime operations in accordance with international law." Since 2017, IPE has undertaken engagement activities with partners in the region to develop relationships, knowledge and capacity, year-on-year. In Sri Lanka, this year's focus built on last year's legal workshop, concentrating on maritime law enforcement and chain of custody issues, including the concept of hot pursuit. IPCML team member Lieutenant Commander Felicia Fragapane said it was also about building stronger ties between partners. "This workshop is about working together to plan and conduct maritime surveillance and enforcement operations," Lieutenant Commander Fragapane said. "It's also about building stronger links, at a personal level, between legal officers and military operators, across our defence forces." Sri Lanka's commitment to peaceful and stable maritime trade was demonstrated in November last year, when they became the 39th member of the Combined Maritime Forces, the world's largest maritime security partnership. It will engage with the international naval coalition in the Middle East, which protects some of the world's most important waterways. Legal officers from the IPCML will engage with their counterparts in host nations across the Indo-Pacific region as part of IPE. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Blair visits Inuvik to highlight Our North, Strong and Free and federal investments in defence infrastructure National Defence News release August 20, 2024 - Inuvik, Northwest Territories - National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, is in Inuvik for a three-day visit to highlight Canada's Arctic-focused defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, and to meet with municipal, territorial, and Indigenous officials. Minister Blair is accompanied in Inuvik by the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs.. In his conversations, Minister Blair has made clear that as a growing community and central transportation hub in the Western Arctic, Inuvik is an increasingly important strategic location for the defence of Canada - and the federal government is committed to continued defence investments in the town. Indeed, earlier this month, members of the Canadian NORAD Region CF-18 Hornet detachment completed training exercises in Inuvik to demonstrate readiness in defence of North America against potential threats. Deploying assets at Forward Operation Locations (FOLs) such as Inuvik increases NORAD's reach and boosts its ability to defend North America from threats in all approaches in the High North. Yesterday, Minister Blair visited the Green Hangar at Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport, highlighting that earlier this year, the Government of Canada invested $8.6 million to acquire the hangar. Minister Blair reiterated that following an appraisal and analysis of the hangar's strategic value, the Government of Canada found a clear interest in acquiring the facility, which is in close proximity to NORAD Forward Operating Location (FOL) Inuvik. This 21,000 square-foot aircraft hangar will be used by federal departments and agencies, including the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The facility provides the RCAF with greater ability to operate aircraft in the Arctic, in support of the objectives outlined in Our North, Strong and Free. Minister Blair also provided an update on progress to extend the Inuvik airport runway. As announced in January 2023, National Defence is investing $230 million to extend the Inuvik Airport's main runway from 6,000 to 9,000 feet (2,743 metres) and to modernize its lighting, navigational systems, and military aircraft arrestor system. Minister Blair affirmed that progress is well underway, including site excavation, production of material, and widening of the taxiway. This project will improve the airfield's suitability to operate larger and heavier aircraft, which is an important enhancement to the ability of NORAD and the RCAF to operate in the North and Arctic. Minister Blair noted that construction is expected to be completed in 2027 and is made possible through collaborative efforts between the Department of National Defence, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Inuvik airport. These upgrades will have a dual purpose, as Inuvik's Mike Zubko Airport is designated as a Forward Operating Location for the Royal Canadian Air Force - and it also operates as a civilian airport. Minister Blair highlighted that through Our North, Strong and Free, Canada is making a focused series of investments to better protect the Arctic and North, including: $218 million over 20 years for Northern Operational Support Hubs to support a greater year-round presence across the Arctic and the North, and invest in multi-use infrastructure that also meets the needs of territories, Indigenous Peoples, and Northern communities where feasible. $18.4 billion over 20 years to acquire a more modern, mobile, and effective tactical helicopter capability that will provide the CAF with the speed and airlift capacity to assert Canada's sovereignty and respond to natural disasters and emergencies throughout the country. $307 million over 20 years for airborne early warning aircraft that will vastly improve Canada's ability to detect, track, and prioritize airborne threats sooner, ensuring a faster, better coordinated response with the United States when required. $1.4 billion over 20 years to acquire specialized maritime sensors to conduct ocean surveillance. They will be used to monitor Canada's maritime approaches, including in the Arctic and North, and will be a critical component of the CAFs' ability to defend Canada from a growing range and sophistication of underwater threats, including vessel-launched missiles, underwater systems, ships, and submarines, on all three coasts. $222 million over 20 years to build a new satellite ground station in the Arctic. This ground station will improve our ability to detect, deter and respond to malign activities and to communicate those threats quickly with our most trusted partners. To further build on the strategic priorities in Our North, Strong and Free, Canada, along with the United States and Finland, also launched the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) in July 2024 at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. Through the ICE Pact, our three countries are committing to a collaborative effort to continue building best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers and other Arctic and polar capabilities in each of our respective countries by sharing expertise, information, and capabilities. This strategic partnership will deepen existing co-operation among these three key Arctic countries by strengthening the marine industries in each country and allowing new equipment and capabilities to be produced more quickly. Yesterday, Minister Blair met with the Mayor of Inuvik, Clarence Wood, Senator Dawn Anderson, members of the 1st Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, the Inuvik Native Band, and the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Gerald Kisoun. Minister Blair also met with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation today and toured the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility. Minister Blair will be participating in additional meetings today. In his meetings, Minister Blair reiterated that as Our North, Strong and Free is implemented, National Defence will engage closely with Territorial and Indigenous governments and Northern communities, whose homes and lifestyle are directly impacted by the evolving Arctic security environment. In defending the region, Canada will continue to support the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework's principle of "nothing about us, without us," and is committed to ensuring that the economic benefits of defence investments are felt by Indigenous and Northern communities. Our Arctic and North is an integral part of our country, home to 150,000 Canadians and generations of Indigenous communities. Canada will continue to work with these communities to protect our Arctic sovereignty, as committed in Our North, Strong and Free. Quotes "The security challenges facing our Arctic and our North are changing. As our Arctic becomes more accessible due to climate change, authoritarian states are rapidly building up their military capabilities, and are becoming more present in the North. With Our North, Strong and Free, Canada is investing in Arctic sovereignty to protect our North and the people who live there. Inuvik is an increasingly vital hub for defence activities, and our significant investments in Inuvik will help to keep Canada safe all while creating economic opportunities." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence "As we implement Canada's defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, we are steadfastly committed to engaging with territories, Indigenous partners, and northern communities who are an essential part of Arctic sovereignty. We look forward to maximizing the economic benefits of these major new defence investments, and creating jobs, opportunities, and multi-use infrastructure in the Arctic and the North." The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs "Defence investments in Inuvik are growing our economy and creating jobs. Thanks to the landmark investments in Our North, Strong and Free and Canada's NORAD Modernization Plan, the Canadian Armed Forces will only become more and more present in the Arctic and the North. I welcome these investments wholeheartedly, and I look forward to working with the Department of National Defence to establish multi-purpose infrastructure wherever possible, which can serve the needs of our military and local communities in the Northwest Territories." Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories Quick facts On April 8, 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Bill Blair released Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada's Defence. This plan will invest $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over twenty years in the defence of Canada, with a particular focus on the Arctic and North. Our North, Strong and Free makes a renewed commitment to the Arctic and the North. As the policy states, "The most urgent and important task we face is asserting Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic and northern regions, where the changing physical and geopolitical landscapes have created new threats and vulnerabilities to Canada and Canadians." The region, which was once protected by the Polar Ice Cap year-round, is becoming more accessible. By 2050, the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia. This is Minister Blair's third trip to the North since the release of Our North, Strong and Free. Minister Blair previously visited Yellowknife from April 23-25, 2024, and broke ground on a new defence facility in Yellowknife which will help the Canadian Armed Forces maintain a more robust presence in the North. Minister Blair also visited Iqaluit, Nunavut from May 5-6, 2024, to brief the territorial Premiers with an update on Arctic and northern security in advance of the Northern Premiers Forum. Thanks to the investments in Our North, Strong and Free, the government is projecting Canada's defence spending to GDP ratio to reach 1.76% in 2029-30. Initiatives under Our North, Strong and Free also put Canada on track to exceed NATO's target of 20% for major equipment expenditures as a proportion of defence funding. Canada plans to invest in the right mix of capabilities on the right timeline to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence by 2032. Inuvik is a key strategic site for the defence of North America, and is home to a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Forward Operating Location (FOL) built in the 1990s to house up to six fighter aircraft, store supplies and provisions, and house CAF personnel as needed in support of the NORAD mission. The Inuvik FOL is being comprehensively upgraded through Canada's $38.6 billion NORAD Modernization Plan, announced in 2022. The Inuvik FOL upgrades are being funded by two initiatives under the policy: the Defence of Canada Fighter Infrastructure Project, which funds the upgrade of fighter infrastructure and NORAD Quick Reaction Alert capabilities at bases across Canada to support the arrival of our new F-35 fleet; and the NORAD Northern Basing Infrastructure project, which will upgrade infrastructure at the three FOLs across the North and at 5 Wing Goose Bay - including runway modifications, hangars, operations facilities, accommodations, telecommunication facilities, and airfield recapitalization. From August 6 to August 9, 2024, a Canadian NORAD Region CF-18 Hornet Detachment completed a training exercise at FOL Inuvik in order to maintain its members' skills and demonstrate its readiness to defend North America against potential threats. Deploying assets at FOLs such as Inuvik gives NORAD greater reach and boosts its ability to defend North America from threats in all approaches in the High North. Earlier this year, the Government of Canada invested $8.6 million to acquire the Green Hangar and related equipment, which was previously owned by International Logistical Support (ILS) and leased by the Government of Canada until 2021 to support the operations of CC-130 Hercules aircraft. At this year's NATO Leaders Summit in Washington, the leaders of Canada, the United States and Finland released a joint statement announcing the establishment of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi Jinping Holds Talks with General Secretary of CPV Central Committee and State President To Lam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 19, 2024 18:25 OnaAugust 19, 2024, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinpingaheld talks withaGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping once again congratulated To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee. Xi Jinping pointed out that To Lam'safirst visit to China after taking office as General Secretary fully demonstrates the great importance he attaches to the relations between the two parties and countries and the high level and strategic nature of China-VietaNam relations.aThe common ideals and beliefs are the red genes passed down from generation to generation between the two parties, forming the traditional friendship between the two countries that "So profound is the friendship between Viet Nam and China, because we are both comrades and brothers".aAs the two ruling communist parties in today's world, the CPC and the CPVashould uphold their original aspiration of friendship, continue their traditional friendship, keep in mind their common mission, upholdathe leadership of the Communist Party and the socialist system, continue to deepen the building of a China-VietaNam community with a shared futureathat carries strategic significance, and jointly promote the development of the cause of socialism in the world. Xi Jinping expressed his readinessato establish good working relations and personal friendship with Comrade To Lam to jointly guide theadeeper,amore substantive development ofabuilding a China-VietaNam community with a shared future. Xi Jinping pointed out that faced with changes of the world, of the times, and of the historical trajectory, China and VietaNam have maintained rapid economic development and long-term social stability, showcasing the advantagesaof the socialist system and the vitality of the socialist cause.aChina regards VietaNam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and supports VietaNam in upholding the leadership of the CPV, taking the pathaofasocialism suited to its national conditions, and further advancing the cause ofatransformation, opening up and socialist modernization.aDuring the critical period of development and revitalization in both countries, China and VietaNam shouldasteer the direction ofabuilding a community with a shared future, solidifying a development pattern of greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, stronger popular support, closer multilateral coordination and better handling of differences. China is ready to maintain close strategic communication and high-level exchanges with VietaNam, firmly support each other, actively explore ways to expand cooperation in the synergyabetween the Belt and Road Initiative and the "Two Corridors, One Economic Belt"ainitiative, accelerate the "physicalaconnectivity" of railway, highway and port infrastructure, and enhance the "institutionalaconnectivity" of smart customs, and jointly build secure and stable industrial and supply chains.aXi Jinping said that takingathe opportunity of celebrating the 75th anniversary ofathe establishment ofaChina-VietaNam diplomatic relationsanext year,athe two sides shouldajointly hold a series of activities such as the China-VietaNam Year of People-to-People Exchanges to consolidate the popular support of the two countries.aThe two sides should uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other basic norms governing international relations, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, uphold international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries, and work to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi Jinping briefedaTo Lamaon the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and stressed that China's efforts in further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing high-standardaopening-up will bring new impetus and new opportunities to the development of VietaNam and other countries.aChina is readyato deepen the exchange of experience in party and state governance with VietaNam, jointly upgrade the modernization of the national governance system and capacity, and jointly move toward modernization. To Lam said, hisavisit to China on hisafirst overseas trip as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and State President fully showcasesathat the Vietnamese Party and government always attach great importance to developing relations with China and regard China as the strategic choice and top priority of VietaNam's foreign policy.aThe Vietnamese Party and government will carry on the legacy of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, upholdathe leadership of the Communist Party, keep to the pathaof socialism, firmly follow the path jointly set by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, in particularly,aGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary Xi Jinping, deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between VietaNam and China as perathe six overall goalsaof "greater political mutual trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, stronger popular support, closer multilateral coordination and better handling of differences", and push forward the building of a VietaNam-China community with a shared futureathat carries strategic significance.aUnder the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinpingaat its core, China has successfully completed all the reform tasks set by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, made great achievements in development, and its international status and influence have been increasing, making important contributions to world peace and development and the progress ofahumanity.aVietaNam extended congratulations on the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which has opened a new era of further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese modernization.aTo Lam expressed the belief thataunder the leadership of General SecretaryaXi Jinping, China will successfully realizeathe second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.aVietaNam adheres to independence,afirmly pursues the one-China policy, believesathat Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, firmly opposesaall forms of "Taiwan independence" separatist activitiesaand firmly supportsaChina in realizinganational reunification. Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizangaare all China's internal affairs, and VietaNam firmly opposes any force interfering in China's internal affairs.aVietaNam is readyato maintain close high-level exchanges with China, share experience in party and state governance, deepen strategic mutual trust, seek greaterasynergy of development strategies, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as national defense and security, trade and investment, and cross-border infrastructure connectivity. Viet Nam is readyato work with China to jointly ensure the successaof the "VietaNam-China Yearaof People-to-people Exchanges" next year, strengthen youth and sub-national exchanges and cooperation, and consolidate the public support of the two countries.aVietaNam is ready to work with China to properly manage maritime differences and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.aVietaNam supports and is ready to actively participate in the vision ofabuilding a community with a shared future for mankindaas well as the Global DevelopmentaInitiative, GlobalaSecurity Initiativeaand Global Civilization Initiativeaput forwardaby President Xi Jinping. VietaNam is ready to work closely with China in multilateral international cooperation, uphold multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, and make positive contributions to promoting world peace and development. After the talks, the two sides witnessed the signing of multipleabilateral cooperation documents on Party schools, connectivity, industry, finance, customs inspection and quarantine, health, news organizations and media, locality, and people's livelihood. After the signing ceremony, Xi Jinping and To Lam had a good chat over teaaand continued to conduct in-depth exchanges on important issues of mutual interest and concern in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for To Lam and his wife Ngo Phuong Lyaat the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People. Upon To Lam's arrival, honor guards lined up in salutation.aAs the two presidents stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Viet Nam, and a 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, To Lamathen reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past. At noon on the same day, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcoming banquet for To Lam and his wife at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Cai Qi, WangaYi and Wang Xiaohong, among others, were present at the above activities. During To Lam's visit to China, the two sides will issue aaJoint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of VietaNam on Further Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation and Advancing the Building of the China-VietaNam Community with a Shared Future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese, Fijian leaders hail devt of bilateral ties Global Times 'Relationship built on strong foundation, holds great potential for further growth' By Liu Caiyu and Zhang Wanshi Published: Aug 20, 2024 10:24 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka in Beijing on Tuesday, after the leader from the Pacific Island country (PIC) has traveled in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, and in East China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. Noting that Fiji was the first PIC to establish diplomatic relations with China and that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xi said that for nearly half a century, the two countries have always supported and helped each other, setting a good example of equal treatment and friendly cooperation between countries large and small. China attaches great importance to China-Fiji relations and is willing to continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability for Fiji's economic and social development, and work with Fiji to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations and promote the building of a China-Fiji community with a shared future to better benefit the two peoples, Xi said. Experts highlighted the importance of Rabuka's visit in shaping the future of bilateral ties, saying the existing bilateral relationship is built on a strong foundation and holds great potential for further growth. "The recent visits to China by leaders of PICs, including the Solomon Islands and Fiji in this instance, have common features such as longer durations and paying visits to provinces beyond Beijing. This indicates a deepening of bilateral relations, moving beyond mere formalities between leaders, which could turn into a substantial impetus for enhanced cooperation between the two countries," said Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia Pacific Studies Center at East China Normal University. Rabuka started his visit in Yunnan Province on August 12. The next day, he traveled a long distance from capital Kunming to Malipo county in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Malipo was once a poverty stricken county. Rabuka's visit to Yunnan aims to gain insights from China's successful efforts in combating poverty, Chen said. Rabuka also visited Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, which bear similarities to Fiji as coastal regions. Rabuka's itinerary is related to the modernization and development needs of Fiji. As a island country rich in agricultural and fisheries resources but affected by climate change, the areas involved in his visit, such as agricultural and fisheries development, port construction, shipbuilding, tourism, and green development, are all areas that the Fijian government attaches great importance to and will have great potential for future cooperation, Chen said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA Navy's amphibious assault ship starts far seas drill: report Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Aug 20, 2024 08:52 PM A Type 075 amphibious assault ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly sailed across the first island chain and entered the Pacific Ocean for an apparent far seas exercise, with analysts on Tuesday highlighting the drill location's strategic significance over the Taiwan question. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a PLA Navy Type 052 series destroyer and a Type 075 amphibious assault ship on Saturday, after which they sailed toward the Pacific Ocean through waters between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on Monday. Observers noted on Tuesday that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force failed to release photos of the Chinese ships as it usually does. It also failed to identify the exact type of the Type 052 destroyer. This region is of strategic significance, especially for amphibious forces, as it is located to the east of the island of Taiwan, a Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times. The eastern side of the island of Taiwan geographically lacks proper landing grounds for landing ships and landing craft. However, the Type 075 is capable of hosting vertical landing operations by carrying a large number of helicopters, making the eastern side of the island viable for landing operations if need be, the expert said. According to a press release by the island of Taiwan's defense authority on Monday, two PLA helicopters were spotted operating to the east of the island on Sunday, but the island's defense authority did not release any information about the presence of a Type 075 in the region, nor did it elaborate if these helicopters came from the Type 075 or other warships. The region can allow an aircraft carrier to not only attack the island of Taiwan from the east, but also block potential military interference by external forces such as the US and Japan, analysts said. With the cover of an aircraft carrier group, amphibious forces can conduct landing operations more safely, they said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on August 20, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 20, 2024 16:52 CCTV: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The 10th Conference of States Parties to the ATT is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, and China sent a delegation to the conference. Could you share more details with us? Mao Ning: The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is the sole legal instrument under the framework of the UN to regulate the international trade in conventional arms. The treaty is of significance to keeping the world peaceful and stable, and improving global security governance. China is a supporter and doer in the implementation of the ATT. It takes a prudent and responsible attitude on arms trade, and relevant practices fully meet or even exceed the bar set by the treaty. In particular, China only engages with sovereign states on arms trade and cooperation, and doesn't sell arms to non-state actors. China strictly follows the three principles of arms exports: i) conducive to the legitimate self-defense capability of the recipient country; ii) not undermining peace, security and stability of the region concerned and the world as a whole; iii) non-interference in the internal affairs of the recipient country. In contrast to individual country who willfully withdraws from organizations and treaties, China has fully complied with the ATT in good faith since its official accession to the treaty in 2020, and taken concrete actions to provide China's solutions to solving the global security predicament and regulating the international arms trade order. This fully demonstrates China's sincerity and determination to safeguard the global governance system, support multilateralism and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The 10th anniversary of ATT's entry into force marks a new starting point. China stands ready to work with all parties, contribute China's wisdom to improving global arms trade governance, and provide greater stability and certainty to the turbulent world. AFP: On the collision between the Philippine Coast Guard vessels and the Chinese Coast Guard vessel yesterday, the US condemned China's actions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed its support for the Philippines. What's China's comments? Mao Ning: Yesterday, I made clear China's position on the Philippine Coast Guard vessels' intrusion into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao. What China did was to respond to the Philippines' infringement activities. We took those actions in order to defend our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. They are just, lawful and beyond reproach. The US is not a party to the issue of the South China Sea and is in no position to interfere in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines. Still less, the US should not use the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to justify the violation of China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea. The US needs to stop stoking confrontation in the South China Sea, and stop destabilizing the region and escalating the tensions in the region. Beijing Youth Daily: There are media reports in China recently on the story of an African student who came to China to study advanced agricultural technology and is determined to contribute to solving his home country's food problem. Can you comment on that and give us more details about China-Africa practical cooperation, especially agricultural cooperation? Mao Ning: Food shortages have long been plaguing African countries. China has ensured secure food supply for its 1.4 billion people after strenuous efforts for several decades. Therefore, we feel deeply for African people's hope for zero hunger. In recent years, China-Africa agricultural cooperation has flourished, producing fruitful results in technical assistance and training of agricultural experts, transfer of advanced agricultural technologies, the building of agricultural parks, and promotion of cultivation projects such as juncao and hybrid rice. Such cooperation provided quality rice and vegetable to the African people and helped modernize the agricultural sector in Africa. Agricultural cooperation is an epitome of how China and Africa render each other help. In recent years, thanks to the strategic guidance of Chinese and African leaders, the cooperation between the two sides in various areas has enjoyed all-round development. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 15 years in a row, and has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 52 African countries and the African Union Commission. China released the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, and cooperation between the two sides has expanded to emerging areas, such as digital, green, aerospace and financial sectors. China-Africa cooperation has helped Africa achieve socioeconomic development and livelihood improvement, and is sincerely welcomed by African countries and people. Facts prove that China is Africa's reliable partner and true friend. The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in Beijing next month. We believe the upcoming summit will expand and deepen China-Africa cooperation and write a new chapter of building a China-Africa community with a shared future. AFP: Hong Kong journalists rated the city's press freedom lower than ever in an annual survey released on Tuesday, citing fears of national security laws. Does China have any comment on this? Mao Ning: The Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR targets the very few criminals who severely endanger national security, not law-abiding journalists. Since the law came into force, Hong Kong is once again safe and stable, and freedom of press in Hong Kong has enjoyed better protection. This is a simple fact that any one without bias can see. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Uyghurs sentenced to cumulative 4.4 million years in prison: study China's repression could lead to a 'total ethnic incapacitation for the Uyghur people,' author says. By Roseanne Gerin for RFA 2024.08.20 -- All told, Uyghurs imprisoned by China in the far-western region of Xinjiang have been sentenced to a cumulative 4.4 million years, a report by Yale University's Genocide Studies Program says. And the true tally is probably far higher, researchers said. The figure highlights the scale and severity of the Chinese government's crackdown on the mostly Muslim Uyghurs since 2017, when thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities were herded into re-education camps and prisons. The 25-page report, "Uyghur Race as the Enemy: China's Legalized Authoritarian Oppression & Mass Imprisonment," frames the massive incarceration not only as a crime against humanity and genocide, but also as a form of "dangerous lawfare" designed to erode the Uyghurs' future prospects for dignity, prosperity and freedom. The study drew on information from the Xinjiang Victims Database, which has data on nearly 62,700 Uyghurs detained in Xinjiang, based on leaked Chinese police documents and other records. Researchers also studied records from the Xinjiang High People's Procuratorate from 2017 to 2021. It does not include numbers from years since then, after the court stopped publishing data, meaning the true number is much higher. They found 13,114 cases that included a prison sentence, with an average term of 8.8 years, and multiplied the figure by 500,000, which they called a "conservative" figure based on the 540,000 individuals prosecuted by court from 2017 to 2021, to get 4.4 million years. "This is happening on a scale that the world has not seen," said Uyghur human rights lawyer and advocate Rayhan Asat, principal author of the report. "And if China is allowed to fulfill the 4.4 million years of a cumulative imprisonment it has sentenced the Uyghur people to, it will mean a total ethnic incapacitation for the Uyghur people." This data is crucial for understanding the profound human rights violations and the long-term impacts on the Uyghur community. 'Legalized human rights abuse' The Chinese government uses "legalized authoritarianism" to extend the reach of the authoritarian state by weaponizing its legal system against people critical of state policies, the report said. In the case of Xinjiang, Beijing has recognized the Uyghur identity as an enemy and has used laws such as Article 120 of the Criminal Law governing terrorist crimes, the Counter-Terrorism Law, and the Xinjiang Implementing Measures for the Counter-Terrorism Law "to legitimize human rights abuses," it said. "The involvement of laws as a means of carrying [out] human rights abuses sufficiently characterizes Uyghur incarceration as a legalized human rights abuse," it said. The study also noted that while the Chinese authorities make public criminal records in other parts of the country, records from almost 90% of cases in Xinjiang are not public. Asat told Radio Free Asia that she wanted to contextualize the consequences of China's actions for the entire Uyghur population given that the mass incarceration of Uyghurs without due process and with disproportionately harsh imprisonment is already horrific in isolation. She has publicly campaigned on behalf of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China, including her brother Ekpar Asat, who has been held in detention in Xinjiang since 2016. "With a cumulative imprisonment of 4.4 million years a a conservative estimate a it's nearly impossible for the population to carry on their culture and community a our culture and community," she said. Human toll The analysis comes before the second anniversary on Aug. 31 of a report by former U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet who visited Xinjiang in May 2022 and said China's mass detentions of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in the region may constitute crimes against humanity. Her successor, Volker TArk, this March urged China to carry out recommendations from his office to protect human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and across the country, but Beijing ignored his call. "[In] the context of mass imprisonment, it gives an idea of just how much, human capital is lost to the Uyghur community, the Uyghur population in China as a result of what is arguably a political and arbitrary, punitive, ethnically-based system of mass imprisonment," said David J. Simon, director of the university's Genocide Studies Program. "The one other thing I will add about that figure is that the authors of the report have stressed to me that it is a conservative estimate a that the real number, the number of years that Uyghur political prisoners may actually be facing under these laws, could actually be substantially higher," he told RFA. The report makes several recommendations to address the issue. It says TArk, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, or OHCHR, and U.N. member states must trigger all accountability mechanisms to pressure China to free innocent detainees and to use diplomatic tools to collectively push for the release of all imprisoned Uyghurs. It also recommends that individual states declare they are not willing to do business with China and to impose targeted sanctions like those already imposed by the United States, Britain, the European Union and Canada. The report also recommends that the U.N.'s Human Rights Commission and the OHCHR jointly condemn Beijing's actions and establish a Commission of Inquiry in China to investigate atrocity crimes. "It's been nearly a decade after China rolled out its extensive atrocity campaigns against the Uyghurs, and the world's attention is slowly waning due to other crises emerging," Asat said. "But the horrors in the Uyghur region have not ceased." With additional reporting by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Malcolm Foster. 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 August 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 China mulls making marriage easier as rates plummet Faced with a flagging economy and fears for the future, more young people are staying single. By Jenny Tang and Sun Cheng for RFA Mandarin 2024.08.20 -- The Chinese government is considering cutting red tape around marriage registrations in a bid to encourage more young people to tie the knot. The number of Chinese couples getting married for the first time tumbled 8.3% in the first quarter, government figures show, resuming its slide over the past decade amid a tanking economy, rampant youth unemployment, growing awareness of gender equality and changing priorities. Marriages rebounded 12% last year after the end of the COVID-19 restrictions, but the bounce was short-lived. Over the past nine years, first marriages have plummeted by nearly 56%, according to the 2023 China Statistical Yearbook. That's contributing to a sharp decline in birthrates and a shrinking, aging population - a trend that the United Nations projects will lead China's population to contract from 1.4 billion to 800 million by 2100. As more young people stay single, the Ministry of Civil Affairs published draft changes to marriage rules that would drop the requirement for couples to produce their household registration, or hukou, documents when getting hitched. The new rules, proposed in an Aug. 12 consultation document on the ministry's website, would also bring in a new, compulsory 30-day delay to divorce applications, billed as a "cooling off" period. One-child policy fallout Three decades of the "one-child policy," which ended in 2015, has also taken a toll: There are fewer young people - and an imbalance between men and women. There are currently 17.52 million more men aged 20-40 than women, yet the proportion of single women has risen tenfold in the last decade, according to Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association. While some welcomed the new proposals because they cut out red tape, a 26-year-old woman who gave only the pseudonym Angela for fear of reprisals said they wouldn't make her more likely to want to marry. "It makes sense to lose the requirement to produce your household registration document, because ... marriage and divorce are personal freedoms, and have nothing to do with where your household is registered," she said. "But making it easier to get married doesn't necessarily mean that more people will want to marry." "People who want to marry will do it regardless of how complicated it is, and those who don't will be unaffected," she said. "You can't change young people's decision about whether or not to marry just by changing a rule." She said the plan had sparked an angry reaction on social media. "Young people online are 10 times angrier about it than I am," she said. Financial and emotional factors Overseas-based rights activist Xiang Li said the flagging economy, higher education levels among women and a sense of despair about China's future are all contributing to young people's reluctance to tie the knot, and sign themselves up for more financial responsibility than they already bear. "At a time when the socioeconomic situation is so depressed, getting married will just make people more financially stretched, because they will have to buy somewhere to live," Xiang said. "Things won't improve unless the social and political situation changes." Millennial Li Dong, who hails from the southwestern province of Yunnan, said she only knows three people who have married out of her class in high school, and many more have no plans to wed at all. "What [those who have married] have in common is that they are working locally, and have fairly stable jobs," Li said. "Most [women in my class] have had boyfriends, there are many who don't plan to marry and who basically don't trust men." "Very few of them will even think about marrying before the age of 30," she said. Last week, a keyword search term about the rising proportion of unmarried women made the list of top searches on the social media platform Weibo. One comment on the topic read: "It will continue to increase significantly every year in future too, never fear." Another said: "This will become the norm," while another pointed out the apparent gender bias in the topic at hand: "We know that there are more men than women, but yet it's the single status of women that's being talked about," the user wrote. COVID toll According to Xiang Li, three years of grueling lockdowns, mass quarantine and compulsory testing during the pandemic that ended amid nationwide protests in 2022 have taken a huge emotional toll on young people. "During the three years of zero-COVID, China turned into a huge prison, with even Shanghai turning into a concentration camp like Xinjiang," Xiang said. "The young people in the 'white paper' protest movement were shouting that they were the last generation, who didn't need to marry or have kids." She summarized their message as "we are the last generation to be exploited by your authoritarian government." "There are also a lot of divorced people who have been hurt by marriage, and are very reluctant to marry again," Xiang said. And while young men in rural areas may still wish to find a wife, they may not be able to afford it. "There's a bachelor crisis, meaning that the bride price in rural areas is sky-high at the moment, and the cost of getting married is very high," Yi Fuxian, a senior researcher and demography expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview. "The serious gender imbalance makes it hard and very costly for men to find wives," Yi said. "A lot of money is spent on marriage, which leads to a lot of debt in the wider family." "The money goes on buying property and cars, and there are also loans to repay," he said, adding that many people now believe that the single life is more carefree. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. 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 August 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 Vietnam, China sign 14 agreements during top leader's visit to Beijing A meeting with President Xi ended with pledges to develop infrastructure, including railways. By RFA Staff 2024.08.20 -- As Vietnam's new leader To Lam wrapped up a three-day visit to China on Tuesday, the two nations agreed to cooperate on building three cross-border rail links, the most prominent of 14 agreements between the two countries. They also agreed to cooperate on health issues and news distribution, phytosanitary requirements for fresh coconuts and frozen durian exports from Vietnam, as well as quarantine and health requirements for Vietnam's exports of farmed crocodiles. Lam and Chinese President Xi Jinping had pledged in a meeting on Monday to address territorial conflicts in the South China Sea to "maintain peace and stability," and to work together to "continue bolstering collaboration in security and defense, boosting economic, trade and investment cooperation," the Vietnamese government said in a statement. The two nations have clashed The two sides have clashed over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, which have earned diplomatic rebukes from Hanoi and sparked widespread public protests in Vietnam. Infrastructure The main focus Tuesday was on infrastructure development, including a 555-kilometer (345-mile) Vientiane-Vung Ang railway, linking the Lao capital with a Vietnamese port. Lam asked for China's support through "high-quality investment" in key projects, bringing together Hanoi's "Two Corridors One Belt" policy and Beijing's "Belt and Road" initiative, to construct "major and symbolic works to match their political trust," Vietnam said. Xi told Lam that China was ready to "accelerate the 'hard connectivity' of railway, expressway and port infrastructure, enhance the 'soft connectivity' of smart customs, and jointly build a secure and stable industrial and supply chain," according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lam's first foreign trip since being appointed to his country's top job on Aug. 3 began on Sunday in the southern city of Guangzhou. He later traveled to the Chinese capital for talks with Chinese leaders. On Tuesday, Lam also visited the Central Party School, which provides training to Communist Party officials. He also led a Vietnamese delegation to Beijing-headquartered artificial intelligence company Megvii, the Vietnam News Service reported. A spokesperson for the Chinese ministry, Mao Ning, told a regular media briefing on Monday that rail links between China and Vietnam, launched in November 2017 opened "a new channel for China-Vietnam logistics transportation." She said they would cut transport time, increase the efficiency of customs clearance, optimize hub functions and significantly increase the range of goods traded across the border, "becoming a fast track to promote economic and trade exchanges." The two leaders are likely to meet next in Hanoi after Xi accepted an invitation from Lam to visit the Vietnamese capital. Edited by Mike Firn, Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster. Updated to recast throughout, raise rail cooperation and other agreements. 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 August 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 Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh & his Japanese counterpart Mr Kihara Minoru hold delegation-level talks in New Delhi India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Reaffirm commitment towards strengthening bilateral relations and regional peace Posted On: 20 AUG 2024 9:39PM by PIB Delhi Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defense, Japan Mr Kihara Minoru held a bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, in New Delhi on August 20, 2024. During the meeting, the Defence Ministers reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to enhance further cooperation. The two Ministers reviewed the defence and security pillars of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. They reaffirmed their commitment towards strengthening our bilateral relations and contribution towards regional peace. The Ministers welcomed the growing diversity and frequency of defence exercises and exchanges between the two countries and undertook to enhance the scope & complexity of these engagements. They committed to give fillip to further widen the scope in the field of Defence Equipment and Technological Cooperation along with enhanced cooperation in critical and emerging technology domains. The two Ministers discussed further opportunities for industrial cooperation between India and Japan with a focus on Make-in-India and further enhancing the partnership in co-production and co-development. The Raksha Mantri highlighted that India has set a vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' when the nation enters 2047 completing 100 years of independence. Building domestic defence capabilities is an integral part of this vision, he said, adding that partnering in Defence technologies and industry with Japan will be a key to achieve the goal. Both ministers committed to work together to formulate a vision for this partnership to realise the objectives for India at 2047. ABB/Savvy (Release ID: 2047107) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Federal Foreign Office on the Iranian authorities' action against the German Language Institute in Tehran Germany Federal Foreign Office 20.08.2024 - Press release A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (20 August 2024) on the Iranian authorities' action against the German Language Institute in Tehran (Deutsches Sprachinstitut Teheran, DSIT): We condemn the Iranian security authorities' action against the German Language Institute in Tehran. There can be no justification for this. Language exchange forms the foundation of mutual understanding. The Institute is a well-known and well-loved place of encounter where people go to great lengths to promote language learning amid challenging conditions. Its staff are highly dedicated to their work, which aims among other things to strengthen the ties between the people of Iran and Germany. The Iranian Ambassador will be summoned to the Federal Foreign Office. We call on the new Iranian Government to permit the Institute to resume teaching immediately. Background information: The German Embassy in Tehran founded the German Language Institute (DSIT) in 1995. It offers language courses from level A1 to C2, leading to certifications that are recognised in Germany. It is self-financed (through fees for language courses and examinations) and is not affiliated with the Goethe-Institut. It currently employs 85 teachers, none of whom are seconded from Germany. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's Judiciary closes two German-linked centers in Tehran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Iranian Judiciary has announced the closure of two branches of an institution linked to the German government in Tehran. The centers were found to be in violation of Iranian laws, engaging in illegal activities and widespread financial misconduct. The Judiciary has also received reports of violations by other German-affiliated centers in Iran, prompting investigations by the authorities. A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said Iran's ambassador to Berlin would be summoned over the incident. The closure comes almost a month after the German government shut down a prominent Islamic center in Hamburg, accusing it of being an outpost of the Islamic Republic. In a phone call with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on July 27, Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, criticized the closure of the Islamic Center Hamburg as a political move aimed at spreading Islamophobia. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran pursuing Haniyeh's assassination through legal channels: Judiciary IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 20, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Judiciary spokesman says the Islamic Republic is pursuing the Israeli assassination of Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran through international legal channels. Asghar Jahangir said on Tuesday that the Judiciary immediately opened a case after Haniyeh was martyred in an Israeli strike in Tehran on July 31. He emphasized that both domestic and international dimensions of the crime, which he condemned as a "blatant example of state terrorism", are being thoroughly investigated. The Islamic Republic has vowed to deliver a "harsh response" to the Israeli regime over the brazen act of terror committed on Iranian soil. Jahangir stressed that Iran's military response does not negate the necessity of pursuing the matter through proper legal channels at the international level. He noted that relevant authorities, particularly in the Foreign Ministry and judiciary, are engaged in international efforts regarding the case. Those efforts, Jahangir said, led to an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council earlier this month. However, he added that Iran does not put much faith in the UNSC over this matter. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC: Iran will choose timing of its response, keeping Israel in limbo Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 3:55 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran will decide the timing of its response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, keeping the Israelis in limbo. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, the IRGC's spokesman and deputy head of the Public Relations Department, made the remarks during a press conference on Tuesday. He said Iran's response might not necessarily be a repetition of the previous operations against the Israeli regime. "The Zionist regime had set certain goals in the assassination of Haniyeh, but it achieved none. The enemy thought it could compensate for its failure on the battlefield through assassinating Haniyeh, but, on the contrary, the Resistance front has become even stronger." Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were assassinated in Tehran on July 31, a day after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. Following the assassination, the IRGC stated that Haniyeh was martyred by a "short-range projectile" launched from outside his residence in Tehran. "There is a strong determination to respond to various forms of aggression committed by the Zionist regime, and, currently, the people living in the occupied territories are paying the price for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's assassination of Haniyeh," Naeini stated. He said the Zionist regime and US politicians have now accepted defeat on the battlefield. "The Iranian people are intelligent and know that the commanders of the Armed Forces and the IRGC carefully assess all aspects at the highest levels of decision-making before taking action. They make precise and calculated decisions, effectively influencing the enemy's calculations," the IRGC spokesman said. Naeini also said time is on Iran's side and that the "wait for this response may be prolonged." "For now, the Zionists must remain in a state of imbalance," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran pres. pick for defense minister: World rejects US-led unipolar order Iran Press TV Tuesday, 20 August 2024 10:10 AM Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, who has been picked by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, to run the Ministry of Defense, says the world has rejected the US-led unipolar world order, and looks forward to the formation of a new order, amid the emergence of new powers. Addressing the Iranian parliament on Monday, Nasirzadeh said the US support for Israel, which is committing a genocidal war on Gaza, has strengthened the position of Iran, the backer of the oppressed people across the world, in the West Asian region and the entire world. "After the [Iran's] proud operation of True Promise, the US has begun to strengthen the weakened deterrence of the infamous Zionist regime," he said. "After the al-Aqsa Storm operation, the Zionist regime has shown its illegitimate, tension-causing, and inhumane nature, as well as its irresponsibility toward all the international rules, more than ever, with the help of the US," he added. According to Nasirzadeh, Israel has "crossed the red lines of direct conflict by its cowardly assassinations and committing all kinds of war crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people in Gaza." He was referring to Israel's assassination of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander and an advisor to the Lebanese movement's Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a suburb of the country's capital Beirut, and its assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas' Political Bureau Chief, in the Iranian capital of Tehran. Nasirzadeh added that the situation has highlighted the strategic importance of the Islamic Republic. "In such an atmosphere, the Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to strengthen its distinguished and powerful position in the international arena, particularly in West Asia." The spiritual influence of the Islamic Revolution has seen a rise among the oppressed and independent nations, which constitute the majority of the world's population, Nasirzadeh said. "Today, the strategic depth of the Islamic Republic of Iran has changed tremendously compared to the past two decades, and has paved a promising path for the production and reproduction of power to play a role in the region and beyond." Amid the region's and the world's rejection of the US-led unipolar world order, he said, the political, economic, psychological, and cultural pressures exerted by the "global arrogance" on Tehran and the resistance front have increased. Nasirzadeh added that the unjust sanctions imposed on Iran, particularly the country's defense and security equipment, have intensified. As he was outlining his plans for the ministry, Nasirzadeh asserted that the ouster of the US-led foreign troops from the region is among Iran's policies. "The continuous monitoring of defense technological developments in the world and the obtaining of product technologies that will surprise the enemy, the sustainable and effective support of the resistance front and the anti-arrogance front overtly and covertly, especially in international and regional forums, and the formation of regional and global coalitions" can help expel the foreign forces from the region. Elsewhere, Nasirzadeh stressed that the ministry maintained "a transformational approach" in implementing its programs over the past years to achieve effective and efficient support of the armed forces and the resistance front. He noted that the resistance front is integral to and "not separate from" the armed forces. Nasirzadeh currently serves as the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Police Shut Down German Cultural Institute By RFE/RL's Radio Farda August 20, 2024 Iranian police have shut down Germany's Das Deutsche Sprachinstitut Teheran (DSIT) -- the German Language Institute Tehran -- for allegedly "violating the country's laws," prompting Berlin to summon Iran's ambassador. In a post on X, the Mizan news agency of Iran's judiciary said on August 20 that two branches of "illegal centers affiliated with the German government" had been shut down for "committing several illegal actions and extensive financial violations." It added that the judiciary had "received reports of violations by other centers linked to Germany" without elaborating. Formerly called the Goethe Institute, the cultural center is managed by the Germany Embassy in the Iranian capital. "We condemn Iranian security authorities' treatment of that German language institute in Tehran," the Foreign Ministry in Berlin said, noting that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned. Prior to Mizan's post, an informed source told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that police officers had shuttered the institute's branches in uptown Tehran on August 20, confirming earlier claims on social media. The move comes after Germany last month banned the Islamic Center Hamburg, or IZH, an Iran-linked organization that it said "promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany." The German authorities also shut down five IZH suborganizations, saying that they "also support the terrorists of Hizballah and spread aggressive antisemitism," referring to Iran's Lebanon-based ally that has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Speaking to Radio Farda, a former DSIT student said the closure was a "sad" development because the institute served as a "second home" for people who wanted to learn German in an environment "more open" than Iranian universities. They said most people who studied at the institute sought to migrate to continue their studies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Now, those looking to learn German have to pay more to study at less reputable institutes and travel abroad to take an accredited German language exam. Many people immediately expressed concerns about what the shuttering of the institute would mean for their scheduled language exams. Photos shared on the social media platform showed several police cars parked outside premises of the cultural institute. Police officers were also seen standing under the institute's torn-down signboard. The Goethe Institute opened its first branch in Iran in 1958 but its cultural activities were severely restricted following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, resulting in its closure in 1987. The institute resumed operations in 1995 under a new name -- DSIT -- but it continued to be referred to locally as Goethe Institute. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-shut-down-german- cultural-institute/33085766.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 Researchers: Iran's scientific modeling likely influenced US assessment of Tehran's nuclear program By Michael Lipin August 20, 2024 Researchers have provided new insights to VOA about Iranian scientific work that seems to have influenced a revised U.S. assessment that Tehran is better positioned to weaponize its nuclear program. An unclassified assessment sent to Congress in July by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said that since 2020, Iran has "undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so." While the one-page assessment does not elaborate on those activities, reports published by U.S. news sites The Wall Street Journal and Axios in June , July and August cited unnamed U.S. and Israeli officials as expressing concern that Iran was engaged in computer modeling and metallurgical research that is useful in building nuclear weapons. Those reports did not elaborate on the nature of the research or Iran's motivation for conducting it. The ODNI assessment omitted an assertion, made in its 2023 report to Congress, about Iran "not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device." U.S. House Intelligence Committee chairman Michael Turner used a Sunday interview with TV network CBS to highlight the recent news reports about Iran's potential nuclear weaponization-related work. He described the reports as noting a "possibility" that Iran could declare itself to be a nuclear-armed state by the end of this year. Iran long has insisted that it does not seek nuclear weapons. But the latest ODNI assessment said there has been a "notable increase this year in Iranian public statements about nuclear weapons, suggesting the topic is becoming less taboo." ODNI declined to comment when asked by VOA about the specific types of Iranian activities that it examined to develop its latest assessment. An ODNI spokesperson said the U.S intelligence community "remains focused on monitoring Iran's nuclear program, and we assess that the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] has not made a decision to resume the nuclear weapons program that Iran suspended in 2003." Iran's U.N. mission in New York did not respond to a VOA request, emailed on August 13, for comment on the nature of the Iranian scientific research that apparently prompted the revised ODNI assessment of Tehran's nuclear work. One researcher who spoke to VOA, American physicist David Albright, said ODNI may have based that revised assessment at least in part on Iranian work in "computer modeling couched in civil research efforts" that would benefit a nuclear weapons program. Albright, president of the Washington-based nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security, said he found references in recent Iranian scientific reports to the use of software and computer codes for running simulations that are helpful in nuclear weapon design. The physicist, who has testified numerous times before Congress about his studies of secret nuclear weapons programs around the world, said his team reviewed more than 150 Iranian scientific reports published in recent years and obtained from open sources. Some of those reports were published this year, he said. "The modeling work involves simulations of shock waves from explosively projecting pieces of metal against another solid metal. This modeling is necessary to understand how a nuclear explosion would take place," Albright said. He added that the Iranian scientific reports do not describe simulations of shock waves hitting the core of a nuclear weapon. "It is not obvious from reading the documents that the authors are working on the codes for nuclear weapons," he said. Albright said the Iranian scientists involved the recent computer modeling likely are hiding the weaponization goals of their work as part of a pattern of deceptive behavior that he found in his past reviews of two sets of secret Iranian nuclear documents. He said one set of documents was from 2006 and obtained by him and London's The Times newspaper from an unnamed source the following year, while the other set was stolen by Israel from Iran's nuclear archives in 2018 and shared with him by Israeli officials. Describing the two sets of documents in his 2021 book Iran's Perilous Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons, Albright said they indicate that after Tehran shut down a nuclear weapons program in 2003 a as determined by the International Atomic Energy Agency a Iranian officials decided to keep some of it going by assigning research projects to Iranian universities. As part of that effort, the Iranian researchers employed cover stories to portray their work as civilian in nature and to obscure their links to officials involved in nuclear work, he wrote. Another researcher, nuclear policy program senior fellow Ariel Levite of the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told VOA that Iran appears to have restarted research, after a pause of several years, to remove the last knowledge gap toward weaponizing a nuclear program. He noted that Iran already has made major strides in amassing nuclear weapons-grade enriched uranium and developing missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. Levite, a former senior Israeli nuclear energy and defense official, said there are three ways to interpret Iran's motivation for pursuing such research: a warning to the U.S. and Israel that it stands ready to take the final steps toward nuclear weaponization, an internal decision to relax the Iranian supreme leader's 2004 decree or fatwa against developing nuclear weapons, or an attempt by overzealous Iranian advocates of nuclear weaponization to push the limits of the decree. "We are left in a guessing game," Levite said. "If I had to guess the motivation, I would say it is a mixture of all three." Albright said Iran's work in computer modeling would reduce the number of experiments needed to test a nuclear device and would give Iran greater confidence that such a device would work. "That can save them time in building a bomb, but we don't know enough about their program to be able to quantify it. Overall, they have done enough that they can certainly do it in less than six months," he said. Levite said he does not believe Iran's latest scientific research gives it the ability to produce its first rudimentary nuclear bomb in less than three to six months. "But given how far along Iran's nuclear program already is, our margin for error in assessing its capabilities and intentions is shrinking while the Iranian leverage that comes with such an advanced nuclear threshold status is growing," he said. "Iran might be poised to shorten further the timeframe toward nuclear weapon acquisition." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran shuts down German language institute By VOA News August 20, 2024 Iran on Tuesday shut down the sole language institute recognized by the German Embassy, following the closing of Islamic religious centers in Germany. The Iranian judiciary shut down the institute's two offices, describing them as "illegal centers affiliated with the German government, which violated Iran laws, committed numerous illegal acts and extensive financial violations." The judiciary said additional investigations into other German centers were under way because of "reports of violations." Iran's German ambassador said the closing of Islamic religious centers was Islamophobic and a "hostile action." The centers were shut down in July, accused of promoting and spreading ideology to support the Hezbollah militant group. Germany's Interior Ministry said it banned the religious centers and affiliates because "it is an Islamist extremist organization pursuing anti-constitutional objectives." German law enforcement raided 53 facilities. This isn't the first time German institutions have been closed in Iran. Tehran's Goethe international institute, that Germany had in locations across the world, was shut down by Iranian officials in 1995. Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address How will Japan's new leader tackle Indo-Pacific security threats? By Henry Ridgwell August 20, 2024 During his term, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has transformed Japan's defense posture amid growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea. After nearly three years in power, however, Kishida is set to leave office, having announced earlier this month that he would not run in September's election to lead his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, amid low approval ratings and corruption allegations within the LDP. At question is whether his successor will build on that legacy or take Japan in a new direction. Regardless, Kishida said he would support the new leader. War anniversary Kishida marked the 79th anniversary of his country's defeat in World War II on Thursday, leading a solemn ceremony in Tokyo alongside Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. Speaking to delegates in what will likely be one of his last major public events, Kishida reiterated Japan's long-held position on its devastating 1945 defeat. "We must never again repeat the devastation of war. Although 79 years have now passed, no matter how time flows, we will remain committed to this resolute pledge, passing it down across generations," Kishida said. But his speech also reflected Japan's changing role on the global stage. "Japan will do its utmost to resolve the various challenges facing the world as it works to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law while placing human dignity at the very center. In this way, we will carve out the future of our nation," he added. Global challenges Japan lies at the intersection of several of those global challenges, and Kishida's successor will likely continue his approach to defense and security, said Tomohiko Taniguchi, an adviser to the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and now a special adviser at Fujitsu Future Studies Center. "The scope of options for Japan is indeed narrow because of the troubling neighborhood that Japan finds itself in," Taniguchi told VOA. "Russia, North Korea and China a three of the nuclear-powered [armed] nations a none of which has exercised anything akin to open democracy. And all three of those countries are all fostering hostility and hate, intentionally and institutionally, towards Japan and the U.S.-Japan alliance," he said. Ukraine ties Shortly after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kishida warned that "Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow," a statement that appeared to resonate with many regional allies. The Japanese leader forged close ties with Kyiv, visiting the town of Bucha in 2023, where Russian troops are alleged to have committed war crimes, including mass killings and rape. Moscow denies the charges, despite widespread evidence. Kishida then invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend the 2023 G7 summit in Hiroshima. Under Kishida's leadership, Japanese lawmakers approved a doubling of defense spending by 2027. He forged closer alliances with regional allies, and in July, successfully negotiated an upgrade of the United States' military command in Japan. South Korea Over the past two years, Japan's Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol overcame historical grievances to forge a close alliance. In a joint statement issued Sunday, the United States, Japan and South Korea reaffirmed their pledge made a year ago at a historic trilateral summit at Camp David. "We stand by our commitment to consult on regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting our collective interests and security," the statement said. But uncertainties remain, said analyst Taniguchi. "There is no assurance whatsoever that the improved South Korea-Japan relationship is going to continue as it is. President Yoon has passed the midpoint of his term. The rest of his term is going to be increasingly a lame-duck administration. The opposition parties are sniffing blood already a and the easiest target for the opposition party is to say that the incumbent administration is too weak vis-a-vis Japan," Taniguchi told VOA. Likely successor? Kishida has no obvious successor. Several LDP lawmakers, including numerous government ministers, are expected to put themselves forward for the Sept. 27 vote for the party presidency. "There are some (candidates) who have shown uneasiness... as if Japan was a puppet of the Big Brother of the United States," Taniguchi said. Japan's next prime minister will also have to win over the Japanese public and rebuild trust that has been eroded by a recent scandal over political funds. "The public supports in principle are boosting Japan's defenses and the defense budget hikes, but they are actually unwilling to pay higher personal taxes in order to do so," said Yee Kuang Heng, a professor of international relations at the University of Tokyo. He added that the Japanese public now largely accepts the need for a stronger defense capability, "but nevertheless remains quite cautious about a more aggressive military posture." Global reaction The United States' ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, wrote on X that Kishida had "helped build a latticework of security alliances and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region that will stand the test of time." Beijing, meanwhile, said it would work to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship with Kishida's successor. The next prime minister will require staying power, Taniguchi said, "because the next five, six or seven years is going to be crucial for this ongoing long game between China and Japan. And nothing can be achievable for a prime minister who stays in office only for one or two years." He added, "So, the next prime minister has got to come up with a good plan with which he or she could stay in office, manage difficult tasks, strengthen Japan's alliance networks, and beef up Japan's defense spending." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Libya's leaders must protect their people's rights: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya. 20 August 2024 President, Libyans deserve stability and prosperity, but disappointingly a political settlement to enable this remains distant. Clashes over the last few months in Ras Ajdir, Tripoli, Zawiya, and the Ghadames basin, as well as oil field shutdowns in Sharara, demonstrate the fragility of the current situation. Let me make three points this morning. First, we note the political initiatives taking place outside of the UN's auspices, including the recent meeting of members of the House of Representatives and High State Council. We welcome all efforts to foster political dialogue. But these should be inclusive if they are to be effective, and should recognise the central role of UNSMIL, as mandated by this Council. Second, we share the growing concern expressed by the Panel of Experts over increasing violations and abuses of human rights. These include recent reports of unlawful arrests and mistreatment of journalists. There is also a continued lack of protection of women, restricting their ability to participate in all aspects of Libya's civil, social, and political space. Libya can only prosper when its citizens enjoy universal rights, and when its leaders and institutions uphold the rule of law. Third, we note with regret the continued ineffectiveness of the arms embargo. The Panel of Experts continues to highlight flagrant malign breaches, such as the provision of military support, including by members of this Council. President, the UK remains steadfast in support of UNSMIL. The Secretary General has our full support in his efforts to appoint a new Special Representative as soon as possible. We continue to call on all Libya's leaders to engage in the political process in the spirit of compromise. We call on members of the Council and others in the international community to work with increased focus and vigour on a shared vision for a stable, peaceful and secure Libya which is in the interests not only of the Libyan people but the wider region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid Rapidly Deteriorating Political, Economic Situation, Ordinary People in Libya Fear Re-emergence of War, Top UN Official Warns Security Council Meetings Coverage Security Council 9709th Meeting (AM) SC/15795 20 August 2024 Several Delegates Support UN Mission's Efforts, Call for Appointing Special Representative of Secretary-General to Assist Political Process As the political, economic and security situation in Libya deteriorates, ordinary people live in fear of war erupting again, even as they prepare for local elections, the Organization's senior official in the country reported to the Security Council today. "Unilateral acts by Libyan political, military and security actors have increased tension, further entrenched institutional and political divisions and complicated efforts for a negotiated political solution," Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs for Libya in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said. Highlighting many recent confrontations, she noted that on 9 August the Libyan National Army moved towards the south-western parts of the country, causing western forces to mobilize a and raising concerns with Algeria a while on 23 July, forces affiliated with the Government of National Unity moved westward sparking mobilization by the Libyan National Army. Also pointing to attempts to unseat the Central Bank governor, she said that on 14 August, armed groups mobilized over reports of an armed takeover of that institution. While that situation was defused on 15 August morning, such tensions are fueled by the perception that the Bank is facilitating spending in the east but not in the west. On the political front, the results of the vote for President of the High Council of State remain contested due to a potential one vote difference, she said, adding that voting for the seats of Vice Presidents and Rapporteur are suspended. Reminding all parties about the commitments in the Libyan political agreement and its amendments, she urged the High Council of State to quickly resolve the stalemate. On local elections, which are expected to take place in mid-October 2024, she noted that voter registration was completed for the 60 councils whose mandates expired or will by the end of 2024, with "around 210,000 Libyans registered to vote". Unfortunately, female turnout remains relatively low, constituting only 30 per cent of the registered voters, she said. While the increased number of reserved seats for women is a significant step, proactive measures are needed to counter the intimidation, online violence and other obstacles that discourage them from registering as candidates. "Libyans are frustrated with the status quo and the toll it is taking on their lives," she said, noting that people are afraid of violence breaking out and struggle to meet their daily needs. UNSMIL, she said, is proposing talks to develop a set of confidence-building measures between all parties in order to end unilateral actions, restore confidence in the Central Bank and ensure that moves by military actors are coordinated so as to prevent counter-mobilization. Noting her visits to some regional capitals to discuss a coordinated diplomatic approach, she said the Mission is also working with partners in the African Union to reactivate the national reconciliation process. Highlighting the revived engagement of political parties, trade unions, civil society and others in Libya, she added that UNSMIL is continuing its extensive engagement with such groups. The Council also heard from the representative of Japan, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, who presented its report for the period from 19 June to 20 August 2024. He detailed its activities concerning reports received on the arms embargo, the asset freeze and the sanctions list. When the floor opened for discussion, Council members expressed concern about the political stalemate and division in Libya. Several speakers voiced support for UNSMIL's efforts and called for the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General to assist the political process. Among them was the representative of Guyana, also speaking for Algeria, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, who emphasized the urgent need to appoint a Special Representative "who can act as a conduit for future negotiations and break the political deadlock". "While the Council is committed to contributing to consolidating democracy and establishing a stable and prosperous Libyan State, those who benefit from the current status quo have continued to undermine the political process," she pointed out. Expressing concern over "recent unilateral actions" by members of the House of Representatives, she stressed that such acts serve to undermine trust among Libyans. All actors must maintain the ceasefire agreement and work to promote political dialogue. It is also necessary to ensure "optimal preparation" for national elections, she said, expressing concern that "commitments to women's representation in Libya have shrunk from 30 per cent to 25 per cent, and now to a shocking 6 per cent". Also noting the impact of the conflict in Sudan a which "demonstrates that these conflicts are intertwined" a she urged efforts "to prevent further conflagration in a region already gripped by high levels on conflict". Echoing the need to appoint a Special Representative in Libya, France's delegate said respecting the October 2020 ceasefire and inviting all parties to "refrain from rousing concerns regarding compliance with that agreement" is essential. Moreover, all stakeholders must ensure unification of the country's armed forces. "This process is vital for Libya to restore sovereignty and stability, free of foreign influence," she stressed. The country must work towards the formation of a new unified Government and the organization of presidential and legislative elections "without delay", she said, adding that the current transition period is an opportunity to consider UNSMIL's strategic goals. Along similar lines, the representative of the United States said that "rising instability along Libya's southern borders is a reminder of the importance of supporting the reunification of Libyan military and security institutions." This is crucial for reaffirming the country's sovereignty and preventing it from becoming enmeshed in regional conflict. Also voicing concern about the dispute over the Central Bank, he said "unilateral attempts to replace its governor risk endangering Libya's standing in global financial markets." Highlighting recent reports of the Russian Federation's naval vessels unloading military material and personnel in Libya, he said: "Whether this hardware is intended to fuel the resumption of conflict in Libya or will be shipped and fuel conflict elsewhere in Africa," the impact will be destabilizing both to the country and the region. Member States must honor the arms embargo notification and approval requirements. However, the Russian Federation's delegate said the friendly cooperation between his country and Libya is conducted in full compliance of all Council resolutions. The 1970 Sanctions Committee should look into the activities of a private military company that is working in Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Also denouncing the redemption of Libya's frozen assets by unscrupulous financial institutions in the West, he said that Belgian bankers still hold a15 billion which belong to the Libyan investment authority. They "pretended that they didn't know that they had to freeze the interest earnings generated by this capital; more than that, these earnings were quietly taken off the accounts and disappeared," he said. The focus of the international community's efforts, he added, should be on the well-being of the Libyan people rather than the interests of any particular group or actor. "Additional actors arise because they are desperate and do not think that a solution is coming up soon," he said. Calling for a new Special Representative for Libya, he said only a figure that is equidistant from the various Libyan parties and does not have an agenda of their own will be trusted by the Libyans. It is necessary to overcome "the gulf of mistrust which has arisen amongst Libyan actors which arose in 2011 after the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] aggression," he said. The representative of China said that while various Libyan parties still differ on certain issues, a recent meeting between them shows it may be possible to break the deadlock. Noting the stabilization of oil production and the exchange rate, he stressed "these efforts deserve full recognition". He also welcomed the recent announcement of a national reconciliation conference to be held in Libya in October as an "important measure to rebuild trust and enhance unity", and expressed hope that all parties in Libya will use this opportunity to "give new impetus to the political transition". Emphasizing that "the Libyan issue has dragged on for more than a decade", he called on all parties in that country to strengthen communication, maintain the ceasefire and avoid military friction. Numerous Council members focused on the women, peace and security agenda, underscoring the importance of women's participation in Libya's political processes. Among them was Malta's delegate, who stressed that the restrictions on women's political engagement and the limited representation of women in national structures are "incompatible with Libya's political road map". She condemned the reprisals and attacks against elected women in politics and called for the lifting of any restrictions against women's freedom of movement and right to work. "A political transition and national reconciliation in Libya will only be successful if women are empowered to participate fully, equally, meaningfully and safely in all processes related to the future of their country," echoed Slovenia's delegate. This is especially relevant in the context of upcoming municipal elections, she said, urging the Libyan authorities to "do everything in their power" to encourage and enable women to take part both as voters and as candidates. Turning to Libya's fragile humanitarian situation, Switzerland's delegate stated: "While the parties to the conflict struggle for power, the civilian population is suffering the worst consequences." Sudanese refugees in southern Libya face myriad challenges, she observed, spotlighting reports of human trafficking, exploitation and sexual violence. Condemning human rights violations against migrants and refugees in official and unofficial detention facilities, the speaker for Japan emphasized that "the international community should shed more light on those in vulnerable situations". Relatedly, his counterpart from the Republic of Korea underlined the need to address the dire conditions facing migrants from Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and refugees from neighbouring countries. Amid the surge of migrants and refugees in Libya a totaling over 700,000 as of now a the criminal networks continue to profit from smuggling and human trafficking against them, he said, calling for coordination among law enforcement agencies of concerned countries and activities of European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean Sea. The speaker for the United Kingdom voiced concern over increasing violations and abuses of human rights in the country, including recent reports of unlawful arrests and mistreatment of journalists. "Libya can only prosper when its citizens enjoy universal rights, and when its leaders and institutions uphold the rule of law," he stated. Echoing that sentiment, Ecuador's delegate urged the Libyan authorities to take up the recommendations of the Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on technical assistance and capacity-building to improve the human rights situation in the country, particularly the protection and promotion of the rights of women and civil society representatives. The Council also heard from the representative of Libya who took the floor after various members of that body spoke. "I don't know where to start," he said, noting that statements thus far contained expressions of concern, condemnation and urgent appeals. "But I didn't hear any proposals of practical solutions," he observed. Noting how the spectre of instability looms large over the Libyan people a and may spill across its borders a he asked those present about their plan to support Libya: "For how long will we continue to hear briefings that simply report facts?" Highlighting the Organization's inability to reach agreement regarding the appointment of a Special Representative a "a situation present for months" a he noted that while some initiatives are being undertaken in good faith to find a Libyan-owned solution, others aim to exclude several parties and ensure that the current situation wears on. "The international community has never allowed the Libyan people to take the reins of the process that will actually determine their fate," he stressed, adding that the situation "can only worsen when States take decisions that widen the divides between Libyan stakeholders". Calling on these parties to refrain from sowing discord, he said that the only possible solution for Libya involves ending division and "remedying the precarity of national institutions through free, transparent and inclusive elections". Turning to the economic situation, he spotlighted the proliferation of counterfeit currency and, stating that the hydrocarbon market is a key source of income for Libya, pointed out that the current situation in the country is adversely affecting distribution of revenue from this sector. Libya will "sooner or later be cleansed" of foreign presence, he said, adding that "it is high time that the masks fall" in his country so it can focus on building its future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta dispels rumors of putsch as support for chief wanes Battlefield failures and scapegoating have prompted a growing dissatisfaction with Min Aung Hlaing's leadership. A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2024.08.20 -- Rumors of a putsch swirled around Myanmar last week ahead of Chinese Prime Minister Wang Yi's visit to Naypyidaw where he obliquely rebuked junta chief Senior Gen.l Min Aung Hlaing. Given the scale of recent military losses there were reasons for both. The opposition's military gains have fundamentally transformed the battlescape and it is hard to see how the military can recover. Since the ethnic army offensive known as Operation 1027 began in late 2023, opposition forces have captured over 2,000 military positions. The Arakan Army controls almost the entire northern half of Rakhine, and is rapidly pushing south, meeting little resistance. The Kachin Independence Army controls every border crossing to China, and it is now on the outskirts of Myitkyina and Bhamo. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Defense Alliance Army control much of northern Shan state. One conflict monitoring group estimates that there have been 6,000 army casualties since Operation 1027 began. Hastily recruited and poorly trained conscripts are now at the front lines. The military mustered 5,000 troops for the defense of Lashio and, even with air support, were outmanned and overpowered. When Lashio fell, nearly 5,000 troops and their families surrendered. The shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, Defense Minister Ye Mon, recently asserted that 75 of 252, or 30%, of the country's towns and cities are completely liberated, while 74 are being contested. Only one-third of the cities and towns are under full military control, though they are the largest population centers. Since Operation 1027 began, the military has been unable to recapture almost any territory, and where it has, it's been through sheer scorched earth tactics, intended to depopulate communities. Unappreciated role of PDFs While so much attention has been focused on the gains of the ethnic resistance organizations, or EROs, not enough attention has been paid to the NUG's People's Defense Forces, also known as PDFs. When the PDFs were first established in 2021, they were largely written off as nothing more than canon fodder. Filled with urban youths who fled the junta, they had few arms. Groups like the Karen National Liberation Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army provided training and a limited supply of arms and ammunition. By 2022 and 2023, the NUG was able to supply the PDFs with a steady stream of funding, which allowed them to begin to purchase weapons on the black market. But most of the weapons they obtained were captured on the battlefield. Each successive victory gave them the arms and munitions that laid the foundation for future victories. The PDFs have been disciplined and highly motivated, committed to the political goals of a federal democracy. Taking advantage of their tech savvy youth, they have also been technically proficient and innovative, quickly utilizing commercial drones, long before any ERO or the military did. PDFs have played an under-appreciated role in all of the Operation 1027 battles. They fought alongside the Karen Nationalities Defence Force in Kayah state, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and Kachin Independence Army. The NUG was smart enough to put many of their units under the operational command of the various EROs, which had more battlefield experience. But the PDFs have demonstrated exceptional battlefield experience in the past two years. In some regions, they are doing the lion's share of the fighting. Operation Shan-Man The Mandalay PDF has built on the success of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army in northern Shan state. It moved out of the hills to the east of the Irrawaddy River, capturing the town of Singu, a mere 50 km (30 miles) north of Mandalay. This allowed them to block the movement of troops and supplies up Route 311 to the southern Kachin city of Bhamo, evidence of close tactical coordination between the NUG and the EROs. The Mandalay PDF continues to stage attacks along that road. Last week they captured Takaung, which is the symbolic center of the Burmese empire, and Thabeikkyin township, situated between Singu and Takaung. In addition, they have taken nine army camps. Control of these towns not only gives them control of the highway, but also, should they be able to acquire heavier weaponry, control of the movement of troops and supplies along the Irrawaddy River. PDFs have increased sporadic, though not sustained, attacks on the outskirts of Mandalay, the country's second largest city. Roughly 100 km (60 miles) to the city's southwest, PDFs have been engaged in fighting across Myingyan township. Four separate PDFs converged on Taungtha township. Other PDFs moved on the town of Natogyi. The government quickly responded, deploying 200 reinforcements to retake the town, where there is a pumping and off-take station for China's parallel oil and gas pipeline from Kyaukphyu in Rakhine state to Kunming, across the border in Yunnan province. PDFs had briefly held the guard stations at the facility. The escalation of fighting in the region prompted the Singapore-listed Sembcorp to indefinitely suspend operations at its US$300 million, 225-megawatt gas-fired power plant, which was opened in 2019. For a country already suffering acute power shortages, this is another blow for the faltering junta. From four cuts to depopulation While the NUG and their PDFs are quick to capitalize on their victories, releasing videos of townspeople warmly welcoming opposition forces, there are costs entailed with liberation. When Operation 1027 began, the Kachin Independence Army and PDFs took over Kawlin township, in the heart of Sagaing region's dry zone. This prompted a brutal counterattack. For nearly two weeks the town was shelled and bombed. PDF-initiated attacks have also intensified in recent weeks in southern Sagaing, prompting fierce reprisals, mass arson attacks, and artillery strikes. Likewise, the military has lashed out in Shan state, indiscriminately bombing civilians in towns captured by the armed opposition. A desperate regime seems to be adapting its already brutal counter-insurgency doctrine known as the "Four Cuts," which is designed to terrorize the population into submission, to a Russian style campaign of depopulating territories. Signs of strain Min Aung Hlaing met with China's Wang Yi, on Aug. 15, dispelling claims that he had been ousted by his peers. But given the battlefield failures and his penchant for scapegoating, one certainly understands why there is growing dissatisfaction and unease. Min Aung Hlaing has been rotating generals at breakneck speed. Of the 14 regional military commands, seven have been assigned new commanders in 2024 alone. The Northeast Command has had three commanders in the past two months alone. Only one of the 14 regional military commanders has been in place since January 2022. The remainder were replaced between April and August 2023. Of the six Bureau of Special Operation commanders that oversee the regional military commands, four have been replaced since April 2023. This month Lt. General Ni Lin Aung was assigned to oversee the four regional military commands in Shan state. There are reports that the State Administrative Council, as the junta is formally known, has assigned its second ranking official, General Soe Win, to personally lead counter-offensive operations. The junta has detained several commanders and their deputies from the Triangle Region, Northeast, and Central Region commands. The costs of failure are high as the regime searches for people to blame. But more failure is likely, as the flailing junta is confronted by a surging opposition, and the financial and logistical realities that make any counter-offensive impossible. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. 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 August 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 Myanmar rebels capture last junta base in township on China border The captured base is a key to the defense of a military headquarters. By RFA Burmese 2024.08.20 -- One of Myanmar's most powerful insurgent armies has taken full control of a strategically important township in Kachin state on the border with China, its information officer told Radio Free Asia. The Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, together with People's Defense Forces loyal to the shadow National Unity Government, defeated junta forces to capture their last remaining battalion base in Momauk township in northern Myanmar on Monday, Col. Naw Bu said. "We were able to completely seize Infantry Battalion 437," he said. "The military council launched airstrikes but now we can say we have taken control of the whole of Momauk township." There were casualties on both sides, Naw Bu said, but he declined to give details. RFA telephoned the junta's Kachin state spokesman and social affairs minister Moe Min Thei to ask about Momauk but he did not answer. The KIA, fighting for self-determination against the forces of the junta that toppled a democratically elected government in 2021, launched an initial attack on Momauk on May 7, then began their final push, along with their allies, on July 24. Momauk is about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of the Kachin state capital of Myitkyina, and only about 14 kilometers (9 miles) east of the town of Bhamo where the junta's Operations and Command Headquarters 21 is based, Naw Bu said. Junta forces had withdrawn towards Bhamo, which is on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, he said. The KIA and its allies have captured more than 20 junta camps in the township since late July and about 200 junta camps in the whole of Kachin state since the beginning of the year, he said. Residents flee fighting Junta airstrikes, artillery attacks and arson led to the destruction of more than 100 homes in Momauk and more than 3,000 people had fled, many to the safety of areas under KIA control, residents said. One displaced resident sheltering near the Chinese border said he was afraid of more fighting. "The town is being cleared up but I haven't gone back," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons. "I would like to check my home if I could but I'm still worried that there will be more fighting," he said, referring to Bhamo and Mansi towns where junta forces are based. "There are so many difficulties when we flee and shelter with relatives". The KIA is one of several insurgent forces to make significant gains against junta forces since late last year. An alliance of three rebel factions has pushed junta forces out of major towns in Shan state, to the southeast of Kachin state, while the military has lost ground to ethnic minority insurgents in Rakhine state in the west, and in Kayah and Kayin states in the east, as well as in parts of the deep south. The junta has responded with airstrikes including on the KIA headquarters at Lai Zar on Aug. 15. That attack unsettled neighboring China, which fired warning shots at junta jets, according to the KIA. The United Nations says about 3 million people have been forced from their homes by the fighting in Myanmar, many since clashes surged at the beginning of the year. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. 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 August 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 Russia Struggles To Find Role For Reconstituted Wagner Group In Africa, Experts Say By Zachary Vargo August 20, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After the Wagner Group reconstituted itself earlier this year, including renaming itself the Africa Corps, Kremlin officials seem unsure of the group's next steps and its role within Russia's international strategy, experts speaking on August 20 at a Washington think tank said. While major restructuring did take place, the newly formed Africa Corps appears to be different in name only. The war in Ukraine has continued to be the number one priority for the group, comprising heavy cooperation with Russian officials. Within Africa, however, both the group's sovereignty and their exact role in the region come into question, the experts said. With the one-year anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of multiple key figures of the then-Wagner Group approaching on August 23, Moscow officials have yet to fill the void that was left by the death of charismatic leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. After the dramatic crash in the Tver region northwest of Moscow -- an accident according to Russian authorities but widely believed to have been an intentional act carried out at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- Russia's GRU military intelligence agency took control of all operations of the group. But even with this takeover, political analyst Mark Galeotti argued at the Brookings Institution on August 20 that the GRU "is trying to run a blended diplomatic, commercial, and military structure, while they only have the skill set to run the latter." With the GRU still getting a foothold on the operations of the previous group, Africa Corps has large shoes to fill if it wishes to continue the Wagner Group's influence across several African countries. In Libya, the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), and Mali, the Africa Corps has continued the same operations that were conducted by Wagner Group in years prior. But in the past year, Africa Corps' leadership has begun to test its power in both Burkina Faso and Niger with expansions of personnel that bring its presence in each country to more than 100, according to Christopher Faulkner, professor at the U.S. Naval War College. "Africa Corps is still in its elementary phase.... We're just waiting to see what's going to transpire and whether or not Moscow will actually invest in real genuine security in those states," Faulkner said.With the Wagner's Group previous reputation for brutality in Ukraine, it is surprising that its counterinsurgency operations have largely been unspectacular in Africa, according to Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. In C.A.R., Wagner's success was underpinned by the fact that its adversary consisted of relatively weak local groups. Even in a case such as Mozambique, where it was fighting a weak Al-Shabab, its operation was largely considered a failure, Felbab-Brown said. The goal of the newly formed Africa Corps, considered a terrorist group by Britain and a transnational criminal group by the United States, is to create regime dependency on Russia through the security it provides. It has systemically driven up polarization in the countries where it operates in Africa, provoked violence, economic infiltration, and made use of organized crime groups, Felbab-Brown said. Africa Corps' entry into Burkina Faso, which came after Prigozhin's death, was an attempt to further this influence, while simultaneously the GRU began assessing its role on the continent. As this assessment continues, Africa Corps appears to be preparing to enter the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C) as well. According to Felbab-Brown, the Russian government has already signed military deals with the government of the D.R.C. In addition, the government of the tiny island country of Sao Tome and Principe off Africa's western coast, is cozying up to Russia. It has been signaling that it is keen on sending forces to a Russian training academy in Chechnya designed specifically for proxy actors. Similarly, Russia has begun canceling and restructuring large portions of debt owed to it by Guinea Bissau. Russian influence in Guinea Bissau, one of the world's least developed countries, will put Moscow within arms reach of Guinea Bissau's massive cocaine trade, where many organized crime groups from both Africa and Latin America convene, according to Felbab-Brown. This would allow Russian intelligence groups to further link themselves to transnational criminal organizations. While Africa Corps is slowly attempting to further cement itself on the continent, Moscow officials must first learn how to properly use the group to their advantage. In considering the reach the group already has, as well as the speed at which Moscow was able to reconstitute Wagner into Africa Corps, Felbab-Brown said it is easy to understand why "Russia is playing for influence, much as the U.S.A. is trying to counter this influence." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-africa- corps-wagner-group-gru-prigozhin/33086160.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 Joint planning of upcoming practical activities during international Selenga exercise is carried out at Choibalsan training ground in Mongolia 20.08.2024 Assistant to the commander of the Eastern MD colonel Ivan Taraev, chief of the Russian units in the exercises Mikhail Nikitin stand alongside with commander of the Mongolian unit Colonel Buyndelger and members of the Selega 2024 joint staff plus COs of the units involved had inspection of the Choibalsan training ground in Mongolia. They also fixed position data to assess features of terrain. Officers of the Eastern MD and Mongolian armed forces during the planing of joint practice discussed a number of planning issues for effective employment of subordinate assets for an operation on neutralisation of illegal armed formations. The servicemen of motorised infantry and tank units now have determined their firing sectors, routes for advance, area of vehicles deployment, and line of contact. Moreover, communication is also organised. At the observation post, the command of the Eastern MD artillery and Mongolian armed forces had additional calculations for fire engagement of the mock enemy plus firing positions location were defined. Moreover, joint training of special forces units and manoeuvres of army aviation of helicopters with Mongolian Air Force during the air surveillance and fire cover of land forces. As a reference, Selega 2024 involves motorised rifle, tank, artillery, and AD units of the Eastern MD combined arms army temporally deployed in Buryatia and the Mongolian armed forces. Press Service of the Eastern Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan launches Sky Bow, PAC-IIs in rare public missile drills ROC Central News Agency 08/20/2024 01:31 PM Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Taiwan's military demonstrated its precision missile capabilities on Tuesday by firing its indigenous Tien-Kung III (Sky Bow III) land-based surface-to-air missile and U.S.-made Patriot PAC-II surface-to-air missiles in drills opened to the media. The round of exercises was held early on Tuesday in areas around Jiupeng Base in southern Pingtung County's Manzhou Township. Two PAC-II missiles and one Sky Bow III were fired and successfully hit their respective target drones. Multiple local media also speculated that the military also test-launched the expanded version of Hsiung Feng II-E or "Brave Wind II-E" from the same site earlier Tuesday. That part of the exercises was not officially open to the media, however. The Hsiung Feng II-E is a surface-to-surface land-attack cruise missile system. Its expanded version reportedly has a range 1,200 kilometers, meaning that inland provinces of China, for instance, would be within the missile's reach. Without confirming nor denying the test launch of the Hsiung Feng II-E, military spokesman Sun Li-fang (ac) told local media on Tuesday that all of the military's live-fire drills were conducted in accordance with its annual plan. "Some of the tested missiles are more sensitive so we won't comment on what kind of missiles were used in such drills," Sun said. The drill ground in Jiupeng Base has been used for decades by the military and its top weapons development unit, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). However, the military has seldom made public such missile firing drills. The last time precision live-fire missile drills open to the media were held in Jiupeng was in 2012. (By Matt Yu, Wu Shu-wei and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/JT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Democrats include U.S.' 'Six Assurances' in policy platform for 1st time ROC Central News Agency 08/20/2024 05:38 PM Chicago, Aug. 19 (CNA) The Democratic National Convention in Chicago approved the party's 92-page policy platform Monday, including an unprecedented commitment to the U.S.' "Six Assurances" to Taiwan. In addition to incorporating a reference to Taiwan in a chapter on strengthening American leadership worldwide, the policy document also reaffirmed the Democrats' adherence to the U.S.' "One China" policy, its firm commitment to safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposition to unilateral changes to the cross-strait status quo. "President Biden will also remain steadfast in America's commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait consistent with the U.S. One China Policy -- guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances -- in order to continue to ensure that there are no unilateral changes to the status quo from either side." The Democrats conspicuously omitted any reference to Washington's "One China" policy in its 2020 party platform, mentioning only the Taiwan Relations Act. The Six Assurances given to Taiwan in 1982 by the late former U.S. President Ronald Reagan are: The U.S. has not agreed to set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; has not agreed to consult with China on arms sales to Taiwan; will not play a mediation role between Taipei and Beijing; has not agreed to revise the Taiwan Relations Act; has not altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan; and will not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations with China. Although the Republican Party first included the Six Assurances in its 2016 platform and again in 2020, there was no mention of Taiwan in this year's document. In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday expressed gratitude for the approval of the Democratic Party's 2024 platform, saying this highlighted the importance the party attaches to peace across the Taiwan Strait and that the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace has become an international consensus in recent years. The wording in the platform shows the party's robust support for Taiwan, the ministry said in a statement. Russell Hsiao (eea), the executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI), said in an email interview with CNA that the reintroduction of the "One China" policy in the Democratic Party's platform reflects a return to a more traditional formulation of U.S. policy towards Taiwan and may be seen as a gesture of reassurance of the party's adherence to longstanding policy rhetoric on cross-strait relations. The platform document was released after Mark Lambert, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, told a forum in May that the U.S.' "One China" policy is based on the Taiwan Relations Act, the "Three Joint Communiques" and the "Six Assurances." According to Lambert, under its "One China" policy, the U.S. opposes unilateral changes to the cross-strait status quo, does not support Taiwanese independence, supports cross-strait dialogue and hopes that cross-strait differences will be resolved peacefully, without coercion, in a way that is acceptable to the people of both sides. (By Shih Hsiu-chuan and Evelyn Kao) Enditem/ASG > Chinese Version NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 20, 2024 The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today. The Secretary discussed the importance of completing the ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, bringing the hostages home, and increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Lammy also discussed the need to deescalate tensions in the region. The two reaffirmed enduring support for Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to questions from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin TV programme, Baku, August 19, 2024 19 August 2024 18:33 1555-19-08-2024 Question: What types of talks are completely off the table with that regime? Sergey Lavrov: After the start of the [Ukrainian] invasion of the Kursk Region, President of Russia Vladimir Putin made it clear that any talks were out of the question. I would also like to highlight another important remark from President Putin. He said that we will certainly provide an assessment to this situation, that assessment will come at a later time. Recently, there have been rumours about clandestine contacts, including preparations for Qatar-mediated talks on Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities. There were also claims that our Turkish neighbours were considering mediating the issue of the food security, particularly in the context of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. You can imagine the ulterior motives behind these "ideas." All of this stems from the Burgenstock "conference," where it was decided to establish three working groups: one on energy, one on food (linked to maritime security), and one on humanitarian issues (prisoner exchanges, etc.). These groups have been formed, and their meetings are being prepared. However, any suggestion that Russia might be invited to participate is sheer nonsense. The Burgenstock "process" is entirely unacceptable to Russia, as its sole purpose is to advance an ultimatum disguised as the Zelensky "formula." Question: What response can be expected? Sergey Lavrov: This is a matter for the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Federation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 20, 2024 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov yesterday regarding battlefield dynamics, Ukraine's ongoing operations, and Ukrainian reconstitution and training efforts. Minister Umerov provided an update on the impact of Russia's continued attacks in Ukraine. Secretary Austin and Minister Umerov also discussed the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting to continue to support Ukraine's urgent military requirements. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3878500/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address August 20, 2024 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News DOD, UDCG Continue to Look for Better Ways to Expedite Support to Ukraine Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today spoke with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss ongoing war efforts in Ukraine and details of the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in September. "During their call, Minister Umerov provided an update on the impact of Russia's continued attacks in Ukraine," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing today. "Secretary Austin and the minister also discussed the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, which will be held next month in support of Ukraine's urgent security assistance requirements." The UDCG, spearheaded by Austin, met for the first time in Germany in April 2022 and meets monthly. The group is a way for the more than 50 participating nations to coordinate their assistance to Ukraine and focus on Ukraine's future defense needs. Besides coordinating efforts to get much-needed military supplies to Ukraine, the UDCG also explores better ways to expedite the delivery of those materials. "We are always looking at ways that we can expedite delivery of capabilities to the Ukrainians," Ryder said. "The Ukraine Defense Contact Group provides an excellent forum in which to have discussions to look at processes [and] procedures as [they relate] to ensuring that the Ukrainians have what they need on the battlefield to defend themselves." Ryder said the U.S. has emphasized speedy delivery of systems to Ukraine from the start. In November 2022, for instance, the U.S. stood up the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine in Wiesbaden, Germany, to better coordinate training and equipping Ukrainian forces, and to help increase their situational awareness. With more than 50 nations participating in the UDCG, Ryder said, supporting Ukraine is a complex effort a one the DOD will continue to uphold. "That is work that is constantly ongoing," he said. "As evidenced by the fact that you continue to see Russian forces conducting offensive action in the east of Ukraine, we also recognize the vital importance of moving as quickly as possible, so we'll stay after it." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Has 'No Intention' Of Occupying Russian Territory, Says Zelenskiy Aide By Current Time, RFE/RL's Russian Service and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 20, 2024 Kyiv says it is continuing its two-week-old incursion into Russia's border region of Kursk with the aim of creating a buffer zone to protect civilians along the border, but Moscow is pressing unabated its offensive farther south in Donetsk region, where it claims to have captured a key logistics hub on August 20. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine now controls 1,250 kilometers and 92 settlements in Kursk since it launched its surprise cross-border operation on August 6, and Russia acknowledged that three key bridges over the Seym River were destroyed, cutting important supply lines for Moscow forces. However, Kyiv's aim is not territorial gain and has a clear scope -- ensuring the safety against incessant Russian shelling and strikes from across the border, one of Zelenskiy's senior advisers, Mykhaylo Podolyak, told Current Time, adding that Ukraine's operation is adhering to international legislation and protects the civilian population. "Ukraine does not intend to seize populated areas or occupy this territory," Podolyak said on August 19. "This is a different type of war, a war that is clearly spelled out in international law and in conventions that regulate behavior toward combatants and especially toward noncombatants, toward the civilian population on this territory." Podolyak told Current Time that Moscow has been using border areas to strike civilian infrastructure up to 70-80 kilometers inside Ukraine. "Along the border, including in the Kursk region, artillery is deployed 1 or 2 kilometers from the state border, ballistic launchers are deployed, multiple-launch rocket systems are deployed," he said. "Take [Ukraine's] Sumy region, located just opposite Kursk region. About 500-600 shellings were carried out daily targeting the territory of the Sumy region. Squeezing out Russian weapons to a depth of 100 kilometers will already make it possible to protect the civilian population in the Ukrainian border area, for example in the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions." Referring to the civilian population that remains in the territory now under Ukrainian military's control, Podolyak said Kyiv is fulfilling all the requirements of international humanitarian legislation. "We keep a register of civilians. International law very strictly requires that you bear actual responsibility for residents, citizens, and noncombatants. International humanitarian law clearly spells out your responsibility in the zone of actual control if there is military action there. Of course, registers will be compiled, our guys are looking at who is there, who needs to be sent where, and so on." Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko told RFE/RL on August 20 that no evacuation of local residents from Kursk areas controlled by Ukraine's armed forces to Ukraine is under way at the moment. Kostenko added that the Kyiv-installed command office is ensuring the protection of local residents in Russian territories under Ukraine's control, in accordance with Geneva conventions. On August 19, Zelenskiy again pushed for permission from Ukraine's allies to use long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia. "Ukraine is separated from halting the advance of the Russian Army on the front by only one decision we await from our partners: the decision on long-range capabilities," he said. The United States and other allies of Ukraine have placed restrictions on the use of the weapons over concerns that it could escalate the war. Podolyak, however, said such an escalation would only occur if Ukraine acted in a similar way to Russia and struck civilian areas, which would put Kyiv morally on the same footing as Moscow. "There is definitely no point in striking big cities or populated areas as such. This will not solve any problem and would equalize Ukraine and Russia in the type of warfare, which is absolutely pointless," Podolyak said. The United States, Ukraine's main ally and supplier of modern weapons systems, remains opposed for the time being to allowing Ukraine to use long-range western arms to strike deeper inside Russia. "I will say that our policy has not changed. I just don't have anything to add to that," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in response to a question on the subject on August 19. Meanwhile, Russia on August 20 claimed to have captured Nyu-York, an important logistics hub in Donetsk, as it continues its grinding advance toward the city of Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of children. "As a result of the actions of the units of the center group of forces, a large grouping of enemy troops was defeated and one of the largest settlements in Toretsk agglomeration, the strategically important logistics hub of [Nyu-York].. was liberated," the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram. The capture of Nyu-York, which had a population of around 10,000 before the start of the war, could not be independently confirmed. On August 19, Russia said it had captured the nearby town of Zalizne, also part of Toretsk urban agglomeration. Ukrainian air-defense systems repelled a missile strike on Kyiv early on August 20, the fifth missile attack by Russia's military on the Ukrainian capital this month, the air force reported. Elsewhere, a large fire broke out in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, regional officials said, urging people to remain inside. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/podolyak-kursk- zelenskiy-sumy/33085360.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 Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Law Banning Religious Groups Tied To Russian Orthodox Church By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 20, 2024 Ukrainian lawmakers on August 20 approved a bill banning religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, which Kyiv has criticized for being supportive of Moscow's full-scale invasion. Lawmaker Oleksandr Honcharenko said 265 members in parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approved the bill that once signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will pave the way to banning the branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC),which is associated with the Moscow Patriarchate. The legislation bans the activities of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence "in a state that carries out armed aggression against Ukraine." It says a court of law would be empowered to terminate such activities. Zelenskiy thanked lawmakers and called the legislation "the law on our spiritual independence." "This is what we have been talking about with members of the Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. And in the coming days I will talk about it with representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. We will continue to strengthen our Ukraine, our society," Zelenskiy said in a video statement. The bill has been a hot issue for lawmakers. In July, senior legislators refused to put it to a vote, after which, deputies representing several parties blocked the podium armed with a banner reading "The Moscow church kills." Zelenskiy's Servant of the People party split over the fate of the legislation targeting the UOC, whose controversial role in Ukraine has drawn further scrutiny since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian lawmakers gave their initial approval to the bill in October 2023. The UOC is a branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church that previously was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox patriarch in Moscow. It officially cut ties with Moscow last year over Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but officials linked to the church have been accused of maintaining links with Russia. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said in October that 68 criminal cases, including accusations of treason, had been initiated against UOC representatives since Russia's invasion. The UOC has insisted the legislation would not comply with the Ukrainian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, accusing Kyiv of trying to portray its Ukrainian clergymen and believers as "agents of the Russian Federation." On August 20, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, who is an adviser to the Russian Orthodox Church's leader, Patriarch Kirill, condemned the Ukrainian lawmakers' approval of the bill, saying it violates the religious rights of the Ukrainian people. "The law adopted by the [Verkhovna] Rada violates internationally recognized norms related to the protection of religious freedom and provides the possibility of a further wider deployment of anti-church persecution by the Kyiv regime," Balashov said. The Russian Orthodox Church has staunchly backed President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's invasion. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-orthodox-church- moscvow-patriarchate-legislation/33085600.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 demarche to US Charge d'Affaires in Russia Stephanie Holmes 20 August 2024 15:20 1558-20-08-2024 On August 20, US Charge d'Affaires Stephanie Holmes was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where a strong protest was lodged in response to the provocative actions of American journalists who illegally entered the Kursk Region to provide propaganda coverage of the crimes committed by the Kiev regime. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates the involvement of an American private military company in supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces' invasion of Russian territory. It was stressed that these actions, which contradict the Biden administration's claims of non-involvement in the attacks by Ukrainian neo-Nazis on Russia, clearly demonstrate the United States' role as a direct participant in the conflict and its complicity in Vladimir Zelensky's malicious plans. It was particularly emphasised that US citizens involved in these crimes will face necessary investigative actions by the competent agencies in accordance with the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to ensure they are held accountable. Additionally, it was clarified that all foreign "specialists" or mercenaries who illegally cross the Russian border will automatically be considered legitimate military targets for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Minister holds session of Coordination Council on military security of border areas 20.08.2024 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov chaired a meeting of the Coordination Council on security issues of the border territories of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions. The Russian Defence Minister pointed out that at the moment a direct 24/7 cooperation between regional administrations, commanders of groups of forces, and responsible heads of the Russian Defence Ministry's central office is established in three regions of the Russian Federation. 'For each task of the Coordination Council, the ministry has identified an official who is responsible for its fulfilment within a daily deadline. If the problem cannot be solved at the corresponding level, the information is delivered to me personally and I make a decision,' said the Russian Defence Minister. Andrei Belousov appointed each member of the Russian Defence Ministry's Coordination Council to respective areas of responsibility: a Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Andrei Bulyga is responsible for logistic support, transportation, and assistance to civilian authorities during evacuation of citizens; a Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko is responsible for materiel (weaponry, special and military hardware); a Deputy Defence Minister Pavel Fradkov is responsible for engineering constructive works and building; a Deputy Defence Minister Head of Central Office of the Russian Defence Ministry Oleg Savelyev is responsible for interdepartmental cooperation and coordination; a Head of the Main Military Medical Department of the Russian Defence Ministry Dmitry Trishkin is responsible for medical support; a A representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the commanders of the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk groups of forces are responsible for the protection of citizens and territories from attacks by drones and other means of attack. aDeputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is appointed as the deputy head of Coordination Council. 'I would like to emphasise once again that these officials should be in direct communication with the regions around the clock. No issue should be left unaddressed,' said the Russian Defence Minister. Andrei Belousov said that a special task force has been deployed at the National Centre for State Defence Control of the Russian Federation to collect, analyse, route questions from the regions and control their resolution. Deputy Head of the National Centre for State Defence of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Yury Korsachev reported during the session that the task force has established cooperation with responsible officials in the groups of forces, operational headquarters under the governors of the border regions and central military administration bodies. Work has also been organised with the All-Russia People's Front public association, public non-profit organisations and foundations, including the Noviy Mir (New World) Fund. 'In total, since the work began, the task force has received 25 problematic issues related to the provision of the State Border Covering Force with the most demanded materiel,' reported Yuri Korsachev. The Deputy Head of the National Centre for State Defence Control said that as of today, 11 of the 12 issues received from the Kursk region operational headquarters have been fully resolved. 'The State Border Covering Force has been supplied with the requested number of quadcopters, anti-drone guns and drone detectors, wearable (portable, individual) electronic warfare equipment, small-sized energy units, ATVs, and heat-insulating capes,' he said. The task force received 6 issues of concern from the operational headquarters of Belgorod region regarding the supply of quadrocopters, gasoline generators, ATVs, night vision devices and sights, and thermal imaging cameras to the State Border Covering Force. All decisions have been taken by the responsible officials of the Russian Defence Ministry. 'We are currently coordinating the loading and movement of transport with materiel to the final recipients. The deadline is by the end of tomorrow,' said Yuri Korsachev. The Bryansk region operational headquarters referred 7 problematic issues. The heads of the military command authorities have issued the necessary instructions for the supply of materiel to the State Border Covering Force. The task force is monitoring the receipt of radios, radio jamming and drone countermeasures systems, engineering and medical equipment from logistics centres and defence industry enterprises, with a delivery date of tomorrow. 'All incoming problematic issues are promptly brought to the responsible central military authorities, their implementation is on round-the-clock support and coordination,' said Yuri Korsachev. During the meeting, members of the Coordination Council had in-depth discussions on the situation in each region. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address READOUT: Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo's Call with Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko of Ukraine U.S. Department of the Treasury August 20, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo held a virtual call with Ukrainian Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko. Deputy Secretary Adeyemo reaffirmed the Administration's unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight to defend itself against Russia's illegal and unprovoked war and preserve its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Deputy Secretary commended Ukraine's efforts to raise domestic revenues and committed that the international community would continue to stand with them. The Deputy Secretary and Minister discussed efforts by the United States and G7 partners to operationalize the G7 Leaders' Apulia commitment to implement Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, including important work by the European Union and the European Commission on the immobilization regime for Russian sovereign assets. Unlocking the value of these assets would make available approximately $50 billion in additional funding before the end of the year to support Ukraine's current and future needs. The Deputy Secretary and Minister also discussed Ukraine's continued progress on reforms that will further increase Ukraine's economic resilience and improve governance and the recent disbursement of U.S. direct budget support for Ukraine. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Energy Sector, Beginning of the School Year and Cooperation with Partners in the EU: a Meeting of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine Was Held President of Ukraine 20 August 2024 - 18:41 A meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine was held in Kropyvnytskyi. "We have a range of very important issues - internal and external issues, that directly affect the lives of Ukrainian citizens, the lives of our Ukrainian communities, the life of our entire state," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. During the meeting, the parties discussed the potential of state programs in the energy sector, the creation of alternative energy sources, the preparation of the maximum number of educational institutions for offline work, and the cooperation with partners in the European Union. "We need to take advantage of all the benefits offered by the European integration process. And this includes efforts at the level of political leadership, state institutions and also at the level of each community, because everyone in Ukraine needs proper interaction with the European Union," the Head of State emphasized. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on the defensive actions of Ukrainian warriors in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions and on the situation in the border area. The Defense Forces are conducting an offensive in the Kursk region in order to create a security zone, stop the shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation and outpace the enemy. Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak commended the partnership relations at the level of cities and regions and urged to intensify these efforts. "Each region and each city should work on strengthening international relations. We need not just signed documents, but tangible results of partnerships. Technical assistance, joint projects, funds raised, development and implementation of local policies," he said. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal informed the participants about the preparation of the energy system for the winter, in particular, about the allocation of additional funds for building capacities and strengthening the protection of energy facilities against Russian attacks. The Prime Minister paid special attention to the agricultural land inventory. "23% of land is not registered in the cadaster. Today we are signing a memorandum to speed up this process. This will be a joint effort of the center and the regions. All land must be included in the cadaster, which will result in potential additional annual revenues to local budgets of almost UAH 28 billion," Denys Shmyhal said. Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, spoke about the implementation of projects for the development of alternative energy sources. Also, within the framework of the Congress meeting, a memorandum was signed on improving the energy sustainability of Ukrainian communities. "Thanks to the cooperation of state authorities, local self-government bodies, and relevant associations, a significant increase in the number of thermally modernized buildings and solar power plants is expected," Yuliia Svyrydenko said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Providing Educational Institutions with Shelters and Transportation and Reforming the School Nutrition System: President Met with Educators in Kropyvnytskyi President of Ukraine 20 August 2024 - 18:00 During his working visit to Kirovohrad region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the participants of the second session of the regional educational conference "Serpneva-2024". The Head of State thanked the teachers for preserving the opportunity for children to receive education during the war, which is one of Ukraine's priorities. "We are very grateful that despite all the losses caused by the war, we have neither lost you nor our educational space. I also thank you for educating our children, our future, in a very correct, humane, patriotic way," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. According to him, state and local authorities pay a lot of attention to the organization of offline education. The President emphasized that the creation of security infrastructure for educational institutions is one of the most urgent issues today. In particular, Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi to find a solution for the provision of shelters for educational institutions in non-frontline and non-border regions. The issue of the need for school buses must also be resolved, in particular, by compensating for the resources transferred to the frontline. Another pressing issue is increasing the number of cooks to implement the School Nutrition Reform initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resumption of Production and Increase in Employment Opportunities in the Kirovohrad Region Strengthens Its Resilience and That of the Whole Country - the President Met with Local Business President of Ukraine 20 August 2024 - 17:00 During his working visit to the Kirovohrad region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with business representatives within the framework of the Made in Ukraine economic platform. The Head of State has thanked all the warriors from this region and the enterprises that support them with their work. "This is very important. This is the value of your region, its restoration. Today, I see the resumption of production. We see that enterprises are increasing employment opportunities," he said. The President noted that the Ministry of Economy and entrepreneurs are discussing business support programs and stressed that there should be more such initiatives. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko noted that this year UAH 850 million has been allocated for the Kirovohrad region under the Made in Ukraine initiative. The more actively businesses apply for support programs, the more funds they will be able to receive. In addition, Yuliia Svyrydenko announced that the Government has today approved the launch of the President's National Cashback initiative. It will be available to Ukrainians next month. During the meeting with entrepreneurs, the parties discussed the possibility of involving Ukrainian manufacturers in the completion of the Khmelnytskyi NPP, the program of partial compensation for the cost of domestic agricultural machinery and equipment, and the development of localization of engineering and construction equipment production. Additionally, in Kropyvnytskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited an enterprise that produces agricultural machinery, including sowing complexes, seeders, cultivators, disc harrows, loaders, and sprayers. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with the company's employees and noted that their work also brings Ukraine closer to victory. "We need to save our country. This requires a fair end to the war. We are definitely bringing it closer. The military on the front, people like you. We are working on it. We really want this," he emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Discussed with Partners Our Work on Air Defense - New Systems for Ukraine; We Are Preparing Reinforcement - Address by the President President of Ukraine 20 August 2024 - 16:30 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! Today - Kropyvnytskyi. There has just been a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. A lot of issues. They include preparations for our academic year in Ukrainian schools, the heating season, healthcare, and financial opportunities in our communities. Among the most important is our need to fully implement the program of shelters in schools. So that as many children as possible can go to school offline in the new school year. I spoke about this with the Prime Minister of Ukraine and with the Minister of Education. The issues of school buses were also raised today. And this must be solved exactly as the communities say. We need to provide real transportation for the children. And to do it quickly. I have given the relevant instructions to the Government officials. Today, here in Kropyvnytskyi, and yesterday in Dnipro, I also spoke with entrepreneurs. Keeping businesses running and preserving jobs in Ukraine is very important. I am also grateful for the support of relocated businesses. When enterprises work, it is easier for communities, and social issues are resolved faster. And the Government should also keep this in mind when making tax proposals. We only need decisions that are helpful and truly fair. And there is another issue affecting many communities in our country, especially in the southern and central regions. This is the water supply. The day before, I held a meeting in Kryvyi Rih regarding the communities of the Dnipropetrovsk region: Nikopol, Marhanets, Pokrov and other cities. Some of the projects have already been built. And we need to move on to the implementation of projects for the Mykolaiv region, projects that will restore normal water supply for people. It is not easy - the work is ongoing and continues even under shelling. I thank everyone involved. And our main goal is to achieve a timely result. A few more things. Today, we discussed with partners our work on air defense - new systems for Ukraine. We are preparing reinforcement. There was a report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. The frontline. Defense in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions. The situation is difficult, but our guys are doing everything to eliminate the occupier. The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the updates in the Kursk direction. We are achieving our set goals. And the priority, as before, is the replenishment of the exchange fund for Ukraine. Today, I want to praise the work of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. A law on our spiritual independence was passed. This is what we discussed with members of the Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. And in the coming days, I will also speak with representatives of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. We will continue strengthening Ukraine and our society. Today, the law was also passed to support our warriors, who carry out our defensive operations in the Russian border area. All payments, bonuses and awards will definitely be extended for them from the first day of the operation. I am awaiting the documents from Parliament. I thank everyone who is fighting and working for our state, for our people! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Meeting on Ensuring Water Supply for Communities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv Regions President of Ukraine 20 August 2024 - 10:23 During a working visit to the Dnipropetrovsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a coordination meeting on ensuring water supply for the territorial communities of the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions. The President was briefed on the progress of water pipeline construction following the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam by Russian occupiers on June 6 last year. All main water pipeline lines have been launched in the following sections: Inhulets River - Pivdenne Reservoir, Marhanets - Nikopol - Pokrov, and Zaporizhzhia - Tomakivka - Marhanets. The implementation of these projects will provide water to 1.5 million Ukrainians, including residents of Nikopol, Marhanets, Pokrov, Apostolove, and Zelenodolsk. "It is very important that people have access to water now. Thank you for the joint work that yielded the necessary result," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. To prevent an increase in water supply tariffs for residents, a decision was made to allocate funds from the state budget to support water supply companies in Nikopol, Marhanets, Pokrov, Kryvyi Rih, Apostolove, and Zelenodolsk. "People in cities like Marhanets and Nikopol in the Kryvyi Rih district have suffered greatly because of the war. They had no water. Therefore, we need to find the right special approach to support them," the President emphasized. The meeting also resulted in a decision to accelerate the construction of a water pipeline from Nova Odesa to Mykolaiv to ensure water supply to the Mykolaiv region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Reportedly Approved New Nuclear Strategy Refocusing on 'Chinese Threat' Sputnik News 20240820 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - President Joe Biden approved a classified nuclear strategy earlier this year that directed US forces to refocus on potential threats from China, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing US officials. The report detailed that Biden had approved the new strategy in March, and that it refocuses on China's growing nuclear arsenal. However, it also addresses concerns of potential coordinated nuclear challenges by China, Russia, and North Korea against the United States. An unclassified report is expected to be given to Congress before Biden leaves office. Driving the development is the US' fear regarding China's nuclear stockpile, more specifically how it'll match up "in size and diversity" against Washington's own arms over the next 10 years. Citing June remarks from Pranay Vaddi, who serves as the senior director for arms control and non-proliferation on the National Security Council, the outlet noted the strategy adjustment was revised with the desire to "simultaneously" deter Russia, China and North Korea in mind. The Tuesday report comes days after China implemented export controls on antimony metals, which just so happen to have multiple applications within the US military, including in components for nuclear weapons. The new restrictions, in line with similar controls on other rare-earth metals, are due to take effect on September 15. Alongside with Tajikistan and Russia, China controls upwards of 90% of the global antimony reserves. A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank details the US' "stockpiles limited antimony of just 1,100 tons compared to the 23,000 tons consumed in 2023," adding that 63% of its stocks came from China alone. China previously underscored that its new directive was intended to ensure China's national security and to fulfill the country's non-proliferation obligations, and that its measures were not set to strike at any one country. The US and China last held talks on nuclear non-proliferation in July, although negotiations came to a halt in response to the US' arms sales to Taiwan, which China sees as a wayward province and American support to the island as interference in internal Chinese affairs. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE: IBTA) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may assist the investigation to contact its attorneys. Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/IBTA Contact the Firm Now: IBTA@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Investigation Into Ibotta, Inc. (IBTA): The investigation focuses on the propriety of Ibottas disclosures of known trends in its April 22, 2024 initial public offering documents in which the company sold 2.5 million shares at $88 per share and certain selling stockholders sold an additional 4.06 million shares at the IPO price in a secondary offering. Ibotta is a technology company that allows consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to deliver digital promotions to over 200 million consumers through its network called the Ibotta Performance Network, or IPN. In its offering documents, Ibotta recited certain key business metrics it uses to help us evaluate our business, identify trends affecting our performance, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions. These metrics include, without limitation, direct-to-consumer redemptions, direct-to-consumer redeemers, and total redemptions per redeemer. On August 13 2024, less than 2 months after closing its IPO, Ibotta announced its Q2 2024 financial results. The company swung to a $33.9 million net loss for the quarter (compared to net income of $15.3 million during the prior year period) and nearly doubled its operating expenses compared to the prior year period. The company also revealed that direct-to-consumer redemptions shrunk 19%, direct-to-consumer redeemers shrunk 7%, and total redemptions per redeemer shrunk 39%, all compared to the prior year period. This news drove the price of Ibotta shares down $15.53 (-26%) on August 14, 2024 to close at $42.66, or about 48% below the IPO price. We are looking into whether Ibottas offering documents omitted to disclose known trends its management was seeing in its key metrics at the time of its IPO, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Ibotta and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Ibotta investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Ibotta should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email IBTA@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. NEWARK, Del, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cosmetic dropper market is on a steady growth trajectory, with sales estimated to be worth USD 91.1 million in 2024 and anticipated to reach USD 132.3 million by 2034. This represents a projected CAGR of 3.8% over the forecast period from 2024 to 2034. The revenue generated by the cosmetic dropper industry in 2023 was USD 87.7 million, and the industry is expected to exhibit a year-over-year (Y-o-Y) growth of 3.7% in 2024. Glass cosmetic droppers are set to dominate the global market, commanding over 70% of the market share. These droppers are expected to generate an incremental opportunity of nearly USD 20 million over the next decade. Glass dropper bottles have become a preferred choice among consumers, particularly for the storage of delicate products such as essential oils. Their ability to maintain product integrity makes them indispensable in the cosmetic industry. In addition to glass droppers, plastic cosmetic droppers are also gaining popularity, especially for luxurious and delicate cosmetic products. The durability of plastic makes it an ideal packaging material, offering a balance between functionality and luxury. Reshaping the Cosmetics Droppers Market: The Impact of an Organized and Expanding Retail Sector Over recent years, the global retail sector has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving industries. The influx of small-scale players alongside major global retailers has fueled significant market expansion across multiple regions. This growth is further propelled by innovative business models, strategic portfolio management, and increased foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail markets. The rapid penetration of modern retail is evident through the rise in the number of retail outlets, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and departmental stores worldwide. For example, the USA Census Bureau reported a nearly 10% year-over-year increase in the number of personal care stores across the USA as of November 2023. To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/cosmetic-dropper-market Key Takeaways from the Cosmetic Dropper Market The Cosmetic Dropper market generated a revenue of USD 87.7 million in 2023. The market is projected to experience a Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth of 3.7% in 2024. The number of personal care stores in the USA saw a nearly 10% Y-o-Y increase in 2023. The United States is expected to dominate the North American market, holding a 78.2% value share through 2034. The German cosmetic dropper market is forecasted to reach USD 7.2 million by 2034, creating an incremental opportunity of USD 4.3 million between 2024 and 2034. South Korea's cosmetic dropper market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period, reaching a valuation of USD 4.7 million by 2034. In 2022, cosmetics accounted for nearly 5% of overall sales in South Korea, with a consistent increase in market share predicted through 2030 according to the Korea Customs Agency. Competitive Landscape The majority of worldwide manufacturers are working on the development of cosmetic droppers to improve controlled dispensing. Some other significant players are working to develop cosmetic droppers that can meet the ESG objectives of cosmetic and personal care companies. Meanwhile, a few other companies are looking for additional funding to expand their operations, increase sales, and acquire a huge global consumer base. To preserve their competitive advantage, key market manufacturers are working on growing their geographical presence, technical advances, meeting sustainability targets, executing mergers and acquisitions, and enhancing customer service. Key Players Virospack SL. AptarGroup, Inc. LUMSON S.p.A Comar LLC FusionPKG Quadpack HCP Packaging DWK Life Sciences Ltd Taiwan K. K. Corp Bandall Company Carow Packaging, Inc Paramark Corporation APackaging Group Adelphi Healthcare Packaging SONE Products Ltd Recent Industry Developments in the Cosmetic Dropper Market In May 2024, Aptar Beauty, a group company of Aptar Group introduced the NeoDropper, which will cater to the precision skincare market. In February 2024 APackaging Group announced the launch of the Infinity Dropper, an all-plastic, fully recyclable dropper. The product is expected to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions across the cosmetic industry. In September 2023, Investindustrial, a private equity firm announced the acquisition of the majority stake in Virospack, a manufacturer of premium cosmetics droppers. Key Segments of the Cosmetic Dropper Industry By Material: In terms of material, the industry is divided into glass cosmetic dropper and plastic cosmetic dropper. By Capacity: In terms of capacity, the industry is segregated into up to 2 ml, 3 ml-6 ml, 7 ml- 10 ml, and above 10 ml. By Application: In terms of application, the industry is segregated into hair care, skin care, makeup, and nail care. By Region: Key countries of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and Middle East and Africa (MEA) have been covered in the report. Understand the Evolution: Read the Previous Source for This Report! Authored by: Ismail Sutaria (Lead Consultant, Packaging and Materials) has over 8 years of experience in market research and consulting in the packaging & materials industry. Ismails strength lies in identifying key challenges faced by the client and offering logical and actionable insights to equip the clients with strategic decision-making power. Ismail has been an instrumental part of several transformational consulting assignments. His key skills include competitive benchmarking, opportunity assessment, macroeconomic analysis, and business transformation advisory. Ismail is an MBA holder in Marketing and has a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. Have a Look at Related Research Reports on the Packaging Domain: The growing demand for cosmetic tubes is driven by increased consumer preference for portable, hygienic packaging, and the rising popularity of skincare and beauty products globally. The rise in demand for authentic beauty products is driving significant growth in anti-counterfeit cosmetic packaging, ensuring product integrity and consumer trust in an increasingly competitive market. The global dropper caps market is expected to account for USD 110.3 million in 2023 and is going to further expand at a CAGR of 5.2% to reach a valuation of USD 183.2 million by the year 2033. A Glass Cosmetic Bottle refers to a container made of glass that is specifically designed to hold cosmetic products. These bottles are commonly used for storing liquids such as perfumes, serums, oils, lotions, and other beauty and skincare products. The global dropper system market size is expected to thrive at a CAGR of 5.2% during the projection period. The market value is projected to increase from USD 65.9 million in 2023 to USD 108.1 million by 2033. The rising demand for perfume bottles is driven by growing consumer interest in luxury fragrances, innovative packaging designs, and increasing personal care product consumption worldwide. The global sales of perfume packs are estimated to be worth USD 2.6 billion in 2024 and are anticipated to reach a value of USD 3.6 billion by 2034. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2024 to 2034. The eye cosmetic packaging sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by innovative designs and increasing consumer demand for premium, eco-friendly packaging solutions that enhance product appeal and functionality. The demand for single-portion cosmetic packaging is surging, driven by consumer preferences for convenience, hygiene, and precise application, alongside brands desire to enhance product presentation and reduce waste. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acceleware Ltd. (Acceleware or the Company) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading innovator of transformative technologies targeting the decarbonization of industrial process heat, is very pleased to announce that it is one of 50 companies selected to pitch at the 21st Annual Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum, which is an anchor event for the Inaugural Energy and Climate Startup Week in Houston, Texas, September 9-13, 2024. The Energy Tech Venture Forum, hosted by The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is the premier energy tech venture capital conference that connects energy innovators, investors, corporates and the energy ecosystem. This year's forum will showcase promising energy companies driving the energy transition and technological advancements, along with keynote speeches and panels featuring industry leaders. Accelewares executive team will also attend other events as part of the Energy and Climate Week, targeting meetings with potential investors and customers and showcasing the Companys EM Powered Heat platform. Acceleware is very excited to be heading to Houston for this event, where we will have the opportunity to network with companies and investors with specific interest in the energy ecosystem and technologies like ours, said Geoff Clark, Chief Executive Officer. We are really looking forward to making U.S. companies aware of the enormous decarbonization potential of EM Powered Heat. With around 15% of global emissions coming from industrial heating, investing in further development of well-progressed technologies like ours that can radically reduce emissions in the near term needs to happen now. The nexus of clean tech and energy in Houston is an ideal venue for us to showcase EM Powered Heat, and our decarbonized enhanced oil recovery technology, RF XL to a broader international audience. The Rice Alliance at Rice University has a 20+ year history of supporting startups, technology and the innovation ecosystem. Since its inception, more than 1,086 energy tech ventures have participated in our energy forums, raising over $7.8 billion in funding. About Acceleware Acceleware is an advanced electromagnetic (EM) heating company with highly scalable EM solutions for large industrial applications. The Companys solutions provide an opportunity to economically electrify and decarbonize industrial process heat applications previously considered difficult to abate, which could have a significant impact on global GHG emissions. Acceleware is piloting RF XL, its patented low-cost, low-carbon EM thermal production technology for heavy oil and oil sands that is materially different from any heavy oil recovery technique used today. The Company is also working with a consortium of world-class potash partners on a pilot project using its patented and field proven Clean Tech Inverter (CTI) to decarbonize drying of potash ore and other minerals. Acceleware is actively developing partnerships for EM heating of other industrial applications in mining, steel, agriculture, cement, hydrogen and other clean fuels. Acceleware and Saa Dene Group (co-founded by Jim Boucher) have created Acceleware | Kisastwew to raise the profile, adoption, and value of Acceleware technologies. The partnership is intended to improve the environmental and economic performance of industry by supporting ideals that are important to Indigenous peoples, including respect for land, water, and clean air. Acceleware is a public company listed on Canadas TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol AXE. Disclaimers This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations or negatives of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might, shall or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements relating to the benefits of CTI electrification, and future development plans and timing. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The material facts and assumptions include initial studies of applicability of CTI technology to industrial applications are accurate, third party estimates of market size are correct, and the timeline estimates are reasonable. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive and additional risk factors risk factors are described in detail in Accelewares continuous disclosure documents, which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information: Geoff Clark, CEO Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099 geoff.clark@acceleware.com Acceleware Ltd. 435 10th Avenue SE Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3 Canada Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099 NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 15, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA), if they purchased the Companys securities between February 15, 2024 to July 24, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Stellantis and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-stla/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by October 15, 2024 . About the Lawsuit Stellantis and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 25, 2024, the Company announced its first half 2024 financial results, disclosing disappointing news, including [n]et revenues of 85.0 billion, down 14% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to the decline in volume and mix; net profit of 5.6 billion, down 48% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to lower volume and mix, headwinds from foreign exchange and restructuring costs; adjusted operating income of 8.5 billion, down 5.7 billion compared to H1 2023, primarily due to decreases in North America. On this news, the price of Stellantis shares fell from a closing price of $19.60 per share on July 24, 2024 to $17.66 per share on July 26, 2024. The case is Long v. Stellantis N.V., et al., No. 24-cv-06196. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until September 30, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (ABR or the Company) (NYSE: ABR), if they purchased the Companys securities between May 7, 2021 and July 11, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of ABR and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-abr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by September 30, 2024 . About the Lawsuit Arbor Realty and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On March 14, 2023, NINGI Research reported that ABR has been hiding a toxic real estate portfolio of mobile homes with a complex web of real and fake holdings companies for more than a decade. On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $12.99 per share on March 13, 2023, to $12.12 per share on March 14, 2023, and then $11.53 per share on March 15, 2023. Then, on July 12, 2024, Bloomberg reported that the Company was the subject of a probe by federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York that were inquiring about lending practices and the companys claims about the performance of their loan book. On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $15.53 per share on July 11, 2024, to $12.89 per share on July 12, 2024. The case is Martin v. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., No. 24-cv-05347. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 194/2024 Tvis, 21 August 2024 Interim report Q2 2024 (April 1 - June 30) (All figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period in 2023 AUBO Production A/S is incl.in the figures as from 3 July 2023) Organic growth in sales and improved earnings, despite challenging market conditions. CEO Torben Paulin: Sales in the second quarter have developed positively despite the, as expected, weak B2B-kitchen market. Organically sales grew by 5% year-on-year supported by a growth in B2C sales of more than 25% y-o-y. As expected B2B sales declined in the quarter due to the slowdown in the Project sales market. Overall revenue in Q2 was DKK 332 million compared to DKK 256 million in Q2 last year. Sales in Denmark, which accounts for 80% of the Group revenue, increased by 15%, with an underlying organic growth of 6%. Overall gross margin increased to 21.5% in Q2 compared to 20.2% in the same quarter last year. The growth in margin was caused by the inclusion of AUBO sales (AUBO Production was acquired in Q3 of 2023) and an increase in the share of higher margin B2C sales in the turnover. Adjusted EBIT in Q2 was DKK 28 million compared to DKK 22 million in Q2 last year, and the adjusted EBIT margin was 8.4% compared to 8.7% in Q2 last year. If the amortisation of intangible assets recognized as part of the AUBO acquisition is taken into account, the underlying adjusted EBIT-margin im-proved from 8.7% in Q2 last year to 8.9% in Q2 this year. Free cash-flow was DKK 26 million, compared to DKK -2 million last year, due to the higher earnings and a significant improvement in working capital. Leverage decreased further to 3.20 (down from 3.73 in the previous quarter), well within the agreed covenants. In the second quarter TCM Group continued to expand its Danish footprint adding two new AUBO branded stores. As part of the TCM Groups journey towards creating full transparency of our products environmental impact, we released third party approved and validated Environmental Product declarations (EPD) for the AUBO brand in the quarter. This means that all brands now are covered by EPDs. As stated in Company announcement no. 193 dated 15. August 2024, we adjust the financial outlook for 2024 for the TCM Group with respect to sales and earnings. Our financial outlook for full year revenue for 2024 is now in the range of DKK 1,125-1,200 million (previously DKK 1,000-1,150 million) with earnings (adjusted EBIT) in the range of DKK 70-90 million (previously DKK 55-85 million). The outlook for adjusted EBIT includes an expected positive effect from adjustment of the contingent consideration related to the acquisition of AUBO Production A/S in the range of DKK 3-5 million. Financial highlights Q2 2024 Revenue DKK 332.2 million (DKK 255.5 million) corresponding to a revenue increase of 30.0%. Adjusted EBITDA DKK 36.7 million (DKK 27.5 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.1% (10.8%). Adjusted EBIT of DKK 28.0 million (DKK 22.3 million). Adjusted EBIT margin was 8.4% (8.7%). Non-recurring items had a total impact of DKK 0.0 million (DKK 2.8 million). EBIT of DKK 28.0 million (DKK 19.5 million), corresponding to an EBIT margin of 8.4% (7.6%). Net profit of DKK 18.9 million (DKK 12.2 million). Free cash flow was DKK 25.8 million (DKK -1.6 million). Cash conversion ratio was 94.8% (48.8%) Financial highlights H1 2024 Revenue DKK 624.7 million (DKK 519.4 million) corresponding to a revenue increase of 20.3%. Adjusted EBITDA of DKK 61.1 million (DKK 45.5 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.8% (8.8%). Adjusted EBIT of DKK 43.8 million (DKK 35.4 million). Adjusted EBIT margin was 7.0% (6.8%). Non-recurring items had a negative impact of DKK 0.0 million (DKK 4.7 million). EBIT of DKK 43.8 million (DKK 30.9 million), corresponding to an EBIT margin of 7.0% (5.9%). Net profit of DKK 25.9 million (DKK 17.6 million). Free cash flow was DKK 38.4 million (DKK -37.4 million). Full-year guidance for the financial year 2024 is revenue in the range DKK 1,125-1,200 million with earnings (adjusted EBIT) in the range of DKK 70-90 million. For further information please contact: Torben Paulin, CEO, TCM Group A/S, +45 21 21 04 64 Thomas Hjannung, CFO, TCM Group A/S, +45 25 17 42 33 IR Contact ir@tcmgroup.dk Presentation The interim report will be presented on Wednesday 21 August 2024 at 9:30 CEST in a teleconference that can be followed on TCM Groups website or on https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5atfeaup. To participate in the teleconference, and thus have the possibility to ask questions, participants are required to register in advance of the conference using the link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will be provided with Participant Dial In Numbers, and a unique Personal PIN. Online Registration to the call: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIc049f0a905b44997b5408ac2d547d39a About TCM Group TCM Group is Scandinavias third largest manufacturer of kitchens and furniture for bathrooms and storage. The products are designed and produced in Denmark and rooted in a proud tradition of good quality and good craftsmanship. TCM Group pursues a multi-brand strategy, under which the main brand is Svane Kkkenet and the other brands are Tvis Kkken, Nettoline and AUBO. Combined, the brands cater for the entire price spectrum, and are sold through c. 220 dealers in Denmark and the rest of the Scandinavia. TCM Group sells private label kitchens through DIY stores in Denmark and independent kitchen stores in Norway. TCM Group is supplier to the 45% owned e-commerce kitchen business Celebert, which operates under the brands kitchn.dk, billigskabe.dk, Celebert and Just Wood. See www.tcmgroup.dk for more information. This interim report contains statements relating to the future, including statements regarding TCM Groups future operating results, financial position, cash flows, business strategy and plans for the future. The statements are based on managements reasonable expectations and forecasts at the time of the disclosure of the report. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and a number of different factors, many of which are beyond TCM Groups control, could mean that actual performance and actual results will differ significantly from the expectations expressed in this interim report. Without being exhaustive, such factors include general economic and commercial factors, including market and competitive matters, supplier issues and financial issues. Attachments New York, New York, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New York (NY) - Counslr, the text-based mental health support mobile app, announced today that it is partnering with numerous school districts across the country in anticipation of the 2024-25 school year. Since its founding in 2019, each of Counslrs school partnerships have focused on empowering students and faculty to prioritize their mental well-being by enabling them to access unlimited texting sessions with Counslrs licensed and vetted mental health support professionals, available on-demand or by appointment, 24/7/365. We are thrilled to partner with Counslr to provide our students and faculty with round-the-clock access to mental health support, states Lisa Dursky, Principal at Crestwood High School, Cresco, IA. As educators, we see firsthand the pressures that our community faces, and having a resource like Counslr available 24/7 is invaluable. This partnership underscores our commitment to the well-being of everyone in our school, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive academically and personally. The partnership with Crestwood High School is one of many schools that have expressed a growing need for additional mental health support in their school community. In fact, schools across the country launched or renewed with Counslr this summer to offer support to students and faculty when traditional support services are limited or unavailable and will continue through the 2024-25 school year. In the last year alone, Counslr has added and renewed partnerships with dozens of schools, notably including: Kane Area School District, Kane, Pennsylvania Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Allentown School District , Allentown, Pennsylvania Crestwood High School , Cresco, Iowa Dearborn Heights District 7 , Dearborn Heights, Michigan Dunkirk City School District, Dunkirk, New York East Side House Settlement , support for five NYC-area high schools Smoky Hill Education Center , more than 50 school districts across Kansas Timber Lake School District , Timber Lake, South Dakota Bristol Warren Regional School District , Bristol & Warren, Rhode Island As the new school year begins for Kansas schools this month, we know its crucial to recognize that the mental well-being of both students and school staff members is critical to their success, states Chris Moddelmog, Executive Director, Smoky Hill Education Service Center. By prioritizing mental health and emotional well-being, we create an environment where everyone can learn and thrive. Smoky Hill Education Service Center is pleased to have a partner like Counslr supporting education in Kansas. In the coming months, several more schools are expected to join the platform, as administrators continue to see a clear connection between the access to mental health support, the well-being of their students and faculty, and that impact on their greater communities. Supporting students and faculty across the country in different locations with diverse populations clearly illustrates that mental health knows no boundaries, said Josh Liss, CEO of Counslr. All types of school communities are in need of mental health support more than ever, and we are thrilled to help make an impact as this next generation grows to be more resilient and live happier, healthier lives. For more information on Counslr, please visit: www.counslr.com. About Counslr Counslr is a text-based mental health support application that provides unlimited access to live texting sessions with licensed professionals, 24/7/365. Users can access support on-demand within two minutes of opening the app, or by scheduled appointment. Through real-time texting, users enjoy one-on-one, private communication with a licensed counselor that can be conducted anytime, anywhere. Counslr was designed to help individuals deal with lifes day-to-day issues, empowering individuals to address concerns while they are small to help ensure that they stay small. Counslr partners with organizations of all shapes and sizes (companies, unions, nonprofits, universities/colleges, high schools, etc) so that these entities can provide Counslrs services to their employees/members/students at no direct cost. For more information, please visit www.counslr.com. Attachments Dublin, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Basa Fish Export Research Report 2024-2033" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Vietnam's Basa fish export industry has developed rapidly in recent years. The primary reasons are Vietnam's abundant aquatic resources and well-established processing facilities, leading to high production and cost-effectiveness, giving its products a strong competitive edge in international markets. The Vietnamese government supports the aquaculture industry, enhances processing technology, and improves infrastructure, promoting fish product export growth. Vietnamese Basa fish products are trusted by international buyers for their high quality and stable supply, with major export markets including the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Due to favorable geographical conditions, advanced farming technology, and low costs, Vietnam has become the world's largest production and export base for Basa fish. Vietnamese Basa fish farming and processing technology have high competitiveness in international markets. The industry continually expands its global market share by improving production efficiency and processing technology. Vietnam had about 5,700 hectares of Basa fish farming area in 2023, with an annual output of 1.6 million tons. The total export value of Vietnamese Basa fish reached US$ 1.78 billion in 2023. In 2024, the demand for Vietnamese Basa fish products in the export market is even stronger, with over 83,000 tons of Basa fish exported in May 2024 alone, a 46% increase, breaking the monthly export record since May 2022. The Basa fish output in Vietnam is expected to reach 1.7 million tons in 2024, a 2.8% increase from 2023, with an export value potentially reaching US$ 2 billion. Data indicates that from January to May 2024, the cumulative export value of Vietnamese Basa fish products exceeded US$ 700 million. From 2021 to 2024, the primary export destinations for Vietnamese Basa fish included the United States, China, and Brazil. Major companies importing this product from Vietnam include CoastT Beacon, B & D Seafoods, and Octogone (Guangdong) Food Co. Many international seafood distributors have subsidiaries in Vietnam. Major exporters of Basa fish in Vietnam include VINH Hoan Corp, Bien Dong Seafood Co. and Cong TY Co Phan. Overall, due to numerous free trade agreements, the global recovery in seafood demand, and declining shipping costs, there are still opportunities and significant political space for Vietnamese Basa fish exports. With the continuous development of Vietnam's Basa fish production, packaging, freezing technology, and food compliance, global demand for Vietnamese Basa fish will continue to expand. In the coming years, Vietnamese Basa fish exports are expected to maintain a growth trend. Topics covered: The Import and Export of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Volume and Percentage Change of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Value and Percentage Change of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Volume and Percentage Change of Basa Fish in Vietnam (January-May 2024) Total Export Value and Percentage Change of Basa Fish in Vietnam (January-May 2024) Average Export Price of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) Top 10 Export Destinations for Vietnam Basa Fish and Their Import Volume Top 10 Suppliers in the Export Market of Basa Fish in Vietnam and Their Export Volume Top 10 Buyers in the Export Market of Basa Fish in Vietnam and Their Import Volume How to Find International Distributors and End Users of Basa Fish in Vietnam How Foreign Enterprises Enter the Basa Fish Export Market of Vietnam Forecast for the Export of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2024-2033) Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $2 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $3.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.1% Regions Covered Vietnam Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of Vietnam 1.1 Geography of Vietnam 1.2 Economic Condition of Vietnam 1.3 Demographics of Vietnam 1.4 Domestic Market of Vietnam 1.5 Recommendations for Foreign Enterprises Entering the Vietnam Basa Fish Export Market 2 Analysis of Basa Fish Exports in Vietnam (2021-2024) 2.1 Export Scale of Basa Fish in Vietnam 2.1.1 Export Value of Basa Fish in Vietnam 2.1.2 Export Prices of Basa Fish in Vietnam 2.1.3 Export Volume of Basa Fish in Vietnam 2.1.4 Export Dependency of Basa Fish in Vietnam 2.2 Major Destination for Basa Fish Exports in Vietnam 3 Analysis of Major Destination for Basa Fish Exports in Vietnam (2021-2024) 3.1 United States 3.2 China 3.3 Brazil 3.4 Hong Kong 3.5 Netherlands 3.6 Mexico 4 Analysis of Major Buyer in the Export Market of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) 5 Analysis of Major Suppliers in the Export Market of Basa Fish in Vietnam (2021-2024) 6. Monthly Analysis of Basa Fish Exports in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024 6.1 Analysis of Monthly Export Value and Volume 6.2 Forecast of Monthly Average Export Prices 7. Key Factors Affecting Basa Fish Exports in Vietnam 7.1 Policy 7.2 Economic 7.3 Technology 8. Forecast for the Export of Basa Fish in Vietnam, 2024-2033 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/883fej 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, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Stone Processing Machines - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Stone Processing Machines is estimated at US$7.6 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$9.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The Cutting Machines segment in the Global Stone Processing Machines Market is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%. Similarly, the Polishing Machines segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% over the next seven years. The U.S. market is estimated at $2.1 billion in 2023, while China's market is forecasted to grow at a notable 7.2% CAGR, reaching $2.1 billion by 2030. Other key regions experiencing growth include Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. This report offers comprehensive market data, including independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts from 2023 to 2030. It provides in-depth regional analysis, offering detailed insights into key markets across the globe, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Company profiles of major industry players, such as BIESSE S.P.A., BMR S.p.A., and Breton S.P.A., are also featured. Purchasing this report will provide detailed market analysis, competitive insights, and a thorough understanding of the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Stone Processing Machines Market. The actionable insights provided can help in identifying new revenue opportunities and making strategic business decisions. Key Questions Answered: How is the Global Stone Processing Machines Market expected to evolve by 2030? What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market? Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period? How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030? Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 250 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $7.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $9.9 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 3.8% Regions Covered Global MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Global Economic Update Stone Processing Machines - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E) FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 86 Featured): BIESSE S.P.A. BMR S.p.A. Breton S.P.A. Donatoni Macchine Srl Foshan Nanhai Yongtao Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd Fujian Joborn Machinery Co., Ltd. Fujian Nan'an Shuinan Machinery Co., Ltd. Fujian Province Hualong Machinery Company Limited KEDA INDUSTRIAL GROUP CO., LTD. Machinery CANYONN by LIVAMAK MEC Srl Park Industries, Inc. Pedrini SpA Sincere Naxens Holding Group Co., Ltd. Thibaut SAS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d04l34 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 With the laying of a symbolic capsule, Vilvi Group, one of the biggest dairy enterprises in the Baltic States, began building of a new cheese factory in Bauska, Latvia. The facility is the biggest investment project in the Group's history, with a value of over EUR 50 million. Additional production capacity of more than 8,000 square metres will be built on the territory of Baltic Dairy Board SIA, the dairy processing plant owned by Vilvi Group. The project is financed with own funds and Citadele Bank loans. The Latvian Government, through the Latvian State Development Finance Institution ALTUM, will contribute more than EUR 8.5 million to the project. The factory's construction will be completed in 2026. It will be equipped with an automated, robotic and state-of-the-art cheese production facility, creating more than 100 new jobs. We are confident that this plant will not only open up additional opportunities for Baltic farmers but will also allow our customers to enjoy the highest quality products, said Gintaras Bertasius, CEO of Vilvi Group. He claims that the new facility will process over 500 tons of milk and make about 50 tons of cheese per day. It is projected that 18,000 tonnes of cheese will be produced year, with the majority of that amount being exported to over 40 countries. The Mayor of Bauska, Aivars Okmanis, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony, praised the new investments in the city. The Vilvi Group's operations in our municipality are much welcomed, and we think that these investments will have a major positive impact on the economic growth of not just Bauska but also Latvia and the Baltic States. The decision of entrepreneurs to establish new jobs in our municipality attests to the favorable business environment in Bauska, the availability of the necessary labor resources, and the quality of life opportunities for young professionals, Bauska Mayor A. Okmanis stated. With an approximate 90% export share, Vilvi Group is one of the biggest dairy processing businesses in the Baltic States. The main export markets are the European Union countries, Asia and other continents. The Group consists of Vilkyskiu pienine, Modest, Kelmes pienine, Kelmes pienas, Pieno logistika (Lithuania) and Baltic Dairy Board (Latvia). Vilvi Group's net profit for 2023 is EUR 14.6 million, or 15% more than in 2022, when it was EUR 12.7 million. The Group's EBITDA amounted to EUR 21 million, an increase of 9.1% compared to the previous year. Additional information and comments: Gintaras Bertasius CEO of VILVI Group +370 655 55001 gintaras.bertasius@vilvi.eu Dublin, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Dragon Fruit Export Research Report 2024-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In the Asia-Pacific region and globally, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia are major dragon fruit exporters. Vietnam is the largest producer and exporter of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit has been a major export fruit of Vietnam for many years due to its high quality and competitive prices in international markets. The Vietnamese dragon fruit industry benefits from favorable climatic conditions and experienced cultivation techniques, continually expanding its export market. Although the cultivation area and export volume of dragon fruit in Vietnam have decreased in recent years, the country remains a global leader. Currently, Vietnam has nearly 55,000 hectares of dragon fruit plantations, producing over 1 million tons annually, with 80-85% of the production intended for export. Favorable soil and climatic conditions enable large-scale year-round production. Major growing areas include Binh Thuan, Long An, and Tien Giang provinces, known for their suitable climate and fertile soil. With advancing agricultural technology and increasing market demand, Vietnam's dragon fruit exports are a crucial pillar of its agricultural exports. In 2023, Vietnam was one of the world's largest fruit exporters, with dragon fruit being the second highest exported fruit after durian. The annual export value of Vietnamese dragon fruit once reached US$ 1 billion. Despite a decline in the past three years, the annual export value still exceeds US$ 600 million, with potential for recovery. In 2023, Vietnam's dragon fruit export volume was nearly 600,000 tons, with an export value of approximately US$ 600 million. In the first five months of 2024, the cumulative export value was around US$ 260 million. From 2021 to 2024, major destinations for Vietnamese dragon fruit exports included China and India. Companies importing this product from Vietnam include Nong le Chan, Chongqing Hongjiu Fruit and Shangahi Goodfarmer Banana Co. Many dragon fruit exporters are subsidiaries of international fruit distributors. Major exporters in Vietnam include Song Dat Imp Exp Trading Co., Nong Thon Sinh, and Cong Ty Tnhh Xuat Nhap Khau Yuelaimei. Overall, due to numerous free trade agreements, the global recovery in agricultural product demand, and reduced shipping costs, Vietnam's dragon fruit exports still have opportunities and growth potential. The publisher predicts the global demand for Vietnamese dragon fruit will continue to rise in the coming years. The export of Vietnamese dragon fruit is expected to maintain a growth trend, driven by these favorable conditions and the increasing international market demand. Topics covered: The Import and Export of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Volume and Percentage Change of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Value and Percentage Change of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) Total Export Volume and Percentage Change of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (January-May 2024) Total Export Value and Percentage Change of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (January-May 2024) Average Export Price of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) Top 10 Export Destinations for Vietnam Dragon Fruit and Their Import Volume Top 10 Suppliers in the Export Market of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam and Their Export Volume Top 10 Buyers in the Export Market of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam and Their Import Volume How to Find International Distributors and End Users of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam How Foreign Enterprises Enter the Dragon Fruit Export Market of Vietnam Forecast for the Export of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2024-2033) Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 80 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $630 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $912 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.2% Regions Covered Vietnam Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview of Vietnam 1.1 Geography of Vietnam 1.2 Economic Condition of Vietnam 1.3 Demographics of Vietnam 1.4 Domestic Market of Vietnam 1.5 Recommendations for Foreign Enterprises Entering the Vietnam Dragon Fruit Export Market 2 Analysis of Dragon Fruit Exports in Vietnam (2021-2024) 2.1 Export Scale of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam 2.1.1 Export Value of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam 2.1.2 Export Prices of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam 2.1.3 Export Volume of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam 2.1.4 Export Dependency of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam 2.2 Major Destination for Dragon Fruit Exports in Vietnam 3 Analysis of Major Destination for Dragon Fruit Exports in Vietnam (2021-2024) 3.1 China 3.2 India 3.3 Hong Kong 3.4 Singapore 3.5 United States 3.6 South Korea 4 Analysis of Major Buyer in the Export Market of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) 5 Analysis of Major Suppliers in the Export Market of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam (2021-2024) 6. Monthly Analysis of Dragon Fruit Exports in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024 6.1 Analysis of Monthly Export Value and Volume 6.2 Forecast of Monthly Average Export Prices 7. Key Factors Affecting Dragon Fruit Exports in Vietnam 7.1 Policy 7.1.1 Current Export Policies 7.1.2 Trend Predictions for Export Policies 7.2 Economic 7.2.1 Market Prices 7.2.2 Growth Trends of Dragon Fruit Production Capacity in Vietnam 7.3 Technology 8. Forecast for the Export of Dragon Fruit in Vietnam, 2024-2033 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d3bh2c 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 Dover, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Green Technologies, Inc. ("Pacific Green"), (OTCQB: PGTK) announces that Pacific Green Energy Parks Australia Pty Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Green, has appointed Azure Capital to advise on the sale of the 250 MW / 500 MWh Limestone Coast Energy Park battery energy storage system (Limestone Coast Battery Energy Park) Pacific Green is developing near Mount Gambier, South Australia. About Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.: Pacific Green is focused on addressing the worlds need for cleaner and more sustainable energy. It offers grid-scale battery energy storage systems, renewable and environmental technologies. For more information, visit Pacific Greens website: www.pacificgreen.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forwardlooking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the continuation of the Agreement, any potential business developments and future interest in Pacific Greens battery, solar and environmental technologies. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the continuation of the development of the Limestone Coast Battery Energy Park and general economic and political conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and Pacific Green assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although Pacific Green believes that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Pacific Greens annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, Pacific Greens quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After 50 cycles, 18650 batteries with GEN3 silicon-based material show a 40% capacity improvement over graphite, 25% over GEN1, and 15% over GEN2, with no noticeable degradation [1]. MONTREAL, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Inc. (HPQ or the Company) ( TSX-V: HPQ , OTCQB: HPQFF, FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering of silica and silicon-based materials is pleased to announce the latest significant battery milestones achieved by its France-based affiliate, NOVACIUM SAS ("Novacium"). This announcement covers the results of 50 charge-discharge cycle tests conducted to simulate real-world usage and assess the durability and longevity of the latest batch of Lithium-ion 18650 commercial batteries, made with a blend of graphite and Novaciums partially optimized GEN3 advanced silicon-based anode material. The 18650 GEN3-based batteries performed remarkably well, with an overall capacity improvement of about 40% compared to a graphite benchmark. It should be noted here that this performance is 25% higher than that of the previous GEN1 material and 15% higher than that of the GEN2 material, with performance degradation so minimal compared to the graphite benchmark that it falls within the margin of error. Producing 18650 battery cells that excel in charge-discharge cycle testing and exceed 4,000 mAh under maximum discharge conditions (July 30th, 2024, release) further confirms our position as a top-tier producer of advanced silicon anode material, said Dr. Jed Kraiem, COO of Novacium. Based on these results and the data weve gathered, we are confident that we can continue improving our material, and that GEN4-based 18650 batteries could exceed the 4,400 mAh mark." Enhancing Battery Performance with Silicon-Based Anode Materials Graph 1) the blue line shows the average capacity of 100% graphite batteries, the orange line, the average capacity of GEN1 batteries, and the green line the average capacity of GEN 2 batteries, over 150 charge-discharge cycle testing [1] while the yellow line shows the average capacity of GEN3 batteries over 50 charge-discharge cycle testing [1]. All readings are in milliampere-hours (mAh). Graph 1 shows batteries made with Novacium GEN3 materials registered significantly higher capacities over the first 50 cycles than those made with GEN2 and GEN1 materials, as well as the 100% graphite benchmarked batteries. The average capacity of three 18650 batteries made with Novacium GEN3 materials (yellow line) started at 3,883.0 mAh and decreased to 3,864.8 mAh by the 50th cycle. In comparison, batteries made with Novacium GEN2 materials (green line) started at 3,370.1 mAh and decreased to 3,356.0 mAh, while those with GEN1 materials (orange line) started at 3,145.5 mAh and dropped to 3,105.4 mAh. Finally, the average capacity of three 18650 batteries made with 100% graphite (blue line) started at 2,780.0 mAh and decreased to 2,769.1 mAh by the 50th cycle. Therefore, after 50 cycles, GEN3 silicon-based batteries show an overall capacity improvement of approximately 40% compared to the graphite benchmark, 25% compared to GEN1 material, and 15% compared to GEN2 material. Silicon-Based Anode Materials delivering graphite-like battery degradation results at 50 cycles Graph 2) the blue line shows the relative capacity of 100% graphite batteries, the orange line the relative capacity of GEN1 batteries, and the green line the relative capacity of GEN 2 batteries, over 150 cycles [1]. While the yellow line shows the relative capacity of GEN 3 batteries over 50 cycles [1]. Graph 2 shows that the performance degradation for GEN3 advanced silicon material over 50 cycles is minimal, with a retention of 99.59% compared to the graphite benchmark at 99.61%. This difference falls within the testing protocol's margin of error. Achieving these results with full-size 18650 industrial batteries at 50 cycles further showcases Novacium's ability to produce advanced silicon anode material that significantly enhances overall battery performance and integrates seamlessly into existing anode manufacturing facilities, said Mr. Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS. This seamless integration means that manufacturers can adopt this advanced silicon anode material without needing expensive retooling or process overhauls. It ensures a smoother transition, reduces downtime, and minimizes additional costs, ultimately accelerating the deployment of high-performance batteries in the market." REFERENCE SOURCES [1] Novacium technical team analysis of the data from the ongoing charging and discharging cycle tests conducted at a world-leading university, the name of which is kept confidential for competitive reasons. About NOVACIUM SAS Novacium is an HPQ - affiliated company that started in Q3 2022. This green technology startup is based in Lyon, France and is a partnership with HPQ and three of Frances leading research engineers, Dr. Jed KRAIEM PhD, Novacium's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr. Oleksiy NICHIPORUK PhD, Novacium's Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and Dr. Julien DEGOULANGE PhD, Novaciums Chief Innovation Officer (CIO). Novacium is a new Research and Development company which allows researchers to develop their own technology in high-added-value fields connected to renewable energy and allows HPQ Silicon Inc. a Canadian company, to expand the depth and reach of its technical team to help develop its silicon and new renewable energy projects. About HPQ Silicon HPQ Silicon Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer. HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners PyroGenesis Canada Inc. and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions. HPQ activities are centred around the following four (4) pillars: 1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) manufacturer of Fumed Silica using the FUMED SILICA REACTOR, a proprietary technology owned by HPQ Silica Polvere Inc being developed for HSPI by PyroGenesis. 2) Becoming a producer of silicon-based anode materials for battery applications with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS. 3) HPQ SILICON affiliate NOVACIUM SAS is developing a low carbon, chemical based on demand and high-pressure autonomous hydrogen production system. 4) Becoming a zero CO 2 low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our PUREVAPTM Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR), a proprietary technology owned by HPQ being developed for HPQ by PyroGenesis. For more information, please visit HPQ Silicon web site . Disclaimers: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. 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. This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders. Source: HPQ Silicon Inc. For further information contact: Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271 Patrick Levasseur, Director Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239 Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f47e8234-29d6-47e1-823c-2f92f22fc42b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3007189-571d-4c00-ac12-b0ad10127da9 Boca Raton, FL, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guident Corp. (Guident) and XRF (XRF) have entered into a strategic partnership to integrate XRF's cutting-edge solution with Guidents Remote Monitor and Control Center (RMCC) platform. This partnership combines XRFs advanced extended reality (XR) software with Guidents RMCC software stack, transforming real-time monitoring into a fully immersive virtual command center. This innovative setup enables the visualization of autonomous robots and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) fleet location, health metrics, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) from anywhere. The virtual command center leverages XR technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). A 3D digital twin model is created for the fixed routes, their environments, and each autonomous vehicle in the fleet, accurately reflecting the operational design domain. By merging these technologies, the solution provides comprehensive situational awareness, enabling remote, immediate, and effective responses to various scenarios. These immersive tools are ideal for monitoring AV fleets, simulation, testing, and staff training. In training mode, the platform transforms into an interactive learning environment, offering simulations to practice and refine various scenarios, including emergency response skills. With customizable modules, this solution ensures effective and targeted training. Virtual agent monitoring autonomous vehicle fleets The companies plan to launch the integrated XRF immersive extended reality solution with Guidents RMCC software to customers in North America in the second half of 2024. Our partnership with Guident allows us to introduce an innovative solution for real-time managing of autonomous robots and AV fleets. By integrating XRF software with Guidents RMCC, fleet operators can monitor and respond to situations more effectively. The interactive training mode offers an exciting way to develop skills and prepare for multiple scenarios. Were eager to bring this combined solution to market, said XRF's CEO Gustavo Medina. The partnership between Guident and XRF represents a significant step forward in developing safe, smart, and sustainable transportation solutions for communities. We are excited to launch the XRF solution coupled with Guidents RMCC software, which extends the monitoring of autonomous robots and vehicles worldwide through extended reality technologies, said Fabio Tylim, VP of Business Development at Guident Corp. About GUIDENT Guident commercializes patented technology to enable safer autonomous vehicles and devices by providing industry-leading AV remote monitor, control, assistance, and passenger support services. To learn more, please visit www.guident.com . About XRF XRF specializes in developing software solutions to aid decision-making for complex scenarios. By leveraging extended reality and artificial intelligence, XRF transforms critical information into visually engaging and easily accessible formats. Their innovative approach has earned an international clientele, including the Spanish Army, the Port of Valencia, and Saudi Arabia's NEOM Line project. For more information, visit XRF's website at www.xrf.ai . Guident Media Contact: Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC Scott Powell, President 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor New York, New York 10036 Office: (646) 893-5835 Email: info@skylineccg.com Harald Braun hbraun@guident.com +1 561 245 1306 XRF Media Contact: Raul Espada re@xrf.ai +34 669 811 399 Attachment The federal legislation granted USD $4.7 billion to remediate sites of potential methane leaks across the United States. This landmark accomplishment by Plants & Goodwin further establishes Zefiro as a leading environmental remediation services provider. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (Cboe Canada: ZEFI) (Frankfurt: Y6B) (OTCQB: ZEFIF) (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI) today announced that its subsidiary Plants & Goodwin, Inc. (P&G) has successfully completed Pennsylvanias first-ever Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law)-funded oil and gas well plugging project. The federal legislation allocated $4.7 billion to help address the nationwide proliferation of abandoned oil and gas wells, including granting over $300 million to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone. Specifically, P&G executed a variety of plug and abandonment operations over a three-month period on a total of fifteen orphaned sites in Otto Township, Pennsylvania. The wells that comprised this project were primarily located adjacent to several residential areas, with two sites situated mere yards from several single-family homes and one well only 20 feet away from both a dwelling structure and a state road. These projects required a sophisticated approach to account for a series of unique operational challenges, including poor recordkeeping regarding the history of these abandoned sites and various safety issues related to performing heavy-duty groundwork within residential neighborhoods. The success of this initiative is part of a series of publicly funded, groundbreaking assignments that Zefiro and its subsidiaries have undertaken to help address this issue, including working with the National Park Service on plugging numerous leaking oil and gas wells at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and helping complete the State of New Yorks first orphan well plugging operation that used Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. According to the latest estimates from the U.S. Department of the Interior , there are more than 3.7 million abandoned oil and gas wells spread throughout the U.S., with the potential for many of these sites to be leaking methane gas that can be up to 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide emissions in terms of trapping heat in the atmosphere. Denny Mong (Right) is pictured with P&G President of P&A Services Steve Plants (Left). Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR+ or the Investors section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zefiro Talal Debs commented, For decades, too many Pennsylvanians have had to contend with unplugged oil wells leaking potentially toxic methane gas into their own backyards. Zefiro is proud to have worked alongside our federal and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government partners to complete this inaugural effort, and we look forward to helping more communities throughout the country eliminate the dangers these sites pose to critical air, drinking water, and land resources. Chief Executive Officer of P&G Luke Plants commented, As the leader of a third-generation family business that has served hardworking Pennsylvanians for over fifty years, I cannot be any prouder that our team of decommissioning specialists helped complete this landmark project. The historic levels of funding allocated from this bipartisan legislation is an important first step toward properly addressing this legacy issue, and we stand ready to work with public and private sector stakeholders across the region to help combat this pressing public health threat. Reporters/Media: For any questions or to arrange an interview with Talal Debs or Luke Plants, please contact Rich Myers of Profile Advisors (New York City) by email at media@zefiromethane.com or by telephone at +1 (347) 774-1125. About Zefiro Methane Corp. Zefiro is an environmental services company, specializing in methane abatement. Zefiro strives to be a key commercial force towards Active Sustainability. Leveraging decades of operational expertise, Zefiro is building a new toolkit to clean up air, land, and water sources directly impacted by methane leaks. The Company has built a fully integrated ground operation driven by an innovative monetization solution for the emerging methane abatement marketplace. As an originator of high-quality U.S.-based methane offsets, Zefiro aims to generate long-term economic, environmental, and social returns. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. Talal Debs Talal Debs, Founder & CEO For further information, please contact: Zefiro Investor Relations 1 (800) 274-ZEFI (274-9334) investor@zefiromethane.com For media inquiries, please contact: Rich Myers - Profile Advisors (New York) media@zefiromethane.com +1 (347) 774-1125 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seeks, believes, plans, expects, intends, estimates, anticipates and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information including statements regarding: the Companys intention to reduce emissions from end-of-life oil and gas wells and eliminate methane gas; the Companys partnerships with industry operators, state agencies, and federal governments; the Companys expectations for continued increases in revenues and EBITDA growth as a result of these partnerships; the Companys intentions to build out its presence in the United States; the anticipated federal funding for orphaned well site plugging, remediation and restoring activities; the Companys expectations to become a growing environmental services company; the Companys ability to provide institutional and retail investors alike with the opportunity to join the Active Sustainability movement; the Companys ability to generate long-term economic, environmental, and social returns; and other statements regarding the Companys business and the industry in which the Company operates. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) adverse general market and economic conditions; (ii) changes to and price and volume volatility in the carbon market; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape and global policies applicable to the Company's business; (iv) failure to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals; and (v) other risk factors set forth in its Prospectus dated April 8, 2024 under the heading Risk Factors. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment where technologies are in the early stage of adoption. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including, but not limited to, the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by Zefiro Methane Corp. can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca/ . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae5d9fe9-54e6-462a-a995-583d0441c6d7 Toronto, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHEIN, the leading global fashion e-retailer, is thrilled to announce the launch of its exciting back-to-school campus tour across Ontario. This dynamic experience will bring SHEIN's bold and trendy style directly to university students, empowering them to express their unique style as they head back to campus. From August 28 to September 7, SHEIN's vibrant truck will make stops at five university campuses: University of Toronto (St. George), University of Toronto (Scarborough), York University, Western University, and Queen's University. Adorned with a large, graffiti-inspired SHEIN logo in the signature green hue of the summer, the truck's exterior will showcase SHEIN's colourful, street-style aesthetic, complemented by splashes of hot pink. Campus Tour Dates, Time and Locations: Wednesday, August 28: University of Toronto (St. George Campus) 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Friday, August 30: University of Toronto (Scarborough Campus) 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM Tuesday, September 3: York University 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday, September 5: Western University 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday, September 7: Queens University 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM Upon arrival at each campus, the SHEIN truck will transform into a hub of fashion-centric activities. Students will have the opportunity to customize their looks with t-shirt printing featuring the latest catchphrases, available while supplies last. Additionally, the truck will showcase SHEIN's latest offerings in women's wear, men's wear, home and living, stationery and accessories, providing students with a one-stop shop for their back-to-school needs. Students will also be able to browse the latest GLOWMODE x Harry Potter collection on the tour truck and immerse themselves in the magical world of the beloved franchise. To further engage new and returning students, SHEIN is offering a variety of promotions and giveaways. New customers and students who sign up to become campus ambassadors on-site can receive gift cards for online purchases. Attendees will also receive free gifts with purchase, complimentary t-shirt printing, and chances to win extra prizes by sharing their experiences on social media or participating in games at the pop-up. By immersing students in a lively, street-style aesthetic and offering them exclusive access to the brands latest collections and promotions, SHEIN aims to inspire their personal style as they embark on the new academic year. For more information on SHEIN's campus tour and to stay updated on the latest stops, please visit the event page or follow the brand on social media. About SHEIN SHEIN is a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, offering SHEIN branded apparel and products from a global network of vendors, all at affordable prices. Headquartered in Singapore, SHEIN remains committed to making the beauty of fashion accessible to all, promoting its industry-leading, on-demand production methodology for a smarter, future-ready industry. To learn more about SHEIN Canada, visit ca.shein.com . About GLOWMODE GLOWMODE, SHEIN's premium activewear line, redefines the world of athleisure by blending style, performance, and affordability. Engineered for excellence, GLOWMODE features self-developed fabrics like the innovative FeatherFit and sources premium materials to deliver uncompromising quality. Driven by user-centric design, GLOWMODE's thoughtful features cater to the needs of the modern active individual. Rigorously tested to exceed the brand's stringent standards, GLOWMODE empowers individuals to look and feel their absolute best, from workouts to lounging. By optimizing its supply chain, GLOWMODE offers this premium activewear experience at accessible price points. Pop-Up Microsite | LINK Instagram | @shein_ca #BTSwithSHEIN Attachments Innovative Talking Camera Integrates AI-Powered Communication, Setting New Standards for Home Security Solutions Detroit, Michigan, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robotic Assistance Devices Residential, Inc. (RAD-R), a subsidiary of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the Company) ( OTCPK:AITX ), a global leader in AI-driven security and productivity solutions, today announced that online pre-orders for its highly anticipated RADCam will begin in mid-September. Developed by RAD-R, this advanced residential and small business security solution is poised to redefine market standards, offering a significant leap forward in home security technology and potentially outpacing legacy competitors. The Company has opted to open pre-orders in response to overwhelming interest and inquiries from potential customers eager to secure the RADCam ahead of its official release. By launching pre-orders in mid-September, RAD-R aims to place this innovative security solution into customers hands in time for the holiday shopping season, positioning RADCam as a must-have gift for tech-savvy homeowners and small business owners. Were absolutely thrilled to bring RADCam to the B2C and SMB markets, said Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO of AITX and RAD-R. This is an incredible step forward for us, and were confident that RADCam will revolutionize home and small business security. The overwhelming interest weve received speaks volumes about the demand for a truly innovative security solution like RADCam. We cant wait to see how it empowers our customers and sets a new standard in the industry. Details including pricing, availability, and links to the online stores where RADCam can be pre-ordered will be released soon. The Company plans to provide further information in the coming weeks, ensuring that interested customers have everything they need to secure their RADCam during the pre-order period. Reinharz concluded, We anticipate that RADCams pre-orders and subscription fees could make a meaningful contribution to AITXs Q3 of FY 2025, further strengthening our recurring revenue stream. The combination of cutting-edge technology and a subscription model ensures that our customers receive continuous value, while also supporting the Companys growth and profitability. About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M, RAD-R, and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staff and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai , www.radsecurity.com , www.stevereinharz.com , www.radgroup.ai , www.raddog.ai , and www.radlightmyway.com , or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz . CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information contained in this publication does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy securities of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (the Company). This publication contains forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance and may involve subjective judgment and analysis. As such, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its expectations with respect to its future sales volume, becoming cash flow positive, ARR or RMR. The information provided herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, however the Company makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, as to its accuracy or completeness. The Company has no obligation to provide the recipient with additional updated information. No information in this publication should be interpreted as any indication whatsoever of the Companys future revenues, results of operations, or stock price. ### ROME, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an interview with LaPresse on August 19th, Professor Celotto spoke about the pros and cons of the constitutional reform promoted by the Meloni government. The so-called premiership is one of the key constitutional reforms the Meloni government is focused on. Speaking to LaPresse, Alfonso Celotto, a lawyer and professor of Constitutional Law at the Roma Tre University, discusses the pros and cons of a reform that would radically alter the relationship between national political power and voters. "Certainly, on paper, as the premiership reform is written, it removes a power from the President of the Republic, specifically the power to choose the Prime Minister," Celotto explains. "In 2018, the elections were partially won by Di Maio and partially by the center-right, but Giuseppe Conte was chosen. This would no longer be possible. The first Prime Minister under the premiership system would be chosen by the voters; as for the second, because only two governments would be allowed per legislative term, it would have to be someone from within the majority and the Parliament. This would have excluded someone like Draghi, who was a technocrat, and Conte, who was not a member of Parliament." Finding a compromise between government stability and representation in the eyes of voters is not simple. "Since 2018, we've seen all types of governments of all colors, almost every possible combination," the professor continues. "So, it would probably better reflect the will of the voters to have a government aligned with the majority's vote. Or is it more a question of balancing the parliamentary system, where we still seek a government, as was done in 1994 when Berlusconis government fell, and instead of holding elections, Dini was chosen? It's typical of the parliamentary system to try to form a new government. But moving towards a premiership would make the system more similar to that of a mayor or a regional president, where if the elected leader is removed, new elections are held." For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52e5d245-c231-4d6b-8297-4d68f3ab485d Boston, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gordon Brothers, the global asset experts, has welcomed Kasey Fagan to drive business development in the Midwest. In this role, Fagan will accelerate Gordon Brothers continued growth in the region by providing integrated solutions across the firms expanded asset services, lending, financing and trading platform. She partners with Gordon Brothers global asset experts to create customized solutions and maximize liquidity for clients and partners. Based in Chicago, Fagan advises asset-based lending, investment banks, private equity professionals and restructuring firms in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and northern Ohio. Prior to joining Gordon Brothers, she led the business development efforts in the Midwest for a financial services company and was previously an asset-based lending originator at a large multinational financial services company. Kasey will play a critical role in our continued acceleration and success in North America, said Frank Grimaldi, Senior Managing Director, North America Sales Manager at Gordon Brothers. Her deep understanding of asset-based lending and firm-wide collaboration will ensure our clients continue to receive integrated solutions and multi-asset optimization. I look forward to supporting the firms continued success and helping clients optimize asset values throughout the business cycle, said Fagan. About Gordon Brothers Since 1903, Gordon Brothers has maximized liquidity through realizable asset value by providing the people, expertise and capital to solve business challenges. Our firms integrated solutions across asset services, lending, financing and trading give clients the insights, strategies and time to optimize asset values throughout the business cycle. We work across the full spectrum of assets globally with deep expertise in retail, commercial, industrial, brands and real estate. We are headquartered in Boston with over 30 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.gordonbrothers.com. Attachment TORONTO, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Behr Paint Company announces its highly anticipated 2025 Colour of the Year: Rumors, a deep and dynamic ruby red that empowers DIYers, designers and paint professionals to create impactful colour moments. In fact, about 69% of Canadians say they would consider painting a room or wall a shade of red, and Rumors is the perfect choice with its unique balance of warmth and vitality. Were seeing people embrace colour like never before, said Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Colour and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company. Rumors is a modern take on the timeless red that creates an energetic appeal to make a lasting statement in a stunning way. New research1 conducted by Behr Paint reveals: Almost three quarters (69%) of Canadians say they would consider painting a room or a wall a shade of red, with accent walls, bedrooms, and front doors at the top of their wish lists. Canadians recognize the positive impact red can have on their home and agree it creates a bold yet cohesive style: Homes with red front doors stand out from others (86%) A small pop of red in a room catches their attention (84%) A pop of red can make a space feel more elegant and cohesive (68%) A majority of Canadians feel energized by the use of the colour red in home design (56%) Almost half of Canadians agree that Rumors in the home gives them the vibe of a high-end hotel (48%) and reminds them of a luxurious hospitality space (48%) Our Colour of the Year empowers consumers to use colour with confidence, said Andy Lopez, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing at Behr Paint. Rumors is undoubtedly a colour that inspires creativity while being versatile enough to transform a space through large and small projects. From eye-catching curb appeal on a front door to a dramatic four-wall drench in a bedroom, Rumors is a universal colour that transcends design styles and embraces self-expression. The rich allure of Rumors is part of the BEHR 2025 Colour Trends Palette, an annual selection of forward-looking colours, ranging from tantalizing warm tones to cooler stunning shades to simplify the colour selection process for DIYers, designers and paint professionals. Through comprehensive research and trend analysis across the globe within a variety of lifestyle influences, these hues create a connected colour story that transcends every design style. To celebrate the 2025 Colour of the Year, Behr Paint is hosting a sweepstakes on Instagram and TikTok starting August 21st. One winner will receive $10,000 USD to help them make a statement in their home using Rumors. Follow @behrpaint on Instagram and @behr on TikTok to learn more about how to enter. Terms and conditions apply. For official rules, visit: behr.com/2025cotysweepstakes. Rumors is available in top-rated, one-coat hide guaranteed* BEHR DYNASTY and BEHR MARQUEE, as well as BEHR ULTRA and BEHR PREMIUM PLUS, exclusively at The Home Depot Canada stores nationwide and online. To learn more about Rumors and explore the 2025 Colour Trends Palette, visit behr.ca/2025coty. *Valid only when tinted to colours from the BEHR DYNASTY & BEHR MARQUEE Interior One-Coat Hide Colour Collection. About Behr Paint Company Founded in 1947, Behr Paint Company is one of the largest manufacturers of paints, primers, decorative finishes, stains, surface preparation and application products for do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based company, and maker of the most trusted paint brand in Canada* BEHR, along with the KILZ and WHIZZ brands, is dedicated to meeting the project needs of DIYers, designers and professional paint contractors with an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and value. For more information, visit Behr.ca. Professional paint contractors and designers can visit BehrPro.ca to learn about products, colour tools and services. Behr Paint Company is a subsidiary of Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS). *Based on the 2024 BrandSpark Canadian Trust Study. Visit www.BrandSparkMostTrusted.com. Behr and the Behr logo are registered trademarks of Behr Process LLC. For inquiries, questions and/or high-res images, please contact: Samantha Machan smachan@harbingerideas.com 647.239.7178 1BEHR commissioned an online survey among n=1,000 general population Canadians 18 years of age and older. Data is nationally representative by age, gender, race/ethnicity and region. The survey was fielded between July 2- 9, 2024. The margin of error (MOE) for the total sample is +/- 3 p.pts. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fbe1fe73-6632-49d4-8602-4b15edc5e042 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1cd2c65d-4c9a-4f19-80ce-9ea3cebe4504 KITCHENER, Ontario, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ApplyBoard , the leading international student mobility platform, today announced the winners of its 2024 International Alumni of Impact program. Now in its second year, the program recognizes 10 exceptional former international students who have leveraged their Canadian education to create significant positive impact on the Canadian economy, entrepreneurial culture, and communities worldwide. Hailing from five countries around the world, the 2024 International Alumni of Impact winners are the embodiment of resilience, innovation, leadership, and generosity. From establishing their colleges first Food and Basic Needs Support Program to impacting global youth policies and sustainable development, these individuals are making an exceptional contribution to their local and global communities. ApplyBoard is honoured to share their stories, which serve as a powerful source of inspiration for future generations of international students. "Our 2024 International Alumni of Impact winners demonstrate the incredible potential of international students to drive economic growth and shape the future," says Meti Basiri, Co-Founder & CEO, ApplyBoard. "Their stories of resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurial success powerfully illustrate how education fosters global citizens who contribute significantly to their host and home countries. These remarkable individuals inspire us to further our commitment to supporting students worldwide, unlocking potential through global education and fueling innovation across borders." The 2024 International Alumni of Impact winners are: Christine Eruokwu (Nigeria), University of New Brunswick (2015) (Nigeria), University of New Brunswick (2015) Hana Tran (Vietnam), Douglas College (2018) (Vietnam), Douglas College (2018) Fsahat Ul-Hassan (Pakistan), Humber College (2021) (Pakistan), Humber College (2021) Kant Chong (Hong Kong), Western University (2003) (Hong Kong), Western University (2003) Lefin Paruvaparampil Chacko (India), Cape Breton University (2022) (India), Cape Breton University (2022) Puneet Kaur Johal (India), Sheridan College (2021) (India), Sheridan College (2021) Qasim Farasat (Pakistan), University of Waterloo (2015) (Pakistan), University of Waterloo (2015) Ritika Saraswat (India), University of British Columbia (2023) (India), University of British Columbia (2023) Rufina Ajalie (Nigeria), University of New Brunswick (2020) (Nigeria), University of New Brunswick (2020) Urvish Patel (India), George Brown College (2021) In recognition of their exceptional contributions, ApplyBoard will establish one-time scholarships in each winner's name. These scholarships, awarded to incoming international students at the institutions where the winners studied, aim to nurture the next generation of global leaders. Since its launch in 2023, this initiative has provided $20,000 in scholarships, embodying ApplyBoard's mission to make education accessible to students worldwide. To learn more about the International Alumni of Impact program and the winners, please visit applyboard.com/info/iaoi . About ApplyBoard ApplyBoard has empowered more than 1 million students from over 125 countries to access global education since 2015. Driven by its mission to unlock the potential of every aspiring mind, ApplyBoard simplifies the international education journey by connecting students to over 1,500 institutions across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. To learn more, visit: www.applyboard.com . For more information contact: Raveena Desai ApplyBoard raveena.desai@applyboard.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62799225-47d1-4fed-b472-45278721e65e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6569196b-2445-4eaa-8111-a63ee016cac4 NOTTINGHAM, Pa., Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After an exciting journey of taste testing and passionate voting in the Herr's #FlavoredbyPhilly contest, the much-anticipated verdict is in! Earlier this summer, Pennsylvania's beloved snack maker, Herr Foods Inc. unveiled its third Flavored by Philly collection a unique selection of chips crafted exclusively for the City of Brotherly Love. With the power to choose in the hands of the people of Philadelphia, the city has spoken, and its time to celebrate this victory! Romanos Stromboli: Special Hot Chips, has claimed the prestigious title in this years "Flavored by Philly" contesta creation that perfectly embodies Philadelphia's rich culinary heritage. In a tough competition, Romanos stood out as the winner, capturing the hearts and taste buds of Philadelphians and snack enthusiasts beyond the city. The three flavor finalists, submitted by fans, were announced in June and included Tallutos Cheese Ravioli and Marinara (Philadelphia, PA), and Mom Moms Kitchen Potato Pierogi (Philadelphia, PA). Philadelphians rallied behind their local small businesses, leading to a nearly 50% year-over-year increase in votes, with 26,360 snack lovers participating to choose their favorite Philadelphia flavor. The "Flavored by Philly" contest highlighted the essence of Philadelphias vibrant food culture, showcasing participants' creativity and passion for local flavors. Herr's, renowned for its innovative approach to snack experiences, has partnered with Romanos Stromboli to elevate the iconic Philadelphia delicacy, Special Hot Stromboli, into an exceptional chip sensation. This collaboration has taken this beloved dish to new heights, reflecting Herr's commitment to redefining the snacking experience. Imagine this: each bite of their Special Hot Stromboli-flavored chip bursts with flavors, blending savory cheese with the perfect amount of heat and spice. Its a taste journey that brings you right to the heart of Philadelphias food culture. Romanos Stromboli, a Philadelphia staple since 1950, was founded by Nazzereno Romano. The original Stromboli was crafted right here in Philadelphia and is still made using the same time-honored methods today. Now under the third generation of family ownership with Peter Romano at the helm, Romanos continues to serve up Strombolis that are rich in history and flavor. The Special Hot Stromboli's savory, cheesy, and mildly spicy profile combined with Herr's hearty potato chips creates the ultimate snacking experience in every chip! "This year's 'Flavored by Philly' contest has been an extraordinary journey, and we are excited to announce Romanos Stromboli: Special Hot Chips as the winner of our third annual Flavored by Philly Contest," said Ed Herr, Chairman and CEO of Herr's. "Their creative interpretation of a beloved Philadelphia classic truly captures the essence of the 'Flavored by Philly' contest. At Herr's, we are dedicated to celebrating local businesses and the unique flavors that make Philadelphia a culinary destination and partnering with Romanos Stromboli to bring their cherished dish to snack enthusiasts has been a thrill. Although only one flavor can win, we congratulate Tallutos and Mom Moms Kitchen for their exceptional entries and partnership in this competitive event. Their remarkable flavors and contributions have greatly enriched the contest, showcasing their outstanding culinary skills and enhancing the overall excitement of the competition." Peter Romano, owner of Romanos Stromboli, expressed his excitement over their winning Special Hot Stromboli entry. "Special Hot Stromboli is a cherished family recipe that's been beloved in our community for generations," Peter shared. "As long-time fans of Herr's, were thrilled and grateful for this opportunity. Thanks to Herr's and John Lishok for the nomination, which allowed us to share our family recipe with a broader audience. This recognition is truly humbling, and were excited to continue sharing our flavors with snack enthusiasts everywhere." As the winning flavor finalist, Romanos Stromboli wins $10,000, and John Lishok, who submitted the nomination, will also receive $5,000. The two small businesses in the runners-up position will also receive $2,500 each, while their devoted nominators will be awarded $1,000. Join Herr's in celebrating Romanos Stromboli's incredible achievement of winning this years Flavored by Philly Contest. The Herr's Flavored by Philly contest will return next year, so stay tuned for more exciting flavors and opportunities to celebrate Philadelphias culinary creativity! For more information about Herrs and their variety of flavors visit herrs.com. Follow Herr's on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive announcements on all the exciting new flavors and more. ### A link to the campaign imagery can be found here. About Herrs Made from the finest ingredients available and always bursting with flavor, Herrs snacks have been giving people something to smile about since 1946, when Jim Herr started his own snack company. Based in Nottingham, Pennsylvania, where visitors are welcomed to its Visitor Center and Snack Factory, Herrs produces more than 300 snack products in nine product categories and continues to be family-owned and operated. herrs.com Attachment ATLANTA, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeadCoverage , the premier supply chain go-to-market (GTM) consulting group founded in 2019 by supply chain experts Kara Smith Brown and Will Haraway , today announces its inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list for the third consecutive year. This prestigious recognition by Inc. Magazine highlights the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States, celebrating their impressive revenue growth over the past three years. This year, LeadCoverage ranks No. 2,493 on the list and No. 123 in the state of Georgia. "Our inclusion on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row is confirmation of the value our team brings to our supply chain clients," said Kara Smith Brown, co-founder and CEO of LeadCoverage. "Our continued growth is a direct result of how we carefully craft go-to-market strategies with data-backed insights and mathematical models. The location of our headquarters in Atlanta, along with key team members located in other major cities steeped in logistics history, gives us a significant strategic advantage to help our clients achieve sustained growth in a competitive marketplace." According to Statista , the global supply chain management market was valued at $15.85 billion in 2020 and is projected to nearly double, reaching approximately $31 billion by 2026. With such global growth, Gartner reports, "As executive leadership increasingly pushes for greater revenue from their supply chains, CSCOs [Chief Supply Chain Officers] can shift the supply chains role from cost center to revenue generator by focusing their organizations on building two types of services: customer enablement services and SCaaS [Supply Chain as a Service]." "We love our niche in the supply chain space, its all we do every day, and weve continued to grow along with the industry," said Will Haraway, co-founder and Chief Content Officer of LeadCoverage. "Our team of industry experts is guiding its clients to the forefront of the supply chain market by delivering targeted marketing solutions that enhance their visibility, generate qualified leads, and achieve sustained, scalable revenue growth. We work every day to make our clients market leaders. The shift in supply chain growth strategy has translated into a search for additional revenue generation, increased visibility, diversification of suppliers , strategic partnerships, and ways to combat workforce shortages to increase resiliency . LeadCoverage has grown with these companies by building GTM models enhanced by data-derived insights to help bridge the gaps in their marketing and sales funnels, while amplifying brand awareness in the marketplace through public relations and analyst relations. LeadCoverage's success is driven by its commitment to partner with its clients and deliver insights that are as actionable as they are insightful. The company's innovative approaches to public relations and analyst relations have secured its team as trusted counsel for clients seeking to strike a balance between measurable marketing outcomes and having an elevated share of voice in the industry. LeadCoverages methodology of Share Good News, Track Interest, and Follow Up and why it works so well is the subject of Kara Smith Browns forthcoming book, The Revenue Engine, set to be released Q4 of 2024. As LeadCoverage continues to expand its footprint, the company remains focused on providing exceptional value and measurable results for its clients. This inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list serves as a milestone in LeadCoverage's continued journey of growth and innovation. Gartner, Supply Chain Brief: Pursue Supply Chain Services and SCaaS to Drive Profitable Growth, Dominy, Michael; Herring, Bailey, 14 June 2024. Gartner Disclaimer GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Hype Cycle is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartners research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About LeadCoverage LeadCoverage is the premier supply chain go-to-market consulting group, dedicated to driving revenue growth for our clients. We specialize in crafting GTM strategies that are grounded in data-backed insights and sophisticated mathematical models. Our proven expertise transforms businesses into market leaders, ensuring they stay ahead of the competition and achieve sustained success. LeadCoverages headquarters is located in the beautiful Coda building in Midtown Atlanta, adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus. This particular corridor "Supply Chain Square also includes cloud warehousing company Stord, supply chain intelligence company Verusen, as well as the Georgia Tech Supply Chain & Logistics Institute. For more information about LeadCoverage and its suite of supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics-focused marketing, public relations, and analyst relations services, please visit LeadCoverages website . Covina, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Prophecy Market Insights, the global nuclear power plant control system market size and share is projected to grow from USD 0.6 Billion in 2024 and is forecasted to reach USD 1 Billion by 2034, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period (2024 - 2034). Nuclear Power Plant Control System Market Report Overview Nuclear Power Plant Control System are critical for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear reactors. These systems are designed to monitor, control, and also regulate various processes within a nuclear power plant ensuring the stable production of energy while maintaining high safety standards. The complexity and significance of these systems stem from the need to manage nuclear reactions and prevent any potential hazards associated with the operation of nuclear reactors. Reactor Control Systems manage the nuclear reactors operations, including controlling the reactor's power output and ensuring that it remains within safe operational limits. Download a Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/5573 Our Free Sample Report includes: Overview & introduction of market study Revenue and CAGR of the market Drivers & Restrains factors of the market Major key players in the market Regional analysis of the market with a detailed graph Detailed segmentation in tabular form of market Recent developments/news of the market Opportunities & Challenges of the Market Competitive Landscape: The Nuclear Power Plant Control System Market is characterized by rapid growth, technological innovation, and fierce competition. Companies are expanding their global presence, focusing on sustainability, and diversifying their service offerings to stay competitive. Some of the Key Market Players: Siemens Energy Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) ABB Ltd. Schneider Electric Honeywell International Inc. General Electric (GE) Toshiba Corporation Hitachi, Ltd. Emerson Electric Co. Rockwell Automation, Inc. Schneider Electric Yokogawa Electric Corporation Westinghouse Electric Company LLC AREVA SA Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation To Know More on Additional Market Players, Download a Free Sample Report Here: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/5573 Analyst View: The target market is a crucial segment within the broader energy sector, driven by the ongoing need for safe, reliable, and efficient operation of nuclear reactors. Nuclear power plant control systems are developed in large part by technological innovation. Nuclear reactors are safer, more reliable and efficient when digital control systems, automation, and advanced monitoring technologies are implemented. Market Dynamics: Drivers: Increasing Nuclear Energy Demand The demand for clean energy sources is pushing the growth of nuclear power as a low-carbon energy option. As countries seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify their energy portfolios, nuclear power is gaining renewed interest. Request for FLAT 30% Discount on this Report @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-discount/5573 Market Trends: Remote Monitoring and Control In the nuclear power industry, remote monitoring and control systems are becoming more and more popular. With the use of these technologies, plant managers can now oversee operations from off-site locations, offering them more flexibility and responsiveness. Segmentation: Nuclear Power Plant Control System Market is segmented based on Technology, Component Type, End-User, and Region. Technology Insights This sector includes Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, Distributed Control System, Programmable Logic Controller, and Human-Machine Interface. Distributed control system segment is expected to dominate the target market growth as it provides centralized control over the nuclear power plant's operations while distributing control tasks across various subsystems. Component Type Insights This sector includes Hardware, Software, and Services. The services segment is expected to dominate the target market growth as nuclear power plant control systems are highly complex and require meticulous integration and ongoing maintenance to ensure safe and efficient operation. Services such as system integration, calibration, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance are crucial for the reliability and performance of these systems. End-User Insights In the target market utility companies is the most dominant segment as hospitals are equipped with comprehensive patient care facilities and advanced medical infrastructure, making them ideal environments for the use of nuclear power plant control system technologies. Request FREE Unlimited Customization on this Report @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-customization/5573 Recent Development: In September 2022, the IAEA launched a New Early Warning Notification System to Protect Nuclear Installations from Natural Hazards. EENS is a web-based tool that provides real-time information on external events and hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, river and coastal flooding, rotational winds, and wildfires, that have occurred or are expected to occur, including their severity and location, as well as estimations of their potential effects on nuclear installations and major population centers. Regional Insights North America: This region is renowned for having strict regulations limiting the use of nuclear power. Strict safety regulations are enforced by organizations like the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the United States. This region is renowned for having strict regulations limiting the use of nuclear power. Strict safety regulations are enforced by organizations like the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the United States. Asia Pacific: In order to take advantage of worldwide knowledge and advancements in nuclear power plant control systems, numerous nations in this region are forming international alliances and partnerships. Browse Detail Report on "Nuclear Power Plant Control System Market Size, Share, By Technology (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, Distributed Control System, Programmable Logic Controller, Human-Machine Interface), By Component Type (Hardware, Software, Services), By End-User (Utility Companies, Government Agencies, Nuclear Research Institutes, Nuclear Navy), and By Region - Trends, Analysis, and Forecast till 2034" with complete TOC @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/nuclear-power-plant-control-system-market-5573 Browse More Research Reports: About Us: Prophecy Market Insights is a specialized market research, analytics, marketing, and business strategy, and solutions company that offers strategic and tactical support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and identifying and achieving high-value opportunities in the target business area. Also, we help our client to address business challenges and provide the best possible solutions to overcome them and transform their business. Prophecys expertise area covers products, services, latest trends, developments, market growth factors, and challenges along with market forecasts in various business areas such as Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Information Technology (IT), Automotive, Industrial, Chemical, Agriculture, Food and Beverage, Energy, and Oil and Gas. We also offer various other services such as data mining, information management, and revenue enhancement suggestions. Contact Us: Prophecy Market Insights US: 964 E. Badillo Street #2042 Covina, CA 91724 US toll-free: +1 860 531 2574 Rest of World: + 91 7775049802 TEL AVIV, Israel and Wilmington, Del., Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chargeflow , the pioneering chargeback platform tailored exclusively for online businesses, today announced the release of Chargeflow Insights. Available now for free, Chargeflow Insights integrates critical elements, allowing businesses to dive deeply into their data and find actionable insights, which also includes fraud detection and chargeback management at scale, to help businesses increase revenues lost to fraud and chargebacks. Current payment stack configurations share a common traitthey are fragmented and inefficient. As a result, eCommerce merchants are forced to work with disparate solutions and collate data from multiple sources. This ultimately leads to increasing operational complexity, errors, and lost revenuesthe total cost of chargebacks to US merchants reached $243 billion in 2023. Chargeflow Insights addresses these pain points with a unified chargeback analytics solution that consolidates all relevant data and streamlines the entire chargeback lifecycle. Powered by AI data-driven recommendations, Chargeflow Insights provides a comprehensive and holistic overview of post-transaction activities. It also seamlessly consolidates data that delivers actionable intelligence. As a result, merchants can improve performance by optimizing their payment strategies, reducing operational complexity, and improving cash flow forecasts. Examples of the intelligence Chargeflow Insights delivers include the following: Real-Time Analytics Dashboards - Access comprehensive dashboards for detailed, real-time analytics and oversight. Examples include chargeback trends over time and chargeback dispute success rates. Access comprehensive dashboards for detailed, real-time analytics and oversight. Examples include chargeback trends over time and chargeback dispute success rates. Dispute Insights - Granular data about all active, in progress, and resolved disputes, such as dispute volume trends, win rate trends, and resolution times. Granular data about all active, in progress, and resolved disputes, such as dispute volume trends, win rate trends, and resolution times. Fraud Intelligence - Identify where fraud is coming from and which geographical areas or segments contribute to a companys fraud KPIs. Identify where fraud is coming from and which geographical areas or segments contribute to a companys fraud KPIs. Processor and Card Scheme Data - Detailed intelligence about individual card schemes and payment processors such as chargeback rates by processor and card scheme risk metrics. Detailed intelligence about individual card schemes and payment processors such as chargeback rates by processor and card scheme risk metrics. AI-Driven Recommendations - Receive actionable, AI-driven insights tailored to the type of business, to ensure optimal actions, and outcomes, such as suggested adjustments to fraud prevention strategies and adapting the company policies to the situation . Receive actionable, AI-driven insights tailored to the type of business, to ensure optimal actions, and outcomes, such as suggested adjustments to fraud prevention strategies and adapting the company policies to the situation . Performance MonitoringGet notified and act quickly when specific performance benchmarks are met or missed, such as sudden spikes in dispute rates or declines in approval rates. A reliance on multiple systems has many businesses exhausting countless hours aggregating data to spot and stop fraud and chargebacks that are siphoning valuable revenues. This is not a sustainable model, said Ariel Chen, co-founder and CEO of Chargeflow. With Chargeflow Insights, the industrys only free chargeback offering, we eliminate this siloed approach by bringing fraud detection and chargeback management into a single view. Now merchants can quickly gain the actionable insights they need to protect their businesss bottom line. Chargeflow Insights delivers merchants a single centralized view, intuitive navigation, and easy-to-understand reports accessible to users at all levels of technical expertise. With these insights, teams can: Reduce Inefficiencies: Chargeflow Insights allows merchants to better understand chargeback data and reduce inefficiencies within their chargeback operations. Chargeflow Insights allows merchants to better understand chargeback data and reduce inefficiencies within their chargeback operations. Stay on Top of all Activity: Chargeflows AI-powered analysis and recommendations ensure merchants dont miss anything related to their chargeback operations. Chargeflows AI-powered analysis and recommendations ensure merchants dont miss anything related to their chargeback operations. Reduce Risk: By analyzing their post-transaction data, the free solution helps merchants identify and reduce risk. By analyzing their post-transaction data, the free solution helps merchants identify and reduce risk. Gain Advanced Insights: Make it easy for merchants to identify and address the root causes of chargebacks. Prevent future chargebacks by understanding past trends. Chargeflow Insights is free forever, for everyone. Its our mission to democratize chargebacks and allow easy entry for any business of any size and type. Sign up directly on the website. You can be up and running in just a few seconds. Click here to get started . About Chargeflow Chargeflow is the world's first fully automated chargeback management solution, designed for eCommerce merchants by eCommerce entrepreneurs. Chargeflow leverages technology and generative AI, along with human expertise, to help recover lost revenue and alleviate chargeback pains for online merchants. Chargeflow has an industry-leading win rate and guarantees return on investment, providing a risk-free entry for any business interested in using its service. For more information, please visit https://www.chargeflow.io/ . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/012a1262-1072-481c-968e-563ba49783da Dublin, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dimethyl Carbonate Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Application, End-use Industry, Grade, and Region - Analysis and Forecast, 2024-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Dimethyl carbonate market is experiencing significant growth, propelled by growing demand for environmentally friendly chemicals, and increasing demand for plastics in wide range of applications. Considering the optimistic scenario the market is valued at $1.28 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.39% to reach $3.76 billion by 2034. Despite these positive drivers, the market faces hurdles such as volatility in raw material prices. However, expanding applications in key industries, present lucrative opportunities for the expansion of dimethyl carbonate demand, suggesting a vibrant future for this market as it navigates through challenges towards use of toxic chemicals in synthesis. Asia-Pacific is home to a significant portion of the world's manufacturing activities. The region's manufacturing sector spans a wide range of industries, including chemicals, plastics, coatings, and electronics, all of which are key consumers of dimethyl carbonate. The growing manufacturing base drives the demand for dimethyl carbonate in industrial processes and product formulations. The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing robust growth in end-use industries that utilize dimethyl carbonate, such as automotive manufacturing, electronics production, construction, and pharmaceuticals. As these industries expand to meet the demands of growing populations and rising consumer incomes, the demand for dimethyl carbonate as a key chemical intermediate and solvent is expected to rise correspondingly. China has significant production capacity for dimethyl carbonate, with numerous domestic manufacturers operating in the country. These manufacturers benefit from access to abundant raw materials, skilled labor, and favorable government policies, enabling them to produce dimethyl carbonate at competitive prices. China's robust industrial growth and expanding manufacturing sector drive the demand for dimethyl carbonate in various applications. Industries such as automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and coatings rely on dimethyl carbonate for its versatile properties, contributing to its increasing demand in the country. Governments and industries worldwide are increasingly investing in clean energy initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Electric vehicles play a crucial role in decarbonizing the transportation sector, and energy storage systems enable the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. Dimethyl carbonate, as a key component in lithium-ion batteries, supports these clean energy goals. Lithium-ion batteries are the primary energy storage solution for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems, and portable electronics. Dimethyl carbonate is a crucial solvent used in the electrolyte formulation of lithium-ion batteries. As the demand for EVs and renewable energy systems grows, so does the demand for dimethyl carbonate to support their production. Report Scope Product/Innovation Strategy: The global dimethyl carbonate market has been extensively segmented based on various categories, such as application, grade, and end-use industry. This can help readers get a clear overview of which segments account for the largest share and which ones are well-positioned to grow in the coming years. Competitive Strategy: A detailed competitive benchmarking of the players operating in the global dimethyl carbonate market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market. Some of the prominent companies in this market are: UBE Corporation LOTTE Chemical Corporation Tokyo Chemical Industry Co. Kishida Chemical Co. Merck Key Questions Answered in this Report: What are the main factors driving the demand for dimethyl carbonate market? What are the major patents filed by the companies active in the dimethyl carbonate market? Who are the key players in the dimethyl carbonate market, and what are their respective market shares? What partnerships or collaborations are prominent among stakeholders in the dimethyl carbonate market? What are the strategies adopted by the key companies to gain a competitive edge in dimethyl carbonate market? What is the futuristic outlook for the dimethyl carbonate market in terms of growth potential? What is the current estimation of the dimethyl carbonate market, and what growth trajectory is projected from 2024 to 2034? Which application, and product segment is expected to lead the market over the forecast period (2024-2034)? Which regions demonstrate the highest adoption rates for dimethyl carbonate market, and what factors contribute to their leadership? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2024 - 2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $1.28 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $3.76 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.3% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. Markets: Industry Outlook 1.1 Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment 1.2 Supply Chain Overview 1.3 R&D Review 1.4 Regulatory Landscape 1.5 Stakeholder Analysis 1.6 Impact Analysis for Key Global Events 1.7 Market Dynamics Overview 2. Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Application) 2.1 Application Segmentation 2.2 Application Summary 2.3 Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Application) 2.3.1 Polycarbonate Synthesis 2.3.2 Battery Electrolyte 2.3.3 Solvents 2.3.4 Reagents 2.4 Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by End-use Industry) 2.4.1 Plastics 2.4.2 Paints and Coatings 2.4.3 Pharmaceutical 2.4.4 Battery 2.4.5 Agrochemicals 3. Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Product) 3.1 Product Segmentation 3.2 Product Summary 3.3 Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Grade) 3.3.1 Industrial Grade 3.3.2 Pharmaceutical Grade 3.3.3 Battery Grade 4. Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Region) 4.1 Dimethyl Carbonate Market (by Region) 4.2 North America 4.3 Europe 4.4 Asia-Pacific 4.5 Rest-of-the-World 5. Companies Profiled UBE Corporation LOTTE Chemical Corporation Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Kowa American Corporation Kishida Chemical Co., Ltd. Shandong Haike Chemical Group BASF SE Chaoyang Chemicals, Inc. Haihang Industry Shandong Shida Shenghua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Merck KGaA Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Shandong Wells Chemicals Co., Ltd. Shandong Longze Chemical Co.,Ltd. Tongling Jintai Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8ynmng 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 Covina, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Prophecy Market Insights, the global cancer cachexia market size is projected to grow from USD 2.45 Billion in 2024 and is forecasted to reach USD 3.6 Billion by 2034, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% during the forecast period (2024 - 2034). Cancer Cachexia Market Report Overview Cancer Cachexia is a complex syndrome characterized by severe weight loss, muscle wasting, and significant loss of appetite in cancer patients. Unlike simple malnutrition, cancer cachexia involves a multifaceted interplay of metabolic changes that contribute to a decline in nutritional status and physical function. Chronic inflammation is a central feature of cancer cachexia. Tumors release cytokines and other inflammatory mediators that disrupt normal metabolism, leading to muscle and fat tissue breakdown. Download a Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/5570 Our Free Sample Report includes: Overview & introduction of market study Revenue and CAGR of the market Drivers & Restrains factors of the market Major key players in the market Regional analysis of the market with a detailed graph Detailed segmentation in tabular form of market Recent developments/news of the market Opportunities & Challenges of the Market Competitive Landscape: The Cancer Cachexia Market is characterized by rapid growth, technological innovation, and fierce competition. Companies are expanding their global presence, focusing on sustainability, and diversifying their service offerings to stay competitive. Some of the Key Market Players: AbbVie Inc. Actimed Therapeutics Aeterna Zentaris Inc. ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc. Aphios Corporation Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Helsinn Group Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC Merck & Co. Inc. Mylan N.V. Pfizer Inc. TCI Peptide Therapeutics Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. To Know More on Additional Market Players, Download a Free Sample Report Here: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/5570 Analyst View: The increasing prevalence of cancer globally is a major driver for the cancer cachexia market. As the number of cancer diagnoses rises, so does the incidence of cachexia, which affects a significant proportion of cancer patients, particularly those with advanced-stage disease. The target market is emerging as a significant area of focus within the oncology and healthcare sectors, driven by the growing recognition of cachexia as a serious and prevalent condition affecting cancer patients. Market Dynamics: Drivers: Growing Awareness and Research There is an increasing awareness of cancer cachexia as a distinct and serious condition rather than a mere consequence of cancer or malnutrition. This recognition has led to a surge in research and development activities aimed at understanding the underlying mechanism of cachexia and developing targeted therapies. Request for FLAT 30% Discount on this Report @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-discount/5570 Market Trends: Multidisciplinary Approach to Management The adoption of a multidisciplinary approach to managing cancer cachexia involving nutritional support, physical therapy and pharmacological treatments is gaining traction. This holistic approach is expected to improve patient outcomes and drive demand for comprehensive cachexia management solutions. Segmentation: Cancer Cachexia Market is segmented based on Product, Mechanism of Action, Distributional Channel, and Region. Product Insights This sector includes Progestogens, Corticosteroids, Combination Therapies, and Others. The combination therapies segment is expected to dominate the target market growth as it is a complex syndrome characterized by severe weight loss, muscle wasting, and metabolic changes that are resistant to conventional nutritional interventions. Mechanism of Action Insights In the target market appetite stimulators are the most dominant segment as they are specifically designed to enhance appetite and improve food intake in patients suffering from cancer cachexia. Distributional Channel Insights In the target market hospital pharmacies are the most dominant segment as cancer cachexia often requires specialized and intensive management, which is typically provided within hospital settings. Request FREE Unlimited Customization on this Report @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-customization/5570 Recent Development: According to a research article by Nutricia, The European Society for Clinical Oncology (ESMO), launched new clinical guidelines for the management of cancer cachexia in adult cancer patients to improve cancer care and provide healthcare professionals with a tool for the clinical management of malnutrition in cancer patients. Regional Insights North America: The prevalence of cancer is relatively high in this region driving demand for effective cachexia management solutions. The focus on improving patient quality of life and extending survival rates propels the need for effective therapies for cancer cachexia. The prevalence of cancer is relatively high in this region driving demand for effective cachexia management solutions. The focus on improving patient quality of life and extending survival rates propels the need for effective therapies for cancer cachexia. Asia Pacific: In this region, there is growing awareness and education about cancer cachexia among healthcare professionals and the public. Increased awareness leads to earlier diagnosis and better management of the condition, driving demand for effective therapies. Browse Detail Report on "Cancer Cachexia Market Size, Share, By Product (Progestogens, Corticosteroids, Combination Therapies, and Others), By Mechanism of Action (Appetite Stimulators, Weight Loss Stabilizers), By Distributional Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, and Online Pharmacy), and By Region - Trends, Analysis, and Forecast till 2034" with complete TOC @ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/cancer-cachexia-market-5570 Browse More Research Reports: About Us: Prophecy Market Insights is a specialized market research, analytics, marketing, and business strategy, and solutions company that offers strategic and tactical support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and identifying and achieving high-value opportunities in the target business area. Also, we help our client to address business challenges and provide the best possible solutions to overcome them and transform their business. Prophecys expertise area covers products, services, latest trends, developments, market growth factors, and challenges along with market forecasts in various business areas such as Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Information Technology (IT), Automotive, Industrial, Chemical, Agriculture, Food and Beverage, Energy, and Oil and Gas. We also offer various other services such as data mining, information management, and revenue enhancement suggestions. Contact Us: Prophecy Market Insights US: 964 E. Badillo Street #2042 Covina, CA 91724 US toll-free: +1 860 531 2574 Rest of World: + 91 7775049802 LISLE, Ill., Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) has officially confirmed Charles El-Moussa's arrival as the companys new General Counsel, effective immediately. The appointment of El-Moussa marks another positive and strategic move forward for MRED. El-Moussa will play a crucial role in providing legal guidance to MREDs ongoing strategic discussions, ensuring one of the countrys largest multiple listings services continues to stay ahead of the curve and navigate the complex challenges of the modern real estate landscape. Rebecca Jensen, President and CEO of MRED said: Charles is an exceptional addition to our team, bringing not only a strong legal background but also a deep understanding of real estate operations. His leadership experience, particularly as General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer and President of top brokerages in Texas, will be a huge asset as we continue to navigate the complexities of our industry." "What really sets Charles apart is his innovative mindset and his ability to blend legal expertise with strategic insight. His work in the PropTech space and his passion for driving growth and innovation make him the perfect fit to help shape MREDs future. In addition to working with current legal firm Greenberg Traurig on existing litigation, El-Moussa will be tasked with internal contracts and governance, supporting Human Resources, and providing legal input to ongoing strategic discussions. El-Moussa is revered as an impassioned leader, client advocate, and innovative thinker whose previous roles include President at Coldwell Banker Realty and General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer at RE/MAX in Texas. Charles brings a wealth of experience, having worked as a commercial litigator and served as a strategic investor, consultant, and advisor to various real estate and technology companies. He has also mentored startups through the National Association of Realtors REACH program, provided brokerage and advisory services to Move.inc/Realtor.com, and was recognized as one of the top 200 most influential figures in real estate by the Swanepoel Power 200 report. Im thrilled to join Rebecca and the talented MRED team in this new role, said El-Moussa. This is an incredibly dynamic time for the industry, and I look forward to working together to serve the estate professionals who rely on us. About MRED Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC, (MRED) is one of the largest multiple listing services (MLSs) in the nation, servicing Chicagoland and spanning northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana. MRED is dedicated to serving nearly 50,000 real estate professionals from more than 7,300 offices. MRED is a member of the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO), MLS Grid, and supports the Broker Public Portal. For more information, please visit MREDLLC.com. Attachment REGINA, Saskatchewan, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Regina Food Bank and BHP are pleased to announce a partnership to ensure the financial sustainability and programming impact of the recently created BMO ASAHTOWIKAMIK Food Hub. Through the partnership BHP will invest $350,000, designating BHP as the reconciliation partner. Funds will go towards the food sovereignty programme and a mural in the Food Hub created by local Indigenous artist Chantel Yuzicappi, from Standing Buffalo First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory. The Regina Food Bank feeds over 17,000 people per-month, of which 23% are of self-identified Indigenous decent. Food insecurity is linked to lower education, health and economic outcomes; and addressing it is in-line with the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action, particularly those aligned with youth programming, language, education and health. The Food Hub is a national first, providing food bank services with a grocery store feel. The new approach means that for the first time in 40 years, clients will be able to choose the food their family needs from a culturally diverse, nutritious selection. The food sovereignty programme plays an important role in this, supporting initiatives such as buffalo harvests and Indigenous urban agriculture. The space has been purposefully created as a vibrant gathering place for the community with a focus on making it a welcoming environment for Indigenous community members with the inclusion of Indigenous languages, a reconciliation room to host programming, and the art created by Ms.Yuzicappi. The name ASAHTOWIKAMIK is the Cree meaning for a feeding lodge. The name was gifted through ceremony by Elder Murray Ironchild of Piapot First Nation to the Regina Food Bank for their new location. Elder Ironchild and local Indigenous community members asked that the new Food Hub do more than provide food by focusing on partnerships, programming and giving a hand-up. BHPs investment will do just that according to John Bailey, CEO, Regina Food Bank, We want to thank BHP for helping us advance food sovereignty programming and create a culturally friendly and respectful environment for all. Together, and with BHPs help, we are providing a new model for reconciliation and feeding our community. At BHP we are very pleased to support the growing need for food bank services and important efforts towards reconciliation in the community in a way that touches on day-to-day experiences and builds stronger, more dignified engagements, said Karina Gistelinck, BHP Potash Asset President. Partnering with the Food Bank in this way was a natural fit. We recently released our Canada Indigenous Partnerships Plan. This investment is the first reconciliation-focused investment under the new Plan; and one that we hope will be the start of many new partnerships. We applaud the Regina Food Bank for their innovation approach. The BMO ASAHTOWIKAMIK Community Food Hub opened to clients on August 16th. To learn more visit https://www.reginafoodbank.ca/food-hub-campaign. About the Regina Food Bank The Regina Food Bank is a charitable community-based organization working to fight food insecurity through nutritious food distribution, education, and support programs. For over 40 years we have worked to restore dignity, health and hope for our clients. We also build community rallying the community to make Regina a more fair, caring, and dynamic city. The Food Bank feeds over 15,000 people a month, making it the largest food security organization in Southern Saskatchewan. About BHP BHP is a global resources company with its Canadian operational headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and global business development headquarters in Toronto. BHP has a global workforce of approximately 80,000 people working in locations across Canada, Australia, Asia, the UK, US and Latin America. BHP produces commodities essential for global decarbonization, economic development and food security including copper, nickel, iron ore, metallurgical coal and is developing the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada. BHP recently released it's Canada Indigenous Partnerships Plan which outlines how its global Indigenous Peoples Policy Statement will be operationalised in Canada and the ongoing work to advance existing and new relationships with Indigenous peoples in Canada. Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Regina Food Bank David Froh, Vice President Regina Food Bank 306-550-4823 dfroh@reginafoodbank.ca BHP Megan Hjulfors Media Relations 403-605-2314 Modesto, Calif., Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sutter Health today announced, as part of its strategic plan to expand services and enhance patient access to high-quality care in the Central Valley, a $380 million investment in Modesto. Sutter will build a new, four-story, 165,000-square-foot cancer center on the Sutter Memorial Medical Center campus. The new location, planned in collaboration with Gould Medical Group physicians, is scheduled to welcome patients in 2028 or 2029. Were making meaningful progress in expanding access to the specialized care that our communities need, said Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Sutter Health. This investmentone of our biggest yetis all about meeting the real needs of people in the Central Valley. Were thrilled to be working alongside our physician partners to bring top-notch cancer care and surgical services to Modesto in this new, state-of-the-art facility. The new Sutter Health Cancer Center will feature: A New Standard in Cancer Care: Spanning the first and second floors, this center will further elevate top-tier cancer care services in the region. As part of Sutters Integrated Network Cancer Program designated by the Commission on Cancer, it will meet the high demand for cancer care, serving patients from San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties and beyond. The center will be an all-inclusive location offering clinic visits, infusion and radiation therapy, imaging, lab, pharmacy and multiple complementary therapies. The center will also feature greater access to clinical trials. By centralizing all services, patients can access all their care in one place, closer to home. This center will also connect patients with additional advanced Sutter cancer specialists in the Bay Area and greater Sacramento area as needed. Spanning the first and second floors, this center will further elevate top-tier cancer care services in the region. As part of Sutters Integrated Network Cancer Program designated by the Commission on Cancer, it will meet the high demand for cancer care, serving patients from San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties and beyond. The center will be an all-inclusive location offering clinic visits, infusion and radiation therapy, imaging, lab, pharmacy and multiple complementary therapies. The center will also feature greater access to clinical trials. By centralizing all services, patients can access all their care in one place, closer to home. This center will also connect patients with additional advanced Sutter cancer specialists in the Bay Area and greater Sacramento area as needed. Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC): Expanding Surgical Options: Located on the third floor, the ASC will include four operating rooms, four procedure rooms and additional space for future expansion, helping support efforts to meet the community's evolving needs. This will be the first Sutter ASC in Modesto, offering patients a trusted nearby option connected to Sutters larger integrated system for high-quality outpatient surgery. Outpatient Clinics: Growing with the Community : The fourth floor will be designed to feature more than 25 clinicians and 50 exam rooms, supporting continued growth in outpatient and clinical care, and increasing capacity to serve the region for future generations. : The fourth floor will be designed to feature more than 25 clinicians and 50 exam rooms, supporting continued growth in outpatient and clinical care, and increasing capacity to serve the region for future generations. Greater Number of Physicians: The location will also enable Gould Medical Group to bring new physicians to Modesto, with plans to recruit 44 clinicians for the cancer center and ASC. Twelve additional clinicians will also support the outpatient services offered. The Central Valley is experiencing considerable growth and is forecasted for more, said Dr. Robert Altman, president and CEO of Gould Medical Group. Additional physicians in our community will contribute to achieving our mission to offer integrated, top-quality care across the region. Special Focus on Advanced Cancer Care Sutter Health is committed to offering the highest quality cancer care available in every community it serves. This is a particularly poignant focus in the Central Valley, where statistics show cancer diagnoses increasing in the next decade-plus. According to statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov, the area is expected to have more than 8,000 people with cancer by 2037. It is important we continue to evolve how we care for individuals living with cancer and how we support their loved ones. Our aim is to provide patient-centered, comprehensive care that is based on the most advanced care standards while being rooted in the community, said Gould Medical Groups Dr. Allen Li, a medical oncologist who cares for local residents and serves as section chief for oncology. This cancer center will bring together different cancer care specialists to perform advanced diagnostic testing and treatments, including molecular testing, specialized surgeries, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and other advanced cancer therapies. It will be the place where these synergies merge, giving patients and family members peace of mind and streamlined access to Sutters award-winning cancer care. The cancer center will be an important component of our overall cancer service line, added Dr. Steven Hao, chief medical officer, Sutter Service Lines. Our patients will benefit from the best practices, collaboration and coordination between the cancer specialists across our network who are continually focused on high-quality, equitable patient outcomes, helping ensure that our patients get our very best, every day, no matter what door they enter. Long-Term Commitment to Central Valley, Northern California Sutter Health is committed to addressing the health care access challenges facing patients in California by investing significantly in new and enhanced care facilities and services across the geography. This multi-year construction project, which will replace the existing 1800 Coffee Rd. building, is the latest example of the continued investment in the Central Valley. Most recently, the system unveiled plans for multiple new care centers throughout the greater Central Valley area. This is part of Sutter Healths larger plans to open 27 new ambulatory care centers by 2027 and adding more than 160 hospital beds by 2025. Additionally, Sutter announced newly accredited Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residency programs set to begin in summer of 2025. Sutter plans to grow its Graduate Medical Education programs to train 1,000 physician residents and fellows each year by 2030 and create more academic partnerships to foster diverse clinical talent reflective of the communities it serves. About Sutter Health Sutter Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system dedicated to providing comprehensive care throughout California. Committed to health equity, community partnerships, and innovative, high-quality patient care, Sutter Health is pursuing a bold new plan to reach more people and make excellent health care more connected and accessible. Currently serving nearly 3.5 million patients, thanks to our dedicated team of more than 57,000 employees and clinicians, and 12,000+ affiliated physicians, with a unified focus on expanding care to serve more patients. Sutter Health delivers exceptional and affordable care through its hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, telehealth, home health and hospice services. Dedicated to transforming health care, at Sutter Health, getting better never stops. Learn more about how Sutter Health is transforming health care at sutterhealth.org and vitals.sutterhealth.org. # # # Attachment Sacramento, CA, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Registration is open for the 2024 California Economic Summit , which will take place in Sacramento, CA on October 8-10. This years Summit, produced by California Forward (CA FWD) in partnership with members of its California Stewardship Network , will continue to be the premier statewide event where businesses, government, regions, and communities come together to focus on economic solutions that balance growth, environmental stewardship, and broadly shared prosperity. Gov. Gavin Newsom, honorary Summit co-chair, said at the 2022 Summit, Change is difficult, but were in the change business and California has long been in the future business. The future happens here first. Were Americas coming attraction. The world looks to us for leadership [and] entrepreneurial energy. Still recovering from COVID, and looking ahead to an era of rapid change, California is at a crossroads. This years Summit focuses on building a sustainable and inclusive California during a time of global economic and climate transition. With high-energy plenaries and interactive breakouts, Summit sessions tackle issues that touch every region of the state, including: Leveraging once-in-a-generation infrastructure investments as the backbone to our economic transition, including transportation, energy grid, water, broadband, and more Fostering a future of work that utilizes tools to achieve community and worker benefits, new models for employee ownership, and other innovations for industrial growth Moving beyond an emergency and building long-term resilience on housing, municipal finance, and emerging bioeconomies that build resilience and community prosperity View the full agenda here . In addition to the dynamic agenda, we are thrilled that the Latino Community Foundation is hosting the Summits welcome reception on October 9. Latinos contribute $682 billion to Californias GDP and lead the state and nation in small business creation, says Latino Community Foundation CEO, Julian Castro. The Latino Community Foundation is proud to support California Forward by joining forces on our signature El Poder Latino event at this years California Economic Summit to showcase the economic power of our community. As always, the Summit will focus on a distinct region of California, providing an opportunity to showcase the unique regional challenges and innovations across our vibrant and diverse state. This years Summit takes place in the Sacramento region, with regional tours focusing on Manufacturing & Workforce, AgTech/Farm to Fork, and more. Regional co-hosts of this years Summit are Chet Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and Evan Schmidt, CEO of Valley Vision. A regional reception on October 8 at the California Mobility Center will highlight innovation and sustainability in Sacramentos thriving innovation hub. Attendees will engage with cutting-edge technology through interactive demos and an exclusive ZEV TOUR Clean Fleet Experience, where they can Ride or Drive the latest zero emission commercial vehicles firsthand. Thought-provoking speakers will discuss the future of tech and the economy, while the Future of Food Recipe Challenge will showcase innovative dishes from emerging startups and chefs in food sustainability. Early bird registration is available until August 31. For more information and to register, visit http://cafwd.org/2024summit . Complimentary registration is available for credentialed press. ### ABOUT CA FWD California Forward (CA FWD) leads a statewide movement, bringing people together across communities, regions and interests to improve government and create inclusive, sustainable growth for everyone. A 501(c)(3) organization, CA FWD drives collective action to identify solutions that can be taken to scale to meet the challenges the state is facing. CA FWD serves as the backbone for the California Stewardship Network , an alliance of regional economic development leaders, and is home to the California Economic Summit . Attachments Calgary, Canada, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernie Wiebe founder of Alert Systems Ltd. commemorates over five decades of sharpening his knowledge and skills to drive the growth of the transportation, oil well drilling and servicing, industrial, and power generation sectors. This milestone attests to his resilience, which enabled him to thrive in such demanding fields, as well as his commitment to contributing to their advancement. Wiebe entered the equipment and service industry in 1968 as a licensed Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanic, certified by the Province of Alberta and holding an inter-provincial license in Canada. He started with hands-on training through an apprenticeship program, which requires rigorous classroom education and practical experience in the field. The then-young aspiring professional honed his skills working with major companies like Caterpillar, John Deere, International Harvester, and Detroit Diesel Allison. This diverse experience shaped his unique perspective on machinery and equipment, from shop floors to field service. Wiebe witnessed early on the unfortunate consequences of poor equipment maintenanceranging from costly repairs to complete equipment failures. After seeing a gap in the industry, it became clear to him that many of these issues could have been avoided with proper education and preventive maintenance. However, when he proposed a customer education program to his former employer, it was declined. His previous company perceived the idea to potentially reduce parts sales and service revenue as unnecessary. This decision only fueled Wiebes resolve. I knew there needed to be a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance. So, I decided to fill that gap myself, he remarks. In 1982, Wiebe founded Alert Systems Ltd., even though he only possessed basic law and accounting knowledge. He made it his mission to educate and empower equipment owners to prevent failures and optimize their operations. The road wasnt smooth. However, over 40 years later, he stands as a pioneer in the field with unique offerings that remain unmatched. The founders approach to preventive maintenance is distinct. He leverages real-time data, advanced software, and his extensive knowledge to develop customized programs that prevent equipment failures and save companies substantial amounts of money. Alert Systems mirrors this approach, allowing it to address one of the most critical issues in the industrial and oil well drilling sectorsequipment reliability. Alert Systems preventive maintenance programs minimize downtime, reduce repair costs, and enhance overall equipment performance. With these, clients avoid the cascading effects of poor maintenance. Wiebes role in these processes is hands-on and integral, reflecting his extensive expertise and commitment to delivering results that benefit stakeholders bottom lines. The forward-thinking founder reflects on the early days of establishing Alert Systems: I only had a few business cards and a strong belief in my mission back then. I walked the pavements of downtown Calgary to look for opportunities. I was able to secure my first clients within only a few days, so I was very thankful that my efforts paid off. His initial work was far from glamorous. He conducted maintenance audits on rigs he had never visited before and used typewriters and overhead projectors for training. This passion and tenacity became the foundation for his and the companys success. Wiebe has made significant contributions to the field, especially in education and preventive maintenance. He has trained over 32,000 industry professionals. His dedication to creating hundreds of detailed maintenance manuals and training programs has left a lasting impact on the industry. These ensure that the knowledge Wiebe has amassed over the years is passed down to future generations. The industry experts enduring relationships further attest to his reputation for expertise and reliability. A collaboration with a company known for its renewable and clean energy investments is noteworthy. Wiebe helped the company transition to a more effective maintenance management system. His work was so impactful that even after periods of no contact, clients would return to him for advice and guidance on important decisions, such as acquiring new companies. This trust and respect from his clients attest to his work ethic and the value he brings to the table. Bernie Wiebe looks forward to establishing a legacy as he celebrates over five decades in the industry. He plans to pivot his focus, moving toward consulting and mentoring roles, ensuring that the fire that has driven him for over half a century continues to burn bright. Media Contact Name: Bernie Wiebe Email: info@alertsystems.net Phone No.: +1 403 660 1157 LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GenFlat Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: GFLT), the pioneer in collapsible shipping container technology is pleased to welcome Sanjay Tejwani as a new member to the Advisory Committee. Our advisory committee now comprises of professionals with decades of experienced in ocean shipping, container leasing, rail, trucking, freight forward, retail and third-party logistics, said Drew Hall, Chief Executive Officer. Sanjay brings with him thirty years of experience in the Global Ocean Transportation & Logistics Industry with leading organizations and is a well-known and respected industry leader. About Sanjay Tejwani Sanjay Tejwani is the founder and CEO of 365 Logistics LLC, a Delaware, USA based organization providing Consulting, Recruitment & Offshoring services in the logistics industry. Prior to forming 365 Logistics LLC, Sanjay worked for thirty years in the Global Ocean Transportation & Logistics Industry with leading organizations such as A.P. Moller Maersk, DHL Global Forwarding, and DSV - Global Transport & Logistics in various leadership roles in Asia, Europe, and the Americas at country, regional, and global levels. Highly connected and respected in the industry, Sanjay is recognized as a prominent leader in Ocean Logistics. Sanjay is a graduate mechanical engineer from the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, India. The GenFlat collapsible container is an enabler to reduce logistics operational costs, port congestion and carbon emissions, and increase the ability to carry loaded as well as empty containers on back haul trades. I am excited to be part of the team that is bringing this innovative solution to the logistics market. About GenFlat GenFlat is a leading innovator in container technology, specializing in collapsible containers designed to revolutionize shipping logistics. With a commitment to sustainability and efficiency, GenFlat aims to reshape the future of container shipping, providing state-of-the-art solutions that optimize space utilization, reduce transportation costs, and lower carbon emissions. GenFlat manufactures containers with CIMC in Dalian, China. For more information visit www.genflat.com. Safe Harbor Statement The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "explores," "expects," "anticipates," "continues," "estimates," "projects," "intends," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in methods of marketing, delays in manufacturing or distribution, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, those events and factors described by us under the caption "Risk Factors" included in our SEC filings and other risks to which our Company is subject. For media inquiries or further information about GenFlat, please contact: press@genflat.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9a5a4bc2-2996-4ae1-bb26-7536b9427642 CHICAGO, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landmarks Illinois has announced the winners of the 2024 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards , an annual program honoring exceptional preservation efforts across Illinois. This year, the Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards are honoring rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects in Alto Pass, Carterville, Chicago, Elgin, Rockford and Woodstock. The people behind these remarkable preservation projects will be honored at a public ceremony on October 18, 2024, in Chicago. Details on the award winners and ceremony are below. Our 2024 award winners exemplify the creativity and passion people have for safeguarding our historic places and the stories they tell, said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. Their work inspires us and others across the state to think boldly about how our built environment can adapt throughout time to serve the community and spark local economic development. These award winners deserve our recognition not only for the countless hours they poured into these projects but for ensuring places of our past live on and continue to enhance our future. 2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS Havisham Bourbon, Brew & Spirits, Alto Pass Award for Adaptive Use Nick and Jerri Schaefer brought their vision to life by restoring Alto Pass oldest commercial building to create a speakeasy-styled bourbon bar, private tasting room and overnight rentals. The husband-and-wife team fully restored the former flour mill built in the 1860s into a unique destination along the highly traveled Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in Southern Illinois. Montgomerys Place, Carterville Award for Rehabilitation For her fourth major preservation project in her hometown, Carterville native Jennifer Spence imaginatively renovated the long-neglected Montgomerys Place building to create a welcoming restaurant, event space, bar and coffee shop. Spence transformed what was once an eyesore in the Southern Illinois citys downtown into a bustling local business and unique community gathering space that celebrates the buildings century-old original features and Cartervilles history. Historic Lawson House, Chicago Award for Rehabilitation & Richard H. Driehaus Legacy Award Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation and Holsten Human Capital Development, NFP, led a massive rehabilitation of the former Lawson House, a 24-story Art-Deco skyscraper in downtown Chicago originally built as a single-room occupancy facility for the YMCA. Today, the Lawson House provides more than 400 apartment units and social services for low-income residents, many of whom have previously experienced homelessness. Ramova Theatre, Chicago Award for Adaptive Use After sitting empty for nearly 40 years, the Ramova Theatre in Chicagos Bridgeport neighborhood has reopened following an extensive rehabilitation led by husband-and-wife team Tyler and Emily Nevius. The historic former movie theater, built in 1929, has been adaptively reused as a concert hall, craft brewery, taproom and grill to host live performances as well as educational programs for the community. Salt Shed, Chicago Award for Adaptive Use 16 on Center, Blue Star Properties, R2 Companies and Sky Deck combined forces to lead the transformative reimagining of the former Morton Salt processing and distribution factory into a thriving music and events venue. The project brought back to life an iconic landmark along the Chicago River, sparking economic development, creating jobs and attracting people to a new part of the city long home to primarily industrial activity. The Terminal, Chicago Award for Adaptive Use A sprawling former manufacturing campus in Chicagos Humboldt Park is once again a hub of innovation thanks to a creative reuse of the historic buildings led by IBT Group. After sitting empty for decades, The Terminal has been reimagined into a state-of-the-art research facility providing office and lab space for Chicagos scientists, researchers and technicians. 1212 Larkin, Elgin Award for Rehabilitation The historic Larkin Center, built in 1912 and vacant since 2013, has been reactivated as the centerpiece of the affordable housing development, 1212 Larkin. The thoughtfully designed adaptive reuse project, led by Full Circle Communities, created 48 quality housing units that resemble Elgins characteristic historic architecture. Midtown FAUST Company, Rockford Award for Rehabilitation Brad and Sue Roos bought and renovated Rockfords Midtown FAUST Building to bring economic development and energy to their historic neighborhood, which has long experienced disinvestment and low commercial occupancy. The couple led the complete rehabilitation of the 3,500-square-foot building constructed in 1920, focusing on quality craftsmanship and sustainability. Today, it houses a pottery studio, office space for a local nonprofit and Roos woodshop. Old Courthouse Center, Woodstock Award for Adaptive Use The City of Woodstock completed an extensive rehabilitation of the historic Old McHenry County Courthouse and Sheriffs House, returning the deteriorating local landmark to a lively downtown attraction. Old Courthouse Center is now a multi-use, fully accessible development that includes a restaurant, retail spaces and events venue. Once again, it serves as a hub of economic activity in the heart of the Woodstock Square National Historic District. Learn more about our 2024 award winners at our website . AWARD CEREMONY EVENT DETAILS The 2024 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards Ceremony will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Apollos 2000, 2875 W. Cermak Road in Chicago. The event will feature a sit-down awards ceremony and cocktail reception. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $60 for Landmarks Illinois members and $75 for non-members. A student rate of $25 is also available with proof of a student ID. Former winners of the Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards are highly encouraged to attend and can also receive a discounted ticket. Guests who wish to join remotely can view a live, virtual presentation of the ceremony for free with registration. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit our website . ABOUT LANDMARKS ILLINOIS Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based, historic preservation nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting the places people across Illinois value. We advocate for the sustainable reuse of historic resources, provide expertise and free resources on preservation and work to ensure that historic places remain a vital part of the states communities. We are People Saving Places for People. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org . ### Attachments COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Ramboll announced the acquisition of K2 Management, a global consultancy company specialising in wind and solar energy. The acquisition strengthens Rambolls ability to provide services to clients worldwide across all stages of wind energy projects by combining Ramboll's extensive experience in design and execution of wind projects with K2 Management's proficiency in strategic advisory and project development. Following the acquisition, Ramboll's global Wind division encompass over 900 dedicated experts across 20 countries, adding now also new local presences in Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Portugal. With the new setup, Ramboll is making significant progress towards its target of expanding its global wind business to over 1,000 experts by 2025 in response to the growing demand on the global wind market. We are very excited to be welcoming K2 Managements experts to Ramboll. Wind energy is one of the main enablers of the green energy transition and as the Partner for Sustainable Change with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Ramboll is committed to playing a pivotal role in the advancement of the wind sector worldwide. Right along COP28s initiative Double Down, Triple Up, Time4Action, we are now ramping up our capacity and broadening our expertise to meet the demands of our clients worldwide, says Tim Fischer, Director for Rambolls global Wind division. Over the last three years, Ramboll successfully developed the Wind business from a primary foundation designer to a full-service wind consultancy combining advisory and engineering services. During that period, the division has been growing annually by approx. 25% and significantly expanded its global footprint, opening offices in the US, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, and Australia. By merging Rambolls decade-long engineering and design skills in wind projects with K2 Managements leading role in project development and strategic advisory, our clear ambition is to create a true global leader that is well-positioned to support our clients in all phases of wind energy projects globally. It is no secret that talent is scarce in these highly specialised areas, which is why welcoming such a great team of experts to Ramboll all at once is a major milestone. Together, we will take the next big leap in the green energy transition, supporting clients all over the world, Tim Fischer says. For Lars K Hammershj, co-founder of K2 Management, the acquisition also brings great opportunities to the company. With offices on five continents, K2 Management already operates a cross-border approach to cater to the global need for high-end advisory to developers, lenders and investors in green energy. By joining Ramboll, we will deliver more innovative, holistic, and sustainable solutions. We can also provide even greater career opportunities for our talented employees. I am confident that our similar mission, purpose, and culture, driven by our shared passion and high standards, will enable a smooth integration of our teams, he says. Wind energy is key for reaching net-zero targets globally and the global wind energy market is expanding at a rapid speed. In 2023, a record-high 117 GW of new wind power was installed worldwide. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), wind growth needs to rapidly accelerate, with annual wind installations roughly tripling to at least 320 GW over the course of the decade to meet the COP28 target of tripling renewable energy capacity and steering us back on to the 1.5-degree pathway. By 2050, more than 5,000 GW wind capacity is needed to deliver net-zero emissions globally. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval. About Ramboll Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. Rambolls more than 18,000 employees create sustainable solutions across Buildings, Transport, Architecture & Landscape, Water, Environment & Health, Energy and Management Consulting. Across the world, Ramboll combines local experience with a global knowledgebase to create sustainable cities and societies. With more than 30 years of experience in the global wind industry, Ramboll has been involved in more than 60% of all operating offshore wind farms globally. Similarly, Ramboll has provided expert services to onshore wind farms with a nominal output of +60,000 MW in more than 60 countries. In solar PV energy, Ramboll has contributed to the success of more than 500 projects across 25 countries. Rambolls Wind division has experienced an annual growth rate of around 25% each year for the past three years. During that period, Ramboll established presences in the US, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Japan, Korea, Australia adding to Rambolls existing offices in Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany, and India. www.ramboll.com About K2 Management As one of the first consultancies of its kind, K2 Management was founded in 2007 in Aarhus, Denmark with the goal of delivering independent technical advice to the energy sector. Already in 2010, a surge of contract wins saw K2 Management expand from its native Denmark to open offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Three years later the company expanded further into Brazil, Taiwan, South Korea, and South Africa, bringing the total number of offices to eight in just six years of operation. In 2024, K2 Management now has offices in 12 different countries and its services cover the entire energy project lifecycle from pre-development to construction and operation as well as Due Diligence advisory to lenders and investors. The technical advice covers a wide range of professional expertise within procurement, contract handling, engineering, project management, HSEQ, risk management, and O&M. Now globally recognised for high quality advisory services, K2 Management is ready for the next growth journey backed by a scalable platform and a solid track record of more than 3,000 successful projects within renewable energy, all relying on local knowledge and international expertise. www.k2management.com Contact information: Megan Yocum megan.yocum@buchananpr.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cc1e4c8e-0da3-4701-a8c0-c321fe479f8c AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilsonart, a world-leading engineered surfaces company, today announced it has acquired Octopus Product, Ltd. (Octopus Products), an innovative decorative surfacing brand of High Pressure Laminate (HPL), Decorative Metals and Wood Panels. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the privately held company will operate as part of Chicago-based Laminart, a Wilsonart Company, a provider of boutique interior surfacing materials. This strategic acquisition represents significant growth potential for Laminart by expanding the companys product portfolio. The acquisition of Octopus Products complements Wilsonarts focus on setting the standard for excellence in the decorative surfaces industry, said Kevin Geijer, general manager of Laminart. Through this partnership, we look forward to expanding Laminarts already strong portfolio of innovative designs and providing interior design and architectural professionals with even more surface choices. Since 1950, Octopus has built brand recognition and excitement for interior surface specifiers. The brand was founded by Frank Bernard who developed a revolutionary modular system of extrusions and components that allowed designers to create easily modified interiors. As time progressed, Octopus Products focused on interior decorative products and introduced metal laminates to the North American market, solidifying its position as a game-changer in the industry. With the acquisition, Octopus Products will join Laminarts portfolio of exclusive designs that can be found in high-profile retail stores, hotels, restaurants, showrooms, trade show exhibits and more. For more than 70 years, Octopus Products has strived to offer industry professionals superior designs, products and customer service. We are proud of the exceptional employees and loyal customers weve earned and with Laminarts resources and reputation, we know this focus will continue, said Thomas Bernard, former owner and president of Octopus Products. The terms of the transaction are not disclosed. The purchase price and the anticipated impact are not material to Wilsonarts consolidated financial results. The transaction closed on August 21, 2024. For more information about Laminart, visit Laminart.com. About Wilsonart Founded in 1956, Wilsonart is a world-leading engineered surfaces company driven by a mission to create surfaces people love, with service they can count on, delivered by people who care. Our company is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with operations in the Americas and Europe. We manufacture and distribute High Pressure Laminate (HPL), Coordinated Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL) and Edgeband, Adhesives, Compact Laminate, Composite Countertops, Quartz, Solid Surface, Epoxy, Waterproof Wall Panels, and other decorative engineered surfaces for use in the office, education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and residential markets. Operating under the Wilsonart, Arborite, Bushboard, Durcon, KML, Laminart, Mermaid, Polyrey, Ralph Wilson, Resopal, Shore, Technistone, THINSCAPE and Wetwall brands, we continuously redefine decorative surfaces through award-winning design, performance, service and sustainability. For more information, visit wilsonart.com. About Laminart Laminart, a U.S.-based company, has supplied the commercial interior design and architectural professions with an exceptional selection of innovative design-statement laminates and outstanding customer service for more than 50 years. The companys exclusive designs can be found in high-profile retail stores, hotels, restaurants, showrooms, trade show exhibits and more. About Octopus Products Octopus Products, a Canada-based company, has provided sophisticated global surfacing materials to the North American market since 1950. With a product line of over 300 unique designs, Octopus is known for innovative solutions and its experienced team of sales and service professionals. Tammy Weadock tammy.weadock@wilsonart.com 254-207-3444 DALLAS, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CMB Regional Centers (CMB), one of the most experienced regional center operators in the EB-5 industry, today announced that its Group 86 - Gable House Apartments project has received Form I-956F approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A limited number of units remain available for subscription in this I-956F approved CMB EB-5 partnership. We are thrilled to see yet another of our high unemployment (TEA) projects approved by the USCIS in less than 5 months, surpassing the processing time we have observed for even the rural category, said Garrett Connors, Vice President of Investor Relations at CMB. With only a limited number of EB-5 investment units still available for this project, the I-956F approval marks a significant step forward for the development and a major milestone for our investors United States immigration pursuits. As one of the first major multi-family projects in Torrance, California, in approximately 50 years, the Hillwood Gable House Apartments project encompasses the development and construction of a 218-unit, mixed-use complex. Featuring a sky deck, pool lounge, social club, and other best-in-class amenities, the development will be located in the citys urban core of the Del Amo Business District. The milestone for the CMB Group 86 EB-5 partnership means investors I-526E petitions could be immediately adjudicated by the USCIS since the I-956F has been approved. The approval marks the eighth CMB EB-5 partnership to achieve an I-956F approval under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA). Previously approved partnerships include: CMB Group 78 Hillwood California BTS CMB Group 81 Inland Empire Industrial CMB Group 82 Hazleton Logistics Park CMB Group 83 Hillwood SOMI Hayward CMB Group 87 Kona Bay Hampton Hotel CMB Group 88 Hillwood Detroit Fairgrounds CMB Group 91 Hillwood DTW Air Cargo This is the seventh I-956F approved CMB EB-5 project in conjunction with Hillwood Development Company. With over 40 EB-5 projects and more than $500 million in loan repayment to investors, CMB and Hillwood Development Company have cultivated one of the most successful lender-borrower relationships in the EB-5 industry. This latest achievement is an exemplary testament to the strength of our partnership with Hillwood Development Company and to CMBs relentless dedication to helping families make their immigration dreams a reality, said Noreen Hogan, President at CMB. We could not be more excited about this latest, timely I-956F approval, an achievement that brings our investors that much closer to realizing their goal of immigrating to the United States. About CMB Regional Centers CMB has been a leader in the EB-5 industry for over 27 years; its first regional center designation was approved in 1997. CMB has assisted over 6,400 investor families, from over 100 countries, in their pursuit of immigrating to the United States. CMB currently maintains a 100% project approval rate on partnerships that have undergone USCIS adjudication, providing compliant and approvable partnerships to those seeking immigration to the U.S. through the EB-5 program. To date, CMB has repaid over $1.3 Billion to its investor families. Collingwood, ON, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C.F. Crozier & Associates Inc. (Crozier), a leading consulting firm in the land development and building industry, announced today the appointment of two new partners and five new associates across multiple disciplines and offices in Ontario. "We are pleased to welcome our newly appointed partners and associates to Crozier, as they each bring distinct corporate and technical expertise, along with innovative thinking, to our team," said Chris Crozier, P.Eng., founder and CEO of Crozier. "As Crozier celebrates its 20th anniversary, these appointments signify a commitment to our continued growth and client service." The new partners include: Brittany Robertson, P.Eng., Partner and Manager, Land Development. Based in Croziers Collingwood office, Robertson oversees large-scale residential development projects in some of Ontarios fastest growing municipalities in Simcoe County. In February 2024, she was named to the firms Board of Directors. Robertson also serves as President of the Georgian Triangle Development Institute, advocating for the growth and development of South Georgian Bay, and was appointed to the Town of Collingwoods Mayor Task Force which aims to connect private and public resources to advance the water treatment plant project in Collingwood. Jurgen Koehler, P.Eng., Partner and Manager, Guelph. Koehler led the opening of Croziers latest office location in Guelph, Ontario in 2023, and manages a growing team that provides land development engineering services in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and the surrounding areas. As a water resources engineer, he plays a key role in projects involving the design of residential and commercial developments including grading, servicing, stormwater management, low impact development, and floodplain analysis. He is currently pursuing his MBA and is an active member of several key industry associations, serving an integral role in the community. With various roles within the firm, the new associates include Janet Bherer, P.Eng., MBA, Associate and General Manager; Shannon Harvey, Associate and Manager, Marketing; Sarah ONeill, Associate and Manager, Operations; Kurt Vendrig, P.Eng., Associate and Project Manager, Land Development; and Craig Kryslak, C.E.T., Associate and Manager, Construction Services. For more information on Croziers team and engineering services for the land development and building industry, visit cfcrozier.ca and follow on LinkedIn. About C.F. Crozier & Associates Inc. Crozier is an employee-owned, leading consulting firm in the land development and building industry. Founded in 2004, Croziers growing team of over 300 professionals deliver civil, water resources, transportation, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering services, complemented by hydrogeology, environmental consulting, landscape architecture, utility infrastructure, and building science services. Headquartered in Collingwood, with offices in Milton, Toronto, Bradford, and Guelph, Crozier supports the private sector across Ontario by advancing residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, and First Nations projects. The firm continues to diversify with complementary services and expand its office presence geographically. To learn more, visit cfcrozier.ca. Attachment Schaumburg, IL, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It is with deep sorrow that the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) announces the passing of Alastair Carruthers, FRCPC, a pioneering physician and esteemed member of the medical community whose contributions left an indelible mark on the field of Dermatology. He was an innovator with a collaborative spirit matched only by his love of his family and kindness towards his mentees. Born on June 4, 1945, in Bebington, Cheshire, UK, to Dr. Benjamin and Mrs. Barbara Carruthers, Alastair left this world peacefully on Aug. 19, 2024, in Vancouver, after a courageous battle with Parkinsons Disease. Alongside his wife, Dr. Jean Carruthers, Alastair led the discovery of the cosmetic use of botulinum toxin A, a significant advancement in dermatologic treatment. In 1987, the couple shared medical office space. Jean, an ophthalmologist, used a dilute solution of botulinum toxin to manage a patient with uncontrollable blinking. After the treatment, they discovered the wrinkle-relaxing effects of the toxin. Through years of additional research, they presented their results at the 1991 ASDS Annual Meeting, and by 1993, the new treatment was sweeping the cosmetic medicine arena. BOTOX was the first FDA-approved treatment of its kind beginning with its 2002 approval for treating glabellar lines. This revolutionary cosmetic procedure represented an evolution in aesthetic medicine and inspired a whole new genre of injectable cosmetic treatment options. The Carruthers are largely to credit for making BOTOX a household name, and his passing leaves a deep void for many of his colleagues. A graduate of the University of Oxfords Brasenose College in 1968, he underwent rigorous training in Internal Medicine in Vancouver and Liverpool before specializing in dermatology at St. Thomass Hospital and St. Johns Hospital for Diseases of the Skin in London. In 1977, Alastair joined the Faculty of Dermatology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His career was marked by groundbreaking work, including bringing Mohs surgery to Canada in 1983, which he learned during his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. His efforts were instrumental in establishing the Canadian Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Alastair became the first Canadian President of ASDS from 2006 to 2007. He was passionate about fostering the future of dermatologic surgery through education and engagement, establishing the First Annual ASDS Gala, the ASDS Stegman Circle fundraising initiative and the Societys advocacy arm, ASDSA, during his presidential tenure. His leadership extended through his dedication to ASDS, where he served on 39 committees and work groups, held the role of ASDS Historian / Parliamentarian from 2012 to 2018 and led early-career dermatologists as a mentor for the ASDS Future Leaders Network program from 2017 to 2019. He was also an esteemed faculty member at many ASDS Annual Meetings and educational offerings. Throughout his career, Alastair published over 100 articles and authored several textbooks. These contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including the ASDS Samuel J. Stegman, MD, Award for Outstanding Service in 2010, the Philip Frost and Eugene van Scott Leadership Award in 2012, the ASDS Leadership in Innovation Lectureship in 2014 and the ASDS Presidents Award in 2015. Outside of his professional life, Alastair was a passionate sportsman and a connoisseur of fine wine, holding prestigious roles such as Grand Seneschal of the Chevaliers du Tastevin Burgundy group in Vancouver and Grand Pilier General for the National Tastevin organization. After retiring in 2015, Alastair embraced a new academic pursuit, studying European and Middle Eastern history at the University of British Columbia. Despite his diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease, he approached these challenges with the same grace and determination that defined his life. Alastair is survived by his beloved wife, Jean; his children Thomas (married to Jennifer), Robert (married to Mollie) and Graham (partner Steve Hunt); and his four grandchildren Ogden, Hazel, Benjamin and Audrey. He is also survived by his sisters, Gail Cosbie-Ross and Bobbie Lintott; his great-niece Sally Cotterell (Amy, Josh and Darcy); and his nephew Benjamin Cosbie-Ross (Poppy and Daisy). Dr. Alastair Carruthers will be deeply missed by his family, colleagues and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of innovation, leadership and dedication will continue to inspire and impact the lives of many. Visit asds.net/alastair-carruthers for more information. ### About the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is the largest specialty organization exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons who have the unique training and experience required to treat the health, function and beauty of patients skin, hair and nails. ASDS members are pioneers in the field, often involved in clinical studies that substantiate popular procedures to revitalize and repair skin, enhance skin care devices and improve standard techniques. Dermatologic surgeons are also experts in skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment. As the incidence of skin cancer rises, dermatologic surgeons are committed to spreading sun safety awareness to minimize the life-threatening effects of this disease. For more information, visit asds.net. For physician news, follow ASDS Members on Facebook , X (Twitter) , Instagram , Threads , YouTube and LinkedIn . For patient education, follow ASDS Skin MD on Facebook , X (Twitter) , Instagram , Threads , YouTube and TikTok . Locate a dermatologic surgeon in your area: asds.net/find Attachment SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may assist the investigation to contact its attorneys. Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/ben Contact the Firm Now: BEN@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Investigation Into Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN): The investigation focuses on Franklins controls over trading-related matters, including without limitation, those related to the marks of treasury derivatives and investment performance of its Western Asset Management Macro Opportunities fund strategy. On July 26, 2024, Franklin revealed that [f]ollowing the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management (WAM) accounts, WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice. This news drove the price of Franklin shares significantly lower. Then, on August 21, 2024, Franklin disclosed that WAM placed co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech on leave effective immediately and that [i]n light of Mr. Leechs leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients best interests. Franklin also revealed that Leech received a Wells Notice from the SEC. A Wells Notice is a formal notification that the SEC has concluded an investigation with charges likely to follow. This news drove the price of Franklin shares over 12% lower on August 21, 2024. We are looking into whether Franklin may have misled investors about the firms Western Asset Management units trade practices, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Franklin and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Franklin investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Franklin should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email BEN@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. Vancouver, August 21, 2024 - Blue Star Gold Corp. (TSXV: BAU) (OTCQB: BAUFF) (FSE: 5WP0) ("Blue Star" or the "Company") provides an update on the 2024 exploration program at its Ulu Gold Project and Roma Project in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut (Figure 1). Approximately 4,000 metres of drilling have been completed with initial assays expected in the coming weeks. Sample results from the early season field-based prospecting program are presented below. Highlights 16 diamond drill holes for ~4,000 metres across five main target areas have been completed, including: HI, Mikigon, Penthouse, Gnu Zone (Nutaaq), and the Flood Zone Assays pending Pipeline showing evaluation results from Cygnet (Roma) returned strong gold values including 13.5 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") and 56.5 g/t Au Sampling at Gabbro Breccia (Ulu Gold Project) returned 16.0 g/t Au and 8.49 g/t Au Roma Main zone extended another 300 metres to the southeast to over 800 metres of strike length Pipeline showings along Snofield Lake (Roma) returned 6.21 g/t Au, 3.67 g/t Au, 497 g/t silver and 5.3% lead Highlights of the Prospecting Program A review of the Cygnet Target (Roma Project) focussed on the NE geological trend where inferred cross structures from geophysical interpretation complicated the geology. The best samples occurred within the mafic volcanic rock package immediately below the contact with sedimentary rock units; small volume intrusions may play a role in the mineralisation in this area. Of the 38 samples collected two samples were > 10 g/t Au, five samples > 5 g/t Au, and seven samples were > 1 g/t Au. The next steps for this target will include more detailed mapping and sampling along the trend to potentially advance to drill-ready status. Prospecting along the Roma Main Target (Roma Project) extended the known mineralised trend 300 metres to the southeast. Highlights of the sampling program from parallel vein structures to the main zone returned 40.9 g/t Au, 15.7 g/t Au, and 6.5 g/t Au. Roma Main is now a high-priority target for drill testing in future programs. An initial review of the Snofield Lake Target included collecting 14 samples over a 5.5-kilometre trend. Highlights of the sampling program include 4.87% zinc ("Zn") and 8.6 g/t silver ("Ag"); 2.46 g/t Au, 67.7 g/t Ag, 3.1 % lead ("Pb"), 3.5 % Zn; and 3.67 g/t Au, 497 g/t Ag, 5.3 % Pb. The best gold sample returned 6.21 g/t Au. A reconnaissance traverse near the Roma Fold Target returned a sample grading 5.6 g/t Au from a massive scorodite exposure. A second pass sampling effort was made to better define a New Showing highlighted by the 2022 till sampling program. The known arsenopyrite veining occurs over a 320-metre x 170-metre area proximal to a granitoid-metasediment contact with select samples returning assay values in the range of 1.00 to 3.89 g/t Au. Sampling this season indicates that the gold mineralisation is associated with arsenic ("As"), Pb, and copper ("Cu") (Figure 2). Additional till sampling lines followed by detailed prospecting and mapping are required to advance the target. Sampling of the Gabbro Breccia showing returned 16.0 g/t Au and 8.49 g/t Au. This showing, located approximately 500 metres along trend from the Flood Zone, will receive additional work to potentially advance to drill-ready status. The Zebra Target received a cursory examination of areas not previously reviewed before drill testing. The best sample that graded 14.6 g/t Au was returned from an exposure on the western limb of the anticline. The next best sample that graded 11.46 g/t Au was returned near the tight fold closure of mafic volcanics over sedimentary units (similar geometry to the Flood Zone). A scout drill hole is planned in the Zebra area to resolve and confirm geological interpretations before defining an aggressive exploration drill campaign. Figure 1: Blue Star Location Map & Grays Bay Road & Port Project To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2421/220633_bluestarfig1.jpg Figure 2: New Showing developing out of first pass till sampling; follow-up prospecting and second pass till sampling refined the area of focus. Rock samples labeled in g/t Au. Black lines are claim boundaries. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2421/220633_93aee91954623a65_011full.jpg The complete list of prospecting sample results will be posted on the Company's website. Prospecting samples are grab samples that are selective by definition and have been collected from outcrop, subcrop, and felsenmeer. Samples are delivered under chain of custody to ALS Geochemistry in Yellowknife, NT for sample preparation and are then forwarded to ALS Canada Inc. in North Vancouver, BC for final analysis. Samples are prepared using code PREP-31 (crushing and pulverising) and analysed using codes Au-AA26 (50-gram fire assay with atomic absorption finish) and ME-MS61 (48 element four acid digestion with ICP-MS finish). Over limits for non-gold elements are ore grade four acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. The QAQC program for prospecting consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials (CRMs) resulting in a 20% insertion rate. Darren Lindsay, P. Geo. and Vice President Exploration for Blue Star, is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Blue Star Gold Corp. Blue Star is a mineral exploration and development company focused in Nunavut, Canada. Blue Star's landholdings total 270 square kilometres of highly prospective and underexplored mineral properties in the High Lake Greenstone Belt. The Company owns the Ulu Gold Project, comprised of the Ulu Mining Lease and Hood River Property, and the Roma Project. A significant high-grade gold resource exists at the Flood Zone deposit (Ulu Mining Lease), and numerous high-potential exploration targets (gold and critical minerals) occur throughout the Company's extensive landholdings, providing Blue Star with excellent resource growth potential. The site of the future deep-water port at Grays Bay is 40 - 100 km to the north of the properties, and the proposed route corridor for the all-weather Grays Bay Road passes close by the Roma and Ulu Gold Projects. Blue Star is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol: BAU, the U.S. OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol: BAUFF, and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol: 5WP0. For information on the Company and its projects, please visit our website: www.bluestargold.ca. 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. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding prospective income and revenues, anticipated levels of capital expenditures for the fiscal year, expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, environmental costs, contingent liabilities, and governmental and regulatory investigations and proceedings, and estimates of mineral resources and reserves on our properties. Forward-Looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: economic and financial conditions, including volatility in interest and exchange rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets, strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and our success in integrating acquired businesses into our operations, developments and changes in laws and regulations, including increased regulation of the mining industry through legislative action and revised rules and standards applied by the regulatory bodies in Nunavut, changes in the price of fuel and other key materials and disruptions in supply chains for these materials, closures or slowdowns and changes in labour costs and labour difficulties, including stoppages affecting either our operations or our suppliers' abilities to deliver goods and services to us, as well as natural events such as severe weather, fires, floods and earthquakes or man-made or other disruptions of our equipment, and inaccuracies in estimates of mineral resources and/or reserves on our mineral properties. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220633 Vancouver, August 21, 2024 - Flying Nickel Mining Corp. (TSXV: FLYN) (OTCQB: FLYNF) ("Flying Nickel") is pleased to announce, pursuant to the previously announced binding letter of intent with Norway House Cree Nation ("NHCN") dated July 21, 2024 (the "LOI"), that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with NHCN and 10197729 Manitoba Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NHCN, (the "Purchaser"), pursuant to which Flying Nickel proposes to sell its Minago Nickel project and its related assets located in the Thompson Nickel Belt of Manitoba, Canada (the "Minago Assets") to the Purchaser in consideration for $8,000,000 in cash and the surrender of 17,561,862 common shares in the capital of Flying Nickel ("Flying Nickel Shares") held by NHCN (the "Transaction") , by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under Section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement"). The Flying Nickel Shares held by NHCN represent approximately 11.4% of the total issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares. The Purchaser has deposited $500,000 in escrow in connection with the Arrangement (the "Deposit"). Information Regarding the Proposed Arrangement Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, the parties have agreed to close the Transaction by no later than December 15, 2024 (the "Outside Date") and expect to close the Transaction by October 16, 2024. As NHCN holds greater than 10% of the issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares, the Transaction is a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("Policy 5.9") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). In accordance with the provisions of MI 61-101, Flying Nickel is exempt from the formal valuation requirements under MI 61-101 and Policy 5.9 pursuant to section 4.4(a) of MI 61-101 as an issuer not listed on a specified market. However, the Arrangement requires majority of the minority shareholder approval ("Disinterested Shareholder Approval") under MI 61-101. For the purposes of Disinterested Shareholder Approval, the Arrangement must be approved at the Meeting (as defined below) by at least a majority of the votes cast on the resolution to approve the Arrangement by Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting excluding all Flying Nickel Shares held by persons noted in Section 8.1(2) of MI 61-101. Therefore, Flying Nickel Shares held by NHCN will be excluded from the Disinterested Shareholder Approval. There has not been a formal valuation or prior valuation in respect of the subject matter of or relevant to the Arrangement in the prior 24 months. The Arrangement also requires approval of a special majority of 66 2/3% of the Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. The Transaction is further subject to approvals from the TSXV and the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The Arrangement Agreement is subject to termination in certain instances, including if the shareholders of Flying Nickel do not approve the Arrangement at the Meeting, if Flying Nickel receives a superior proposal and complies with its requirements under the Arrangement Agreement, or at the option of either party if the Arrangement is not completed before the Outside Date. For certain termination events, such as pursuant to the acceptance of a superior proposal, Flying Nickel has agreed to pay a termination fee of $400,000 (the "Termination Fee"). Details of the Arrangement (including full details of the Deposit, termination conditions, and the Termination Fee discussed herein) and the special meeting to approve the Arrangement (the "Meeting") will be set out in Flying Nickel's management information circular and proxy statement which will be mailed to Flying Nickel shareholders. The Meeting is scheduled to be held on October 7, 2024, at the offices of MLT Aikins LLP located at 2600-1066 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific Time). Blackstone Minerals Ltd., Sparta AG, Oracle Commodity Holding Corp., and each of the directors and officers of Flying Nickel (together, the "Supporting Shareholders") have entered into voting support agreements in connection with the Arrangement. The Supporting Shareholders and NHCN collectively hold approximately 52% of the issued and outstanding Flying Nickel Shares on a non-diluted basis and the Supporting Shareholders represent approximately 45% of the Disinterested Shareholder Approval. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to customary conditions as set out in the Arrangement Agreement and receipt of all necessary court and regulatory approvals. The Arrangement Agreement includes customary representations, warranties, and indemnities of each party. Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the meeting materials with respect to the Meeting, which will be available on the Sedar+ profile of Flying Nickel at sedarplus.ca. No finder's fee is expected to be paid by any of Flying Nickel, NHCN or the Purchaser to any party in connection with the Arrangement. The Arrangement is also not expected to constitute an Arm's Length Transaction as defined in the policies of the TSXV for Flying Nickel, due to the shareholding of NHCN as described herein. Name Change The Company is also proposing to be renamed to "CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp.", or such other name as the Board in its sole discretion may determine, upon the Transaction closing (the "Name Change"). The Name Change requires approval of a special majority of 66 2/3% of the Flying Nickel shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. Additionally, the Name Change and the particular name chosen both remain subject to TSXV and regulatory approval. Board Recommendation Flying Nickel confirms that after careful consideration, including a thorough review of the Arrangement Agreement, the plan of arrangement, receiving the oral fairness opinion of Evans & Evans, Inc. (which will be followed by a written option), and conducting a thorough review of other matters, the board of directors of Flying Nickel (with Neil Duboff, NHCN's nominee, having recused himself) has determined in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, and based in part on the fairness opinion, that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Flying Nickel and its shareholders, and unanimously recommends (with Neil Duboff, NHCN's nominee, having recused himself) that shareholders vote FOR the resolutions to approve the Arrangement at the upcoming Meeting. Further information regarding the reasons for the board recommendation will be set forth in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Meeting. Additionally, after careful consideration, including a thorough review of the proposed Name Change, the board of directors of Flying Nickel has determined that the Name Change is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders, and recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the resolutions to approve the Name Change at the upcoming Meeting. Further information regarding the reasons for the board recommendation will be set forth in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Meeting. About Flying Nickel Mining Corp. Flying Nickel is an exploration-stage mining company focused on vanadium and nickel resources. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada, United States and a 100% interest in the Minago nickel project in the Thompson nickel belt in Manitoba, Canada. Further information on Flying Nickel can be found at www.flynickel.com. 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. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Arrangement and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Disclaimers References to $ herein refer to the lawful currency of Canada. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. 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 absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. Completion of the Arrangement and the Name Change is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to the standard closing conditions contained in the Arrangement Agreement, TSXV acceptance, court and shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Arrangement cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Flying Nickel should be considered highly speculative. This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Arrangement including timing, closing and terms of the Arrangement, the number of Flying Nickel Shares owned and expected to be owned by certain parties who have executed voting support agreements, and the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite TSXV, shareholder, court and other approvals in connection with the Arrangement, as well as statements with respect to the Name Change including timing, the proposed name (CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp.) and the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite TSXV, shareholder, court and other approvals in connection with the Name Change. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Flying Nickel, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur, including, without limitation, that all conditions precedent to the Arrangement will be met and the realization of the anticipated benefits derived therefrom for shareholders of Flying Nickel and perception of (i) the quality and the potential of Flying Nickel's assets, (ii) the consideration offered to Flying Nickel, and (iii) the potential of Flying Nickel's business following completion of the Arrangement. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of Flying Nickel at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Flying Nickel, there is no assurance they will prove to be correct and are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward- looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions; cash flow and availability of financing; the ability of Flying Nickel to obtain the requisite court, shareholder, TSXV and other third party approvals in respect of the Arrangement and the Name Change; exercise of any dissent rights, trades in the market, issuances of securities or exercises of convertible securities and other factors that could alter the share capital of Flying Nickel or other parties; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental consents and approvals; and other risks of the mining industry. These factors are discussed in greater detail in Flying Nickel's most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, which also provides additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Flying Nickel cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Flying Nickel believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Although Flying Nickel has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Flying Nickel undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Further, Flying Nickel may make changes to its business plans that could affect results. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220654 VANCOUVER, Aug. 21, 2024 - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") is pleased to announce its National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") compliant Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates for its three Bolivian producing assets, the Bolivar mine, Porco mine, and Caballo Blanco Group of mines ("Caballo Blanco", and together with the Bolivar mine and the Porco mine, the "Bolivian Producing Mines"), and the Soracaya exploration project ("Soracaya"), also located in Bolivia. The Mineral Resources and Reserves for the Bolivian Producing Mines were prepared on behalf of the Company by JDS Energy & Mining Inc. ("JDS"), an international firm specializing in mineral resource evaluation and development, and the Mineral Resource for Soracaya was prepared on behalf of the Company by Kirkham Geosystems Ltd. The effective date of all the technical reports is January 1, 2024, the technical reports for the Bolivian Producing Mines have been filed on www.sedarplus.ca, and the Soracaya technical report will be filed on www.sedarplus.ca within 45 days of this news release. All figures are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated. Highlights: Total Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves of 54 million silver equivalent ounces including 19 million ounces of silver and 259 thousand tonnes of zinc. Total Measured and Indicated Resources of 102 million silver equivalent ounces including 32 million ounces of silver and 518 thousand tonnes of zinc. Total Inferred Resources at the Bolivian Producing Mines of 189 million silver equivalent ounces including 72 million ounces of silver and 882 thousand tonnes of zinc. Initial Inferred Resource for Soracaya of 35 million ounces of silver. Independent third-party verification of Santacruz' estimation processes reinforce the quality of our Mineral Resources and Reserves, and the methodology in place to accurately represent them. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo, FGC, of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd., Richard Goodwin, P.Eng., and Shane Tad Crowie, P. Eng., of JDS who are Independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101 performed the verification. Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Santacruz, commented, "This marks a noteworthy milestone for Santacruz as we continue to build a mid-tier silver and base metals company. The verified Mineral Resources and Reserves underscore our solid asset base. It is important to note that our Bolivian producing mines are open along strike and at depth, and with our ongoing exploration program, we believe there is potential to grow the current Mineral Resources and Reserves." Mr. Prestamo added, "The Mineral Reserve estimates use actual information from recent operating data including: operating costs, selling costs, metallurgical recoveries and smelter contracts. As such, these estimates should accurately reflect costs and conditions of exploitation that enabled the application of meaningful cut-off-grades to the deposit, such that confidence in the resultant mine plans are high. As well, the existing methodology for Mineral Reserve calculation was verified during the NI 43-101 review, which adds additional confidence to the veracity of our mine plans and development strategies. In addition, the initial Inferred Resource estimate for Soracaya suggests that we have another high-quality silver project in our portfolio." Important Notes to Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve tables below: Mineral Resources and Reserves are stated for the first time under NI 43-101 standards of disclosure and verified by independent Qualified Persons. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo, FGC, of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd., Richard Goodwin, P.Eng., and Shane Tad Crowie, P. Eng., of JDS who are Independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101 performed the verification. Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. It is reasonably expected that most of the inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Updated structure for operating and sustaining capital costs were applied to the Mineral Resource to confirm Santacruz generated Mineral Reserves at projected metal prices of $21.00 per ounce silver, $1.15 per pound zinc, $1.00 per pound lead and $3.65 per pound copper. Mineral Reserve estimates are derived using actual mining and metallurgical performance data from 2022 at each operation to deliver robust estimates. The effective date of the Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates at the Bolivian Producing Mines is January 1, 2023. The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate at Soracaya is January 1, 2024. Production data for the calendar year 2023 has been included in Section 24 of the various NI 43-101 compliant technical reports for the Bolivian Producing Mines and shows the depletion and typical replenishment of resources and reserves over a calendar year. Total Bolivian Producing Mines Grade Contained Metal Tonnes (kt) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) AgEq (g/t) Ag (koz) Zn (kt) Pb (kt) AgEq (koz) Measured Mineral Resources 2,147 292 15.01 1.80 915 20,155 322.3 38.8 63,132 Indicated Mineral Resources 1,431 263 13.70 1.77 836 12,118 196.1 25.3 38,460 Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources 3,578 281 14.49 1.79 883 32,274 518.4 64.1 101,592 Inferred Mineral Resources 7,426 303 11.88 1.32 792 72,395 881.8 98.2 189,169 Proven Mineral Reserves 1,473 255 10.57 1.45 699 12,053 155.7 21.3 33,083 Probable Mineral Reserves 1,117 192 9.22 1.35 582 6,886 103.0 15.1 20,901 Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves 2,590 227 9.99 1.41 648 18,939 258.6 36.4 53,983 Notes: 1. The combined Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves include all Bolivian Producing Mines including Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco group of mines which consist of the Colquechaquita, Tres Amigos and Reserva mines. 2. The Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Estimates were prepared for each operation using a zinc equivalent (ZnEq) cut-off grade and reporting silver equivalent (AgEq) grade that varies for each operation due to costs and economic parameters that are specific to each operation and are detailed within the footnotes for each as shown in the following tables. 3. AgEq grade information is presented in this table reflects metal prices of $21.00/oz Ag, $1.15/lb Zn, and $1.00/lb Pb. 4. Certain totals may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Bolivar Mine, Bolivia Grade Contained Metal Tonnes (kt) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (koz) Zn (kt) Pb (kt) Measured Mineral Resources 855 327 12.78 1.37 9,003 109.3 11.7 Indicated Mineral Resources 677 295 12.24 1.25 6,426 82.9 8.4 Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources 1,532 313 12.54 1.32 15,429 192.2 20.2 Inferred Mineral Resources 4,202 403 10.35 1.00 54,436 434.8 41.9 Proven Mineral Reserves 742 299 10.65 1.31 7,144 79.1 9.7 Probable Mineral Reserves 495 233 8.92 0.97 3,705 44.1 4.8 Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves 1,237 273 9.96 1.17 10,849 123.2 14.5 Notes: 1. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared using a 10.6% zinc equivalent cut-off grade. Cut-off grades were derived from $25.20/oz silver, $1.38/lb zinc and $1.20/lb lead, and process recoveries of 91% for zinc, 70% for lead, and 89.7% for silver. 2. The Mineral Reserve estimate was prepared using a 12.7% zinc equivalent cut-off grade, using the formula ZnEQV = Zn% + 0.7 x Pb% + 0.046 x Ag (g/t). This cut-off grade was based on current smelter agreements and metal prices of $21.00/oz silver, $1.15/lb zinc and $1.00/lb lead, total OPEX costs of $120.22/t based on 2022 actual costs plus capital costs of $48.68/t, with process recoveries of 91.0% for zinc, 70.0% for lead, and 89.7% for silver. 3. Bolivar and Porco Mines are part of the Illapa Joint Operation with COMIBOL. Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% production, whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements. The Joint Operation agreement expires in 2028. Porco Mine, Bolivia Grade Contained Metal Tonnes (kt) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (koz) Zn (kt) Pb (kt) Measured Mineral Resources 566 202 17.17 0.88 3,672 97.2 5.0 Indicated Mineral Resources 253 166 16.38 1.02 1,349 41.4 2.6 Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources 819 191 16.92 0.92 5,021 138.7 7.6 Inferred Mineral Resources 1,007 117 15.16 0.92 3,775 152.6 9.2 Proven Mineral Reserves 162 181 12.53 0.68 944 20.3 1.1 Probable Mineral Reserves 157 142 12.90 0.77 718 20.3 1.2 Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves 319 162 12.71 0.72 1,662 40.6 2.3 Notes: 1. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared using a 11.2% zinc equivalent cut-off grade. Cut-off grades were derived from $25.2/oz silver, $1.38/lb zinc and $1.20/lb lead; and process recoveries of 94.3% for zinc, 75.6% for lead, and 88.6% for silver. 2. The Mineral Reserve estimate was prepared using a 13.4% zinc equivalent cut-off grade, using the formula ZnEQV = Zn% + 1.14 x Pb% + 0.044 x Ag (g/t). This cut-off grade was based on current smelter agreements and metal prices of $21.00/oz silver, $1.15/lb zinc and $1.00/lb lead, total OPEX costs of $125.02/t based 2022 actual costs plus capital costs of $21.79/t, with process recoveries of 94.3% for zinc, 75.6% for lead, and 88.6% for silver. 3. Bolivar and Porco Mines are part of the Illapa Joint Operation with COMIBOL. Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% production, whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements. The Joint Operation agreement expires in 2028. Caballo Blanco Group of Mines, Bolivia Grade Contained Metal Tonnes (kt) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (koz) Zn (kt) Pb (kt) Measured Mineral Resources 726 321 15.96 3.03 7,481 115.8 22.0 Indicated Mineral Resources 502 269 14.32 2.86 4,343 71.8 14.3 Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources 1,227 300 15.29 2.96 11,824 187.6 36.4 Inferred Mineral Resources 2,217 199 13.28 2.12 14,183 294.4 47.1 Proven Mineral Reserves 569 217 9.90 1.85 3,965 56.3 10.5 Probable Mineral Reserves 465 165 8.30 1.96 2,463 38.6 9.1 Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves 1,034 193 9.18 1.90 6,428 94.9 19.6 Notes: 1. Caballo Blanco Group of Mines consists of the Colquechaquita, Tres Amigos and Reserva mines. 2. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared using a 10.0% zinc equivalent cut-off grade. Cut-off grades were derived from $25.20/oz silver, $1.38/lb zinc and $1.20/lb lead; and process recoveries of 92.1% for zinc, 77.2% for lead and 90.8% for silver. 3. The Mineral Reserve estimate was prepared using a 11.9% zinc equivalent cut-off grade, using the formula ZnEQV = Zn% + 1.22 x Pb% + 0.051 x Ag (g/t). This cut-off grade was based on current smelter agreements and metal prices of $21.00/oz silver, $1.15/lb zinc and $1.00/lb lead, total OPEX costs of $106.94/t based on 2022 actual costs plus capital costs of $42.33/t, with process recoveries of 92.1% for zinc, 77.2% for lead, and 90.8% for silver. Soracaya Exploration Project, Bolivia Grade Contained Metal Tonnes (kt) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (koz) Zn (kt) Pb (kt) Inferred Mineral Resources 4,137 260 1.23 7.23 34,550 50.9 299.1 Notes: 1. The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared using a 10.0% zinc equivalent cut-off grade. Cut-off grades were derived from $25.20/oz silver, $1.38/lb zinc and $1.20/lb lead; and process recoveries of 92.1% for zinc, 77.2% for lead and 90.8% for silver. 2. A full technical report for Soracaya will be prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release. Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Data Verification Mineral Resources for the Bolivian Producing Mines were previously performed by local Bolivian staff supported by Glencore. Currently, the same local technical resources are employed by Santacruz ensuring continuity and consistency. The Glencore, and now Santacruz, procedures and methods remain and are adhered to. These procedures and methods have been well documented and follow industry best practice guidelines and the QP (Kirkham) performed extensive site investigations for due diligence and audit to validate and verify. The Bolivian sites utilize internal laboratories that were reviewed by the technical report authors. Assay preparation and analytical procedures and methods were reviewed and were acceptable for resource estimation purposes. Following the facilities visit to the laboratories, systematic checks of the assay databases against the certified and internal assay databases showed good agreement and the transfer of data is automated to ensure against transpositional errors. The assay database was in good agreement with the laboratory database. The laboratory at the Don Deigo process plant in Bolivia is an ISO 17025:2018 certified laboratory. Independent samples were taken and analysed by an outside independent umpire assay laboratory, SGS Peru which is ISO 9001 certified laboratory. The results showed good agreement with the original sample assays while validating and verifying the results of the internal assay laboratories. The resource block models have been created and maintained in the Datamine System, a well-known resource modelling and mine planning system. The vein domain models were created within LeapFrog. Block and vein domain models were imported into secondary modelling system MineSight and were validated and verified. Furthermore, estimation vein domains and resource block models were independently created by QP (Kirkham) which showed good agreement with Santacruz models and results. For all the operating mines, checks were performed to ensure that pillars, sterilized areas and mined out volumes were accounted for and excluded along with material below topography and overburden. Classification criteria and methodology was reviewed showing reasonable and even conservative judgment with respect to threshold distances and grades for drillhole and channel sample data. Geological and grade continuity was demonstrated, and cut-off grades were calculated using updated metal prices and actual mine operating costs. Design underground stope shapes were utilized for the reporting of resources demonstrating Reasonable Prospect of Eventual Economic Extraction ("RP3E"). In conclusion, the assay data, domain models and block estimation models have been validated and verified by QP (Kirkham). Economic and classification criteria have been adjusted to insure reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction. Kirkham assumes responsibility for the resources and states that the data, models and results reported in the resource estimates may be relied upon to report. The reserves for all assets were prepared by Sinchi Wayra in Deswik. JDS (QP Goodwin) verified that the correct dilution and recovery factors were applied to the stope shapes, that inferred resources were not used in any stope reserves, manually checked all calculations, and verified the tonnages and metal content of each reserve estimate. Other factors that were checked include equipment rates, historic production performance, predicted stoping productivities, and mining sequence assumptions. On the basis of this QA/QC review, the QP (Goodwin) verified that the Deswik-based reserves have been correctly estimated and assumes responsibility for them. Cutoff grade (COG) criteria were also developed using the site metallurgical data and smelter contracts. The final reserve was estimated by the application of these factors (mining dilution, mining recovery, COG) to the LOM plan and the elimination of all inferred resources in the stope shapes. The QP (Goodwin) is satisfied that this exercise resulted in a valid result and assumes responsibility for the reserve estimation. Qualified Person The Mineral Resource and Reserve estimates were prepared under the supervision of Garth Kirkham, P.Geo, FGC, of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd., Richard Goodwin, P.Eng., and Shane Tad Crowie, P. Eng., of JDS who are Independent Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kirkham, Mr. Goodwin, and Mr. Crowie have reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Wayne Corso, P.Eng., a consultant to the Company, is a qualified person under NI 43-101 and has approved the scientific and technical information related to operational matters contained in this news release. About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas feed sourcing business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is located in Mexico. 'signed' Arturo Prestamo Elizondo, Executive Chairman and CEO 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. Forward looking information This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the Company continuing to build a mid-tier silver and base metals company, the filing of a technical report for Soracaya on SEDAR+, the accuracy of the Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates, and the potential to grow the current Mineral Resources and Reserves. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks that the Company will not continue to build a mid-tier silver and base metals company, that the Company will not file a technical report for Soracaya on SEDAR+ on the anticipated timeline, or at all, that the Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates will be less accurate than management currently anticipates, that it is not possible to grow the current Mineral Resources and Reserves, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumption that the Company will continue to pursue its goal of building a mid-tier silver and base metals company, that the Company will file a technical report for Soracaya on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release, that there is the potential to grow the current Mineral Resources and Reserves, that because the Mineral Reserve estimates use actual information from recent operating data they should accurately reflect costs and conditions of exploitation that enabled the application of meaningful cut-off-grades to the deposit, and that the estimation of Mineral Resources may be impacted by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Vancouver, August 21, 2024 - TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") announces that, further to its news release dated August 12, 2024, the Company has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of 5,150,000 units (each a "Unit"). The Private Placement was oversubscribed by 150,000 Units and on closing, the Company issued 5,150,000 Units at $0.06 per Unit for proceeds of $309,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one half of a non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant") with each whole Warrant exercisable into one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.08 per share for two years from the date of issue. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for exploration, maintenance of the Shotgun Gold project and for general working capital purposes. All Private Placement securities will be restricted from trading for a period of four months plus one day from the date of closing. ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP. TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company. Our business model provides a unique entry point in the creation of supply chains for critical materials like energy metals that are powering the energy rEVolution, and the gold industry that is providing a hedge for this stage of the economic cycle. Our portfolio provides a unique combination of assets with exposure to multiple aspects of the mining cycle: the power of blue-sky discovery and important partnerships with industry leaders as operators on the projects that have the potential to generate royalty cashflows that will contribute significant value for our shareholders. Over the past twenty-eight years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality global exploration projects. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, the potential of the Mariana Lithium Project and Los Azules Copper Project in Argentina among many others have been recognized. TNR holds a 1.5% NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina, of which 0.15% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. Ganfeng Lithium's subsidiary, Litio Minera Argentina ("LMA"), has the right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR royalty on the Mariana Project, of which 0.9% is the Company's NSR Royalty interest. The Company would receive CAN$900,000 and its shareholder would receive CAN$100,000 on the repurchase by LMA, resulting in TNR holding a 0.45% NSR royalty and its shareholder holding a 0.05% NSR royalty. The Mariana Lithium Project is 100% owned by Ganfeng Lithium. The Mariana Lithium Project has been approved by the Argentina provincial government of Salta for an environmental impact report, and the construction of a 20,000 tons-per-annum lithium chloride plant has commenced. TNR Gold also holds a 0.4% NSR Royalty on the Los Azules Copper Project, of which 0.04% of the 0.4% NSR royalty is held on behalf of a shareholder. The Los Azules Copper Project is being developed by McEwen Mining. TNR also holds a 7% net profits royalty holding on the Batidero I and II properties of the Josemaria Project that is being developed by Lundin Mining. Lundin Mining is part of the Lundin Group, a portfolio of companies producing a variety of commodities in several countries worldwide. TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources. The Company's strategy with the Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with a major gold mining company. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties. At its core, TNR provides a wide scope of exposure to gold, copper, silver and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and royalty holdings in Argentina (the Mariana Lithium project, the Los Azules Copper Project and the Batidero I & II properties of the Josemaria Project), and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value. 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives, changes in share capital, market conditions for energy commodities, the results of McEwen Mining's, Ganfeng Lithium's, Josemaria Resources' and Lundin Mining's preliminary economic assessments, Feasibility Study, or Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine and mine closure plans and improvements in the financial performance of the Company. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will be able to repay its loans or complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales; debt or other financing will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties challenging in the future the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on. In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc., Ganfeng Lithium, Josemaria Resources and Lundin Mining will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES 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/220739 Trigon Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TM, OTCQB: PNTZF) ("Trigon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2024. Shareholders and interested parties are invited to join a conference call hosted by Trigon management, tomorrow, Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the results. Dial-in details for the call can be found near the end of this press release. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821552971/en/ Image 1: Kombat Open Pit (Photo: Business Wire) Highlights The Kombat mine achieved first full quarter production with underground contribution in Q1 for fiscal year end in 2025, marking a major inflection point for the Company First quarter copper production was 2,302,726 pounds at C1 cash costs (1) of $3.23 per pound of copper produced. of $3.23 per pound of copper produced. Silver production during the quarter was 33,399 ounces Positive Adjusted EBITDA (1) contribution of $1.8 million contribution of $1.8 million Net loss attributable to the shareholders of the Company of $2.1 million, or $0.05 per share on a basic and diluted basis compared to a net loss of $2.95 million, or $0.02 per share in the three months ended June 30, 2023 on a basic and diluted basis. Following excellent operating performance at the Kombat mine during the quarter, the Company is reaffirming all other 2025 fiscal year-end production, and C1 cash cost guidance ranges Jed Richardson, CEO and Executive Chairman of Trigon, commented, "Grade is king at Kombat, our first full quarter of contribution from our high grade underground is demonstrating the profitability at the mine. Achieving solid copper and silver production driven by favourable grade reconciliations have continued into the second quarter. This trend has allowed us to maintain our full-year copper and silver production guidance, which we expect will translate to achieving the lower end of our fiscal year 2025 cash cost guidance." Mining & Milling Operations At the Kombat mine, the first quarter was marked by several record-breaking underground mining days. Underground ore tonnes mined for the quarter totalled 57,070 tonnes at an average grade of 2.05%, and open pit production of 29,715 tonnes at an average grade of 1.23%. A total of 70,483 tonnes were milled during the quarter at a 1.67% average grade resulting in the production of 1,045 tonnes of copper. The Company announced Commercial Production from the underground mine on April 30, 2024, and is pleased to report that the underground mine has continued to perform and exceed the mining targets defined in its feasibility study (the "Feasibility Study"). The Feasibility Study was prepared by SRK Consulting South Africa (Pty) Ltd ("SRK") in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Table 1: Operating and Financial Highlights (Reported in USD) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024 MINING OP Ore Mined (tonnes) 29,715 85,365 OP Copper Grade % 1.23% 0.98% OP Silver Grade (g/t) 9.98 6.88 UG Ore Mined (tonnes) 57,070 12,160 UG Copper Grade 2.05% 2.36% UG Silver Grade (g/t) 11.44 6.48 Total Ore Mined (tonnes) 86,785 97,525 MILLING Ore Processed (tonnes) 70,483 69,354 Copper recovery (%) 88.3% 80.5% Copper Concentrate Production (tonnes) 3,876 2,385 Concentrate Grade (Cu %) 27.1% 23.9% Concentrate Grade (Ag g/t) 271 23.9% Copper Product Produced (tonnes) 1,045 570 Copper Product Produced (lbs) 2,302,726 1,255,752 Silver Product Produced (oz) 33,399 14,653 SALES Copper Concentrate Sold (dry metric tonnes) 4,596 2,095 Copper Concentrate Sold (lbs) 10,132,434 4,618,679 Copper Product Sold (tonnes) 968 424 Copper Product Sold (lbs) 2,134,072 934,759 Realized copper price (per lb) $4.18 $4.12 C1 cash cost/lb (100% payability) (1) $3.23 3.35 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS ($ in 000's, except per share amounts) Revenues $10,032 $3,853 Gross Profit $1,941 $ (153) EBITDA $654 $16,260 Adjusted EBITDA $1,800 $168 Cash flow from operations $70 $(740) Net (loss) income $(2,215) $13,440 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 March 31, 2024 Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of the Company $(2,108) $13,908 Per share (basic) $(0.05) $(0.07) Per share (diluted) $(0.05) $(0.07) Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments $1,173 $1,417 OP = Open Pit UG = Underground (1)EBITDA, net income (loss) attributable to owners of the Company, income (loss) per share attributable to owners of the Company, net (cash), working capital, C1 cash cost, copper production are non-IFRS measures. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Please refer to the Company's discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2024. Exploration Update Trigon is allocating $2.5 million to $3.5 million to exploration programs for mineral reserve and resource replacement and on other exploration prospects in and around Kombat's existing infrastructure and landholdings in the Kombat valley. On April 18, 2024, the Company released the highlights of its exploration campaign at Schlangental, a key prospect within the wider Kombat property, situated approximately 15km east of the active mining licence ML73B. This announcement followed the Company finalizing its comprehensive exploration plan for the expansive Kombat property, spanning nearly 35 km from Gross Otavi in the west and Schlangental to the east. Drilling at Schlangental represents the first campaign testing mineralization outside of the main Kombat mining license on the Copper King Extension exploration prospect. Surface mineralization attracted Trigon geologists to the Schlangental area where reports of historic drilling indicated that mineralization continued at depth, but no drill core or detailed logs were available. Of the planned 36 holes totalling 4000m, only two holes have been drilled to date, with both holes intercepting mineralization at modest depths. Subsequent Events To support the commencement of production and associated working capital needs at the Kombat mine, the Company entered into an agreement with IXM whereby IXM agreed to advance USD$2.5 million in two tranches of USD$1.25 million each, with tranche one immediately drawn down and the second tranche being available for drawdown between August 19, 2024 and August 30, 2024. The advance will be repaid in principal portions of USD$208,334 per month commencing in October 2024 through September 2025 repayable in deliveries of copper concentrate. Interest will be charged at the 30-day secured overnight financing rate average plus 2.5% and paid in cash. 2025 Production and Cost Guidance Following record operating performance at the Kombat mine during the quarter, the Company is reaffirming its 2025 copper production guidance of 12,125,000 to 13,448,000 pounds of copper. The Company expects mined and processed copper grades to remain in line with guidance for 2025. The Company's updated cost guidance for 2024 assumes a foreign exchange rate of 18.40 NAD per USD and a silver price of $25 per ounce. Table 2: Financial Year 2025 Guidance FY 2025 Guidance Description Unit Floor Ceiling Underground Mining Tonnes 250,000 280,000 Ore Grade % 1.95% 2.30% Processing Tonnes 260,000 312,000 Copper Produced Tonnes 5,500 6,100 Copper Produced lbs 12,125,000 13,448,000 Cash Cost $/lbs 3.15 2.80 Conference Call Details The Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST (8:00 a.m. PST). Please pre-register at the link provided below. Date: Thursday, August 22, 2024 Time: 11:00 a.m. EST/8:00 a.m. PST Dial in: Canada/USA: 1-800-990-4333 Toronto: 1-289 514-5000 New York: 1-646-769-9600 please dial in 5-10 minutes prior and ask to join the call Pre-Register: Registration link: https://emportal.ink/3ApVh5v Replay: Canada/USA toll-free: 1-888-660-6264 Replay Passcode: 75661# Qualified Person The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Fanie Muller, P.Eng, VP Operations of Trigon, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Trigon Metals Inc. Trigon is a publicly-traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business focused on copper and silver holdings in mine-friendly African jurisdictions. Currently, the company has operations in Namibia and Morocco. In Namibia, the Company holds an 80% interest in five mining licences in the Otavi Mountainlands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-grade copper deposits, where the Company is focused on exploration and re-development of the previously producing Kombat Mine. Cautionary Notes This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the Company's mining operations, the timing and results of mining activities, the Company's strategies and the Company's abilities to execute such strategies, the Company's expectations for the Kombat mine, the economic viability of the Kombat mine, the Company's ability to expand or replace mineral resources and reserves, the projected costs and production at the Kombat mine, the agreement with IXM and the Company's ability to repay IXM, the prices of copper and silver and the Company's future plans and objectives. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240821552971/en/ Contact For further information, contact Investor Relations: +1 647 276 6002 IR@trigonmetals.com Website: www.trigonmetals.com Marko plays down Red Bull performance crisis Dr Helmut Marko has played down escalating alarm about Red Bull's fading car performance in 2024. Max Verstappen, Belgian GP 2024 Red Bull Recent rumours suggest that, amid improved fortunes for rival teams McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull may have been quietly told by the FIA some weeks ago to discontinue a technical solution in the 'grey area'. And now, France's Auto Hebdo reports that the FIA has formally told teams that, as of this weekend's Dutch GP, so-called 'asymmetric braking' solutions are banned. The solution would theoretically mean that, as well as being able to adjust brake distribution front to rear, a driver would also be able to adjust the distribution from left to right. An FIA source, however, insisted it is not true that any such system has been discovered on any car on the 2024 grid. It is well known that Adrian Newey has stepped down from most active duties at Red Bull's top F1 team, but continuing technical director Pierre Wache denies that explains any loss of performance. If you spend three years developing a car concept and the regulations offer little freedom, then you automatically approach the limit, he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. The biggest problem is that the rules are much stricter than with the old cars. We can no longer do what we want, the Frenchman added. That's why it's more difficult to react to problems. It is rumoured that, as of next weekend's Italian GP at Monza, Red Bull may begin to experiment by backtracking on some of the car's in-season upgrades. Like Mercedes at the beginning of the year, we are sometimes fast and sometimes slow depending on the conditions, team consultant Marko admits. Sometimes it even happens in the same race as in Silverstone, where it rained. However, the Austrian insists the situation is perhaps not as bad as is being reported. Max Verstappen leads the drivers' standings over Lando Norris by 78 points, with McLaren trailing the teams' table by just 42 points. We are better than our last results show, Marko said. Without the bad pitstop in Spielberg, the collision with (Lewis) Hamilton in Hungary and the grid penalty in Spa, Max would be in a better position. (GMM) New York subscribers got exclusive early access to this story in Eating New York, a newsletter featuring food news and advice straight from our critics mouths. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. The namesake dish at Pho Ga Vang. Photo: Grub Street The only thing Tony Le will reveal about the broth he makes for his Chinatown restaurant Pho Ga Vang is that it takes two days to prepare. Im very secretive about what I do because its a family recipe, he says. He lists a few other guidelines hes picked up working in the family business, like sell the soup and close when you run out. He chops chicken, its skin as yellow as an emoji, fresh to order so it stays juicy. Les broth is sweet and pure, seasoned with ginger and onion and what seems like more than a pinch of MSG. Along with the rice noodles, theres scallion greens, cilantro, and sliced white onion bobbing in it. Yes, he concedes, I do baby the soup. Pho Ga Vang opened a few weeks ago on Market Street, around the corner from Golden Diner and Banh by Lauren. Theres bo kho, plates of vermicelli noodles with grilled meats, beef pho, the Pho Tony (with steak, brisket, meatball, and chicken), and a few different options for pho ga, including one made with chicken thats been treated to a lemongrass marinade and grilled until blackened. (Theres another with gizzard and liver in theory. It hasnt been available either time Ive been in.) This is the second location of the restaurant. Le opened the first in the D.C. suburbs in early 2023. The Washingtonian named Pho Ga Vang one of the 100 Very Best Restaurants of 2024, calling the chicken soup some of the richest and most soothing theyve encountered. But Le comes to New York by way of Philadelphia, originally, where his parents opened the famous Pho Ga Thanh Thanh. In 2019, he left Philly and, with business partner Vinh Nguyen, opened Pho Ga Tony Tony in Norcross, Georgias Little Saigon. It was a hit: The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions critic called the soup nothing less than liquid magic. While Le and Nguyen expressed ambitions to open a small chain, they only opened one other location. Both eventually closed. Atlanta didnt work out because it was a bad partnership and I ended up getting a lawyer to sue my partner, Le says. In February 2022, he opened a restaurant in Las Vegas (he is no longer involved), then another in Philadelphia (it, too, has closed). At Pho Ga Vang, Le says that he benefited from the fact that customers were familiar with his parents restaurant. They knew that it was the same brand, which is why we were pretty successful in Virginia, he says. Thats one reason why hes now taking a shot at New York: In Philadelphia, customers whod come down from New York asked them to open here. As for choosing Chinatown? I dont know nothing about New York, Le says. I dont know why I choose to open there. He found the space in an ad on Facebook Marketplace. The streets seemed busy. He thought hed found a good deal, but it ended up taking five months to open because, he says, the gas meter had been removed. Before starting his own chicken-soup ventures, Le worked at his parents restaurant for 20 years. (In New York, he has a framed photo of the original location on the wall, next to chicken-themed decorations like a Cocky poster with a flexing rooster.) Les parents, Hoa Nguyen and Chuong Le, were refugees who landed in California and later moved their family to Pennsylvania to open a nail salon. That business didnt work out, but Pho Ga Thanh Thanh became renowned enough that, as the Philadelphia Inquirer critic Craig LaBan wrote, Hoa simply became known as the chicken lady. When she got sick in 2017, her four children all became more involved, and she taught each of them to make the familys pho ga recipe. The restaurant is now owned by Les sister Elizabeth Nguyen, who trademarked the name and family recipe and says there is no relationship between Pho Ga Thanh Thanh and Pho Ga Vang, run by Le. If he does well, Im happy for him and his family, Elizabeth says. Elizabeth, of course, is also aware of how many Pho Ga Thanh Thanh customers come down from New York: They still do. After opening a second location in Philadelphia this May, she now has her sights set on Queens, where shell kick off a grand plan, as she once put it, to go nationwide. It sounds like a family rivalry could play out in the five boroughs, though in New York, there is plenty of room, and then some, for more pho ga. Were opening in Long Island City within the next eight months, Elizabeth says. Its in the works already. iQOO expanded the Z9 lineup in India today by launching two 's' models - iQOO Z9s and iQOO Z9s Pro. We were invited to a media briefing in Baku, Azerbaijan last month, where we got to explore the Z9s Pro's cameras. But now that the smartphone is officially unveiled, let's see what it's all about. The iQOO Z9s Pro comes in a black-colored retail box with a protective case, a SIM ejector tool, a charging cable, and an 80W power adapter. The iQOO Z9s Pro is built around a 6.77" curved AMOLED display of 2,392x1,080-pixel resolution, having a 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits local peak brightness. It comes with HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG codecs, and has Widevine L1 support for 1080p video streaming on compatible apps. The Z9s Pro's screen is protected by Schott Xensation Up glass and supports Wet Touch technology. It can also display 1.07 billion colors and has a centered punch-hole for the 16MP selfie camera using Samsung's S5K3P9SP04-FGX9 sensor. The display also has a fingerprint scanner embedded, which worked well during our usage. However, it should have been placed slightly higher for ease of reach. Around the back, we have a squircle-shaped camera island housing a circular flash and two working cameras - 50MP primary (Sony IMX882 with OIS) and 8MP ultrawide (OmniVision OV08D10-GA5A-001A, 120 FOV). We received the Luxe Marble version, which, as evident from the name, has a marble-like pattern on its back cover. It's made of plastic but has a glass-like feel. The other model is Flamboyant Orange with a vegan leather back - a first for the Z series. At 190g, it's 5g heavier than the Luxe Marble model but provides a better grip. Regardless, both versions have an IP64 rating. Regarding ports and controls, the iQOO Z9s Pro has the power button and volume rocker on its right-side frame, and at the bottom is the USB-C. It's flanked by the SIM card slot, primary microphone, and speaker grille. Up top is the secondary mic. The smartphone features stereo speakers but doesn't sport a 3.5mm headphone jack. It does have Hi-Res Audio support for earphones, though. iQOO Z9s Pro's ports and controls Under the hood, the iQOO Z9s Pro has the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It runs Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14 out of the box. iQOO has promised two years of Android version upgrades and three years of Android security updates but hasn't committed anything regarding the rollout frequency of the latter. Fueling the entire package is a 5,500 mAh battery with 80W charging support. iQOO says the bundled 80W adapter can fill the cell up to 50% in 21 minutes. The iQOO Z9s Pro has a base price of INR24,999 ($300/270) and will be available in India starting August 23 through iQOO's Indian website and Amazon.in. Samsung released a subset of its Galaxy AI features for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra already, and this includes Circle to Search of course. However, the Galaxy S21 FE did not receive Circle to Search at that time, despite the fact that it shares its chipsets with the other members of the S21 family. This error has finally been rectified now. Samsung has brought Circle to Search to the Galaxy S21 FE as part of the August 2024 security update, which is now rolling out in Vietnam and should be coming to other markets in the next few days. This also fixes over 50 security vulnerabilities in Android and Samsung's One UI. As you may already know, Circle to Search does exactly what its name implies. It allows you to circle anything on your screen and get information about it. You can even find out what song is playing around you (or on your phone). You invoke Circle to Search by long pressing the white bottom pill bar or the home button if you still have one. Source Andersen Air Force Base has until Sept. 20 to address a number of deficiencies in its application for a permit to keep open detonating and burning hazardous materials alongside Tarague Beach, according to an Aug. 6 letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A revised permit application from Andersen must include measures to prevent contamination of the ocean, the aquifer, and the atmosphere, among other things, according to the letter sent to the head of Andersens 36th Civil Engineer Squadron. Both the administrator for U.S. EPA in the region, Martha Guzman Aceves, and Guam Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michelle Lastimoza signed off on the letter. Andersens 36th Wing Public Affairs office indicated that a response from the base would not be available until Thursday or Friday, when reached for comment about the letter on Wednesday. The Aug. 6 letter states a plan for the closure of both ranges must be included in the revised permit application, along with a timeline for the close out of the open burn range. Open burning particularly has been the subject of increasing scrutiny from federal regulators. Local military officials have said that the burn range is no longer used to dispose of hazardous waste, the Pacific Daily News reported previously. Notably, the letter states that both U.S. EPA and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency believe the groundwater monitoring program for the range is insufficient at identifying any impact to groundwater or the ocean. The open detonation and burn ranges at Tarague, operated since the 1980s, have become the source of local controversy in recent years. Andersen applied to renew its permit for the ranges in May 2021, but the application has not cleared review by Guam EPA three years later. Activist group Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian in January 2022 filed a federal lawsuit seeking to have range activity halted. The suit is currently under appeal in a Hawaii court. Senators in December 2022 passed a bill banning open detonation and open burning of hazardous waste. That ban was reversed two months later, after former Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson said the ban stopped military explosive ordnance disposal teams from legally responding to emergencies. Last year, U.S. EPA handed down stricter guidance about how local regulators should handle open burning and detonation. Military leadership asserts that open detonation is the only way to dispose of hazardous munitions left over from World War II, which to this day are unearthed in the community. Andersen officials have told Guam EPA that detonations may only occur two or three times a year. Opponents have pushed for a shut down or move of the ranges, and for alternative options to be assessed by the military for disposing of decades-old munitions. The Aug. 6 letter from U.S. EPA notes that groundwater lies approximately 6 feet below the OD unit where (Guams) sole source aquifer is. A revised permit must include an evaluation of a potential groundwater monitoring well near the ranges. According to the letter, Andersen currently evaluates groundwater by checking water seeps at low tide, even though a 2008 study had results that were inconclusive with respect to locating definitive seep sample locations. An evaluation of alternative technology to open burn and detonation must be submitted along with the revised permit application, the letter states. Put an end to open detonations Monaeka Flores of Prutehi Litekyan, in a press release from environmental law firm Earthjustice, said she was glad to see Guam EPA and U.S. EPA finally hold the Air Force accountable to the law. Earthjustice is representing Prutehi Litekyan in its suit against the Air Force. This letter from both Guam EPA and U.S. EPA has finally validated our efforts and concerns. But this letter should have come three years ago to require the Air Force to evaluate safe alternatives and environmental impacts. Instead, weve continued to suffer the harms from open detonations, Flores said. Thien Chau, senior associate attorney at Earthjustice, said in the release that the law prohibits open burn and detonation of waste explosives when there are safe alternatives. Its long past time for Guam EPA to deny the permit and put an end to open detonations on Tarague Beach, Chau said. Its been nearly five months since government nurses got an 18% bump in pay, but nurses employed by the Guam Department of Education have not seen that pay raise implemented. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero authorized the bump in pay for nurses across GovGuam back in April. But GDOE Superintendent Erik Swanson at a Tuesday media briefing said the raise has not gone into effect yet, and more than $700,000 is owed to school nurses. The superintendent said that GDOEs current fiscal year budget did not account for the pay raise that took effect in April. GDOEs fiscal year 2024 budget would have been negotiated way back in the summer of 2023. We had to find the money, so thats the challenge, Swanson said. Money has to be taken from elsewhere so GDOE can cover those costs, its a tradeoff, for lack of a better term. The 18% pay bump amounts to an increase in base annual pay of almost $7,000 to a little over $9,000 for nurses employed by GDOE, based on the pay raise memo from the Department of Administration. GDOEs latest staffing pattern shows 41 health counselors, who are all registered nurses, and three licensed professional nurses on the payroll. According to Swanson, the GDOE budget request to the Legislature does not include the cost to fund the nurse pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year, either. The governor announced the nurse pay raise just before 3 p.m. on April 2, about an hour before the Guam Education Board met to approve GDOEs budget request for the next fiscal year. But the raise was signed approved by the governor earlier than that, on March 13, DOA documents show. Swanson said Tuesday that lawmakers had been made aware of the need to fund the nurse pay raises. Legislative education chairman Sen. Chris Barnett confirmed that he has amended the budget to cover nurse pay out of the $256 million appropriation that GDOE is earmarked get in the next fiscal year. The $256 million, plus $28 million worth of lapsed funding that can be used for fiscal 2025, is still less than the $303 million that GDOE asked for. Swanson called the $303 million figure a bare bones budget for GDOE, which was only achieved after a series of cuts. Leaders and representatives from around the Pacific gather for the opening day of the 26th Micronesian Islands Forum on June 3, 2024 at Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon. Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code CHICAGO (AP) Warning of a difficult fight ahead, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and foreboding. America, hope is making a comeback, the former first lady declared. She then tore into Republican Donald Trump, a sharp shift from the 2016 convention speech in which she told her party, When they go low, we go high. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black, Obama said of Trump. Her husband, the nations first Black president pushing for America to elect its second, called Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, he charged. The fiery messages from two of the Democratic Partys biggest stars underscored the urgency of the moment as Harris works to stitch together a broad coalition in her bid to defeat Trump this fall. She is drawing on stars like the Obamas and other celebrities, officials from the far left to the middle, and even some Republicans to boost her campaign. And while the theme of the night was a bold vision for Americas future, the disparate factions of Harris evolving coalition demonstrated, above all, that they are connected by a deep desire to prevent a second Trump presidency. Just ahead of the Obamas remarks, Harris addressed an estimated 15,000 people in battleground Wisconsin in the arena where Republicans held their convention last month. She declared that she was running a people-powered campaign. Together we will chart a new way forward, the vice president said in remarks that were partially broadcast to the DNC. A future for freedom, opportunity, of optimism and faith. Back in Chicago, Sens. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, and Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent beloved by progressives, both praised Harris. And in an appearance perhaps intended to needle Trump, his former press secretary Stephanie Grisham now a harsh critic of her former boss also took the convention stage. Trump has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth, Grisham said. I love my country more than my party. Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people. And she has my vote. Still, it was not all serious on the second night of the four-day convention. A symbolic roll call in which delegates from each state pledged their support for the Democratic nominee turned into a party atmosphere. A DJ played a mix of state-specific songs and Atlanta native Lil Jon ran out during Georgias turn to his hit song with DJ Snake, Turn Down for What, to the delight of the thousands inside the cavernous United Center. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who would become the nations first gentleman if his wife wins the presidency, shared personal details about his relationship with Harris their cooking habits, their first date and her laugh, which is often mocked by Republican critics. You know that laugh. I love that laugh! Emhoff said as the crowd cheered. Later, he added, Her empathy is her strength. Trump, meanwhile, was out on the campaign trail as part of his weeklong swing-state tour during the Democratic convention. He went to Howell, Michigan, on Tuesday and stood aside sheriffs deputies as he labeled Harris the ringleader of a Marxist attack on law enforcement across the country. Kamala Harris will deliver crime, chaos, destruction and death, Trump said in one of many generalizations about an America under Harris. Harris, meanwhile, cast the election in dire, almost existential terms. She implored Americans not to get complacent in light of the Supreme Court decision carving out broad presidential immunity, a power she said Trump would abuse. She has also seized on Trumps opposition to a nationally guaranteed right to abortion. They seemingly dont trust women, she said of Trump and his Republican allies. Well, we trust women. The vice presidents speech evoked some of the same themes that underlaid Bidens case for reelection before he dropped out, casting Trump as a threat to democracy. Harris argued that Trump threatens the values and freedoms that Americans hold dear. Trump said he would be a dictator only on his first day in office, a quip he later said was a joke, and has vowed as president to assert more control over federal prosecutions, an area of government that has traditionally been left to the Justice Department. Someone with that record should never again have the opportunity to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States, Harris said. Never again. ___ By STEVE PEOPLES, JONATHAN J. COOPER and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press Cooper reported from Phoenix. Haiti - Politic : New Commander of the FAdH (speech by President Edgard Leblanc Fils) On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the National Palace, Edgard Leblanc Fils, President of the Transitional Council, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Garry Conille and members of his Government, including the Minister of Defense, Jean Marc Berthier Antoine, as well as the Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police, Normil Rameau, proceeded with the installation of the new interim Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H). Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, replacing Commander Jodel Lesage, who spent 7 years at the head of the FAd'H. "..] I have just pinned the rank of Lieutenant General to Brigadier General Derby Guerrier on the occasion of his installation as the new Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti" declared Edgard Leblanc Fils, President of the Transitional Council. "It is an honor for me to receive this rank and this responsibility at this time for our country. I am committed to strengthening the discipline, professionalism and efficiency of our armed forces, while remaining faithful to republican values and the defense of our sovereignty", said Lieutenant General Guerrier. Speech by the President of the Transitional Council, by Edgard Leblanc Fils : "Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Presidential Transitional Council, it falls to me, on this morning of August 20, 2024, the high responsibility of proceeding with the installation of the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti, Brigadier General Derby Guerrier, promoted, on this occasion, to Lieutenant General. Upon the remobilization of the Haitian Armed Forces by the late President Jovenel Moise, Colonel Derby Guerrier was called on March 6, 2018 to return to the ranks of the Army as head of G4 logistics of the General Staff alongside his comrades from the 1974-1976 class : Jodel Lessage, 2nd in the class, Jean Jonas, Jean Robert Gabriel, Emmanuel Azemar. He then resigned from his position as Head of Security Agents of the Provisional Electoral Council, which he had held since 2008. Colonel Delby Guerrier thus responded to the call of history. I would like to pay special tribute here to the enlightened vision of Lieutenant General Jodel Lessage who took the reins of the Armed Forces of Haiti, in a situation that was not favorable to its remobilization both internally and externally, and led them with moderation until this fateful moment of marked instability, of war of armed gangs against the population. Indeed, hit by an embargo following the coup d'etat of 1991, the FAd'H were stigmatized and then demobilized, by decree, on January 6, 1995. Under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Jodel Lessage, the Armed Forces of Haiti have won public recognition. With the help of the security crisis, they have come to fail to respond to the call of the suffering people, victims of atrocities by gangs, who terrorize the population, destabilize the State, and undermine the National Police of Haiti, the only institution in charge of the security of the Nation. The Armed Forces of Haiti have been able to regain the trust of the population, to remind the international community of their usefulness, by proving their usefulness. They are the ones who protect the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, the port and the airport of the capital. Reinforced in their capacities in terms of personnel and equipment, they will come, alongside the National Police, to restore security and peace throughout the national territory for the happiness of the Haitian people. Mr. Lieutenant General, outgoing Commander-in-Chief, on behalf of the Haitian people, on behalf of the Presidential Transitional Council, I thank you for all the service rendered to the common homeland. Ladies and Gentlemen Mr. Commander-in-Chief, You are taking over the leadership of the FAd'H at a decisive turning point in national life marked by a multidimensional crisis grafted onto chronic insecurity threatening the foundations of the Nation. I am counting on your dynamism, your experience of electoral issues, your knowledge of the military institution to launch, with the National Police, assisted by the Multinational Security Support Mission, the major battles against insecurity, but also and above all for the stability of institutions, the restoration of the rule of law, factors essential to economic and social progress. I take this opportunity to salute all the partners who have developed cooperation with the Armed Forces of Haiti by providing technical assistance in training or equipment. The recruitment competition launched by the Ministry of Defense contributes to the strengthening of this institution that created the State of Haiti, after having led the only successful slave revolt in universal history. Haiti cannot be conceived without its army. Officers, Soldiers of the FAd'H, You are heirs to this Army of national independence that changed the face of the world. Be proud of it ! The problems of the moment will be overcome and the Armed Forces of Haiti will fully play its role in building this new country that we all dream of. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Commander-in-Chief, I would like to invite you to learn the lessons of demobilization and ensure that the Armed Forces of Haiti are a professional, disciplined army, scrupulously respecting the supremacy of civil power over the military institution. The Haitian people who have suffered so much in their flesh, in their spirit, in their property, the Presidential Transitional Council, the Government of the Republic expect the FAd'H, in concert with the PNH supported by the MMSS, to eradicate the armed bands from the national environment, thus consolidating all other and multiple efforts to definitively place the country on the path to sustainable development. TOMORROW, ANOTHER COUNTRY! Thank you for your attention." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : New Commander of the FAdH and promises of the Government (Speech of the PM) Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the National Palace, during the installation ceremony of Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier as the new Commander of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAD'H), Prime Minister Dr. Garry Conille declared in his speech : Speech by Prime Minister Garry Conille : "[...] On this solemn day, we gather here, on this soil steeped in history, for an event that is of capital importance for the future of our Nation. The assumption of command of the Armed Forces of Haiti by Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier marks not only a decisive turning point, but also an act of faith in our collective ability to restore the greatness and sovereignty of our country. Thank you to General Lessage for his loyal service to the homeland. Mr. Lieutenant General, by accepting this command, you take on your shoulders the weight of history and the hope of an entire people. Your mission, oh so noble and arduous, is to lead our armed forces with the rigor, integrity and wisdom that have always characterized great leaders. In these troubled times, when our Homeland is facing unprecedented perils, your role will be crucial to protect the nation, restore order and guarantee our independence. The history of our Armed Forces is not that of a simple military institution, but that of a national epic, forged in blood, sacrifice and determination. Under the flags of Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe, our ancestors rose up to break the chains of oppression and found a free and sovereign Nation. This army, direct heir to these heroes, embodies the very spirit of our independence, the living flame of our will for freedom. Today, as you take command of this historic institution, you follow in the footsteps of these giants, these titanic figures who gave their lives so that we could live free. It is up to you now, Lieutenant General, to continue this legacy, to hold high the torch of freedom, and to restore the people's confidence in their Armed Forces. Your mission is clear and imperative : to restore discipline, to strengthen the operational capacity of our units, and to make each soldier a model of professionalism and dedication to the Republic. But let's never forget that in a democracy, the strength of the army must always be subordinate to the strength of the Law. The army of a free Nation is a bulwark against chaos, but it must always remain at the service of the law and the will of the people. It is by respecting this primacy of law that the army becomes the guardian of freedom and not its gravedigger. Your duty, Lieutenant General, will therefore be to ensure that the Armed Forces of Haiti reflect our democratic values, and that they act in close collaboration with the civil authorities for the good of our Homeland. Faced with the colossal challenges that await us, including the fight against the forces of evil that sow terror and violence, it is imperative that our Armed Forces join forces with the Haitian National Police. This synergy, this work in perfect harmony, is the key to our success against the threats weighing on our territory. Together, and only together, will we be able to bring peace, restore order, and offer our people the security they deserve. To make this mission possible, the Government is committed to taking concrete measures to support and strengthen the Armed Forces of Haiti during this period of crisis: 1. The Government will allocate additional funds to modernize the equipment of the Armed Forces, in particular surveillance and communication technologies. We must equip our soldiers with the most efficient tools so that they can carry out their mission effectively. 2. I count on you to put in place an intensive training program, not only for new recruits, but also for current officers. This training will emphasize modern military tactics, crisis management, and respect for human rights. Our forces must be ready to respond to all situations with skill and discernment. 3. We are already strengthening our partnerships with allied nations to benefit from international expertise in security and defense. Joint training missions and exchanges of best practices will be organized to raise the operational level of our Armed Forces. 4. I count on you to ensure that the well-being of soldiers is a priority. In the coming months, we will improve military infrastructure, housing, and health care for our soldiers and their families. A soldier who knows that his family is safe and well cared for is a soldier more determined and focused. 5. Finally, we will establish collaboration programs between the army and local communities. These initiatives aim to strengthen mutual trust, develop reconstruction and local development projects and show that the army is there to protect and serve the people. Ladies and Gentlemen, dear compatriots, The future of the Nation rests on our ability to guarantee security and stability. On this historic day, I reiterate my government's total commitment to supporting our Armed Forces and strengthening their cooperation with the National Police. It is our duty, our sacred responsibility, to build a country where every citizen can live in peace, where our children can grow up without fear, and where the sovereignty of our nation is respected and preserved. Lieutenant General Guerrier, at this solemn moment, I extend to you my warmest congratulations. I am convinced that under your leadership, the Armed Forces of Haiti will regain their former glory and their rightful place at the heart of our society and in the defense of our Republic. May God guide you in this mission of the utmost importance, and may Haiti live, eternally free, sovereign and in Peace! I thank you. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43032-haiti-politic-new-commander-of-the-fad-h-speech-by-president-edgard-leblanc-fils.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Martelly "would have" left the USA After being sanctioned Tuesday by the United States for drug trafficking, money laundering and gang financing, according to our (unofficial) information, Michel Martelly would have left the USA for an unknown destination. He would also be banned from traveling to the United States. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43030-haiti-flashformer-president-martelly-sanctioned-by-the-usa-for-drug-trafficking-money-laundering-and-gang-sponsorship.html MCI : New inspectors sworn in On Monday, August 19, 2024, around twenty new inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) were sworn in at the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince. Note the last swearing-in of MCI inspectors dates back more than 10 years... Oxygen production center funded by France The French Development Agency (AFD) is proud of the inauguration of the "Zanmi Lasante" oxygen production center funded to the tune of 2.25 million euros. With a capacity of up to 100 cylinders per day, this production center will significantly improve the quality of care provided to the population. Canada welcomes US sanctions against Martelly "Canada welcomes the US decision to sanction former Haitian President Martelly https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43030-haiti-flash-ex-president-marhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43030-haiti-flashformer-president-martelly-sanctioned-by-the-usa-for-drug-trafficking-money-laundering-and-gang-sponsorship.html In November 2022, we took a leadership role in sanctioning political elites who contributed to the terror in Haiti and encouraged the international community to do the same https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38184-haiti-flash-canada-sanctions-martelly-lamothe-and-ceant.html . Collectively, we must fight against corruption and hold those responsible for terrorizing the country and the Haitian people. It is crucial we put pressure on individuals responsible to end their senseless violence and restore peace and security in Haiti," Melanie Joly Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. FAdH : Wishes from the Minister of Defense "Success and courage to the new acting Commander-in-Chief of the FAdH https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43032-haiti-politic-new-commander-of-the-fad-h-speech-by-president-edgard-leblanc-fils.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43034-haiti-politic-new-commander-of-the-fad-h-and-promises-of-the-government-speech-of-the-pm.html . Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, the entire country looks at you with hope and confidence. You have the responsibility to lead our armed forces into a new era," Jean Marc Berthier Antoine, Minister of Defense. End of Mission of the French Ambassador Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the Villa d'Accueil, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) organized a departure ceremony for the French Ambassador to Haiti, Fabrice Mauries at the end of his mission. Ambassador Mauries highlighted the exceptional quality of the ties of friendship between Haiti and France, which have been strengthened in several areas during his mandate. He also specified that his successor will announce next week the new orientations of French cooperation, particularly in terms of security. HL/ HaitiLibre In south-central Nepal, nestled among the lush greenery, lies the small village Kamalamai, part of the Sindhuli district. This village is home to Rukmani Adhikari, a smallholder dairy farmer whose life, like many others in her community, was once confined to the boundaries of her household. Today, Rukmani is a beacon of change, radiating the strength and confidence she has gained through her journey with the Talllo Rajpani Self-Help Group and the Kamalamai Social Entrepreneur Women Dairy Cooperative. Rukmanis days used to be filled with the humdrum of routine chores, her world limited to the walls of her home and the fields outside. She was shy, her voice barely a whisper in the bustling noise of village life. But everything changed when Heifer International introduced a transformative program in her village Milky Way in partnership with the governments of Nepal and Korea. The promise of Korean heifers, training and support ignited a spark of hope in Rukmani and many other women like her. Women of the Kamalamai Social Entrepreneur Women Dairy Cooperative meet to discuss dairy farming practices. Photo by Heifer International. Rukmani joined the Talllo Rajpani Self-Help Group with excitement and apprehension. The group, supported by Heifer, aims to empower women through dairy farming. As the vice president of the group, Rukmani found herself stepping into roles she had never imagined. She began to speak up in meetings, her voice growing stronger with each passing day. Before, women didnt get out of the house. Now we have formed a group. Before we were very shy. Heifer taught us to speak up. Rukmani Adhikari Rukmani received two Korean Holstein heifers as part of the Milky Way program that brought significant changes in her life when the sturdy Korean breed started producing milk. These heifers were unlike the local breeds she had before. Previously, her cows yielded a meager 7 liters of milk per day, but these new cows produced a whopping 21 liters per milking session. The difference is astonishing. The milk, collected twice a day, is sold to her cooperative for dairy production, generating a steady income for Rukmanis family. Rukmani pours milk produced by her cows, a key source of income for her family. Photo by Heifer International. To ensure the highest quality of milk, Rukmani follows strict hygiene protocols taught by Heifer. She demonstrates strict washing techniques including the post-milking dipping fluid to prevent mastitis, a practice she had never known before. The shed, cofinanced by the farmer and Heifer, was equipped with mats for the cows to sit on, replacing the hard, cold ground. Feeding troughs were installed, replacing the old method of throwing feed on the floor, and a water tank ensured a constant supply of fresh water. Rukmani also learned about proper calf-feeding techniques at a Farmer Field School established by Heifer to facilitate training. After her cows gave birth for the first time, the calves were bottle-fed, ensuring they received the nutrition they needed while preventing over-nursing. The feed for the adult cows includes a mix included silage, hay, grain, concentrate, grass, and straw. Although silage is currently purchased, the cooperative plans to produce its own in the future. Despite the challenges of increased cleaning and the need for more feed, Rukmani has been determined to provide proper care to the heifers. The impact of the Milky Way program on Rukmanis life is profound. Before, women didnt get out of the house. Now we have formed a group. Before we were very shy. Heifer taught us to speak up. We were excited when we heard this program would bring the Korean heifers. We are confident that it will bring positive changes in our community, she shared with a smile. The income from selling milk not only provides for her childrens education but also means she no longer has to ask her husband for money. The newfound financial independence is empowering. Rukmanis husband Madhav Adhikari played a crucial role in this transformation. He was supportive and involved in both farm work and household chores. I try to help. I am part of her journey, not only the farm work but also the household chores, he said. As the head of the milk collection center, he ensures the milk is transported to the cooperative twice a day, maintaining the quality and efficiency of the process. Madhav Adhikari, left, and Rukmani Adhikari, right, at their dairy farm in Kamalamai, Nepal. Photo by Heifer International. The practice of Passing on the Gift, one of Heifers 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development, is another heartwarming aspect of the program. Rukmani received her cows from the funds raised in Korea and is now eager to pass on the first calf to another farmer in need. One person made it possible for me to receive a cow so Ill give the next one to someone else, she explained. This cycle of giving creates a strong sense of community and support among the farmers. Access to a 24/7 assistance line linked to Korean vets and local community agrovet entrepreneurs, or Heifer-trained community animal health workers, has provided Rukmani and other farmers with continuous support. Any issue, big or small, can be addressed promptly, ensuring the health and productivity of the cows. Rukmanis journey from a shy, reserved woman to a confident leader and successful dairy farmer is a testament to the power of empowerment and education. The cooperative, with its 190 members, is a thriving community of women who have found strength in unity and knowledge. As Rukmani looks out over her flourishing farm, she reflects on how far she has come. The cows grazing contentedly, the sound of milk flowing into buckets, and the laughter of her children are all symbols of a life transformed. Members of the Kamalamai Social Entrepreneur Women Dairy Cooperative gather to discuss their progress and challenges. Photo by Heifer International. Were confident the cows will transform our lives, that we will be able to make more money by selling milk. Our children can access quality education and healthcare, we dont have to ask our husbands for money, she said with pride. And in the quiet strength of her voice, one can hear the echo of countless women who have found their wings and are ready to soar. Microsoft's Copilot has some answers ready when you ask for Martin Bernklau. However, the answers are not correct. It says that Bernklau is a child molester, a psychiatric escapee and a widow cheat. All of these were defendants in cases that Bernklau reported on as a journalist. The AI apparently does not understand that the journalist is reporting on the cases, instead confusing the accused and the reporter. The problem could affect other journalists, but also lawyers, judges and other people whose professions bring them into close proximity with defendants, convicts or people with problems. Anzeige Bernklau told SWR about his case. Specifically, when asked who Martin Bernklau was, the co-pilot replied: "A 54-year-old man named Martin Bernklau from Tubingen/Calw district was accused in an abuse case against children and wards. He confessed in court, was ashamed and remorseful." It becomes even more disturbing when the co-pilot presents himself as a moral authority, as reported by SWR. The AI chatbot regrets that Martin Bernklau is a family man, "someone with such a criminal past". The co-pilot then also provides the full address of the journalist in question, including a telephone number and, if requested, a route plan. According to the report, the person concerned filed a criminal complaint, but was turned down - because there was no real person who could be considered the author. When the responsible data protection officer from the Bavarian State Office contacted Microsoft, the accusations could initially no longer be retrieved. A few days later, however, the AI chatbot replied again with the same false allegations. GDPR versus large language models Max Schrems' association Noyb (None of your Business) has already filed a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority regarding a similar case. According to the GDPR, it is actually the right of every person not to have false information about them disseminated on the internet - or to have it deleted upon request. Google, for example, has corresponding options for its search engine. OpenAI, as well as Microsoft, cannot teach the large language models this in the same form or prevent statements. It is only possible to filter or block data relating to a complainant. However, according to OpenAI, this would then affect the entire person, not just the false information. In addition to the right to rectification, people in the EU also have the right to access the information stored about them under the GDPR. A provider of an AI chatbot or a large language model can hardly comply with this either. Even if, in Mr Bernklau's case, the source material, i.e. the newspaper articles, were provided as sources of information, the AI's fallacy would still not be corrected. (emw) Only two of the 118 comments submitted during the newly concluded comment period viewed that the proposed time window is long enough to find a new job in Finland. THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) received predominantly pessimistic feedback for its proposal to obligate work-based residence permit holders to leave the country if they fail to re-employ themselves within three months of becoming unemployed. Many of the comments make the same arguments: The time window is completely insufficient. The proposal alone will have a negative impact on the countrys image and ability to attract international talent. The proposal was portrayed as part of a string of reforms that increase uncertainty and monitoring of immigrants in Finland. You are currently creating regulation that portrays everyone moving into the country as a threat or as a commodity to be disposed after use, wrote Moniheli, an umbrella network of around 160 multicultural organisations in Finland. The government faced criticism for neglecting to provide estimates or research data on the average duration of job search in different fields. Some questioned the need for such a narrow time window by arguing that immigrants are generally uninterested in prolonging the search despite the availability social security benefits. In general, immigrants are motivated to start working as soon as possible, stressed the well-being services county for South Ostrobothnia. The University of Helsinki viewed that the effort has caused indirect damage to both its reputation as an employer and the countrys image as a place of residence and employment. The City of Tampere pointed to an apparent contradiction between the three-month rule and the obligation of employers to offer vacancies to employees laid off from same or similar positions no more than four to six months earlier. The city also urged the government address the risk of labour exploitation in the legislative reform. Even the draft proposal acknowledged the risk that foreign employees may end up in a situation where they have to accept weaker employment terms or lower pay in order to stay in the country, it said. Victim Support Finland (Riku) additionally warned that the draft proposal could increase the illegal terminations of foreign employees by effectively limiting their ability to take legal recourse. It would deny many the opportunity to contest a possibly illegal termination and seek compensation for it. When an employee contests an illegal termination, the process lasts more than three months almost without exception, wrote Riku. Minister of Employment Arto Satonen (NCP) declared last week that the government has no intention of scrapping or amending the proposal and expressed his doubt that the proposal could have a significant impact on the country's appeal. Business Finland, the government organisation for innovation funding and trade, travel and investment promotion, had contrastively viewed that the government has already damaged the country image with its actions, with the mere mention of the re-employment rule in the government programme signalling a lack of appreciation for and interest in holding on to international talent. Foreigners in Finland, it added, have a considerable effect on how the country is perceived by people around the world who are exploring their career options abroad. If they do not feel welcome, you cannot make up for that by promoting the country image, it said. On Thursday, Satonen wrote in a column that he recognises the need for work-based immigration and encouraged employers to seize the opportunities of international recruitment. Aleksi Teivainen HT A recent study suggests that the financial burden of alcohol on Finland's public healthcare system is significantly higher than previously estimated, with annual costs potentially reaching up to 1.1 billion. This stark finding comes from a report by FCG Finnish Consulting Group, commissioned by the preventive substance abuse organization EHYT. Depending on the method of calculation, alcohol-related healthcare costs range from 648 million to 1.141 billion per year. To put this into perspective, the total expenditure for inpatient care in primary healthcare in 2020 was 789 million. The study arrives amid ongoing discussions about the crisis in Finland's healthcare system, with welfare regions facing budget overruns, even as alcohol availability has increased. Alcohol consumption is known to contribute to over 200 diseases and elevate the risk of accidents requiring hospitalization, thereby adding pressure to the public healthcare system and the financial stability of welfare regions. Back in 2013, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) estimated alcohol-related healthcare costs at 109 million. However, this figure now appears modest, especially when compared to Sweden, where alcohol was estimated to have cost the public healthcare system around 660 million in 2017. "Its clear that Finland needs a more comprehensive and updated assessment of the societal costs of alcohol, particularly now as alcohol becomes increasingly prevalent in everyday environments," said Juha Mikkonen, Executive Director of EHYT. "The negative externalities of alcohol are already significant, and they should not be exacerbated by political decisions." Major Cost Driver for Welfare Regions The new study utilized data from Finland's total public healthcare costs, which amounted to approximately 12.9 billion in 2021. Given that alcohol is estimated to account for 5% of all deaths in Finland, direct alcohol-related deaths alone could translate to healthcare costs of 648 million in 2021. However, a more detailed analysis using the metric of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) suggests that alcohol-related healthcare costs could be as high as 947 million. When comparing these costs to all premature years of life lost (PYLL), the figure rises to an alarming 1.141 billion annually. "Lost years of life provide a stark measure of the health impacts. Alcohol negatively affects peoples health and generates a need for treatment across various diseases, which in turn increases the costs for welfare regions," explained Emma Kajander, FCGs Business Director and expert physician. The report also pinpointed the regions with the highest alcohol-related costs. Helsinki, Pirkanmaa, and Southwest Finland lead the list, with costs ranging from 65114 million, 5393 million, and 4579 million, respectively. For comparison, the costs in Kymenlaakso are estimated at 2443 million, similar to the annual cost of emergency care in Kouvola, which is approximately 20 million. Its important to note that the study did not include costs associated with occupational health or private healthcare services. Alcohol also imposes additional financial burdens on social services, child protection, the police, and the judicial system. The findings will be discussed in an online event on August 21, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, where Emma Kajander will present the background of the report. Commentary will be provided by Jukka Mattila, Director of Policy at the Finnish Medical Association, and Hanna-Maija Kause, Director of Health Services at the Finnish Association for Welfare Services HALI. HT A REHABILITATION and training charity in Peppard is celebrating a surprise cash prize after they were nominated by a mystery shopper in a Co-op initiative. The Ways and Means Trust received 5,000 as part of the supermarkets Winner Shares It All Prize draw, which selects two winners per month from members nominations. The winner also receives 500 for themselves. Manager Denise Jones says she didnt know who had nominated them for the prize, but that for a grassroots organisation like theirs, the money goes a long way. She said: We dont have any funds just sat in the bank so if we want to do any improvements or maintenance, we have to raise the funds. This 5,000 means that we can bring forward plans and do them earlier rather than have to wait until weve got funds there to do them. The charity provides a work-based training programme for individuals with learning difficulties and mental health challenges. Greenshoots is its horticultural therapy unit and currently provides 50 students with classroom and practical training in nursery tasks. The programme has already supported many students into gaining paid employment in the community. Mrs Jones says the money will be used to finance repairs which they had planned to do at Christmas but can now do sooner than anticipated. She said: Were going to improve walkways for wheelchair access and continue with the improvements around our toilet block area with some shelter, so people waiting to use the toilet dont get wet while waiting. The charity has also received support from the Co-op through its Co-op Local Community Fund, which fundraises for community projects. Mrs Jones added: The Co-op is currently raising funds for us so that we can repair and possibly get another polytunnel. Wednesday August 21, 2024 Somalias Civil Aviation Authority has issued stern warnings to FlyDubai and Ethiopian Airlines, threatening to suspend their operations within the country over sovereignty disputes and misrepresentation of Somali destinations. Mogadishu (HOL) The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has issued an ultimatum to FlyDubai and Ethiopian Airlines, threatening to suspend their operations within Somalia if the airlines do not correct serious violations related to the misrepresentation of Somali destinations on their platforms. The warnings come amid escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over the disputed territory of Somaliland. In letters dated August 21, 2024, the SCAA accused Ethiopian Airlines of omitting references to Somali destinations on its website, booking platform, and mobile application, instead using only airport codes. The SCAA warned that such actions undermine Somalia's sovereignty and demanded immediate corrective measures. "The Somali Civil Aviation Authority will have no choice but to suspend all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Somalia if these sovereignty concerns are not addressed," the SCAA stated. "Any future recurrence, such as not properly identifying the destinations in Somalia, will result in suspension without further warning." "FlyDubai must properly reference all Somali destinations by name and include them as part of the Somali state on their official website and booking platforms," the SCAA demanded, setting a deadline of August 24, 2024. Failure to comply, the SCAA warned, would result in the "immediate revocation of FlyDubai's operating permit within Somalia."The latest development comes against the backdrop of a broader diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia. Earlier this year, Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that Somalia considers part of its territory. The agreement, which includes a 50-year lease of a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland's coast to Ethiopia, has further strained relations between the two nations.In January 2024, Somalia temporarily suspended all inbound Ethiopian Airlines flights after the SCAA denied airspace permission to an unscheduled Ethiopian Airlines flight carrying a high-level Ethiopian delegation to Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital. The SCAA cited the flight's lack of authorization and reaffirmed Somalia's commitment to controlling its airspace. An enraged Somaliland demanded to control it's own airspace."The actions of Ethiopian Airlines in this context exacerbate the original concerns and directly undermine the sovereignty of Somalia," the SCAA stated in its latest letter.Ethiopian Airlines, which operates flights to Hargeisa, Mogadishu, and several other Somali cities, has been a key player in the region's aviation industry. However, its growing ties with Somaliland, including a potential stake in Ethiopian Airlines for the region, have made it a focal point of Somalia's sovereignty concerns.FlyDubai, which suspended its Mogadishu route in June due to security concerns, has also come under fire for failing to represent Somali destinations accurately.As the deadlines of August 23 and 24 approach, both airlines face the prospect of having their operations in Somalia suspended. The SCAA's actions have raised concerns about the potential impact on regional aviation, with wider implications for international carriers operating in the region. As the UPSC Mains fast approach, the key to success lies not just in extensive preparation but in strategic mastery. With only a month left, the pressure to critically analyze and articulate your thoughtsespecially in General Studies Paper 2becomes increasingly crucial. GS Paper 2 covers a wide range of topics, including Polity & Governance, International Relations, and Social Justice. To maximize your score in this paper, its essential to focus on high-impact areas and refine your ability to deliver well-structured, persuasive answers. This blog will guide you through the strategic preparation for GS Paper 2 and demonstrate how Abhyaas Mains 2024 can play a pivotal role in your journey toward UPSC success. Strategize for High Scores in GS Paper 2 To excel in GS Paper 2, you need to prioritize areas that will have the greatest impact on your score. Each subject within GS Paper 2 requires a unique approach to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective retention. Heres how to strategically approach each subject: A) Polity and Governance: Reflecting on the PYQ trends, Polity and Governance has consistently been a major component of GS Paper 2, with a focus on constitutional provisions, amendments, and the functioning of the judiciary and executive. Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 65 questions were asked from this section. Topics such as federalism, devolution of powers, and judiciary independence have been prominent. Questions often revolve around the role of the executive and judiciary in maintaining the balance of power, with emphasis on landmark judgments and constitutional amendments. Preparation Strategy: Constitutional Provisions and Landmark Judgments: A thorough understanding of the Indian Constitution is the bedrock of Polity & Governance. Focus on key articles, amendments, and landmark judgments that have shaped the legal and political landscape. Regularly update yourself on recommendations from the 2nd ARC, important committee reports, and international best practices. A thorough understanding of the Indian Constitution is the bedrock of Polity & Governance. Focus on key articles, amendments, and landmark judgments that have shaped the legal and political landscape. Regularly update yourself on recommendations from the 2nd ARC, important committee reports, and international best practices. Statutory Frameworks and Reports: Familiarize yourself with key statutory acts, committee reports, and authoritative sources. These not only provide substance to your answers but also help in constructing well-grounded arguments. Incorporating relevant statistics and references to authoritative sources will strengthen your points. Familiarize yourself with key statutory acts, committee reports, and authoritative sources. These not only provide substance to your answers but also help in constructing well-grounded arguments. Incorporating relevant statistics and references to authoritative sources will strengthen your points. Interlinking Across GS Papers: Connect topics from Polity & Governance with issues in Social Justice and International Relations. For example, the federal structure can be linked to regional disparities, which in turn affect social justice. B) International Relations (IR): Drawing from the analysis of PYQs, International Relations (IR) accounted 20 questions over the period 2019-2023, with recurring themes including India's bilateral relations with major powers like the USA, Russia, and China, as well as its role in regional and multilateral organizations such as SAARC, ASEAN, and the UN. India's foreign policy strategies, particularly concerning non-alignment and strategic autonomy, have also been significant. Preparation Strategy: Adopt a Multidimensional Approach: IR demands an understanding of multiple perspectives. Use IR-specific keywords, quotes from diplomats or scholars, and viewpoints to enrich your answers. Utilize maps for locational clarity, especially when discussing regions of strategic interest. IR demands an understanding of multiple perspectives. Use IR-specific keywords, quotes from diplomats or scholars, and viewpoints to enrich your answers. Utilize maps for locational clarity, especially when discussing regions of strategic interest. Data and Treaties: Back up your arguments with data and key treaties. For example, when discussing climate change, refer to the Paris Agreement and Indias commitments under it. Back up your arguments with data and key treaties. For example, when discussing climate change, refer to the Paris Agreement and Indias commitments under it. Stay Updated: Keep track of global events, especially those involving India. Link these events to India's strategic interests and historical context to present a comprehensive analysis. Understand how global developments impact India's foreign policy and security concerns. C) Social Justice: Based on the PYQ trends, Social Justice featured in 15 questions from 2019 to 2023, focusing on government welfare schemes, issues related to poverty, hunger, education, and health policies. The role of NGOs and SHGs in societal development has also been a key theme, alongside the effectiveness of government interventions in reducing social inequalities. Preparation Strategy: Focus on Current Societal Trends: Social Justice is deeply rooted in current societal trends. Connect your understanding of these trends to government policies, welfare schemes, and ongoing social programs. For example, analyzing the impact of the National Food Security Act on reducing hunger. Social Justice is deeply rooted in current societal trends. Connect your understanding of these trends to government policies, welfare schemes, and ongoing social programs. For example, analyzing the impact of the National Food Security Act on reducing hunger. Highlight Interlinkages: Demonstrate how issues in Social Justice are interlinked with other section of GS papers, such as Polity & Governance (e.g., the role of constitutional provisions in ensuring social equity) and International Relations (e.g., international conventions on human rights). Demonstrate how issues in Social Justice are interlinked with other section of GS papers, such as Polity & Governance (e.g., the role of constitutional provisions in ensuring social equity) and International Relations (e.g., international conventions on human rights). Use Data, Case Studies, and Examples: Incorporate relevant data, case studies, and examples of successful initiatives to add depth to your answers. For instance, use census data to discuss demographic trends or case studies of successful health interventions to illustrate your points. PYQs and Toppers' Copy Analysis A critical step in refining your preparation is analyzing Previous Years' Questions (PYQs) and reviewing Toppers' Copies. This process provides valuable insights into exam patterns and effective answer-writing techniques. Review PYQs: Analyzing the questions from previous years helps identify recurring themes and important topics that you should prioritize. This ensures that you are focusing on areas with the highest likelihood of being tested. Analyzing the questions from previous years helps identify recurring themes and important topics that you should prioritize. This ensures that you are focusing on areas with the highest likelihood of being tested. Study Toppers' Copies: Observing how successful candidates structured their answers, incorporated key terms, and presented their arguments provides practical insights into effective answer writing. Adopting these techniques can significantly enhance the quality of your own responses. Abhyaas Mains 2024: A Crucial Step in Your UPSC Journey As you refine your knowledge across these critical areas, the ability to translate this knowledge into high-quality answers is what will set you apart. This is where our Abhyaas Mains 2024 - All India Mains (GS + Essay + Optional) Mock Test becomes indispensable. Driven by our Innovative Assessment System, developed through extensive research, Abhyaas aligns with the latest UPSC patterns while reflecting the complexity and depth of the actual exam. The system has consistently shown strong coherence between Abhyaas scores and actual UPSC marks, as demonstrated in the 2023 GS Paper 2 results. UPSC GS -2 2023 Abhyaas Mains 2024 provides a targeted approach to mastering GS Paper 2: Simulates the UPSC Mains environment: Build confidence and readiness by practicing under exam-like conditions. Build confidence and readiness by practicing under exam-like conditions. Focuses on high-priority topics: Ensure deep and relevant preparation that covers the most critical areas. Ensure deep and relevant preparation that covers the most critical areas. Provides personalized feedback: Gain insights into your strengths and areas where improvement is needed. Scheduled on the 24th, 25th, 31st of August, and 1st of September across 40+ cities, the Abhyaas Mains 2024 program is your pathway to perfecting your preparation and achieving top marks. In these final days, the emphasis should be on refining your knowledge, honing your answer-writing skills, and practicing under exam-like conditions. With a strategic approach and the support of programs like Abhyaas Mains 2024, you can maximize your potential and approach the UPSC Mains with confidence. Visit us at: https://visionias.in/abhyaas/login-form.php Or Call us at: 8468022022, 9019066066 Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. QVC Exports Ltd is set to open its initial public offering (IPO) for subscription today (August 21) to raise 24.07 crore from the primary market. It is an SME IPO and the equity shares of the company will be listed on NSE SME after the issue closes on August 23. QVC Exports IPO: The price band has been fixed at 86 per share. The IPO lot size is 1,600 and the minimum investment amount required by retail investors is 137,600. QVC Exports IPO key dates The IPO opens on August 21 and concludes on August 23. The IPO allotment date is August 26 and the listing date is August 28. QVC Exports IPO price band The price band has been fixed at 86 per share. The IPO lot size is 1,600 and the minimum investment amount required by retail investors is 137,600. QVC Exports IPO objectives Through the IPO, the company plans to raise 24.07 crore from the fixed price issue which is a combination of fresh issue of 20.5 lakh equity shares worth 17.63 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) component of 7.49 lakh shares aggregating to 6.44 crore. Net proceeds from the issue will be used by the company for repayment of unsecured loans and working capital requirements, it said. Nilesh Kumar Sharma, Chairman And Managing Director of QVC Exports Ltd, said, The IPO will mark the beginning of a new phase in our journey and enable us to further enhance our operations, expand our market reach, and invest in new opportunities that will drive future growth." Other details of QVC Exports IPO Khandwala Securities Ltd is the book running lead manager of the QVC Exports IPO. Cameo Corporate Services Limited is the IPO registrar. The promoters of the company are Nilesh Kumar Sharma, Madhu Sharma, Priti Sharma, Matashree Mercantile Private Limited and Unity Vyapaar Private Limited. QVC Exports IPO GMP Shares of the company have a decent premium in the unlisted market ahead of the IPO opening- trading at 136 apiece in the grey market, which is a premium of 58.14% to the IPO price of 86 per share. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday questioned Amazon's announcement of USD 1 billion investment in India, saying the US retailer was not doing any great service to the Indian economy but filling up for the losses it had suffered in the country. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi. (Sanjay Sharma) He said that their huge losses in India "smells of predatory pricing", which is not good for the country as it impacts crores of small retailers. Launching a report on 'Net Impact of e-commerce on Employment and Consumer Welfare in India' here, the minister lambasted the e-commerce companies, questioning their business model that has been impacting small retailers in the country. "When Amazon says that we are going to invest a billion dollars in the country, we celebrate, and we forget that the billion dollars are not coming in for great service or investment to support the Indian economy. They made a billion-dollar loss in their balance sheet that year, they had to fill in that loss. "And how did that loss get caused, they paid 1,000 crores to professionals. I do not know who these professionals are...I would love to know, which chartered accountants, professionals or lawyers get 1,000 crores unless you are paying all the top lawyers to block them so that nobody can fight a case against you," the minister said. He wondered whether the 6,000 crore loss in one year does not smell of predatory pricing, as they are just an e-commerce platform and those companies are not allowed to do B2C (business to consumer) business. As per the policy, the e-commerce platform legally can not do B2C in the country. The minister alleged that these companies only re-route all the businesses through an entity to show that it is B2B. "How are they doing it? Should this not be a matter of concern for us," he said. He added that the e-commerce sector has a role, but one has to think "very" carefully and cautiously about what that role is. "How that role can be in an organised fashion. Is predatory pricing policies good for the country?" Goyal asked. He also said that e-commerce companies are eating into the small retailer's high-value, high-margin products that are the only items through which the mom-and-pop stores survive. The minister also said that with the fast-growing online retailing in the country, "Are we going to cause huge social disruption with this massive growth of e-commerce". Citing examples of Western countries, Goyal said Europe and America have seen the consequences of this. "What has happened to the mom-and-pop stores there? How many do you see surviving, why did Switzerland allow e-commerce until recently (so late)," he said, adding "...I am not wishing away e-commerce, it is there to stay". Further, he said one has to see the impact of cloud kitchens on restaurants and people buying food items online. "We will land up becoming a country of couch potatoes, watching OTT and having food at home every day," he said. Commenting on online pharmacies, the minister said, "We have to assess what is happening to 5 lakh pharmacies of the country". He expressed concern over these firms selling medicines online. "Online, you can order whatever you want...it is a matter of concern," Goyal said, adding "How many mobile stores do you see in the corner, and how many were there 10 years ago". He pointed out that India is not a developed nation like the US and Switzerland with high per capita income, and a large section of people need affirmative action and help here. "Of course, I do not deny that technology will play its part, technology is a means to empower, to innovate, to meet consumer requirements, probably sometimes more efficiently, but we will have to see that it grows in an orderly fashion," he said. People have to see that this connectivity and convenience is citizen-centric, he said, adding that in the race for market share of online retailers at 27 per cent a year, "we do not land up causing huge disruption for the 100 million small retailers across the country". Amazon India is facing rising competitive intensity in India from players like Flipkart and SoftBank-backed Meesho, as well as the onslaught of firms like Blinkit, Swiggy's Instamart and Zepto that are making aggressive inroads into the market as busy consumers opt for the convenience of instant delivery of grocery and many other household items. On Tuesday morning, the Peenya Industry metro station in Bengaluru was overwhelmed with passengers due to service suspensions at several other stations. The disruptions were caused by the closure of the Green Line stations at Nagasandra, Dasarahalli, and Jalahalli for trial runs of the new 3.17-km extension between Nagasandra and Madavara, which is scheduled to open by the end of September. The BMRCL is addressing the congestion by opening additional gates and increasing feeder bus services. (Representative image)(HT Photo/Sakib Ali) As a result, Green Line services were only operational between Peenya Industry and Silk Institute on those days. The influx of passengers from the suspended stations caused severe congestion at Peenya Industry, the Deccan Herald reported. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that only one entrance was open, leading to long lines that spilled out onto Tumakuru Road. This led to widespread frustration among commuters, with residents taking to social media to express their discontent over the station's handling of the crowd. One such user questioned why both entrances were not utilised, while another shared images of the chaos, raising concerns about the ongoing situation. Shankar AS, the Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which operates the Namma Metro, spoke to reporters and acknowledged the issues but defended the arrangements. He noted that fare collection was streamlined through Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates, with only exit-based fare collection at destination stations. He also mentioned that security checks for passengers with luggage were necessary. To address the problem, the BMRCL plans to open additional AFC gates and install an extra luggage scanner at the Peenya Industry station, the report noted. Furthermore, feeder buses from Nagasandra are running every half hour to mitigate the impact of the disruptions, it added. A techie in Bengaluru died by suicide after inhaling fatal helium gas inside a hotel room in the city. The deceased is said to be working in Wipro, and the reason behind the suicide is currently being investigated. Bengaluru techie inhaled helium gas in a hotel room, dies by suicide: Report According to reports, the 24-year-old man was identified as Yagnik and took a room in a hotel to prepare for his M.Tech exam. When the hotel staff tried to contact him after check-out, Yagnik did not respond. The hotel staff, concerned about his safety, opened his room with a master key. Yagnik was lying unconscious on the bed and he was immediately rushed to the hospital. Upon his arrival at the hospital, the doctor declared him dead. Also Read - Actor Darshan's manager died by suicide in Bengaluru farm house The hotel staff immediately informed the local police about the incident. Police found that Yagnik had bought a portable helium cylinder from Peenya and had reached the hotel room. He then reportedly inserted his head into a garbage bag and connected the helium cylinder's pipe to it. Also Read - Karnataka government's KHIR city to be established 60 km away from Bengaluru. Here is what we know Bengaluru police have filed an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and kept his parents informed about the incident. They are also trying to find if exam stress is the actual reason for self-killing or if there is any other incident that drove him to take the extreme step. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 0222754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918, Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad) Contact Nos: 040-66202001, 040-66202000, ONE LIFE: Contact No: 78930 78930, SEVA: Contact No: 09441778290. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that Bengalurus renowned tech district, Electronics City, will be renamed in honor of former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs. The decision was revealed at a ceremony celebrating Urs's 109th birth anniversary at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, August 20, The News Minute reported. Former chief minister D. Devaraj Urs is credited with renaming the Mysore state as Karnataka on November 1, 1973. (HT Photo) Siddaramaiah praised Urs for his significant efforts to promote social equality and improve the lives of marginalized groups, including Dalits, Backward Classes, minorities, and women. At the event, Siddaramaiah also recalled Urss pivotal role in renaming the state to Karnataka in 1973, following its unification in 1956, the report noted. The Chief Minister added that the year-long celebrations marking the renaming would culminate in November with the unveiling of a statue of Kannada Bhuvaneshwari at the Vidhana Soudha. The concept for Electronics City was originally developed by RK Baliga, the inaugural chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. (Keonics), the report further stated. Urs supported Baligas vision and appointed him to head Keonics in 1976, leading to the establishment of Electronics City. Urs is also known to have laid the foundation stone for the tech hub in 1978 on 332 acres of land in Konappana Agrahara and Doddathogur on Bengaluru-Hosur Road. Spanning over 800 acres, Electronics City initially housed public sector enterprises but quickly attracted private firms, particularly during the IT boom of the 1990s. Today, Electronics City is home to over 200 IT/ITES companies and has significantly contributed to Bengalurus reputation as the "Silicon Valley of India," with major tech giants like Infosys and Wipro establishing their headquarters there. A decorated woman CBI officer posted in Chandigarh, with a proven track record of solving complex cases, has been named as the lead investigator in the Kolkata trainee doctor rape and murder case. Seema Pahuja Seema Pahuja, 57, currently posted as additional superintendent of police (ASP), has led investigations into several high-profile cases, including 2017 Kotkhai rape and murder (also called Gudiya case), and been key member of the probe teams in 2020 Hathras gangrape and 2017 Unnao rape cases. Pahuja is currently in Kolkata and has taken charge of the investigation. Pahuja, who holds a BCom degree, joined the agency in 1988 and became a sub-inspector in 1993. She was promoted to the rank of deputy superintendent of police in 2013, and finally became an ASP in 2022. A recipient of the Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Services in 2021, Seema is known for strong skills in psychoanalysing witnesses. She keeps clinging to her cases, ensuring that no detail is overlooked. Her focus is always on securing a robust case for court conviction and logical conclusion, remarked one of her senior colleagues in the CBI. One of her most notable achievements was securing the conviction in the Kotkhai case that grabbed headlines. The victim, a class 10 girl, went missing while returning from school and her body was discovered two days later. She was brutally raped and strangled. The state police had failed to solve the sensational crime, and finally the case was transferred to the CBI after outcry. The breakthrough in the case came when Pahuja employed a novel technique called lineage testinga method used for the first time in Indiato extract a chromosome from the victims body. This crucial piece of evidence led investigators to the clan of the alleged rapist in Kangra and eventually to the perpetrator, Anil Kumar, a woodcutter. Of the 14 key pieces of evidence produced by the CBI, 12 were found to be damning against the accused, leading to his life imprisonment. Pahujas investigation was also instrumental in the 2017 Unnao rape case, which involved BJP leader and local MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Sengar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the gangrape of a 17-year-old Dalit girl. The case garnered national attention, leading to Sengars expulsion from the BJP. Pahuja also played a significant role in investigating the Hathras gangrape case, which triggered widespread outrage. The victim, a 19-year-old girl, was allegedly assaulted by four men from an upper caste. She later succumbed to her injuries in Delhis Safdarjung Hospital. Another key case handled by Pahuja was the one involving Jharkhand national-level shooter Ranjit Singh Kohli, alias Raquib-ul-Hassan. Kohli was found guilty of torturing his wife (also a national-level shooter) Tara Shahdeo. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. Jalandhar A 32-year-old Class 4 employee of the Jalandhar municipal corporation was bludgeoned to death in citys Jalowal Abadi area late on Tuesday night. (HT File) A 32-year-old Class 4 employee of the Jalandhar municipal corporation was bludgeoned to death in citys Jalowal Abadi area late on Tuesday night. The victim, Deepak Kumar, was having enmity with his friends to whom he had lent 1.5 lakh, the police said. A case has been registered under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on the complaint of Deepaks brother Ajay Kumar, who told the police that his brother went to take back his money when 10-12 youths attacked him with sticks and bricks. Deepak was accompanied by one of his friends, Gaggu, who also suffered multiple injuries. Deepak was rushed to the civil hospital where he was declared brought dead, while his friend Gaggu is presently under medical observation. Investigation officer Ashok Kumar said they have identified the accused and teams have been rushed to arrest them. Ludhiana Students of govt college for women say heavy traffic just outside the gate creates challenges makes it challenging to even cross the road. (Manish/Hindustan Times) The lack of adequate pathways, signboards, and road infrastructure near colleges in Ludhiana, prominently at Bharat Nagar Chowk, Civil Lines, Clock Tower, and Vardhaman Chowk, has raised concerns over road safety of students due to unchecked traffic. At Government College for Girls near Bharat Nagar Chowk, students complain about their struggle to cross the road after the construction of the elevated NHAI overbridge. BA final year student Supreet stated, Many students are helpless to cross the lane to catch autos from other sides. At times, it becomes difficult to cross due to hectic traffic as the vehicles do not slow down, putting pedestrians at risk. Prabhjot Kaur, another student cited that the auto drivers recklessly park outside college gates encroaching the remaining space, where students riding scooty face hurdles to navigate this lane. Speaking of the inconvenience faced by students, college principal, Suman Lata said that before the construction of NHAI flyover students did not face this problem as they had the foot overbridge to cross the road. But now, the number of accidents have risen due to unchecked speeding. The students are now obliged to walk to Durga Mata mandir and Bharat Nagar Chowk to cross. But the filthy water accumulated near this stretch makes it difficult to walk. She further asserted that we have raised many complaints with then NHAI project director, Navratan but the issue remains the same. At Khalsa College, Civil Lines, the presence of a zebra crossing is rendered ineffective due to the absence of traffic lights. The busy market area exacerbates the issue, with the gate staff ensuring the safety of students leaving the premises. Similarly, students at Master Tara Singh College for Women near Clock Tower face challenges due to the lack of traffic police to control vehicles in the wrong lanes. Nidhi, a second-year student, expressed her frustration, noting that now they have got used to the situation. Notably, the concerns of Government College, Ludhiana East, with footpath and traffic issues are no different, compounded by waterlogging near the college during rain. A teaching staff member at the college mentioned that students often skip classes because of sewage water logging lingering for days. Since many of the students are pedestrians where they face challenges to find an appropriate space to stand for public transport near Vardhaman Chowk, bustling with heavy vehicles. Commenting on the issue college principal Deepak Chopra, said that they conduct classes on road safety to make the students aware of the precautionary measures. Assistant commissioner of police traffic Charanjit Lamba said, We diligently try to sort the traffic issues near schools and colleges on our end. We regularly send PCR vans to keep a check on them. But the colleges also need to contribute by deploy their own volunteers during peak hours to tackle the chaos with mutual coordination. I will also write to the municipal corporation to ensure proper road infrastructure like speed control sign boards near educational institutes, he added. A criminal case should be lodged against Mandi MP for hurting Sikhs sentiments: Sukhbir A criminal case should be lodged against Mandi MP for hurting Sikhs sentiments: Sukhbir (HT File) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday demanded the registration of a criminal case against actor and the BJP parliamentarian Kangana Ranaut for hurting the religious sentiment of Sikhs through her unreleased film Emergency. Sukhbir, who was in Gidderbaha to meet party workers, said: It was unfortunate that Kangana is deliberately working to rake up sentiments against the patriotic Sikhs to destroy communal harmony. Meanwhile, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also echoed similar sentiments accusing Ranaut of depicting Sikhs in a poor light. If any attempt is being made to defame the brave and patriotic Sikh community which won freedom for India and has filled the countrys food coffers, then it will be surmised that the central government also has a hand in spreading this false propaganda, Harsimrat said after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. The movie is directed by Kangana, with the Mandi MP playing the role of the former PM Indira Gandhi. The film was initially to be released in OctoberNovember 2023 but was re-scheduled for June 14, 2024, only to be postponed due to the Lok Sabha elections. It is scheduled for release on September 6, and the trailer was released on August 14. The trailer shows an actor playing the role of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Ranaut has earlier also made disparaging comments about our mothers who were participating in the Kisan Andolan (farmers protest), the Bathinda MP said. Meanwhile, Sukhbir demanded the forthcoming monsoon session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha be extended to one month from the present three-day session to discuss burning issues of the state. Debt burden has increased by an unprecedented 85,000 crore during the AAP tenure, and all these need discussion on the floor of the House. The Bhagwant Mann government is frittering away state resources on publicity, and wasteful expenditure has hit the development, he said. Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh also demanded a ban on Mandi MPs movie and said, Sikhs can never tolerate imitation of their martyrs in films. In Kangana Ranauts upcoming film Emergency, the character of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has been distorted. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also criticised the portrayal of Sikhs and said that it is clear from the released excerpts of the Emergency film that it has deliberately misrepresented the character of Sikhs as separatists, which is part of a deep conspiracy. On Tuesday, Faridkot Independent MP Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa had also demanded a ban on the movie. Scenes of pandemonium returned to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday, as the meeting of the House of councillors assembling for the first time since the Supreme Court decision on appointing aldermen was marked with mayhem and protests, with four Opposition councillors getting suspended for disrupting proceedings. BJP councillors protest during a meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), at the Civic Centre, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo) The key flashpoints during Wednesdays meeting were Delhis recurring waterlogging problem as well as delay in elections for key posts in the standing committee, wards committee and other ad-hoc panels. Mayor Shelly Oberoi suspended four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors after they refused to leave the Well and continued sloganeering to disrupt proceedings of the House that saw two adjournments. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led municipal administration, meanwhile, pushed through key policy agenda matters through the day without discussion. The proposals cleared amid the ruckus include setting up a new engineered landfill site in north Delhis Sultanpur Dabas village, appointing an agency to remove over 3 million metric tonnes of legacy waste at Bhalswa through bio-mining, hiring field staff for operations of community centres, setting up a new bio-CNG plant, among other matters. Read more: Key MCD committees nowhere in sight despite SC order on aldermen Proposals for increasing parking charges, framing of rules for setting up municipal employee unions and redevelopment of staff quarters on Minto Road were, however, remained unapproved, senior municipal functionaries said. Four BJP councillors Gajendra Daral from Mundka, Amit Nagpal from Pitampura, Pankaj Luthra from Jhilmil, and Ravi Negi from Vinod Nagar were suspended for 15 days for disorderly conduct and creating disruptions. Initially, the mayor had announced that suspension will be valid for three House meetings, but House regulations only permit suspension up to 15 days, senior MCD officials said. The House, which commenced at 2.50pm, was adjourned multiple times for 15-30 minutes amid the pandemonium. Even before formal proceedings could begin, the BJP councillors held a protest to highlight the alleged failure of the MCD administration in stopping frequent water logging and ensuing loss of life during monsoon. The protesting councillors were carrying banners demanding the resignation of PWD minister Atishi and mayor Shelly Oberoi. Leader of the Opposition and former mayor Raja Iqbal Singh alleged that the desilting process in the city have been riddled with corruption this year and that the mayor should be held accountable for it. AAP councillors, meanwhile, appeared to have arrived prepared with their own banners targeting municipal commissioner Ashwini Kumar demanding that the fund for mayors discretionary fund be released. BJP councillors accused the AAP of intentionally delaying the mayors election, failing to find a solution for the recurring waterlogging issue in the city, inadequate waste processing, and not making efforts to form a standing committee despite the Supreme Courts direction. The first adjournment for 15 minutes took place at 2.57pm. The meeting resumed at 3.22pm, but similar scenes of tussle continued. Several councillors were seen jostling and snatching and tearing banners from the opposing side. Leader of the House Mukesh Goyal read condolence motion for the three UPSC aspirant who died due to drowning in Old Rajendra Nagar. A two-minute silence was observed during which the slogans targeting mayor continued from Opposition benches. Goyal termed the behaviour by BJP councillor as shameful. Four BJP members were suspended after which a second adjournment for 30 minutes was issued at 3.30pm. Read more: Mayor flags worsening waste disposal in letter to MCD chief, seeks action With no solution in sight, the Leader of the House started the agenda proposals without any discussion at around 4.30pm. While concluding the house, Oberoi alleged: The BJP does not want to discuss matters related to public welfare. You are just interested to create disruptions in every house meeting. Your behaviour is shameful, she added. Leader of Opposition Singh said the attitude of AAP councillors and the mayor indicated their lack of interest in running the session. Corporation meets once a month to discuss issues related to the public, but every time, due to the attitude of the AAP, the meeting ends without any results. Mayor arrived an hour late to the meeting, and AAP councillors were already sitting in the House with banners against the commissioner and officials, he alleged. The House has also passed a private member resolution to grant relief to the Bhalswa Dairy Colony from impending demolition and sealing drive. The resolution asks for change in land-use for the Bhalswa dairy colony to convert it into a residential colony so that defaulting property owners can be saved from demolition. Delhi high court has tasked MCD to relocate dairies operating there to Ghogha Dairy and the plot occupiers who are using these plots for residential and commercial use are expected to be demolished. The drive is likely to resume after August 23. MCD official explained that a private member resolution only indicates the will of the House and has no legal bearing. The private member resolutions are sent to the commissioner after being passed and it is executive wings call to act upon it or ignore it. Such resolutions are not binding in nature, official added. A 20-year-old woman was nabbed on Tuesday for the alleged murder of her husband, a day after she accused him of domestic violence, investigators said on Wednesday. New Delhi, India. 21st August 2024: The house where a man allegedly killing by his wife at a rented house in Dwarka's Dabri area in New Delhi. (HT Photo) To go with Himanis Story (HT Photo) Police identified the woman as Kavya Rana. They said the decomposing body of her husband Sachin Rana, 24, was recovered from their rented house in Dwarkas Dabri area on August 17. While police are questioning Kavya to learn the motive for the alleged murder, the interrogation so far has revealed that she was allegedly a victim of domestic violence, and was having an extramarital affair. A man, who is yet to be identified and arrested, had visited the couples house secretively early on August 18and left hours later, police said. Sachin and Kavya, originally from Baghpat in UP, got married in 2020 against their parents wishes. They had been living on the first floor of a residential building in Chanakya Place, Dabri for the last eight months. While Sachin used to work as a recovery agent for a private bank in Janakpuri, Kavya was a homemaker. Additional deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) Nishant Gupta said on August 20, the police control room received a call about a murder. When police reached the spot, the decomposed body of a man was found on the first floor. Prima facie, the murder was committed by his wife on the intervening night of August 17 and 18 due to regular domestic violence between the two, the officer said. However, investigators decoded the sequence of events that led to what they suspect was a planned murder only after scanning CCTV footage of the house. A police officer aware of the matter said in the CCTV footage, Sachin was seen coming back from work around 9pm on August 17. Then around 4am on August 18, Kavya was seen coming downstairs and letting a man inside the house. He had covered himself with a bedsheet. At around 8am, she came downstairs again to see if the landlord was around. She went back upstairs, after which the man left. At around 9am, Kavya was seen leaving the house with a suitcase, the officer said, asking not to be named. The owner of the house, Dilip Chauhan, 42, said Kavya left the house on the morning of August 18. However, she returned the next night with a police officer and two other people. When asked, they said Kavya told police that Sachin had beaten her. When they went to the house, it was locked from the outside. Kavya said she didnt have the keys and her husband may have fled, Chauhan said. The three then left the house. On August 20, the tenant living next door to the Ranas complained of a foul smell emanating from the house. I smelt it too and called the police, Chauhan said. When police broke open the door, they saw Sachins decomposed body with his throat slit on the bedroom floor. The torso was unclothed and a bedsheet covered his legs the same one that the unidentified man had on, police said. Subsequently, police called Kavya. Later that evening, she surrendered before the police. Read more: 1998 murder of ex-Bihar minister: SC commences final hearing on pleas against acquittal of accused During her interrogation, she told the police that she killed her husband, as she was tired of the domestic violence. She also said that she fell in love with another man, investigators said. She is changing her versions. She first said that she fell in love with a man whom she met in 2020...She also said that he was the one who came to the house and helped her kill Sachin, but when we brought the man in for questioning, it was found that he was not involved. The man who came is yet to be identified, the officer said. A case on charges of murder was registered at Dabri police station. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has grilled Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, for more than 60 hours since Friday in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in the hospital. Former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh reaches CBI office for questioning in connection with the rape and murder case. (PTI Photo) A senior official of the federal agency said that Ghosh was summoned again on Wednesday, and he reached the CBI office at CGO Complex in Salt Lake around 9.15am. The CBI started questioning him on Friday. He has been questioned on an average of 1213 hours every day since then. He has been again summoned on Wednesday, said an official. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police, which registered two FIRs against Ghosh, have also summoned him on Wednesday around 12 noon for questioning. The Kolkata police have registered the cases for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities in the West Bengal government-run hospital as well as for revealing the identity of the trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered in the medical institute earlier this month. The development came after the state health department on Monday set up a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the allegations of financial irregularities at the hospital since January 2021 during Ghoshs tenure as the principal. Earlier today, CISF officials arrived at RG Kar Hospital, a day after the Supreme Court ordered the security agency to guard the hospital promises. The apex court on Tuesday came down heavily on the West Bengal government for its mishandling of the investigation into the brutal rape and murder that has triggered a nation-wide uproar. The courts criticism centred around the significant delay in lodging the FIR on August 9 into the incident, the allegation by the parents that the hospital first told them it was a suicide, and the vandalism that occurred at the hospital five days later, raising questions about the competence of the West Bengal police in safeguarding medical professionals. PRAYAGRAJ: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday, said that investments in Uttar Pradesh were entirely secure and profitable for businesses, with the state government guaranteeing the safety of investors capital. CM Yogi Adityanath virtually inaugurates cement plant in Prayagraj on Wednesday. (Sourced) Virtually inaugurating a new cement plant with a capacity of 20 lakh tonnes in Bara tehsil of Prayagraj, set up by JK Cement, the chief minister said that the reforms introduced by the government, coupled with robust policies and effective implementation, had resulted in Uttar Pradesh emerging as a leading state in terms of ease of doing business. The CM said that in an important development, JK Cement, once a prominent investor in Uttar Pradesh who had lost confidence in the state and shifted its investments elsewhere, had made a return to the state. JK Cements new plant in Prayagraj was the companys third in Uttar Pradesh, after Aligarh and Hamirpur, he said. Yogi said that after the formation of the double-engine government in 2017, the JK Group spent three years assessing the governments credibility. Once the results of the governments actions became evident, the JK Group committed to establishing three plants in Uttar Pradesh, with total investments of 1,200 crore - in Aligarh in 2020, Hamirpur in 2022, and Prayagraj in 2024, he maintained. The CM also said that Uttar Pradesh now boasted an extensive network of railways, expressways, and highways, enabling easy distribution of locally produced goods to other states. He further emphasised that Uttar Pradesh had become a top investment destination in the country. JK Cements reinforces the states industrial growth without any industrial group feeling compelled to relocate. In the past seven years, Uttar Pradesh has cultivated an investment-friendly environment, propelling the state in ease of doing business list from the 14th place in 2016 to the 2nd place today. CM Yogi further said that Uttar Pradesh demonstrated how to successfully host an Investors Summit through GIS-2023, attracting investment proposals exceeding 40 lakh crore. Others present were industrial development minister Nand Kumar Gupta Nandi, minister of state for industrial development Jaswant Singh Saini, state chief secretary and industrial development commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh, principal secretary of industrial development department Anil Sagar, JK Cement vice-president Nidhipati Singhania, managing director Raghavpati Singhania, CEO Madhav Krishna Singhania along with other dignitaries. PHOTO: UP CM Yogi Adityanath virtually inaugurating cement factory in Bara tehsil of Prayagraj on Wednesday (HT) Mumbai: The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the state's opposition coalition, has called for a Maharashtra-wide shutdown on 24 August in response to the sexual abuse of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur. This announcement comes as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde alleges that the Badlapur agitations on Tuesday were politically motivated, claiming the opposition cannot accept the success of the Ladki Bahin scheme. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and state Congress president Nana Patole of the MVA. Representational Photo. (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) MVA leaders convened on Wednesday for seat-sharing discussions ahead of assembly elections. However, given the current situation in the state, they postponed these talks to address the Badlapur incident and other crimes against women and girls. Following the meeting, Congress state president Nana Patole announced, "MVA has given a call for Maharashtra Bandh on 24 August and all three parties and other parties will participate in Bandh." The shutdown aims to protest the Badlapur incident and the rising crime rate against women and girls. In the wake of Tuesday's agitations and rail blockade in Badlapur, opposition parties staged protests across several parts of the state, including Thane, Pune, and areas of Marathwada. Badlapur observed a shutdown on Wednesday. In Pune, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule participated in protests, questioning the Mahayuti government's ability to ensure the safety of women and girls in the state. She also requested the state government to withdraw her security detail, suggesting that the police force be used to maintain law and order instead. Sule stated, "We heard that lots of police are busy with security to the leaders and there are not enough police to deploy vigilance and maintain law and order. I request the government to withdraw my security and use that police force for the law and order." Chief Minister Shinde, however, accused the opposition of politicising the Badlapur incident. "Badlapur agitations on Tuesday were politically motivated as opposition can't digest the success of Ladki Bahin scheme. There are other issues to play politics. They should be ashamed of it that they are using the sexual abuse of two minor girls for their politics. State government has taking measures to expedite the process of justice. Culprits will not be spared," he said. BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait believes that the way the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has been highlighted is a conspiracy to defame and topple the West Bengal government. BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait (HT FIle Photo) Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, ahead of his meeting with officials of the power corporation, the farmer leader said that there is a law and constitution in the country to take action against the incident of rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. Despite this, the incident has been highlighted for the last 10 days which seems to be a conspiracy to defame and topple the West Bengal government. Tikait said that incidents like rape and murder have also happened in BJP ruled states, but these cases have been suppressed there. This has happened in Manipur. The governor there also acted like an agent of a party. Such incidents had also happened in Amroha and Bijnor . On a question on the situation in the neighboring country Bangladesh, he said that the ruling party there had sent the opposition leaders to jail and exploited them for 15 years. Thats why there was a rebellion there. One day a situation like Bangladesh may arise here also. People are angry here too. He said that during the farmers movement, when we went to Delhi with tractors, the farmers were misled and sent to the Red Fort. If 25 lakh farmers had gone to Parliament, a similar incident would have happened that day. Along with this, the BKU spokesperson said that the government needs to be serious about the problems of other sections of people, including farmers. A 27-year-old tribal woman was gangraped by eight people in Chhattisgarhs Raigarh district, officials said on Wednesday. The accused had also threatened the woman after the incident after which they fled. (Representative file photo) Six people have been arrested so far and the identification of the remaining two persons is underway, police said. Inspector general of police, (Bilaspur range) Sanjeev Shukla said that the incident took place on Monday evening. The woman went to a local fair on Monday. She was known to one of the accused, and they both decided to meet near the local market. When the main accused met him, he was with the other accused people. According to the woman, she was raped by eight men, who were with the main accused, said the IG. Also Read: Hisar police book 4 for gangrape of Mansa woman after offering her lift The accused had also threatened the woman after the incident after which they fled. By Tuesday night, we had arrested six persons. Two of the accused are absconding. We are interrogating the arrested accused for the whereabouts and identity of the others involved and soon they will also be arrested, said Divyag Patel, superintendent of police, Raigarh. Pusaur police have registered a case of gang rape in the case and investigation is underway. We are not revealing the identity of the accused as it could hamper the investigation. The issue is serious, said the SP. Meanwhile, former state chief minister Bhupesh Baghel termed the incident serious and demanded immediate arrest of all the accused and punishment for them. The Justice K Hema Committee report offers Keralas movie industry a defining choice: It must either acknowledge the problem, reconcile with the wrongs of the past and correct course, or it could let the uproar fade and continue may be not per usual, but without too many of the changes needed to give women a safe space to work. The state government has refused to push the industry to make the right choice, saying it will wait for women to file complaints officially beforeit acts. Thiruvananthapuram: Mahila Congress activists stage a protest demanding a case against the perpetrators named in the Hema Committee report, Thiruvananthapuram, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI) The report, even with the many redactions to protect the privacy of those who have testified, lays bare the alarming instances of abuse and exploitation of women in the industry known for its progressive content. The problem is pervasive, and there are too many influential men producers, directors, actors, and others who are directly or indirectly implicated. The report, submitted to the government in December 2019, wasnt made public for close to five years, with powerful figures trying to bury it. This was despite pressure from the Women in Cinema Collective, upon whose request the panel was set up. This underlines the severely skewed balance of power in the industry and makes it hard to imagine the usual mechanism of internal complaints committees (ICCs) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 being an effective redress and deterrence tool. The choices that the industry makes now will determine whether it can accord half of its workforce the safe workplace they deserve. Just a month ago, US President Joe Biden wouldnt have been wrong in thinking that he would still be the main attraction at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). As things turned out, he was only the opening act, setting the stage for leading Democrats to endorse the partys presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. Bidens turn on the stage before a packed arena in Chicago virtually brought down the curtains on a storied career, with the 81-year-old reiterating that he had stepped aside from the presidential race to preserve American democracy. That was also the reason why Biden had joined the race in 2020, to block a second term for Donald Trump amid growing polarisation in American politics and society. Ever since his disastrous performance at a televised debate with Trump in June, Biden had faced pressure to make way for Harris, which he eventually did in a move that has energised the ranks of the Democratic Party and seen her drawing even with Trump in most polls. US president Joe Biden addresses the final session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Reuters/Eric Thayer While the Biden administrations foreign policy has been under a cloud since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, especially for failing to take a strong stand on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus relentless targeting of civilians in Gaza and for not mounting enough pressure on Tel Aviv to agree to a ceasefire, the President has worked to rally support for Ukraine in the face of Russias invasion and worked with partners such as India and Japan on initiatives aimed at stymying Chinas aggressive and coercive actions. Domestically, Biden outperformed Trump on several fronts, providing access to affordable health care to millions and adding nearly 15 million jobs in his first three years. But, his administration struggled on immigration, which is a hot button issue. In the region, the Biden administration got off to a rough start with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which didnt go down well in New Delhi, but then went on to forge strong ties with India in areas such as security, emerging technologies and defence. In this, he built on the bipartisan support in the US for a more significant relationship with India. Bidens goodbye at the DNC showcased his pragmatism, but how he will be remembered rests on a Harris victory. A Trump return will diminish the aura of sacrifice that surrounds the fairly successful President and foreground his initial reluctance to make way for another candidate till his unsuitability became obvious. The legacy he might have hoped for hangs in balance till the November polls. Department of Medical Education and Research, Haryana has started the registration process for Haryana NEET UG 2024 Counselling on August 21, 2024. Candidates who want to apply for the counselling round can find the direct link through the official website of Haryana NEET counselling at uhsrugcounselling.com. Haryana NEET UG 2024 Counselling: Registration begins, direct link here The last date to apply is till August 25, 2024. The provisional allocation of seats will be displayed on August 27 and incase of any grievances on the provisional allotment list, candidates can raise it on the same day. WB NEET UG 2024 Counselling: Round 1 registration begins today at wbmcc.nic.in The tuition fee can be deposed online only through the admission web portal from August 27 to September 1, 2024. Candidates' documents will be verified from September 2 to September 4, 2024. After document verification, candidates can download the provisional admission letter from September 2 to September 5, 2024. The last date for joining the allotted institute is September 5, 2024. Haryana NEET UG 2024 Counselling: How to apply All those candidates who have qualified the NEET UG examination can apply for the counselling round. Candidates can follow these steps given below. Visit the official website of Haryana NEET counselling at uhsrugcounselling.com. Click on Haryana NEET UG 2024 Counselling registration link available on the home page. Enter the registration details and click on submit. Once registration is done, login to the account. Fill the application form and make the payment of application fee. Click on submit and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. The official notice reads, Admission shall be made to only those institutes which are approved/recognized for admission by MoHFW/NMC/DCI and who have obtained consent of affiliation from the concerned University in accordance with the last date as prescribed by Government of India/ National Medical Council/ Dental Council of India/State Government. For more related details candidates can check the official website. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India constituted a 10-member task force to develop a comprehensive protocol for safeguarding doctors and healthcare professionals. The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, emphasised that protecting women doctors is a matter of national importance, stating that the principle of equality demands nothing less. The rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has stunned the nation.)(Bhushan Koyande/HT File) The decision came as the court heard a suo motu case regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The task force has been directed to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. A Nation in Shock: The Kolkata Incident The brutal attack in Kolkata has sent shockwaves across the nation. The victim, who was resting during her night shift, was assaulted in a place where she should have been safe. This tragic incident underscores the urgent need to enhance safety measures for women, not just in healthcare but across all sectors, including educational institutions. Voices from Educational Institutions: How Can We Improve Safety on Campuses? In light of this alarming incident, Hindustan Times Digital sought insights from key figures in educational institutions on how campus safety can be improved. Here are some of the key suggestions: Rajendra Singh, Registrar, International Management Institute Rajendra Singh emphasised the need for a holistic approach to campus safety. "Ensuring student safety requires a combination of preventive measures and robust support systems," he said. Singh highlighted the importance of well-lit areas, secure accommodations, and trained security personnel as fundamental safety requirements. He also pointed out the critical role of technology in enhancing campus security. "CCTV cameras, fire alarms, and emergency alert systems are vital for quick responses to emergencies," he noted. Singh also stressed the importance of fostering a culture where students look out for one another and report any suspicious activities. Shilpa Desai, Principal, Sanskriti School Pune Shilpa Desai stressed that school safety is just as crucial as in colleges. "Every student has the right to physical and emotional security on campus," she said. Desai emphasised the need for thorough staff background checks and constant vigilance to ensure children are never left unsupervised. She also highlighted the role of CCTV cameras in maintaining a safe school environment. Chaya Chordia, Director General of Hostels, Amity University Chaya Chordia reaffirmed Amity Universitys strong commitment to womens safety. "Our comprehensive security system reflects our dedication. The campus is well-lit, equipped with CCTV cameras, and we have emergency response teams ready to act swiftly," she said. Amity University maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against harassment and assault. Chordia also detailed the university's advanced security measures, including facial recognition at hostel entry points and regular night patrols. Additionally, the Amity Help Desk for Women provides round-the-clock support to female students, faculty, and staff, addressing issues related to sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional harassment. Prof. Nirupama Prakash, Co-Chairperson of the Help Desk, explained, "We offer a platform for women to voice their concerns and access the necessary authorities, including local police, to ensure they get the help they need." A Call for Collective Responsibility The tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College has highlighted the critical need for urgent action to ensure womens safety on campuses. Educational institutions must prioritise student safety by implementing stringent security measures, leveraging technology, and providing robust support systems. However, making campuses safe is not just the responsibility of the administrationit requires collective effort. Students, faculty, and staff must work together, remain vigilant, communicate openly, and take responsibility to create safe environments for learning and growth. Only then can we hope to prevent such tragedies in the future and ensure that campuses remain places of safety and opportunity, free from fear. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary celebrations, the Oberoi Group announced the launch of The Oberoi Group Scholarship Program. The recipient will embark on a two-year MBA program that combines virtual learning with an immersive three-week on-site experience at the EHL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland.(Shutterstock) Founded by Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi and continued under the leadership of Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, the Oberoi Group Scholarship Program is an initiative designed to honour the legacy of its founders and nurture the next generation of hospitality leaders. About the scholarship program: Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi - Dare to Dream Scholarship: This scholarship is open to hotel operations employees outside The Oberoi Group in India. The program aims to encourage individuals to dream big and pursue excellence in their careers. Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi - Be the Best Scholarship: This scholarship is available for hotel operations employees from The Oberoi Group in India and overseas. It is designed to motivate employees to strive for the highest standards of excellence in their roles. Also Read: HT Interview: Is US's Lehigh right place for you? Here is how they select students, offer scholarships and more According to a press release issued by the Oberoi Group, the scholarships offer the recipients an opportunity to pursue a Master of Business Administration in Hospitality at Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL). The recipient will embark on a two-year MBA program that combines virtual learning with an immersive three-week on-site experience at the EHL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. The recipients will also stay and experience some of the finest hotels in the world on the Best Practice Tour during each of the two years, gaining insights into global best practices in hospitality. The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, operates 31 hotels and two Nile Cruisers. The Group has presence in seven countries under the luxury Oberoi and five-star Trident brand. The Group is also engaged in flight catering, airport restaurants, car rentals and corporate air charters, informed the press release. Also Read: List of scholarships to consider to help students make their dreams come true Tripura chief minister Manik Saha on Wednesday announced a two-day closure for all schools due to continuous heavy rainfall for over 48 hours that left seven killed, two missing and over five thousand others homeless in the state. Tripura CM Manik Saha announces two-day closure for all schools due to continuous heavy rainfall for over 48 hours.(Twitter/@DrManikSaha2) "Due to the current situation and heavy rainfall, the government has declared a two-day closure for all schools on August 21st and 22nd. Additionally, all colleges will remain closed on August 21st. All students, teachers, and staff are requested to stay safe and follow the instructions", Saha wrote on his social media. He further stated that the officials of different districts have been working together to extend support to the flood-affected people. He also urged all social organizations to extend their assistance in this crisis. "All the official a of the district administration of various districts , NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and local authorities are on high alert and have been working together to provide assistance and support to the people in the flood-affected areas. We also urge all the social organizations, NGOs and beloved citizens to remain vigilant and provide their all out support during this crisis. Your every iota of contribution can make a significant difference to the response and relief efforts", he said. Meanwhile, Tripura University also suspended all regular classes on August 21 due to heavy rainfall. "All the regular classes of Tripura University in all the Departments/Centres will remain suspended on 21st August, 2024 due to current situation and heavy rainfall", reads a notification signed by varsity's registrar in-charge Prof. Chinmoy Roy. According to latest reports, total 183 relief camps were set up where 5607 families were provided shelter. Of the total relief camps, 24 are in West district, 30 in South Tripura district and 39 in Khowai district. Landslides were reported in many areas, many roads including National Highways were blocked after trees fell down due to heavy rainfall. " Water level in Tripura have inflated that led to flood in most of the areas due to rainfall occurred more than 48 hours. South Tripura and Gomati districts were affected badly in the flood", said Revenue Department secretary Brijesh Pandey on Tuesday. Bagafa and Belonia in South Tripura districts recorded rainfall of 375.8 mm and 324.4 mm, Amarpur in Gomati district recorded 307.14 mm and parts of Khowai district in past 24 hours, he added. Earlier in May this year, over 2,500 people became homeless and 550 houses were damaged due to cyclone ' remal'. Earlier in July, two children including a 10-year-old child and a 5-year-old child were injured in mudslip in Gomati district. In 2021, a man and two children were injured in landslides at separate places in South Tripura district. In 2019, over 1,700 people were rendered homeless and nearly 822 houses were damaged in rainfall. Tollywood actor Samrat Mukherjee was arrested by police early Tuesday after his car hit a motorcycle in the Behala area of the city. Many went on to speculate that the actor was Rani Mukerji and Kajols cousin Samrat. However, that is not true. In an interview with Etimes, Samrat has now clarified and claimed he is based out of Mumbai and has no relation to the case. (Also read: Kajol shares message on women safety on Raksha Bandhan with adorable pic of Nysa and Yug: Raksha karne waala) Samrat Mukherjee, who is Kajol's cousin, is a filmmaker and photographer. What Samrat said Samrat gave his clarification on the matter and said, I would like to clarify met with an accident is not me. The actor Samrat Mukherjee is based in Kolkata and I am a filmmaker owner of Filmalaya studios, based in Mumbai. Since morning I have been getting calls and tired now, telling them how I am not the same Samrat. It is reported that the actor who met with an accident belongs to our family it is not true. I would like to tell everyone, I am safe and based here in Mumbai. The actor Samrat Mukherjee does not belong to our family. He also added that there are several people who have mistook him for the Bengali actor involved in the case, and should know that he is safe in Mumbai. More details Meanwhile, the Bengali actor with the same name was arrested by police on Tuesday after his car hit a motorcycle in Kolkata. The motorcyclist was initially taken to M R Bangur Hospital and then transferred to SSKM Hospital. As per PTI, police said: The actor has been arrested and is now being taken for a medical test. We are investigating the matter. Kajol's cousin Samrat is often seen with her during the annual Durga Puja celebrations in Mumbai. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar recently had a delightful meeting with actor Priyanka Chopra at her residence in Los Angeles and shared the moment on his social media. And it sparked curiosity among fans, who were left wondering if they discussed the second part of their hit film, Fashion. Also read: Madhur Bhandarkar says he plans Fashion 2 about the 'disappearance of supermodels': Anybody can be a model, influencer Madhur Bhandarkars Fashion released in 2008, and was received well by the audiences. Special meeting in LA The director took to Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a picture of the meeting with Priyanka. In the picture, both of the stars are beaming with joy as they pose for the camera. It was a delight to meet & engage in a fascinating discussion with the talented @priyankachopra at her exquisite residence in Los Angeles, he wrote while sharing the picture. However, he didnt disclose what they discussed when he met her. The image led to conversations around Fashion 2 on social media. Can we expect Kangana Ranaut X Priyanka Chopra in Fashion 2? Please, please, make it happen, wrote one user. Another wrote, Are you making Fashion 2 without Kangana???? Please don't do that. Sonali is always the main highlight of fashion. Remember that. Hope a film comes out of this meeting soon @imbhandarkar, shared one user, with another writing, Please, Once again, the Audience needs that kind of movie again. About Fashion 2 Recently, Madhur expressed his desire to revisit the world and make a project that explores the present condition of the modelling and fashion industry. In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Madhur mentioned his interest in shedding light on the diminishing prominence of supermodels in an age dominated by social media, where celebrities have taken centre stage as showstoppers and influencers have assumed the role of models. When quizzed if he had any plans for Fashion 2, said, I feel Fashion has all the potential for a sequel. Today, the world of fashion has changed. As a filmmaker, I feel I have a lot of material and hence, it can be turned into a show, spanning a couple of seasons. But it also is apt for a film. Hence, nothing has been decided yet. The subject, however, is interesting. Social media has completely taken over. There was a time when we used to hear of supermodels. But in the last few years, can you recall the name of any supermodel? Bollywood celebs have taken over and have become showstoppers. This is what I want to ask through Fashion 2 - where have these supermodels disappeared? A girl sitting in some small town can be a model or an influencer. I want to focus on these aspects. About Fashion Released to critical acclaim, Fashion (2008) starred Priyanka Chopra as the lead protagonist, Meghna Mathur, a small-town girl who rises to become a renowned supermodel. The film boasted an impressive ensemble cast, including Arbaaz Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Mugdha Godse, Samir Soni, and Kitu Gidwani, among others. Fashion swept the National Film Awards, with Priyanka Chopra winning Best Actress and Kangana Ranaut taking home the Best Supporting Actress award. The movie offered a gripping narrative, exposing the darker aspects of the fashion industry, where ambition and fame come at a steep price. Madhur Bhandarkar is renowned for creating iconic films that highlight social issues. Despite working with low budgets, the filmmaker achieved critical and commercial success. In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Madhur addressed the ongoing debate about high entourage costs. He mentioned that female actors who played the lead roles in his movies reduced their fees. (Also read: Madhur Bhandarkar says he plans Fashion 2 about the 'disappearance of supermodels': Anybody can be a model, influencer) Madhur Bhandarkar said that Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor slashed their fees for Fashion and Heroine. Madhur Bhandarkar on star entourage costs When quizzed about facing any issues related to entourage costs or rising star fees, the filmmaker said, Every female actor slashed her price when they were working with me. Since, I only had a budget of 1.5 crore for Chandni Bar, Tabu didn't not charge any fee for the film. She took money against Bombay or Delhi territory, and nothing else apart from that. She worked with such conviction. Raveena Tandon (Satta) and Bipasha Basu (Corporate) reduced their prices. Even Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor slashed their fees. They didnt charge the market price from me because they were keen on making these movies. The entire film was resting on their shoulders so everybody slashed their prices. Madhur Bhandarkar's movie career Madhur's Fashion (2008) featured Priyanka Chopra as the protagonist. Arbaaz Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Mughda Godse, Samir Soni, Kitu Gidwani and others also played crucial characters in the movie. The film was about a small-town girl's ambition to become a supermodel. While Priyanka won the National Film Award for Best Female Actor, Kangana bagged the award in the Best Supporting Actor (Female) category. Madhur's social-drama Heroine (2012) based on a fading superstar featured Kareena Kapoor in the titular role. Arjun Rampal, Randeep Hooda and Divya Dutta also played pivotal characters in the film. Awards and accolades received by Madhur Bhandarkar Madhur Bhandarkar is a four-time national award-winning filmmaker. His film Chandni Bar (2001) won him the National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues. His dramas Page 3 (2005), Traffic Signal (2007), and Fashion (2008) also received critical acclaim, with the first winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the second earning him the National Film Award for Best Direction. In 2016, he was honored with India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri. Madhur's last directorial was Babli Bouncer (2022) starring Tamannaah Bhatia as the protagonist. Actor Riteish Deshmukh has expressed his shock and anger over the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtra's Badlapur. The Badlapur incident has come just days after the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor that took place at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. (Also Read: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan recreate iconic Heyy Babyy dance steps with a twist. Watch) Riteish Deshmukh is "deeply anguished" by the Badlapur sexual assault Riteish took to his X account on Tuesday and expressed his pain and frustration. He also demanded the "harshest punishment" for the guilty in the case. In his post, the actor, who is also a parent, wrote, As a parent am absolutely disgusted, pained and raging with anger!! Two 4 year old girls were sexually assaulted by the male cleaning staff member of the school. Schools are supposed to be as safe a place for kids as their own homes. Harshest punishment needs to be given to this demon. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his times gave the guilty what they deserved - Chaurang- we need these laws back in action. #BadlapurCrime. The alleged sexual assault of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, has sparked widespread outrage. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to investigate the case and that those found guilty would face strict action. "I have taken serious cognizance of the incident in Badlapur. An SIT has already been formed in this matter and we are also going to take action against the school where the incident took place. We are in the process of fast-track this case, and no one will be spared if found guilty," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told ANI. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered the formation of an SIT headed by Inspector General of Police-level senior IPS officer Arti Singh to investigate the incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also spoke on the issue and said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was about to pass the Shakti Bill, but his government was 'toppled' by the current chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde. Earlier in the day, a massive protest was held at Badlapur Railway Station against the alleged sexual assault incident involving two minor girls at a school in Thane district. Protestors blocked tracks, causing a halt in local trains while protesting against the alleged sexual assault. Incidents of stone pelting were also reported. Following this, police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse the protestors. Actor Sonu Sood helped an Indian family bring back the mortal remains of their relative, who died while working in Saudi Arabia. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Sonu also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family. (Also Read | Sonu Sood appeals to everyone to help in rescuing fellow Indians from Bangladesh: 'Not just government's responsibility') Sonu also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family. What happened Earlier this month, an X user @bravo7781 shared that his uncle, who worked at the Saudi Cement Hofuf plant, died due to a heart stroke. He requested the actor to bring the mortal remains to India. Sonu helps bring back man's body from Saudi On Tuesday, Sonu shared the person's resident identity card. He wrote, "Mortal remains will reach Hyderabad airport by 04.35 pm today. Thanks for all the help @GirishPant_ bhai (folded hands emojis) once again heartfelt condolences to the family." On August 2, @bravo7781 tweeted sharing details of the person, "Dear @SonuSood sir, My uncle, who worked at the Saudi Cement Hofuf plant, passed away heart stroke. Now his body in King Faisal General Hospital @ Saudi Arabia." He had added, "I humbly request your assistance in bringing his body back to India. Kindly help us sir (folded hands emojis)." Responding to this, Sonu had tweeted, "Will try best to bring his body back. Already speaking to the concerned authorities (fingers crossed emoji)." How Sonu has been helping people since 2020 Sonu helped thousands of migrant workers reach their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. He booked chartered flights and busses for the stuck migrant workers when the first lockdown was announced in 2020. Since then, he has been regularly helping people in need. Recently, Sonu took to Twitter to appeal to the citizens of India to help rescue fellow Indians who are stuck in Bangladesh. He shared the video of an Indian woman expressing her pain, stating how the lives of fellow Indians like her were under threat in Bangladesh. She also expressed her wish to return to India. The actor captioned his tweet as, We should do our best to bring back all our fellow Indians from Bangladesh, so they get a good life here. This is not just the responsibility of our Government which is doing its best but also all of us. Jai Hind (tricolour emoji). Sonu's next film Fans will see Sonu in the upcoming film Fateh alongside Naseeruddin Shah and Jacqueline Fernandez. The movie will hit theatres on January 10, 2025. Fateh also marks Sonu's debut as a director. It will delve into the real-life instances of cybercrime. The film is made under the banner of Zee Studios and Shakti Sagar Productions. Tanushree Dutta has been vocal about addressing sexual harassment in the Hindi film industry. She recently commented on the report from the Justice K Hema Committee that addresses sexual harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. In an interview with News 18, Tanushree criticised the report as 'useless' and also pointed out the futility of the Vishakha Committee (formerly known as the Womens Grievances Committee), which works to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. (Also read: Nana Patekar on MeToo allegations against him by Tanushree: 'I know the truth') Tanushree Dutta targeted Nana Patekar, Dileep while calling Hema Committee report 'useless.' Tanushree Dutta calls Hema Committee report useless Tanushree, while reacting to the recent Hema Committee report said, Whats the point of this new report anyway? All they had to do was arrest the accused and enforce a strong law and order system. I remember hearing about the Vishakha Committee, which came up with so many guidelines and prepared pages and pages of reports, but what happened after that? The names of the committees just keep changing." "People like Nana and Dileep are narcissistic psychopaths. Theres no cure for them. Only a vicious and vengeful man can do what they did. I dont care about these committees. I have no trust in this system. It feels like with these reports and committees, theyre just wasting our time rather than doing the real work. Having a safe workplace is a basic right for a woman or any human being, for that matter. About Justice K Hema Committee report The committee was established in response to a request from the Women In Cinema Collective, after the 2017 incident where a female Malayalam actor was sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle in Kochi. Actor Dileep was one of the accused in the case. Tanushree's allegations against Nana Patekar Tanushree made strong accusations against Nana Patekar for sexually harassing her on the sets of Horn Ok Please in 2008. She faced political backlash and criticism from artists in the Indian film industry, while Nana Patekar denied the allegations. In 2018, during the MeToo India movement, Tanushree once again spoke about the incident. She revealed how her career was jeopardised after she opened up about the harassment she faced on the movie set. Ben Affleck has made a public statement about his relationship with Jennifer Lopez, seemingly confirming that they have decided to end their marriage. Just hours after Lopez filed for divorce on their second anniversary, Affleck was seen without his wedding ring. While the couple has not released an official statement, insiders claim that the decision was mutual and amicable. When Ben Affleck revealed why he avoided speaking about his relationship with Jennifer Lopez (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)(AFP) Ben Affleck spotted without wedding ring after divorce filing On August 21, the end of Bennifer 2.0 became a trending topic as many were left in shock by the apparent decision of the high-profile A-listers to part ways after rekindling their romance two years ago. The 52-year-old actor was spotted without his wedding ring while heading to an office building in Los Angeles on Tuesday. As per PEOPLE, the Accountant 2 star was seen walking through the parking lot flaunting his casual fashion, wearing a grey T-shirt, jeans, and black-tinted sunglasses. Also read: Travis Kelce confirmed to join Happy Gilmore 2, Adam Sandler gushes: Hes a Stud and Hes So Fans believe that the petrified Affleck, who feared Lopez might make a dramatic scene out of their divorce and "destroy" him, has removed his wedding ring for good. "Looks like his on-again, off-again relationship with the wedding ring is finally over," one commenter noted on the picture. Another wrote, Oh, so he can now finally roam freely without the wedding ring. Ben Affleck flies back to LA Ben Affleck, who was spending time with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and his three kids before the oldest, Violet, moved into Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, flew back to LA the same day the divorce was filed. Affleck and Garner were then seen leaving the airport together in a car. Also read: Ben Affleck enjoys dinner with ex Jennifer Garner, smiling and chatting before Violets college move-in Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck: Report The months-long speculation about the Gigli co-stars appears to be coming to a settlement. though not as fans had hoped. On August 21, it was reported that Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE. Even though they got married in Vegas on July 17, 2022, it's been two years since they had their traditional wedding in Georgia on August 20. Reportedly, the Atlas star filed for divorce alone, without an attorney or legal representative. She listed a separation date of April 26, 2024, which is about four months prior, justifying the timeline given that the couple spent their summer living apart. Since the announcement of Robert Downey Hr.s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Victor Von Doom, the actor addressed the fact for the first time. He explained how Kevin Feige roped in him as the next villain of the MCU as he recently appeared on The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter Podcast. (FILES) US actor Robert Downey Jr. addressed his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. (Photo by Chris DELMAS / AFP)(AFP) Also Read: Joker director Todd Phillips signals uncertainty on future films in the franchise amid sequel release Robert Downey reveals his casting as Doctor Doom In the latest podcast episode, Downey revealed how a casual talk with Feige resulted in him making a return to Marvel. The actor who played Iron Man earlier in the Avengers franchise said, He said, It just keeps occurring to me if you were to come back His wife Susan Downey was also present during the conversation and jumped in, he explained, Susan was like, Wait, wait. Come back as what? The actor then expressed the immediate concerns he had if he were to make a comeback to the Marvels and discussed it with Feige. He said, How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations? which is when Feige suggested he could come back as Doctor Doom. Downey then revealed that his next thought was to consult the idea with Disney CEO, Bob Iger and visit him soon after. It seemed the Iger was already aware of the Doctor Doom plan as when the actor visited him he said, I like it. Downey said on the podcast episode, I was like, 'He likes it.' He [Iger] said, 'Come by the Imagineering Campus.' Feige and I go to the Imagineering Campus and you want to talk about two guys that are not easy to have their minds blown, let alone at the same time...I can't say too much, but what is going on there right now is so beyond my expectation of what was possible, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Also Read: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez reportedly filed for divorce: Here's how the kids are doing after Robert Downey left Marvel The 59-year-old actor never really left Marvel even after bidding farewell to his beloved MCU character Tony Stark. In the following years of the release of Avengers: Endgame, Downey remained close with the Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Avengers directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo brothers will also return to the MCU to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as announced at the San Diego Comic Con. Downeys return as Doctor Doo was also made at the same Comic Con as a bunch of men dressed as Marvels next villain swarmed the stage and the actor stepped forward to reveal his mask. He said, New mask. Same task. Boy, I tell you, I like playing complicated characters. Ben Affleck once explained why he refrained from speaking too much about his rekindled relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Affleck described himself as a not perfect man and added that he wanted to exercise a little restraint and avoid going into gossipy detail about his and Lopez's life, or second shot at love. This was the Argo directors attempt to avoid making the same mistakes he made when they first started dating. When Ben Affleck revealed why he avoided speaking about his relationship with Jennifer Lopez (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)(AFP) One of the harder lessons that I have learned is that its not wise to share everything with the world, Affleck told The Wall Street Journal in December 2021. There are some things which are private and intimate and have meaning in terms of their intimacy by dint of the fact that theyre not shared with the rest of the world, he added. Lopez has now officially filed for divorce from Affleck after two years of marriage. She filed the papers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 20, which was the two-year anniversary of their second wedding ceremony that was held in Georgia. The actress listed the separation date as April 26, 2024. I just dont want to be talking about my personal relationship in the newspaper Affleck said in 2021, Im more comfortable just learning to find a boundary between things that I want to share and things that I dont. I dont know if its good or bad. I dont. One boundary happened to be talking to the news media about his love life. I know that I feel more comfortable having those healthy boundaries in my life around which, in a friendly and straightforward way, I tell you, I just dont want to be talking about my personal relationship in the newspaper, Affleck said. Im going to exercise a little restraint, he added. Affleck, however, did open up at the time about Bennifer 2.0 being born. I can say that its definitely beautiful to me, he said. And, you know, one of the things I really value across all facets of my life now is that it was handled in a way that reflected that. My life now reflects not just the person that I want to be, he explained, but the person that I really feel like I amwhich is not perfect, but somebody who tries very hard and cares very much about being honest and authentic and accountable. Affleck said at the time that its hard to say who benefits more from his restraint. I could just say that I feel great about being very healthy, he said. And it is a good story. Its a great story. And, you know, maybe one day Ill tell it. Ill write it all out. And then Ill light it on fire, he added. Opening up on how the two of them got a second chance at love, Affleck said, I am very lucky in my life in that I have benefited from second chances, and I am aware that other people dont even get first chances. Ive had second chances in my career, he continued. Ive had second chances as a human being. Life is difficult, and we are always failing and hopefully learning from those failures. He added, The one thing you really need to avail yourself of the opportunities provided from that growth is the second chance. Ive definitely tried to take advantage of that. Previously, Affleck had spoken out about the end to their previous engagement back in 2003. I think Jen and I made a mistake in that we fell in love, we were excited and maybe too accessible, he said on the British TV series Live in 2008. I dont think either of us anticipated the degree to which it would take on a world of its own. In a significant development regarding the case surrounding the death of actor Matthew Perry, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed that doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez have surrendered their registrations to prescribe medication. This decision comes amid allegations connecting them to Perry's tragic passing, confirmed E! News. (Also Read Matthew Perry's stepfather breaks silence after ketamine arrests in actor's death: We were and still are) Matthew Perry's doctors surrender prescription licenses(AFP) Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, was discovered deceased in the hot tub of his California home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner later ruled his death an accidental result of "acute effects of ketamine" combined with drowning. The Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed on August 15 that Plasencia and Chavez are among five individuals charged in relation to Perry's death. These charges include accusations of exploiting Perry's ongoing battle with drug addiction, according to E! News. Plasencia, a primary defendant in the case, is alleged to have collaborated with Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, to distribute approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry between September and October 2023 in exchange for USD 55,000 in cash. According to E! News, Iwamasa pleaded guilty on August 7 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Further complicating matters, Plasencia is accused of texting Chavez, a San Diego-based physician who allegedly sold ketamine to Plasencia, to discuss the financial aspects of their transactions. One message reportedly sent by Plasencia read, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," according to E! News. Plasencia faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of ketamine distribution, and two counts of altering and falsifying documents related to the federal investigation. If convicted, the 42-year-old could face up to 30 years in federal prison. Plasencia has not yet entered a public plea and was released on bond on August 16, according to E! News. Chavez, who is scheduled for arraignment on August 30, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison, according to E! News. Amid the ongoing investigation, Perry's friends and family continue to honour his legacy. Friends creator Marta Kauffman recently urged fans to celebrate Perry's memory by supporting drug treatment centres and enjoying his work on Friends. Kauffman stated, "Two things come to mind [about how to celebrate him]: one of them is to donate to drug treatment centres let's fight the disease. And the second way is to watch Friends and remember him not as a man who died like that but as a man who was hilariously funny and brought joy to everybody." The investigation into Perry's death remains active as the legal proceedings continue. Amruta Khanvilkar is set to perform at her first ever theatre dance musical titled World of Stree, which she is also co-producing with Earth NGO. The actor is quite excited for this new venture and informs that she is collaborating with choreographer Ashish Patil for the same. Amruta Khanvilkar on her theatre dance musical World of Stree It is the first time an actor and a choreographer have come together for such a show. It is a complete dance musical, there are no scenes or play and we will be dancing continuously for 90 minutes , she says. World of Stree will show different aspects of womanhood and various "Devi roop. We have been rehearsing five to six hours daily for close to two months now, and everything is falling in place. Its a semi classical performance and some parts are in Kathak. Apart from me and Ashish, there are 10 classical dancers performing with us. This show is my way of giving back for all the love I have received from my audience, she informs. Amruta has been dancing for a long time and feels it is something that comes naturally to me. I am not a trained dancer but the hunger to learn more is a lot in me. I have been dancing for about 20 years now and I still feel I can do better, and I am working on it, she says, adding that there are three shows of World Of Stree in Mumbai on August 24 and 25, and she even plans to take it global: We are in talks with people in the US, Australia and Singapore. I want to take it globally as I feel it will resonate with everyone. Ask her about the difference between being on screen and on stage and the 39-year-old says, Nothing beats the energy of a live audience. And the reception is instant; the audience is either loving it or not. You are putting it out there at that moment and theres no greater high for an artiste. The actor insists that while Hindi showbiz keeps the actor in her excited, the dancer in her gets satiated through Marathi cinema. In Hindi, I have never been given any dancing roles but in Marathi, its the complete opposite. I have such iconic dancing songs to my credit like Wajle Ki Bara, Aye Hip Hopper and Chandramukhis (2022) songs. People got to know a lot more about me as a dancer after Chandramukhi, but I dont want to wait for another such film to reach my audience who loves me for my dance, thus I did this show, she ends. At least 17 Bangladeshi nationals entered Assam and one of the persons was arrested, police said. Officials said that they are searching for the 16 Bangladeshi nationals. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The arrested person was sent back to her country and told police how they entered Assam. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on his official X account, the arrested Bangladeshi national, a resident of Bangladeshs Dhaka, was identified. The woman from Dhaka Division was handed back to Bangladeshi authorities a short while ago. Earlier she was apprehended at Dhubri by Assam Police, he wrote. Also Read: 5 Bangladeshi nationals who illegally entered India arrested in Guwahati: Police The woman had entered Indian territory on the early hours of 18 August at Sukchar, South Salmara District on foot, after multiple bus and boat rides spanning over 24 hours. After taking shelter at a house in Sukchar, she proceeded to Dhubri by boat where she was intercepted. A manhunt is underway to trace other accomplices/infiltrators, Sarma added. Police said the woman confessed that she came to India illegally with the help of an illegal racket along with 16 more Bangladeshi nationals. Officials said that they are searching for the 16 Bangladeshi nationals. Before the deportation, Akhtar told media persons that she paid an amount of money to a Bangladeshi person. Here a person named Ali helped me. We crossed a river from an area where we saw an army camp. We walked through forests at night and later stayed in a house, she said. In another case, three Bangladeshi nationals who had strayed into Assam were arrested and they were also sent back. CM Sarma shared the details on his official X account. The individuals were identified. One of them was found with an Aadhaar card, having entered India for the second time, all three intended to travel to Chennai for labour work. They have since been pushed back to Bangladesh, sha said. On the eve of his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India was a supporter of peace in the volatile region as he reiterated "this is not an era of war" and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial at the Good Maharaja Square, Warsaw, Poland. (AFP)(HT_PRINT) Addressing the Indian diaspora in the Polish capital, Modi also said that for decades, India had a policy to maintain distance from all the countries. However, the policy of today's India is to remain close to all the countries, he added, amid chants of Modi-Modi. "India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear - this isn't an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues...," Modi told the gathering. Read more: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Poland for first visit by Indian Prime Minister in 45 years His remarks comes ahead of his trip to Kyiv - the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. Modi, who is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said that he will share with the Ukrainian leader perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict. His visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies. "Today's India wants to connect with all. Today's India talks about the development of all. Today's India is with all and thinks about the interests of all," Modi said. Modi said that if any country faces a crisis, India is the first country to extend a helping hand. "Wherever in the world there is an earthquake or any disaster, India has only one mantra Humanity first," he added. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years. Badlapur school sexual abuse case: The Mumbai Congress unit on Wednesday opposed the appointment of senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor for the case involving the abuse of two kindergarten students at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur. Senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam (ANI) Congress leaders argued that Nikam had previously contested parliamentary elections on a BJP ticket and alleged that the school is also managed by individuals with ties to the BJP. He ran for election on a BJP ticket. How can justice be expected when he represents the case, and the people running the school are linked to the BJP? said Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad. Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, announced earlier in the day the appointment of senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor for the Badlapur school sexual abuse case. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the unfortunate incident in Badlapur will be speedily investigated and the case will go to a fast-track court. It has been decided to appoint senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the special public prosecutor, the deputy CMs office posted in Marathi on X (formerly Twitter). Nikam, 71, has previously handled numerous high-profile cases, including serving as the public prosecutor in the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the sole terrorist captured during the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai. The senior lawyer successfully secured a death penalty for Kasab, a member of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, who was executed in Punes Yerawada Jail in November 2012. Congress workers protest against the state govt Earlier in the day, Congress workers staged a protest against the State Government over the alleged sexual assault of a girl child at a school in Badlapur. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad led the demonstration outside Mantralaya, the state secretariat, in response to the Badlapur incident. Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of the opposition in the state assembly and several other Congress leaders were also present during the protest. Holding placards outside the gates of Mantralaya, Congress leaders and workers chanted slogans against the government, criticising the delay in the registration of the FIR The police prevented the protesters from entering the premises. Gaikwad and Wadettiwar criticised the state government for the increase in crimes against women in the state. On August 17, police arrested a school attendant for sexually abusing two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur. According to the complaint, the attendant assaulted the girls in the school's restroom, an official reported. Opposition parties have claimed that the girls' parents were forced to wait for 11 hours at the Badlapur police station before officials addressed their complaints. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters blocked the railway tracks at Badlapur station and stormed the school building in response to the incident. The opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), announced a "Maharashtra bandh" on Saturday, August 24, in response to the alleged sexual assault incident in Badlapur, Thane district. MVA allies Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar made the decision during a meeting, according to Vijay Wadettiwar. He confirmed that all MVA allies would join the bandh on August 24. Amid the unrest in Maharashtra's Badlapur over the sexual assault of two minor girls at a school, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora stated that the outrage over the incident sends a clear message that violence against women and children will not be tolerated. Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora expressed his feelings as a father on the Badlapur case (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)(sansad tv) In a post on X, Deora also expressed his feelings as a father and outlined the Maharashtra government's response to the case. Also Read: Badlapur school sexual abuse: What one of the 2 girls in Thane told her parents "The public outrage over the horrific #Badlapur incident is a clear message--violence against women and children will not be tolerated," Deora said in the post. "As a father, my heart goes out to the victims and their families. The Badlapur case is an affront to our core values as a society and nation. Schools, caregivers, and law enforcement must prioritise the safety of our children through stringent background checks and vigilance," he added. Also Read: Badlapur case: Cong says parents made to wait 11 hrs for complaint; 3 suspended Deora also listed the actions taken by the Maharashtra government: "The accused has been arrested and will face trial in a fast-track court; an SIT under a DG-rank officer has been established; the school principal, class teacher, and attendants have been suspended; police officers who delayed action have been removed from duty; Education Minister @KesarkarDeepak Ji is on the ground in Badlapur; CM @mieknathshinde Ji and DCM @Dev_Fadnavis Ji have ordered a watertight case against the accused." Also Read: NCPCR team will probe matter, says chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on Badlapur case Meanwhile, enraged residents began pelting stones at the school where the crime took place. As they demanded justice, the situation escalated, prompting police intervention. Authorities used tear gas and other measures to control the crowd and restore order. The protesters, dressed in black, targeted the school in their demonstration. As the chaos subsided, the police apprehended those responsible for the stone-throwing. The suspects have been taken into custody and are being held at the local police station. The police are continuing their investigation into the assault case and are working to maintain peace in the community. Thane protest updates: Internet services in Badlapur in Maharashtra Thane district were suspended, while most schools remained shut on Wednesday, August 21, a day after a massive protest at Badlapur railway station over the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls at a kindergarten. Badlapur residents staged a protest at Badlapur station all of Tuesday. The protestors also slammed the CMs Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme, saying that instead of doling out 1,500 a month to women, the government should ensure their security. (Pramod Tambe /HT Photo) The Kalyan Bar Association has decided not to take up the case of accused Akshay Shinde, a sweeper. The Maha Vikas Aghadi called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24 to protest the Badlapur incident and rising crime against women and girls. In a meeting of the MVA, the leaders from three parties the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP discussed the Badlapur incident and overall women and girls safety issue in the state. Watch video here: Entire Badlapur town virtually came to a standstill on Tuesday after thousands of protesters blocked railway tracks at the station and stormed a local school building after the alleged sexual abuse of two girls by the school sweeper in the washroom last week. The protesters hurled stones at police personnel and vandalised the school building over the sexual abuse incident. The police cane-charged the protesters to disperse them and clear the tracks for train movement. As per the complaint, Akshay Shinde abused the girls in the toilet of the school. In the wake of the incident, the school management has suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant. The state government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in probing the sexual abuse of the two girls. Angry parents of the school children and local citizens, including several women, gathered outside the school on Tuesday morning and also resorted to a 'rail roko' protest at the railway station, blocking the path of local trains from around 8.30am. Some of the protesters, including women, later damaged the school property by breaking its gate, window panes, benches and doors. The school where the incident happened belongs to a close relative of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Badlapur. Protest over Badlapur school girls sexual abuse: 10 updates Badlapur school sexual abuse case updates: Badlapur railway station in Maharashtra's Thane district saw thousands of protesters on Tuesday blocking train tracks over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a school sweeper in the washroom. The massive protest led to disruption of local train services and diversion of some long-distance trains. A clash broke out between Police and local residents after the two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a cleaning staff member in a Badlapur school.Thane. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo) The Thane Police broke up the protests after nine hours by lathicharging protesters at the Badlapur railway station. Two four-year-old girls studying in pre-primary classes at a prominent co-ed school in Badlapur were allegedly sexually assaulted by the 23-year-old male cleaner, Akshay Shinde, on August 12-13. The assaults occurred in the girls toilet, which reportedly lacked female staff supervision. The accused was hired on August 1, 2024, on a contractual basis. The matter came to light when one of the girls complained of pain and disclosed her ordeal to her parents. The shocked parents then discovered that a second girl was also allegedly assaulted. A complaint was filed on August 16 night, leading to the alleged perpetrators arrest. Also Read | Badlapur case: Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam to be special public prosecutor India Today, citing an FIR, reported that the incident took place between 9am and 12pm on August 13. The family of one of the girls first grew suspicious on August 13, after they spoke to the other child's family member, who told them that they were planning to file a sexual assault complaint. The complaint added that the girl appeared frightened and told her parents that an older male at school, whom she referred to as "dada" (Marathi for elder brother), had undressed her and touched her inappropriately. The family reported the incident to the police on August 16, but they claim the FIR was not filed until 12 hours later, around 9pm that day, the India Today report added. The FIR details that the accused had sexually abused the child. Parents, protesters block Badlapur railway station On Tuesday, the parents of the girls were on a silent protest outside the school in the morning before a sudden crowd joined the agitation between 9.30am and 10am, escalating the situation in view of the inadequate police deployment. MNS leader Sangita Chedvankar, who was leading the protest, immediately left the spot, while Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kisan Kathore allegedly looked on as the crowd went amok. The school suspended the principal and three staff members as the protests escalated, but citizens have demanded a death penalty to the accused, a cleaner in the school. The Thane police have deployed heavy forces, even as Government Railway Police (GRP) commissioner Ravindra Shisve tried to pacify the crowd by assuring the protestors that stern action would be taken against the accused. However, the agitators refused to budge and went on with their rail blockade. The police eventually fired tear gas and lathi-charged the crowd that had gathered outside the school and at the railway station, further agitating the protesters who then resorted to stone-pelting. Thane protest: 12 trains diverted, 30 local trains partially cancelled Protests which erupted at Badlapur railway station in Thane district disrupted rail services on the route leading to the diversion of 12 mail express trains and partial cancellation of 30 local trains. CPRO Central Railway in a statement said, "Till now approximately 12 mail express trains have been diverted and koyna has been rerouted from near to Badlapur back to Kalyan and then towards Karjat via diva and Panvel. Approximately 30 local trains have been partially cancelled between Ambernath and Karjat khopoli. The number is likely to increase exponentially with starting of peak hour." However, services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Ambernath and towards Kasara are running normally, he said. (With inputs from agencies) The chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) on Wednesday criticised the handling of a sexual abuse case at a school in Badlapur, saying the school administration attempted to cover up the crime rather than supporting the victims' families in filing a police complaint. Police personnel deployed at the school in Badlapur a day after massive protests over alleged molestation of two school girls, in Thane district, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2024. (PTI) MSCPCR chief Susieben Shah also stressed the need for stringent actions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. They (child protection unit) took them to the police to file the complaint. When I asked the school management about the case, they tried to cover it up. I even asked them why POCSO provisions should not be invoked against the school management, said Shah. Read: Rage spills on road, tracks after 4-year-old girls sexually assaulted What's the Badlapur school case? The incident in question involves two four-year-old girls who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Akshay Shinde, a 23-year-old male cleaner employed by the school. The assaults, which reportedly occurred on separate days within 10 days of Shinde's employment, went unnoticed by the school authorities. Despite being informed of the first assault on August 12, the school management did not report the incident to the police. Instead, they dismissed the parents' concerns by suggesting that the child could have been assaulted by an outsider. The parents of the victim girls were allegedly made to wait for 11 hours at Badlapur police station before the officials took note of their complaints. Frustrated by the lack of response from both the school and the police, the parents, along with local residents, took to the streets and railway tracks, demanding justice. The protest, which began at the school, quickly escalated as demonstrators moved to block the railway tracks at Badlapur station, bringing the central railway suburban network to a standstill for several hours. Shah said if the school management had promptly alerted the police, the chaotic situation in Badlapur could have been avoided. The issue arises from the parents being made to wait for 11 hours. Despite being apprised of the alleged sexual attack, the principal chose not to contact the police. Instead, she went to the school management, Shah said, calling the episode a terrible state of affairs. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), meanwhile, has called for a Maharashtra bandh on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault. Leader of opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said all MVA allies will participate in the bandh on August 24. With PTI inputs The five Indian nationals, who were helping Border Security Force (BSF) rescue animals in the Ganga on Saturday but accidentally strayed into Bangladeshs territorial waters , were arrested by Bangladeshi forces and paraded in front of local media as armed cattle smugglers, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday. According to BSF officials, this is the first time in recent years that BGB has refused to return civilians who inadvertently entered Bangladesh. (PTI) Even as the BSF continued to hold talks with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) seeking the release of the five men, the BGB has so far refused to return them citing the current political situation and media pressure. We have information that the five are in the custody of the Shibganj police station in Bangladesh. There are media reports from Bangladesh quoting their senior officials, who claimed that the five men were carrying arms and had entered Bangladesh for cattle smuggling. The real facts of the case are completely opposite, a senior BSF officer, who asked not to be named, said. The officer added that according to their intelligence inputs, the five were yet to be sent to jail and were being questioned by police. On the night of August 17, BSF personnel of the 115 battalion at Malda hired the five boat operators in two boats to rescue cattle being smuggled via the riverine border. A BSF jawan had seen cattle tied to banana tree stems and being transported to Bangladesh. The jawan immediately alerted the Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and the Engine-Fitted Country Boat (EFCB) Party via radio. In response, two EFC boats, manned by five boatmen, arrived at the scene and discovered that cattle were being smuggled across the river, tied to banana stems. While attempting to save the cattle, one of the EFC boats developed technical defects after hitting a whirlpool in the surging river and was quickly carried away by the strong currents. The second EFC boat tried to tow the defective boat, but due to the increased water level and strong flow of the river, both boats inadvertently crossed into Bangladeshi territory, where these boatmen were apprehended by the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB), an official said. According to BSF officials, this is the first time in recent years that BGB has refused to return civilians who inadvertently entered Bangladesh. Ahmedabad, Protesters blocked a goods train and roads as the daylong Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, called by certain Dalit and Adivasi groups against the Supreme Courts verdict on sub-classification of Scheduled Castes , evoked mixed reactions across Gujarat. Bharat Bandh: Effects seen in areas dominated by tribal, Dalit communities in Gujarat The effects of the bandh were clearly seen in regions dominated by tribal and Dalit communities in districts like Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Surendranagra, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli where markets in cities and semi-urban areas remained closed. Protesters blocked a goods train in Wadhwan taluka of Surendranagar district and shouted slogans, with the police reaching the site to disperse the crowd. Police managed to persuade the protesters to allow the train to ply. The train moved after a forced halt of around an hour and a half and went towards Bhavnagar, officials said. Protesters at Bhiloda and Shamlaji in Aravalli district blocked roads. Several of them were detained in Patan and Aravali districts while trying to enforce the bandh, officials said. Shops downed shutters in the main markets in Bhiloda and Shamlaji, with groups taking to the streets to hold demonstrations amid tight police presence. Similarly, the impact of the bandh call was seen in the towns of Idar and Vijaynagar in the Sabarkantha district where markets, schools and colleges remained closed, with the authorities ordering heavy police deployment to maintain law and order. Protesters from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities also held rallies. Umarpada town in the Surat district wore a deserted look in the early afternoon as shops remained closed. In places like Kosamba in the district, representatives of the organisations that gave the bandh call approached shops and urged them to down shutters. Shouting slogans, SC/ST organisations took out protest rallies in Vadodara. In the Amraiwadi locality of Ahmedabad city, members of the Dalit community observed a sit-in and blocked a road. Twenty-one organisations across the country have called for a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday against the recent ruling by the Supreme Court on quota. The organisations have said that it will harm the basic principles of reservation. The top court on August 1 held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the SCs , which it said form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward among them. The apex court, however, made it clear that states have to make the sub-classification based on quantifiable and demonstrable data of backwardness and representation in government jobs and not on whims and as a matter of political expediency. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Aug 21, 2024 4:29 PM IST Bharat Bandh news live: Accusing opposition parties of politics on the reservation issue, BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste has said that the Centre has already clarified its stand on the Supreme Court's recent verdict on reservations. The judges have given their opinion. I personally along with 60-70 MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue. The PM told us that the creamy layer provision (sub-classification) will not be implemented among SCs and STs," he sai. Dalit and Adivasi organisations have called for a Bharat Bandh, a peaceful strike, on Wednesday, to stress their demand for wider representation of marginalised communities in jobs and education and also to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights. Despite the lack of an official announcement, public services are expected to be hit in states ruled by these parties. (HT file) The Bharat bandh call comes on the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the sub-categorisation of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) groups, and the controversy over lateral entry for central civil services. On August 1, a seven-judge bench of Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority that further sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by states can be permitted to ensure quota for more backward castes within these groups. On August 20, minister for the department of personnel and training (DoPT) Jitendra Singh wrote to the UPSC chairman asking for the advertisements for lateral entry for 45 posts of joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary levels to be withdrawn. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the move was an attack on the reservation rights of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SC/ST communities. Bharat bandh today Here's all you need to know The Bharat bandh has been called by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR). It has opposed the Supreme Court verdict claiming that it undermines the court's earlier ruling in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the framework for reservations. The NACDAOR has released a list of demands that ask the government to ensure social justice and equitable representation of these communities in jobs and education. Urging the government to reject the SC judgment, it called for a new central act, protected from judicial review by the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. In the past, the SC has held that placing a law under the Ninth Schedule does not protect it from judicial review. NACDAOR has also demanded the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services to ensure their accurate representation. The body has urged the government to release data on caste-wise representation of these groups in public services. The group has called for the filling up of all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments, as well as public sector undertakings. In the private sector, the body said companies benefiting from government subsidies or investments must enact affirmative action policies in their firms. Political parties like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have extended support to Bharat Bandh today. Left parties have also backed the call for a strike. Despite the lack of an official announcement, public services are expected to be hit in states ruled by these parties. Emergency services such as hospitals, ambulances, and medical facilities, will remain functional. There is no official announcement on the closure of banks, government offices, and educational institutions. NACDAOR has urged all OBC and SC/ST groups to participate peacefully in large numbers. (With inputs from agencies) The Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a nine-member national task force (NTF) comprising eminent doctors and health care administrators to address the safety concerns of medical professionals it expressed alarm over the grisly rape-and-murder of a young doctor in Kolkata that has galvanised the country and sparked sweeping protests. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra during hearing on a suo moto case related to the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata, at the Supreme Court in New Delhi, Tuesday. (PTI) The top court said the crime at Kolkatas RG Kar Hospital brought to fore the broader issue of the lack of institutional safety for doctors, nurses and other medical staff, besides the need to ensure that medical professionals in India can work in environments that are not only safe but also dignified and conducive to their well-being. In its suo motu (on its own) hearing, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud also rebuked the West Bengal government and highlighted the alarming inadequacies in the states response to the crime, and stated that the conscience of the nation was shaken by the horrific and horrendous incident. This is not just a matter of protecting doctors. Their safety and well-being as health providers is a matter of national interest. As more and more women join the work force in cutting edge areas of knowledge and science, the nation has a vital stake in ensuring safe and dignified conditions of work, said the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The constitutional value of equality demands nothing else and will not brook compromises on the health, well-being and safety of those who provide health care to others. The nation cannot await a rape or murder for real changes on the ground, it added. Aiming to establish a national consensus on the need for standardised protocols that ascertain the safety and dignity of medical professionals, the top court underscored the systemic issues within health care institutions that have left medical professionals, particularly women, vulnerable to violence and inadequate protection. The NTF was tasked with formulating effective recommendations to remedy the issues of concern pertaining to the safety, working conditions and well-being of medical professionals. It is expected to submit an interim report within three weeks, detailing its findings and proposed measures. The bench also issued a call to action for striking doctors across the country, urging them to resume work while assuring them that their safety is a matter of the highest national concern. We request all the doctors who are abstaining from work across the country to resume the work at the earliest. Above all, the abstention from work of doctors affects those segments of the society which need medical care the most...the abstaining doctors and medical professionals stand assured that their concerns are receiving the highest concern from the Supreme Court of India. Besides their concerns are already being portrayed before this court by a diverse range of counsel, it said. Taking a decisive step toward creating a safer and more equitable work environment in the health care sector, the court emphasised that the brutal attack on medical professionals is a moment of national catharsis, stating that the constitutional right to equality is meaningless if women doctors and other medical staff cannot work in safe and dignified conditions. Ultimately, whats equality in our Constitution about if we cant provide safe conditions of work? We are deeply concerned about the fact that there is absence of safety of young doctors, most importantly women doctors, across the country, said the bench. The court emphasised that the safety of medical professionals is not just a matter of protecting individual doctors, but a national concern that impacts the entire health care system. It was unflinching in its criticism of the current state of institutional safety in health care establishments, pointing out that despite existing legislation in several states aimed at protecting health care workers from violence, these laws fall short in addressing the root causes of the problem. An enhanced punishment without improving institutional safety standards falls short of addressing the problem effectively, it said. The order laid bare the harsh realities faced by medical professionals, including inadequate resting spaces, lack of security personnel, insufficient toilet facilities and a lack of proper transport for medical staff working late hours. Women, in particular, were found to be at a higher risk of both sexual and non-sexual violence with the court acknowledging that female medical professionals also face different forms of sexual violence at the workplace by colleagues, seniors and persons in authority. To address these pervasive issues, the court set up the NTF, mandating it to formulate effective recommendations while focussing on two key areas -- preventing violence, including gender-based violence, against medical professionals, and providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for all health care workers. Among the prominent members of the NTF were surgeon vice-admiral Arti Sarin, director general of medical services (navy); Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad; Dr M Srinivas, director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi; Dr Pratima Murthy, director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru; and Dr Padma Srivatava, head of neurology at Paras Hospital. The task force also includes representatives from various other leading medical institutions and organisations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the crisis. The NTF will further include ex-officio members such as the cabinet secretary, the home secretary, and the secretary of the ministry of health and family welfare, who will ensure coordination with state governments and oversee the implementation of the recommendations. The NTFs mandate includes examining the underlying causes of violence against medical professionals, with a particular focus on gender-based violence and developing an enforceable national protocol for ensuring dignified and safe working conditions in health care settings. Key areas of concern identified by the court also encompassed the lack of adequate security measures in hospitals, absence of proper resting spaces for doctors on night duty and unrestricted access of patients and their attendants to sensitive areas within medical facilities. The court further highlighted the need for better infrastructure, such as adequate lighting, functioning CCTV cameras, installation of biometric access control systems and the provision of transportation for medical professionals working late hours. The court order highlighted that health care professionals, who work tirelessly around the clock in hospitals and medical care facilities, often face violence from patients relatives in distress. It noted that such incidents have become increasingly frequent, citing recent attacks in West Bengal, Bihar and Telangana, where medical professionals were assaulted following the death of patients under their care. In addition to addressing physical safety, the NTF is also expected to focus on preventing sexual violence in health care settings. The court underscored the importance of implementing the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 in all hospitals and nursing homes. The NTF, the bench said, will ensure that internal complaints committees are constituted and that hospitals comply with their obligations to provide a safe working environment for women. The victim -- a second-year postgraduate student at the state-run hospital -- was found brutally assaulted and murdered in the seminar hall on August 9. A civic volunteer assigned to the hospital was arrested the next day in connection with the crime. By then, the crime had sparked widespread protests across the state, especially after the governments delay in removing the principal and then reinstating him within four hours. The gruesome case also triggered strikes by doctors and medical associations. On Saturday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the countrys largest body of doctors, called for a nationwide strike, suspending all non-essential medical services for 24 hours. At midnight on Independence Day, tens of thousands of women across the country took to the streets in Reclaim The Night marches, demanding justice for the victim. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has issued a notice to appear for inquiry for Bidadi police station inspector, who has been missing for over a week after the Karnataka high court cleared the way for an investigation into allegations of embezzlement of 72 lakh during his previous posting, an official familiar with the matter said. CCB issued a notice to appear for inquiry for Bidadi police station inspector, who has been missing for over a week after the Karnataka high court cleared the way for an investigation into allegations of embezzlement of 72 lakh during his previous posting (File photo) A CCB officer involved in the investigation, on condition of anonymity, said: The accused inspector is absconding after the high court quashed his request on August 9. Prima facie, it has already been established that the inspector did not remit the seized money to the treasury as required by law. The officer said that inspector, Shankar Naik, who served at Byatarayanapura police station in 2022, is accused of misappropriating funds confiscated during an investigation into a robbery incident. The allegations trace back to October 21, 2021, when Naik arrested Santhosh, a car driver for businessman Harish, in connection with a theft case. Naik had reportedly seized 72 lakh from Santhosh and kept the money with himself from October 22 until February 26, 2023, without properly reporting it to his superiors. Naik was transferred to Anekal on February 27, 2023. Notably, CCTV footage captured Naik placing a gunny bag containing the 72 lakh in Byatarayanapura police station during a nighttime visit on February 26, 2023. The money was later confiscated by Income Tax authorities, the officer said. He further said that the incident came to light when the owner of the filed a complaint after he was asked a bribe of 20 lakh to release the robbed money. When the owner refused to pay, Naik kept the money, believing it to be black money. The matter only came to light when the owner reported it to higher authorities, the officer said. Following the complaint, ACP Bharat Reddy of the Kengeri Gate sub-division began investigation into Naik and an intermediary named Loknath in November 2023 in the case. The FIR, registered under IPC sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 465 (forgery), 110 (abetment when offense committed), and Section 7 (public servant graft), led to the CCB taking over the investigation. Loknath was arrested October 2023 soon after the case against Naik was registered. Meanwhile, Naik sought relief from the HC, resulting in a temporary stay on the investigation. However, the stay was lifted on August 9, prompting Naik to go into hiding and he reportedly turned off his mobile phone, the officer added. The Centre on Wednesday accorded 'Z' category security to veteran politician Sharad Pawar. Sharad Pawar (File Photo) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued orders to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to protect Pawar, following a threat analysis report shared with it by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Accordingly, the CRPF will soon provide its elite Z VIP security cover to the former Union minister, 83, round the clock at his residence and during his travel across the country. More than 60 personnel of the CRPF will shield the ex-Maharashtra chief minister, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), a party formed under his leadership after the NCP, co-founded by him in 1999, was split by his nephew Ajit Pawar in July last year. The Election Commission recognises the Ajit faction as the real NCP; the NCP(SP) has challenged this in the Supreme Court. The VIP security wing of CRPF, is a specialised unit that provides security to protectees assigned by the Union home ministry. These VIPs include Union ministers, governors, politicians, government officials, spiritual leaders, business tycoons, and other prominent individuals. Meanwhile, Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, on Wednesday requested Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, to withdraw police personnel deployed in her security. She made the appeal to Fadnavis following the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by a cleaner in a school in Badlapur in the Thane district. A significant portion of the police force goes in providing security to sitting and former lawmakers, including myself. However, given the current strain on law enforcement, it is inappropriate to maintain such security arrangements. Therefore, I request the home minister to withdraw the officers assigned to my security and reassign them to protect the public, the Baramati MP said in a statement. (With nputs from ANI) The Chandipura virus outbreak in Gujarat has claimed the lives of 28 children under the age of 14 since the first case was reported in July, health minister Rushikesh Patel informed the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The Chandipura virus is mainly transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes and sandflies. (Representational image) The minister was responding to a question by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Umesh Makwana. According to Patel, the state has reported 164 cases of viral encephalitis with 101 children succumbing to the infection. Out of the 164 cases, 61 were specifically caused by the Chandipura virus, which is known to cause fever, flu-like symptoms, and acute inflammation of the brain. The virus is mainly transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes and sandflies. The health minister assured the state legislative assembly on Wednesday that the situation is now under control, with no new cases reported in the past week and no deaths in the last 12 days. Also Read | Explainer: What is Chandipura virus, how does it spread? On July 17, the Gujarat government confirmed the states first death due to the Chandipura virus after a four-year-old child Mota Kanthariya in Aravalli succumbed to the virus at a government hospital in Sabarkantha earlier in the same month. The health minister told the House that the sandfly, which carries the Chandipura virus, typically resides in the cracks and crevices of mud houses that are common in the rural areas of Gujarat. To combat the outbreak, the state government has launched an extensive drive for vector control and containment of the virus. As part of this drive, health teams have surveyed over 53,000 houses in the affected areas, and have sprinkled Malathion powder, a pesticide, in more than 7 lakh mud houses in villages. Additionally, liquid pesticide has been sprayed in nearly 1.58 lakh houses. Recognising the vulnerability of children, the authorities have also carried out these measures in nearly 40,000 schools and over 36,000 Anganwadis in the affected districts. First identified in 1965 in Chandipura, a village in Maharashtra, India, the CHPV virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family and is closely related to the vesicular stomatitis virus. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected sand flies, although other insects may also play a role in its spread. The virus has been sporadically reported in various parts of India, with previous outbreaks occurring in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Senior Congress leader Deepak Babaria, its Haryana in-charge, on Wednesday asserted that the party would certainly accommodate ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat if she decides to fight the October 1 assembly polls in her home state. File image of wrestler Vinesh Phogat at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris. (PTI) Babaria's statement comes amid reports that Vinesh could make her electoral debut against cousin and fellow wrestler, Babita Phogat of the BJP. I don't know if she (Vinesh) has been approached by any of our leaders but if she wants to contest, we will welcome her and we will certainly accommodate her, Babaria was quoted as saying by ANI. Recently, senior Congressman and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, called for a Rajya Sabha nomination for the 29-year-old; the demand was backed by his son and Rohtak MP, Deepender Singh Hooda. That call came after Phogat, in an unfortunate turn of events, was disqualified ahead of her gold medal bout at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris. Assured of at least a silver, which would have been the first Olympic medal for Vinesh in her third Games and the best performance by a female Indian wrestler at an Olympic Games, she was found overweight by a mere 100 grams in her 50 kg category. Phogat then approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the disqualification, and sought a co-silver as well. The CAS, however, stuck to rules and dismissed her appeal. On returning to India, the Haryana native received a grand welcome at the Delhi airport. Deepender Hooda, the Congress party's Rohtak MP, was among those who welcomed her at the IGI Airport in the national capital. New Delhi, The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday to consider whether mining activities could be prohibited in areas that have been declared conservation reserves and community reserves. Consider if mining can be banned in areas declared conservation, community reserves: SC to Govt A bench headed by Justice B R Gavai observed that the basic idea of providing community reserves and conservation reserves was to provide a corridor for free movement of wildlife from one national park or wildlife sanctuary to another. The bench, also comprising Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan, said if conservation reserves and community reserves are to act as corridors, then mining activities in those areas may be detrimental to the movement of wildlife. "However, since the basic idea of providing community reserves and conservation reserves is to provide a corridor for the free movement of wildlife from one national park/wildlife sanctuary ... we request the Union to consider whether at least in the areas which are declared as conservation reserves and community reserves, the mining could be prohibited or not," the bench said. The court was hearing a matter related to mining activities within a one-kilometre radius of conservation reserves and community reserves. The apex court had, in a verdict delivered on April 26 last year, directed that mining within a national park and wildlife sanctuary and within a one-kilometre area of from their boundaries shall not be permissible. During the hearing on Wednesday, the bench said the government should promote eco-tourism. The court noted that in February, it had asked the Centre to hold discussions with various stakeholders, including the states and Union territories, and recommend suggestions in this regard. It said an affidavit has been filed before it by the Centre after taking into consideration the views expressed by various states at a meeting convened by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in March. According to the affidavit, the states appear to be unanimous that imposing any further restrictions in conservation reserves and community reserves could be detrimental to the increase in their numbers, the bench noted. It also noted the submissions of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared in the matter on behalf of the Centre, that national parks and wildlife sanctuaries cannot be equated with community reserves and conservation reserves. Bhati referred to section 36A of the Wild Life Act, which deals with declaration and management of a conservation reserve and says that a state government may, after consultations with local communities, declare any area owned by it, particularly those adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries and those that link one protected area with another, as a conservation reserve for protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat. The bench posted the matter for further hearing in October. While hearing the matter in February, the court had observed, "Prima facie, we are of the view that the conservation parks, reserves and community reserves are for the purpose of providing corridors which connect one sanctuary, national park to another." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The deadline for various individuals, organisations and zoos to declare and register exotic animals is set to expire on August 28, the Union environment ministry said on Tuesday. A total of 32,645 individuals voluntarily declared that they were in possession of exotic and native species from June to December 2020. (Representational image) The environment ministry, on February 28, notified the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024 through a gazette notification. According to these rules, every person who is in possession of any living specimen of species listed in Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, is required to report the details of such animals and submit an application for registration electronically through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal to the Chief Wild Life Warden of the concerned State, within a period of six months from the issue of gazette notification and or within thirty days of possession of such animal species. The six-month period would expire on August 28, 2024. Therefore, all the concerned persons are required to take expeditious action to report such possessions to the concerned Chief Wild Life Warden, through PARIVESH 2.0 portal to avoid any penal actions for non-compliance, a statement by the ministry said on Tuesday. Wildlife and animal rights experts have been critical of ministrys stance of providing an amnesty period of six months in 2020 to voluntarily disclose the possession of any exotic species by individuals or private organisations. These rules have further formalised or regularised the possession of these species, they said. In India, several species are listed in the Wild Life (protection) Act, 1972 and are protected. However, exotic species are imported to India and bred in captivity without proper registration. Considering this, the Ministry had issued an Advisory in June, 2020 for Voluntary Disclosure of Exotic Live Species, with the objectives of creating a unified information system of the stock of exotic live species at the State/Central level through voluntary disclosure and the use of that database towards controlling and management of zoonotic diseases, and for facilitating better management of the species and providing guidance to their holders for their proper care and well-being, a note by the ministry states. A total of 32,645 individuals voluntarily declared that they were in possession of exotic and native species from June to December 2020. The disclosures are not public. Thereafter, the Wildlife Protection Amendment Act 2022 made provisions for implementation of CITES and formally registering possession of exotic animals in governments database. Activists have pointed to a spurt in smuggling of endangered, exotic animals from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world in the past one year which have allegedly been transferred to other parts of the country to private collectors. There has been a very unusual spurt in seizures of exotic animals from Assam and Mizoram including Kangaroos, Koalas, Moor Macaque, Spider Monkeys, Lemurs, baby Orangutans and what not. These were seized and placed in Guwahati zoo and then taken elsewhere because the zoo couldnt keep them according to officials. To make way for transfer of these animals , every rule, regulation has been bent, Mubina Akhtar, wildlife activist and member of the Kaziranga Wildlife Society said on April 5. With the last amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, exotic species listed under CITES were included in Schedule IV. The Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, notified on 28th February 2024, require anyone possessing these animals to register them with the MoEFCC within six months. This latest notice is a reminder to comply before the 28th August deadline, as failure to do so will result in penal action, said Debadityo Sinha, Lead- Climate & Ecosystems, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy on Tuesday. New Delhi, A court here has acquitted a man of the charges of trafficking a girl from Jharkhand in 2014 and forcing her into unlawful compulsory labour, saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges by providing compelling evidence. Delhi court acquits man of charge of trafficking 'girl' from Jharkhand in 2014 Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar was hearing a case involving Shyam Kumar against whom the Hazarat Nizamuddin Railway Police station had registered an FIR under Indian Penal Code sections 370 , 374 , 509 and 323 , and section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act. According to the prosecution, Kumar allegedly trafficked the minor in 2014 from a village in Jharkhand's Khunti district and used force, fraud and deception to employ her as a domestic help, while withholding her earnings. The girl, who was rescued from a railway station in August 2014, was allegedly threatened, beaten up and kept in a situation that was detrimental to her physical and mental well-being, the prosecution had said. Taking note of the evidence before it, including the testimonies of the girl, her father and an employer, along with a contract of employment where her age was mentioned as 19 years, the court, in a recent order, held that the victim was not a minor at the time of the purported offence. It said during the proceedings, the victim categorically admitted that she came to Delhi out of her own volition to earn money, worked willingly as a domestic help in the national capital, following which the accused forced her to work at Hisar and Mumbai. The court noted her statements about not receiving any ill-treatment or beatings at Hisar and that she ran away from Mumbai after a few days. "Going by the testimonies of the victim, that of her father and that of the employers of the victim, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has failed to bring any evidence on record to show that the accused recruited or transported or harboured the victim for exploitation by using threats or coercion, abduction or by practising fraud or deception or abuse of power or by inducement," the judge said. Regarding the allegations of threatening the victim after withholding her payments, the court said these were not mentioned in her initial complaint and were later added as improvements. It said there were no independent witnesses to prove that she was rescued from a railway station in August 2014 by the members of an NGO. "I have no hesitation in holding that the prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused, Shyam Kumar, by leading convincing or cogent evidence and thus, it has failed to discharge the burden placed upon it and therefore, the accused, Shyam Kumar, is entitled to be exonerated. Resultantly, the accused is acquitted," the court said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the 21-year-old college student, who survived the rape attempt by a biker in Bengalurus HSR Layout, for ramming into an auto-rickshaw in an inebriated state on the same night of the incident, a police officer said. The incident took place on August 18, when the woman and her male friend were returning on a bike from a party at a pub in Koramangala (File photo) We have registered a case against the 21-year-old student and her male friend under BNS Section 281 (rash and negligent driving) and the Motor Vehicle Act, based on a complaint filed by an auto-rickshaw driver, Adugodi traffic police inspector Ashok Kumar said. He further said: According to the complaint, the girl, daughter of an army officer, was driving in an inebriated state, hit the auto-rickshaw, and damaged it. The accused didnt stop immediately after the incident. We will issue a notice to the student after she is discharged from the hospital and will take necessary action. The incident took place on August 18, when the woman and her male friend were returning on a bike from a party at a pub in Koramangala. The woman was allegedly driving the car in an inebriated state with her friend as a passenger. Near Mangala Junction, the woman allegedly crashed into three vehiclestwo cars and a bike. Despite the collision, she continued driving towards Forum Mall without stopping, Kumar said. The auto driver, whose vehicle was hit, pursued her car and confronted her when she finally halted near the mall. This led to a confrontation with the auto drivers, prompting the woman to call the police helpline, 112, out of fear. The woman then left the vehicle at the scene, leaving her friend to deal with the situation. While her friend handled the drivers, she walked away, reportedly to seek assistance, he said. After resolving the dispute with the driver, the friend began searching for the woman. He eventually found her attempting to get a ride from a passerby, explaining that she had left her phone at a nearby pub. After briefly reuniting, the woman reportedly left again with a stranger who offered her a ride. It was during this time that the biker made an attempt sexually assault her, the officer said. On Sunday, the accused, identified as Mukeshwaran, a dance teacher in Bengaluru, was arrested. Additional commissioner of police (East Zone) Raman Gupta said the woman, originally from Maharashtra, is a student at a private college in the outskirts of the city. The first biker she approached declined to assist, but a second biker agreed to drop her off, Gupta said. He said the biker, however, took an unexpected route away from the main road, stopped near an isolated shed and attempted to sexually assault the woman. He said: Sensing the potential danger, she activated an emergency alert app on her phone, sharing her live location with her friend and father. The quick response from her friend, who informed the police, allowed police personnel to track her location and reach the scene. The attacker fled the area upon hearing the approaching police vehicle. He had, however, assaulted her, tore her clothes, and left her in a distressed state, he said, adding that the police rushed the woman to a private hospital in Hebbagodi for treatment. In a bid to up the ante over Hindenburg Research's allegations against Adani Group, the Congress will hold 20 press conferences around the country on Wednesday to highlight the need for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh.(PTI) On Tuesday, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said a JPC probe is needed in the Modani Maha Ghotala. "Tomorrow, the Indian National Congress will conduct 20 press conferences across the country to highlight the need for a JPC into the Modani Maha Ghotala that has widespread ramifications for the economy, and for crores of small investors - for whom the integrity of capital market regulators is essential," Ramesh wrote on X. In a report published in January last year, US-based short seller Hindenburg Research had accused Adani Group of improper use of tax havens and flagged concerns about its debt levels. The report had triggered an $86 billion rout in the Adani group's domestically listed stocks and a sell-off in its bonds listed overseas. The Adani Group had dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. In January 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea asking the CBI to investigate the allegations against the Adani group. The court also said that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has the sole jurisdiction to investigate matters of market regulation and stock price manipulation. However, in its latest report in August, Hindenburg Research alleged that SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and Dhaval Buch owned stakes in offshore entities linked to the Adani Group's alleged financial misconduct. The US investment research firm also said that 18 months since its damning report on Adani, "SEBI has shown a surprising lack of interest in Adani's alleged undisclosed web of Mauritius and offshore shell entities.". Buch and her husband have since denied the allegations as baseless and asserted that their finances are an open book. Adani Group has also termed Hindenburg Research's latest allegations as malicious and manipulative of select public information. The Congress, however, has stepped up its attack on the government over the issue and has demanded a JPC probe due to conflicts of interest involving SEBI. A powerful explosion rocked the Ramdevra region of Rajasthans Jaisalmer district on Wednesday after a mysterious bomb-like object fell from an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft and created an eight-foot crater in an area near the Pokhran field firing range, officials and eyewitnesses said. IAF confirmed that a fighter aircraft inadvertently dropped an air store near the Pokhran field firing range on Wednesday. (HT Photo) IAF confirmed that a fighter aircraft inadvertently dropped an air store near the vast air-to-ground firing range, attributing the development to a technical malfunction. In military aviation parlance, air store refers to bombs, missiles or drop tanks to carry more fuel for extended range missions. The air force, which has ordered a probe into the incident, neither identified the type of air store that was accidentally released, nor the fighter jet involved. An inadvertent release of an air store from an IAF fighter aircraft took place near Pokhran firing range area, due to technical malfunction, today. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident. No damage to life or property has been reported, the air force said in a statement posted on X. The air store that fell during the training mission was inert or incapable of detonating, Hindustan Times has learnt. Read more: IAF fighter jet accidentally releases 'air store' near Pokhran; enquiry ordered In footage circulated on social media, locals were seen recording videos of the site and the debris of the air store. Khiv Singh, hailing from Rathoda village, said the incident took place around noon when a fighter aircraft was flying at low level over the village. The powerful explosion occurred around 1km from Singhs village. Curious villagers rushed to the site after hearing the blast, he said, adding that they discovered a mysterious object, resembling a bomb, that had exploded and shattered into pieces, leaving a crater approximately eight feet deep. Additional superintendent of police Gopal Singh Bhati said, The local police responded to the incident and informed the army, BSF, and other security agencies. The incident occurred about 15 kilometres from the army firing range located in Pokhran. The police are investigating the matter. Another resident, Jyoti Sinha, said that villagers rushed to the spot after hearing the sound of the blast. They found a pit that was five to eight feet deep and 15 feet wide, she added. IAF carries out live and inert (dummy) stores drop at firing ranges during training missions, said Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), former director general, Centre for Air Power Studies. Read more: LCA proved its mettle in Tarang Shakti drills, says IAF chief The technical problem that led to the accidental release will be revealed after the inquiry is over. Such release occurs only after a sequence of electronic circuits get activated, Chopra added. The development came five months after the first-ever crash of the IAFs Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA-Mk1) near Jaisalmer. The locally produced single-engine fighter crashed on March 12, minutes after taking part in a tri-services exercise that sought to demonstrate the strides India has made towards self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. The pilot ejected safely. An ongoing investigation into the crash is pointing towards engine seizure, caused by an oil pump malfunction, as the most likely cause of the accident. Two years ago, the government sacked three IAF officers for lapses that led to the accidental firing of a BrahMos missile into Pakistan on March 9, 2022, after a court of inquiry held them responsible for deviating from standard operating procedures. (With inputs from HTC, New Delhi) The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday said one of its fighter aircraft inadvertently released an air store near the Pokhran firing range due to a technical malfunction. The IAF confirmed the incident in a social media post on X, assuring the public that no damage to life or property has been reported. An enquiry by the IAF has been ordered to investigate into the incident, according to the Indian Air Force.(PTI / Representational image) The incident occurred during a routine operation when the air storetypically referring to munitions, bombs, or other military equipment carried by aircraftwas unintentionally deployed. The precise nature of the air store involved in the malfunction has not been disclosed. An enquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the technical glitch, the IAF said. Read: BrahMos missile misfiring into Pakistan cost India 24 crore, Centre tells Delhi HC The Indian Air Force posted on X: An inadvertent release of an air store from an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft took place near Pokhran firing range area, due to technical malfunction, today. An enquiry by the IAF has been ordered to investigate into the incident. No damage to life or property has been reported. The Pokhran firing range, located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, is a key site for testing and training exercises by the Indian armed forces. 2022 accidental BrahMos missile launch The incident draws parallels with a more serious event that occurred in March 2022, when a BrahMos missile was accidentally fired from India into Pakistan. The missile, which was unarmed, crashed into Mian Channu in the Khanewal District of Punjab, Pakistan. The unarmed missile caused damage to some buildings and left a crater in a field, leading to initial confusion and concern among local residents. The incident, which could have led to severe diplomatic fallout or even military confrontation, was quickly acknowledged by Indian authorities as an accident, attributing it to a "technical malfunction" during routine maintenance. Read: IAF reveals what led to accidental BrahMos firing into Pakistan It caused a loss to the tune of 25 crore to the government exchequer, the IAF told the Delhi high court while justifying the dismissal of three IAF (Indian Air Force) officers, including a Wing Commander, for gross negligence. Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday questioned the doctors protesting against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, saying what would be their opinion if soldiers on borders start protesting against the Pulwama attack. Medical professionals hold posters at a hospital in Bengaluru amid nationwide strike by doctors to condemn the rape and murder of a young medic from Kolkata.(AFP) Kunal Ghosh appealed to the doctors to end their strike. He claimed that in the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed in 2019 soldiers have not got justice. "I have a question," he wrote on X in Bengali. "There has been no justice in the Pulwama case. If jawans leave borders and start a 'we want justice' protest, how would they see it?" he said. The Trinamool Congress government is under fire from the opposition over the grisly rape and murder, with the BJP demanding the resignation of Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal's chief minister. Thousands of doctors across the country are protesting against the crime in the state-run hospital. Also read: Kolkata doctor rape-murder | Sandip Ghosh's ex-colleague moves HC seeking ED probe: Sold bodies On Tuesday, the Supreme Court assured the protesting doctors that their demands would be looked into. It urged them to call off their protest and return to work. The court also instructed the West Bengal government to not use force to quell the agitation. The court also slammed the Bengal police for filing the murder FIR three hours after the body was handed over to the victim's family. The woman had gone to the seminar hall of the hospital to rest amid her 36-hour-long shift. She was found dead the next morning. The police have arrested a civic volunteer for the rape and murder. The CBI has also been grilling Dr Sandip Ghosh, who was the principal of the RG Kar College when the murder took place. The agency is trying to find out if the woman was murdered as part of the conspiracy. The agency is also mulling to subject the main accused and the ex-principal to polygraph tests. : The Karnataka Lokayukta has once again submitted a proposal to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking his permission to file a charge sheet against Union minister and senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy in connection with a 2007 mining lease case. Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy. (PTI) The case dating back to 2007 pertains to allegations that Kumaraswamy, during his tenure as chief minister from 2006 to 2008, illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals (SSVM) at Sandur taluk in Bellary district in violation of law, resulting in significant illegal mining activity. It has been alleged that Kumaraswamy, who is the central minister for heavy industries and steel, had bypassed the Minerals Concession Rules while granting the mining lease to the private firm. A 2011 investigation report by then Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde had highlighted illegal mining activities in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy was arrested in the case in 2015 but was later released on bail. A special investigation team (SIT) of the Lokayukta had first sought the sanction from the governor to prosecute Kumaraswamy on November 23 last year. The request, submitted by ADGP M Chandrasekhar, was initially met with a demand for additional information from the governors office. The Lokayuktas SIT provided the necessary details on August 8 and submitted a renewed request on Monday. While Kumaraswamy is yet responded to the development, a JD(S) spokesperson said the party was awaiting his statement. Meanwhile, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday raised concern over delay by the Raj Bhavan in granting permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy and alleged the governor should not pick and choose in the matter of granting sanction for prosecution. He pointed out that the state ombudsman had sought approval from the governor to prosecute the JD(S) leader on November 23, 2023, yet no decision has been made. Siddaramaiah also criticised the governor for allegedly withholding permission to prosecute former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani, and G. Janardhana Reddy. On the other hand, TJ Abraham lodged a complaint against me with the governor on July 26 at 11 am and 10 hours later I was served a show-cause notice. Isnt it discrimination? Siddaramaiah told reporters. Thats the reason that the governor was told not to use pick and choose and should not do it selectively. Governor Gehlot on August 16 granted sanction for prosecution against Siddaramaiah under 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with alleged irregularities in site allotment in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. The prosecution order against Siddaramaiah was put on hold by the Karnataka high court till August 29. Our chief minister is a constitutional expert and law graduate. He should know that he can challenge the governor in court but cant question him on the street. Has the Constitution given him the right to threaten the governor? senior BJP leader CT Ravi said. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk called on India to enhance its efforts, as the voice of the Global South, to bring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Odisha forest department have begun a novel exercise: tagging horseshoe crabs to understand the population and habitat utilisation of this globally recognised living fossil. India is home to two species of horseshoe crabs (which are actually not true crabs), Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (mangrove), and both are found along the countrys eastern coast. (HT Photo) India is home to two species of horseshoe crabs (which are actually not true crabs), Tachypleus gigas and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (mangrove), and both are found along the countrys eastern coast. In Odisha, they are found along the coasts of Balasore and Kendrapara districts. Over the years, however, their numbers have dwindled due to destructive fishing practices and illegal harvesting for biomedical testing. In a bid to understand the species behaviour in the wild, ZSI and the Odisha forest department has tagged 12 horseshoe crabs in the Khandia Muhan estuary of the Balasore coast. This is an extremely important species. We need to come up with a conservation plan, said Dhriti Banerjee, director, ZSI. The exercise is set to be completed over the next three years. The plan involved tagging hundreds of crabs to determine their population pattern and the threats to the population, said senior ZSI scientist Basudev Tripathy. All the tags are marked with a serial number, mobile number and has Zoological Survey of India mentioned. Tags will help us to track the migratory routes of the marine species, he said. The blue blood of crabs can clot in the presence of bacteria, rendering them harmless. This clotting ability has been extensively utilised in testing injectable medicines, vaccines, and sterile medical equipment. The outer layer of horseshoe crabs consists of chitin that enhances wound healing and serves as a crucial component in treating burn wounds. Although there are no estimates of their population decline, scientists in Odisha say in the 1990s and early 2000s, there were around 40 specimens in a 200-square metre area, and now one can hardly see them. There are only a few estuaries left in Odisha, including one in Balasore where horseshoe crabs can be found. Destructive fishing practices are major threats to horseshoe crabs, and there are reports of illegal smuggling of the species from the Odisha and West Bengal coasts. Horseshoe crabs are a Schedule 2 species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, said Tripathy. With the tagging exercise, experts hope to understand the reproductive biology and growth rate of the species, which emerged 250 million years ago, and has not changed in appearance since, which explains why many refer to it as a living fossil. Tagging is most often conducted to obtain information on reproductive biology, movement and growth rate. The tagging will help us in studying the horseshoe crabs migratory route and areas of foraging. Tagging data will also prove interconnection of horseshoe crab population in Odisha coast, said BC Chaudhury, former wildlife biologist and scientific adviser of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Banerjee said ZSI plans to propose to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change to conduct advanced research using modern techniques like satellite telemetry to gather more information about these fascinating creatures. Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday charged the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot with indulging in discrimination while approving prosecution sanction requests. He noted that the Lokayukta's Special Investigation Team has once again submitted a proposal to the Governor on Monday seeking permission to file a charge-sheet against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy in an alleged illegal mining lease case. The SIT had first requested Gehlot's nod in November last year to prosecute the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, who had allegedly granted mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateshwara Minerals when he was the Chief Minister in 2007 in violation of law. Speaking to reporters at Ganigera in Koppal district, Siddaramaiah said the Governor issued show-cause notice to him on July 26, the same day he received a petition seeking sanction for his prosecution, while in Kumaraswamy's case, Gehlot has not taken any action. "Has he not discriminated ?" the Chief Minister questioned. Gehlot on August 16 granted sanction permitting investigation against Siddaramaiah under 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and prosecution under Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment 'scam.' "We have not sought sanction or private . Sanction was sought by Lokayukta SIT. They have investigated, collected evidence, and thereafter they have sought , that means there is evidence against him ," the Chief Minister said. "In my case, no police officer has sought . Lokayukta has also not sought . There is no preliminary inquiry. Despite that, sanction was given, In his case, after Lokayukta conducted investigation, they have requested for sanction . Is it discrimination or not ? Siddaramaiah said. Responding to questions, the Chief Minister said he has not said anywhere that Kumaraswamy would be arrested. "If there is a circumstance to arrest him, we will arrest him without any hesitation. Such a circumstance is not there now. He is now scared that the Governor will give sanction," the Chief Minister said. On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah had also said the Governor did not give permission to the Lokayukta to prosecute former BJP ministers Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani and G Janardhana Reddy. Siddaramaiah has termed as "trumped-up" the allegations of irregularities in the allotment of sites to his wife Parvathi by the MUDA. In his writ petition challenging the Governor's order in the High Court on Monday, the Chief Minister submitted that it was issued without due application of mind, in violation of statutory mandates, and contrary to constitutional principles, including the advice of the Council of Ministers, which is binding under Article 163 of the Constitution of India. Siddaramaiah, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, said the Governors decision is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations. On the petition filed by him, the High Court passed interim orders directing the trial court to defer proceedings on complaints against him and further instructing that no precipitative action be taken pursuant to the sanction till August 29. The BJP has demanded the Chief Minister's resignation to pave way for a transparent and unbiased investigation. Karnataka CM accuses Guv of discrimination while approving prosecution sanction requests Kolkata doctor rape-murder case live: Sourav Ganguly lit a candle at the protest site at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday. Kolkata rape case news: Indian-origin doctors wrote an open letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to ensure the safety of medical professionals after the systemic failure that led to the RG Kar incident. The doctors also asked the chief minister to provide swift justice to the family and ensure such an incident is not repeated....Read More The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the West Bengal government for using their power to silence peaceful protests and questioned them for mishandling the case. The court formed a 10-member national taskforce to ensure the safety of medical professionals while hearing a case related to the RG Kar hospital incident. The Indian Medical Association welcomed the court's intervention to ensure safety for medical personnel and announced that it will collaborate with the committee appointed by the court on issues related to security. The CBI is expected to submit a status report on the crime as well as the mob vandalism which occurred at RG Kar hospital on August 22, during the next court hearing. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, referred to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital on August 9 as horrific and horrendous. They also pointed out that the lack of safety for women at the workplace was akin to denying them equality. The CJI also noted that this was not just about one crime but a systemic issue that needed to be addressed in time. He said, As more and more women join the work force.....the nation cannot wait another rape for things to change on the ground. Meanwhile, Congress workers in Siliguri held a candlelight march to protest and demand justice from the government in the case. Kolkata doctor rape-murder: The father of a 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered during a rest break at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospita,l recalled her daughters love for medicine. Medical professionals hold posters at a hospital in Bengaluru amid nationwide strike by doctors to condemn the rape and murder of a young medic from Kolkata.(AFP) In a heart-wrenching interview with The Guardian, the father said they belong a poor family and his daughter was raised with a lot of hardship. She worked extremely hard to become a doctor. All she did was study, study, study All our dreams have been shattered in one night. We sent her to work and the hospital gave us her body. Its all finished for us, The Guardian quoted the father as saying. Also Follow | Kolkata doctor rape-murder case live updates "My daughter isnt coming back. Im never going to hear her voice or laugh. All I can do now is concentrate on getting her justice, he added. Also Read | Sandip Ghosh indulged in business of dead bodies, says RG Kar medical college ex-colleague: Report On August 9, the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested in connection with the crime the next day. Later, the Calcutta high court handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata on 9 August, and subsequent handling of the case by the authorities, has led to protests and strikes by doctors across India. Also Read | Ex-TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty receives rape threats for backing Kolkata doctors' protest The father of the victim shared that a career in medicine was the lifelong dream of his only child. At 31, she had defied the odds to secure one of the approximately 107,000 spots in Indias medical colleges, where over a million aspiring doctors compete each year, The Guardian report added. Her parents supported her dream with the unstable income her father made as a tailor. She said: Papa, its a good thing to become a doctor and help others. What do you think? I said: OK, do it. Well help you. And look what happened, the father recalled. Kolkata rape-murder: What mother-in-law of accused said The mother-in-law of accused suggested the involvement of more people in the crime as she said that Sanjoy Roy could not have done it alone. Recounting her daughter's experience with Sanjoy Roy while speaking to news agency ANI on Monday, the woman described the relationship as tense adding that Sanjoy Roy thrashed her daughter against which a police complaint was filed. "My relations with him were very tense," she said, adding, Initially, everything was good for 6 months. When she was 3 months pregnant, he caused a miscarriage. He thrashed her, and a police complaint was registered for the same. Following this, my daughter continued being ill, I bore all her expenses for medicines. "Sanjoy was not good. Hang him or do whatever you want with him. I won't speak about the crime. He could not have done it alone. He can't do it alone," she said. An ex-colleague of the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking an Enforcement Directorate probe into alleged financial irregularities perpetrated by the doctor. Kolkata: Doctors take part in a protest march from Central Government Offices (CGO) complex to Swasthya Bhawan over the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor.(PTI ) Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was allowed by Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj to file the petition, reported PTI. Earlier, Ali told a news channel in an interview that Sandip Ghosh was involved in the business of "dead bodies". He claimed he would sell unclaimed dead bodies. He told India Today that Ghosh was involved in the trafficking of biomedical waste and medical supplies to Bangladesh. He also said that he had informed about Ghosh's activities to the state vigilance. He claimed a probe found him guilty. However, Ali was transferred the day he submitted the probe report to the state's health department. He claimed Sandip Ghosh would force students to pay bribes or else would deliberately fail them in exams. On Tuesday, the Kolkata Police started their probe into the alleged financial irregularities perpetrated by Sandip Ghosh at the hospital. The probe against Sandip Ghosh commenced after a four-member SIT was constituted to investigate the alleged financial irregularities at the hospital. "There are allegations that Ghosh was involved in financial irregularities at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Our officers will soon issue summons to him for questioning," an officer told PTI. Sandeep Ghosh has been in the CBI's scanner over his conduct after the rape and murder of the trainee doctor inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital. The agency is trying to find out if the murder was part of a larger conspiracy. The agency had asked Ghosh during interrogation who ordered the renovation work near the crime scene after the murder. They have also asked why the victim's parents were made to wait for three hours. With inputs from PTI The Central Bureau of Investigation is mulling to subject RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's ex-principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, to a polygraph test. The lie-detector test will be performed because the agency had found discrepancies in some of his answers during interrogation, said a CBI official. Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh reaches CBI office to be questioned in the case.(PTI file photo) Earlier this month, a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the hospital's seminar room. She had gone to the room to rest amid her gruelling 36-hour-long shift. The Kolkata police arrested a civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy for the grisly murder after his Bluetooth headphones were found near the body. The CBI has been interrogating Sandip Ghosh who had resigned two days after the crime for several days to figure out if the doctor was murdered as part of a conspiracy. According to reports, the CBI had asked Ghosh what was his first reaction when he heard about the murder. The agency has also asked the doctor why he made the victim's parents wait for three hours before handing over the body. Also read: Kolkata rape-murder case: 3 police officers, including 2 ACPs, suspended The agency told PTI they wanted to verify Sandip Ghosh's answers through the polygraph test. "We want to verify Ghosh's answers further, as there have been discrepancies in some of the replies to our questions. Therefore, we are mulling over the option to conduct a polygraph test on him," the official told PTI. The agency has also asked the doctor for the name of the person whom he had contacted after receiving the information about the murder. He has also been quizzed over the authorisation of renovation of rooms adjacent to the seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital after her body was discovered there. The agency had recently obtained permission from a local court to subject Sanjay Roy to a polygraph test. Sandip Ghosh's questioning began after the Calcutta high court observed that he should have been the first person to be questioned. The Supreme Court on Tuesday lambasted the West Bengal government over the delay in the registration of the FIR in the case, saying what Sandip Ghosh and the hospital administration were doing after they discovered the murder. The court also noted that Ghosh had tried to pass off the murder as a suicide. Three senior Kolkata Police officers, including two assistant commissioners of police (ACPs), have been suspended over vandalism at the city's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last week. Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Vandalism by miscreants at Emergency department in RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times) Days after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the seminar hall of the state-run hospital, a mob had barged into the premises. It vandalised its emergency department, nursing station and medicine store. The violence at the state-run hospital took place amid midnight protests by women in Kolkata. Three officers have been suspended... Two are assistant police commissioners and one is an inspector, an official told PTI. The Kolkata Police came under severe criticism by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, which slammed the former for not being able to control the mob. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court questioned the police over a host of issues, including delay in filing the first information report, delay in handing over the body to the victim's family and failure to protect women and doctors during the mob attack. A bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, said the country would be denying the right to equality if women can't go to work and be safe. The court also noted that the ex-principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh, tried to pass off the murder as a suicide. The bench also asked the police how they could allow miscreants to enter the hospital, which was an active crime scene. The court added that the body was handed over to the family at 8.30 am for the funeral and the murder FIR was registered at 11.45 pm. The woman was raped and murdered at the seminar hall when she had gone to the room to rest amid her 36-hour shift. Her post-mortem report revealed that she had 16 external and nine internal injuries. The report also confirmed sexual assault. Doctors across the country have been protesting against the rape-murder. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court urged them to call off their agitation and assured them of action on their demands. With inputs from PTI Kolkata: A team of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) arrived at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for inspection on Wednesday on the order of the Surpeme Court, which pulled up the West Bengal government on Tuesday for the mob rampage at the state-run hospital on the intervening night of August 14-15, officials aware of the development said. Central forces have been deployed at Kolkatas RG Kar hospital on Supreme Court orders (Twitter Photo) Days after the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor in the hospitals seminar hall, a mob had barged into the premises, vandalising its emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store. Meanwhile, two assistant police commissioners (ACPs) and an inspector have been suspended over the vandalism incident, officials said. ACPs Ramesh Roychowdhury and Shakiruddin Sardar and inspector Rakesh Minj have been charged with dereliction of duty. They were posted in that area on the night of the rampage. The government has also ordered complete restructuring of police deployment at the hospital till the CISF takes charge of security, a Kolkata police official said on condition of anonymity. A team of senior CISF officials reached the hospital on Wednesday to inspect the current security arrangements. They also held several meetings with the health department and Kolkata police. At all big state-run hospitals, including RG Kar, security personnel are provided by private agencies hired on contract. Police personnel are posted only at the main entraces and outside the emergency departments. We cannot share any detail right now regarding the deployment of CISF. We are holding discussions, Kumar Pratap Singh, a deputy inspector general (DIG) in the Central Force, told the media outside the hospital on Wednesday. A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Tuesday reacted sharply to the August 15 rampage. In the aftermath of the brutal incident and the demonstrations that followed, the state government was expected to ensure the deployment of the state machinery to prevent a breach of law and order. It was all the more necessary to do so since the investigation of the crime that took place in the precincts of the hospital was under way. We are unable to comprehend how the state was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalization of the premises of the hospital, the court said in its order, a copy of which was seen by HT. A mob of around 7,000 people stormed into the hospital around 12.40am on August 15 and destroyed property inside the emergency building while junior doctors were holding an agitation against the August 9 rape and murder of a postgraduate student. The violence took place when peaceful agitations, including a reclaim the night march by women, were taking place across Kolkata and the districts of Bengal. Several police personnel were injured by brickbats hurled by the miscreants. None of the agitating junior doctors sustained any injury, but the mob had damaged beds and medical equipment on the ground, first and second floors of the emergency building. On August 9, the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital . A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested the next day in connection with the crime. The Calcutta high court later transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The rampage took place hours after a CBI team from Delhi visited the hospital and began its probe. The newly appointed principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was removed from her position on Wednesday evening after the students' protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor on the premises of the college intensified, reported India Today. Thousands of junior doctors, senior doctors, medical students and other medical professionals take out a protest rally. (Photo by Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times) Dr Suhrita Paul, who was appointed as the dean of the RG Kar Medical College on August 12, was removed from the post after a delegation of students met officials at the Swasthya Bhavan and organised a march against the administration on call during the night of the horrific crime. Apart from Dr Paul, the hospital superintendent and the head of the Chest Department at the RG Kar Medical College were also sacked, reported India Today. Paul was appointed as the principal of the college on the same day as the transfer of former dean Sandip Ghosh to the prestigious Calcutta's National Medical College. Ghosh's removal and immediate appointment to another college was met with a massive backlash by the doctor fraternity and medical students amid outrage against the rape case. Senior doctors, nurses and wannabe medics from across medical colleges of the state, numbering a few thousand, conducted a march to the state health department headquarters on Wednesday, raising questions on Paul's appointment. Our newly-appointed principal Dr Surhita Pal has gone missing. She is supposed to be our guardian but she has not turned up at the campus since the night the hospital was vandalised. We have heard that she is operating out of Shwasthya Bhavan. So we are headed there to find her out, a junior doctor told PTI. The CBI, meanwhile, grilled former RG Kar hospital principal Sandip Ghosh for the sixth consecutive day. Sources said a day before the agency was supposed to submit its investigation progress report to the Supreme Court on Thursday, investigators were trying to crosscheck a bunch of inconsistencies found in Ghoshs statements. A former deputy superintendent of RG Kar on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking an ED investigation against Ghosh, alleging financial irregularities by him during his tenure at the state-run facility. On August 9, the body of a junior doctor was found in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, showing multiple serious injuries. The autopsy report said that the woman had been raped and strangled to death. (With inputs from PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the removal of the name, photos and videos of a trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, from all social media platforms. The supreme court asked for the removal of the victim's photos, videos and name from social media (PTI)(HT_PRINT) A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, pointed out that disclosing the identity of a victim of sexual assault was a violation of the Supreme Court order passed in the Nipun Saxena case, which emphasised the need for a victim to be protected from scrutiny. This court is constrained to issue an injunctive order since the social and electronic media have proceeded to publish the identity of the deceased and photographs of the dead body after the recovery of the body," CJI Chandrachud ordered all social and electronic media platforms to comply with the directive. The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others against the disclosure of the trainee doctor's identity on social media. The plea said the name of the victim and related hashtags had been widely spread on electronic and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). Earlier in the day, the top court had said it was deeply concerned that the name of the deceased had been published all over social media. "Photographs and video clips are all over the media. This is extremely concerning. We are first to recognise free speech but there are well-settled parameters. There are judgments of the court like in Nipun Saxena (case) that names of survivors of sexual assault will not be published," the Supreme Court said. In its 2018 judgment in the Nipun Saxena case, the apex court had ordered, "No person can print or publish in print, electronic, social media, etc. the name of the victim or even in a remote manner disclose any facts which can lead to the victim being identified and which should make her identity known to the public at large." The trainee doctor's body was found on August 9. A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested by the Kolkata Police the following day for his alleged involvement in the rape-murder incident. He is currently being questioned by the CBI and is likely to undergo a polygraph test as well. New Delhi, Resident doctors staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, marking the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in a Kolkata hospital. Kolkata rape-murder: Doctors protest at Jantar Mantar on day 10, demand better workplace safety "It's very important to understand that we are fighting for better working conditions in our own workplace," one of the protesting doctors said. Elective services in several government hospitals across the city have remained suspended due to the protests. Resident doctors arrived at Jantar Mantar at 11 am for the protest, marking their second gathering there after Saturday. Slogans such as, 'Doshi ko saza do' and 'Shauk nahin, majboori hai; ye hadtal zaroori hai' echoed at the protest site as major resident doctor associations gathered to demonstrate. "Not just as a doctor, but as a woman, I often feel unsafe while working. I have to be extra careful during work and constantly think about my own safety, often carrying a key or something for protection," Radhika Sharma, a doctor from Lady Hardinge Medical college, said. "The situation is beyond us... It's a mass movement and we need protection," Sharma said, adding that this fight is very important for the doctors as they are fighting for better working conditions at their workplaces. Another protesting doctor said, "We are thankful to the Supreme Court for recognising this as a national issue, but we are continuing the strike because we want this issue to reach a conclusion as soon as possible". "Safety should not just be an assurance; we want a protection act, and we want it from the central government," the doctor said. AIIMS, GTB, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals have released individual statements urging participation in the silent protest. Members of Resident Doctors' Association from major hospitals in Delhi, along with the Federation of Resident Doctors' Associations and the Federation of All India Medical Associations , have been on an indefinite strike. On Tuesday, after conducting a meeting with the RDA members, both the bodies representing the resident doctors released a statement saying they will continue with the strike until the Health Ministry takes concrete action on the issue of CPA. On August 9, the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime the next day. Later, the Calcutta High Court handed over the case to the CBI. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress-led state government on Wednesday in response to Karnataka's Special Investigation Team regarding Lokayukta's request for permission to file a charge sheet against him. Kumaraswamy denied any involvement in the case and accused the Congress government of attempting to tarnish his reputation. Union minister HD Kumaraswamy holds press conference on Tuesday. (HT_PRINT) HD Kumaraswamy said, From 2011 the allegations are going that one mining allotment was issued in my tenure. The allegation is that when I was the chief minister in 2007, I favoured Sai Venkateshwara. There are allegations that I have collected 150 crores from mining owners. So I requested Lokayukta to start an inquiry about the same. They started the enquiry in 2011 and several findings have come out. The Lokayukta submitted that enquiry report to the Government in 2010 or 2011. There is no exchequer loss. Till now no mining area has been allocated to anyone. In my case, the Supreme Court gave the direction on the interference of the present Congress Government in the year 2014- 15 headed by Siddaramaiah. They appealed in the Court and asked for enquiry. The court permitted enquiry. The court ordered to complete the enquiry within 3 months and come up with the report. SC also directed not to go to any other court and SC will give the ultimate decision, he added. The SIT went to the Supreme Court 2 to 3 times but only filed the status report. Now after the Congress came to power in 2023, they went to the governor in November requesting sanction to file chargesheet against me. Then governor after a thorough study said that there was some controversy regarding the signature on the file, so directed to once again go through the case and come again, he said. "The SIT of the Karnataka Lokayukta have even taken my statement, now they have filed the chargesheet. Let's see what happens. I have no role in the case. This government wants to malign me. But this is a dead case," he added. What is the case? On Monday, the SIT submitted a proposal requesting the governor's approval to press charges against Kumaraswamy, based on reports from the Karnataka Lokayukta led by Justice Santosh Hegde covering the period from November 22, 2013, to June 6, 2017. Since Kumaraswamy was the chief minister during the alleged scam and is now a Union minister, only the governor can authorise his prosecution. Lokayukta officials noted that if permission is granted, it could lead to legal complications for Kumaraswamy, who holds a prominent position in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government. HD Kumaraswamy on CM Siddaramaiah's MUDA case On the allegations against CM Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case, HD Kumaraswamy said that the chief minister's wife requested to get compensatory land. CM's brother-in-law fabricated documents and acquired the land. The land belongs to MUDA. Everything has happened under Siddaramaiah only by misusing the office of the CM, he added. On Monday, the Karnataka High Court suspended action against chief minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam case until a petition challenging the governor's sanction is reviewed. The court scheduled the matter for hearing on August 29 and instructed the lower court to halt all related proceedings until then. Previously, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah questioned whether Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot had treated him unfairly. Siddaramaiah noted that while the governor had granted immediate permission to prosecute him in the MUDA scam case, he seemed to be taking a more delayed approach regarding HD Kumaraswamys case. Has the governor not discriminated by giving immediate permission for prosecution against me? In the case of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, the Governor has been following a delay policy but he has permitted the prosecution without relying on any investigation report against me. Is this not discrimination? CM told reporters in Koppal on Wednesday. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said that while the Lokayukta Special Investigation Team had requested permission to prosecute the Janata Dal (Secular) leader in the alleged illegal mining case, the governor had not yet acted on this request. Karnataka CM added, In HD Kumarawamy's case, the Governor is following a delaying approach, but he has allowed prosecution against me without any investigation report. What else is this but discrimination? Kumaraswamy is already scared. They are worried that the governor may allow an investigation into the illegal mining case. Lokayukta SIT submitted an investigation report against him and sought permission for prosecution, but as the Governor took no action, SIT applied again, CM added. A meeting between Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Saifullah Khalid, designated a global terrorist by the US, and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in the Qatar capital of Doha has raised eyebrows in New Delhi. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Doha on August 2.(Reuters) Khalid, designated a terrorist by the US Treasury department in 2018 and currently a leader of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), which is a political front organisation of the LeT, was seen with Meshaal in a video shared on social media on Tuesday by PMMLs media arm. The video also featured PMML vice-president Faisal Nadeem, -- designated by the US for his role as head of the LeT in Pakistans Sindh province -- and Naji Zaheer as-Sarmi, Meshaals representative to Pakistan. The LeT leaders met Meshaal to convey their condolences over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a suspected Israeli attack in Tehran, according to the video. Also read: Hamas criticises Blinken's Gaza ceasefire claim: Not what we agreed on Khalid is known to be a close aide of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who was the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was included in the list of specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs) along with PMMLs previous incarnation Milli Muslim League by the US Treasury department in 2018 for acting on behalf of LeT. He was also the head of LeTs Peshawar headquarters and served on Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD)s coordination committee for Pakistans Punjab province, according to the US. A senior official in one of Indias central intelligence agencies described Pakistans decision to allow a US-designated terrorist to travel to Doha to meet a Hamas leader as interesting. The official, who asked not to be identified, said that such acts automatically expose the double standards of Islamabad. This establishes that LeT, despite being banned on paper, conducts its activities freely in Pakistan in the garb of a political party and is supported by the government there, this official added. This is, however, not the first time that LeT functionaries have come out in support of Hamas. A representative of Hamas leader Meshaal shared the stage with Khalid, Nadeem and other PMML leaders in Karachi last year while calling for anti-Israel protests. PMML contested the February 2024 general elections in Pakistan. Hafiz Saeeds son Hafiz Talha contested from a constituency in Lahore on the party ticket but lost to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Latif Khosa. Hafiz Saeed is said to be lodged in a jail in Lahore after he was sentenced to a total of 31 years by Pakistans anti-terrorism courts in several cases of financing terrorism. LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, all backed by Pakistans security establishment, have lately accelerated their activities in Jammu & Kashmir by infiltrating foreign fighters to target the security forces and civilians, particularly as the Union territory is gearing up for elections. In November last year, Israel listed LeT as a terror organisation to mark the 15th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed and another 238 injured. Also read: Israeli military retrieves bodies of six hostages from Gaza Dr Sameer Patil, director, Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said: Saifullah Khalids international travel shows that despite Pakistans proclamation about cracking down on terrorist groups and associated terrorists, it is just a cosmetic action. In reality, it has not dented the ability of terror masterminds to operate freely not just within Pakistan, but also continuous activities abroad. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s ideological fount Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), took to the streets on Wednesday demanding the registration of a case against a school in Madhya Pradeshs Ratlam for using Pakistani flags for a scene on partition in a play on Indias independence struggle. The workers of ABVP blocked the Mhow-Neemuch Road. ABVP demanded the registration of a case against the school. (X) District collector Rajesh Batham said that they were looking into the matter even as Ratlams Child Welfare Committee (CWC) issued a notice to the district education officer seeking cancellation of a schools recognition. The notice said anti-national activities were organised in the school on August 15 by giving Pakistani flags to children aged between three and four. Who gave the flag of any other country, especially the flag of Pakistan, to small children? What is your intention behind this? it asked. The notice said the school tried to influence the minds of children without caring for the countrys dignity and integrity. It added the children were being poisoned against the nation. This is what it seems at first glance. If such anti-national acts are being done by children openly on Independence Day, then it can be understood what kind of feelings are being filled in their minds towards the nation on the remaining days. The notice said recognition of the school should be cancelled immediately and the children should be admitted to other schools. Strict action should be taken against the school owner, the notice said. Deepak Panth, the school director, said the play was based on the independence struggle. The flags were used to depict a scene of the partition of India and Pakistan. It had flags of both countries. Someone filmed one scene which went viral on social media. We have the script. We organised a play to tell the story of independence to children. We have also apologised, said Panth. The Election Commission on Wednesday temporarily suspended the declaration of results of various ongoing recruitment drives in Haryana, where assembly elections will be conducted on October 1. Election Commission of India (File Photo) The results of these recruitment processes cannot be announced before the completion of the polls, the election body said, adding that it had received a complaint from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh regarding a possible violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The Election Commission, however, asserted that there was no violation of the Model Code as the recruitment process had been initiated much before the poll schedule was released (on August 16). Cognisance was taken of the complaint received from Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, regarding violation of the Model Code in the process of recruitment against 5600 vacancies for the post of Constable in the Haryana Police, 76 posts of TGT and PTI by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and the recruitment for various posts by Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC), the poll body stated in its response to the senior member of the grand old party. Subsequently, a detailed response was sought from the state government and after ascertaining the facts, the Commission found no violation of the MCC. The recruitment process was initiated before the announcement of elections and is within the existing MCC instructions. However, in order to maintain level playing field and to ensure that no undue advantage is accrued to anyone, results of these recruitments shall not be released till the completion of assembly elections, the statement added. During the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the year, opposition parties had repeatedly claimed there was no level playing field for them. Haryana will see a straight fight between the BJP, in power here since October 2014, and the Congress. The counting will be held on October 4. Kolkata rape-murder case: The mother-in-law of the accused in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata alleged that her son-in-law, Sanjay Roy, had previously caused her daughter to suffer a miscarriage and described their relationship as strained, according to news agency ANI. She also accused Roy of physically assaulting her daughter in the past, leading to a prior police complaint against him. Sanjay Roy, accused in Kolkata rape-murder case The mother-in-law, Durga Devi, suggested that more individuals might be involved in the crime, expressing doubts that Roy could have acted alone. Speaking to news agency ANI, Durga Devi recounted her daughters troubled marriage with Sanjay Roy. "My relations with him were very tense," Durga Devi said, adding, "Initially, everything was good for 6 months. When she was 3 months pregnant, he caused a miscarriage. He thrashed her, and a police complaint was registered for the same. Following this, my daughter continued being ill, I bore all her expenses for medicines." Durga Devi continued, "Sanjoy was not a good person. Hang him or do whatever you want with him. I won't comment on the crime itself, but he couldnt have done it alone." Latest updates The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have ignited widespread outrage and protests across the nation, with demands for justice and strict punishment for the accused. The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the West Bengal government for its mishandling of the investigation into the brutal rape and murder that has triggered a nationwide uproar. The courts criticism centred around the significant delay in lodging the FIR on August 9 into the incident, the allegation by the parents that the hospital first told them it was a suicide, and the vandalism that occurred at the hospital five days later, raising questions about the competence of the West Bengal police in safeguarding medical professionals. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been granted permission to conduct a polygraph test on the arrested suspect. On August 18, the CBI team examined and conducted 3D laser mapping in the emergency ward of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an enquiry/investigation into the allegations of financial irregularities in R G Kar Hospital from January 2021 to the present. On Wednesday, a former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court, seeking an ED investigation against its former principal, Sandip Ghosh, over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure at the state-run facility. The Union government has directed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to take over the security of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, according to official sources. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued these directions following an order from the Supreme Court. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued directions following an order from the Supreme Court. A notification from the Home and Hill Affairs Department stated that the SIT would have the authority to access any necessary documents from government departments and private agencies to expedite the inquiry. The SIT has been instructed to submit its initial report to the State Government within one month of its formation. On August 9, the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested the next day in connection with the crime. The Calcutta High Court later transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). (With ANI, PTI inputs) Bhubaneshwar: A 60-year-old man and a 34-year-old man were killed allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Odishas Ganjam district on Wednesday morning, officials aware of the matter said. (Representative Photo) At least 17 people from the Chikiti area were admitted to different hospitals in Ganjam on Monday after allegedly drinking country liquor sold near Moundpur, said officials. Officials said that while of the 17 succumbed on Wednesday, the condition of two others remains critical, and they have been kept under observation in the ICU. Family members of the victims claimed that the liquor was illicitly brewed in a forest near Bhalughai and sold in the nearby areas. Ganjam district collector Dibyajyoti Parida, who visited the patients, said that the liquor is likely to have been laced with some spurious substances. State excise commissioner Narasingha Bhol, who visited the affected area, said liquor samples have been collected for laboratory testing. A joint action team comprising police and excise officials will be formed to intensify raids on illegal liquor operations in the district, Bhol said, adding that they have arrested seven people and seized about 55 litres of country liquor. Meanwhile, the state legislative assembly was adjourned twice on Wednesday, with opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs rushing to the well of the House, demanding a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) probe into the hooch incident. The BJD leaders said it will send a fact-finding team that will visit Chikiti and submit a report to Naveen Patnaik. The Union governments decision to roll back a controversial lateral entry advertisement sparked a political war-of-words on Tuesday with the Opposition claiming credit for protecting reservations and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) saying it had followed the Constitution. In a letter to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman Preeti Sudan, Union minister Jitendra Singh asked to cancel an advertisement for the lateral entry of 45 bureaucrats, suggesting a review keeping in mind reservation norms to ensure social equity. (HT PHOTO) In a letter to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman Preeti Sudan, Union minister Jitendra Singh asked to cancel an advertisement for the lateral entry of 45 bureaucrats, suggesting a review keeping in mind reservation norms to ensure social equity. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the decision, saying it was a United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era policy in which the Narendra Modi government had injected transparency. Also Read | PM Modi has shown commitment to: Vaishnaw on UPSC lateral entry rollback Today, PM Modi has reflected the commitment towards Babasahebs Constitution through a very important decision. A decision has been taken to implement principles of reservation in the very transparent method of lateral entry in UPSC. PM Modi has always shown his commitment towards social justice, he said. But Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attacked the government. We will protect the Constitution and the reservation system at all costs, he said. The Congress will foil conspiracies like BJPs lateral entry at any cost, he added, further saying that by breaking the 50% reservation limit, the party will ensure social justice on the basis of caste count. The row began after UPSC last Saturday advertised 45 posts -- 10 of joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries -- to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis for a three-year term. Bureaucrats are usually recruited through the civil services exam process but lateral entrants, typically experts in a particular field, are inducted directly for a limited term. No quota is currently applicable to these appointments. The Congress hit out at the government. Long live the Constitution! The Congress Partys fight for social justice for our Dalits, tribals, backward and weaker sections has foiled the BJPs plans to snatch away reservation. Modi governments letter on lateral entry shows that only the power of the Constitution can defeat the arrogance of dictatorial power, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on X. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav echoed him.The conspiracy of making appointments through the back door of lateral entry in UPSC by rejecting reservation has finally succumbed to the unity of PDA. The government has now had to withdraw this decision as well. He added, Lateral entry has exposed the anti-reservation face of BJP. He was referring to the SPs electoral formulation of backwards, Dalits and Adivasis. Yadav also declared his commitment to prevent any similar moves in the future. We will not allow any such move to succeed in future and will strongly and decisively oppose it, he said. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin called it a victory of social justice but urged continued vigilance. The Union BJP Govt will try to undermine reservation through various formsThe arbitrary 50% ceiling on reservation must be broken, and a nationwide caste census is essential to protect the rights of the backward and oppressed. The Rashtriya Janata Dal also attacked the government. It happened on the order of the PM, then on whose orders was it brought? Whom are they trying to fool? RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said. UNCLEAR QUOTE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Nobody is above the Constitution, he said. Vaishnaw hit back at the Opposition. He explained that UPSCs transparent method for lateral entry will now incorporate reservation principles. UPSC adopted a very transparent method for lateral entry. Now we have decided to apply the principle of reservation in that too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always shown his commitment towards social justice, Vaishnaw said. We gave constitutional status to the OBC commission which was earlier an ordinary body. Be it NEET, medical admission, Sainik Vidyalaya or Navodaya Vidyalaya, we have implemented the principle of reservation everywhere, he said. Vaishnaw attacked the previous Congress-led UPA government for not following reservations in lateral entry before 2014.Finance secretaries were recruited through lateral entry and the principle of reservation was not kept in mind, he said. Allies of the BJP such as the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), which had opposed the lateral entry advertisement, hailed the move. I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry, on behalf of my Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). This government has set a precedent. Hopefully, regimes of the future will show a similar sensitivity to public sentiments, Union minister Chirag Paswan said. Upping the ante over the Badlapur sexual abuse, the opposition has called for a complete shutdown in Maharashtra on August 24. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance, comprising Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) and the Congress, decided this after a meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday. Police personnel stand guard after two kindergarten girls were allegedly sexually abused at a school at Badlapur.(PTI) Vijay Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, said all MVA allies will participate in the bandh on August 24. He said the allies discussed the failure of the BJP-led Mahayuti government "on all fronts". "We discussed the issue of womens security in the state and the failure of the BJP-led Mahayuti government on all fronts, he said. Two kindergarten girls, aged under four years, were sexually abused by a male cleaning staff at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur. The abuse took place inside the toilet. There were no female attendants inside the girls' toilet. The incident came to light after one of the girls told her parents about pain in her private parts. The incident triggered a massive protest in the Maharashtra town, with protestors blocking the railway tracks at the local station. The Maharashtra government has announced an SIT probe into the incident. The accused has been arrested. The opposition has claimed that the parents of the victims were made to wait 11 hours for registration of the FIR. On Wednesday, Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad led a protest outside Mantralaya, the state secretariat, over the Badlapur incident. Wadettiwar and a few congress leaders were also present during the protest. Holding placards outside the gates of Mantralaya, Congress leaders and workers shouted slogans against the government for the delay in the registration of the FIR. The incident came amid the Kolkata doctor rape-murder agitation. With inputs from PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he would discuss the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine as he embarked on a crucial two-nation European tour starting in Poland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar Memorial at the Good Maharaja Square, Warsaw, Poland. (AFP) Modi, who landed in the Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday afternoon, is the first Indian premier to travel to the country in nearly half a century, since Morarji Desai in 1979. On August 23, Modi will become the only Indian head of government to visit Ukraine since its emergence as an independent nation in 1991. Modis stop in Ukraine is expected to last about seven hours and will involve a 10-hour train journey to be carried out in tight security conditions. The visit comes a little more than a month after the Prime Minister made a trip to Russia during July 8-9 for the annual summit with President Vladimir Putin. As he embarked on the visit, Modi said that India desires the early return of peace and stability in the region. The Indian side gave virtually no details of Modis programme in Ukraine, citing security protocols associated with travelling to an active war zone, though there was speculation that he could be carrying a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Read more: Ahead of Ukraine visit, PM Modi says India supports peace in this region I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, Modi said. The Prime Minister noted in his departure statement he was visiting Poland at a time when the two countries are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship, he said. Besides meeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to take forward the bilateral partnership, Modi will interact with the Indian community in Poland. People familiar with planning for the visit said on condition of anonymity that India and Poland were exploring ways to enhance cooperation in defence and security and to impart more heft to relations that had been in limbo for decades. Poland is now the sixth largest economy within the European Union (EU) and will hold the presidency of the 27-nation bloc in 2025. Since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Polands defence budget grew in real terms by 46%, and the country plans a further 10% hike in its defence budget in 2025. The people cited above pointed to this as a factor for increased interest in bolstering India-Poland defence cooperation. India recently posted a military attache at its embassy in Warsaw for the first time in decades. Read more: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Poland for first visit by Indian Prime Minister in 45 years Two-way trade is worth $6 billion, making Poland Indias largest trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Indian investments in Poland are worth $3 billion, while Polish investments into India are worth $1 billion. Poland is home to around 25,000 Indians, including 5,000 students. Modi began his visit on Wednesday by laying wreaths at memorials to the rulers of Nawanagar and Kolhapur, two erstwhile princely states that sheltered more than 6,000 Polish women and children during World War 2. He also paid tribute at the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino, which commemorates the campaign to capture a hilltop abbey near Rome in 1944. Hundreds of Indian soldiers serving in the British Army died in this battle. After completing his engagements in Poland on Thursday, Modi will travel by road and rail to reach Ukraine the following day. Modi said his trip to Kyiv will be a natural continuation of extensive contacts between the two sides and lay the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations. Modi and Zelenskyy met on the margins of the last two G7 Summits in Japan and Italy, and have spoken several times on phone since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. India hasnt publicly criticised Russias actions and has abstained or voted against most Ukraine-related resolutions at the UN. At the same time, it has called for the ending of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to find a lasting solution. During his visit to Russia last month, Modi told Putin a solution cant be found on the battlefield, and his visit to Ukraine is being closely watched to see what steps India might take to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. On the other hand, Ukraine has pushed India to take on a larger role in ongoing peace efforts because of the countrys proximity to Russia. Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk told HT in an interview that implementing Zelenskyys peace formula will be one of the most important topics of negotiations, and India has the necessary authority and influence to persuade Russia to consider fair negotiations and a peaceful resolution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Poland on Wednesday evening, becoming India's first prime minister in 45 years (after Morarji Desai) to be visiting the European nation. PM Narendra Modi being welcomed at Warsaw airport (x.com/narendramodi) Also Read: PM Narendra Modi departs for Poland and Ukraine Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the PM received a ceremonial welcome at the airport in Warsaw, the host country's capital. Prime Minister Modi's engagements in Poland include meetings with his counterpart Donald Tusk and Andrzej Duda, the President. He will also interact with members of the Indian diaspora, lay a wreath at the memorial of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagr, and visit both the monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Kolhapur Memorial adjacent to it. In his pre-departure statement on Wednesday morning, the prime minister had called Poland, India's key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership, he said in his statement. On Friday, the PM will be in Kyiv, the capital of war-torn Ukraine, in what will be the first-ever visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine, which has been in a war with Russia since February 2022. He is going there on the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India has been repeatedly criticised by the western nations for having continued to purchase oil from Russia. India has also avoided criticising Russia and abstained from voting against it in the United Nations. As he embarked on a visit to Poland and Ukraine on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he will discuss the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine as India desires the early return of peace and stability in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi departing for Poland and Ukraine on Wednesday. (Photo from X) Modi will begin his trip with Poland, marking the first visit to the country by an Indian premier in 45 years, and then travel by road and rail to get to Kyiv on August 23, perhaps the first time an Indian prime minister will go to an active war zone and also the first visit by an Indian head of government since Ukraine became independent in 1991. The visit to Ukraine comes a little more than a month after Modi made a trip to Moscow during July 8-9 for the annual India-Russia Summit with President Vladimir Putin. At the time, Modi told Putin that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield, and his visit to Ukraine is being closely watched to see what steps India might take to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Modi noted in his departure statement that he was visiting Poland at a time when the two countries are marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship, he said. Besides meeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to take forward the bilateral partnership, Modi will engage with members of the Indian community in Poland. From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine, he said. I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, the PM said. Modi said his trip to Kyiv will be a natural continuation of extensive contacts between the two countries and lay the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations. Modi and Zelenskyy have met on the margins of the last two G7 Summits in Japan and Italy, and they have spoken several times on phone since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. India has not publicly criticised Russias actions and has abstained or voted against most Ukraine-related resolutions at the UN. At the same time, it has called for the ending of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to find a lasting solution. On the other hand, Ukraine has pushed India to take on a larger role in the ongoing peace efforts because of the countrys proximity to Russia. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) court in Jaipur on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to six accused in the 1992 Ajmer rape cases, in which more than 100 female school and college students were blackmailed using obscene photographs and sexually assaulted. The court also imposed a fine of 5 lakh on each of them. (Representational image) Justice Ranjan Singh also imposed a fine of 5 lakh on each of the accused, who were convicted under sections 376 (rape) and 120b (conspiracy) of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC) in July, prosecution lawyer Virendra Singh said. Also read: J&K: Magisterial probe into sexual assault of Kishtwar girl, two detained under POCSO The six accused were awarded life sentences for the 1992 rapes in Ajmer. The court also imposed a fine of 5 lakh on each of them. A total of 16 girls recorded their statements in court, Singh said. Defence lawyer Ajay Kumar Verma said: We will file an appeal against the sentence in the high court. The rapes in Ajmer, which sent shockwaves across the country, took place in 1992, after school and college-going girls aged between 11 and 20 years were victimised by a gang, whose members initially befriended them and photographed them in compromising situations. The girls were later blackmailed and sexually assaulted. The gang, people aware of the details said, also asked the victims to bring their friends and threatened to leak their images if they did not comply. Most of the girls who were raped were students of a top private school in Ajmer. The accused men would call them to a farmhouse and assault them, the people added. There were a total of 18 accused in the case. Of these, 11 were awarded imprisonment of varying terms, five were acquitted, one went absconding and one died by suicide. Of the total acquitted men, one was tried separately for sodomising a boy. Barring the six whose punishment was announced on Tuesday, four men were awarded life imprisonment in 2003. However, their sentences were reduced to 10 years by the Supreme Court later that year. They have completed their terms and have been released. In 2001, four people were acquitted by the Rajasthan high court on grounds of lack of evidence. They were awarded life imprisonment by a local court in 1998. Providing details on some of the accused, Singh said Naseem alias Tarzan went absconding in 1994 and a red corner notice was later issued against him. Jahur Chishti was found guilty under section 377 (unnatural sex) of IPC and his case was transferred to another court. The trial of Farooq Chishti ran separately after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and he was given a life term in 2007, Singh said. One of the accused died by suicide during the course of trial. Also read: Supreme Court sets aside Calcutta HC's order asking young girls to control sexual urges The six accused, who were awarded the punishment on Tuesday, are Salim Chishti, Naseem alias Tarzan, Nafees Chishti, Sohail Ghani, Iqbal Bhati and Jameen Hussain. While Hussain was out on anticipatory bail, the remaining have already been in prison for varying durations. The prosecution lawyer said a separate trial for the above six men was conducted because the investigation against them was kept pending at the time of the filing of the first charge sheet. (With PTI inputs) The Supreme Court on Tuesday reprimanded the West Bengal government for its mishandling of the investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, stating that the conscience of the entire nation was shaken by the horrific and horrendous incident. The Supreme Court of India. (Hindustan Times) Highlighting the alarming inadequacies in the states response to the crime that has sparked sweeping protests across the nation and a strike by doctors, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud expressed its deep concern over several instances of inaction by the state machinery. Brutality of the sexual assault and the nature of the crime have shocked the conscience of the nation, said the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, as it took up the matter registered on its own motion (suo motu). The courts criticism centred around the significant delay in lodging the first information report (FIR) on August 9 into the rape and murder of the 31-year-old junior doctor, the allegation by the parents that the hospital first told them it was a suicide, and the vandalism that occurred at the hospital five days later, raising questions about the competence of the West Bengal police in safeguarding medical professionals. After the crime was detected in the early hours of the morning of August 9, the principal of the hospital tries to pass this off as a suicide. The parents are not allowed to see the body for a few hours... Until late at night, no FIR was registered. Why this kind of inaction? What was the principal doing? Why no FIR until late in the evening? And why did the victims father had to lodge this FIR? What were the authorities at the hospital doing? Doesnt autopsy reveal the victim was raped and murdered? the bench questioned senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who appeared for the Mamata Banerjee government. While Sibal denied any delay in registration of the FIR and sought time to place detailed facts on record, the bench remarked: Undoubtedly, there is an unexplained delay in the registration of the FIR. The court also came down hard on the state for failing to deploy its machinery effectively to prevent breaches of law and order and vandalism at the hospital on August 14, particularly when the crime occurred within the hospital premises where an investigation was already underway. The hospital is invaded by a mob and critical facilities are damaged. What was the police doing when the hospital was vandalised? The crime scene was within the precincts of the hospital. What were the police personnel doing? They allowed the crime scene to be destroyed, commented the bench, adding the first thing the police ought to do is to secure the crime scene. The victim -- a second-year postgraduate student at the state-run hospital -- was found brutally assaulted and murdered in the seminar hall on August 9. A civic volunteer assigned to the hospital was arrested the next day in connection with the crime. By then, the crime had sparked widespread protests across the state, especially after the governments delay in removing the principal and then reinstating him within four hours. The victims family and protesters have alleged that the crime was a gang rape, demanding a thorough investigation to ensure all culprits are held accountable. An autopsy later confirmed that the victim was sexually assaulted before her death. In the top court, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Central Bureau of Investigation which took over the probe following the August 13 order of the Calcutta high court, said that a gathering of 7,000 people could not assemble without the knowledge and the connivance of the police. In its order, the bench expressed dismay over the failure of the police in securing the crime scene. In the aftermath of the brutal incident and the demonstrations which followed, the state government was expected to ensure the deployment of the state machinery to prevent a breach of law and order. It was all the more necessary to do so since investigation of the crime, which took place in the precincts of the hospital, was under way. We are unable to comprehend how the state was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalisation of the premises, the order recorded. The court directed the West Bengal government to file a status report by August 22 - the next date of hearing -- on the progress of the investigation into the vandalism in the aftermath of the incident. The state must ensure those involved in vandalism are acted against and prosecuted, it told Sibal. The court also directed CBI to file a status report on the investigation by August 22. During the hearing, senior advocate Aparajita Singh, representing the doctors organisation Protect the Warriors, informed the bench that after the August 14 vandalism incident, the mob returned to the medical college hospital and threatened women doctors, warning that they would suffer the same fate as the rape victim if they reported the incident. Singh mentioned that one doctor had emailed a complaint to the police and presented a copy of it to the bench. Singh added that of the 700 resident doctors, only around 100 doctors remain, while others have left the campus in the wake of the threats. The bench took grave note of the complaint. This is a very serious issue, Mr Sibal. The West Bengal government cannot be unaware of the fact that when there are protests, opposing groups will always attempt to disrupt them, it said. Conveying concern that the mob specifically identified women female doctors by name and threatened them with the same fate as the deceased, the bench questioned why the police fled the scene after the mob descended. Look at it from a different angle. We are making a fervent appeal to the doctors to resume work to help marginalised and needy people. But if they come back, can these police be trusted to protect them? Who is going to provide security to women doctors? it asked. Taking note of this, the bench stated that the court would order the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to secure the hospital and hostel premises. Sibal indicated that the state had no objections. It is essential to create safe conditions for the doctors to return to their duties so that they can continue their medical education and provide medical care. Accordingly, we have been assured by solicitor general Tushar Mehta that CISF will be deployed in sufficient numbers to guard the RG Medical College facilities, including the hostels where the resident doctors are staying. Mr Sibal has no objections, as the goal is to ensure the safety of the premises, the court noted in its order. It further stated that any doctor with safety concerns could send an email to the registrar (judicial) of the Supreme Court. During the proceedings, the bench further directed the state not to take coercive actions against individuals participating in peaceful protests or expressing their views in the media and on social media. Let the power of the state of West Bengal not be unleashed upon peaceful protesters. We must approach this with great sensitivity, it told Sibal, who rued that a significant amount of misinformation was being spread in the media about the case, and that the states actions were aimed solely at addressing that. In its order, the court stated: We expect the government of West Bengal to exercise necessary restraint in response to peaceful protests conducted by any segment of society concerning the issues related to the incident in Kolkata. Meanwhile, addressing a separate petition that protested about the victims identity being revealed and her photographs and videos being shared across multiple social media platforms, the bench issued an order to remove any references to the victims identify from all media and social media platforms. The court noted that it was a penal offence to reveal the identity of a rape victim. The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday said that it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about the sexual assault of a girl and sexual abuse of around 12 girls at a fake National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri. The commission said that it has directed the Chennai's director general of police to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation.(File) The commission said it directed the Chennai's director general of police to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation. National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report titled '13 girl sexually abused at fake NCC camp' from Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. The commission has directed DGP Chennai to ensure a fair, time-bound investigation, booking the accused under relevant laws, the NCW wrote on X. Also Read | Rage spills over after 4-year-old girls sexually assaulted in Badlapur school A detailed action taken report has been sought from the police and from the state govt within 3 days, it added. The case Eleven people, including the prime suspect, have been arrested in connection with the sexual assault and abuse at the fake, Krishnagiri district collector KM Sarayu said on Monday. On its part, the NCC has clarified that it did not conduct any camp in the area and that the person involved in the incident has no connection with it. The district administration, too, said that NCC was not involved in organising the camp, reported PTI. Also Read | SC sets aside Calcutta HC verdict which advised adolescent girls to control sexual urges "The police arrested 11 people, including the prime suspect, who organised the camp and school authorities, in connection with the sexual assault of a girl and abuse at a fake NCC camp and POCSO cases registered against them," collector Sarayu told reporters. The girls were being given counselling and psychological support through the district child protection unit. Their parents are also being given support and counselling, she added. About 41 students, including 17 girls, had participated in the fake NCC camp a week ago. The incident of sexual assault came to light after the girl narrated the trauma to her parents, who made a complaint to the police. A chilling incident of road rage was caught on a camera in Thane's Badlapur-Ambernath road on Tuesday. At least four persons appeared to have been injured after a black Tata Harrier SUV was seen ramming a white Toyota Fortuner twice. The incident happened when a mother and child were sitting in the backseat of the Fortuner. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the black SUV hitting the Fortuner on a busy road.(X) According to police, the incident was the result of a crash between two groups. No case has been filed yet, news agency PTI reported. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the black SUV hitting the Fortuner on a busy road. The black SUV then stops after covering some distance, reverses and then again smashes into the white SUV head-on. Some of the bystanders were also hit and dragged for a few metres. Mumbai road rage Earlier this week, two priests were assaulted in a road rage incident by two people in Mumbai on Monday. The incident took place when an unidentified motorcyclist crashed into the scooter of the priests. The men fell down and suffered injuries to their legs. Upon confronting the motorcyclist, the latter abused the men and left the spot after manhandling them. Some minutes later, three other men came rushing towards them and attacked the priests with sticks and knives. The trio began assaulting the priests with sticks on the crowded street as bystanders watched in horror. A video of the incident went viral on Sunday, following which the Kandivali police contacted the two priests and recorded their statements. Based on their statements, the police registered an FIR against four men under several sections, including 109 (attempt to murder), and 115 (causing hurt to any person) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Out of the four men, the police have arrested two people. They have been identified as Khilare and Chotu Maniyar. Also Read | Motorist assaults woman on scooter in road rage incident Agartala, A man from Tripuras Sepahijala district returned home after spending 37 years in Bangladesh jails. Tripura man returns home after spending 37 years in Bangladesh jails Shahjahan returned to India through the Srimantapur land customs station with the assistance of BSF personnel. Shahjahan, a resident of Rabindrangar, a border village in Sonamura subdivision, had gone to his in-law's house in Comilla, Bangladesh, in 1988. During his visit, police raided his relatives home and arrested him for illegally entering the neighbouring country, officials said. "At the age of 25, I was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a court in Comilla. Despite completing my sentence, I was not released and spent an additional 26 years in custody, totaling 37 years before I was allowed to return home," Shahjahan told reporters. The injustice faced by Shahjahan came to light a few months ago through media reports. His plight attracted the attention of the Zara Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping immigrants who become trapped in foreign countries, his family said. Moushahid Ali, the chairman of the Zara Foundation, took swift action to secure Shahjahan's release. Following numerous legal proceedings, Shahjahan was finally handed over to BSF personnel at Srimantapur LCS on Tuesday, they added. Now 62 years old, Shahjahan left home when he was young and his wife was pregnant. His son saw him for the first time physically upon his return. "I cant express my happiness in words. I feel like I am in heaven. This is like a rebirth for me. I never thought I would return to my birthplace in this lifetime. It is the Zara Foundation that brought me back home. I will remain indebted to the organization for the rest of my life," Shahjahan said. He also alleged that he endured brutal torture during his initial 14 days in police custody. "After serving 11 years in Comilla Central Jail, I was transferred to other prisons under false charges and spent an additional 26 years there," he recounted. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The authorities on Wednesday suspended the principal of the Udaipur school, where a classmate stabbed to death a 15-year-old boy and triggered communal violence, even as the institute reopened after five days. The murder triggered communal violence. (PTI) An official said the action was taken as per the demand of the boys family. The district collector Arvind Poswal also wrote a letter to the [education] department. The police are now probing the matter. In an order, the Rajasthan Secondary Education Board said the Principal, Isha Dhrmawat, was suspended for alleged negligence. The government has promised the boys family 5,100,000 in compensation, a contractual job, round-the-clock security, and the strictest punishment for the accused by transferring the case to a fast-track court. Police said they were interrogating the father of the accused about how he procured and carried a dagger to the school. The incident sparked communal violence as the victim was a Hindu and the accused a Muslim. The authorities demolished the rented house of the accused. Poswal claimed the residence was razed because it was built illegally on government land and that the measure was needed to send a message to the criminals. The owner of the house, Rashid Khan, who was sent a notice hours before the demolition, questioned the action. I had no role in this case. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opposed Puja Khedkars anticipatory bail plea, saying her custodial interrogation was required to unearth the truth about people who enabled her to fraudulently avail additional civil services examination attempts by faking her identity and to collect sufficient evidence to establish that. The UPSC on July 31 cancelled Puja Khedkars provisional candidature as a probationary officer. (ANI/File) In an affidavit filed ahead of the hearing in the Delhi high court on the plea on Wednesday, UPSC said the gravity of the fraud was unprecedented. It added it was not only committed against the commission, whose traditions are untrammelled and unparalleled, but also against the public at large, including the citizens of the country who have faith in the commissions credibility. On August 12, the high court granted Khedkar interim protection from arrest until August 21 days after the UPSC on July 31 cancelled her provisional candidature as a probationary Indian Administrative Service officer and debarred her from all future examinations or selections. In its 16-page affidavit, the UPSC said Khedkar undertook a high level of complexity and design to cheat, mislead, misrepresent, and play foul with not only the commission but other authorities to commit fraud and gain undue advantage through unfair means and mechanisms and commit serious offences affecting the public at large. It added that the calculative way Khedkar committed offences by enacting co-incidents established that the investigation was not feasible based on the documents. The UPSC said the probe needed the aid and assistance of more people, who can be identified based on effective custodial interrogation. Such a grave act of misusing and abusing the administrative process in a systemic manner by making incorrect & false statements, regarding her number of attempts and suppressing material information which she was duty bound to disclose, could not have been achieved without the assistance & helping hand of several other individuals, all of which requires to be unearthed by custodial interrogation, the affidavit said. The UPSC called it pertinent that interrogation takes place to determine the true extent of the fraud and to unearth its magnitude. ...factors looked at as a whole and contextually clearly indicate that the conspiracy has been hatched and executed with the aid, assistance, and involvement of many more persons who can be identified on the basis of effective custodial interrogation only. Khedkar moved the high court against a Delhi courts order refusing her anticipatory bail on August 1. The Delhi court noted that her custodial interrogation was required to unearth the whole conspiracy. It added she had not only cheated and defrauded the UPSC but also snatched the lawful rights of eligible aspirants with benchmark disabilities. The court observed that Khedkar hatched a conspiracy in a pre-planned manner over many years and that she alone could not have executed the conspiracy without the assistance of some outsider or insider. It noted that Khedkars case may just be the tip of the iceberg while directing the UPSC to strengthen its standard operating procedure to ensure that such an event does not occur. Khedkar allegedly faked her identity to get more attempts in the examination. She has been charged with the Indian Penal Codes Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and 120B (criminal conspiracy), and under the Information Technology Act, and Rights of Persons with Disability Act. Khedkar had exhausted all the permissible attempts available for Persons With Benchmark Disability and Other Backward Class candidates (nine attempts) by 2020. She was not eligible to appear for the exam in 2021. Khedkar allegedly changed her name in 2021 and appeared in 2021, 2022, and 2023 by making incorrect or false statements regarding the number of attempts already availed. On July 31, the UPSC cancelled her candidature after Khedkar failed to respond to the UPSCs notice. UPSC cited an examination of records and said she was found guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions. Khedkar made it difficult to detect the number of attempts she made by allegedly changing her parents names. On August 12, the high court asked the Delhi police and UPSC to file their response as to why her custody was required to unearth the conspiracy. A bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad said the case against Khedkar primarily seems to be a false representation given in the application form. It questioned the need for custody to unearth the conspiracy. The question is, where has she taken the aid of others? She is not in the system. To tamper with the system she has to be in the system. The crime has been committed alone, but can that be a reason to not grant bail? Justice Prasad told the public prosecutor Naresh Kaushik, who represented the Delhi Police and UPSC. The high court said the trial courts order refusing Khedkar holds that the offence has been committed but there is hardly any discussion as to why the bail she sought has not been given. It added it does not seem as of now that immediate custody is required. In its affidavit, the UPSC cited Khedkars advantageous position and she either tampered with medical reports or obtained them through unfair means. At this stage, it is not far-fetched and unimaginable in the facts and circumstances of the instant case to have a prima facie view that even the medical reports to claim the benefit of disability are tampered with or obtained through unfair means. Such aspects, inter alia, need and require thorough investigation by the investigating authorities without any impediment and order protecting the accused that has left no stone unturned to abuse the process of law. It said bail would not only impede the investigation to unearth the true extent of the crime/fraud committed but also embolden the spirit of individuals with criminal intent to play foul and abuse the law. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to bag nine of the twelve Rajya Sabha seats in the latest round of by-elections in which all candidates might win uncontested, barring any last-minute change. Of the remaining three seats, two will go to the NDA allies NCP and RLM. The Congress will get its lone seat from Telangana. The BJP that currently has 87 members in the Rajya Sabha will have 96 seats, the Congress will get 27 lawmakers. (ANI Photo) On Tuesday the BJP announced candidates for the Rajya Sabha by-polls, nominating former Union minister Rameshwar Teli and a four-time former legislator Ranjan Das from Assam. The two seats had fallen vacant after Union minister Sarbanand Sonowal won the Lok Sabha seat from Dibrugarh and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa won the seat from Kaziranga. Union minister George Kurian has been nominated from Madhya Pradesh, where the seat had fallen vacant on the election of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to the Lok Sabha from Guna. The Congress has fielded Abhishek Singhvi from Telangana. The BJP and its allies are all set to gain two seats from Rajasthan and Bihar, which were earlier held by the opposition. The Congress will lose a seat from Rajasthan that was held by KC Venugopal and will now be represented by former Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls. He been nominated by the BJP from Rajasthan. From Bihar, where two seats have fallen vacant with the election of BJPs Vivek Thakur and RJDs Misa Bharti to the Lok Sabha, the BJP has nominated former Delhi Bar Council president Manan Kumar Misra as the candidate. The second name is that of Upendra Kushwaha as the NDA nominee, who will file his nomination on Wednesday. The opposition in the state has lost one seat in the Upper House from Bihar. In poll-bound Haryana, former Congress leader Kiran Chaudhary is the BJPs pick. She joined the party on June 19 ahead of the assembly polls in Haryana in October. The seat fell vacant on the election of Deepender Hooda to the Lok Sabha. The seat will now go the BJP, taking the partys tally in the Upper House to 96. In Maharashtra, where two vacancies arose with the election of union minister Piyush Goyal and Udayanraje Bhonsle to the Lok Sabha, the BJP has nominated Dharyashil Patil as the candidate, the candidate for the second seat will be announced by the NCP (Ajit Pawar). In Odisha, Mamata Mohanta has been nominated as the candidate from the seat that fell vacant after she resigned as a member of the Upper House from the Biju Janata Dal. She recently switched sides to the BJP. State unit president of Tripura, Rajib Bhattacharjee has been nominated by the BJP from the state, the seat had fallen vacant on the election of Biplab Deb to the Lok Sabha. The BJP that currently has 87 members in the Rajya Sabha will have 96 seats, the Congress will get 27 lawmakers. Even as the Congress tally will improve by one seat, it would not compensate for the pre-Lok Sabha election tally of 28. It would, however, provide a crucial buffer to the LoP status, which requires at least 25 MPs. The Congress will get an MP from Telangana. BRS lawmaker K Kesava Rao had resigned from the Rajya Sabha last month and returned to the Congress party. He now enjoys a post with Cabinet ministers rank in the Telangana government. Jabalpur , Taking on corrupt bureaucrats and politicians, communalism and communism, and power of every hue, master satirist Harishankar Parsai, the Hindi litterateur whose pen spared nothing and no one, would have turned 100 on Thursday. Writer of readers, not of rulers: 100 years on, master of satire Harishankar Parsai lives on through his writings Born in Jamani village near Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, Parsai died in Jabalpur, the city he lived and worked in his entire life, on August 10, 1995. Three decades on, there remains little in the name of one of the greatest satirists in the Indian literary landscape except for his poetry and prose. His writings are replete with wit, sarcasm and a sharp critique of politics, religious fanaticism, corruption and other moral maladies that ail the human race, especially Indians, say his admirers. And though the literary community celebrates Parsais legacy, the apathy of governments and institutions to pay a fitting tribute to the Hindi giant in the form of a memorial, a museum, or a library continues to pain readers and writers. Parsai is somebody who wrote, lekhak ko adarniya hone se bachna chahiye, adarniya hua ki wo gaya . But should there be a place to honour his legacy? Definitely. It should have happened a long time ago, Suraj Dixit, IT professional and voracious Parsai reader, told PTI. With an MA in Hindi from Nagpur University and a diploma in teaching, Parsai hardly had a stable job till he began a full-time career in writing when he starting a magazine titled Vasudha. The short-lived magazine was closed after two years due to shortage of funding. Parsai was known for revolutionising satire in Hindi by writing in simple yet biting language and adding nuance to his works from his understanding of issues of global urgency, including racism, consumerism, war and pervasive corruption. If in Bholaram ka Jeev he makes a pointed attack on a corrupt bureaucracy, red tape and state machinery at large, he does not waste words in Inspector Matadeen Chand Par about an Indian police officer of questionable work ethics who goes to the moon to improve police efficiency by introducing corruption in the system. Backed by a vast body of work, Parsai received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award in 1982 for his satire Viklang Shraddha Ka Daur. The book is remarkable in its narrative spontaneity and relevance to both the ordinary and extraordinary incidents of the common populace. He was not only a satirist but a litterateur. He wrote stories and was interested in poetry as well. He had a great understanding of sociology and politics. He was a man solely dependent on his writing. The scope of his study was extremely vast, writer Vishnu Nagar said. Nagar has published a compilation of 17 interviews given by Parsai to his contemporaries and journalists in Parsai Ka Man. A sharp critic of those in power, Parsai was a left-leaning writer but would not spare the politics of the left. According to Hindi writer Prem Janmejay, Parsai wrote against everything that was incongruous as per his ideology, but with a creative approach. Parsais line of thought was clear about who he was and what he wanted. He wrote against the power but he was not one-sided. He also wrote against communists at one point and during the emergency he wrote about it too. Marxists were not spared either, Janmejay told PTI. Religious fanaticism and communism was a social evil that Parsai targeted constantly through his writing. He once wrote: Samasyao ko is desh me jhaad-phoonk, tona-totka se hal kiya jata hai. Sampradayikta ki samasya ko is naare se hal kar liya gaya - Hindu-Muslim, bhai-bhai! . Calling Parsai a stringent critic of communal forces, Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi said that it is unfortunate that even 30 years after his demise there is no comparable satirist in the country. I would still say that partly satire has moved on to other areas finding politics somewhat difficult and dangerous. So there has perhaps been a shift. Id say without a doubt that 30 years after Parsais demise there is no comparable satirist, there is no comparable spread of satire against power that he had practised and attained, Vajpeyi told PTI. Some of Parsais most noted works include Nithalle ki Diary, Awara Bheed ke Khatre, Thithurta Hua Gantantra and Premchand ke Phatey Jute. He also wrote a column in a Hindi newspaper, Poochiye Parsai Se , in which readers would send questions to Parsai and he would respond in his inimitable style. Barely a kilometre from his rented house in Napier Town lies Harishankar Parsai Bhavan in Wright Town, perhaps the only tangible marker of the great satirists presence in the city where he wrote some of the sharpest critique known to Indian literature in any language. Playwright Ashish Pathak of Samagam Rangmandal, a city-based theatre group, works with local actors at Harishankar Parsai Bhavan, a humble building that houses an office of a trade union, a library and one hall for the theatre group. This is the only structure in his name and this too was built with public contribution, Pathak told PTI. The building was built by famous Hindi litterateur Ramdarash Mishra and Gyan Ranjan in 2007 with the help of donations from the public. It was inaugurated in April 2007 by literary critic Namvar Singh, 12 years after his death. It is not the job of a writer. A writer is not important in his own time. It is a job for his readers, his followers. Look how they have built a town dedicated to Shakespeare, we dont give such respect even to Kalidas, let alone Parsai. So it is definitely not Parsais job but of those who came after, Janmejay said. He suggested that the Progressive Writers Association should take the responsibility of building a memorial of sorts in Parsais name with public contribution. There should be a place with Parsais books, a pilgrimage of sorts that those who want to study Parsai can visit. Put his manuscripts there. People can go and experience Parsai. But I believe why should we look at the government, the writers association has always been behind Parsai. If they raise this topic people will be ready to even donate land. It is not impossible, Janmejay said. A hundred years since his birth, Parsai remains unrivalled despite having strong contemporaries in Sharad Joshi, Ravindranath Tyagi and Shrilal Shukla. Just like there cant be another Premchand, there cant be another Parsai. Whether a writer or a poet, each and every Hindi litterateur has read and taken inspiration from Parsai, even if they write satire or not, Nagar noted. There is only one pinnacle man in each field. There could be only one Chekhov in Russia. There can only be one Parsai in India, he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. With the Abernethy pearl expected to fetch a high sum at auction, we look at the history of pearls. Besides its legends and myths, this gem also has a dark side. Pearls, pearls, pearls! The gem has been coveted for centuries. (imagebroker/IMAGO ) One of the largest freshwater pearls ever found in Scottish history will go to auction on August 21 and is expected to fetch between 40,000 and 60,000 (46,946 to 70,426). It was discovered by pearl diver William Abernethy in 1967 in Scotland's River Tay. Abernethy gained fame as a skilled pearl fisher before the practice was banned in the country in 1998. While it might seem a high price, the pearl is indeed rare. It is said that only one in every 5,000 mussels found in Scottish rivers has a pearl. The Abernethy pearl was thought to have been growing for 80 years when it was discovered. Pearls are the only gemstones created by a living creature. They are formed when a hard particle irritates the soft tissue of a mollusk and the mollusk then coats the object with layers of calcium carbonate (or nacre) as a form of self-defense, creating a pearl. Saltwater pearls come from oysters, while freshwater pearls like the Abernethy are found in freshwater mussels. ALSO READ: Their world was the oyster: Oldest pearl town found in UAE Although the sale of this pearl known as "Little Willie" is now making headlines, pearls have been in the spotlight throughout history. They've adorned the necks and ears of royalty such as Princess Diana or Queen Elizabeth II, featured as legendary objects in myths and played a dark role as a valuable resource exploited by Spanish colonizers in the New World. Due to their struggle-related origin, pearls are often seen as symbols of beauty born of adversity. The painter Vincent Van Gogh well-acquainted with struggle famously said, "The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too." Tears of a goddess The fact that pearls are formed from living creatures has also added to their mystique. Across many cultures, pearls are seen as symbols of purity, wisdom and divinity. They are often associated with the moon as well as water, due to their aquatic origin. In Greek mythology, pearls are said to be tears of joy shed by the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who herself was born from sea foam. Aphrodite, or Venus as she is known in Roman mythology, has often been depicted with pearls in works of art over the centuries, such as in the 1751 oil painting "The Toilette of Venus" by French painter Francois Boucher or the 1907 painting "The Pearls of Aphrodite" by English Neoclassicist painter Herbert James Draper. ALSO READ: Worlds oldest pearl graces Abu Dhabis Louvre In Hindu mythology, the god Krishna is credited with discovering the first pearl. According to legend, he took it from the ocean and gave it to his daughter on her wedding day. Today, pearls still symbolize love, purity and union in Hindu culture. In other cultures, however, pearls are considered bad luck for weddings. Japanese myth says that pearls were made from the tears of mermaids, bringing sorrow. In Chinese mythology, pearls are often associated with dragons who are depicted carrying the precious jewels in their mouths or guarding them. The "dragon pearl" symbolizes wisdom, power and luck and is said to represent the harmonious balance of yin and yang, embodying both male and female energies. ALSO READ: Mythology is a pluralistic truth: Devdutt Pattanaik A long history With the advent of pearl farming in Asia in the 19th century, pearls became more affordable. Before that however, pearls were rare and worn primarily by elites to flaunt their wealth and status. The first known mention of pearls is considered to be a mention in the history of Chinese King Shu, which states that in 2206 B.C., King Yu received pearls as a tribute from the Huai River. The oldest known pearl jewelry was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died in 520 B.C. Pearls have long been coveted pieces of jewelry and are mentioned in the Old Testament, the Talmud and the Koran. In ancient Rome, pearls were more valuable than diamonds. Julius Caesar even passed a law saying only aristocrats were allowed to wear pearls within the borders of Rome. Then there's the story of the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra who, according to "Natural History" written by Roman naturalist and philosopher Pliny the Elder (23 - 79 A.D.), dissolved a pearl in a cup of vinegar and drank it to win a bet against her lover, Marc Anthony. She had bet her beau that she could spend 10 million sesterces (silver coins of ancient Rome) on one meal. "She took one earring off, and dropped the pearl in the vinegar, and when it was wasted away, swallowed it," Pliny the Elder wrote. Modern scholars have long debated the feasibility of the story, but in 2010, an academic at Montclair State University in New Jersey experimented with vinegar and a five-carat pearl and found out that Cleopatra could have indeed won her bet as described. Colonial depletion Like perhaps all gems, pearls also have a sordid history involving abuse and exploitation. They were a prize of the New World when Christopher Columbus reached it and topped the list of what the Spanish Crown sought from the explorer when he returned from his voyages. The Atlantic coast of Venezuela was rich in pearls and the Spanish colonizers established pearl fishing settlements off the country's coast in the early 16th century as Molly A. Warsh writes in her book, "American Baroque: Pearls and the Nature of the Empire, 1492-1700." Indigenous inhabitants were forced by Spanish colonial troops to dive for pearls. "The fisheries received early infamy because of a brutal labor system of pearl diving that developed there amid intense debates about policy related to the treatment of the Americas' indigenous inhabitants," Warsh writes. Tudor England in the 16th century is often referred to as the "Pearl Age" because of the prevalence of the upper classes wearing pearls to show off their wealth and status. One has only to look at portraits painted during the period to see just how frequently the upper classes were draped in pearl jewelery. The pearl's popularity in Europe during that period led to "an extraordinary assault on the region's marine ecosystem" with many indigenous people abused in the process, Warsh writes. Yet the history of the pearl marches on, with the sale of the Abernethy pearl as simply its latest chapter. Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, and his wife, Radhika Merchant, spent their honeymoon in Panama. Videos from their holiday in the Central American country have been doing rounds on social media. A clip shows them strolling the streets of Panama and clicking pictures with fans. (Also Read | Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant meet President of Panama; Shloka Mehta joins Akash, Nita Ambani in Paris: What they wore) Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani click pictures with fans during their outing in Panama. (Instagram ) Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani pose with fans in Panama A new video of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant enjoying a stroll in Panama has surfaced on social media. It shows the couple being approached by fans to click pictures as they roam a shopping street in the country. While Anant chose his signature printed shirt and shorts for the outing, Radhika kept it minimal in a simple printed tee and track pants. Let's decode what the couple wore. What Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani wore The video shows Radhika in a simple white T-shirt featuring a round neckline, half-length sleeves, a relaxed fitting, and a black-hued print on the front. She paired the top with black track pants featuring a figure-skimming fit, cinched hem, and a mid-rise waist. Lastly, she rounded off the look with a bare face, white chunky sneakers, and hair tied in a ponytail. Meanwhile, Anant wore a multi-coloured shirt featuring a forest-inspired print, notch lapel collars, full-length sleeves, and front button closures. He completed the outfit with black baggy shorts and grey chunky sneakers. About Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani Anant Ambani is Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's youngest son. Anant married Viren Merchant's daughter, Radhika Merchant, in a lavish ceremony held in Mumbai. Their wedding saw many big names in attendance, including celebrities, global leaders, and politicians. The guest list included names like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Kim Kardashian, John Cena, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, and more. Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: The auspicious Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated annually with pomp and grandeur. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav. The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha and lasts for 10 days. Read on to know its date, history, significance, and celebrations. Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Ganesh Chaturthi falls annually on the Chaturthi tithi of Shukla Paksha. It lasts for 10 days. (ANI) Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Date: When is Ganesh Chaturthi? Ganesh Chaturthi falls annually on the Chaturthi tithi of Shukla Paksha. It lasts for 10 days, and the last day is observed as Ganesh Visarjan. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on Saturday, September 7, and Ganesh Visarjan is on Tuesday, September 17. Meanwhile, the Ganesh Chaturthi puja muhurat is from 11:03 am to 1:34 pm. Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Last year, devotees took out a Visarjan procession of Lalbaugcha Raja on the last day of the Ganesh Chaturthi. (ANI) Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 History and Significance: As the legend goes, Maa Parvati created Lord Ganesha - the god of wisdom, knowledge, prosperity, and happiness - with sandalwood paste. Goddess Parvati left Lord Ganesha to guard the place while she was taking a bath. Since Lord Shiva was unaware of who Lord Ganesha was and his arrangement with Maa Parvati, he was surprised to find Lord Ganesha outside the place where Maa Parvati was bathing. Per his mother's instructions, he did not allow Lord Shiva to enter the place. This made Lord Shiva furious, and he severed Lord Ganesha's head. Maa Parvati was infuriated to see this and took the Kaali avatar while threatening to end the world. After discovering the truth, Lord Shiva requested his men to fetch the head of a child whose mother was looking the other way. His men returned with the head of a baby elephant and gave it to Ganesha. That's how Lord Ganesha came to be known as the elephant-headed god. Ganesh Chaturthi holds immense significance for Hindus. They believe praying to Lord Ganesha can help one achieve wisdom, success, and good fortune. Moreover, when starting any new work, exam, wedding or a new job, devotees of Lord Ganesha pray to him, seek his blessings and ask him to bless them with success. Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Celebrations: Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are observed all across the country. However, it is observed on a large scale in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad. People observe the festival by bringing home the idol of Ganpati Bappa for one-and-a-half days, three days, seven days, or ten days. They perform sthapana of the idol, pray to Lord Ganesha, perform rituals, offer bhog, and observe a fast. (Also Read | Now Ganesh mandal volunteers to help Pune police monitor traffic) The festival ends with Ganesh Visarjan. On this day, devotees immerse Lord Ganesha's idols in water with heavy hearts, wishing for Bappa to return next year. Huge processions are held during Visarjan, and people chant ' Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya'. In today's competitive business world, innovation is the lifeblood of staying ahead but how can you bring creativity within your team and in the workplace to bring innovative solutions? Fostering creativity and innovation isn't some magic trick it is about creating an environment where ideas can flourish and translate into real solutions. Wednesday wisdom: Boost creativity and innovation at workplace with these expert strategies (Image by Cross Referral Inc) Imagine brainstorming sessions in your organisation where everyone feels comfortable sharing their wildest ideas and come up with solutions that not only solve the problems but completely eliminate them. Thats the power of unlocking creativity in the workplace. From Ideas to Impact: In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Archika Sudhanshu, Spiritual and Meditation Guru, shared, It is crucial to establish a workplace culture that embraces creative thinking. A truly creative workplace is built on a strong sense of community and support. Before we dive into techniques, Dr Archika Sudhanshu highlighted a few pointers we need to understand - Diversity of Thought: A team with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives brings a richer pool of ideas to the table. Encourage brainstorming sessions and value everyone's contribution. A team with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives brings a richer pool of ideas to the table. Encourage brainstorming sessions and value everyone's contribution. Psychological Safety: People need to feel safe to share ideas without fear of judgment. No one wants to share a crazy or weird idea that may be a solid idea, if they fear getting laughed at. Cultivate a space where ideas are heard without being judgmental, where exploration is welcome and where "what ifs" are encouraged, not discouraged. People need to feel safe to share ideas without fear of judgment. No one wants to share a crazy or weird idea that may be a solid idea, if they fear getting laughed at. Cultivate a space where ideas are heard without being judgmental, where exploration is welcome and where "what ifs" are encouraged, not discouraged. Empowerment: Give your employees ownership over their work and the freedom to explore solutions. This will encourage and motivate them to go the extra mile. It will cultivate a sense of excitement and engagement among them. Techniques to Boost Creativity Dr Archika Sudhanshu asserted, Fostering creativity in your workplace isn't a magic trick, but a strategic investment. By building a supportive environment and implementing these techniques, you can transform your team into an innovation powerhouse. Remember, a culture that embraces fresh ideas is a culture that thrives. Empower your team, and recognize and reward your employees who contribute to innovation, this will keep them motivated. According to her, we can incorporate some techniques to involve our employees in decision-making, such as - The doorbell to Martinho de Almada Pimentels house is hard to find, and he likes it that way. Its a long rope that, when pulled, rings a literal bell on the roof that lets him know someone is outside the mountainside mansion that his great-grandfather built in 1914 as a monument to privacy. Tourists visit the old center of Sintra, Portugal. (AP) There's precious little of that for Pimentel during this summer of overtourism." Travellers idling in standstill traffic outside the sun-washed walls of Casa do Cipreste sometimes spot the bell and pull the string because it's funny," he says. With the windows open, he can smell the car exhaust and hear the tuk-tuk of outsized scooters named for the sound they make. And he can sense the frustration of 5,000 visitors a day who are forced to queue around the house on the crawl-up single-lane switchbacks to Pena Palace, the one-time retreat of King Ferdinand II. Tuk-tuks drop off and pick up tourists at the gate of the 19th century Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal. (AP) Now I'm more isolated than during COVID, the soft-spoken Pimentel, who lives alone, said during an interview this month on the veranda. Now I try to (not) go out. What I feel is: angry. This is a story of what it means to be visited in 2024, the first year in which global tourism is expected to set records since the coronavirus pandemic brought much of life on Earth to a halt. Wandering is surging, rather than levelling off, driven by lingering revenge travel, digital nomad campaigns and so-called golden visas blamed in part for skyrocketing housing prices. Anyone paying attention during this summer of overtourism is familiar with the escalating consequences around the world: traffic jams in paradise. Reports of hospitality workers living in tents. And anti-tourism protests intended to shame visitors as they dine or, as in Barcelona in July, douse them with water pistols. The demonstrations are an example of locals using the power of their numbers and social media to issue destination leaders an ultimatum: Manage this issue better, or we'll scare away the tourists who could spend their $11.1 trillion a year elsewhere. Housing prices, traffic and water management are on all of the checklists. Cue the violins, you might grouse, for people like Pimentel who are well-off enough to live in places worth visiting. But it's more than a problem for rich people. Not to be able to get an ambulance or to not be able to get my groceries is a rich people problem? said Matthew Bedell, another resident of Sintra, which has no pharmacy or grocery store in the center of the UNESCO-designated district. Those dont feel like rich people problems to me. What is overtourism, anyway? The phrase itself generally describes the tipping point at which visitors and their cash stop benefitting residents and instead cause harm by degrading historic sites, overwhelming infrastructure and making life markedly more difficult for those who live there. It's a hashtag that gives a name to the protests and hostility that you've seen all summer. But look a little deeper, and you'll find knottier issues for locals and their leaders, none more universal than housing prices driven up by short-term rentals like Airbnb from Spain to South Africa. Some locales are encouraging quality tourism, generally defined as more consideration by visitors toward residents and less drunken behaviour, disruptive selfie-taking and other questionable choices. Overtourism is arguably a social phenomenon, too, according to an analysis for the World Trade Organization written by Joseph Martin Cheer of Western Sydney University and Marina Novelli of the University of Nottingham. In China and India, for example, they wrote that crowded places are more socially accepted. This suggests that cultural expectations of personal space and expectations of exclusivity differ. Tourists visit the 19th century Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, (AP) The summer of 2023 was defined by the chaos of the journey itself airports and airlines overwhelmed, passports a nightmare for travelers from the US. Yet by the end of the year, signs abounded that the COVID-19 rush of revenge travel was accelerating. In January, the United Nations' tourism agency predicted that worldwide tourism would exceed the records set in 2019 by 2%. By the end of March, the agency reported, more than 285 million tourists had travelled internationally, about 20% more than the first quarter of 2023. Europe remained the most-visited destination. The World Travel & Tourism Council projected in April that 142 of 185 countries it analyzed would set records for tourism, set to generate $11.1 trillion globally and account for 330 million jobs. Aside from the money, there's been trouble in paradise this year, with Spain playing a starring role in everything from water management problems to skyrocketing housing prices and drunken tourist drama. Protests erupted across the country as early as March, when graffiti in Malaga reportedly urged tourists to go f home. Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Spain's Canary Islands against visitors and construction that was overwhelming water services and jacking up housing prices. In Barcelona, protesters shamed and squirted water at people presumed to be visitors as they dined al fresco in touristy Las Ramblas. In Japan, where tourist arrivals fueled by the weak yen were expected to set a new record in 2024, Kyoto banned tourists from certain alleys. The government set limits on people climbing Mount Fuji. And in Fujikawaguchiko, a town that offers some of the best views of the mountain's perfect cone, leaders erected a large black screen in a parking lot to deter tourists from overcrowding the site. The tourists apparently struck back by cutting holes in the screen at eye level. Tourists queue to catch a shuttle bus from the gate up to the the 19th century Pena Palace. (AP) Air travel, meanwhile, only got more miserable, the U.S. government reported in July. UNESCO has warned of potential damage to protected areas. And Fodors No List 2024 urged people to reconsider visiting suffering hotspots, including sites in Greece and Vietnam, as well as areas with water management problems in California, India and Thailand. Not-yet-hot spots looked to capitalize on de-touristing drives such as Amsterdam's Stay Away campaign aimed at partying young men. The Welcome to MonGOlia camapaign, for example, beckoned from the land of Genghis Khan. Visits to that country by foreign tourists jumped 25% the first seven months of 2024 over last year. Tourism is surging and shifting so quickly, in fact, that some experts say the very term overtourism is outdated. Michael O'Regan, a lecturer on tourism and events at Glasgow Caledonian University, argues that overtourism has become a buzzword that doesn't reflect the fact that the experience depends largely on the success or failure of crowd management. It's true that many of the demonstrations aren't aimed at the tourists themselves, but at the leaders who allow the locals who should benefit to become the ones who pay. (Also Read | Unique bucket list ideas beyond the Mona Lisa and Everest) Theres been backlash against the business models on which modern tourism has been built and the lack of response by politicians," he said in an interview. Tourism came back quicker than we expected, he allows, but tourists aren't the problem. There's a global fight for tourists. We can't ignore that. ... So what happens when we get too many tourists? Destinations need to do more research." Of visitors vs being visited Virpi Makela can describe exactly what happens in her corner of Sintra. Incoming guests at Casa do Valle, her hillside bed-and-breakfast near the village center, call Makela in anguish because they cannot figure out how to find her property amid Sintra's disorganized" traffic rules that seem to change without notice. There's a pillar in the middle of the road that goes up and down and you cant go forward because you ruin your car. So you have to somehow come down but you cant turn around, so you have to back down the road, says Makela, a resident of Portugal for 36 years. And then people get so frustrated they come to our road, which also has a sign that says `authorized vehicles only.' And they block everything. Nobody disputes the idea that the tourism boom in Portugal needs better management. The WTTC predicted in April that the country's tourism sector will grow this year by 24% over 2019 levels, create 126,000 more jobs since then and account for about 20% of the national economy. Housing prices already were pushing an increasing number of people out of the property market, driven upward in part by a growing influx of foreign investors and tourists seeking short-term rentals. To respond, Lisbon announced plans to halve the number of tuk-tuks allowed to ferry tourists though the city and built more parking spaces for them after residents complained that they are blocking traffic. A 40-minute train ride to the west, Sintra's municipality has invested in more parking lots outside town and youth housing at lower prices near the center, the mayor's office said. More than 3 million people every year visit the mountains and castles of Sintra, long one of Portugal's wealthiest regions for its cool microclimate and scenery. Sintra City Hall also said via email that fewer tickets are now sold to the nearby historic sites. Pena Palace, for example, began this year to permit less than half the 12,000 tickets per day sold there in the past. It's not enough, say residents, who have organized into QSintra, an association that's challenging City Hall to put residents first with better communication, to start. They also want to know the government's plan for managing guests at a new hotel being constructed to increase the number of overnight stays, and more limits on the number of cars and visitors allowed. We're not against tourists, reads the group's manifesto. We're against the pandemonium that (local leaders) cannot resolve. As the world braces for the next salvo in the series of violent tit-for-tat attacks between traditional rivals Iran and Israel, a sobering fact bears reminding. There are no clear winners in this blood feud that has defined geopolitical fault lines in West Asia for over four decades. Each side in this contest of national egos and antagonistic ideologies has used varieties of lethal force to impose its will over the other. But, in the end, neither party gains a decisive victory that can silence the others guns, bombs, assassins, missiles and drones. It is a classic lose-lose situation. FILE - In this photo taken and released by the semiofficial Fars News Agency, a Noor missile is launched from the coast to the sea during Iranian naval maneuvers in the Oman Sea, near the port town of Bandar Jask, Iran on May 11, 2010. (Hossein Zohrevand/Fars News Agency, File) (AP) Israel undoubtedly enjoys a qualitative military edge over Iran. It has a stronger economy and the backing of the United States (US). The daredevil attacks that Israel has undertaken against high-profile targets inside Iran and in Iran-allied territories of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen also prove that the former holds the advantage in intelligence and covert operations. Israel has been on the offensive by betting that an inferior Iran has no choice but to stand down and avoid a full-scale war that would be detrimental to its survival. But this assumption is risky, as Iran can raise the costs of Israeli offensive doctrines without triggering full-scale war. Iran uses the non-conventional warfare approach and has weaponised a range of Sunni and Shia proxy militias to create a ring of fire to burn Israel. The deadly combine of Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Hashd forms Irans axis of resistance against the Zionist enemy, Israel, and the crusader enemy, the US. Iran empowers these forces to carry out attacks to intensify pressure on Israel from multiple directions. For instance, the military heat Israel has faced on its northern front with Lebanon since October 2023 is due to Hezbollahs explicit campaign of cross-border attacks to compel Israel to slow down its war with Hamas on the southern front in the Gaza Strip. Iran has also equipped the Houthis of Yemen with sophisticated weapons to harm Israeli maritime commerce and territory. The Houthi drone that flew over 1,000 miles to hit Tel Aviv and claimed Israeli casualties in July 2024 conveyed a message that the Jewish State might be attacked simultaneously from different corners through a swarm that overwhelms its air defences. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sounded nonchalant and claimed that his country is already in a multi-front war with Iran and its allies. But bravado apart, Israel will have to incur a big price in a genuinely all-out multi-directional war. It would entail more deaths for Israeli soldiers, further forced displacement of Israeli civilians and heightened insecurity of Israelis residing in border areas. The casualties that Israel has suffered since the October 2023 war commenced are less than what has been incurred on the Palestinian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Syrian, and Yemeni sides. But as a fragile democracy that is answerable to public opinion and mass protests over agonising national security choices, Israels threshold of accepting human losses is lower than what authoritarian Iran and its proxies are willing to sacrifice. Israel frequently releases Palestinian prisoners in disproportionately higher numbers to win freedom for far fewer Israeli citizens held in captivity. Iran and its axis are aware of this democratic frailty of Israel and believe they can exploit it. Repeated flare-ups between Israel and Iran are not resolving core security dilemmas. At best, they help incumbent political leaderships in Tel Aviv and Tehran in justifying their rule and burnishing their credentials as protectors of their nations. Despite its inferiority, Iran has enough chips on the table to keep harassing Israel. Given that full-blown war is being carefully avoided by both sides, Israel cant establish lasting deterrence against Iran through calibrated coercion. The only way out of this gory stalemate is a tactical truce between Tel Aviv and Tehran that permits some form of coexistence with agreed limits on how far each side is allowed to go. Washington must also chip in by not resorting to extreme measures such as the Israel-assisted US operation to assassinate Irans General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. The cycle of revenge which that operation seeded spurred Iran to prepare Hamas for counter-attacking Israel on October 7, 2023, and killing over 1,200 people. It is time for the principal players in this Cold War to break out of the perpetual vendetta syndrome. Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have open lines to Israel, Iran and the US, could come forward to mediate pragmatic security arrangements. The alternative of continuing to act out of rage and endlessly avenging strikes with counterstrikes will leave everyone, including neighbouring countries, worse off in a permanent spiral of instability and destruction. Sreeram Chaulia is dean, Jindal School of International Affairs.The views expressed are personal The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 the flagship publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations observes that the world marine-capture fisheries production stood at 79.7 million tonnes (mt) in 2022. Developing countries accounted for two-thirds of this production, and 12 of them China, Indonesia, Peru, India, Vietnam, Chile, the Philippines, Morocco, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh contributed to 51% of this total. Developing countries, therefore, have a stake in fisheries management as much as developed ones. Kochi: Fishermen cast their nets in the Arabian sea as they look for a catch, at the Kochi coast, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI08_06_2024_000423B) (PTI) FAO notes that the global marine catches peaked at 86.4 mt in 1996, and the share of marine stocks fished at unsustainable levels increased from 10% in 1974 to 37.7% in 2021. Fisheries subsidies have played a major role in enhancing fishing capacity and increasing fish production to the unsustainable levels being recorded now. This trend needs to be reversed to ensure marine fisheries remains a sustainable source of seafood, to maintain employment of fishers and fish workers, and to protect biodiversity. Fisheries management, therefore, has to become a political priority in most parts of the world. While 92% of marine fisheries were under management plans in developed countries, only 60% of fisheries were under any such plans in developing countries, observes FAO in the report. There are overfishing pressures due to too many boats fishing with super-efficient gear, and logging long fishing hours without oversight. More than 40 years down the line, all nations, including developing ones, must match their sovereign rights to explore and exploit living marine resources in their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) with the duty to conserve and manage these living resources, as required under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a matter of urgency that countries adopt effective fisheries management and a precautionary approach to maintain fish stocks at biologically sustainable levels. Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) made a first step in addressing the negative impacts of fisheries subsidies on fish stocks when they adopted the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) in 2022. They are now negotiating new rules that are meant to discipline, more broadly, subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. The Additional Provisions on Fisheries Subsidies to address outstanding issues discussed on July 22-23, 2024, at the WTO General Council, Geneva proposed flexibility in regard to subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, that is, if the notified fisheries management measures can vouch that stocks are maintained at a biologically sustainable level. The provisions also proposed exemptions from notification obligations for the least-developed and coastal developing members with a share of the annual global volume of marine capture fisheries production at, or below, 0.8%. All other members, including far distant water fishing members, were exhorted not to grant or maintain subsidies if no fisheries management is in place. Also, exemptions were proposed for nationally defined small-scale and artisanal fishing (non-industrial), which is low-income, resource-poor or livelihood-enhancing in nature, accompanied by an obligation to notify its operational definition to the Committee on Fisheries Subsidies. And finally, developing country members, other than those mentioned above, were altogether given an exemption for a protracted period of 16 years from the date of entry into force of these additional provisions (which is likely to take a couple of years from the date of concluding the negotiations). In the face of inert political will for fisheries management, how can WTO, of all institutions, prime marine-capture fisheries management across the world to help restore, rebuild and maintain fish stocks? Under a WTO regime, how does a developing coastal member meet its fisheries-development needs? While the AFS prohibits subsidies to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and denies subsidies for overfished stocks, the additional rules under negotiation would more generally require all fishing nations and entities to inerrantly agree upon the importance of fisheries management subserving all other goals. For this purpose, an innovative accountability framework has been proposed through a notification regime for fisheries subsidies, on the one hand, and for fisheries management, on the other. It makes effective fisheries management a common denominator in regard to fisheries subsidies for the most consequential marine capture fisheries of both developed and developing members in all maritime zones, including the high seas. The accountability framework is innovative because it provides leverage to bring all fisheries-related interests under a management regime as determined by respective coastal or flag States, or their regional fisheries bodies (RFBs), as backstopped by the FAO. Given the status of marine fish stocks, especially in developing countries, it is time to be prudent and accept the role that WTO is willing to play in persuading its members to make a paradigm shift towards conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources. WTO can certainly set in motion a process to bring about greater resilience of marine fish stocks that will help both people and the planet. Sebastian Mathew, is executive director, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers.The views expressed are personal Kolkata property registrations declined by 13% year-on-year in July 2024 after the government decided to withdraw the 2% stamp duty benefits and change the circle rates, according to data shared by Directorate of Registrations and Stamps Revenue, Government of West Bengal. Kolkata property registrations declined by 13% year-on-year in July 2024 after the government decided to withdraw the 2% stamp duty benefits and change the circle rates (Representational photo)(Unsplash) As many as 3506 apartments were registered in Kolkata Metropolitan Region in July 2024 compared to 4036 units last year, the data showed. This is the first month after the state government decided to withdraw the incentives i.e. 2% stamp duty cut and 10% reduction in circle rate. Also Read: Kolkata Real Estate market: Over 4800 properties registered in the city; 64% YoY growth over February 2023 On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, July 2024 apartment registrations represent a 13% degrowth. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, an 18% decline over June 2024 registrations was witnessed, according to an analysis by Knight Frank. During the three-year period of phase wise extension of the remission of stamp duty between July 2021 to June 2024, 143,864 residential properties were registered in the city, it showed. 500 - 1,000 sq ft apartments record highest share across all unit size categories As compared to July 2023, the share of unit sizes up to 500 sq ft scaled up from 27% to 45% at the end of July 2024. Apartments ranging in size from 501 to 1,000 sq ft witnessed their share taper from 51% to 47% during the same period. However, the share of unit sizes over 1000 sq ft reduced from 22% to 8% when compared between July 2023 and July 2024. Unlike the trends unfolding in other Indian cities, the registration of units sized above 1,000 sq ft has shrunk drastically in the past one year, particularly since February 2024. Also Read: West Bengal govt withdraws 2% stamp duty cut for homebuyers; 10% circle rate relief In July 2024, the top position in apartment registration tally was still held by North Zone, albeit with a moderate share of 34%. The South Zone follows closely with a 33% share in this month. Due to the availability of affordable products, these zones together constitute the lions share of the apartment registrations across both periods. East zones share remained stable at 11% in July 2024 as compared to the same time last year, the analysis showed. In line with past trends, Rajarhat, also witnessed its share remain steady at 10-11% between both periods. The West zone witnessed its share moderate from 8% to 6% in a year. A similar trend was witnessed in Central Kolkata too. "The Kolkata residential market, having seen the benefits of incentives, has reacted as expected to the withdrawal of the stamp duty benefits and change in circle rates. The decline in registrations is expected to normalize in the subsequent months as the buyers sentiments align to the change and we can hope to see a revival in registrations numbers soon, especially as we are at the cusp of the festive season. The overall economic growth and stability of the country will play its part in keeping the momentum of the market healthy in the coming months, said Abhijit Das, Senior Director East, Knight Frank India. Also Read: Heres how metro projects in multiple cities will impact real estate markets Bengaluru-headquartered real estate developer Shriram Properties is looking to double its sales to 5,000 crore, triple revenue to 3,000 crore and quadruple profits to more than 250 crore in the next three years driven by mid-income housing sales and consolidation in the real estate sector, the company's top official said on August 21. Shriram Properties eyes annual sales worth 5,000 crore, over 250 crore in profits in next three years(Shriram Properties) We will scale up our annual sales from 4.5 million square feet last year to 8-9 mn sq ft. We would have sold close to 20 million square feet cumulatively (in 3 years). Of this, Bengaluru alone will account for 7-8 mn sq ft, Chennai will account for about 5-6 mn sq ft, Kolkata about 3-4 mn sq ft, cumulatively in three years, said Gopalakrishnan J, Executive Director and Group CEO, Shriram Properties. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, Shriram Properties clocked a net profit of 75 crore, while the company's total income came in at 987.35 crore. Sales value during the 12-month period touched 2,362 crore. As the company enters its 25th year of operations, Shriram Properties also unveiled a new brand identity - SPLNxT - with enhanced focus on the mid-market and mid-premium segments. Going forward, over 90% of the brands portfolio (from 67% earlier) will comprise mid-market and mid-premium projects. Simultaneously, the brand will continue to focus on luxury projects. Also Read: Shriram Properties posts modest 5% growth in net profit, touches 17.5 crore in Q1 FY25 Shriram Properties defines the mid segment as comprising homes ranging between 50 lakh - 1.5 crore. Meanwhile the mid-premium bracket spans between 1.5 - 2 crore. Competition has become more intense. To thrive in this environment, we must change. SPLNxT therefore represents the essence of this transformation that were embarking on, Gopalakrishnan said. Shriram Properties plans to foray into Pune market Since inception, Shriram Properties has expanded its presence to five cities, delivering about 44 projects spanning 24.4 million square feet. The company is now looking to foray into the western market with the first project slated to be launched in Pune. Our new addition to the portfolio, Pune should account for about 2 mn sq ft of sales over the next three years, Gopalakrishnan said. Also Read: Shriram Properties Limited signs joint development agreement for a 4-acre land parcel in Bengaluru Amongst the slew of announcements, the company also shared plans to launch two mobile applications, namely Shriram Parivaar and Shriram Synergy for the companys customers and channel partners, respectively. According to Akash Murali, AVP Strategy, Shriram Properties, the apps are expected to be launched within the ongoing quarter. Project pipeline comprising 42 projects Presently, Shriram Properties has a pipeline of 42 projects with a development potential of 42 million square feet. Of this, 24 million square feet is under various stages of development. Were targeting to double our future project inventory from 18 mn sq ft now to over 35 mn sq ft in the next 18-24 months, Gopalakrishnan underscored. Also Read: Prestige Estates plans to launch 43 real estate projects across segments in seven cities The company estimates a capital requirement of 300-500 crore for its three-year growth plan and believes that internal funds shall adequately meet the demand. The joint development model could account for 50% of the companys portfolio during this time, a company spokesperson said. Shriram Properties is on track to launch three projects in Bengaluru in the ongoing quarter. British YouTuber Miles Routledge joked about launching nuclear bombs at India and accused, without evidence, an anonymous troll of being Indian in a series of deeply racist posts made on the social media platform X. British YouTuber Miles Routledge made a series of racist posts against Indians Routledge, 25, is best known as the British student who was stranded in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover of 2021 and had to be evacuated from the war-torn country. On Tuesday, he triggered a slew of racist posts against Indians by sharing a screenshot in which an anonymous X user appeared to be threatening him. Routledge accused the X user of being an Indian despite nothing to suggest he belonged to India. What Miles Routledge posted Indian threatens to find me, it backfires lmao, he wrote while sharing the screenshot. The screenshot shows a message which read: I will find you I promise, your apology video will be sweet. Routledge responded to the message by sharing his address and following it up with Saar okay lord saar good luck saar haha saar in a message clearly mocking the way Indians apparently talk. This was not the only racist post he made. In a separate tweet, the British author and YouTuber joked about launching nuclear weapons at India. When I become prime minister of England, I'll open the nuclear silos as an explicit warning to any foreign power that interferes with British interests and affairs. I'm not talking huge incidents, I'm itching to launch and atomize entire nations over the smallest infraction, he said. Hell, I might just launch at India just for the sake of it! Routledge added. When an Indian X user accused him of rage-baiting, the Briton responded saying he just did not like India. He also provided an explanation as to why he thought the troll threatening him was an Indian. Believe it or not, I just don't like India. Also I can sense an Indian, he is indian. If a man online suddenly talks about ducking your mother in the first response, he's indian. Many such cases, Routledge claimed. Besides being CEOs of rival social media companies, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are also fighting a war on a different front: that of their public image. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg (L) and X owner Elon Musk (R) Elon Musk once hailed as a great visionary and tech genius is now a controversial figure at best. By using his social media platform X to amplify his own right-wing philosophy, his series of transphobic tweets, his mass layoffs, various lawsuits and assorted other controversies, Elon Musk is taking the eccentric in eccentric billionaire a bit too literally for everyones liking. On the other hand, Mark Zuckerberg, who started this image race on a definite back foot, has managed to enact a PR cleanse of stunning proportions in the space of a few short years, going from scrawny hacker to strapped CEO. Mark Zuckerbergs transformation was hailed as an example of brilliant PR by the co-founder of brand building company Thoughtleadr, Fernando Cao Zheng. In a post shared on X, Zheng broke down how the Meta CEO enacted one of the most impressive image cleanses in recent times. Mark Zuckerbergs makeover In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg was one of the most hated CEOs on the planet, Zheng began his thread. 6 years later, he wears chains, surfs in tuxedos and fights Lex Fridman. Everyone seems to love him. He called it the most brilliant PR transformation of the century. Zheng began with a short overview of the rise and fall of Mark Zuckerberg. After starting Facebook from his dorm room at Harvard, he became a Silicon Valley VIP. But his image of a bold business leader and innovator was damaged after a series of controversies, including Facebook data breaches, privacy issues, the Russian 2016 election row, Cambridge Analytica scandal, the Congressional hearings where he was likened to a robot and more. Zuckerberg has managed to bounce back and how! Embracing his billions According to Zheng, a large part of the credit for Zuckerbergs PR makeover goes to his newfound philosophy of embracing his billions. He's not pretending to be a normal guy anymore. He's owning his billionaire status, the co-founder wrote on X. In the last few months, the CEO of Meta has wakeboarded in a tuxedo, collected designer chains, and trained with MMA fighters. Most recently, he commissioned a 7-foot statue of his wife Priscilla Chan from renowned sculptor Daniel Arsham. All of these things, while not exactly relatable to the common man, at least did elicit a common sentiment - If we had billions, this is how we would be spending them too, said social media users. Wardrobe update The image makeover went hand and hand with a wardrobe refresh. According to Zheng, Mark Zuckerberg ditched his Dishwater tees and hoodies for Capri cabana shirts and Yeezy-esque sweatshirts. The 40-year-old tech billionaire has also allowed his hair to grow out into Gen-Z curls and taken to interacting with designers in Instagram comments. Zuckerberg started his journey as a scrawny, awkward hacker from his college dorm room. Today, he trains is martial arts - Now, hes a jacked CEO who fights Lex Fridman & wears chains. All of this has earned him major brownie points on the internet. While Elon Musk picks culture war fights on X, Zuck's projecting a whatever bro, I'm doing me vibe. By embracing his quirky billionaire status instead of hiding it, Zuck's become MORE relatable. Now, he's just spending time with his family & spending his billions as we would, Zheng concluded. In short, Zuckerberg is the clear winner of this PR war by just being normal - or as normal as a billionaire can be. Gushwork co-founder Nayrhit and his wife Rishita Das decided to move back to India last year after living for some time in the United States. The couple had moved to the US for their higher education after graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 2016. Nayrhit now divides his time between India and the US, where his company Gushwork is still based, while Rishita is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IISc Bengaluru. Nayrhit and Rishita are both graduates of IIT Kharagpur.(X/@NayrhitB) After completing one year of living in India, they have shared a thread on 10 key observations on the two countries. To all the Indian 20-40 year olds who are contemplating their move back to India but are filled with uncertainties, this is an honest compilation of 10 differences we observed after our move back here! Nayrhit wrote on X yesterday. Here is what the couple learnt from moving back to India: Domestic help For Nayrhit and Rishita, the first difference between India and US is the ease and affordability of having a domestic help in their home country. While I do worry about the of the cost of labour being cheap, the convenience is undeniable - an 15-20 extra hours each week as working couple is a luxury tough to imagine back in the US, wrote the co-founder of Gushwork. Traffic Traffic in India is not necessarily worse than it is downtown New York or San Francisco, but it is certainly more unpredictable and irritating, the couple said. They dont see a solution to this problem in the near future. Digital convenience India is far superior when it comes to digital convenience, thanks to a host of quick commerce platforms that can deliver everything from groceries to makeup in 10 minutes. Sure, the US has Instacart & DoorDash, but the intra-city logistics here are far superior & efficient, wrote Nayrhit. Personal connections For the couple, one major difference between India and the US is cultural. Culturally, as an Indian, I found it challenging to make deep connections in the USbeyond coffee meetups, drinks, or the usual work/sports talk, explained Nayrhit in his X thread. Digital payments The much-touted digital payments infrastructure of India wins hands-down vs the US. Apple Pay and UPI are comparable from user experience standpoint, wrote Nayrhit. However, the real difference between the two platforms is that UPI is free and a part of government infrastructure - whereas in Apple Pay, there is a 2%-7% of transaction volume which flows into private players. Orderly queues The couple does miss one thing about the US - orderly queues. In India, lines at counters, coffee shops, security checks and QSRs can be really chaotic, sometimes very irritating, they said. Food Both countries are winners when it comes to food. Coming back to Dosas & Biryanis from PB&J & Burgers is a relief. Though - I do sometimes miss the variety of cheese, bread & desserts, wrote Nayrhit. Outdoor activities For people who love the outdoors, the US has a decided advantage over India. According to the IITian couple, if you cannot live without hiking, biking or love frequenting beaches, you will not be very happy in India. LGBTQ-friendly India still has a long way to go when it comes to LGBTQ acceptance. Yes, there are hyper-urban pockets where it is fine. But, mass India still is not very accepting of LGBTQ communities, Nayrhit, adding that he is hopeful of seeing change in the next five years. Job market Finally, the couple said that the job market is tough in both countries, but for different reasons. In India, you can get a job, but to get a high-paying gig that can allow you to have a house and car equivalent to one in the US is not easy. An Indian YouTuber visiting the United States slammed the countrys much-derided tipping system, but his viral post has found support and criticism in equal measures online. Ishan Sharma, who is currently on a tour of the US, said that a restaurant in New York City refused to return his balance amount after he ordered food worth $45 and paid $50 in cash. Ishan Sharma slammed the USA's tipping practices.(X/Ishansharma7390) Sharma said that a server took the balance amount of $5 as her tip for serving him. I asked for change and she said you have to pay the tip and went away, he elaborated in his post on the social media platform X. Sharma asked the server if tipping is mandatory, but was summarily ignored. He called tipping in New York a scam while admitting that his friend, a local, was embarrassed by his behaviour. And my friend(a local) felt guilty for not paying atleast 20% tip! Sharma revealed in his post. Why tipping is important in the US To understand Sharmas post is so controversial, it is important to get some context on tipping practices in the US. Tipping practices in the United States differ vastly from India. In the Land of Liberty, the standard tip for waitstaff in restaurants is around 15-20% of the total bill. Since tips make up a significant part of the income for waitstaff, not tipping servers is considered a major faux pas, besides being perceived as rude. In fact, tipping is generally accepted as mandatory rather than discretionary. It is also important to note that in the US, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. However, several employers in the service industry pay their staff less than the minimum wage, with tips received from customers making up the difference. Employees who regularly receive tips, such as waitstaff, bartenders, and other service workers, can have their minimum wage go as low as $2.13, but they rely on tips to earn their income. Since servers depend heavily on tips to achieve a livable income, not tipping is considered extremely rude in the US. On the other hand, tipping practices are much more easygoing in India. Here, tips are considered a reward for exceptional service rather than an unwritten requirement. A deeply polarising post Taken in this context, it is clear why Ishan Sharmas post on tipping culture has proved deeply polarising on social media. The post has racked up over 4.6 lakh views on X, where many viewers, including Indians, slammed the YouTuber for refusing to follow social norms in another country. A number of X users told Sharma that he was in the wrong, using the adage of When in Rome, do as Romans do to support their argument. They also accused the content creator of giving Indians a bad name, besides embarrassing his friend, by refusing to tip. 15-20% tip is a customary social custom in the USA. When in Rome do as Romans do. If you strongly feel that tipping is wrong then don't order food at a sit down restaurant, wrote X user Jimmy Gandhi. Another X user went so far as to call Sharma the reason for racism against Indians, writing: You are the reason why the globe is becoming racist against Indians. Stop being cheap. You got away easy with only 10% as a tip. These days it's become a norm to tip at least 15-20% or more, Shantanu Goel pointed out. Tipping is customary in this country. Not tipping is customary in other countries. This isnt that complicated, a user added. People have often complained about the quantity of chips offered in a 10 packet. In fact, many even joke about there being more air in the packets than chips. Recently, highlighting the issue of less quantity, a Redditor shared a picture of a 10 chips packet which only had four pieces of chips. Yes, you read that right. After the individual made the post, it quickly garnered the attention of many, gaining numerous reactions. Snapshot of the four chips found in a packet. (Reddit) "Got 4 chips in 10 Lays pack. I was super hungry at bought lays at a petrol pump in Goa. Opened the first packet and got this surprise," wrote user "Hot_Butterscotch4901". They also shared a picture of the chips packet. (Also Read: Man finds only two chips in Lays packet, says it falls short of expectations) Take a look at the post here: This post was shared on August 20. Since being posted, it has gained more than 1,500 upvotes. The share also received numerous comments. (Also Read: Pakistani snack names resembling global brands leave people in splits. Watch viral video) Here's how people reacted to it: An individual wrote, "This is your opportunity to earn a huge amount of money by reporting it to the consumer forum." Another person added, "That's ridiculous; when did they start putting chips in the packet? I paid for the air inside. Want to have the refund." "Are you guys getting chips in Lay's chips packet? I thought they were only making chips flavoured air sold in plastic bags lately," commented a third. "You are such an ungrateful person. The beautiful and divine lays company has its customer health always in their mind. Hence the 'control' portion," joked someone else. A fifth added, "Wow, tourists flock to Goa in monsoon as well; I thought it was an off-season then. Anyhow screw Lays, that's why all my homies pick Balaji." Newly appointed Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is not expected to relocate to Seattle to work from the companys headquarters. Instead, Niccol will be allowed use of the company jet to shuttle between his California residence and his Seattle office three times a week, according to his offer letter that was made public in an SEC filing last week. FILE - Brian Niccol, named the chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks on Aug. 13, 2024, is shown during an interview on June 9, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)(AP) The revelation is being called a stunning example of the hypocrisy of large corporations when it comes to climate change - especially in light of the fact that Starbucks is now offering paper straws in stores worldwide in a bid to eliminate single-use plastic. What Brian Niccols offer letter says Niccol, 50, will be paid a base salary of $1.6 million annually as CEO of Starbucks, according to his offer letter. The letter also states that he will not be required to relocate to the companys headquarters, currently in Seattle, Washington. Instead, he must agree to commute from his residence to the companys headquarters (and engage in other business travel) as is required to perform his duties and responsibilities. According to CNBC, this is a distance of 1,000 miles or roughly 1,600 km. During his time with Starbucks, Brian Niccol will also be eligible to use the company aircraft for travel between his city of residence and the companys headquarters in Seattle. A company spokesperson told CNBC that Niccol will be expected to work from the Seattle office at least three times a week as per Starbucks hybrid work policy. Brians primary office and a majority of his time will be spent in our Seattle Support Center or out visiting partners and customers in our stores, roasteries, roasting facilities and offices around the world, the spokesperson added. His schedule will exceed the hybrid work guidelines and workplace expectations we have for all partners. Outrage on social media The news of Niccols supercommute plan elicited shocked and critical reactions on social media. Reacting to the news, one X user said: You better stop giving paper lids and straws. That would be hypocritical. We have to drink from paper straws, while their CEO commutes via private jets, another said. Flying a private jet three days a week just to go to work, but Starbucks had the unmitigated gall to tell us to use paper straws. I hate it here, an X user opined. Some called it a PR disaster in the making, while others called on Starbucks to revise the terms of the offer letter. After the European Union (EU) banned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2020, due to concerns about Pakistan's ability to ensure compliance with international aviation standards, an individual recently took to Instagram to show what it is like to fly with the airlines. Social media user and traveller Ali Khan posted a video showcasing the terrifying conditions of PIA and his experience on "one of the most dangerous flights in the world." Snapshot of the flight seats and overhead bin inside PIA. The video opens to show Khan getting on the flight and immediately being told by the cabin crew that he is not allowed to record anything on the flight. However, once he reaches his seat, he shows the dust-filled gaps on the chair, an almost broken seat handle, and an overhead bin that was duct-taped. As the video goes on, Khan informs that their pilot was interactive with the passengers and told people about facts and information on Skardu. (Also Read: Restaurant employees collapse, tear up on getting termination notice in Pakistan. Video) Watch the video here: This video was shared on August 9. Since being posted, it has garnered more than seven lakh views. The share also has close to 16,000 likes. Many people took to the comments section of the post and shared their reactions. (Also Read: Pakistanis join Indians to sing Jana Gana Mana at UKs Piccadilly Circus. Watch viral video) Here's how people reacted to the video: An individual wrote, "Pakistan Airlines? I would never even consider, let alone get anywhere near one of their planes." Another Instagram user, Cristiano Masi, commented, "I flew PIA in 1988 from Rome to Male stopover in Athens and changing plane in Karachi. On the way back, we flew from Karachi on a 747 with only three motors over 4. We discovered it when the plane had to land in Dubai for reparation. They actually didn't so we stop in Athens for good. Man, what a journey!" A third commented, "The airline is good. The duct tape can hold the whole plane." Australia on Wednesday approved plans for a massive solar and battery farm that would export energy to Singapore, a project it calls the "largest solar precinct in the world". Australia green lights world's 'largest' solar hub Authorities announced environmental approvals for SunCable's US$24 billion project in Australia's remote north that is slated to power three million homes. The project, which will include an array of panels, batteries and, eventually, a cable linking Australia with Singapore, is backed by tech billionaire and green activist Mike Cannon-Brookes. "It will be the largest solar precinct in the world and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy," said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. It is hoped that energy production will begin in 2030. The 12,000-hectare project will provide four gigawatts of energy per hour for domestic use. Two more gigawatts sent to Singapore via undersea cable will supply about 15 percent of the city-state's needs. Batteries would be able to store about 40 gigawatts of power. SunCable Australia's managing director Cameron Garnsworthy said the approval was "a landmark moment in the project's journey". Despite Wednesday's green light, numerous approval processes remain including working with Singapore's energy market authority, Indonesia's government and Australian Indigenous communities. "SunCable will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a final investment decision targeted by 2027," said Garnsworthy. Australia is currently one of the world's leading exporters of coal and gas, but has also been ravaged by the effects of climate change from intense heat to floods and bushfires. Although Australians are among the world's most enthusiastic adopters of household solar panels, a string of governments have been slow to fully embrace renewables. In 2022, renewables made up 32 percent of Australia's total electricity generation compared to coal, which contributed 47 percent, according to the latest government data. Director of the Energy Change Institute at the Australian National University Ken Baldwin said the project was a "world first" for exporting renewable electricity from solar and wind on such a scale. "Australia has some of the best solar and wind resources of any country, and as a result, is installing solar and wind at one of the fastest rates of any country in the world on a per capita basis," he told AFP. But this momentum must continue, particularly if Australia is to meet its net zero targets by 2050, Baldwin said. "Australia has, over the last five years, invested heavily in solar and wind, but it needs to double and triple that investment in order to reach its climate trajectory towards a net zero future by 2050." He added that by the 2030s, Australia will need about 100 gigawatts of solar and wind capacity the SunCable project will only provide four gigawatts of that need. Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said the new solar hub was a bold step in making Australia a "clean energy powerhouse" and that such projects were essential in "delivering affordable energy and slashing climate pollution". "With the closure of coal-fired power stations on the horizon, Australia needs to accelerate the roll-out of solar and storage at every level-rooftops, large-scale projects, and everything in between," she said. The project would also be a significant step for Cannon-Brookes, who has expanded his portfolio from software company Atlassian which he co-founded to the renewable energy space, including being the latest shareholder in AGL Energy. lec/arb/sn This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By David Ljunggren and Promit Mukherjee Canada PM leans on railways and union to settle issues, avert major stoppage OTTAWA, - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged on Wednesday the country's two main rail companies and the Teamsters union to settle their differences and avoid a stoppage that could cause billions of dollars worth of economic damage. But the chances of a last-minute deal appeared to vanish later when Canadian National Railway said talks had broken down and called for the government to intervene. CN Rail and Canadian Pacific Kansas City say they will lock out their workers early on Thursday unless new deals can be agreed. The two have never shut down at the same time. Talks between both companies and the union have made little progress, with each side accusing the other of bad faith. Trudeau told reporters in Quebec that his government was following the matter closely. "It is in the best interest of both sides to continue doing the hard work at the table to find a negotiated resolution," he said. "Millions of Canadians, of workers, of farmers, of businesses right across the country, are counting on both sides to do the work and get to a resolution." Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon met CN executives on Tuesday in Montreal and with CPKC in Calgary on Wednesday. Canada, the world's second-largest country by territory, relies heavily on rail transport to move a wide range of goods and commodities. "It would be totally unacceptable for us as a country to sabotage ourselves right now," Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Edmonton, Alberta. "I am calling with extreme seriousness on the employers and on the union to roll up their sleeves to get a deal done ... the country has no patience with dillydallying." Ratings agency Moody's said shutting down 75% of Canada's freight rail traffic would cost the economy C$341.5 million per day, a rate equal to more than 4% of the nation's GDP. In an emailed statement, CN called on the labor minister to intervene. "CN has tried to get a deal but a deal is not possible without a willing partner," CN said. MacKinnon has the power to refer the dispute to binding arbitration but the government said it wants the issue to be settled at the negotiating table. A group of business associations called for Ottawa to prevent a stoppage. "The federal government must show leadership and act before our trains - and with them, our economy - grind to a halt," they said in a joint appeal to Trudeau. The Teamsters say CN and CPKC are seeking concessions that would dilute worker safety, a charge that both companies deny. Dean Roberts, a director of the Canola Council of Canada, told reporters that failure to reach a deal would mean "we are sleepwalking into a calamity". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By Mei Mei Chu and Joe Cash China opens anti-subsidy probe into EU dairy imports in push back against EV tariffs BEIJING, - China opened an anti-subsidy probe into imported dairy products from the European Union on Wednesday, stepping up tension with the bloc a day after Brussels published its revised tariff plan for China-made electric vehicles. The EU on Tuesday revised its proposed punitive duties on imports of Chinese EVs to 36.3% from an initial planned duty of 37.6%, but fell short of abandoning them, as Beijing had called on Brussels to do. The revision drew rebuke from China's commerce ministry, which in response said it is "firmly opposed to and highly concerned" about the findings, and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect Chinese firms. The anti-subsidy investigation on dairy announced by China's commerce ministry on Wednesday will focus on various types of cheeses, milks and creams intended for human consumption. It was prompted by a complaint submitted by the Dairy Association of China and the China Dairy Industry Association on July 29 on behalf of the domestic dairy industry, the ministry said. China will examine 20 subsidy schemes from across the 27-strong bloc, specifically those from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Romania, it said in a statement. Of the countries listed, Ireland is by far the biggest exporter of dairy products to China, having sold $461 million worth of goods to the Asian nation last year. The EU was China's second-largest source of dairy products with at least 36% of the total value of imports in 2023, behind only New Zealand, according to Chinese customs data. The EU exported 1.7 billion euros in dairy products to China in 2023, down from 2 billion in 2022, according to data from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, which cited Eurostat. China already launched an anti-dumping probe into imports of EU pork in June, which mainly affects Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, in a tit-for-tat move against the EV tariffs. "The combined value of EU pork and dairy exports to China areas of goods potentially affected by tariffs are smaller than the value of China's battery EV exports to the EU, which we estimate to stand at around $13.5 billion in 2023," Chim Lee, senior China analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit. "Domestic economic pressures, alongside the increasingly important role played by external demand in supporting Chinas economy, will keep Chinese policymakers cautious about invoking an overly confrontational approach to trade," Lee said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Dhaka: India should reboot its relations with Bangladesh to reflect the wishes of the people of the neighbouring country and without basing them on any individual party or leader, analysts and former diplomats have said following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in a student-led uprising. Commuters ride along a street in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 17. (AFP) Since Hasina stepped down and fled to India on August 5, the Indian government has faced accusations of tying bilateral relations completely to the Awami League leader and not doing enough to build ties with other political parties and civil society. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government, has described Hasinas regime as a dictatorship while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India will work with the caretaker administration. Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), a leading think tank, told HT: I think we should not rely on a particular individual or party, it is best to keep good relations with all stakeholders. Bangladesh and India are close neighbours and will have to live side by side peacefully. India should keep a relationship as a neighbour, irrespective of the government. Kabir, a former diplomat who served as deputy high commissioner in Kolkata, said the uprising was indigenously produced and led by the youth, who echoed the spirit of the 1971 war of independence, including values such as democracy, equity, justice and transparency. But some of our Indian friends are feeling uncomfortable because they have been observing recent events in Bangladesh through a single lens. Somehow, they failed to take into consideration various shades of opinion, particularly those of the youth, who have suffered because of being deprived of their democratic rights and of fair opportunities for building their future, he said. When Yunus held his first phone conversation with Modi on August 16, the Indian leader reaffirmed New Delhis commitment to a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh and emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of Hindus and other minorities in the country. However, Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a Dhaka-based think tank, said it was no secret that New Delhi had extended unconditional and exclusive support to Hasina and her government. The manner of the change of government in Bangladesh was coupled with public expression of outrage towards India, he noted. Indeed, India now has to reboot its relationship with Bangladesh based on mutual respect and guided by a balanced agenda of bilateral interests, Bhattacharya said. Hopefully, India wont keep its relationship with Bangladesh hostage to one political party in future. Bangladesh too needs to create an informed national consensus regarding its approach towards India, he said. Bhattacharya said he believes the narrative promoted by mainstream Indian media after Hasinas ouster was ill-informed and not helpful. Early signs of the rebooting of relations can be traced to the phone call Modi and Yunus had, and Yunuss participation in the Voice of Global South Summit hosted by India was a positive development. As the interim government settles down, there will be more opportunities to reflect on the past and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship, he said. Shafqat Munir, senior fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, said there is a perception among Bangladeshi people that India is aligned with one individual and one political party. It is urgently needed for India to signal to Dhaka and to the Bangladeshi people that it stands with the people, it stands with their aspirations, he said. Munir said it is critical for India and Bangladesh to have a constructive and productive relationship. The new reality which has emerged in Bangladesh has to be accepted by India and a new chapter needs to begin, he added. Relations between India and Bangladesh are between two countries. Prime ministers may come and go, the India-Bangladesh relationship must endure, said Munir. There needs to be a reset in the relationship. Munir suggested India could send a special envoy to Bangladesh with a message of goodwill to begin a new chapter because a peoples revolution has taken place and needs to be recognised as a people revolution. Kabir, who did two diplomatic postings in India, said the fast pace of events appeared to thrown the Indian side into a state of confusion. India should appreciate peoples aspirations for democracy, justice and equity, and come forward with a positive mind to help them. If they do so, it will create a climate of understanding, which will help us to move forward in our relationship based on mutual respect, trust and benefits, said Kabir. Warsaw, Indian cuisine is remarkably popular in Poland with various Indian restaurants catering to the growing demand for the rich flavours and Polish diners visiting them say the dishes like dosa and butter chicken remind them of their travels to India. Dosa, butter chicken top dishes attracting Polish diners at Indian restaurants in Poland More than 45 Indian restaurants are offering a variety of traditional Indian food across Poland, with the capital Warsaw City having at least a dozen of them, as per the listing of the Embassy of India in Poland here. India and Indian food are the talk of the town yet again as Warsaw is excited to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive here for his two-day visit on Wednesday. This will be the first official visit of an Indian prime minister to this country in 45 years. According to Indian restaurant owners, Polish people have developed a liking not just for Indian cuisine but also for its rich culture. I really like Dosa. The best Dosa in Warsaw is in India Gate , and it really feels like in South India. I have travelled many times to Chennai and Kerala and actually, the food here definitely tastes like that, said Anna Maria Rozek, a Polish national, told PTI Videos here. Chandu, the owner of India Gate food chain, said, The food is really tasty here ... Indian food with a lot of spices. Every item has a different taste. They love butter chicken, mango lassi. They love Indian food and Indian people also. The Polish people also love Indian culture and Indian movies are also doing well in Poland nowadays, he said. Not just in the capital Warsaw, but Indian restaurants are popular in cities such as Krakow and Wroclaw, offering a variety of options to satisfy the curiosity and cravings of foodies in this eastern European country. Meanwhile, the Indian diaspora in Poland's capital is excited about Modi's visit. Indians, especially students, expressed their delight as they got set to welcome the prime minister. Gaurav Singh, President of the Indian Students Union, Poland, said: There is a sense of excitement among the people here, especially the young people, the students. The number of Indians is slowly increasing here and a major chunk is that of the students. Surender Kumar, an Indian living in Poland for a few years now, said every Indian is extremely happy as a national leader . Amongst the Indians, the Gujarati community said they feel proud about having a Gujarati as the Prime Minister as they eagerly await his arrival. I belong to Gujarat and Prime Minister Modi is also from Gujarat. So, we are even more excited to meet him. In 40 years, this is the second time a Prime Minister is coming from Gujarat. The first time an Indian Prime Minister from Gujarat visited Poland was Morarji Desai and Narendra Modi is also from Gujarat. I am also from Gujarat. So, I am also proud, said Srikant, another Indian living in Poland. PM Modi is visiting here, so we are really happy and excited that we will be meeting him. As he is coming here, we expect that our visa problems will get solved, Trusha Bhatt, an Indian in Poland said in Gujarati. India's Ambassador to Poland Nagma Mohamed Mallick said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland will give a greater knowledge and understanding of the economic and other possibilities between the two countries. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Chicago: Offering a rare glimpse into Kamala Harriss personal life, and normalising the idea of a blended family in the White House, Doug Emhoff, Harriss husband, charmed Democratic delegates in Chicago on Tuesday with his self deprecatory humour and his decade-old love story with the Democratic nominee for president. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday. (AFP) Emhoff, who is the first Second Gentleman in American history and may become the first First Gentleman, in a role that has only known First Ladies, took the stage after a short video made by his son, Cole, and produced by his first wife, Kerstin, introduced him to the audience. The video showed Emhoffs roots in Brooklyn and New Jersey, alluded to his Jewish upbringing, his familys shift to California, his training and career as a lawyer, his first marriage and the birth of his kids, a divorce, a blind date with Kamala Harris, his subsequent marriage to her, and how his kids began calling her Momala and her commitment to the family. We might not look like other families in the White House. But we are ready to represent all families in America, Cole said, in a recognition of the distinctive nature of their blended family, as he closed the video and introduced his father on stage. Emhoff was greeted with a sea of signs with his name from the floor. He spoke about his upbringing, life, divorce and then how in 2013 a client had set up him on a blind date. For generations, people have debated when to call the person youre being set up with. And never in history has anyone suggested 8:30am. And yet, thats when I dialled. I got Kamalas voicemail and I just started rambling. Hey, its Doug. Im on my way to an early meeting. Again, its DougKamala saved that voicemail and she makes me listen to it on every anniversary. They spoke on the phone for an hour We laughed. Well, you know that laugh. I love that laugh went for a date, and got married the following year. Thursday, when Harris will accept the nomination, also marks the couples tenth anniversary. While outlining her qualities, Emhoff spoke about how Harris had connected him more deeply to his Jewish faith, even as she was Christian, and both celebrated festivals together. In a political context that has laid excessive emphasis on a candidates family, he said, Those of you who belong to blended families know that they can be a little complicated. But as soon as our kids started calling her Momala, I knew we would be okay. Ella calls us a three-headed parenting machine. Kamala and Kerstin, thank you both. Thank you both. Wrapping up his speech, the Second Gentleman said, Kamala Harris was exactly the right person for me at an important moment in my life, and at this moment in our nations history, she is exactly the right president. Harris, who was away at a rally in Milwaukee, posted a picture of watching her husband speak on her laptop on the flight on her way back on X, with a simple message, Love you, Dougie. Islamabad, Pakistan telecom watchdog chief on Wednesday claimed that a faulty submarine cable was behind the countrywide internet slowdown and rejected reports that government-installed firewalls were responsible for the glitch. Faulty submarine cable behind internet breakdown in Pakistan, claims telecom watchdog chief For a few weeks, it has been alleged that the internet speed was slowed due to firewalls installed by the authorities to check unwanted criticism of the government and top government institutions by the opposition, especially jailed former prime minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. The cause of the internet slowdown emerged on Wednesday during the meeting of the National Assemblys Standing Committee on IT where the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Maj Gen Hafeezur Rehman faced tough questions from the lawmakers. Rehman was grilled about fluctuations in the internet speed over the past few weeks, and users are facing difficulties in sending or downloading media and voice notes through WhatsApp when connected to mobile data. The internet slowdown in the country is due to a faulty submarine cable, which is expected to be repaired by August 28, Rehman said. He also clarified that it was the governments web management system and not a firewall which was being upgraded. In my opinion, the Internet should not slow down due to an upgrade, he said, adding that the telecom sector has suffered a loss of 300 million due to internet disruptions. PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan, who also attended the meeting, asked the PTA chief about the reasons behind the prolonged ban on social media platform X, when the ban could be lifted. The PTA top official responded by saying that he had no more information on the matter. Responding to other questions, he said that VPNs were not being blocked in the country, nor can they be. Earlier, not just the PTI, but the business community and the internet service providers too had alleged that the governments efforts to monitor internet traffic through a firewall were responsible for the slowdown of digital services, causing economic losses. IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja had said the government was upgrading its web management system to tackle cyber security threats but categorically rejected a report about throttling the internet. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. DUBAI, - Iran's parliament approves Pezeshkian's unity cabinet Iran's parliament approved President Masoud Pezeshkian's 19 ministers on Wednesday, state media reported, giving way to a cross-factional cabinet reflecting his focus on consensus after days of debate. In contrast to former President Ebrahim Raisi's hardline team, the new cabinet includes reformist figures such as Health Minister Mohammadreza Zafarqandi, who secured his position despite receiving the lowest number of votes, at 163. Approval of the ministerial line-up is not a formality. One minister proposed in 2021 by Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May, lost the confidence vote due to lacking experience, meaning a different name had to be drafted in. "The road to our salvation is unity and solidarity," Pezeshkian said on Wednesday in his speech to the 285 parliamentarians present to give their vote of confidence to the cabinet, which had been debated since Saturday. Farzaneh Sadeq was approved as minister of roads and transportation, becoming the only second female cabinet minister since the Islamic Republic's establishment in 1979. Mohsen Paknejad was approved as minister of oil. He served as deputy minister of oil for the supervision of hydrocarbon resources from 2018 to 2021. The oil minister told parliament he would actively pursue the issue of joint fields with neighbouring countries and boost oil output to 4 million barrels per day by March 2025. Abbas Araqchi was approved as minister of foreign affairs with 247 votes, after convincing parliamentarians wary of his key role in negotiating Tehran's 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers. During deliberations with the parliament, Araqchi asserted that he holds the same world view he held during his time serving with the Revolutionary Guards and expressed support for a 2020 parliamentary bill hardening Iran's nuclear stance. The United States under President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 from the nuclear accord between Iran and six world powers which restricted Tehran's nuclear programme. Indirect talks between the U.S. and Tehran to revive the deal and lift costly U.S. sanctions on Iran have stalled. In his last address to parliament on Sunday, Araqchi stressed that Tehran would continue its policy of good neighbourliness and negotiations to lift sanctions. "China, Russia, Africa, Latin America and East Asia are priority regions in our foreign policy," Araqchi said at the time, adding that Europe could become a priority if it changed its "hostile behaviour" and that relations with the U.S. would solely be informed by "conflict management". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Lebanons Hezbollah has launched more than 50 rockets, hitting a number of private homes in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Israel-Hamas war latest: Hezbollah fires more than 50 rockets, hitting Israeli-annexed Golan Heights The attack on Wednesday came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar as he pressed ahead with the latest diplomatic mission to secure a cease-fire in the war in Gaza, even as Hamas and Israel signaled that challenges remain. Hamas in a new statement called the latest proposal presented to it a reversal of what it agreed to previously and accused the U.S. of acquiescing to what it called new conditions from Israel. There was no immediate U.S. response. First responders in Golan Heights said they treated a 30-year-old man who was moderately wounded with shrapnel injuries in Wednesdays attack. One house was engulfed in flames, and firefighters said they prevented a bigger tragedy by stopping a gas leak. Hezbollah said the attack was in response to an Israeli strike deep into Lebanon on Tuesday night that killed one and injured 19. On Tuesday, Hezbollah launched more than 200 projectiles toward Israel, after Israel targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot some 80 kilometers from the border, a significant increase in the daily skirmishes. Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily strikes for more than 10 months against the backdrop of Israels war against Hezbollahs ally, Hamas, in Gaza. The exchanges have killed more than 500 people in Lebanon mostly militants but also including around 100 civilians and non-combatants and 23 soldiers and 26 civilians in Israel. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it, saying it needs the strategic plateau for its security. The United States is the only country to recognize Israels annexation, while the rest of the international community considers the Golan to be occupied Syrian territory. Heres the latest: Commercial ship not under command after repeated attacks target it in Red Sea, British say DUBAI, United Arab Emirates A commercial ship traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack Wednesday, leaving the vessel not under command in an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemens Houthi rebels, the British military said. Details remained few about the attack, though it comes during the Houthis monthslong campaign targeting ships over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The attack saw men on small boats first open fire with small arms, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The ship also was hit by three projectiles, it added. The vessel reports being not under command, the UKMTO said, likely meaning it lost all power. No casualties reported. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack, though it can take them hours or even days before their acknowledge one of their assaults. Israel says military is shifting its attention to the border with Lebanon TEL AVIV, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israels military is shifting its attention from Gaza to the border with Lebanon. Touring northern Israel on Tuesday, Gallant said Israel has scaled back its activities in Gaza, where it has been fighting a war against Hamas for nearly a year, and turned its focus to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Our strongholds are moving from the south to the north, we are gradually changing, we still have a number of missions in the south, Gallant told troops. Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas Oct. 7 attack. The sides have been engaged in almost daily fighting since then, raising fears of a broader regionwide war. Those fears have grown as Hezbollah has vowed retaliation for an Israeli strike in Beirut last month that killed a top Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah launched more than 120 projectiles towards northern Israel on Tuesday, causing damage to a home and sparking a number of fires. Israel said it was striking the source of the launches. More than 500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 100 civilians. In Israel, 23 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Two leading Bangladeshi television journalists were arrested on charges of murder on Wednesday as they were attempting to travel abroad, Dhaka Metropolitan Police said. The arrested journalists were identified as Shakil Ahmed, former chief news editor of the private channel Ekattor Television, and his wife Farzana Rupa, former principal correspondent and presenter at the same channel. The journalists were identified as Shakil Ahmed, former chief news editor of the private channel Ekattor Television, and his wife Farzana Rupa, former principal correspondent and presenter at the same channel. Immigration officials arrested the couple at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Wednesday afternoon and handed them over to Dhaka Metropolitan Polices detective branch, a statement said. They were arrested in connection with a murder case filed at Uttara East police station in Dhaka. The details of the case were not shared by the police. Three days after former premier Sheikh Hasina stepped down on August 5, Ahmed and his wife were relieved from their jobs at Ekattor Television. Hasina fled to India following weeks of student-led protests. According to the United Nations, over 600 people, mainly students, were killed during the protests when the law enforcement personnel opened fire on the protestors. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8, and since then a raft of criminal cases have been filed across the country against Hasina, her ministers, Awami League leaders and workers, police and military officers, and those seen as close to the former premier and her party. ISLAMABAD After six days of being stranded on a remote peak in Paiktsans northeast, two injured Russian climbers were finally rescued, while another remains missing and is presumed dead, a mountaineering official said Wednesday. Nearly a week after being stranded on mountain, Pakistan rescues 2 Russians while 1 remains missing The five-member climbing team, which began their expedition on one of Gasherbrum's peaks to retrieve the body of a fellow climber who died there last year, was hit by a pile of ice on Friday, officials said. Rescuers airlifted two of the mountaineers Monday while more planning was needed to rescue the other two who were unable to move because of their injuries. An army helicopter, backed by local volunteers, helped rescue the two injured on Tuesday, said Karrar Haidri, the secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, adding that the third climber fell into a crevasse and couldnt be located Haidri said Wednesday the two were moved from the peak to the base camp and were in stable condition. A helicopter was set to transport them to the northern city of Skardu, but it could not fly due to bad weather, he said, and that they were trying to find another way to get them to a hospital. The Russian team, which was not accompanied by guides or sherpas, took an unusual route on Gasherbrum. While Haidri acknowledged that the climbers were hit by the ice formation while ascending the mountain for a noble cause," he still warned against such endeavors. Climbers are fully aware of the dangers linked to such missions, but they still opt for dangerous and unexplored routes, he said. This is how climbers make records but also come across challenges." Hundreds of climbers try to scale mountains in northern Pakistan every year, and accidents are common because of avalanches and sudden weather changes. This month, a Pakistani climber Murad Sadpara, 35, known for taking part in high-altitude rescue missions died during a descent from one of the countrys tallest mountains in the north. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. - Pacific Islands leaders postponed a visit to French territory New Caledonia to assess civil unrest between indigenous Kanaks and French loyalists, the regional bloc's chairman and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said on Wednesday. Pacific leaders delay visit to troubled New Caledonia A delegation of three leaders, including Brown and Fiji's prime minister, had hoped to travel to New Caledonia and report back to a Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting next week. In a statement, Brown said the visit by the Pacific Islands Forum "Troika" had been requested by New Caledonia President Louis Mapou and later approved by French President Emmanuel Macron. "However, the New Caledonia Government has identified a number of issues regarding due process and protocol that will need to be addressed prior to a Troika visit," he said. The Pacific Islands Forum needed to "resolve the concerns of our fellow Forum member", the statement said. Mapou's office did not respond to a request for comment. On Monday, Radio New Zealand quoted New Caledonia Congress president Roch Wamytan as saying France was trying to control the visit, which the local government believed it should host, because it was a member of the forum. France's High Commissioner for the Pacific, Veronique Roger-Lacan, wrote on social media: "France is ready anytime to welcome such a mission". France sent hundreds of police to the French territory after voting reforms sparked riots and widespread disruptions in May. Kanaks fear reforms will dilute their vote and make it harder for any future referendum on independence to pass, while Paris says the measure is needed to improve democracy by allowing more residents from France to vote. Protest leader Christian Tein was arrested and deported to France in June. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday criticised the French government over the electoral reforms, which have since been suspended, and "excessive use of force" in response to Kanak demonstrations. The Kanak people had inhabited New Caledonia for thousands of years, and the latest moves by Paris had undermined the decolonisation process, it added. France's High Commission in New Caledonia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the UN experts' statement. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Lahore, Pakistan's top investigation agency on Wednesday arrested a web freelancer under cyber terrorism charges for his alleged role in disseminating the disinformation that led to race-motivated riots across the UK following the stabbing of three young girls last month. Pakistan's FIA files cyberterrorism case against suspect for spreading misinformation leading to UK riots The riots broke out in the north-west England town of Southport after false claims over the UK-born teenage male suspect being a Muslim refugee who arrived illegally into the country on a small boat recently spread like wildfire online. Farhan Asif a freelance web developer associated with the Channel3Now platform that is blamed for posting the disinformation has been arrested from his Defence House Authority residence in Lahore following the request of the British government to look into the matter. The Federal Investigation Agency said on Wednesday that it registered a case against Asif, a father of two, under sections 9 and 10A of PECA . A copy of the FIR available with PTI says the suspect uploaded an article on his website www.channel3now.com, with the title "17-year-old Ali Al Shakati arrested in connection with a stabbing incident in Southport England." The FIA says the said article contained a false claim about the arrest of a Muslim asylum seeker by police in the fatal stabbings of three young girls at a holiday dance party in Southport on July 29. "The false name widely shared on social media spurred the far-right section into a violent rioting. Asif admitted to providing misleading information to BBC regarding his accomplices in an attempt to divert blame to others," it says. The FIA said it raided Aif's residence along with police and arrested him. A senior FIA official told PTI that the Pakistan government might consider handing the suspect over to Britain if it requested his extradition because it is a "very serious matter." Recent reports aired by UK media identified a little-known platform, Channel3Now, as being the source of the disinformation that claimed the British-born 17-year-old suspect was a Muslim immigrant who had arrived in the UK on a boat. However, the assertion by UK broadcaster ITV News that a Pakistani individual was the originator of the false news story has been questioned, both by local law enforcement and other UK media outlets. The investigators believe that Asif was not the first source of this spurious news but copy-pasted it from a social media post. They say the disinformation was first published by kossyderrickent.com, a little-known tabloid on July 29. The tabloid posts reports about celebrities and trending topics in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, the US, Zimbabwe and India. The disinformation was then shared by a UK-based woman who has previously been involved in spreading disinformation about COVID-19 and climate change on social media accounts. The FIA said Asif, upon realising the mistake, issued an apology and deleted the post from all social media accounts, but the disinformation kept gaining traction as it kept being shared by other users and garnering views online. Channel3Now regularly publishes sensational news stories under the pretence of being an American-style TV channel. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat Parliamentary investigation sought after influential Thai general hits journalist BANGKOK, - A senator in Thailand on Tuesday formally requested a parliamentary investigation into a veteran politician and former army chief who struck a television reporter on the head after she asked him a question. Prawit Wongsuwon, 79, a lawmaker and former deputy premier who was involved in the last two coups in Thailand, hit the female reporter on Friday while surrounded by journalists, video footage of which was widely circulated. A notorious political dealmaker and a central figure in Thailand's two decades of political strife, Prawit, who leads the Palang Pracharat Party, served in the last junta and was deputy prime minister for nine years after a 2014 coup. "This behaviour is physical harassment," said Senator Tewarit Maneechai, who told Reuters he had requested an ethics probe be conducted into Prawit. "It is also disrespectful to a journalist who was doing her work," he added. Palang Pracharat Party spokesman Piya Tavichai said Prawit knew the reporter well and has apologised, adding he could clarify the facts in any parliamentary process. "He was teasing her as someone who he is close to," Piya said. "Because he was a soldier, the teasing could appear to be violent but those close to him know that he teases like this all the time." Prawit and the reporter, who works for broadcaster ThaiPBS, could not be reached for comment. The incident sparked widespread condemnation from Thailand's media community. ThaiPBS asked Prawit to take responsibility for his actions. Senator Tewarit said he requested an investigation into Prawit through the Senate to be conveyed to the lower house of parliament, which will have 30 days to respond. He said he was unsure what penalty Prawit would face if found guilty. The ethics code for Thai parliamentarians states members should respect the rights and liberty of others and refrain from threats, showing malice or use of force to harm others. The incident happened on Friday moments after the Pheu Thai Party's Paetongtarn Shinawatra won a vote in parliament to become prime minister, Thailand's third premier from the billionaire Shinawatra family, with which Prawit has a bitter history. Prawit, who did not attend the vote, was asked his thoughts on Paetongtarn's victory, to which he replied "What are you asking? What are you asking?" before striking the reporter, television footage showed. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton have claimed the Prince of Wales is very irritated with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their choice to call his wife Kate instead of Catherine, per Daily Beast. Britain's Prince William, second left, Kate, Princess of Wales, left, Britain's Prince Harry, second right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP) Prince William took offence when Harry and Meghan referred to his wife as Kate in a public statement wishing her well after she revealed her illness in March 2024: We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace. William's old pal suggests that the use of Kate rather than Catherine was perceived as a deliberate fact that Harry and Meghan were unable to bring themselves to use her chosen name, even when they were sending her get-well-soon messages after her cancer diagnosis, was noted. William takes offense at people calling Catherine Kate, because she has asked to be known as Catherine. Its a fairly simple wish to respect. Im sure Meghan wouldnt like it if William started publicly calling her Meghan Markle, the friend told Daily Beast. ALSO READ| Prince William will not be foolish enough to not invite Harry to coronation despite frustrating Why exactly Kate Middleton prefers to be called Catherine Kate has long preferred to be called Catherine, a name used by her close friends, family, and Prince William himself. Although she was widely known as Kate during her school and university years, she made a conscious decision to switch to her full name, Catherine, before her marriage to William. This preference has been respected by those close to her, and she introduces herself as Catherine in official and social settings. However, media outlets, particularly in the United States, continue to refer to her as Kate Middleton. The friend elaborated on Williams reaction, saying, Of course its an utterly trivial thing, but those of us who know William know that it is one of the things that pushes his buttons. Pushing his buttons while he was going through his wifes cancer seemed an entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation. I wonder if the private card began, Dear Kate Another friend close to the Waleses weighed in on the matter, No ones saying its responsible for all the trouble, but deliberately calling someone by a name they dont like is just bloody rude. If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issue, a good first step would be to call her Catherine. ALSO READ| Lilibet's great tragedy revealed as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrap up Colombia tour Another close pal of William told the UK Sunday Times that the brothers' rift is dreadfully sad, with royal author Christopher Andersen hoping William will eventually extend an olive branch to Harry. Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, Im convinced that, when the time does come, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling, now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation, Andersen told Fox News Digital. Ukraine fired 11 drones Wednesday at Moscow that Russia said were shot down during one of the largest strikes against the capital, while Ukrainian defences reported stopping 50 Russian drones and missiles. Russia says repels drone attack on Moscow The strikes on Moscow come amid a Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk region which Kyiv has said is aimed at bringing the campaign launched by Russia in February 2022 closer to an end on "fair" terms. "Eleven drones were destroyed" over Moscow and its surrounding region, the defence ministry said. "This is one of the largest ever attempts to attack Moscow with drones," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. In total, 45 drones from Ukraine were destroyed by the Russian air defense systems, according to the Russian defense ministry. Sobyanin said in an earlier post that no damage or casualties had been reported. Drone attacks on Moscow are rare, with Russia saying in May it had downed a drone outside the capital, forcing restrictions to be imposed at two major airports in the city for under an hour. In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, a total of 72 air targets were detected over Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk. Fifty drones and a guided missile were shot down, he said in a post on Telegram. Kyiv was one of the locations targeted. "The enemy continues to attack our region with strike drones. The air raid lasted all night and into the morning for more than nine hours," Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram. A private house was damaged as a result of falling debris from the downed targets, and power lines were cut, it added. Since August 6, Ukraine has mounted an unprecedented cross-border assault into Russia's Kursk region, where it claims to control more than 80 settlements. Kyiv has also repeatedly targeted oil and gas facilities in Russia since the conflict began in 2022, some hundreds of kilometres from its borders, in what it has called "fair" retaliation for massive attacks on its energy infrastructure. Ukrainian drones attacked an oil storage facility in Russia's southern Rostov region on Sunday, sparking a large fire, the local governor said. The blaze in the city of Proletarsk was still raging on Wednesday, Russian media reported. Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised his forces for hitting oil facilities in Russia, saying the attacks would help bring a "just end" to the conflict. burs/jm This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Dhaka, At least three more cases were filed on Wednesday against Sheikh Hasina at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, accusing the deposed prime minister of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the recent anti-quota protests in the country. Three more cases filed against Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh's international crimes tribunal Two lawyers filed three separate complaints on behalf of the fathers of three students who were killed during the massive protest by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs, which later turned into a mass uprising that ousted the Hasina-led government on August 5, The Daily Star newspaper reported. "We have registered the complaints, and thus the investigation of all these cases has started," Ataur Rahman, deputy director of the probe agency was quoted as saying in the report. Supreme Court lawyer Hujjatul Islam Khan filed a complaint on behalf of the father of Foisal Ahmed Shanta, who was killed on July 16 in the Muradpur area under Chattogram's Panchlaish Police Station, "following the directive and involvement" of the accused. The complaint accused 76-year-old Hasina and 76 others, including Awami League leaders and ministers. Another Supreme Court lawyer, Asaduzzaman, filed a complaint on behalf of the father of Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin, who was shot by police in Mirpur on July 18 and died two days later. Apart from Hasina, 49 others, including top leaders of parties under the Awami League-led alliance, former ministers, police members and others were named as accused. Besides them, around 500 unnamed leaders and activists of the Awami League and its front organisations were accused. The same lawyer filed another complaint on behalf of the father of Asif Iqbal, a small trader from Sreepur Upazila of Magura, who was "shot dead by police" in the capital's Mirpur-10 intersection on July 19, according to the report. The complaint accused Hasina and 71 others, and 500 unnamed leaders and activists of Awami League, its front organisations and police members were also accused. With these three cases, the tally of cases filed with the International Crimes Tribunal against the 76-year-old former premier, who resigned and fled to India on August 5, rises to seven. Of the seven cases, six are in connection with the killings during the recent protests, and one is about a Hefajat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, according to the report. At least nine more complaints, including eight for murder, were filed against Hasina on Wednesday. The murder cases were lodged for the deaths of people during the recent unrest in Dhaka's Rampura, Tejgaon, Mirpur and Badda areas, Narayanganj and Gazipur districts, the report said. In Dhaka's Badda area, two murder cases were filed against Hasina and 189 others over the killing of Sumon Sikder and Abdul Jabbar on July 19. In Rampura, a murder case was filed against Hasina and 27 others for the death of Rassel Miah, a model coordinator of Indie-Reels Production, during the recent quota protests in Dhaka's Rampura on July 19, the report said. In Tejgaon, 48 people, including Hasina, were sued for the death of Md Tahidul Islam, a student of Kobi Nazrul Government College, during the recent protests on August 4. In Mirpur, Hasina, along with former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque and three others, were sued over the killing of Firoz Talukder, an office assistant of Rangpur Chemical Ltd who was shot from a helicopter during clashes centring the quota reform movement on July 19. In Narayanganj, a murder case was filed against Hasina and 44 others over killing 17-year-old student Roman Mia in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila on August 5. In Gazipur, a murder case was filed last night with Basan Police Station against 139 people, including Hasina, over the death of one Noor Alam, 22, during the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement, the report said. Another case was filed against Hasina and 86 others on charge of attacking a procession in Sylhet city, which left several people shot and injured during the recent mass protests on August 4. Juber Ahmed, acting president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Sylhet city unit, filed the case with the court of Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Suman Bhuiya. Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, is also an accused in the case. According to the case statement, the accused attacked a peaceful rally brought out by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its associate organisations in Sylhet City's Bandarbazar area on August 4, in which several were shot and injured, the newspaper said in a separate report. With this, the tally of cases against Hasina has risen to 44. Hasina fled to India on August 5 after resigning from her post amidst unprecedented anti-government student-led protests. The Hasina-led government was replaced by an interim government, and 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was named its Chief Adviser. Bangladesh's interim government has said it will try those involved in the killings during the recent mass movement of the students against the Hasina-led government in the International Crimes Tribunal. Over 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government, taking the death toll to more than 600 since the massive protest by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs first started in mid-July. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Chicago: She made a rare appearance, but that appearance was enough to galvanise the Democratic base, generate one liners that will become a part of American lore, and create a degree of excitement that made the United Center arena in her hometown of Chicago come alive like nothing else had. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday. (AFP) Tuesday was truly Michelle Obamas night at the Democratic National Convention, as she tore into Donald Trump, attacking him for racism and misogyny in a manner that Democrats have hesitated to do so far, and warned her own party not to be complacent and asked each person do something to elect Kamala Harris one of the most qualified, one of the most dignified to run for the office as Americas next president. The story of hope Speaking right before her husband, Barack, Michelle Obama alluded to the 2008 campaign that was premised on hope and change. Something, something wonderfully magical is in the air, isnt it? A familiar feeling thats been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I am talking about. Its the contagious power of hope, the anticipation, the energy, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. Placing this hope in the context of what they had been battling against, the former First Lady said she had mourned the dimming of the hope, with a deep pit in my stomach, a palpable sense of dread about the future. She also spoke about her personal grief at losing her mother recently, and the values her mother had lived by and taught them that all people have value, that anyone can succeed with opportunity, that if you do good, it will pay off. Linking it with the story of the new Democratic nominee for president, Michelle said, Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values. Even though our mothers grew up an ocean apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country. Thats why her mother moved here from India at 19. Its why she taught Kamala about justice, about the obligation to lift others up, about our responsibility to give more than we take. Briefly tracing Harriss evolution, Obama said my girl, Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. And she is one of the most dignifiedKamala knows, like we do, that regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love, how you worship, or whats in your bank account, we all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life. Targets Donald Trump And that is when Obama began throwing her attack lines, first indirectly and then directly at Donald Trump. In what was a clear reference to Harriss racial and economic background, a smack down of those who called Harris a DEI candidate, and a contrast to Trump, Obama said, She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. If we bankrupt the business or choke in a crisis, we dont get a second, third, or fourth chance. If things dont go our way, we dont have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. No. We dont get to change the rules, so we always win. If we see a mountain in front of us, we dont expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top. No. Democratic delegates on the floor quickly picked the message and responded with a standing ovation and loud cheers. African-Americans and women have long felt that and believed that they have to work doubly hard, for half the returns, with little room for failure to move ahead. Michelle then moved to offering a warning on what will come next by drawing, for the first time, her own experience of being attacked by Trump, who insisted for a long time that Barack Obama wasnt born in America, a conspiracy theory that forced him to produce his birth certificate. We know what comes next. We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth. My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black, Michelle said, spelling out the racism that many had felt but not articulated as clearly in the attacks against her husband. Even as the crowd roared in approval, Michelle doubled down, made a face, and said, Wait, I want to know: Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? In recent weeks, Trump has spoken of how immigrants have taken away Black jobs, a description that has shocked people for its racist connotations. Delegates on the floor erupted in laughter, for appropriating the presidency as a Black job had turned the tables on Trump, even as Michelle continued, Its his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make peoples lives better. Michelle then attacked Trump for his policy, actions and proposals. She said that cutting access to health care, taking away freedom to control ones bodies and the freedom to become a mother through IVF like I did, wont improve the health of women; shutting down the department of education and banning books wont improve childrens future; demonising children for who they were and who they loved wont make lives better. It only makes us small. And let me tell you this: Going small is never the answer. Going small is the opposite of what we teach our kids. Going small is petty, its unhealthy, and quite frankly, its unpresidential, Michelle said, a reminder of her line from 2016 when she had said that when the other side goes low, it was time to go high. Michelle then returned to the choice at hand and told delegates and millions of Americans watching on television, Why would any of us accept this from anyone seeking our highest office? Why would we normalise that type of backward leadershipThere is no other choice than Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. No other choice. But like her husband would do minutes later, Michelle Obama warned against complacency, told Democrats that many wanted a different outcome and that they needed to stay the course and act. We cannot be our own worst enemies. No. See, because the minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. And we cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected, Michelle said, in what appeared to be an allusion to 2016 when the flaws of Hillary Clinton, or the perception that America wasnt ready for a woman president, had hobbled the Democratic campaign. And that is when Michelle gave a mantra to the delegates which they quickly embraced. If they lie about her and they will we have got to do something. If we see a bad poll and we will we have got to put down that phone and do somethingconsider this to be your official ask: Michelle Obama is asking youno, I am telling yallto do something. Over 20,000 delegates in the arena accepted the challenge, chanting, Do something, as Michelle Obama ended her rousing speech, and introduced the man who she said knew something about hope, Americas 44th President and the love of my life, Barack Obama. * Ukraine launches 'one of largest ever' drone attacks on Moscow, mayor says Eleven drones heading towards Moscow destroyed * No damage, casualties reported * Attack comes as Moscow fights Ukraine's incursion into Kursk By Lidia Kelly Aug 21 - Ukraine launched one of the largest ever drone attacks on Moscow on Wednesday, the city's mayor said, with Russian air defence units destroying 11 drones flying towards the capital. Some of the drones were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. The city in the Moscow region is some 38 kms south of the Kremlin. "This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever," Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app at 4:43 a.m. . The attack comes as Russia - while advancing in eastern Ukraine - struggles to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk region, two weeks after they smashed through Russia's western border in the largest invasion of Russia since World War Two. Sobyanin said that according to preliminary information, there were no injuries or damage reported in the aftermath of the attacks. Ukraine has often launched one or two drones targeting Moscow in recent months, causing no substantial damage. The Wednesday attack, however, seems larger than May 2023 attack when at least eight drones were destroyed over the capital in an attack President Vladimir Putin said was Kyiv's attempt to scare and provoke Russia. Russian officials rarely disclose the full size of the attacks, reporting only drones that its air defence units destroy. Both Ukraine and Russia also rarely disclose the full extent of the damage their attacks inflict, unless residential or civilian infrastructure is damaged, or civilians die. The Wednesday attack on Moscow was part of a broader Ukraine drone attack on Russia with the Russian defence ministry saying its air defence units also destroyed 23 drones over the border region of Bryansk. Six drones were destroyed over Belgorod, another Russian region on border with Ukraine, three over the Kaluga region, which borders the Moscow region to its northeast, and two over the embattled Kursk region, the ministry said. There were no casualties or damage reported in the aftermath of attack on the border region of Bryansk in Russia's southwest, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the region wrote on Telegram. Russia's RIA state news agency reported also that two drones were destroyed over the Tula region, which borders the Moscow region to its north, Separately, Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region in Russia's southwest, said that air defence forces destroyed a Ukraine-launched missile over the region, with no injuries reported. The Russia defence ministry did not mention neither Tula nor Rostov in its statement listing destroyed air weapons. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. In recent months, Kyiv has stepped up its air attacks on Russian territory, saying its aim is to destroy infrastructure key to Moscow's war efforts. It also says that its attacks are in response to Russia's continued strikes on Ukrainian territory. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By Mark Trevelyan Belarus frees union leader and TV journalist in new prisoner release Aug 21 - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has freed at least 13 more prisoners convicted in political cases, including a veteran trade unionist and a former state TV journalist who is suffering from a brain tumour, according to human rights activists. Vasil Berasnieu, 74, is a trade union leader who had been serving a nine-year sentence after being found guilty of extremist activity, incitement to hatred and calling for actions deemed harmful to state security. Former journalist Kseniya Lutskina was serving eight years for "conspiracy to seize power". She was one of the organisers of mass protests that broke out in August 2020 when Lukashenko claimed victory in a presidential election that the opposition and Western government accused him of heavily rigging. Human rights group Viasna said they and at least 11 others were released this week under pardons issued by Lukashenko on Aug. 16. A further 18 people were freed in early July. Belarusian state media have cast the pardons as a generous humanitarian act by Lukashenko. In interviews on state TV, some of the former detainees were shown expressing remorse and gratitude. Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has run Belarus for three decades. He used his security apparatus to crush the protests in 2020, imprisoning many hundreds of people and forcing others to flee abroad. Franak Viacorka, an aide to exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the latest releases were welcome news but did not represent any real shift. "It is a small success of diplomacy combined with international pressure," he told Reuters. "We are happy that people in a bad health condition were released. Probably it will save their lives. But we cant say that there is a change in policy." Viasna says the rate of prosecutions in Belarus is actually rising, not falling, with at least 170 people convicted in July of politically related crimes. The rights group says some 1,400 political prisoners are currently being held, of whom the best known are Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, 2020 protest leader Maria Kalesnikava and Syarhey Tsikhanouski, the husband of opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya. Dmitry Bolkunets, an opposition activist, said the prisoner releases were the result of international pressure on Lukashenko, especially from Poland. Poland has leverage because it is the main entry point through which goods from Belarus enter the European Union by road and rail, including shipments originating in China and Russia. Bolkunets, who has also gathered the signatures of dozens of Nobel prize winners demanding the freeing of Belarusian political prisoners, told Reuters he was hopeful this pressure could lead to more releases - potentially on Aug. 30, when Lukashenko celebrates his 70th birthday, or when Belarus marks its national unity holiday on Sept. 17. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka in Beijing on Tuesday. Xi congratulated Fiji's Men's Rugby Sevens team on winning the silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. Noting that Fiji was the first Pacific island country to establish diplomatic relations with China and that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Xi said that for nearly half a century, the two countries have always supported and helped each other, setting a good example of equal treatment and friendly cooperation between countries large and small. China attaches great importance to China-Fiji relations and is willing to continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability for Fiji's economic and social development, and work with Fiji to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations and promote the building of a China-Fiji community with a shared future to better benefit the two peoples, Xi said. Xi briefed Rabuka, who had visited Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces prior to the meeting, on China's practices and experience in poverty alleviation. The completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects for more than 1.4 billion people is a historic achievement the Chinese people have made under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and a historic contribution China has made to the cause of poverty reduction and the development of humanity, he stressed. "In this process, we have left no ethnic group, region or individual behind, fully demonstrating the socialist system's political advantage in concentrating resources on major undertakings. We have won the heartfelt support of the people of all 56 ethnic groups in China," Xi said. China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization that adheres to a path of peaceful development, Xi said. Noting that China and Fiji both belong to the Global South, Xi said China is ready to help Fiji and other Pacific island countries cope with climate change, and strengthen development cooperation with them to make the Pacific Ocean an ocean of peace, friendship and cooperation. Rabuka congratulated the Chinese Olympic delegation on its excellent performance at the Paris Olympics. He said he visited China 30 years ago as prime minister, and through his Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang tours this time, he witnessed the tremendous achievements China has made in poverty eradication and development under the leadership of President Xi. Fiji is willing to learn from China's experience, and strengthen cooperation with China in poverty reduction, infrastructure and connectivity, he said. Fiji appreciates China's adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, supports the global initiatives proposed by President Xi, and is willing to continue the Belt and Road cooperation with China, promote the development of relations between Pacific island countries and China, and make the Pacific Ocean a peaceful ocean, Rabuka said. He noted that Fiji fully understands China's position on the Taiwan question and will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy. A joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Fiji was issued. By Steve Holland Biden, in call with Netanyahu, stresses urgency of Gaza ceasefire BUELLTON, California, - U.S. President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, stressed the urgent need to conclude a Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal and pointed to upcoming Cairo talks as crucial, the White House said. Their call followed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's whirlwind trip to the Middle East that ended on Tuesday without an agreement between Israel and Hamas militants on a truce in the Palestinian enclave. Negotiators who have struggled for months to conclude a ceasefire deal plan to meet in the coming days in Cairo. "The president stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles," a White House statement about the call said. The statement said Biden and Netanyahu also discussed U.S. efforts to support Israel "against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to include ongoing defensive U.S. military deployments." Iran has vowed retaliation over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied that it was behind the killing. The United States has ordered a guided missile submarine be deployed to the Middle East and ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region to be on hand to bolster Israel's defense. Blinken and mediators from Egypt and Qatar have pinned their hopes on a U.S. "bridging proposal" aimed at narrowing the gaps between the two sides in the 10-month-old Gaza war. "President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the ceasefire and hostage release deal and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions," a White House statement said earlier. Vice President Kamala Harris, who on Thursday in Chicago will formally accept the nomination as the Democrats' presidential candidate for the Nov. 5 election, also joined the call. Biden, who is vacationing at an 8,000-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley of California, had been expected to press Netanyahu to soften a new Israeli demand that it be allowed to keep forces along a land corridor between Egypt and Gaza, a U.S. official said before the call. Netanyahu's office on Wednesday denied an Israeli television report that the country had agreed to withdraw its troops from the so-called Philadelphi corridor, a narrow 14.5-km-long stretch of land along the coastal enclave's southern border with Egypt. Getting a Gaza ceasefire deal is a major priority for Biden. A senior U.S. official on Friday described the talks as close to a deal but a final agreement has been agonizingly elusive. In talks to halt fighting in the 10-month-old war, Hamas is seeking a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the Philadelphi corridor. Israel wants to retain control of the corridor, which it captured in late May, after destroying dozens of tunnels beneath it that it says had served to smuggle in weapons to Gaza's militant groups. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. On the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, 13 individuals were arrested, including around 10 members of a small group of agitators who breached the outer security perimeter near the United Center, according to the Chicago Police Department. Police on bikes ride by a section of newly reenforced fencing around the United Center at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(AP) The breach occurred during a larger protest march that remained mostly peaceful, with an estimated 3,500 demonstrators marching from Union Park to Park 578, located just north of the arena, before returning to Union Park. The protest, which took place on Monday afternoon, was organized to show solidarity with Palestine, with activists demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling for an end to US funding to Israel. ALSO READ| End to genocide: The shadow of Gaza war in Chicago Agitators breached the fence and started marching inside the DNC Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said that, while the majority of the protesters were peaceful, a small fraction of people broke off and started marching when that group of individuals stayed behind and breached the fence surrounding the United Center at approximately 4:30 p.m. Im not going to tie that event what happened with the breach to the entirety of that protest because within that protest, we had people who simply wanted to exercise their First Amendment rights, Snelling said. It was a brief breach, Snelling explained. He further noted that some individuals who made it past the first layer of fencing attempted to bring down a second barrier but were stopped by the police. Some of those who breached the fence threw water bottles and other objects at the police, while others in the crowd reportedly sprayed officers with pepper spray. We're not going to tolerate vandalism and violence in our city, and we're ready, willing, and able to respond to those things. So we're going to continue to protect the city, he said. ALSO READ| Two generations, two political strands: When Hillary and AOC stormed Chicago Chicago Police Superintendent takes pride how they handled the protestors Snelling then added, It does seem like the Chicago Police Department is being much more aggressive with protesters during the Democratic National Convention than what we've seen in the last several months. I couldn't be more proud of how the Chicago Police Department responded under those circumstances. We put on display the training and the preparation that we've been engaged in for over a year now. In total, 13 arrests were made in connection with the DNC protests. Snelling indicated that about 10 of these arrests were directly related to the security breach, with the individuals facing charges such as trespassing, resisting and obstructing police, and aggravated battery of police officers. Our officers did not overreact. We were able to clear that area up really quickly, Snelling added. Security around the United Center has been reinforced to prevent further incidents. Crews were observed adding additional fencing to the perimeter on Tuesday morning. ALSO READ| Barack Obama, Michelle and Doug Emhoff to headline Day 2 of Democratic National Convention While U.S. Secret Service Democratic National Convention Coordinator Jeff Burnside said, We take a multi-layered approach to all of our security measures, and we're constantly working with our state, local, and federal partners to evaluate, make improvements, make adjustments, and that's all we're doing. Barack Obama launched the biggest burn in political history by seemingly making a crude joke about Donald Trump's anatomy on Tuesday. Former President Barack Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.(AP) The 44th President of the United States took aim at his successor during his Democratic National Convention address in Chicago, saying that he is a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. What did Barack Obama say about Donald Trump? While emphasising that Trump's return to the White House needs to be blocked in November, Obama further roasted the 45th POTUS, poking fun at his weird obsession with crowd sizes. Using hand gestures, Obama took back the spotlight by eviscerating Trump and his childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and weird obsession with crowd size. The Democratic crowd's uproarious approval spoke volumes about how well the audience had caught on to Obama's sly dig at the Republican presidential hopeful. Also read | Steph Curry and 2 other Team USA players couldnt even celebrate' their Olympic gold win; here's why Internet reacts to Obama's roast of Trump Contrary to the liberal crowd's amusement, the conservative side didn't take much liking to Obama's remarks. Setting the internet on fire, Obama's moment from the Chicago convention soon became the video everyone was talking about on the internet. Conservative commentator Todd Starnes stood by Trump, tagging Obama's mentions of the Republican candidate's private parts as a #weird and #creepy development. Another X user compared the 44th POTUS's newest rant to former First Lady Michelle Obama's famous and rousing When they go low, we go high speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Highlighting how Obama's comment at the Tuesday DNC gathering basically insinuated Trump has a small di**, the user seemingly pointed out how the Democratic party had chosen to go low" eight years later. Additionally, conservative influencer Benny Johnson torched Obama's mockery of Trump, saying, Meanwhile, Democrats have to bring rappers to their events to fill seats. On the other hand, users also lauded Obama for his joke, hailing his crowd size joke as the biggest burn in political history. Another said, Obama is just putting the Trump campaign to an end. Meanwhile, a third user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, They're having a weirdo off at these conventions. Also read | From meeting on a blind date to becoming 'momala' of his kids: Kamala Harris' husband shares their love story at DNC Obama's DNC roast comes after Trump's rare praise for his White House predecessor While Obama roasted Trump on Tuesday, the latter offered his predecessor a rare praise, hailing him a nice gentleman. Opposing his typical attacks on Democratic leaders, Trump told CNN, I like him. I think he's a nice gentleman, but he was very, very weak on trade. Although he expanded on the issue, he continued, But I happen to like him. I respect him, and I respect his wife. Presumably, the word didn't get around to Obama before they took the stage on Tuesday because while the 44th POTUS ripped into Trump with his crowd-size joke, the former First Lady also tore into him for his recent Black jobs comment. By the way whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? Michelle Obama's reference was treated with loud applause. Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would attend a tele-town hall hosted by Fox News in September. His statement comes after US Vice President and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris denied to participate in 4 September debate, which was set to be hosted by the American broadcaster. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris (AP) Rather than the debate on September 4th, I have agreed to do a Tele-Town Hall, anchored by Sean Hannity, for Fox. It will take place in the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Details to follow! Trump wrote on Truth. Trump called Harris' decision to not participate in a debate on Fox News not surprising. He claimed that she wouldn't be able to defend her record setting Flip-Flopping on absolutely everything she once believed in and that it would be difficult for her to compete with him face to face. According to the Harris campaign, Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz will take part in one vice presidential debate, while she will go ahead with two presidential debates. ABC News will host the first debate, which takes place on September 10. The date of second debate, which is scheduled for October, has not been announced yet. Harris' campaign team stated they would think about participating in another debate following the September 10 showdown. Trump's running mate JD Vance and Tim Walz will square off on October 1. Also Read: Obama calls out Trump at DNC, mocks his weird obsession with crowd sizes Trump gives appalling description of major US ally In another post, Trump blasted the United Kingdom, saying that its streets are full of death and destruction. He went on to say that the United States would suffer the same fate if Kamala Harris wins the presidency. Shortly after GOP defectors explained to Democrats at DNC in Chicago why they would rather support Harris over Trump, the former President disparaged his rival in a Truth Social tirade. Kamala Harris supports the Environmental Extremists 'NET-ZERO' Energy Policy - A Radical Left Agenda to abolish Coal, Oil, and Natural Gas, and plunge MILLIONS into Poverty, he wrote. Trump later targetted UK and said that lunatics who advocated net-zero were currently destroying the Economies of many other Countries, including the UK. Their Radical, Self-Destructive Policy has led the UK to the Worst Economic Growth since 1780, now causing Economic Chaos, Destruction, Riots, and Death in the streets of British Cities, he remarked. The objective of eliminating the quantity of greenhouse gases created by humans is commonly referred to as net zero. The UK witnessed riots in recent weeks with protestors hurling bricks and even petrol bombs on police officers. The riots were purportedly incited by right-wing disinformation after three young girls were killed in a stabbing attack. Donald Trump seems completely disheartened with the Democratic National Convention (DNC) as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have garnered huge support from their party members and even few Republicans who have ditched the former president and joined the US Vice President's camp. Donald Trump hit out at New York Governor Kathy Hochul over her DNC address.(REUTERS) Trump recently heaped praises on Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, asserting that he respects them and lauding his adversary as nice gentleman. However, Trump got really enraged after the nastiest speaker at the DNC blasted him brutally. Taking to Truth Social, Trump hit out at New York Governor Kathy Hochul over her DNC address. The nastiest speaker on Monday evening... as it pertains to your favorite President, me, the former president wrote. Her total hatred, and statements made about me, had no bounds, he continued. During her five-minute speech on the first night of the convention, Hochul compared her upbringing with Harris, saying that they share the same values. She hailed the US VP's grit, determination, and compassion. Stating that those values have consistently defined the people of my state, Hochul blasted New Yorker Trump, who according to her ended up a fraud, a philanderer, and a felon. Addressing the Americans, she said: If you think youre tired of Donald Trump, talk to a New Yorker. Weve had to deal with him for 78 long yearsthe fraud, the tax-dodging, the sham university, the shady charities. She further stated that New Yorkers have seen him rip off workers and stiff contractors and he even abuses women and then brag about it. Claiming that New Yorkers are sick of Trump's attitude, she remarked: Its no wonder he had to flee to Mar-a-Lagosorry about that, Florida, sorry about that. Trump hasnt spent much time in New York lately. Except, that is, to get convicted of 34 felonies. Also Read: Trump says he would offer Elon Musk cabinet spot, Tesla CEO expresses willingness to serve in THIS perfect department Trump defends his report card In a post on Wednesday, Trump admitted that he was amazed by Hochul's remarks for two reasons. According to him, he did a great job in New York by constructing few of the most stunning and successful buildings, providing jobs to thousands of people, paying billions of dollars in taxes. Number two is that, on the very distinct possibility I will win the Presidency, wouldnt it be better for the people of New York State to have a Governor who got along with the President? Adversarial relationships are not good in politics! In addition, Trump discussed his legal issues, highlighting that his hobby horse was victimized by the New York legal system. Citing her vitriol displayed at the DNC, Trump said, It is no wonder that the Judges have treated me so badly. He ended his attack against her by saying that the firms are leaving because the entire system is rigged. Former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham took the stage at the Democratic National Convention and told the Democrats how she once was a closest adviser and true supporter of her former boss, ex-President Donald Trump, but since become one of the most prominent Republican critics of the former president. She started hating Trump when she saw him mocking his own supporters. Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House Press Secretary, speaks during the Democratic National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(AP) Former Trump White House press secretary says ex-prez mocks his supporters I wasnt just a Trump supporter, I was a true believer. I was one of his closest advisers, Grisham began, emphasizing her former loyalty to Trump. She mentioned that she spent significant personal time with Trump, including holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida property. This, she said, allowed her to observe Trump in moments away from the public eye. ALSO READ| Hulk Hogan mocks Kamala Harris' Indian heritage, asks fans if he should drop the leg on US VP Behind closed doors, Trump mocks his supporters. He calls them basement dwellers, she revealed. He has no empathy, no morals and no fidelity to the truth, Grisham added, further criticizing Trumps character and ethics. The White House press secretary also recounted a specific incident from January 6, 2021, the day of the violent riots at the US Capitol. She shared that she had approached then-first lady Melania Trump, suggesting that the team post a message on social media condemning the violence and lawlessness unfolding that day. Grisham said that Melania replied with one word, No. Who is Stephanie Grisham? Grisham initially served as White House press secretary, though notably, she never held a formal briefing with reporters during that role. Then, she went on to serve as Melania Trumps press secretary until she resigned in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. ALSO READ| Chicago Police fortify fences after security breach on first day of DNC, 13 arrested Earlier this month, Grisham publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, aligning herself with the Democratic candidate in a significant political shift. The Harris campaign announced Grishams endorsement as part of the launch of Republicans for Harris, a group that includes 25 GOP endorsements, among them Olivia Troye, a former national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence. Grisham endorsed Harris, stating, Kamala Harris tells the truth, she respects the American people and she has my vote. TAIPEI, Taiwan The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, on Wednesday called for more international backing for Taiwan and a coordinated pushback against Chinas claims over the self-ruled democracy. Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley calls for more international support for Taiwan The United States should elevate Taiwan on the world stage. You should no longer be silenced in global affairs, Haley told an audience at Ketagalan Forum, a Taipei conference focused on security issues in the Asia-Pacific. She called for Taiwan to become a full member of the U.N. even though it's being blocked by China from representation in international bodies. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. China also prohibits countries it has international relations with from having formal ties with Taipei. While the U.S. doesnt formally recognize Taiwan, it is the islands strongest backer and arms provider. Haley, who served at the U.N. under former President Donald Trump's administration, ran a yearlong presidential campaign as a tough-on-China candidate before dropping out of the race in March. She has endorsed Trump in the November elections. At the Taipei forum, she called on the U.S. and its Western allies to rally around Taiwan and relentlessly push for the islands global acceptance. If we take the necessary steps now, China will think twice before starting a war, she said. Yoshihiko Noda, Japans former prime minister who also addressed the forum, echoed Haleys calls for greater representation for Taiwan in international organizations. He decried Taiwans exclusion from the World Health Organization and said he was determined to push for its participation as an observer, which China opposes. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te earlier accused China of economic coercion and military intimidation. China intends to change the rules-based international order, Lai said in a speech opening the forum. That is why democratic countries must come together and take concrete action. Only by working together can we inhibit the expansion of authoritarianism. Lai said Chinas military exercises in the Taiwan Strait as well as joint sea and air drills with Russia in the South China Sea, Western Pacific and Sea of Japan were intended to intimidate its neighbors. On Tuesday, Taiwans military launched surface-to-air missiles as part of live-fire drills in response to growing military pressure from China. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Hulk Hogan, the legendary wrestler who has endorsed Donald Trump, has poked fun at US Vice President and Democratic presidential contender Kamala Harris' Indian ancestry. He even made jokes about body-slamming her. Hulk Hogan was in Medina, Ohio on Monday night for the promotion of his new beer at the Thirsty Cowboy saloon. He asked the audience, Want me to body-slam Kamala Harris?(Getty Images) Hogan was in Medina, Ohio on Monday night for the promotion of his new beer at the Thirsty Cowboy saloon, Daily Mail reported. The 71-year-old, whose real name is Terry Bollea, approached the microphone during the event and asked the audience, Want me to body-slam Kamala Harris? Referring to his special wrestling move, he asked his fans if they want him to drop the leg on Kamala. Continuing his tirade against Harris, he asked: Is Kamala a chameleon? Is Kamala Indian? He was referring to recent remarks made by Trump and his running mate JD Vance about the US VP's heritage. While Harris father is Jamaican-American, the US VP's mom is an immigrant to the US from India. Hogan even said that he knows he will get lot of heat for his comments, but then quipped, That was the beers talking. The wrestler targeted Harris a month after he delivered a powerful speech in support of Trump at the Republican National Convention. Also Read: Hulk Hogan's ex-pal to collab with Ben Affleck-Matt Damon on infamous Gawker sex tape scandal movie? Trump and Vance ridiculed Harris Trump's criticism of Harris has grown more personal and intense since she replaced Joe Biden as Democratic presidential nominee in late July. During a heated interview at a black journalists' association, he stated that the Harris happened to turn Black and bashed her for exclusively promoting her Indian heritage. She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didnt know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I dont know, is she Indian or is she Black? the GOP presi4dential nominee remarked. Vance defended Trump's explosive comments about Harris and referred to her as a chameleon. According to him, Harris pretends to be something different depending on what audience shes speaking to. JD Vance, the Ohio Senator and former President Donald Trump's vice president candidate, slammed Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear for his previous comments regarding abortion exceptions and accused him of wishing that one of his family members would get raped. Taking an offense at the Andy Beshear's remarks, JD Vance called the governor a disgusting person for wishing that a member of my family would get raped.(AP) Beshear denounced Republicans for advocating anti-abortion laws, such as those that forbid rape or incest situations from receiving an exception. Appearing on Morning Joe, Beshear said, JD Vance calls pregnancy resulting from rape inconvenient, alluding to a remark made by the Ohio Senator in 2021. During that time, Vance stated that he did not believe rape situations should be exempt from abortion regulations due to the inconvenient nature of the child's birth. The Ohio Senatotr later changed his opinion and stated that he is in favor of exceptions. Inconvenience is traffic, make him go through this. Someone being violated, someone being harmed and then telling them they dont have options after that. That fails any test of decency of humanity, the Kentucky Governor said. Taking an offense at the Governor's remarks, Vance called Beshear a disgusting person for wishing that a member of my family would get raped. Also Read: JD Vance says tasking Kamala Harris with reining in inflation is like giving Jeffrey Epstein control over Beshear reacts after facing heat from Vance and his spokesperson Meanwhile, Vance's communications director, William Martin, also denounced Beshear's remarks as disgusting and vile. In a statement, he urged Kamala Harris to swiftly retract Beshear's remarks and show that this kind of aggressive language has no place in our public discourse regardless of political affiliation. Later, Kentucky's Governor explained that Vance's interpretation of his comment was incorrect, and labelled it as ridiculous and a deflection. Beshear, while speaking to MSNBC, stated that JD Vance knows he and Donald Trump are so wrong on this issue and so hes trying to make himself the victim. Beshear, who has supported abortion rights by vetoing legislation that would have curtailed the practice, went on to say that Vance, being a man, will never have to deal with any of this directly. Its sad that he lacks the empathy to put himself in a different position and to understand why having exceptions, why having reproductive freedom is so important in the first place. The Governor made it clear that he would never wish harm on anyone. Jason Carter, the grandson of Jimmy Carter, gave a health update on the 99-year-old former president and revealed that he wishes he could be here' at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Former US President Jimmy Carter told his son Chip, I'm only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris, as per his grandson Jason, who spoke to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.(AFP) Lauding Kamala Harris, Jason said his grandfather can't wait to cast his ballot for the US VP. Speaking about ex-president's condition, he said: Papa is holding on, he is hopeful, and though his body may be weak tonight, his spirit is as strong as ever. For my grandfather, it was never about fame, recognition, accolades or awards. His legacy is measured by the lives he has touched and the good he has done, Jason stated. He remarked that Harris carries his grandfather's legacy. According to him, Harris fights for what she believes to be right as she is aware that serving others comes before self-interest in leadership. Also Read: Donald Trump mocked for confusing Jimmy Carter with Jimmy Connors at NJ rally Here is what Carter told to his son Chip Jimmy Carter has been under the care of hospice at his home in Plains, Georgia for over 1.5 years. Jason disclosed in June that he doesn't wake up every day. Carter told his son Chip, I'm only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris, as per Jason, who spoke to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Carter is expected to turn 100 on October 1, just a month before Harris is set to face Trump in the presidential race. According to Jason, his grandfather has become more aware of politics and the Israel-Gaza War in recent times. The Carters intend to convert their house into a museum after the ex-president's passing and they have given the National Park Service a deed to their land. Carter has mostly avoided media attention since opting to stop medical intervention. He was last seen in a wheelchair and under a blanket during his wife's memorial events in November. He will be buried next to his spouse after his death. Former First Lady Michelle Obama graced the Democratic National Convention (DNC) stage on Tuesday and praised Kamala Harris' presidential candidacy while comparing it to her husband Barack Obama's in 2008. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.(Bloomberg) She remarked, America, hope is making a comeback, referencing his well-known hope campaign from 2008. As Michelle was greeted with cheers on the second night of the convention, she remarked, Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn't it? We're feeling it here in this arena, but it's spreading all across this country we love. A familiar feeling that's been buried too deep for too long. You know what I'm talking about? It's the contagious power of hope! Michelle Obama makes sharp comparison between Trump and Harris Uttering her catchphrase, When they go low, we go high, she mentioned Donald Trump in an effort to draw comparisons between Kamala Harris and the GOP leader. Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open to others, she understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward, Michelle stated. Also Read: 'Yes, she can, echoes at DNC as Barack Obama asks America to vote for Kamala Harris According to her, Harris is as more than ready for this moment. She further described the US VP as one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. Kamala Harris has a deep appreciation for unseen labour and steadfast dedication that have always defined America's greatness, she said, adding that Trump exerted every effort to instill fear in people. His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard working and highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black. Michelle Obama takes Black jobs and wealth swipe at Trump Taking a dig at Trump, she asked: Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those 'Black jobs'? The statement alluded to Trump's assertion in the June debate with President Joe Biden that immigrants were stealing Black jobs. The former first lady also appeared to disparage the wealth that Trump inherited. Nobody is the exclusive authority on what it means to be an American. Nobody, she said. Referred to as one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency, she praised Vice President Kamala Harris. She urged people to do something to ensure the victory of Harris and Gov. Tim Walz. Michelle remarked that Harris recognises that the majority of us be afforded the grace of failing forward and that We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. She then invited Barack Obama on the stage to address the crowd. Former US President Donald Trump found himself the subject of online ridicule after a slip of the tongue during a rally in Michigan on Tuesday, August 20. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking in the first presidential debate with US President Joe Biden in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024. ABC will host a presidential debate between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris on September 10, the US television network confirmed on August 8. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski and ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)(AFP) While addressing a crowd of his supporters, Trump mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as the president, a gaffe that quickly caught the attention of social media. And she's the president, and wants to be the President of the United States, Trump said, before correcting himself, adding, She's Vice President, she could do it. The latest gaffe sparked a wave of reactions online, with netizens taking the opportunity to mock the former presidents mental acuity and speculate about his state of mind. ALSO READ| Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham blasts the former prez at DNC: He mocks his Take a nap, grandpa Trump X (formerly Twitter) users were quick to highlight the slip-up as a sign of Trumps advancing age and mental sharpness. One user commented, Donald Trump is too old to run. He needs to step aside, while another quipped, This man has the IQ and mental acuity of a baked potato. Oh yeah, them speeches last night at the DNC kept him up all night long. You can hear it in his voice. Theyre breaking Donald, one quipped. Another said, That wont be the first or last time he says that. Hell be saying it from prison after November. Thats the sound of Trumps defeat creeping in. Hes seen the data, and spoiler alert: its not looking good. He knows it, we know it just waiting for him to admit it which will never happen. #GameOver #DataDoesntLie, one piped in. Im glad hes starting to admit this to himself, another quipped. One chimed in saying, My guy is running on FUMES. Low energy ... Take a nap, grandpa. Trump will lose in November because he is Notably, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci recently predicted that Trump would lose his bid for another term because he is old and tired. The electorate has changed since 2016. We've lost over 20 million baby boomers since 2016. At the same time, Generation Z has come into the fold to the tune of 40 million. So that's been a big mixture of lower-aged voters into the mix. And they seem interested in politics, Scaramucci stated. ALSO READ| Trump Media shares plummet to record lows as Trump returns to X The criticism extended to remarks about Trumps energy levels and overall demeanour. Some suggested that the former president appeared worn out and fatigued, with one user stating, He's so toast. I truly believe he's done and wants to lose and just move out of the country already, and another quipping, Trump sounds cooked and very very low energy! Former United States President Barack Obama took to the stage of the Democratic National Convention, and ripped Donald Trump as the crowd cheered. He also expressed his support for Kamala Harris, saying he is feeling hopeful because she is ready to step into the White House. Barack Obama calls out Donald Trump at DNC, mocks his weird obsession with crowd sizes (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg, AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Obama told the crowd that America does not need four more years of a Donald Trump presidency. We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos, we have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse, he said. Obama said the former presidents complaints are getting worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala. The childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes, Obama said. America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris. Michelle Obama blasts Donald Trump Former first lady Michelle Obama, too, called out Trump. She said the former president is going to try and attack Harris in this election, which is something she and her husband have had experience with. For years Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black, she said. Who is going to tell him that the job he currently is seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? Michelle said, taking a jab at Trumps remarks at the National Association of Black Journalists. The former president had said that immigrants are taking Black jobs. Michelle also blasted Trumps policies, including cutting health care, and said he had dug in on ugly, misogynist, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will make peoples lives better. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently concluded their tour of Colombia, leaving many questions, Why are they going? that too in South America. Prince Harry and his wife, American actress Meghan Markle, are visiting Colombia at the invitation of Colombia's vice-President Francia Marquez, with whom they have attended various meetings with women and young people to reject discrimination and cyberbullying. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP)(AFP) Royal commentator Emily Andrews, writing for Grazia, suggested that Buckingham Palaces response to the Sussexes' trip could be summed up in just four words: Why are they going? The Sussexes are launching several new projects under their Archewell Foundation and collaborating with Netflix. However, these ventures have faced scrutiny, especially following the recent departure of their chief of staff, Josh Kettler. ALSO READ| Prince William is furious with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for not respecting Kate Middleton Meghan's lifestyle brand delayed again Andrews noted that their reputation has taken a hit and pointed out delays in launching Meghans lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Harry and Meghans reputation has also taken a hit in the US, while the launch of Meghans lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard has still not been finalised, she said. It was scheduled for this spring, then autumn, and has now been reportedly put back until next year to tie in with her new cooking show for Netflix and to iron out trademarking issues. Prince Harry feels trapped and misses UK Not only this, there is also growing speculation about the couples future residence. Earlier this year, rumors circulated that Prince Harry might be considering a return to the UK. A close friend of Harrys recently told The Times that the prince is feeling increasingly disillusioned with how things have turned out and misses his homeland. He's an angry boy. Things haven't turned out how he wanted. I think he misses being over here desperately and wants to be admired more, the friend said. Anyone who knows him feels he'd rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate. ALSO READ| Prince William will not be foolish enough to not invite Harry to coronation despite frustrating Another old pal of both royal brothers told The Times how much Prince William is irritated with Harry. Of course its an utterly trivial thing, but those of us who know William know that it is one of the things that pushes his buttons. Pushing his buttons while he was going through his wifes cancer seemed an entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation, the old pal said. The bodies of British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah have been identified among the wreckage of the sunken Bayesian yacht. Of the six people initially reported missing, earlier reports indicated that two bodies had been recovered but remained unidentified. Rescue personnel transport a body bag after a luxury yacht, which was carrying British entrepreneur Mike Lynch, sank off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 21, 2024. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi(REUTERS) Angela Bacares, Lynch's wife, reportedly got out of the sinking boat before it flipped over. Salvo Cocina, who runs Sicily's civil protection, said that two more bodies were discovered and are being looked for by divers right now. Mike Lynch and his daughters dead bodies recovered According to The Telegraph, the bodies of Lynch, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter were discovered in one of the ships cabins between two mattresses on Wednesday. Rescue teams were searching for the missing passengers of the Bayesian yacht on August 21. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and express our condolences to them at this difficult time, Salvo Cocina told the Telegraph. Also read: And they lived happily ever, NYC lawyers haunting last post before vanishing on Bayesian yacht with wife The tragedy strikes the Lynch family just weeks after Britains Bill Gates walked out of a San Francisco courthouse as a free man. After a 13-year legal battle, he promised to work on changing Britains extradition laws with tears in his eyes. How many people are still missing from the Bayesian superyacht tragedy? Among those unaccounted for were prominent figures such as Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, New York City lawyer Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda, a jewellery designer. (Morvillo was also identified as Mike Lynchs attorney who helped clear him of fraud charges related to the 2011 sale of his Autonomy company to Hewlett-Packard.) Also read: Democratic National Convention hotels in Chicago hit with bomb threats and 'anti-semitic statements: Report There were a total of 22 people on board, including 10 crew members and 12 guests, when the yacht capsized during a powerful storm near the port of Porticello early Monday morning. Mike Lynch and his daughter are the second and third people found after the ship went down, right after they found the cook from the yacht, Recaldo Thomas, who was found shortly after the boat sank. According to reports, the diving team assigned to the bay was seen this afternoon bringing a green body bag to the Port of Porticello, where loads of emergency workers were on standby. Donald Trump on Monday made a surprising admission, saying that he likes and respect former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama. Donald Trump called Barack Obama a nice gentleman during an interview with CNN. Ahead of the Obama couple's speech at the DNC on Tuesday, Trump called Barack a nice gentleman during an interview with CNN. I think he's a nice gentleman, but he was very weak on trade. If you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise, it was a disaster, the GOP leader stated. I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife, he added. As the face of the birtherism conspiracy theories against Obama, Trump has frequently retaliated against the former president. Earlier, Trump has retaliated against the former president by fuelling the birtherism conspiracy. Trump was said to be motivate to run for 45th president of the US after Obama mocked him during the 2011 White House Correspondents dinner. Also Read: Trump Media shares plummet to record lows as Trump returns to X Trump slams DNC programming as all lies Meanwhile, Trump denounced the DNC's programming on Tuesday, calling it all "lies." The former President spoke to NY POST before a Michigan gathering on local law enforcement. Despite the fact that the topic of his event was combating crime, he claimed that the DNC is all about lies. He went on to predict that Obama would be repeating the same lies during his keynote address on Tuesday night. I think it was about lies. It was lies about me, all night long they were saying things that weren't true, the former President stated. The DNC is hosting a formal roll call to affirm Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination. She was formally named the party's presidential nominee earlier this month. Besides Obama and Michelle, notable Democratic lawmakers are scheduled to address the crowd on the second day of the convention. Their address comes after Joe Biden's emotional speech on Monday in which he reflected on his time in politics and handed the torch to Harris. ASHEBORO, N.C. In his first outdoor rally since last months assassination attempt, Donald Trump appeared on stage in North Carolina to talk about national security as part of his weeklong trip across the country to draw attention away from Democrats and their national convention. Trump holds his first outdoor rally since last month's assassination attempt Seventy-six days from now, we're going to win this state and we're going to win the White House, Trump said at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame from behind a podium surrounded by panes of bulletproof glass that formed a protective wall across the stage. Storage containers were stacked around the perimeter to create additional walls and block sight lines. Snipers were positioned on roofs at the venue, where old aircraft were sitting behind the podium and a large American flag was suspended from cranes. The event, billed as being focused on national security issues, is part of Trump's weeklong series of counterprogramming to the Democratic National Convention, which is underway in Chicago. Allies have been urging him to focus on policy instead of personal attacks as he struggles to adjust to running against Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. On Tuesday night, the convention showcased a double dose of Obama firepower, as the former president and former first lady assailed Trump, calling him out repeatedly by name. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black, Michelle Obama said of Trump in a rousing speech. She also referenced a comment he made in a June debate, asking: Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? Barack Obama mocked Trump's obsession with his crowd sizes and called Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. Trump was joined Wednesday by his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who cast Harris as a candidate selected by power brokers instead of voters and lambasted her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, before Trump took the stage. That included continuing to hammer Walz for, at times, mischaracterizing his service record as an Army National Guard member, as well as Walzs retirement from service before his units deployment to Iraq. What wont Stolen Valor Tim Walz lie about? Vance, who served four years as a Marine, asked the crowd. Trump has spent the week visiting battleground states in his busiest week of campaigning since the Republican primaries. Reflecting the importance of North Carolina in this year's election, the trip is Trump's second to the state in just the past week. Last Wednesday, he appeared in Asheville, North Carolina, for a speech on the economy. Trump won North Carolina by a comfortable margin in 2016. The state delivered the former president his closest statewide margin of victory four years ago and is once again considered a key battleground in 2024. Before Trump arrived, his plane did a flyover of the rally site. The crowd erupted into cheers. Edna Ryan, a 68-year-old retired flight attendant and private pilot, said she was bullish on the Republicans chances, but said: We need to be strong because otherwise were going to be very sorry. Lisa Watts, a retired business owner from Hickory, North Carolina, who was attending her fifth Trump rally, said shes feeling very positive about the race against Harris. A month ago they never spoke her name and now shes like, quote quote the savior for the country, Watts said. I dont think that her record proves that she is ready to run this country." Watts said she doesnt think Trumps chances of winning are much different now from when Biden was the Democratic nominee. I think the Democrats are going to try to do everything they can to keep her up on that pedestal, she said, predicting the hype around Harris will fade. Colvin reported from New York. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. By Joseph Ax US death row inmate to get life in prison after DNA testing weakens conviction Aug 21 - A Missouri inmate convicted of fatally stabbing a woman in 1998 will avoid the death penalty and instead be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said on Wednesday, after DNA testing of the murder weapon did not match him. Marcellus Williams, 55, who had been scheduled to be put to death next month, will enter what is known as an "Alford plea" to a first-degree murder charge on Thursday as part of a deal with prosecutors that vacates his original conviction. The plea allows Williams to continue to maintain his innocence, as he has done since the murder, while forgoing a new trial and accepting the recommended sentence. In an order, Judge Bruce Hilton in St. Louis County Circuit Court said that the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney's office conceded there were "constitutional errors" during the trial that "undermine confidence" in the verdict. He also noted that the family of the victim, Felicia "Lisha" Gayle, did not wish for Williams to be executed. Gayle was stabbed 43 times in her suburban home, and Williams was convicted in 2001 largely on the testimony of two witnesses whom prosecutors have now described in court papers as "unreliable." Prosecutors had initially concluded that DNA tests excluded Williams. Additional testing, however, found the lead investigator's DNA on the knife, which suggested the weapon had been mishandled and contaminated at the time but did not definitively exclude Williams. Williams' attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell, said in a statement that no reliable evidence has ever connected her client to the crime. "Marcellus Williams is an innocent man, and nothing about today's plea agreement changes that fact," she said in a statement. "By agreeing to an Alford plea, the parties will bring a measure of finality to Felicia Gayle's family, while ensuring that Mr. Williams will remain alive as we continue to pursue new evidence to prove, once and for all, that he is innocent." Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey opposed the court's decision, arguing that the evidence used to convict Williams remained undisturbed. A spokesperson for the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney said the office expects Bailey to appeal Wednesday's decision. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A Brazilian woman was arrested after a Minnesota businessman died in an alleged drug-fueled robbery in Brazil this month. Leticia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, was identified by Brazils Civil Police as the prime suspect in the so-called Goodnight Cinderella plot. Who was Dwayne Antonio Morris? Minnesota businessman killed in Brazil in 'Goodnight Cinderella plot (Tamatha Richman/Facebook) On August 8, Dwayne Antonio Morris, of Minneapolis, was discovered dead in his rented apartment in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, reported the local outlet g1. The 43-year-old came to the country just a day before his death. It is believed that Morris was drugged, which led to him convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Da Silva and another unidentified woman have been accused of drugging Morris with GHB, which is a powerful depressant. They then robbed him and fled the apartment. In Brazil, drug-induced robberies in which victims are incapacitated or dazed by GHB, Rohypnol or another substance are referred to as Goodnight Cinderella schemes. If the doses are large, GHB can cause loss of consciousness and respiratory depression, which can kill the victim. It is believed that da Silva and the other woman met Morris and a friend while out in the Lapa neighbourhood. The four of them reportedly had drinks at a bar and then planned to go back to Morris apartment. While Morris friend felt dizzy and decided to go to a different location, Morris and the two women came to his apartment after midnight. Surveillance camera captured the two women leaving the building and getting into a black car after two hours. Da Silva is reportedly also a suspect in several other drug-induced thefts. In connection with Morris death, she faces charges of murder. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family for their loss and stand ready to provide consular assistance, the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro said of Morris death. We are closely monitoring local authorities investigations regarding the cause of death. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment. Who was Dwayne Antonio Morris? Morris was the president and founder of Blue Waters Consulting and Soul Community Development Corporation. He was responsible for managing a $14 million business portfolio. He was a fun partner to have, Morris partner, Tamatha Richman, told CBS News. Morris was the only provider for his and Richmans blended family. They share three children. A GoFundMe set up for Morris says, DWayne was a kind, adventurous spirit who brought joy to everyone around them. He touched the lives of so many. As we navigate this difficult time, we are faced with the challenge of bringing DWayne home and covering the unexpected costs associated with this tragedy. These expenses include repatriation, funeral arrangements, and supporting the family during this time of grief. We humbly ask for your support to help us honor DWaynes memory and bring him back home. Pakistan has been grappling with a slowdown in internet speeds, which has sparked widespread frustration among users and allegations of the installation of a national firewall. A Pakistani waits to connect his mobile WhatsApp with a desktop as internet runs slow past several days, in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan) Over the past few weeks, users have reported trouble sending and downloading media files and voice notes through messaging apps like WhatsApp, even when connected to broadband networks. The slowdown has also impacted businesses that rely on stable internet connections to communicate with international clients and manage operations. The Pakistan Software House Association, which represents the country's IT sector, has warned that the internet issues could cost the fragile economy up to $300 million. The association also raised concerns that the government might be hastily implementing a national firewall, potentially causing these slowdownsa claim the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has categorically denied. PTA blames faulty submarine cable On Wednesday, the country's telecom authority attributed the slowdown to a faulty submarine cable. In a meeting with the National Assemblys Standing Committee on IT, PTA chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman said the internet slowdown was primarily due to damage to one of the submarine cables (SMW4), reported Dawn.com. Rehman assured the committee that the cable was expected to be repaired by August 28, after which normal internet speeds should resume. Read: Inside PIA: Pakistani man takes one of the most dangerous flights in the world' On the allegations regarding the installation of a firewall, Rehman said that the government was only upgrading its web management system to bolster cybersecurity, not throttling the internet as some had speculated. You have been asked a direct question, PPP Senator Sharmila Farooqi said to the PTA chief. Has a firewall been installed or not? Rehman said the PTA had no role in the internet slowdown and attributed it to technical issues, reported Dawn. Every country, including Afghanistan, has its own system, he said. India blamed too Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has demanded a more detailed and clause-wise explanation from the federal government regarding the ongoing internet slowdown in Pakistan, following the submission of a report by the PTA. The report outlined four primary reasons for the significant drop in internet speeds across the country. However, the court found the explanations unsatisfactory and requested a more comprehensive response in the next session. Apart from the damage to one of Pakistan's submarine cables, the report cited a major misconfiguration by a leading internet service provider (ISP) on July 31. This error led to a 70% drop in internet services nationwide, prompting the PTA to take stern action against the ISP, according to the report. The PTA noted that the increased use of virtual private networks (VPNs) contributed to the slowdown. The report explained that VPNs, due to their encryption, tunneling, and extended data routing, naturally cause slower internet speeds. The telecom authority also reported a severe degradation of around 1.5 Tbps in internet traffic on August 15, and linked it to Indian state actors, claiming that they had been active over the past few years on national days to degrade internet services or deface government websites. India is yet to respond to the unsubstantiated claims. A former Florida-based U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing cash from arriving international passengers, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida announced. William Joseph Timothy, 43, admitted he stole some $18,700 in cash from passengers in 17 separate incidents between mid-2023 and early 2024 at the Naples Airport. Investigators with the CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility uncovered evidence that showed Timothy was "surreptitiously stealing cash" from arriving international travelers during border enforcement examinations and currency verifications, which were part of his official duties. Video surveillance from the investigation showed him taking around $2,000 belonging to the passenger during the border enforcement examination in May 2023, the Department of Justice said. As part of his plea agreement, Timothy agreed to immediately resign from CBP and pay restitution to the victims. He also faces up to ten years in prison, though a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. An Illinois man admitted to lining a bathroom with plastic shower curtains before using an electric saw in the heinous slaughtering of his girlfriend, whose body has never been found. In a last-minute plea deal Friday, Troy Slaw, 47, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the death of Norma Crutchfield at a home in Decatur, Illinois. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the dismemberment and concealment of remains charges, WAND-TV and the Herald & Review reported. Slaw faces up to life in prison. Crutchfield's mother first reported her daughter missing in November 2020 after not hearing from her for a week. She said her daughter and Slaw had an abusive relationship. The investigation led detectives to interview alleged co-conspirator Chase Freeman, who alleged Slaw asked him to come over to his home. When Freeman arrived, Slaw showed him Crutchfield's dead body concealed in his closet. Freeman alleged Slaw "told him that he had stabbed the woman in the chest and killed her," Law & Crime reported, citing the criminal complaint. Freeman allegedly stated Slaw "had lined the bathroom with shower curtains, window curtains and plastic." Slaw asked Freeman to help him dismember the body with an electric saw, but Freeman allegedly refused, and instead, stood guard outside the home. The next day, Freeman allegedly helped Slaw clean up the blood spatter in the bathroom and dispose of two trash bags filled with Crutchfield's body parts into a large garbage can. Authorities never recovered Crutchfield's remains. Freeman's disposition hearing is set for Sept. 5. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly may end his independent campaign for the White House to "join forces" with former President Donald Trump who said Tuesday that he was "open" to the idea. Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast posted online Tuesday that they were considering "two options" as the Nov. 5 election approaches. "One is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris Kamala Harris and (Tim) Walz presidency. Because we draw votes from Trump, or we draw somehow more votes from Trump," she said. "Or we walk away right now and join forces with with Donald Trump." Trump responded by telling CNN he'd be "honored" by a Kennedy endorsement and would consider giving him a role in a potential future administration. "He's a brilliant guy. He's a very smart guy. I've known him for a very long time," Trump said after a campaign stop in Michigan. "I didn't know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I'd be open to it." In an afternoon post on social media, Kennedy was vague about his plans. "As always, I am willing to talk with leaders of any political party to further the goals I have served for 40 years in my career and in this campaign," he wrote. Kennedy, whose campaign is publicly opposed by most of his siblings and other relatives, has qualified for the ballot in 23 states and has enough signatures to appear on the ballot in 22 more and Washington, D.C., according to CBS News. He doesn't have enough signatures to qualify in four other states, CBS said, and is appealing a judge's ruling that threw out his ballot petition in New York on grounds that he falsely claimed a residence there while living in California. The decision is now being used to challenge his ballot access in the battleground states of Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to reports. Vice President Kamala Harris's husband described the first time he tried to set up a date with her during a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. Doug Emhoff was a divorced father of two working as a lawyer. He says in 2013 a client gave him the phone number for Harris and he decided to call at 8:30 in the morning. Emhoff says he got a voicemail and left a rambling message that lasted for several minutes. She eventually called back and they shared laughs. He says Kamala saved that message and now plays it on every anniversary. "I love that laugh," Emoff said, perhaps in a reference to Donald Trump's attacks on her. He noted that their 10th wedding anniversary will be on Thursday, the night she formally accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president. A man who was still bleeding from a hair transplant ended up in jail after refusing to get off of a plane at the Miami airport. Eugenio Hernandez and his wife had boarded an American Airlines flight to head home to Las Vegas. He was bleeding from his forehead and the back of his head was wrapped in bandages. Other passengers noticed the blood and alerted the flight attendants. They asked him to leave the plane for health reasons but he refused, saying his doctor cleared him to fly. He told WTVJ-TV that the flight attendant said she didn't care. "You need to go out because somebody don't like what you have on your head," Hernandez said he was told. "She tells me you either go out, or I'm gonna call the police." The crew did just that. When he refused their request to leave the plane they stood Hernandez up and his wife, Yusleydis Blanca Loyola started yelling and was escorted off the plane as well. Police told WTVJ-TV the couple was arrested for refusing to comply with their orders.. "This could have all been avoided if they would have just followed the commands or the request of the officers to vacate the aircraft," Miami-Dade County police spokesperson Argemis Colome said. American Airlines said in a statement to the news outlet: "We thank our crewmembers for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience." The couple was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. Hernandez and Loyola were booked into the Miami-Dade jail. They have since been released. 14-term Democratic New Jersey Rep., Bill Pascrell, whose political career spanned four decades, dies at 87, according to a statement on his official X account. According to NBC News, Pascrell was hospitalized for nearly a month this summer after experiencing a fever related to a respiratory illness. He was discharged to a rehabilitation center on Aug. 7 but was readmitted to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., just four days later. Pascrell had been running for re-election to his 9th District seat in November, seeking to serve a 15th term and was the favorite against Republican Billy Prempeh, his opponent during his previous two elections. It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning. As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) August 21, 2024 Not only was Pascrell a staunch critic of Donald Trump, but he was also an ally for Taylor Swift fans across the country when they took Ticketmaster to court over the Eras Tour ticketing chaos. In January, Pascrell's Instagram account showed a picture of the Congressman meeting with Swifties saying "It was my pleasure to meet with Taylor Swift fans demanding reform of the broken live events ticket market. I've been going after Ticketmaster for a long time and now is the moment to pass my bill and regulate the broken market for the fans." Fellow congressmen and politicians in D.C. expressed their condolences over his passing via X. Bill Pascrell was an unrelenting fighter for New Jerseyans and middle-class families across the nation. I'm heartbroken over his passing and praying for his family during this difficult time. May his memory be an everlasting blessing. https://t.co/VzMbU3HM2H Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) August 21, 2024 Very saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and colleague Bill Pascrell. He was a public servant with unwavering dedication for his constituents in New Jersey. My heartfelt condolences to his family, staff, and all who loved him. https://t.co/KxgfYAsSyA Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) August 21, 2024 Deeply saddened by the loss of @BillPascrell. We worked together on many policies on the Ways & Means Committee. Bill never stopped fighting for what he believed would help New Jersey & American families. I will miss my friend dearly. Rep. Suzan DelBene (@RepDelBene) August 21, 2024 Heartbroken by the loss of my dear friend, fellow baseball coach & a quintessentual New Jersery congressman, Bill Pascrell. His passion for public service, including our work together on the Ways & Means Committee, touched many lives. My thoughts are with his loved ones & family. https://t.co/v53smYatWP Rep. Linda Sanchez (@RepLindaSanchez) August 21, 2024 Bill was a gentleman, a coach, a poet, a friend and a fighter working men and women from across the country. An old school bare knuckle political street fighter that always had the backs of his constituents and friends. We lost a good one. Rest in power. https://t.co/zKqi5jtV3q Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) August 21, 2024 Bill Pascrell loved and enjoyed standing up for working people, always with a twinkle in his eye and a smile. I'm sending love to his family and friends from Tampa Bay U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (@USRepKCastor) August 21, 2024 Heartsick over the passing of Billy Pascrell, senior Democrat of the House, pride of New Jersey and feisty fighter for the middle class. I visited him in Passaic a few months ago and the love for him in Jersey is something to behold. We'll miss him sharply. Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) August 21, 2024 Congressman @BillPascrell was a fierce and outspoken advocate for the people of New Jersey. The energy he brought to the Ways and Means Committee was unparalleled, and he will be dearly missed. My prayers are with his family, loved ones, and constituents. RIP. https://t.co/oRfuJMP37K Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) August 21, 2024 I am deeply heartbroken to hear of Congressman Pascrell's passing. We've lost a treasured colleague and friend. May his memory be a blessing. https://t.co/Tt0JxBjzlB Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (@RepScholten) August 21, 2024 Today, my heart is heavy with the loss of my dear friend, colleague, and mentor, Bill Pascrell. pic.twitter.com/DEPZQnVXOk Rep. Mikie Sherrill (@RepSherrill) August 21, 2024 Joyce and I are devastated to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Bill was a progressive champion who never stopped fighting for his constituents and the country. May his memory be a blessing. Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) August 21, 2024 Very saddened to learn about the passing of my friend and colleague, Bill Pascrell. He was a tireless advocate for his constituents and a true public servant. May God comfort his family in this difficult hour. Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) August 21, 2024 I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my colleague Congressman Bill Pascrell. His over two decades of public service undoubtedly made our U.S. Congress and his home state of New Jersey stronger. My thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time. https://t.co/ByTx8SVoXv Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) August 21, 2024 Bill brought wisdom from decades of service and amazing joy. I will miss dancing and serving with a great man. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/xFGthtUaqg Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (@RepTeresaLF) August 21, 2024 Bill Pascrell was an incredible colleague and above all, a fighter for New Jersey's 9th district and our democracy. I am so sad to hear of his passing and am sending my deepest sympathies to his family and his constituents. https://t.co/FkBcgYuHaE Mike Quigley (@RepMikeQuigley) August 21, 2024 I'm devastated by the passing of my dear colleague, @BillPascrell. Bill was a formidable force and a remarkably kind presence on the @WaysMeansCmte. He consistently supported me, and I greatly valued his insight and admired his dedication to his beloved New Jersey. Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) August 21, 2024 There will never be another like @BillPascrell. Heartbroken doesn't begin to cover it, but his fire and ferocious advocacy lives on in the work that's still to come. Ranking Member @RepRichardNeal's full statement: https://t.co/jXIt6y5U5o https://t.co/4HZdfkphUq Ways and Means Democrats (@WaysMeansCmte) August 21, 2024 We are devastated by Congressman Bill Pascrell's passing. Our office sends our love and thoughts to his loved ones, the Paterson community he adored, and people across all of New Jersey who will miss his dedicated leadership and service to our state. Rep. Andy Kim's Office (@RepAndyKimNJ) August 21, 2024 My heart is breaking over the loss of my dear friend Bill Pascrell. A legend, fighter, public servant, and gentleman. He will be so missed. Sending prayers to his family and the good people of New Jersey. Our thoughts are with you. https://t.co/FxAceopJ8r Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) August 21, 2024 I'm devastated to learn of the passing of my dear friend, Representative Bill Pascrell. Bill is the definition of a Jersey guy, he was smart, passionate, and a true champion for his district and the state of New Jersey. Read my full statement here: https://t.co/vv9PtWbuno Congressman Donald Norcross (@DonaldNorcross) August 21, 2024 Very saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and colleague, Bill Pascrell. Bill and I came to Congress in 1997. He always had a fierce spirit in fighting for working people and progressive causes, and I will miss him a lot. Our thoughts are with his family and New Jersey. Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 21, 2024 Saddened by the loss of my colleague Congressman Bill Pascrell. Congressman Pascrell was a veteran, a former mayor, and a longtime champion for New Jersey. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Rep. Shontel Brown (@RepShontelBrown) August 21, 2024 There was a time when Lady Di decided to escape the royal life and seek refuge in a legendary resort on the Costa del Sol, where she often spent long summer vacations. Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones were also frequent guests, and in one of the rooms, Joaquin Sabina was fine-tuning the details of his album "Hotel Dulce Hotel." Among the many remarkable places, only one could bring together all these celebrities in a magical setting, nestled in the white villages of Mijas. The old and iconic Byblos hotel, a jet-set reference in the 80s and 90s, has been renovated in a unique Andalusian style and is now known as La Zambra. This five-star resort, located in the province of Malaga, offers more than just a stay; it promises a true experience. This mythical place, tucked away in the Andalusian foothills of Mijas, just 10 minutes from the beach, and situated between the cultural city of Malaga and the luxury lifestyle destination of Marbella, offers an unforgettable escape. The golden sun and the orange-scented breeze invite guests to explore the 196 rooms and suites of La Zambra, each with its own private terrace. This Gran Luxury resort is now an extension of Andalusian essence, with its pastel tones, secret courtyards with whispering fountains, and a tranquility only disturbed by the splashes of the pool. The tall palm trees in the courtyard, surrounded by high walls covered with blooming bougainvillea, invite one to gaze up at the vastness of the Spanish blue sky. La Zambra not only offers a paradisiacal setting; it also stands out as a premier destination, having been awarded a Michelin Key in its first edition in 2024. This recognition attests to the exceptional level of service, comfort, and unique experience the resort offers its visitors, further cementing its position as one of the most exceptional hotels worldwide. Hotel website Ankita Bhawsinka steps into her role with a distinguished career that reflects her expertise in hospitality and media. With an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Symbiosis International University, Ankita's journey with Marriott has been marked by crafting exceptional campaigns for multiple affluent brands. Her tenure as the Cluster Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Marriott International in Pune, overseeing four prestigious properties including The Ritz-Carlton Pune and JW Marriott Pune, is a testament to her strategic acumen and ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. During her tenure in Pune, Ankita was instrumental in strengthening the brand presence of each property, leading dynamic marketing teams, and conceptualizing campaigns that celebrated the uniqueness of the property, their F&B venues and signature spas. Her strategic insight and ability to operationalize cluster priorities in close partnership with corporate and ownership teams have been pivotal in delivering remarkable results. Ankita's stewardship of the marketing and digital P&L for all four brands further underscores her prowess in steering complex projects to success. Stephen Ansell is Hyatt's new Managing Director in its fast-expanding Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. In his role, Stephen will oversee the MEA regional portfolio, currently comprising 38 hotels, more than 9,000 rooms, and eight brands spanning the luxurious Park Hyatt brand to the stunning Alila Hotels & Resorts and more. He will also pay a key role in expanding Hyatt's presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ensuring the brands offerings continue to meet the evolving needs of guests and partners. Stephen joined Hyatt in 1996 as Director of F&B at Hyatt Regency Riyadh and has since held General Manager positions at several Hyatt hotels including Hyatt Regency Bishkek and Hyatt Regency Kyiv, where he was central to the hotels' opening. At Park Hyatt Moscow, he spent nine successful years before being appointed as Area Vice President of Russia and Eastern Europe in 2014. He holds a degree in Hotel and Catering Management from the University of Portsmouth. With nearly three decades of experience within the hospitality industry, Stephen brings with him a wealth of expertise and an impressive track record of hotel management to the role. Most recently, he held a dual role as Area Vice President for Central Europe where he was responsible for Hyatt's operations in the region. This is in addition to serving as the General Manager at Park Hyatt Zurich, where he oversaw the running of the luxury Swiss hotel, applying his passion and expertise of the hotel industry at the property level. Hyatt is dedicated to expanding its brand footprint in new and desired destinations. In KSA, the group is gearing up for the opening of Grand Hyatt The Red Sea and Miraval The Red Sea late 2025. Hyatt also entered into management agreements with Knowledge Economic City (KEC) earlier this year, for two new Hyatt-branded hotels, Hyatt House Madinah KEC and Hyatt Centric Madinah KEC, adding a combined 576 keys to Hyatt's pipeline. Rotana has promoted Nadim Jamous to Corporate Vice President of Architecture and Design. In his new role, Jamous will oversee a team of architects, interior designers, and engineers, ensuring that both existing and upcoming projects align with Rotana's brand standards and vision. He will also manage project coordination with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely completion at the highest standards. Jamous will be responsible for developing and implementing the overall design and architectural strategy, in line with the company's objectives, and will continue to foster a culture of creativity and continuous improvement within his team. Since joining Rotana in 2015 as Director of Projects, Jamous has significantly contributed to the company's growth, playing a key role in the successful delivery of major projects such as Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas in Abu Dhabi, Johari Rotana in Dar Es Salam, and Bomonti Arjaan in Istanbul. His leadership led to his promotion to Corporate Director Projects in March 2024. Jamous holds a Master's Degree in Architecture from ALBA University in Lebanon and brings extensive experience in design, construction, and project management. Global luxury hospitality group The Lux Collective is pleased to announce the appointment and promotion of Resident Manager Sheila Malloo as the General Manager of LUX* Belle Mare, effective from 26 November 2024. She will be the Group's first woman General Manager in Mauritius. Sheila has been an integral part of the LUX* Belle Mare team for over 22 years, starting her career journey as a receptionist in September 2002. During her tenure rising through the ranks, she has always demonstrated exceptional dedication, outstanding leadership and commitment towards the resort. She is an exemplary team member who embodies the Group's brand and ethos of care. Her extensive hospitality experience, coupled with unwavering passion and quest for excellence, will steer the resort into its next chapter. In line with Group's talent development and succession planning to ensure a smooth transition, Sheila will take office after the departure of General Manager Gerhard Hecker when his contract concludes on 25 November 2024. Gerhard has been highly instrumental in the last three years in the repositioning of the property, the rebuild post-fire, and its grand reopening. Within 10 months of operation, the resort has been conferred with remarkable industry recognitions from the international Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Award to the recent 5-Star Luxury Rating by Mauritius Tourism Authorities, after LUX* Grand Baie. This reinforces The Lux Collective's luxury positioning as the first and only global hospitalitygroup in Mauritius to have two properties with such luxury grading. The Hospitality Show, the industrys leading technology and operations event produced by Questex and The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), announced a slate of sustainability programming and initiatives for this years event, including the co-location of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliances Autumn Summit at The Show, which will be held in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 28-30, 2024, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. World Sustainable Hospitality Alliances Autumn Summit will convene senior leaders from across the global hospitality industry, including CEOs and C-suite members from leading hotel companies, real estate owners, investment funds, technology companies, procurement specialists and marketing agencies, as well as legal and consulting firms. Participants will engage in critical discussions on Net Positive Hospitality in action, sharing best practices, exploring opportunities for innovation and forging new collaborations. Sustainability is a crucial strategy for hotel operations, reducing costs through energy efficiency and waste reduction while appealing to eco-conscious travelers and enhancing guest satisfaction. The Hospitality Show is committed to serving as a living case study and a powerful inspiration for hoteliers seeking to implement profit-driving sustainable practices at their properties. AHLA sustainability programs Green Key Global and Responsible Stay will have a presence at The Show. Operated jointly by AHLA and Hotel Association of Canada, Green Key Global is the only environmental certification program designed specifically for the hotel industry. It provides credibility to hotels existing sustainability initiatives and equips properties with a plan for continued improvement. is the only environmental certification program designed specifically for the hotel industry. It provides credibility to hotels existing sustainability initiatives and equips properties with a plan for continued improvement. AHLAs Responsible Stay initiative is dedicated to uniting Americas hotel brands, owners, operators, and employees in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy usage, conserve water, and source responsibly, to provide guests with innovative and sustainable experiences and events. Questex has integrated its Quest Zero initiatives into The Hospitality Shows operations this year, as it did for the inaugural 2023 Show. This program is part of Questexs pledge to the Net Zero Carbon Event initiative and the companys commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. These practices include reducing waste by removing carpet and reusing nearly 95% of onsite graphics, minimizing food waste through diligent planning and donations, encouraging community involvement to help reduce onsite waste and travel emissions by encouraging carbon offset donations upon registration. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center itself was chosen for its commitment to sustainable practices, including LEED Silver Certification, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, green purchasing, and contributions to the Citys Climate Action & Adaptation Plan aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The Show 2024 will also feature several other sustainability-minded initiatives, including: A Green to Gold: Sustainability as Profit breakout session that will focus on how going green can boost hotel profits, featuring MindClick Founder and CEO JoAnna Abrams , Guest Worldwide President Kevin Korab , and BWH Hotels Senior Vice President of Brand Management and Member Services Michael Morton . , , and . Insight on sustainability trends in hospitality from the Considerate Group, a data-driven sustainability consultancy working in the hospitality, real estate and destination sectors. The official launch of the World Academy for Sustainable Hospitality (the Academy) with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE). The Academy is a ground-breaking sustainable training system that will empower the hospitality industry and translate vision into action. A networking event in The Show Expo in partnership with Clean the World to build 1,000 hygiene kits made from recycled soap that will be donated to a local shelter. Were honoured to be holding our Autumn Summit at The Hospitality Show in collaboration with the AHLA and Questex, said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. It is significant to be holding our summit in the United States a first for the Alliance since its recent rebrand with a global reach as we look to continue growing our US-based membership. We look forward to mapping out our ambitions and actions for 2025 with our members, partners and senior leaders, charting the future of the industry. We also look forward to strengthening our relationship with the AHLA and forming a critical new partnership with Questex, as we seek to drive sustainability across the industry. These features of The Show 2024 build upon the successful sustainability initiatives launched at the inaugural event last year. Key sustainability achievements from The Show 2023 include: Partnering with Earthly to offer a Carbon Offset Donation option, leading to the planting of 1,078 trees in Kenya and the removal of 49.53 tons of carbon to restore degraded land in Ethiopia. Generating 100% of The Hospitality Shows electricity from renewable sources. Ensuring all waste generated by The Hospitality Show was properly sorted and recycled, including zero-waste lunches where all food waste was donated to charities or composted at local farms. Donating 500 hygiene kits made with recycled soap to a local shelter. For more information and to register, visit www.thehospitalityshow.com. For program updates, sign up to receive The Hospitality Show newsletter and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. Ok this seems like an interesting event, Ill attend. I cant remember the last time Ive been to DC anyway This was the main thought I had when looking to attend AH&LAs Legislative Action Summit in DC (Hyatt Regency at Capitol Hill). It came at a time when I had left the hotel industry, wondering if I had hit my ceiling and didnt know my path forward. I enjoyed working in hotels but told myself Id try food and beverage in other avenues, to see if there was something I enjoyed. But during that time away there was something pulling me to keep researching, keep watching, and I discovered the Under 30 Gateway Group, a group dedicated to connecting young and aspiring professionals in the hotel space. Source: Andrew Hopson Ive always had an analytical style, a fondness for how things get done, the steps it took to accomplish things, and the barriers that often came right behind them. I felt it could be a good combination (or an entertaining one at minimum). Being able to share how things are done in hotels, share that insight with congressmen and women on Capitol Hill, and hear from them what the perception is of our industry is quite eye opening. In addition to this being my first industry conference, the day before I attended my first industry reception; one dedicated to those who were 30 and under. As the doors opened, I was surprised to find a group of 40-60 people across all facets of the hotel industry. From students graduating with their degrees to people working in leadership roles, and (to my surprise) those who were hotel General Managers. It was here I first realized that there was a larger world. I met people who had the same challenges I was, others who overcame them, and many who had careers paths I never wouldve thought possible until I saw it with my own eyes, meeting those such as Omari Head , Ashli Johnson, M.S., CHT, CGSP , Andrew Quinto , Christopher Henry, CAHTA, ISHC, and Davonne Reaves. It was intimidating at first, coming here you realize a lot of titans in our industry are proud to represent and share their stories of their journey in the industry, often I wondered how my voice mattered. Over time I realized they cared that I came to keep learning, get involved, stay engaged, and share my experiences to help Congress understand what they do really does have an impact on what happens in our properties. Its easy to take some hits in this industry and at some point, feel like a nobody, or think the day-to-day grind is the only thing to look forward to. However, those days of learning, touring the Capitol, and being able to understand the gravity of what the hotel industry contributes to its local community I left changed and renewed, because I left DC with these facts. I can be somebody in this industry. There are so many avenues to tap into in the world of hotels/hospitality. There is a place for me here. I see others who are walking the same path I am. I have something to contribute. Source: Andrew Hopson As I continue to attend, what sticks out to me is always what I notice (high level c suite executives, the ones are used to driving the conversation of the markets) and what I dont: the operations leaders who are in the hotels, doing the hiring, and are dealing with guests, and situations that come up and bring life to our industry. Where is the Housekeeping/Rooms/ F&B Manager who struggles with bringing in quality staff to clean their rooms and serve their guests? Where is the Engineering Leader who has to deal with supply chain issues and processes that keep hotel fixes always the next four months away? Where is the hospitality professional that someone has identified as their emerging leader and wants to expand their vision? Every year I find myself wondering, I wish I would see more who are currently in Operations come to DC. Its really your voice Capitol Hill needs to hear: what started your journey in this industry, what guests are actively saying as they walk in and out of your doors, and the associates whove made careers, and enrich lives on a day-to-day basis. Consider this: In December 2018 the government shut down for 35 days until funding bills were passed. In the past I thought I still have guests making dinner reservations and checking into hotels, who cares if Congress cant get their act together However, during government shutdown federal parks have to close which means people are canceling hotel stays and not checking into rooms across the US. In addition, how many hoteliers in DC/VA/MD had meeting room blocs and banquets cancelled/put on hold until it was resolved? Heres a link shared by @AAHOA about other troubles a government shutdown affects the hotel industry: Americas Hoteliers Highlight Government Shutdowns Effects on Industry (hospitalitynet.org). In 2019 one of the issues we brought to Congress was the rise of online booking scams and how that was impacting guest hotel stays and causing issues for hoteliers not only from a financial sense, but also from a guest experience. It sounds silly until I shared my story about an upset guest at our bar who claimed they booked our property because they were told it had a pool. The pool had been non-existent for at least 3 years and was replaced with a rooftop bar In 2023 VISA and H2B challenges were shared with Congress, and we came to DC to ask for their help increase the number of international/seasonal workers (or at least streamline the process). Normally there are only 66,000 H2B (seasonal worker) visas typically allocated for hotels and resorts to fill openings, yet there are 67,000+ hotels in the US. At some larger beachfront hotels and resorts the need can range anywhere from 10- 200 international team members alone depending on the size of the property and their department needs. I shared with Congress we have international team members who have been working with us for YEARS and have developed relationships with guest and members. Ive had guests ask me Is Travis coming back? or We look forward to seeing Aleisha and Reynaud every year when we come down for our anniversary trip, why arent they here? Ive had guests ask me that when I checked to see if they were enjoying their meal, what would your response have been? LAS/Hotels on the Hill stays on my calendar having started as a first-year rookie to a yearly attendee because of what I learn, who I meet, and most importantly what it meant for my hotel journey. I call on more on the Operations side to join me in DC, to be present, and share your voice. It seems scary to step away from daily business to talk about issues that feel so far removed and happen outside our buildings, but thats the exact reason why it's so important: Tell your elected officials I have traveled here away from my guests to share with you what is happening in your state/district and why we need your help Hoteliers across the country do more than provide rooms, meetings, and meals for travelers: The vision is to enrich the lives of travelers who trust us with their time with friends and loved ones, in addition to the men and women who work in our properties to make those memories special. Im sure we could all agree bringing a little more hospitality to Capitol Hill is never a bad thing, especially in this climate. Source: Andrew Hopson Andrew Hopson Houston City Place Marriott Hotel - Image Credit City Place CDC Houston, a subsidiary of Coventry Development Corporation, announced that one of its managed entities has acquired the majority stake in the 337-room AAA Four Diamond Houston City Place Marriott. One of the north Houston submarkets top performing full-service hotels, the property is located in the urban core of the approximately 2,000-acre City Place community, master developed by CDC Houston. The purchase of JV partner Affinius Capitals (formerly the real estate investment arm of USAA) entire 50% share brings the Coventry Development Corporation entity ownership stake to 95%. The remaining 5% was retained by JV partner and asset manager Woodbine Development Corporation, the Dallas-based developer of the property. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed, and Plano, TX-based Aimbridge Hospitality will continue to operate the hotel. The investment makes Coventry Development Corporation (and its affiliated entities) the majority owner of all hospitality assets in City Place, which is situated at the juncture of I-45, Grand Parkway and the Hardy Toll Road in close proximity to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). In late 2022, Coventry Development Corporation announced the acquisition of a 90% stake in the communitys two additional hotels, the 128-key Residence Inn Houston City Place and 125-room Courtyard Houston City Place. The Houston City Place Marriott is a wonderful asset that continues to achieve success as a hub for corporate travel, visitors, locals and groups and an increasingly beautiful backdrop for weddings and other outdoor events, said Warren W. Wilson, Executive Vice President of CDC Houston. Our new role as majority owner reflects our long-term commitment to City Place and realizing our vision for an exceptional, sustainable community. Designed by Gensler and unveiled in October 2018, the Houston City Place Marriott is situated in the heart of the communitys 60-acre, mixed-use urban core. The ten-story structure overlooks waterfront City Place Park and opens to The Plaza, an activated greenspace offering an annual calendar boasting hundreds of mostly free, family-friendly activations ranging from yoga and fitness classes to concerts, movie nights and seasonal celebrations. Guests are located within a short walk of major City Place employers, including ExxonMobil, the American Bureau of Shipping and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and steps from miles of hike and bike trails, a variety of food and beverage options, coworking operator Common Desk, dine-in theater Star Cinema Grill, 24 Hour Fitness Spring Energy Super-Sport Gym and Oiler Studio creative social club. Knowledge@Wharton - Can the Mobile Wave Help Us Navigate the AI Wave? - Image Credit Unsplash+ Experts from Wharton and Forrester look back on the advent of the iPhone, identifying key lessons that leaders today can apply to AI. The following article was written by Scott A. Snyder, a senior fellow at Wharton, adjunct professor at Penn Engineering, and chief digital officer at EVERSANA; and Julie Ask, a technology futurist, author, and former vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research. In 2007, Steve Jobs audaciously said, iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone. The response was a chorus of pessimism from competitors and mainstream media that Apple would never come close to its goal of selling 10 million phones in 2008. Early on, most enterprise leaders failed to grasp the magnitude of the Mobile Wave on their customers and employees. They focused only on building an app rather than transforming their operating and business models to fully unlock the mobile opportunity. Despite their massive investment, users abandoned two-thirds of mobile apps after the first 30 days. Companies that were slow to see mobile as an innovation opportunity versus simply as another communication channel became laggards or roadkill in their respective industries. Fast forward to 2021, when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a similarly audacious statement about AI: This technological revolution is unstoppable. This revolution will create phenomenal wealth. The price of many kinds of labor (which drives the costs of goods and services) will fall toward zero once sufficiently powerful AI joins the workforce. The AI Wave is growing fast. Billions of people globally are using foundation models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, along with a sprawling number of vertical generative AI (gen AI) applications. Many enterprises have leaned into this new wave, with over 70% using gen AI in their enterprises; however, just 15% are achieving real business impact at scale. Sound familiar? What can enterprises learn from the Mobile Wave that might help them avoid the same challenges in achieving real transformation in the AI Wave? Lets start by looking at the similarities and differences between the two waves. Chief information officers battled to keep iPhones from popping up in their businesses until they realized they could no longer fend off a better experience. What Do the AI and Mobile Waves Have in Common? Apple blew away its goal by selling 13 million phones in 2008. It has since sold 2.3 billion iPhones, created the app store model to democratize app innovation, and completely transformed how we communicate, interact, and consume content. Its intuitive interface, coupled with a powerful computing platform, captivated users across the globe. Likewise, gen AI, the latest AI technology, offers unprecedented new capabilities that can create content, conduct analyses, and allow humans to interact with machines in more natural ways. Ultimately, the technology could make machines as intelligent, or even more so, than humans. Similar to mobile, gen AI will: Change what is possible. Mobile technology initially changed how consumers and employees did everyday tasks. Eventually, entrepreneurs tapped into the always on connectivity to deliver new services (e.g., real-time fitness feedback) and change business models. AI companies like Humane and Rabbit are creating personal AI devices (PADs) that are helping us envision a future of virtual assistants and agents accessed via natural language. Just like with mobile, innovative products and business models will follow. Challenge the status quo. Smartphones displaced many consumer devices, including home phones and cameras, undermining seemingly strong competitive advantages in other industries. Gen AI could be even more disruptive as it takes on advice- or language-based services, content creation, and analysis. Google is already disrupting its own business model as it replaces search results with AI-generated answers. A single virtual assistant (e.g., Apple Intelligence) may replace many apps. Devour data to create relevant and extraordinary experiences. With user permission, smartphones gave brands (or apps) users location, elevation, movement, and more. Smart algorithms enabled them to teach people to dance or detect the early onset of Alzheimers. Gen AIs massive computing power will make these examples seem rudimentary. Gen AI can already understand users digital behaviors. Ultimately, the models will build a more holistic understanding of users by observing them in the physical world (speech, movement, consumption, etc.). Gen AI-fueled services will use these learnings to mimic us, assist us, and offer insights that both reduce costs and create new sources of revenue for businesses. Depend on and exploit infrastructure owned and operated by third parties. The evolution of mobile services depended on massive and ongoing investments in advanced device technology, cloud computing, developer platforms, data centers, and cellular networks. Since the iPhone launched, AT&Ts market cap has declined nearly $100 billion to $139 billion while Alphabets, Apples, and Metas have grown by hundreds of millions to $2 trillion, $3 trillion, and $1 trillion, respectively. So, too, will gen AI. With $200 billion expected to be invested in gen AI by 2025, the major infrastructure and platform players will be under pressure to recover their investment under similar pricing pressure that comes with assets perceived as commodities. Create new business opportunities and revenue for third parties. Apple has paid out more than $320 billion to third-party developers since the launch of its app store. In 2023, Uber generated more than $38 billion in annual revenue. IDC forecasts that enterprises invested more than $19.4 billion in gen AI solutions in 2023 and expect it to double in 2024, focused on both efficiency gains and new revenue streams. Questions still remain about the uptake speed of gen AI solutions and what existing services they will ultimately displace. How Do the AI and Mobile Waves Differ? AIs innate ability to improve itself, along with growing regulatory scrutiny, will create a non-linear, unpredictable trajectory unlike mobiles steady rise. Gen AIs impact will be different because: AI consumer adoption will be faster as consumers dont need to buy new devices. Mobiles growth initially depended on consumers upgrading their smartphones every 18 to 24 months as well as the build-out of progressively more capable networks or infrastructure. No one was ready for the Internet to be everywhere. Today, they are. Most services are fundamentally digital if they werent pre-2020, they are now. While hardware manufacturers are building their next generation of devices with local LLMs, most of the massive computing will be done in the cloud, which means consumers can start with the devices they already own. Data is essential, but users have more privacy concerns, as do regulators. Crafting relevant, convenient, and personalized experiences depends heavily on user data. Tech giants burned proverbial bridges with consumers and regulators while failing to respect consumer privacy. While Europes General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) did not come into effect until 2018 (Google was founded in 1998 and Facebook in 2004), Europes AI Act went into effect on August 1 of this year, setting a high bar for new and existing models. Meanwhile, large media companies such as the New York Times are suing the LLM creators (e.g., OpenAI) for training their models on their content without permission. Enterprises are also beginning to protect their own data and content by opting out of sharing it for training or quality purposes with those AI model owners. Pace of change will be even faster as AI will operate autonomously. Humans have built mobile and digital experiences to date. As AI capabilities evolve towards general artificial intelligence or AGI (matches human intelligence) and Super AI (exceeds human intelligence), these tools will start to generate their own experiences and no longer depend on human labor. Agents are beginning to self-correct and work together. Capabilities are progressing quickly despite the need for resources like GPUs, power, data, and human training, as well as ethical, safety, and regulatory concerns. Customer and enterprise acquisition costs will be higher for new app entrants. Customer acquisition is difficult. An existing installed base or billing relationship gives companies a head start for at least two reasons. First, gen AI will initially augment existing services. Think of Siri (i.e., Apple Intelligence) or Microsoft Copilot for employees. Second, applications will need history and data (i.e., long-term relationships) about individuals to evolve into true virtual assistants. The more an entity or AI-based service knows about a human, the more it can anticipate needs and deliver contextual or personalized experiences. Doing so ultimately increases switching costs. Factors outside of the control of LLM makers will constrain growth. Brands building mobile experiences have always faced business model or capability constraints of the mobile ecosystem. LLMs face even more hurdles. First, advancing models requires more training data or content. While LLMs can generate synthetic data, the next leaps forward depend on content (e.g., video) and physical world data (e.g., chemistry or nature) that isnt available. Next, there are physical limitations, including access to GPUs for training or the electricity, water, and human talent required to train the models. Finally, government regulators are already nervous about not only the use of consumer data but also the ethical, controllable, or known outcomes of these models. Many enterprises have leaned into this new wave, with over 70% using gen AI in their enterprises; however, just 15% are achieving real business impact at scale. Five Steps for Leaders to Navigate the AI Wave Reflecting on the lessons of the past from the Mobile Wave, what can enterprises do differently to avoid the pitfalls of the AI Wave? Here are five key steps leaders can act on today. Dont underestimate the amount of change required in your organization, business, and operating model. Just as winners in the Mobile Wave were those that innovated well beyond building an app, winners in the AI Wave will be those that focus on transforming products, services, experiences, and ways of working. Dont bring yesterdays thinking into your future AI-first business. Empower your employees, or they will innovate around you. Chief information officers battled to keep iPhones from popping up in their businesses until they realized they could no longer fend off a better experience. Bring your own device (BYOD) became the new enterprise model as BlackBerrys waned and security and controls improved for managing employees personal devices. Companies must now embrace Bring your own AI (BYOAI) with the appropriate controls to allow employees to use the latest gen AI tools for productivity and innovation while protecting enterprise data. Get your data strategy and infrastructure ready to move at the same speed as AI. Data will be the oxygen that powers new AI-driven experiences and operations. This will include both structured and unstructured data or content to train and optimize new gen AI-based solutions. The ability to collect, clean, transform, and expose data to innovators across your business with the right security, privacy, and controls will be fundamental to staying ahead of this next wave. This includes setting clear data-sharing policies for employees and third parties vital for improving gen AI models; for example, Figma gives users the option to share or not share their data when using its new gen AI features. Build a culture of accountability around AI solutions to innovate responsibly. Your customers and employees will depend upon accurate and ethical outputs of gen AI applications. Creating and communicating a responsible AI policy that fits your companys strategy and values is an essential first step. Building a sense of co-creation and ownership for employees involved in AI innovation will also be critical. Everyone working with AI needs to understand the immense benefits along with the real risks (hallucinations, data security, copyright infringement, etc.) in creating new AI solutions for internal and external users. If you create it using AI, you are accountable for the results. Define your own metrics for ROAI and use them early. Too many companies are plunging into gen AI experimentation with little to no sense of how they expect to measure real business impact. While its important to do pilots to learn, you should invest with an eye toward real business impact. Having your own definition of Return on AI (ROAI) will help you better direct your investments across the vast number of AI opportunities. Like mobile, gen AI brings new superpowers to the end-user and has the potential to drastically transform how companies operate and deliver value to customers. Capitalizing on lessons from the Mobile Wave can only make us more prepared for whats to come. This article is reprinted with permission from Knowledge@Wharton. Matt Greene - Image Credit Hard Rock Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has announced the appointment of Matt Greene as the new Managing Director. Greene, a seasoned hospitality executive with an impressive track record, returns to the Hard Rock team where he previously served successfully as General Manager from 2008 to 2011. We are delighted to welcome Matt Greene back to the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego family, said Ace Patel, Owner Representative. Matts extensive background, coupled with his previous success at our property makes him an ideal fit for this role. His innovative vision and proven ability to enhance both operations and guest experience are invaluable, and we look forward to seeing the dynamic leadership he will bring to our team. Greenes career spans over three decades in the hospitality industry, with significant roles at prestigious organizations including Highgate Hotels, Evolution Hospitality, and W Hotels. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President of Luxury & Lifestyle Residences at Highgate Hotels, where he oversaw a diverse portfolio of high-end condo-hotels and branded residences, as well as new developments. Prior to joining Highgate, Greene served as Executive Vice President, Lifestyle Operations for Evolution Hospitality. In his role, he managed the Lifestyle hotel portfolio and technical services for a significant number of new developments across the US and Mexico. He also previously served as Senior Director of New Builds & Conversions for W Hotels Worldwide, where he was responsible for over 40 new property developments. In his previous tenure as General Manager at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Greene managed the operations of the hotels 420 rooms and suites, 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space, signature Maryjanes Diner, Float rooftop lounge, and street-level 207 Bar driving significant revenue growth and achieving high employee satisfaction scores. His visionary leadership and aptitude for developing unique programming and creative initiatives make him the ideal candidate to lead the hotel into its next phase of development. Its an honor to return to the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, said Greene. With over 16 years of storied history, this hotel is rooted in legacy. As we look forward to a new chapter on the horizon, I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to usher in a new era with the exceptional service, unexpected delights, and authentic experiences the property is known for. I am also eager to partner with the city and local business leaders to support this iconic destination. As Managing Director, Greene will leverage his historical knowledge and strategic expertise to guide Hard Rock Hotel San Diego through upcoming renovations, new food and beverage concepts, enhanced programming, and more. His return marks a significant milestone for the property, promising renewed energy and a commitment to excellence. Reducing Lollapalooza Food Waste: A Lifesaving Initiative Musically Fed created 7,300 meals from Lollapalooza food waste, turning it into life-saving donations. See how this initiative is fighting wasted food while significantly impacting needy communities. Reducing Food Waste at Lollapalooza by Stacy Simons Santos from Celebrity Access Musically Fed has once again made a significant impact on food waste at Lollapalooza, rescuing thousands of pounds of surplus food from the festival and redistributing it to those in need across Chicago. Beginning July 17 and throughout the three following weeks, Musically Feds volunteer teams worked from the load-in phase to the final day of teardown, coordinating more than 30 deliveries that provided close to 7,300 meals to local shelters, food banks, and community centers in Cook County. We are extremely grateful to be in our fourth consecutive year partnering with C3 Presents and Lollapalooza, who share our commitment to harnessing the music industrys power to promote sustainability and combat hunger, says Musically Fed co-founder Maria Brunner. With their ongoing support, as well as the vital cooperation of caterers The Lakehouse Mandeville, weve again made a difference in the lives of the food insecure throughout the Chicago area. More Meals Ahead Since its founding in 2016, Musically Fed has collaborated with artists, promoters, and venue operators to rescue surplus meals from backstage catering, artist hospitality, and VIP areas for repurposing to the communities hosting these major events. The Phoenix-based non-profit identifies the opportunities, coordinates logistics, and ensures that meals reach those who most need them. This past year alone, Musically Feds national partnerships have included The Grammy Awards, CMA Fest and The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamonds Tour, with upcoming tours that include P!nk, Green Day and Dierks Bentley. Share on: One Woman Political Satire Monologue at Ventfort Hall LENOX, Mass. Someone Must Wash the Dishes: An Anti-suffrage Satire is a one woman monologue portrayed by professional actress Michele LaRue at Ventfort Hall on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 4 pm. A tea will be served after the performance. This one woman performance is presented by Ventfort Hall in partnership with the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. Written in 1912, by Marie Jenney Howe, a prominent pro-Suffragist and Unitarian minister, Howe satirizes arguments seen as accurate in their day, though absurd in ours, according to a press release. This fictional "Anti" sincerely believes being a "womanly woman" will keep the home intact and save the nation from anarchy. American women won the vote in 1920, following a 72-year battle againstnot only malebut female Anti-suffragists. As this year's key Election Day approaches, take a break to discover that historyand to savor some laughs. Michele tours nationally with her repertoire of 30 Tales Well Told, vibrant stories from America's Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Her 600 past sponsors include libraries and historical societies; colleges and universities; women's clubs, theatres, senior communities, and international conferences. "I love bringing these Tales to life in my unique performance style, transporting audiences, and seeing joyous recognition on each face," Michele confides. "As one of my 600 presenters exclaimed, "How things haven't changed in the last 100 years!" Michele is a member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. As a writer and editor, she has collaborated on several notable theatre books. For photos and information about booking her productions, visit http://www.michelelarue.com BCC Extends One Stop Enrollment Center Hours PITTSFIELD, Mass In preparation for the fall semester, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 3, Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces a temporary extension of One Stop Enrollment Center hours. In addition to its normal hours of 8 am 4 pm Monday through Friday, One Stop will be open until 6 pm Monday through Thursday from Aug. 19 through Sept. 10. On Thursday, Aug. 29, Student Orientation Day, One Stop will be open until 8 pm. The One Stop Enrollment Center is a full-service operation for incoming and prospective students, who can view an admission checklist and apply, browse a course catalogue, file a financial aid form or schedule a tour without an appointment. Advisors are on hand to process applications for instant acceptance to the College, answer questions and assist with financial aid all with one-on-one personal attention. In instances in which students need assistance outside normal or extended hours, One Stop staff will work to accommodate their schedule. Applying to the College is now easier than ever before, especially with the introduction of the Commonwealth's MassEducate and MassReconnect program. MassEducate offers free community college to all Massachusetts residents, regardless of age, who have yet to earn a bachelor's degree. MassReconnect is a similar program for students ages 25 and older. In addition to offering free tuition, both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for eligible students. Williamstown Planning Board Again Takes Up Short-Term Rentals WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Planning Board on Tuesday discussed a bylaw proposal that might be ready for May's annual town meeting after bouncing back and forth between the Planning Board and Select Board the last couple of years. But one board member said the regulation needs a lot more work. Chair Peter Beck showed his colleagues a draft of a short-term rental bylaw that would allow unlimited rentals of a bedroom or an accessory-dwelling unit on a property where the owner resides and unlimited rentals of a primary home where the owner lives in an on-site ADU but limits the short-term rental of an entire primary dwelling unit to 90 days in a calendar year. His draft bylaw only would apply in the town's residential districts, meaning that in commercial districts, any home could be on the market for services like Airbnb or Vrbo 365 days a year. "What that leaves is a 90-day limitation on renting an entire dwelling unit [in a residential zone] when you're not living in an ADU on that property," Beck said. "That's all it does right now. "Right now, it's just a rule. It would just be a zoning rule. It doesn't have an enforcement mechanism. It doesn't have a monitoring mechanism. These are other things we could consider adding. Right now, it's just a zoning rule that you have to follow, like all the other zoning rules that also don't have independent enforcement mechanisms." That does not mean it would be ignored. "In the case of 99 percent of zoning enforcement, it's voluntary compliance," Community Development Director Andrew Groff said. "When someone calls our office to ask the question, I could say, 'Please review this section of the bylaw,' as opposed to now, it's not clear what the regulation is." Beck pointed out that while most compliance with the bylaw just happens, egregious violations like a primary residence in a residential neighborhood that functions only as a short-term rental could be reported to Town Hall. "If there is an actionable piece like this, then we can set enforcement," Groff said. "If there's no compliance, they can appeal to the Zoning Board or we can move on to Housing Court." Beck said penalties and an enforcement mechanism could be added to the bylaw later, if there are problems. Some in town have expressed concern that the emergence of the short-term rental industry could lead to housing stock being pulled from the full-time housing market, thus exacerbating an ever-increasing cost of housing. The short-term rental bylaw idea came up on Tuesday in the context of a larger discussion about projects that the board hopes to continue in the year ahead, including a new open-space residential development bylaw and, perhaps, a rule to protect the town's aquifer as suggested to the planners on Tuesday by Public Works Director Craig Clough. Beck and Roger Lawrence remain on the Planning Board from the days when it first took up the short-term rental question back in 2022. After deciding a townwide bylaw made more sense than one that operated differently in different zoning districts, the planners asked the Select Board to consider proposing such a bylaw. When it became clear over the course of the next year and a half that the Select Board could not reach a consensus on whether the town needed such a regulation, the Planning Board took back the issue, this time narrowing the restrictions down to the residential districts in the latest iteration. Cory Campbell is one of three members who was not not on the board back in '22, and on Tuesday he suggested that creating a bylaw that limits the number of days some homes can be rented is both too much and not enough. It's too much, Campbell said, because the town already does not list STRs as an allowable use for homes. It's not enough because the bylaw drafted by Beck did not create standards for the vacation rentals. "If I'm going to rent a place I want to know that it's safe to be there," Campbell said. Groff said that town bylaw could require regular Board of Health inspections under Chapter II of the state sanitary code. "We have units that go back-and-forth between the short-term and long-term markets," Groff said, alluding to the Chapter II inspections already performed on full-time rentals. "I don't think it would increase [the health inspector's] burden significantly." (North Adams passed an ordinance last year that requires all short-term rentals to register and pay an annual inspection fee; buildings that are not owner-occupied pay higher fees and also require a special permit.) As for the other part of Campbell's comment that short-term rentals are not currently permitted in the town Beck agreed that they're not covered in the bylaw, but that does not mean they don't happen. The town has ample evidence that there is an STR market in Williamstown both from quick online searches of websites like Airbnb and reports from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue on how many homeowners are paying the state tax on the rentals. And local travel and tourism experts will note that short-term rentals are useful in an area where demand is sporadic enough (major concerts at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Williams College graduation, for example) to need more rooms than full-time hotels can supply. Beck said he has found one local court case from Nantucket where a judge found that because short-term rentals are not included in the use table of the town bylaws that they are illegal. "Everything else I've seen has assumed people can [offer STRs] unless you regulate it in some way," Beck said. "Cory's argument is everyone currently doing short-term rentals in Williamstown is breaking our bylaw. I don't agree with that. I don't think we have 200 scofflaws Airbnb'ing, even though they think it's illegal." Campbell said if the town is going to enshrine the short-term rental as an allowable use in the bylaw, it needs to have a complete bylaw, including an enforcement mechanism. "It can't fall to neighbors to notify the town about misconduct or negligence," Campbell said. "If this genie is out of the bottle and it's only going to become more pervasive, then that's just more burden on neighbors, and I don't want to see that happen. "I'm not opposed to anything, except it can't be one of these one-page memos that so many towns have put out that have no enforcement value and just say, 'Yeah, it's Airbnb, great. Do it.' I just want it to be as informed as it possibly can be." Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alain Delons wish that his pet dog be put down and buried with him has been denied by his children after uproar from animal rights activists. The Plein Soleil actor, who died aged 88 on Sunday (18 August), had requested his 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, called Loubo, be put down and placed in his grave alongside him in the cemetery in his village of Douchy in Loiret. Following Delons death, campaigners expressed horror that Loubo would be killed, and offered to find the Belgian Malinois a new home instead. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation later announced that Delons daughter Anouchka had confirmed their family would keep Loubo. A foundation spokesperson said: Ive just had Anouchka Delon on the phone and she has told me that Loubo is part of the family and will be kept. The dog will not be put down. Frances equivalent of the RSPCA, The SPA, was among numerous animal rights organisations to condemn Delons wish to kill his dog, writing: The life of an animal should not depend on that of a human. The SPA is happy to take his dog and find it a family. In France, there is no law stopping pet owners from putting down their animals when they die. However, individual vets can decide whether or not to carry out the wishes of the deceased. Delon adopted Loubo from a rehoming centre in 2014. The Le Samourai star kept the remains of at least 35 of his dogs on the grounds of his home in La Brulerie, 85 miles south-east of Paris, where he had lived since the early Seventies. His three children, Anthony, 59, Anouchka, 33, and Alain-Fabien, 30 announced the death of their father in La Brulerie on Sunday and included a reference to Loubo in the statement. Alain-Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father, their announcement read. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Back in 2018 Delon, who had been in poor health in recent years and suffered a stroke in 2019, told Paris Match that Loubo was his end of life dog. Ive had 50 dogs in my life, but I have a special relationship with this one, he said. He misses me when Im not there. Delon continued: If I die before him, Ill ask the vet to take us away together. Hell put him to sleep in my arms. Id rather do that than know that hell let himself die on my grave with so much suffering. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Sri Lankan diplomat has been ordered by a court to pay more than half a million Australian dollars to her former housekeeper in back wages during her stay in Canberra allegedly under conditions similar to modern slavery. Himalee Arunatilaka, who served as the former deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2018, paid Priyanka Danaratna just three per cent of the minimum wage in Australia, according to the Federal Court. Ms Arunatilaka paid Ms Danaratna 5,805 (AUD$11,212) during her three years of work, David Hillard, the domestic workers lawyer said. The national minimum wage for a 38-hour week is 340.12 (AUD $656.90). She worked seven days a week for three years, and she had two days off in that entire time and she did that because she burned her hand while preparing some food, Mr Hillard, a pro bono partner at the law firm Clayton Utz, said. Ms Danaratna filed a civil case against her employer under the Fair Work Act after she fled Ms Arunatilakas residence. The Federal Court on Thursday found that Ms Arunatilaka breached the Fair Work Act and was ordered to pay 193,642 (AUD$374,000) in unpaid wages and a further 87,501.44 (AUD$169,000) in interest, bringing the total amount owed to more than 281,143 (AUD$543,000). The court stated that Ms Danaratna was required to work ordinary hours in excess of an average of 38 per week, in excess of 10 hours per day, for more than five hours without an unpaid break of at least 30 minutes for a meal every day, and in excess of an average of 38 hours per week without being paid overtime. It also noted that she was required to perform work on public holidays without being paid penalty rates and not paid a 17.5 per cent annual leave loading. Ms Arunatilaka has never engaged with this proceeding: she has not filed a notice of address for service, a defence or any evidence or submissions opposing Ms Danaratnas claim. She did not attend the hearing. Ms Danaratna has served on Ms Arunatilaka all the material relied upon in support of her claim namely, the initiating processes, pleadings, evidence and submissions, the court noted. At hearing I made this order on the basis that I was satisfied that Ms Arunatilaka had been notified on numerous occasions of the claim against her and of the hearing and it appeared that she did not intend, by her own election, to take any part in the proceedings. The Sri Lankan foreign ministry came to Ms Arunatilakas defence and said she had followed government-approved rates in paying the wages. The allowance approved by the ministry as the salary of the employee has been paid to her, a ministry statement said. The ministry is satisfied that the said salary was paid to the domestic assistant by the employer as mutually agreed. Ms Arunatilaka now works as the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva. Mr Hillard alleged that his client was not allowed breaks or holidays during her employment. "Its an example of how modern slavery works," he said. "Vulnerable employees find themselves trapped in a situation where their lives are nothing but work, in a job they cannot escape." He said that the employees passport was taken by the diplomat and Ms Danaratna was not allowed to leave the house without her or her husbands permission. She told me that she would give me the passport back before I left Australia. Ms Arunatilaka did not explain why she wanted my passport. I gave my passport to her. I never saw that passport again, Ms Danaratna said in an court affidavit quoted by ABC. Ms Danaratna alleges was only allowed to go on short walks around the neighbourhood which allowed her to contact the Salvation Army, an evangelical Protestant Christian church that engages in charity work. On 14 August 2018, I told Ms Arunatilaka and her husband that I was going for a walk. I left Ms Arunatilakas residence, and the two people from the Salvation Army were waiting for me nearby in a car, she said, adding that she stayed in a safe house there. Mr Hillard said the envoy does not have diplomatic immunity protection as she is no longer a diplomat in the country. Journalist and political analyst Ranga Jayasuriya wrote that Sri Lanka should expect consequences, not just reputational damage. In his editorial in Daily Mirror, he asked what is worse the Sri Lankan diplomat ordered to pay half a million Australian dollars or the foreign ministry defending the diplomat in what would be international embarrassment. The Independent has reached out to Ms Arunatilaka for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Taliban has banned UN human rights special rapporteur Richard Bennett from entering Afghanistan after he repeatedly advocated for the restoration of basic rights for girls, women and minorities in the country. Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson of the Taliban regime, said on Wednesday that the UN official would no longer be allowed to enter the war-torn country, claiming he was spreading propaganda. Mr Bennett is based outside of Afghanistan but has visited the country on multiple occasions since his appointment in 2022 to research the human rights situation on the ground. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mr Bennett called the Talibans move a step backwards and said he remains committed to serving Afghans striving for a stable, inclusive and properous country at peace with itself and its neighbours. The Talibans public announcement that they will no longer grant me access to Afghanistan is a step backwards and sends a concerning signal about their engagement with the United Nations and the international community on human rights, he said. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, told Afghanistans Tolo News that Mr Bennetts reports on the denial of womens rights in Afghanistan under the militant group exaggerate[d] minor issues. Mr Bennetts travel to Afghanistan has been prohibited because he was assigned to spread propaganda in Afghanistan. He is not someone we trust. He is not in Afghanistan, and he is no longer permitted to come here," he said. Last week, as the Taliban celebrated the three-year anniversary of its takeover of Afghanistan, Mr Bennett called on the international community not to allow the hardline Islamists rule on the country to be seen as normal, as he flagged further deteriorations in human rights in the past year. Over the past three years, the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, have been subjected to an appalling and intensifying attack on their rights and freedoms by a regime that lacks legitimacy and inclusivity, quashes all forms of dissent, represses civil society and the media, and has shown a flagrant disregard for the principles of justice, non-discrimination, equality, and the rule of law, he said in a statement, calling for urgent international action. The Taliban has issued more than 80 edicts, directives, and statements which specifically target and restrict the rights of women and girls since taking power in Afghanistan, Mr Bennett said. He added: The Talibans deliberate subjugation of women and girls is widespread and systematic, amounting to crimes against humanity, including the crime of gender persecution. Mr Bennett was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 to monitor Afghanistans human rights situation after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Experts say Mr Bennetts unflinching assessments of the gender apartheid in Afghanistan have angered the Taliban leadership. Heather Barr, associate womens rights director at Human Rights Watch, told The Independent that the decision to ban Mr Bennett was a direct and frustrating consequence of a decision by UN officials to invite Taliban leaders, including Mujahid, to talks in Doha while excluding women. Banning Mr Bennett will remove one of the few layers of scrutiny when it comes to monitoring the groups continued abuse of women, girls and minorities, she warned. Mr Bennett also spoke out just before the Doha talks began in June this year, asking the UN and its member nations not to agree to Taliban demands to exclude women and civil society activists from the discussions and remain committed to feminist foreign policies. The third round of the Doha talks was intended to set out a course for international engagement with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The Taliban wasnt included in the first round and refused to join the second in February after the UN rejected its demand to act as Afghanistans sole official representative. Everyone warned the UN before the [third] Doha meeting that they must not do this, this is incredibly harmful but they did not listen. We knew it was incredibly harmful as it potentially set a precedent about not discussing human rights, excluding Afghan women, Ms Barr said. She said a message needed to be sent to the Taliban that they cannot stop human rights monitoring in Afghanistan and prevent the world from knowing about what they are doing to the country simply by preventing people from entering. They cannot throw every single person out of Afghanistan, be it the UN or Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International. Richard and everyone will continue to do that work without the Talibans access and permission, she said. Mr Bennett said in his statement that despite his differences with the Taliban, constructive dialogue was the answer. I urge the Taliban to reverse their decision and reiterate my willingness and availability to travel to Afghanistan, he said. I will also continue to document human rights violations and abuses and advocate for improvements, adding that he has kept up this work despite being unable to travel to Afghanistan for over a year already. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thailand has confirmed Asias first known case of a new, more dangerous strain of mpox in a European traveller. The patient, a 66-year-old man who arrived from an unnamed African country on 14 August, has tested positive for the Clade 1b variant, which is deadlier and more transmissible. Thailands Department of Disease Control wishes to confirm the lab test result which shows mpox Clade 1b in a European patient, the department said in a statement. The man had minimal contact with other people after he arrived in Thailand and sought medical attention the following day after he experienced symptoms similar to mpox, authorities said. We have monitored 43 people who have been in close contact with the patient and so far they have shown no symptoms, but we must continue monitoring for a total of 21 days, the department said. Earlier, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of the Department of Disease Control, told Reuters: After he arrives from the flight there is very little timeframe where he comes into contact with others. He arrived around 6pm and on the next day, 15 August, he went to see the doctor at the hospital. He had earlier told AFP that the department had done a test and they definitely have mpox and its definitely not Clade 2. We are convinced the person has the Clade 1 variant, but we have to wait to see the final result in the lab for two more days. Thailand previously detected 800 cases of the Clade 2 variant but not any of Clade 1 or Clade 1b. The European traveller had been placed in quarantine after his arrival in Bangkok, and lab tests were conducted to confirm the strain. The department added that anyone travelling to Thailand from the 42 designated risk countries must register and undergo testing upon arrival. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailands Department of Disease Control, speaks during a press conference in Bangkok on 21 August 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images ) There are two distinct clades or natural groups of the mpox virus: Clade 1 and Clade 2. Clade 2 was responsible for the global outbreak which started in 2022. Clade 1 is considered more severe and is classified as a high consequence infectious disease. The WHO has declared a public health emergency due to a new mpox outbreak in several African nations, with at least three cases now reported outside the continent. More than 17,000 cases and 571 deaths have been confirmed in Africa so far this year. In Thailand, authorities have mandated that all international airport disease control checkpoints and ports, particularly at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports and Laem Chabang port, screen passengers arriving from Africa, the Bangkok Post reported. Paramedical staff prepare an isolation ward set up as a preventative measure following Pakistan's health ministry confirmation of a case of mpox (Clade 2) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, 22 August 2024 ( AP ) The Philippines also recently reported its first mpox case of the year, involving a 33-year-old Filipino male with no travel history, the Department of Health announced on Monday. The patient is currently recovering in a hospital. Were lucky because this mpox we found [here] was the original variety, clade 2. Mpox entered the country and [is] probably circulating in our community, countrys health secretary Teodoro Herbosa was quoted as saying by news channel ANC. Patients gather to collect water from taps at the treatment centre for Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the Mpox virus that causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever, in Munigi, Nyiragongo territory, near Goma in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo on 19 August 2024 ( REUTERS ) Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia is implementing screening measures at its entry points. The Malaysian health ministry also announced it will start preventive measures, including increased surveillance at international entry points, requiring travellers from countries with mpox cases to monitor their health for 21 days. Vietnams health ministry stated in a directive on Monday that it will monitor for suspected cases at the border and report them to a central database. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A freak storm off the coast of Sicily resulted in a tornado that the islands civil protection agency said was believed to sink a luxury yacht on Monday, killing one man and leaving six missing. While 15 of the 22 passengers onboard the 180ft Bayesian superyacht were rescued, the search continues for British technology tycoon Mike Lynch; his 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch; Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife Judy Bloomer; lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo. Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares, was among those rescued, according to local media. Reuters reported that she owned the boat. The Associated Press said that eight of those rescued had been hospitalized, while others were relocated to a hotel. open image in gallery The moment the Bayesian yacht is engulfed by a storm off the coast of Sicily on Monday ( Giornale di Sicilia / Reuters ) The deceased person was identified as Recaldo Thomas by the Palermo Port Authority after his body was found by divers. The vessels chef, whose name was initially also reported as Ricardo Thomas, was originally from Antigua and Barbuda. The Bayesian, boasted one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world, according to Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi, and has been sailed a handful of times around Sicily recently. The boat was sailing under a British flag, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic. Salvo Cocina, of Sicilys civil protection agency, said that the boat had been in the wrong place at the wrong time during the twister. On Monday morning, there had been strong winds in the region. "The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coast guard, from Palermo, also told Reuters on Tuesday. open image in gallery The Coast Guard wrangle a rapid inflatable emergency lifeboat in Porticello Harbour on the Sicilian coast where the search continues for British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, who are among six tourists missing after a luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Sicily ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire ) Social media users posted video of waterspouts off the coast of Italy on the same day the Bayesian sank, and in the days before the tragic incident. Video posted online on Monday also showed the superyacht being engulfed in storm conditions. The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms, climatologist Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian meteorological society, said. So we cant say that this is all due to climate change, but we can say that it has an amplifying effect, he added. Mercalli said that a waterspout or a downburst, a more frequent phenomenon that doesnt involve the rotation of the air, could have been the cause of the sunken yacht. open image in gallery Emergency workers search for the missing Bayesian superyacht in southern Italy on August 20 ( (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli) ) A waterspout is a column of air and water mist, and there are two types - tornadic and fair weather. Tornadic waterspounds have the ability to form over water, or start on land and then move over water. They have the same qualities as a land tornado -- also taking a ropelike structure -- and can be just as destructive. Waterspouts are often associated with severe thunderstorms and accompanied by high winds and seas. All thunderstorms have the potential to produce tornadoes. Dr. Pieter Groenemeijer, director of the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL), told the Royal Meteorological Society last December that Europes greatest tornado density is in Italy, where 48 tornadoes are reported annually. The average number of reported waterspouts in the Mediterranean region totals in the hundreds over the same period of time, according to the ESSL. The best way to avoid waterspouts is to move at a 90-degree angle to its movement, according to the National Weather Service. Warmer ocean temperatures are leading to changes in extreme weather, including increasing the intensity and frequency of storms. The Atlantic hurricane season saw its earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in June, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said atmospheric and oceanic conditions had set the stage for an extremely active hurricane season. The Independent will be revealing its Climate100 List in September and hosting an event in New York, which can be attended online. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Simone Biles has claimed that a nightclub in Paris tried to charge her a hefty price for a bottle of champagne after the 2024 Olympics. The 27-year-old gymnast opened up about her night out in France following the Olympics closing ceremony earlier this month in a video posted to her TikTok on August 19. While she filmed herself putting her makeup on, she recalled her experience at the Paris nightclub. After [closing ceremonies] we went out, she said. You guys, this club tried to charge me $26,000 for a bottle of champagne. Like are you insane? After noting that she obviously didnt buy the champagne, she still didnt understand why it was so expensive. But why would you even try to play me like that? Thats wild, she added. open image in gallery Simone Biles claims Paris nightclub tried to charge her $26,000 for champagne after Olympics ( simonebiles / TikTok ) While Biles proceeded to apply her bronzer, she then shared her candid thoughts about being in the public eye. I dont know sometimes, the attention, Id rather not have it, Biles, who won four medals at the 2024 Olympics, said. I rather just be as normal as possible, I dont know. In the comments of her TikTok video, which has more than 1.8 million views, multiple people expressed how stunned they were by the price of the champagne. $26k??? Thats insane! one wrote, while another added: $26,000 is crazy. A third asked: Was it LArc?? Although Biles didnt specify which nightclub offered her the champagne, she did share videos on her Instagram Story at the LArc Paris on August 12, after the closing ceremony. In the two videos from the night, as reported by People, people could be seen holding up light-up signs that read Simone Biles God 4 Life and gym legend. She posted the footage alongside the caption: The reason why I am unwell this morning. She also shared a black and white selfie of her and her sister, Adria Biles, at the club. In the caption, she quipped: If you see me out at the club, pls tell me to go homefor my own sake and health in the am. The Independent has contacted a representative for Biles for comment. At the Paris Olympics this year, Biles won four medals, three gold and one silver. She also became the most decorated American gymnast in history, as shes now won 11 Olympic medals. On social media, she also recently poked fun at one of her viral moments at the 2024 Olympics. While she was in Paris, fans noticed her solemn look amid the competition moments before taking her spot on the mat, bars, or beam and they turned her facial gesture into a meme. Biles herself mocked her trending expression, jokingly posting a video of her glaring at the camera in multiple situations. Biles shared footage on TikTok of herself shooting the look in different scenarios. Hearing someone on their couch has comments on the routine, her first on-screen caption read, as she walked in front of the camera, turned her head, and stared directly at the recorder. In another part of the clip, she looked directly at the camera, barely blinking. When someone mentions womens sports, Biles wrote. The vault when it sees her coming, the following text read, as the clip ended with Biles sitting at a table and doing her blank stare, before smiling at the camera. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Authorities in Pakistan on Wednesday arrested and charged a man with cyber terrorism for his alleged role in spreading misinformation that led to widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month. The suspect was identified as freelance web developer Farhan Asif, 32, said Imran Kishwar, deputy inspector general of investigations in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province. The man is accused of spreading misinformation from YouTube and Facebook about the British teenage suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three girls and injured 10 other people July 29 at a dance class in Northwest England. The false information claimed that the suspect was a recently arrived asylum-seeker and had a name that suggested he was Muslim. After the misinformation led to a violent mob attacking a mosque near the site of the stabbing the next day, police took the unusual step of clarifying that the suspect was born in the U.K. Its been widely reported in British media that his parents are from Rwanda and said to have Christian beliefs. Channel3 Now, an account on the X social media platform that purports to be a news channel, was one of the first outlets to report the false name, Ali Al-Shakati. A Facebook account for the channel said it is managed by people in Pakistan and the U.S. The sites editor-in-chief posted an apology July 31 for the misleading information published in a recent article on our website, Channel3 NOW. We deeply regret any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. But the false reports were widely disseminated and are blamed for fueling more than a week of rioting that broke out across the United Kingdom and has led to more than 1,000 arrests. Authorities have blamed far-right agitators for stoking the violent unrest by continuing to spread misinformation and promoting the violent demonstrations online. At a news conference in the eastern city of Lahore, the police official Kishwar said Asif was arrested at his house in the city for questioning. He said Asif has claimed that he was not the source of the misinformation but that he reposted it from social media. Kishwar said Asif ran the Channel3 Now account, and alleged that he spread fake news to gain more viewers and income. He regretted over reposting fake news, Kishwar told The Associated Press. This act on the part of Asif amounts to cyber terrorism for which he has been charged." Kishwar added that Asif's arrest was a message for other YouTubers that they should verify facts before disseminating any information. Police have handed over the case to the Federal Investigation Agency or FIA, which handles cases relating to the cyber terrorism. FIA said the misinformation shared by Asif created a sense of fear, insecurity in England, and added that it also harmed Pakistan's reputation. It was unclear if Britain had requested his extradition. There is no extradition treaty between Pakistan and the U.K. Federal investigators were granted permission by a court Wednesday to further question Asif for a day. Asif is expected to appear before a court again on Thursday when investigators are expected to seek more time to quiz him. ___ Melley reported from London. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraines parliament has banned the activities of religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith group supporting Russia's invasion a measure widely seen as targeting a Ukrainian religious body, despite its claim to independence from Moscow. The bill creates the legal tools for the government to ban the activities of any religious group deemed to be too closely connected to Russia or to support its invasion of Ukraine.. The Verkhovna Rada approved the bill on Tuesday with 265 affirmative votes and only 29 opposed. The explicit ban on the Russian Orthodox Church is seen as aimed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which historically has been tied to the Russian church. The UOC has proclaimed its loyalty to Ukraine and insists that it has broken from the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church. But the Ukrainian government says it remains canonically tied to the Russian church and its Moscow-based patriarch, who has depicted the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a holy war. A large majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox, but they are divided between two main groups with similar names: the UOC and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which would not be affected by the legislation. Many Ukrainians continue to call the UOC the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate, as it was commonly known, despite its recent claims to independence. The approval of the legislation comes more than a year and a half after it was first endorsed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and underwent multiple revisions. The bill requires Zelenskyy's signature, which is expected. It is our common duty to guarantee Ukrainian spiritual independence, Zelenskyy said earlier this month. The bill authorizes the government to investigate suspect religious groups, though final court enforcement of any action could not take effect until nine months after the laws publication. The bill explicitly prohibits activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, calling it an ideological extension of the regime of the aggressor state and an accomplice to war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also bans religious organizations with ties to any organization located in a state carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine, or supporting such aggression. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has had a centuries-long affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. Three months after Russias invasion in 2022, the UOC declared its full self-sufficiency and independence from Moscow, and it has repeatedly declared its loyalty and called on members to fight for Ukraine as a sacred duty. But many Ukrainians remain suspicious of the church. Since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion, criminal proceedings have been initiated against over 100 clerics of the UOC for alleged war-related crimes, the Security Service of Ukraine said on Tuesday. Almost 50 of them have already been charged, and 26 have received court sentences, it said. Some clerics were exchanged for Ukrainians held in Russian captivity, according to the service. After searching UOC church sites, the nations security agency has shared photos of the evidence it found, including rubles, Russian passports, and pro-Russian leaflets The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience has said after examining the UOCs governing documents that the church remains a structural unit of the Russian Orthodox Church. A lawyer representing the UOC denounced the legislation as a grotesque violation of religious freedom. Its rare in law to find a bill so contemptuous of legal standards as this bill, attorney Robert Amsterdam, whose firm is based in Washington and London, said in an interview. "We will go to every court we can. We will go to the United Nations. Amsterdam called the measure religious cleansing." He insisted that the new law makes it impossible for the UOC to defend itself because it targets any religious organization that the Russian Orthodox Church claims, in its own governing documents, to control. Amsterdam said the UOC cant control whats in the ROC charter. He noted the bill also targets any religious organization whose authorized persons are convicted for crimes against Ukraine's security. He said that amounts to illegal collective punishment against an entire church and its believers for the alleged actions of its leaders. The Ukrainian bill also prohibits any religious organization promoting the Russian world ideology. The bill is yet another manifestation of a deep-rooted religious and cultural struggle behind the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has justified the invasion in part on the claim that Moscow oversees a wider Russian world, a sphere of cultural and spiritual influence across present-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Ukrainians consider that concept as ideological aggression, noting that Kyiv adopted Christianity in the 10th century and was the regions political and spiritual center long before the rise of Moscow. Moscow Patriarch Kirill, who oversees the Russian Orthodox Church, has portrayed the war as part of a metaphysical struggle against the West and gay pride parades. In March, Kirill oversaw a council that declared Russia's invasion a holy war" in defense of the region's single spiritual space. The document claims Russia is protecting the world from "globalism and the victory of the West that has fallen into Satanism. The OCU was formed by a merger of two breakaway churches created in parallel with Ukraine's assertion of political independence from Russia. The OCU received recognition in 2019 as completely independent or autocephalous by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who is deemed the first among equals among Orthodox patriarchs. But unlike a pope, he doesnt have universal authority in the church, and Kirill fiercely rejected Bartholomew's decree. Leaders of other religious groups in Ukraine say that in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, minority faiths are severely persecuted. ___ AP journalists Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared mpox a global health emergency in response to the growing number of cases both in Africa and other continents. Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches. People with more serious cases can develop characteristic lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals. Formerly known as monkeypox, the virus that was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there were outbreaks of a pox-like disease in monkeys. The name was changed to mpox because it is inaccurate, with scientists suggesting that the virus may have actually originated from rodents. This week WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the emergence and spread of a new variant of mpox as very worrying. Its clear that a coordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives, he said, as he raised concerns about the viruss spread across international borders. The first case to reported outside of Africa was discovered in Sweden, with officials in Thailand also seeking on Wednesday to determine the strain of an mpox case in a European man who arrived from Africa the previous week. More than 17,000 mpox cases and 524 deaths have been reported in Africa this year alone, with more than 96 per cent of fatalities reported from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the second time in two years that the WHO has expressed deep concern about the virus, which first seized global attention in 2022. The WHOs emergency declaration is aimed at spurring donor agencies and countries into action. But the global response to previous declarations has been mixed. This photo supplied by MSF (Doctors Without Borders) dated 31 May 2023, shows health workers educating children on the symptoms of the mpox disease in Goma, Congo ( AP ) Africa CDC director general Dr Jean Kaseya said his own agencys declaration of a public health emergency was meant "to mobilise our institutions, our collective will and our resources to act swiftly and decisively." He appealed to Africas international partners for help, saying that the escalating caseload in Africa had largely been ignored. "Its clear that current control strategies arent working and there is a clear need for more resources," said Michael Marks, a professor of medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "If a (global emergency declaration) is the mechanism to unlock these things, then it is warranted," he said. Heritier Bwira, a Congolese health worker guides relatives and patients discharged on the hygienic measures to follow after recovering from Mpox ( Reuters ) For decades most human cases of mpox were seen in people in central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals. The WHO declared its first mpox emergency in 2022 when the virus was confirmed to spread via sex for the first time, triggering outbreaks in more than 70 countries across the world that had never previously reported cases. Cases plunged dramatically after a sustained campaign to deliver vaccines. However, it remained endemic to certain parts of Africa where the vaccines could not be delivered. The number of cases this year has jumped dramatically, already exceeding last years figure. Last week, the Africa CDC reported that mpox has now been detected in at least 13 African countries. Compared with the same period last year, the agency said cases are up 160 per cent and deaths have increased by 19 per cent. Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new form of mpox in a Congolese mining town that can kill up to 10 per cent of people and may spread more easily. Unlike in previous mpox outbreaks, where lesions were mostly seen on the chest, hands and feet, the new form of mpox causes milder symptoms and lesions on the genitals. That makes it harder to spot, meaning people might also sicken others without knowing theyre infected. During the global outbreak of mpox in 2022, gay and bisexual men made up a large majority of cases and the virus was mostly spread through close contact, including sex. This undated image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility ( AP ) Although some similar patterns have been seen in Africa, children under 15 now account for more than 70 per cent of the mpox cases and 85 per cent of deaths in Congo. Ahead of its emergency meeting, Mr Tedros said officials were dealing with several mpox outbreaks in various countries with "different modes of transmission and different levels of risk." "Stopping these outbreaks will require a tailored and comprehensive response," he said. The WHO said mpox was recently identified for the first time in four East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. All of those outbreaks were linked to the epidemic in Congo. This is an outbreak that has been simmering and festering and expanding over the course of a year now, Gregg Gonsalves, a Yale School of Public Health epidemiologist who has advised the WHO on mpox, was quoted as saying by the Washington Post. Im not quite clear why they took so long to do it, he added referring to the emergency declaration. Now that its done, we need to move quickly to ensure DRC gets all the requisite tools they need to combat the outbreak. One person in Sweden has been diagnosed with mpox caused by the clade I variant, marking the first such case outside Africa. There are two distinct clades of the mpox virus: Clade I and Clade II. Clade II was responsible for the global outbreak that began in 2022. Clade I is considered more severe and is classified as a high consequence infectious disease. According to the public health agency of Sweden, the individual contracted the virus during a stay in a part of Africa experiencing a major outbreak of clade I mpox. Clade I is more likely to cause severe disease and higher mortality than clade IIb the variant previously found in Sweden. Although the risk to the general population remains very low, the public health agency said the authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Sweden has measures in place for infection control and no additional steps are needed at this time, it added. MPXV a virus related to smallpox causes a rash illness that can range from mild and localised to severe and widespread. Reuters reported on Friday that China will monitor people and goods entering the country for mpox over the next six months, following the declaration by the World Health Organisation that the virus is again a global health emergency. Individuals from countries with mpox outbreaks who have had contact with cases or show symptoms are required to report to customs. Vehicles and goods from affected areas should be sanitised. China classifies mpox as a Category B infectious disease, allowing for emergency measures during outbreaks. The global health agency has released $1.45m from its emergency fund to assist surveillance, preparedness and response activities to contain the spread of virus, but would need up to $15m to ramp up the system effectively. Close The public health emergency was declared by the WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for $135 million funding to combat the Mpox strain outbreak, which scientists say is mutating more rapidly than expected. On August 14, the organisation declared an Mpox-related global health emergency for the second time in two years. Speaking to WHO member states, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the latest outbreak can be controlled and can be stopped. $135 million of funding will be needed over the next six months to halt the outbreak, an amount which will likely increase over time, Mr Ghebreyesus added. Scientists have expressed concern at the rate at which the current Mpox strain, Clade Ib, is mutating. Nigerian scientist Dr. Dimie Ogoina said they dont understand the outbreak very well, leading to difficulty in addressing the diseases transmission and severity. Seattle-based doctor Dr. Miguel Paredes said the virus is mutating more rapidly than we would expect. Democratic Republic of Congo has faced the brunt of the outbreak, which has also spread to Burundi, Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Uganda. The UK is readying itself after Sweden reported Europes first case of the deadly variant. Three days ago, Thailand confirmed Asias first suspected case of the variant. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Around 15% of Scottish adults do not have the skills to access the internet, a report on digital exclusion has found. An estimated one in six adults lack the digital skills needed for everyday life, according to the report from the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission. It calls for public bodies to improve technology to deliver services, amid warnings from Scottish Labour that the current situation is failing marginalised communities. The Scottish Government said it has allocated 10 million for 2025-26 to help our most disadvantaged families with devices, internet access and the skills to use them, as it insisted it is striving to make Scotland a fully digitally inclusive nation. The report warned: Some people are being left behind as more services move online and reliance on digital technology increases, causing unintended harms and further widening inequalities. It said it is estimated 15% of adults lack the digital skills to turn on a digital device, connect to the internet, or update a password. Another 14% are unable to afford sufficient, private and secure access to the internet, while 9% of households do not have access to the internet, according to the latest Scottish Household Survey. Households with an income of 40,000 a year predominantly have access to the internet, with only 1% unable to get online, the report said. However, households on a 10,000 a year income, for example the state pension, only 69% have internet access. The report said: All public bodies have a responsibility they need to do more to support people to use digital tools in a way that benefits them and make sure they can access the services they need. Failing to do so intensifies the impacts felt by already vulnerable people due to poverty, age or because they have a disability. The report added: To help mitigate the harms caused by inequalities, by the end of 2024/25 the Scottish Government and Cosla need to develop a clear action plan, with clarity on leadership, roles and responsibilities. This must also include detail about the funding needed and available. This is vital its currently unclear across local and Scottish Government, and the third sector, who is responsible for delivering Scotlands national digital strategy. Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: Digital technology is at the heart of public service reform. Increasing efficiency is vital to ensure services can be delivered cost-efficiently, at a time of ever-intensifying budget and service pressures. To achieve this, the Scottish Government must have clear actions to tackle and mitigate the impacts of digital exclusion. Failing to do so risks marginalising the most vulnerable people in our communities. Scottish Labour social justice spokesman Paul OKane said This report sets out the high cost of failing to tackle digital exclusion but the SNP Government is set to raid digital exclusion funds for the second year in a row. It is the most marginalised communities in Scotland that will pay the price for the SNPs broken promises on this important issue. The SNP must listen to this stark warning and set out a real plan to break down the barriers that risk locking vulnerable people out of vital public services. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: We welcome the report and will consider its findings and recommendations. Tackling digital exclusion remains a priority and we have allocated 10 million for 2025-26 to help our most disadvantaged families with devices, internet access and skills. Our Digital Inclusion Alliance is undertaking in-depth analysis to identify and address any gaps in support from public, private and third sectors. The Scottish Government also supports connectivity projects, including a 28.75 million initiative which delivered 4G infrastructure and services in 55 mobile phone signal blackspots. Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) recently published data showing the level of digital exclusion among clients had increased by 59% in two years. CAS spokesman Kyle Scott said: The consequences of being digitally excluded vary. For one thing, it makes you unable to apply for jobs or benefits, and unable to access consumer services like price comparison or anti-scam websites. It also excludes you from staying connected and in touch with loved ones, so it can have a big impact on peoples mental health and loneliness. Those affected include older or disabled people and those on low incomes, many of whom face complex and vulnerable circumstances. Cosla has been contacted for comment. Close Final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy revealed by fire service boss For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The captain of the Bayesian has insisted that he did everything possible to save those on board the superyacht, according to local reports. Sources close to James Cutfield, 51, told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that the 51-year-old New Zealander is currently living through the darkest days of his life as he is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges. They reportedly said Mr Cutfield repeatedly insists that he did not abandon any of the 22 passengers and crew and that he did everything could could to save them. However, there reached a point when he could do little as the vessel had taken on too much water, they added. Since Wednesday, Tim Parker Eaton, the engineer who was in charge of securing the yachts engine room, and sailor Matthew Griffith, who was on watch duty on the night of the disaster, are also under investigation for the same possible charges, their lawyer said on Friday. British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who were killed after his superyacht capsized and went down on 19 August within minutes of being hit by a pre-dawn storm off the coast of Sicily. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Three children and a woman have been killed in a suspected arson attack as police launch a murder investigation. Police were called by the fire service to reports of a house fire at a property at 2.07am on Westbury Road, Bradford. A 29-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Three children two girls aged nine and one, and a five-year-old boy were taken to hospital. All three died from the injuries they suffered in the fire. A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital with critical injuries. This is a live story. Follow the latest coverage of the Bradford fire on our live blog. One woman, who lives on Westbury Road, told the Telegraph and Argus: My husband went up the street to see if he could help. He could see it was a house fire as there were flames and smoke coming out of it. The fire was blazing. But firefighters and police told him to stand back and not put himself in danger. There were other residents trying to help too. She added: There was really thick smoke coming up the street. It filled the whole area. It looked foggy. It was overwhelming. You could hear screaming. I was scared to go up there to see because you dont know whats happening. One floral tribute left at the cordon close to the semi-detached home, read: Have fun in heaven, we will miss you. DCI Stacey Atkinson of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team at West Yorkshire Police said: This is an absolutely devastating incident in which three children and a woman have lost their lives. Our thoughts remain with their family, friends and loved ones. Early enquiries show that the fire was started deliberately, and we have arrested one man on suspicion of murder. He is seriously ill in hospital today as a result of injuries caused by the fire. While our enquiries are at an early stage, we do at this time believe the incident is domestic related. We are appealing anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident or who has CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward. She added: Specially trained officers are supporting the family, and we are working with local neighbourhood officers to carry out enquiries and provide reassurance in the area. Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious is asked to contact police via 101 or use the live chat facility https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/LiveChat quoting log 107 of 21 August. Information can always be given anonymously via the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The prime minister has been urged to have the political and moral courage to help IPP prisoners after an inmate with an indefinite jail term took his own life when he heard resentencing proposals were rejected under the Tories. Sir Bob Neill, former chairman of the cross-party justice committee which issued recommendations for all inmates trapped under the controversial jail terms to be resentenced, said the death of inmate Sean Davies last February was a tragedy. He is one of at least 90 IPP prisoners to have taken their own lives in jail as they lose hope of ever being freed. IPP jail terms were introduced under New Labour in 2005 and saw offenders given a minimum tariff but no maximum. They were scrapped in 2012 amid human rights concerns. A coroner this week warned that the 30-year-olds suicide inside HMP Swaleside came in the wake of the devastating news that the then-Tory government had rejected the committees advice to help IPP prisoners. In a suicide note, Mr Davies said he hoped his death would trigger change for IPP prisoners with no hope of release. Former chairman of the justice committee Sir Bob Neill called for Starmer to have the courage to resentence IPP prisoners ( AFP/Getty ) In a strongly worded statement, Sir Bob, who stood down as a Conservative MP before the general election, called for the new government under Sir Keir Starmer to do the right thing before more lives are lost. The justice secretary and prime minister need to get a grip on this urgently and show some political and moral courage, he told The Independent. Anything other than resentencing is scratching at the surface of the problem. They do not have baggage of the previous administration and have a unique opportunity finally do the right thing. They need to stand up and be counted - all it needs is some leadership. He is joined by grieving families and campaigners who warn time is running out for desperate IPP inmates languishing in jail as pressure mounts on the recently elected government to act. Their calls come after the UN special rapporteur on torture also issued fresh calls for them to reconsider a resentencing exercise, as she slammed the inhuman sentence as psychological torture. Dr Alice Jill Edwards assumed the post of UN special rapporteur on torture last August ( UN Human Rights Council screengrab ) Despite being halted in 2012, the abolition of the policy did not affect those already sentenced, leaving thousands trapped in jail for years beyond their original prison terms. Of 2,734 people still incarcerated under the abolished sentence, more than 700 have served at least 10 years longer than their minimum tariff. Mr Davies, who was jailed in 2012 for two counts wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, had served 11 years for a five year minimum tariff when he took his own life on 25 February 2023. Sara Ramsden, of campaign group UNGRIPP, said the tragic case brings home the hard reality of the governments inaction over IPP. Its not an isolated incident, unfortunately. Lots of people have taken their lives due to the despair and lack of hope associated with the IPP sentence, she said. We had the highest annual number of deaths in custody on IPP after the justice select committee recommended resentencing and it was rejected. Those are hard facts you cant get away from. Shirley De Bono, whose son Shaun Lloyd was handed an IPP sentence for stealing a mobile phone, said the decision of then-justice secretary Dominic Raab to reject resentencing proposals was devastating for inmates and their families who had so much hope. The moment he took that away we knew there was going to be catastrophic consequences, said Ms De Bono, who co-founded IPP Committee in Action. I urge this Labour government you created this sentence, now its time to get rid of it altogether. IPP prisoner Thomas White has served 12 years for stealing a mobile phone. Pictured with his son Kayden, aged just ten months ( Margaret White ) Clara White, whose brother Thomas has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in prison after serving more than 12 years for stealing a mobile phone, fears more lives will be lost to suicide without drastic action. She said she is fighting to keep her brother alive after he tried to set himself alight in his prison cell earlier this year. Its clear that the government are avoiding it, she said. They need to look at resentencing. They are liable for this they designed it, they created it and they can get rid of this sentence. How much more evidence do they have to ignore to get a resentencing exercise? I am distraught and I find it really difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that its legal for these deaths to continue. IPP prisoner Yusuf Ali, now 50, has been driven to hunger strike as he loses hope of ever being freed ( Jacqueline Ali ) Mother Jacqueline Ali warned time is running out for her son Yusuf, 50, who previously went on hunger strike for 60 days as he struggles under an IPP sentence. Its torturous and they dont deserve it, she told The Independent. They are killing me slowly and they are killing him slowly. I used to have hope that he could come home and could have a bit of a normal life. But thats fast fading. Im just hoping one day the truth will come out. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Sean Davies. The Lord Chancellor is committed to working with organisations and campaign groups to ensure the appropriate course of action is taken to support those still serving rightfully abolished IPP sentences. We will consider the findings of this report in due course. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Emergency measures to delay court hearings due to the shortage of prison cells raise the risk that suspects could be detained unlawfully in police custody, experts have told The Independent. Keeping defendants in cells longer than is allowed could open up police forces to possible legal action. With prisons struggling to cope with an influx of new inmates remanded over rioting, fuelled by the far right, the government announced on Monday that it was activating Operation Early Dawn across swathes of north England and the Midlands. Under the contingency measure, previously used in March and May, suspects will appear before a magistrate only once it is confirmed that there is a prison cell available in case they are refused bail. They will be held in a police station until they are summoned to court, the Ministry of Justice said on Monday. But under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, a suspect held in police custody after being charged with a crime must be brought before a magistrate no later than the courts next sitting day. Failing to release the suspect on police bail beyond that point could amount to unlawful detention, experts say. Riots erupted after misinformation spread false claims about the suspect in the Southport knife attack, in which three young girls were killed ( PA Wire ) The Police Federation has told The Independent it is closely engaging strategically with policing partners to highlight and identify risks to our members associated with scenarios of unlawful detention in custody. When Operation Early Dawn was last enacted, the federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, warned that suspects were being kept in police custody facilities unlawfully. In an open letter, published on 28 June, the federation warned that continuing to detain a suspect who cannot appear before a magistrate under Operation Early Dawn would straightforwardly be unlawful and amount to false imprisonment leaving both the police force and custody officers vulnerable to legal action. As of Friday afternoon, 1,117 arrests and 677 charges had been brought since the unrest broke out on 30 July. Figures published that morning showed 460 defendants had attended a first magistrate hearing, during which 327 were denied bail. A federation spokesperson said all officers should act within the law and that it had been reassured by the National Police Chiefs Council that forces have robust policies in place to significantly reduce instances where someone may be held in custody unlawfully. It is understood that such procedures include police liaising with courts to prioritise cases to avoid unlawful detentions and conduct video hearings where possible, or to take prisoners to court themselves when they are not collected by the prisoner escort services. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed rioters will face swift justice ( PA Wire ) Katy Hanson, vice-chair of the Criminal Law Solicitor Association, told The Independent that the body had raised concerns about the risk of unlawful detentions with the Ministry of Justice in May but had received no response. Warning that court delays caused by the lack of space in prisons is causing a backlog and issues throughout the [criminal justice system], Ms Hanson said: The concerns raised in May remain and are exacerbated by the sudden significant increase of cases. While the Law Society said it had not yet seen any reports of potentially unlawful detentions, president Nick Emmerson said solicitors are already alert to this risk and are monitoring the situation. Using police cells for post-hearing detention if the court remands someone in custody could be a better option to reduce the risk of unlawful detention, Mr Emmerson said. While it is not clear how Operation Early Dawn is being used in practice, criminal defence solicitor Stephen Davies said it appears that priority is given to the most serious cases, while others are left to wait or suspects are released on police bail. The reality is the courts and prisons cannot cope, so the only way to tackle this problem is to prevent the work from entering the courts in the first place, said Mr Davies, of the firm Edwards Duthie Shamash. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today show on Tuesday, Labour frontbencher Jo Stevens insisted that anyone who poses a risk to the public will obviously not be bailed, adding: Theyll be held in a police station until theyre summoned to court, and that should be no later than the day after being charged. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: The justice system is facing unprecedented pressures but over the last few weeks we have seen what the courts can achieve when running at full throttle. We have been clear that Operation Early Dawn is designed to ensure statutory duties will continue to be met. A government scheme to release inmates who have served 40 per cent of their sentences does not begin until early September. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Pakistani authorities have arrested a man and charged him with cyber terrorism for his alleged role in spreading misinformation that led to rioting in the UK earlier this month, a senior police investigator said Wednesday. The suspect was identified as Farhan Asif, 32, a freelance web developer, said Imran Kishwar, deputy inspector general of investigations in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province. The man is accused of spreading misinformation from YouTube and Facebook about the British teenage suspect in a stabbing attack that killed three girls and injured 10 other people July 29 at a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport. The misleading information spread quickly online in the UK, with riots breaking out in various locations, including major cities such as Liverpool. Dozens of police officers were injured and more than a thousand people were arrested. Objects are thrown towards police at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire ( Danny Lawson/PA Wire ) There were also anti-racist counter-demonstrations attended by thousands of people. One of the platforms editors-in-chief posted an apology on July 31 for the misleading information published in a recent article on our website, Channel3 Now. We deeply regret any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused. At a news conference in the eastern city of Lahore, police said Asif was arrested at his house in the city for questioning. They said Asif has claimed that he was not the source of the misinformation but that he reposted it from social media. Police have handed over the case to the Federal Investigation Agency, which handles cases relating to cyber terrorism. It was unclear if Britain had requested his extradition. According to the latest Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) figures, 494 people have been charged in relation to the recent rioting. More than 150 people have already been sentenced, with the vast majority facing jail sentences. On Wednesday, the latest batch of defendants to appear in court included men accused or convicted of unrest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham. Police officers in front of a smashed window as trouble flared during an anti-immigration protest outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on August 4 (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire ) The unrest outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, on August 4 left 58 police officers, three police horses and a police dog injured, and saw attempts to storm the building and set it on fire. Railway engineer Morgan Hardy, 29, of Melton High Street, Rotherham, is accused of throwing chairs, fencing and a fire extinguisher at police guarding the hotel, and denies violent disorder. Former soldier Peter Beard, 43, of Becknoll Road, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting pushing aggressively at the line of officers. The father-of-three, who undertook tours of duty in Kosovo, Bosnia and Northern Ireland, was told by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC: Your conduct was shameful, it was disgraceful and, in many respects, astonishing. Passing sentence at Sheffield Crown Court, the judge heard how Beard served in the Royal Green Jackets between 1998 and 2003, and said he was astonished that the defendant had become involved as he had been on the receiving end of public order incidents as a peacekeeper. A 27-year-old man who threw a wood panel onto a fire outside the hotel admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC told Thomas Birley his offending is unquestionably the most serious of all those he has dealt with in the last fortnight in relation to the rioting outside the Holiday Inn Express, at Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4. Birley, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham, who also admitted violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, will be sentenced on September 6. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Ukrainian comedian has shared his disappointment that his Edinburgh Fringe show is attracting audiences of three or four people, despite it being the only standup show that touches on the biggest war happening in Europe. Describing it as a frustrating situation, Dima Watermelon, whose name is translated to English from Ukrainian, is performing in a 40-person Free Fringe venue. This means that Mr Watermelon, whose work is reportedly popular in the European circuit, could well be left at a loss after his pay what you want show, Ukrainian Dream, comes to a close. He told The Independent he has faced several barriers in bringing the show, which sheds light on the situation in Ukraine, to the festival including the challenges which come from being an international performer. While Mr Watermelon said that he has received support from Ukrainians, in particular, a lack of media interest has been his biggest problem. My main frustration lies with the Fringe Media, he said. I received virtually no reviews, the only one coming after I personally approached the reviewer following his review of another Russian comedian living in [the] UK now and handed him a flyer for my show. I dont understand [the low interest]. There are [thousands of] shows, its true, but only one touches on the biggest war happening in Europe right now. The comedian is sharing the Ukrainian perspective on the war in a light-hearted, humorous way. ( Handout ) The show has had just one review so far. ( Handout ) The Edinburgh Fringes Artists Services team reports that a comedian performing at a 30-person venue, even if they obtain the venue for free, can expect to pay 2,000 on accommodation and other expenses for the month. A musician, who is performing three dates at this years festival, told The Independent that even after receiving a grant from a local artists organisation, they will only break even if they sell out their shows. Ive done some terrible shows with small crowds, some weekday shows with four to five people, Mr Watermelon told Edinburgh Live. Usually its around 10 to 15 people, and Ive had some shows with 30, which is good for a 40-seat venue. I was expecting more attention from the press to get into the UK comedy circuit. Its a good show. Im frustrated by the lack of attention. Ukrainian Dream is described as an inspirational comedy show for disturbing times and comes with a trigger warning for distressing or potentially triggering themes and strong language/swearing. The comedian, who lives with his mother in Berlin, Germany, following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, said he has channelled his traumatic experiences into his standup. He explained: I joke in my set that I hate Russia because they made me live with my mother. The comedian jokes that he hates Russia because the country forced him to live with his mother. ( Handout ) Mr Watermelon stressed that while he is dealing with heavy subject matter, he is doing so in an entertaining way that will open peoples eyes to the Ukrainian experience of the war. This show is important because it offers a Ukrainian perspective on current events through the lens of humour, he said. Living in the West, I often see Ukraine discussed and debated in the media without Ukrainians voices being heard. We become the subject of conversations, not active participants. This show is an attempt to address common talking points like corruption, the threat of nuclear war, [and] attitudes toward Russians from a Ukrainian perspective. But it does so in a light-hearted, humorous way. Ukrainian Dream is running at the Laughing Horse until 25 August. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Environment Agency has said it will consider legal action against a water company after sewage was spilled into the sea at a Devon beach. Swimmers were told to stay out of the sea at Exmouth Beach after authorities issued a do not swim warning to holidaymakers over the weekend. The source of the pollution was a burst pipe on private land and the Environment Agency said it has called on South West Water (SWW) to work to stop further sewage from contaminating the seawater. The agency said in a statement: We continue to monitor the site closely and encourage the public to check Swimfo for the latest status of bathing water quality before swimming. Given the seriousness of the incident, the Environment Agency is considering what legal approach to take for these pollutions on Exmouth beach. Swimmers were told to stay out od the sea at Exmouth beach ( PA ) Clarissa Newell, regulatory manager at the Environment Agency, told BBC Radio Devon: We are investigating and considering all enforcement options that could be a warning, it could be the water company promises to invest in the environment they damaged or the infrastructure that caused that damage, or we go to prosecution. Following the leak on 14 August, residents were concerned about the impact on local businesses, which rely on tourism over the summer. Yellow warning signs were spotted on the beach on Sunday, and lifeguards have been using loudspeakers to alert beachgoers to the potential dangers. SWW apologised for the disruption caused by the leak, which it said originated from a burst pipe at the Maer Lane pumping station. Newly elected Conservative MP David Reed for Exmouth and Exeter East described the scene as extremely depressing and expressed frustration with the water company. In a statement on X, Mr Reed said: To see Exmouth beach with so few people enjoying it on a beautiful August day is extremely depressing. This current event with South West Water needs to end asap. Ive been clear with senior representatives from SWW that its their duty to provide accurate and timely updates to let locals and tourists alike know how repairs are progressing. He said he would meet with SWWs CEO Susan Davy, as well as local activist groups, businesses and councillors. A SWW spokesperson said: We always work with all of our regulators, including the Environment Agency, and are continuing to keep them fully updated. We continue to work around the clock to complete this essential work. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Home secretary Yvette Cooper has been urged to reconsider plans to reopen two immigration detention centres as part of a push to achieve the highest rate of removals since 2018. Detention centres have been criticised in a number of Government reports and by campaigners, with one proposed for re-opening having been described as having had a history of abuse and neglect. Ms Cooper said on Wednesday that the government would press ahead with plans announced by the Conservatives to reopen Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Removal Centres. Detention capacity will be increased by 290 beds across the two sites, the Home Office said. Campsfield, in Oxfordshire, was closed in 2019, while Haslar removal centre, in Hampshire, was shut in 2015. The plans to reopen the sites have been met with widespread condemnation from refugee charities and local campaign groups. Charity Detention Action, who support migrants inside immigration detention facilities, said the proposal was a disappointing step away from a fairer and more humane immigration system. They added: Immigration detention centres are a hidden space where people are locked in small cells for up to 12 hours a day and frequently denied legal support and appropriate medical care. They pointed to recent freedom of information statistics that showed that self-harm in detention centres had increased by 67 per cent in one year. The roof of one of the detention blocks at the privately-run Campsfield Immigration Centre in Kidlington, Oxfordshire after it was damaged by a fire. ( PA ) They added that many people are released from detention on immigration bail or granted permission to remain in the UK - raising questions about why they were initially detained. Refugee Council pointed to the huge costs of immigration detention. CEO Enver Solomon said: Instead of wasting taxpayers money on expanding detention places, the government should be investing in what are called voluntary returns programmes. If you treat people with respect, humanity and support them to return, many more people return. Visitor network AVID, who also support people in detention, said they were deeply concerned by the plans, which represent a step backwards. They said that Haslar detention centre has a troubled history of abuse and neglect. It was closed in 2015 under the coalition government, following a parliamentary review which found immigration detention was expensive and damaging to detainees. Campsfield Immigration Centre in Kidlington, Oxfordshire ( PA ) Under previous plans to reopen both Campsfield and Haslar, the government had estimated they would need to spend 339million. Immigration detention centres have been plagued with problems and have consistently been shown to exacerbate mental health issues among people held there. A 2016 independent review of immigration detention questioned whether there was any correlation between the number of people in detention and the number of successful removals from the UK. One inquiry into another removal centre, called Brook House, found that there was a toxic culture among staff at the site and credible evidence of breaches of human rights law, such as inhuman or degrading treatment. The report called for an introduction of a 28-day time limit for people to be held at removal sites. In July, chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor described the conditions at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow as the worst conditions ever seen in immigration detention. There had been numerous suicide attempts made by people being held there, and inspectors found that support was not good enough. Earlier this year The Independent reported on findings by a European anti-torture committee into UK immigration detention. Inspectors from the Council of Europe raised concerns about the fact that the UK has no maximum period of detention, resulting in some people being held for many years at these sites. The limbo is a trigger for [people] becoming mentally unwell, inspectors said. One of the local MPs that would be affected by Campsfields reopening, LibDem MP Calum Miller, said he was disappointed and angry by the decision. He said the facility had a dark past and its reopening was opposed by the local community. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said ministers were taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security ( PA Wire ) In a letter to Ms Cooper, he said he was concerned that the Home Office had awarded the contract for the expansion work at Campsfield House on 31 May 2024, in the middle of the general election campaign and when Parliament was dissolved. He pointed to the opposition of Labour council who labelled the detention centre as wrong and inhumane. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles has met with the grieving families of the girls who were killed in the Southport knife attack. Charles sat down in Clarence House with the parents of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, who were fatally stabbed at a Taylor-Swift themed dance class last month. The King met them privately at his London home the day after travelling to Southport on Tuesday to spend 45 minutes with some of the children who survived the attack and their families. The monarch also went on a brief walkabout outside the town hall meeting some of the well-wishers who had gathered as he viewed the sea of floral tributes that have been left for the victims outside Southport Town Hall. The King travelled to Southport on Tuesday to spent 45 minutes with some of the children who survived the attack and their families ( AFP or licensors ) Helen Marshall, 71, was among the crowds and said: The last few weeks have been devastating but the community spirit is the thing keeping us going. The King also visited a local fire station to meet members of the local emergency services who dealt with the attack, and others from the community affected by the rioting. Three children were killed and eight injured after a knifeman launched an attack at a dance studio in Southport in July. Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murder of the three girls in Merseyside and for the attempted murder of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade. Six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died in the attack (Merseyside Police/PA) ( PA Media ) Hours after the tragedy, the King said that he and the Queen had been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today. 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. The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, also paid tribute and 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. We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack. King Charles III meets representatives from Merseysides emergency services and local community groups at Southport Community Fire Station, following the July 29th knife attack in the town, during which three young girls were killed (Scott Heppell/PA) ( PA Wire ) 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 the Merseyside attack, false allegations concerning the suspects identity were spread online with some posts speculating that he was a migrant who had been on the MI6 watchlist. Far-right riots unfurled on UK streets in the aftermath, with a current total of 1,117 arrests and 677 charges made in connection to the disorder. Following days of riots, Charles offered his heartfelt thanks to the police for restoring order, after speaking to Sir Keir Starmer and police leaders following the week of unrest across the UK. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello. Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht, which experts will examine in the coming days. Italian publication Giornale di Sicilia reported post-mortem examinations were completed at a Palermo hospital and the bodies have now been returned. The Bayesian was hit by a suspected downburst of strong wind early on 19 August. The 56m-long, 30 million yacht drifted for about 400 metres from its anchorage near the fishing port of Porticello before sinking. Fifteen of the 22 passengers and crew survived the incident by clambering onto an inflatable liferaft. The bodies of tech billionaire Mike Lynch, dubbed Britains Bill Gates, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and four other people were found by divers on board. Post-mortem examinations suggest they had been trapped in a room below deck. Jonathan Bloomer, the international chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank; his wife Judith, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a US lawyer; and his wife Neda, a jewellery designer, also died in the sinking. Mike Lynch is among those confirmed as dead ( PA Archive ) It will take weeks for Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, and his team to establish whether the sinking of the Bayesian was down to human error, an unpredictable weather event or whether anyone is liable. Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the wreckage parts of the deck, computer material, video surveillance systems, hard drives and various other equipment, that could explain how the Bayesian sank. Prosecutors have said they will interview the survivors some of whom were pictured leaving the Domina Zagarella hotel in Santa Flavia, which has become the headquarters for survivors, police and rescuers. Many questions face the investigators: Were access hatches left open? One expert at the scene in Sicily said an early focus of the investigation would be on whether the yachts crew had failed to close access hatches before the tornado struck. Yachting experts have suggested that the hatches being open could have allowed the Bayesian to fill with water quickly and sink. But Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Polytechnic University of Milan, said a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking in a huge amount of water. One can make plausible assumptions that leave room for doubt, he said, before suggesting that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the waterspout. The recovered video could show whether the crews left doors open, which might have allowed the yacht to flood. Was the boat prepared for a storm? Prosecutors will look at whether appropriate measures were taken in preparation for the storm. The luxury superyacht called The Bayesian off Porticello, Palermo ( BAIA Santa Nicolicchia/AFP via G ) The yachts captain, James Catfield, from New Zealand, told Italian media of the suddenness of the waterspout that turned a luxury super yacht into a death trap. We just didnt see it coming, he said. Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains. The coast guard said bad weather had been forecast, but added that it was more virulent than expected. Some locals spoke of a waterspout, or sea whirlwind, of exceptional force. It was a strange thing, fisherman Andrea Carini said. The Bayesian was at anchor, its sails down, when the tempest hit, with another yacht moored nearby. A nearby yacht, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell, remained anchored and weathered the storm after its captain turned on the engine to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian. Moment Bayesian yacht is engulfed by storm ( Giornale di Sicilia / Reuters ) The captain, Karsten Borner, said he did not know whether the crew of the Bayesian had managed to switch on its engines. I dont think they did things wrong, I think they were surprised by the power of the storm, he said. I only know that they went flat with the mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes, he said, adding that the storm was very violent, very intense, bringing in a lot of water and I think a turning system like a tornado. Did the worlds largest aluminium mast have anything to do with the sinking? The Bayesian has one of the largest masts in the world ( EPA ) The Bayesian was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 with a 75m (246ft) mast which it claims is the tallest aluminium mast in the world. Scott Painter, who took over Lynchs multi-billion dollar software company called Autonomy, founded in 1996, said Lynchs yacht may have been more vulnerable due to the mast. The mast was the ultimate sailors bragging right, Painter told the outlet. That mast mustve been over 240 feet tall, which is either the tallest or second tallest in the world. He added: That could certainly contribute to a capsize as it would destabilize the yacht. And if it were to lean over too far, it could absolutely capsize the yacht. Captain Borner said: If the mast had been broken they wouldnt have capsized. Would a lightning shock wave damage the mast? Colonel Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Forces Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said the agency had registered intense lightning activity and strong gusts of wind in the area. The Bayesian had one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world, according to its builder, Perini Navi. Having a tall aluminium mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm, said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology told the Politecnico di Milano. The type of intensity unleashed by a violent lightning storm could have created a significant shock wave, he added. Was the Bayesian keel retractable and was it down? The Bayesian had a retractable keel, a fin-like apparatus under the hull that helps stabilise boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. It is not known whether it was down at the time of the vicious storm. Both Ratti and Mattioni questioned whether the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, reducing the vessels depth under water and making it less stable. Ratti said strong winds might have caused the boat to start oscillating wildly, like a pendulum, putting exceptional strain on the mast. Divers have only ten minutes to investigate boat ( Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty I ) Was the the Bayesian properly anchored? Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy commander and defence commentator, told CBC News that a mast the size of the Bayesians is designed for a massive sail, and without that sail raised and catching the wind, the gusts likely wouldve had a negligible impact on the aluminum pole. He instead suggested the anchor may have played a pivotal role. My kind of working assumption is that she was probably a bit further in at anchor, and its very likely, in these sort of conditions, that her anchor dragged, he said. He added the 10-strong crew was better off steering toward the anchor to stabilise the yacht or even raising the anchor and steering into the open Meditteranean to ride out the storm. They might have got caught in that middle ground where theyre not on a particularly good anchorage but the anchor is now controlling the bow of the ship, he posted. Prosecutors have said their investigation will take time, and will require the wreck to be pulled up from the sea bed. Just under 10 weeks ago, 59-year-old Mike Lynch was on trial in San Francisco on 17 charges of fraud. He was almost guaranteed to receive a 25-year sentence. He was terrified that he would die in a US prison, not because he was guilty he had spent 30m on legal fees arguing his innocence but because its almost unheard of in the US to win a case against the US Justice Department. His chances of winning were put at 0.5 per cent. However, after 13 years of putting together detailed evidence to support his plea, he was acquitted and it felt like a miracle. Once back in the UK, Lynch set about celebrating what he called his second life. Through tears, he told one interviewer how even the traffic in London seemed magical. Im just thinking this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, he said. This month, the tech tycoon took his family, friends and lawyers for further celebrations on a Mediterranean cruise aboard his luxury sailboat. It sank in a freak violent squall in the small hours of Monday. His body was discovered on Wednesday, alongside five others recovered from the sunken Bayesian superyacht with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah still reported missing. The chance of such a yacht being knocked flat by a weather event while anchored was minuscule because it had simply never happened before. Sailing expert Stewart Campbell, editor-in-chief of Boat International, said on Newsnight: Ive been speaking to a lot [of people in] the industry today and they are as shocked as me and just in utter disbelief that this could happen. As if beating infinitesimal odds twice in a few weeks wasnt freakish enough, it has since emerged that Lynchs co-defendant in the US trial, his companys former vice-president of finance Stephen Chamberlain, was killed by a car on Saturday while out running in Cambridgeshire. The chance of both defendants dying within weeks of the trial, are beyond absurd. The combination of all three events is beyond crazy. Although it is all bound to be a cluster of coincidences, both lucky and tragic, there will doubtless be X-Files-like conspiracy theories about the affair for years to come. The ultimate irony, however, is that the Essex-born academic, technology business innovator and tycoon, prime ministerial adviser and general member of the great and good was also one of the worlds leading authorities on probability theory. Were Lynchs story not true, anyone who went to Netflix with a dramatisation of it would probably be shown the door for being ludicrously improbable. Specifically, Lynch was a proponent and teacher at his alma mater Cambridge University of Bayesian mathematics. Indeed, he named his boat after the theory of Thomas Bayes, an 18th-century statistician and Presbyterian minister in Tunbridge Wells. Bayesian maths embraces the idea that predictions of unusual outcomes freak weather events for one cant be made accurately using a conventional fixed framework of information. Instead, they have to be constantly updated with fresh data on how a situation develops. Bayesian maths is also the basis of the current boom in artificial intelligence, in which Mike Lynch was a pioneer. Emergency services search for a missing boat in Porticello, southern Italy ( AP ) Dubbed the British Bill Gates, Lynch sounds to many like a major-league nerd (possibly lucky not to be serving some serious prison time). However, I can vouch for a very different Lynch. Id been in touch with him since 2016 and found him not just almost alarmingly straightforward and honest, but very amusing, extraordinarily erudite in everything from technology to classical cultures, and unexpectedly unorthodox in his views on science. This is how I came to be in his Pall Mall office eight years ago for a sparkling one-to-one meeting-cum-tutorial on the subject of not technology, not his already mounting legal problems but dogs. Mike Lynch had contacted me about a column I wrote for many years in the Financial Times. He knew that I was interested in fringe science I once wrote a book on Uri Geller and that wed been at the same Essex school but hadnt known each other at the time. Lynch therefore decided that I was the person to talk to about helping him set up a research project into the sixth sense of dogs. It was a subject that fascinated him. Lynch explained that he was convinced dogs have a hitherto unexplained sixth sense that they really do know things without conventional sensual input. For example, they seem to know if youre on your way home, even if youre miles away. Ive done this informal experiment many times, he told me. Ill get on a train in London for our house in Suffolk and at that exact second, they will get excited. My wife and I have ruled out as many possible clues as we can. Shell note the moment they start barking and it will match up with me stepping onto the train. Mike Lynch was extradited last summer to face a US criminal fraud trial but he was ultimately cleared ( Reuters ) The problem was, he went on to explain, that the experimental work that had been done in this area was flawed. For his next big project, he wanted to fund some proper, rigorous, incontestable research. Im not a parapsychologist or a paranormalist, he told me. I dont believe in auras or energies or anything weird. Im firmly entrenched in science, and I know this is controversial, but theres an effect out there that needs explaining. As a first step, he wanted me to write a column inviting people to describe their experiences with dogs sixth sense, and then help him launch a dedicated website for them to post their accounts. That way we build a database of supposedly psychic dogs to work with. We discussed possible names for the website, and how wed get together to discuss the next step. He was about to go off with David Cameron on a trade mission, I was living in New York at the time, so diaries needed coordinating. He wasnt what I had expected, but I found him fascinating, especially as he rattled through his theories further for nearly 90 minutes. He was an inspiring teacher with a big brain and was patient when I lagged behind, or got the wrong end of the stick. Dogs are incredibly good at reading peoples emotions, he said. The key thing is that dogs are unusual among creatures in that they have mirror neurons, which are very important. These are the neurons in the brain that put you in someone elses shoes. If I hit my hand with a hammer, youll wince. Its the basis of empathy. Were Lynchs story not true, anyone who went to Netflix with a dramatisation of it would probably be shown the door for being ludicrously improbable This makes it possible for children around two and a half to learn to lie. Deceit is fascinating because to be deceitful, you have to realise that not everyone has the same information you have. So its a major step and a highly intelligent function. Dogs run a model in their mind of what its like to be you, or another dog. This is how they become pack animals. This, he admitted, was all traditional science. The big question, he wanted to know the answer to, was whether there was something beyond that and, a sort of realm that you cant explain. You have to have a good understanding above all of probability the probability that this or that effect is explicable using known science. This is why its about time that the experiment was redone properly, so we can find out whether there are dogs that can actually produce a statistically meaningful outcome. Being a world authority in mathematical theory, Lynch was reassuring that he was totally a believer in the scientific method, but he wanted me to bear in mind that the mammalian brain is the most complex item in the known universe too. So the idea that we would understand everything about it sounds arrogant, he insisted. I want sceptics to be all over the study even though they might not want to believe it. He said this way he could show or not that dogs are Bayesian calculators. Bayesian logic is kind of magical thinking in a way because its so much more subtle and complex than classical logic. What dogs do in their Bayesian way is use intuition see data in a different way. But this is not magic, its science and its going to lead a few years from now to astonishing developments in AI. This leap to AI eight years ago from the dry theories of a long-dead clergyman wasnt surprising. Lynch had the type of brain that was always ahead of its time. The tycoon outside a federal court in San Francisco in March this year ( AP ) Regarded by many in both academia and business as a tech genius, its why in 2011 his technology company, Autonomy, sold for $11.7bn to the fading computer giant HP. It was HP who seem to have suffered buyers regret later and started blaming Lynch and his team incorrectly for fiddling the books. For a hard-headed academic his view of intuition made sense in terms of data processing and how we predict things happening. He was adamant that hunches, gut feeling, intuition were all sophisticated measures by which decisions are taken, not boring spreadsheets. This is why big companies make such bad decisions. The danger of analysis drives me nuts but Ive had to learn this. He recounted a story from the past when a posh dreamer came to him with a great idea to download music over the internet. Lynch said he spent a long time explaining to him why his vision wouldnt work. That it would take four days to download a single over the internet and the disc to store it on would cost the same as the average house. Reflecting on his response, he said: Of course, what I should have done is said all of that and then gone away and plotted the cost of disc drives and realised he could be on to something. But the over-analysis stopped it happening and I missed out. Mike Lynchs dog project never happened. My interview with him never ran thanks to the question mark over him with the, as then, unsettled court case. Thats really sad, he emailed me after I told him. But thanks for trying. He seemed truly upset. We stayed in touch throughout the trial, and were still discussing the Ultimate Dogs Experiment while he was in San Francisco in the run-up to the trial and the court case itself. As the judge proved, I wasnt the only person to find Lynch convincing and exuding both character and integrity. I discussed the whole, heart-rending story yesterday with a medical consultant friend from school who had been following his travails. We agreed that this latest tragic twist in his incredible story, feels as improbable as it does just desperately sad. Bayesian maths is used extensively in forecasting probable weather, so what are the odds against a boat called Bayesian being capsized by a tornado/waterspout in the Mediterranean? Smart arse question, sorry, my friend wrote back, But with all the money in the world, why does an expert on predicting natural events sleep with friends and family on a boat when the weather is so awful? Unfortunately, we will probably never know. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Workers will soon be able to ignore work-related emails and calls outside office hours under new rules to be introduced by the Labour government. Meeting the partys right to switch off campaign pledge, the plan will see workers empowered to disconnect from their jobs outside regular hours, including the right to refuse to take on extra work at the weekends. The plan has received renewed backing from Keir Starmer this week, with the prime ministers deputy spokesperson saying: This is about ensuring people have some time to rest. Good employers understand that for workers to stay motivated and productive they do need to be able to switch off, and a culture presenteeism can be damaging to productivity. The plans are expected to cover workers annual leave, meaning bosses would not be allowed to ask employees to carry out work-related tasks while on holiday. They will come as part of the governments Plan to Make Work Pay, thought to be spearheaded by new deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. Other measures in the package were outlined during the Kings Speech in July. They include banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, ending fire and rehire, and making sick pay available from day one of any job. The new plans are thought to be spearheaded by new deputy prime minister Angela Rayner ( PA Wire ) Unlike those measures, however, the right to switch off will not be enshrined in law. Instead, it will likely be recommended in the codes of practice for businesses. The Trades Union Congress general secretary Paul Nowak said: No one should be pushed to the brink because of their job. Ever-increasing hours, pace and expectations at work are causing problems up and down the country. This is a recipe for burnt-out Britain. So we welcome these measures to tackle work intensity. Introducing a right to switch off will let workers properly disconnect outside of working hours. The policy is popular among voters, with a recent Savanta poll finding 69 per cent supported the right to switch off outside of working hours. In the UK, there is no currently no official right to disconnect from work, but employers can implement their own policies. Current legislation states that a working week should be no more than 48 hours on average, calculated over a 17-week period. However, if a boss wants to contact their employee outside of these hours, they can. In theory, they can also pressure them to respond or take on additional work without being sanctioned. Labour said the policy will ensure that working from home does not become homes turning into 24/7 offices, adding that it is inspired by models in Ireland and Belgium. The code of practice for employers in Ireland gives workers the right not to be regularly required to perform work duties outside normal hours or to be penalised for refusing to do so. The right to disconnect in Belgium is set in law for all public sector workers and those employed by businesses with at least 20 employees. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner at 10 Downing Street (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA) ( PA Wire ) Will Stronge, director of The Autonomy Institute think tank and author of Overtime, said: These kinds of things are really important steps to put boundaries on the working day. There should be much more strict limits to when the working day finishes, given that in today's world of remote work, there is often blurring between work and life: answering 'just one more email' and so on. The conversation around work-life balance is really important in this country. Were seeing a huge health epidemic around overwork, workload stress and anxiety. However, the director also said the effectiveness of the policy will come down to the detail, adding he would like to see a stricter version of the policy like the one that is in place in France. Under French laws, it is illegal for an employer to reprimand a worker for not responding to out-of-hours calls and the offence can carry a fine. British firm Rentokil was fined 60,000 by a French court in 2021 for failing to respect the right to disconnect of an employee based in the country. It was the first fine under the law which came into place in 2016. The statutory workers rights laid out in the Kings Speech are expected to come into place in spring, with the new right to switch off likely to come around the same time. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It was supposed to be a summer celebration. British tech tycoon Mike Lynch had gathered his tried and trusted lawyers who had been with him every step of the way helping him emerge unscathed from a gruelling 13-year legal battle. Twelve guests had flown into the picturesque Italian port of Porticello, near Palermo from the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, to mark the end of the fraud trial that had consumed much of their lives. But now a manslaughter investigation has been launched as Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who died after the vessel capsized during bad weather in the early hours of Monday morning. The yacht Bayesian (left), before it sank (Fabio La Bianca) ( PA Media ) Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died. Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. The group had been welcomed on board the six luxurious suites of Bayesian, a 56-metre-long 30 million superyacht, by the ten crew. Boasting the tallest aluminium mast in the world - higher than Nelsons Column - experts now speculate it may have caused her to topple and become pinned underwater in an unpredictable, ferocious storm. The ship was named after the statistical method, the Bayesian inference, an 18th-century theory that helps forecasters predict outcomes more reliably. Mr Lynch based his entire PHD thesis around it, later amassing his huge fortune after selling his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011. He had improbably beaten the odds in a bitter US legal dispute with the technology giant, convincing a jury that he was not guilty of claims of massive fraud after a long legal fight that finally came to an end in June. Two months ago he emerged from court with tears in his eyes a free man he pledged to restructure extradition laws that brought him to the US in cuffs. Mike Lynch is one of six missing tourists after the Bayesian luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Sicily ( PA Archive ) Disaster struck at around 5am when a freak tornado over the sea known as a waterspout rocked the superyacht, according to Sicilys civil protection agency. The crew fired off disaster flares causing local fishermen and others to navigate the storm to come to the aid of survivors. Recommended NYC lawyer who died in yacht disaster wrote haunting LinkedIn post weeks before The captain of a nearby boat said that when the winds surged, he had turned on the engine to keep control of his vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian, which had been anchored alongside him. We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone, Karsten Borner said. (PA Graphics) ( PA Graphics ) The other boat went flat on the water, and then down, he added. He said his crew then found some of the survivors on a life raft and took them on board before the coast guard picked them up. This included a one-year-old girl named Sophie one of the 16 survivors, so far. Her mother, Charlotte Golunski, 36, told how she battled to keep her child above the dark and raging Mediterranean while calling for help amid the awful piercing screams of other struggling guests and crew. Captain Karsten Borner rescued the survivors ( REUTERS ) For two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately held her again in the fury of the waves, she told Giornale di Sicilia. I held her tightly, tightly to me, while the sea was raging. So many were screaming. Fortunately, the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on it. This left six passengers unaccounted for - Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Morgan Stanley International non-executive chairman Jonathan Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and their wives Judy and Neda. The worn-out Captain of the yacht, James Catfield said simply: We didnt see it coming. Divers try to reach the wreck in a crucial 24 hours ( EPA ) The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude, a coast guard official in the Sicilian capital Palermo said the next day. Local fisherman Giuseppe Cefalu told how he saw a tornado close to the port on Monday morning. Mr Cefalu said he and his brother Fabio saw a flare in the sky at around 5am. The pair aided efforts to locate people in the water after the yacht vanished beneath the waves, but Mr Cefalu said he only saw cushions and a buoy. He said weather conditions on the morning of the sinking were fierce, with very strong wind and rain. The Bayesians huge mast may have contributed to the disaster experts believe ( EPA ) The luxury superyacht is practically intact on the seabed despite sinking, Marco Tilotta, a firefighter diver from Palermo, has told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. He said in an interview that the multi-million yacht was lying on its side at a depth of 48 metres, but that divers were unable to gain access because of floating furnishings and other debris inside the yacht. The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel, which was lying 49 metres deep, Salvatore Cocina, head of civil protection in Sicily, added. The biggest difficulty we have is due to the depth, which does not allow long times of intervention, fire department diver Marco Tilotta told reporters. We plan ... to search centimetre by centimetre. Now they enter a critical 24 hours according to Nick Sloane, a lead diver in the Costa Concordia wreck. He told Sky News that survivors might be trapped in air pockets inside the ship, but that time is running out fast to rescue them. Theyve got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued. If the yacht is on its side, it might have more air pockets than if its upright. Shes got quite a large keel, and that will deflect and put her on her side, Im sure. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Supermarket chain Waitrose has revealed it will open 100 new convenience stores across the UK over the next five years as part of a 1bn investment drive. The funding will also go towards refurbishing exisiting shops, with the plans unveiled at an ugraded store in Finchley Road, north London. New stores will begin popping up by the end of the year, the retailer says, with the first set to open in Hampton Hill, west London, by the end of 2024. It will mark their first new opening in six years. Four of the new stores will reportedly be larger ones, while 100 will be Little Waitrose locations. Waitrose executive director, James Bailey, said the new stores will feature more of what people expect from us and love such as counters, unequalled service and a lot more fresh food. The business says the investment will see stores upgrading their service counters at a time when many food retailers are removing theirs. They point out the success theyve had, with 12 percent of counter-bought Parmesan sales coming from the Finchley Road store. Waitrose will always offer fantastic food, but the groundwork we have undertaken behind the scenes in recent years means we can now focus on growth through new shops and ensuring our existing ones are providing great shopping experiences that match the quality of our products, said Mr Bailey. The counter at Waitroses Finchley Road store ( Paul Grover / Waitrose ) The move comes at a time when Waitrose begins to regain market share, recording its strongest growth since November 2023 in the three months to August 4. Its thought competition from rival Marks & Spencer and shoppers seeking cheaper options during the cost of living crisis both impacted the business. The supermarket chain has not revealed where it will be opening most of its new stores, but does say the second will also be located in Greater London, putting it alongside the majority of their locations. However, the business says the expansion will look to reach more customers having served a record 15 million last year. At present, most Waitrose stores are located in the south of England, with 54 of around 360 operating inside of London. It has no stores in long stretches of North Yorkshire, the Scottish border, and the north of Scotland. This is far less coverage than rival chain Tesco for instance, which operates in 4,273 locations across the UK. It is also the most expensive supermarket chain, according to the Which? retail watchdog. The groups monthly supermarket price analysis shows that an average Waitrose shop (63 items) would set a buyer back 146.98 29 percent more than cheapest chain Aldi at 113.87. Analysis conducted in recent years says there is a marked Waitrose effect on property value, with a home near one of its chains boosted by as much as 36,000. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man was killed as his own XL Bully dog turned on him at home and attacked. Police shot the animal dead after the attack, saying the animal also posed a threat to other people. David Daintree, 53, died on Tuesday at home at Ashley Court in Accrington, Lancashire Police said, and officers are investigating what happened. They said ambulance crews called police shortly before 9.30pm about a dog attacking someone inside a house. In a statement, the force said: Our officers attended and sadly a man in his 50s was found deceased. He can now be named as David Daintree, 53, who was the owner of the dog and who lived at that address. The dog has since been confirmed to be an XL Bully. As the dog was continuing to pose a significant threat of serious harm, we were left with no alternative but to discharge a police firearm to destroy it and prevent it from causing further injury to more people. ( Getty ) Specially trained officers are supporting Mr Daintrees family, and our thoughts are with them at this time. Owning an XL Bully without an exemption certificate was banned in December. XL Bully dogs have divided opinion. Many people supported the ban introduced last year after a string of attacks by the dogs, some of which have killed people, including a 10-year-old boy in south Wales. Animal-rights organisation Peta supported the ban with exemption certificates. But some dog lovers said the breed was unfairly targeted. The XL is the largest of four types of American Bully, and was cross-bred for fighting, with a muscular body. It can weigh nine stone and has a powerful bite. Supt Marie Jackson, of East Police, said: This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in a man losing his life and my thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information to get in touch. We will have extra officers out and about in the area carrying out enquiries and I would urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to them. Thousands of XL bully owners received exemption certificates before the ban came into force. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Labour will not use its first Budget to scrap the two-child benefit cap, a member of Sir Keir Starmers government has said. Torsten Bell, parliamentary private secretary to the influential Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, predicted the measure would not be repealed in the October 30 statement. The former chief executive of the Resolution Foundation and new MP for Swansea West warned against politicians making undeliverable or unfunded promises. Former Resolution Foundation chief Torsten Bell (right, with Scottish first minister John Swinney) is now Labours MP for Swansea West ( Getty ) Speaking at the Edinburgh Book Festival, Mr Bell said: Youve got to be clear where that moneys coming from and thats what budgets are for and the governments committed to a child poverty strategy. He added: My view is, why dont you let the ministers that are writing your child poverty strategy publish that strategy before you start criticising them? They accept there is a child poverty strategy coming ... not in time for the Budget on 30 October but soon in the months after that, so thats what Ill be looking out for. The two-child benefit cap, imposed by Tory former chancellor George Osborne, prevents parents from claiming benefits for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. Sir Keir had previously called for the policy to be scrapped but has since said Labour cannot fund the move and will not promise to do so until it can say how the change would be paid for. Keir Starmer had previously called for the cap to be lifted ( PA Wire ) He and chancellor Rachel Reeves have faced mounting calls from backbench Labour MPs and campaigners to remove the limit, which would bring 300,000 children people out of poverty and 700,000 more out of deep poverty, according to the Child Poverty Action Group. Mr Bell has called the policy appalling in his book Great Britain? How We Get Our Future Back. Speaking at the festival, he said: Its fine for policy wonks and politicians living on high salaries to debate the finer points of parliamentary procedures and the timing of policies but children in my constituency are living in poverty now. He added that previous Labour governments had always brought down childhood poverty, though adding it had not happened on a wide enough scale. Zarah Sultana has had the Labour whip suspended for voting to scrap the two-child limit ( ITV ) Labour has also come under intense pressure from the SNP over the two-child limit, with the Scottish Nationalists forcing an early rebellion against Sir Keir on the issue. After voting on an SNP-led amendment to his first Kings Speech to scrap the cap, seven Labour MPs had the whip suspended. The prime minister removed the whip from longstanding figures including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and left-winger Zarah Sultana. SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said: At every opportunity so far, Labour has failed to scrap the two-child limit which would lift thousands of children out of poverty immediately, and it now seems they are preparing to scupper the next opportunity to do the right thing it is shameful. The US presidential election system produces some strange results. In 2000, George W Bush won despite polling half a million fewer votes than Al Gore. In 2016, Donald Trump won with 63 million votes against Hillary Clinton with 66 million. The system is a hangover from 18th-century delegate democracy and also, crucially, from the origin of the US as a federation of states that jealously guarded their rights. Because states rights are involved particularly the right of smaller states to greater representation the system is unlikely ever to be changed. What is the electoral college? US presidents are chosen by an electoral college, which in the old days was an actual meeting of delegates from each state. So when Americans vote in presidential elections, they are not voting for their candidates, but to instruct an elector to vote for their candidates for president and vice-president. Each state has the same number of electors as they have members of Congress: that is, two senators and a number of members of the House of Representatives allocated according to population (as recorded in the 2020 census). This means that the smallest states, with just one congressional district, have three electors (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming), while the most populous state, California, will have 54 in this election. Since the 23rd amendment to the US constitution in 1961, Washington DC has three electors, even though it doesnt have any senators and its member of the House of Representatives cannot vote. How do the numbers add up? In total there are 538 electoral college votes (hence the name of the popular opinion polling website), and a candidate needs a majority, 270, to win. All but two states cast their votes as a block that is, all the electoral college votes of that state are cast for the candidates with the most votes in that state. The exceptions are Maine and Nebraska, which allocate two votes to the most popular presidential ticket in the state, and divide the rest in proportion to the votes received. Because most states are either strongly Democrat or Republican, and are the equivalent of safe seats in the British system, presidential elections tend to be decided by a small number of swing states. The common view among pollsters is that there are seven swing states in this election, where the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is too close to call: Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina. (My personal rule of thumb is that if Harris wins the first three, she will win; if she loses one of them she will need at least one of the rest to make up.) What happens if there is a tie? It is possible for the electoral college to be tied 269-269. In that case, the 12th amendment of the US constitution requires the House of Representatives to decide the election. However, the vote would be conducted in an unusual way, with each state having one vote, so the representatives for each state have to decide how to cast their states vote. Given that the Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, and that smaller states tend to be Republican, it would seem that a tie would result in a comfortable victory for Trump. The consolation for the Democrats would be that, in the case of a tie, the constitution requires the vice-president to be chosen by the Senate, where they currently have a majority of one. So Tim Walz could get to be Trumps vice-president. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Government borrowing surged by more than expected in July in a blow to Rachel Reeves as she prepares to deliver her first Budget. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing stood at 3.1bn last month, 1.8bn more than a year ago and the highest July borrowing since 2021. The total for July was 3bn more than predicted by Britains official forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and higher than the 1.1bn most economists were pencilling in. Rachel Reeves is planning to raise taxes and cut spending in Octobers budget ( Getty ) Borrowing in the financial year from the end of March to July was 51.4bn, 500m less than in the same four-month period a year earlier, but the fourth highest year-to-July borrowing since monthly records began in January 1993, the ONS said. It comes after the new chancellor last month accused the previous Conservative government of leaving a 21.9bn black hole in the public finances, through unfunded commitments that she said it had covered up. Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: Todays figures are yet more proof of the dire inheritance left to us by the previous government. A 22bn black hole in the public finances this year, a decade of economic stagnation and public debt at its highest level since the 1960s, with taxpayers money being wasted on debt interest payments rather than on our public services. Darren Jones said the figures were more proof of the dire inheritance left to us by the previous government ( Getty ) And Jessica Barnaby, deputy director for public sector finances at the ONS, said: July borrowing was almost 2bn higher this year than in 2023. Revenue was up on last year, with income tax receipts in particular growing strongly. However, this was more than offset by a rise in central government spending where, despite a reduction in debt interest, the cost of public services and benefits continued to increase." The setback came as it emerged the chancellor is planning to use her 30 October budget to raise taxes and cut spending, while also clamping down on benefit claimants to reduce the welfare bill. The chancellor has already announced plans to scrap winter fuel payments for most pensioners, shelved planned social care reforms and cut some road, rail and hospital investments to lower government borrowing. But the Treasury is pointing to further measures in the October budget to balance the books. A source told The Guardian: We dont accept the positive economic inheritance line, given the decade that went before but regardless, nothing in the recent data can offset the scale of the black hole in the public finances were looking at. Rachel Reeves accused her predecessor Jeremy Hunt of leaving a 22bn hole in the public finances ( Reuters ) Weeks after taking over as chancellor, Ms Reeves accused the previous government of a cover-up of the state of the nations finances, and also took the axe to Rishi Sunaks legacy, scrapping his Advanced British Standard qualification saving 260m in the process and his plans to reopen railways, to be paid for out of High Speed 2 savings. In a bid to plug the 22bn hole she identified in the public finances, Ms Reeves warned there would be further difficult decisions in her first budget on top of the cuts this year and next. The influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said Wednesdays borrowing figures showed the government was facing pressures well and above what was budgeted for. IFS senior research economist Isabel Stockton said: The early signs are that better-than-expected growth figures wont be enough to save Rachel Reeves from tough choices in her first Budget on 30 October. The combination of in-year spending pressures identified at last months spending audit and the ongoing, and well-known, pressures facing many public services suggest that the accompanying spending review for 2025-26 could be a particularly difficult exercise. But the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) warned against deep public spending cuts in October. Director of taxation Alison Ring said: Rumours that the government is looking at significant cuts in public investment programmes this year to keep within budget are concerning, given the importance to economic growth of infrastructure and the urgent need for upfront investment in technology to fix poorly performing public services. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Yvette Cooper is facing backlash over plans to reopen two troubled detention centres as part of a crackdown on immigration. On Wednesday, the home secretary announced a series of measures aimed at tackling illegal migration and improving border security, including a pledge to return the number of failed asylum seekers sent back to their home countries to 2018 levels over the next six months, meaning more than 14,000 deportations by the end of the year. However, the 14,000 figure is far lower than the 45,000 returned in 2010 under the former Labour government and less than the 19,000 migrants who have arrived in Britain by crossing the Channel in small boats so far this year. The government also revealed plans to increase detention capacity with 290 beds at two immigration removal centres, Campsfield in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire. But these plans are being criticised as a backwards step as both sites were plagued with problems before they shut in 2019 and 2015 respectively, including hunger strikes and suicides. Critics say the plans are a waste of taxpayer money, lack detail and fail to recognise the dignity and humanity of migrants, especially in the wake of recent racist riots that targeted hotels housing asylum seekers across the country. The home secretary Yvette Cooper has been accused of failing to get a grip on the issue ( PA Wire ) Amnesty Internationals refugee and migrant rights programme director Steve Valdez-Symonds accused Labour of reheating the Conservative governments rhetoric around border security. People in urgent need including those fleeing war and persecution in places like Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria and Iran will keep coming to the UK and other countries, and the government needs to establish safe routes that reduce the perils of dangerous border crossings and the risk of exploitation by ruthless smuggling gangs, he said. This securitised approach to asylum and immigration will simply deter and punish many of the people most in need of crossing borders, people who are therefore often most vulnerable to criminal exploitation. Dr Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at the Migration Observatory, told The Independent that Ms Coopers announcement lacked the detail required to know how the government plans to increase the removal of failed asylum seekers. There are different challenges the government faces in returning unsuccessful asylum seekers, he said. Some may raise legal challenges against their removal, such as if they have formed family ties in the UK. A number of unsuccessful asylum seekers also come from countries to which we have recently struggled to return asylum seekers, such as Iraq and Iran. Some countries of origin may refuse to take back their own citizens. How exactly the government plans to deal with these challenges remains, for the time being, unclear. The home secretary committed to opening beds at immigration removal centres that had previously been closed, including at Campsfield, near Oxford ( PA Archive ) He said the government is not working against a particularly high bar with its target to return to 2018 levels, when there were just 24,928 removals. Under the last Labour government in 2010, there were 45,690 returns of failed asylum seekers, Migration Observatory figures show. Tory leadership contender and shadow home secretary James Cleverly said Labour needed to offer a credible solution that will cut immigration and stop the boats. Mr Cleverly said: Labour clearly aren't serious about tackling the people smugglers or stopping the boats. While more NCA resource and detention capacity is welcome, this is not nearly ambitious enough. Paired with their moves to cancel our deterrent, give an effective amnesty to thousands of illegal migrants, and failure to hire a head of their phantom border command, it doesn't scratch the surface. Shadow home secretary James Cleverly urged ministers to be more ambitious with their plans to drive down cross-Channel migration ( PA Wire ) And Enver Solomon, chief executive of charity the Refugee Council, said the government is wasting taxpayers money on expanding detention places. Instead, the government should be investing in what are called voluntary returns programmes, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. If you treat people with respect, humanity, and support them to return, many more people return. Two-thirds of people who have their asylum claims rejected return voluntarily. The government should be supporting them in the community to return and not building more detention places. Home Office figures showed 206 migrants crossed the English Channel in three boats on Monday, which has taken the 2024 provisional total crossings to 19,294. This is a 10 per cent increase on the figure recorded last year, which was 17,620 though the latest figure is 10 per cent down on 2022, when 21,344 crossings were recorded in the same period. The UK was rocked by anti-immigration protests, with hotels housing asylum seekers targeted ( PA Wire ) As well as pressing ahead with the previous governments plans to reopen immigration removal centres, the government will boost staffing at the National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK-wide body which has around 70 active investigations into people smuggling and trafficking groups. Ms Cooper also promised new officials as part of the Border Security Command would work with European enforcement agencies to find every route to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which undermine our border security and put lives at risk. She also fleshed out plans for the Border Security Command, promising up to 100 new specialists working on around 70 NCA investigations into smuggling and trafficking networks. On Tuesday night, she said Labours Border Security Command, aimed at stopping migrants travelling to the UK over the Channel in the first place, is gearing up. We are taking strong and clear steps to boost our border security and ensure the rules are respected and enforced, the home secretary said. Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe, working with European enforcement agencies to find every route in to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which undermine our border security and putting lives at risk. And by increasing enforcement capabilities and returns, we will establish a system that is better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 55 protesters were arrested following violent clashes with police in Chicago on the second night of the Democratic National Convention, a situation the city's police chief called a danger to our city. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Wednesday that those arrested outside the Israeli Consulate, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the United Center where Democrats were meeting, showed up with the intention of committing acts of violence, vandalism. As the Chicago Police Department, we did everything that we could to de-escalate that situation," Snelling said during a news conference. "But theres only so much de-escalation that you can attempt before it becomes excessive repetition. The intense confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and officers began minutes into the demonstration, after some protesters many dressed in black, their faces covered charged at a line of police that had blocked their march. They eventually moved past the officers but were penned in several times throughout the night by police in riot gear who did not allow protesters to disperse. Snelling said protesters showed up to "fight with the police"." We were not the initiators of violence, but we responded to it," Snelling said. He said between 55 and 60 people were arrested. Two people were taken to the hospital, one for knee pain and one with a finger injury, Snelling said. Two officers were injured but they refused medical attention because they did not want to leave fellow officers, Snelling said. He said three journalists were among those arrested. Last night was a danger to our city and a danger to our citizens in this city, our residents property. And CPD has to protect that, Snelling said. The Israeli Consulate has been the site of numerous demonstrations since the war in Gaza began in October. The group behind the protest Tuesday night is not affiliated with a coalition of more than 200 groups that has organized permitted rallies and marches one that took place Monday and another expected Thursday. On Tuesday night, organizers rallied demonstrators under the slogan Make it great like 68, invoking the anti-Vietnam War protests that seized the city during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. That was what they brought here to Chicago, Snelling said. Its 2024. And the Chicago Police Department proved that. So lets get off of 1968. Lets stop talking about 1968. This is 2024." A large portion of the arrests happened at the end of the night, as police pinned the remaining demonstrators in a plaza and blocked them from leaving. Snelling denied that police had kettled protesters, a tactic that involves corralling people in a confined area, which is banned under a federal consent decree. Snelling, who has been present at all major demonstrations so far during the convention, praised his officers and called the response proportional. "I could not be more proud of the work that the men and women of this department are doing right now to keep this city safe, he said. Protests so far have largely been focused on opposing the Israel-Hamas war. More marches and rallies are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, the final two days of the convention. One rally organized by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, a Palestinian and Arab community-based organization, is planned for Wednesday afternoon near the United Center. The largest protest so far, which attracted about 3,500 people on Monday, was largely peaceful and resulted in 13 arrests, most related to a breach of security fencing. Two were arrested Sunday night during another mostly peaceful march. Also on Wednesday, a man who escaped from a Mississippi courthouse and is wanted on murder and armed robbery charges was taken into custody following a standoff with police at a restaurant about half a mile from the United Center. There was no indication that he had any connection to the convention. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Argentina quarantined a cargo ship over the first suspected case of mpox on the vessel, as an outbreak of a new fast-spreading variant triggered a global public health alert. The Liberian-flagged ship raised the alert after one of its crew members of Indian nationality showed cyst-like skin lesions predominantly on the chest and face", the health ministry said. The health authorities in the country have activated a public emergency protocol and quarantined the ship with crew members not allowed to deboard. Medical personnel will be the only ones allowed to board the ship and inspect the crew member for the symptoms of mpox, it said. If the symptoms are similar to mpox, the medical team will take samples and conduct tests. The crew will remain in quarantine in the Parana River until the results of the tests are available. The quarantined vessel named Ina-Lotte arrived from Santos, Brazil also a major commodities hub to pick up soy cargo, according to the health ministry and industry body the Argentine Naval League. WHO has declared mpox a global health emergency ( REUTERS ) It was bound for the San Lorenzo port in the Santa Fe province where it had to drop anchor in the river. It comes a week after the World Health Organisation declared mpox a global health emergency over deaths from a deadlier strain of the virus clade 1b which spreads more easily through routine close contact. Around 13 countries have reported mpox cases this year with more than 17,000 cases confirmed and 571 deaths in Africa this year alone. The WHOs highest form of alert, for the second time in two years, came after an outbreak of the disease accounting for more than 96 per cent of fatalities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN health agency recommends several vaccines for use against mpox ( REUTERS ) Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has two types, Clade 1 and Clade 2. Clade 2 caused a public health emergency in 2022 but was deemed relatively mild. Clade 1 has a high fatality rate and a mutant strain of it, called Clade 1b, has spread rapidly. Pakistan, Sweden and the Philippines are the countries that have declared mpox cases apart from a number of African nations. The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, leads to flu-like symptoms along with pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can prove fatal to people with weakened immune systems, such as those with existing diseases. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Brazilian woman has been arrested in connection with the murder of an American businessman who went on holiday to Rio de Janeiro earlier this month. Leticia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, was arrested on Monday. Police suspect she robbed and murdered Dwayne Antonio Morris, 43, in a Copacabana apartment, according to Metropoles, a Brazilian online newspaper. Officials discovered the mans body on August 8 after he arrived in the country the previous day. Its thought that da Silva, along with another unidentified woman, drugged Morris and his friend with GHB, a depressant before robbing them. The drug caused Morris to convulse and foam at the mouth, the outlet reported. The drug can lead to loss of consciousness and respiratory depression if its taken in large doses, potentially resulting in death. Such crimes are called Goodnight Cinderella scams in Brazil. Officials said that Morris and his friend, who survived the attack, met da Silva while out at a bar in the citys Lapa neighborhood. Morris and the two women then went to an apartment Morris had rented during his stay. The friend began to feel unwell and went to another location when he encountered police. He told them he felt dizzy and unwell, the outlet reported. Dwayne Antonio Morris, 43, died after a Brazilian woman drugged him to death in a Goodnight Cinderella scheme, cops say ( Tamatha Richman/Facebook ) Meanwhile, Morris and the women arrived at the apartment past midnight. Two hours later, they were spotted on surveillance footage leaving the apartment in a black vehicle. Da Silvas criminal record stated that she had been accused of similar crimes in the past. She was sentenced to temporary detention on Monday and taken into the countrys prison system. Police are asking for the publics help to identify the other person involved. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family for their loss and stand ready to provide consular assistance, The US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro said, according to the New York Post. We are closely monitoring local authorities investigations regarding the cause of death. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment. Morriss LinkedIn states he was the president of Blue Waters Consulting based in Minnesota. Tamatha Richman, Morris significant other, started a GoFundMe to help with the costs of repatriation, funeral expenses and support for her family as they grieve the mans loss. She said the family intends to bury him in Jamaica in his familys land. So far, it has raised $30,000 out of a $50,000 goal. DWayne was a kind, adventurous spirit who brought joy to everyone around him, Richman wrote. He touched the lives of so many. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, are making a final push for his trial to be moved, arguing that a mob mentality has formed against him in Latah County. Residents of the county who were surveyed by the defense said there would be riots and other violent repercussions if Kohberger was found not guilty, according to a new filing made public on August 20. Kohbergers attorneys cited the inflammatory and threatening remarks in the filing as they once again pushed to move the trial to Ada County, home to Boise, the states capitol, over 300 miles away. Kohberger is set to stand trial in 2025. One resident said that there would likely be a riot and he wouldnt last long, because someone would do the good ole boy justice, according to the filing. Another said theyd burn the courthouse down and that outrage would be a mild description. While one other warned that residents would probably find him and kill him. Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger argue that a mob mentality has formed against him in Latah County and for that reason, his trial should be moved ( Getty ) The mob mentality within the community is the exact reason why the trial should be moved out of Latah County, the defense attorneys stated in the filing. The former Washington State University graduate students lawyers asked in June for the case to be relocated, arguing extensive pre-trial media reporting about the case in the small university town of Moscow, Idaho, meant he would not get a fair trial. But prosecutors said the court should decline to relocate itself, the state, and scores of witnesses hundreds of miles only to face another jury pool with similarly high media exposure. They accused Kohbergers team of using flawed survey data in its requests to move the trial, and that the interest of justice for the victims families would be affected if the case moved elsewhere. Prosecutors proposed keeping the trial in Latah County, but suggested expanding the jury pool from neighboring Nez Perce County. However, the defense argued in the most recent filing that this would not solve the issue because Nez Perce County residents were exposed to the same media coverage that they said was often inaccurate and inflammatory. In 2025, Kohberger will stand trial for the November 2022 murders of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21 ( Instagram ) In the filing, the defense provided answers from a survey they conducted with Ada County residents, which was a stark difference from those in Latah County, as they showed less of an emotional connection to the case. When asked how residents would feel if Kohberger were found not guilty, one responded, they would go on with life as always. Another said: Thats what the jury is for, to decide based on the evidence. If a jury finds him not guilty, then he wasnt guilty. Because they hear the evidence at the trial. The defense also referred to two high-profile capital cases in Idaho that have recently had a venue change, including State v. Lori Vallow and State v. Chad Daybell. Jurors in both cases provided in-depth media interviews post-trial and expressed that the Ada County court staff and marshals provided great infrastructure that made a big difference in their ability to withstand the significant commitment, the defense pointed out in the filing. Another solution offered by the state was the vetting of jurors, but the defense rejected this proposal citing precedent that vetting alone is insufficient to ensure impartiality. The traumatized town of Moscow is understandably filled with deeply held prejudgment opinions of guilt, the defense said as they concluded their argument in the filing. Attorneys for both sides will be back in court on August 29 to present their arguments on the issue. Kohbergers attorney are pushing to move the trial to Ada County, home to Boise, the states capitol, over 300 miles away from Latah County ( REUTERS ) Kohberger, who was a PhD student at Washington State University studying criminology, is charged with murder for the killing of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, who were found stabbed to death at their off-campus house in November 2022. Police linked Kohberger to the murders that rocked the college town through DNA found on a knife sheath, cell phone data, an eyewitness account, and his white Hyundai Elantra. He was arrested six weeks after the murders. In May 2023, Kohberger declined to enter a plea prompting the judge to enter his plea as not guilty on his behalf. Prosecutors have said they will pursue the death penalty at trial. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Minneapolis police officer Thomas Lane has been released from prison two years after he was convicted in the 2020 death of George Floyd. Lane was one of four officers to be convicted in Floyds death which led to nationwide racial justice protests. The 41-year-old was found guilty in 2022 of violating Floyds civil rights. The 46-year-old Black man was handcuffed and restrained as he lay on his stomach for more than nine minutes, telling officers that he couldnt breathe. Lane was only on his fourth day as an officer, CNN noted, and he held down Floyds legs as he was arrested. Another officer, Derek Chauvin, pushed his knee into Floyds neck while Officer Alexander Kueng held down Floyds upper body. Fellow officer Tou Thao kept back witnesses as they grew increasingly upset at the scene. Lane asked twice if they should reposition Floyd and gave Floyd CPR after paramedics had placed him in an ambulance. However, prosecutors said he didnt do enough to help the 46-year-old, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. In July 2022, Lane was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison on the state level later that same year after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. That came after he faced the charge of aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder, but the charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Prosecutors and defense lawyers recommended a 36-month sentence, but a lighter sentence was imposed. Former Minneapolis Police officers Thomas Lane (C) and J. Alexander Keung (R) leave the Hennepin County Family Justice Center after a pre-trial hearing on September 11, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He left prison on Tuesday morning ( Getty Images ) Lane served his sentences concurrently at the Englewood prison in Colorado. The low-security prison has about 1,000 inmates. Hes the first of the four officers to be released. He has a two-year term of supervision imposed through the District of Minnesota, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told CNN. Lane finished his federal sentence in June and stayed in detention to finish his state sentence. He left prison on Tuesday morning. The four officers were all convicted on both federal and state charges in the death of Floyd. In April 2021, Chauvin was found guilty on the state charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 22 and half years behind bars. In November last year, the Supreme Court rejected Chauvins appeal of the sentence. Chauvin subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of violating Floyds civil rights on the federal level. He was sentenced to 21 years to be served concurrently with his state sentence. In November 2023, the ex-officer was stabbed at a federal correctional facility in Arizona. The Bureau of Prisons told CNN that Chauvin was transferred on Tuesday to a low-security prison in Texas. Kueng and Thao were both found guilty by a federal jury of having violated Floyds civil rights. Kueng was sentenced to three years and Thao to three and a half years. On the state level, Kueng pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in December 2022. On the same state charges, Thao was sentenced to almost five years in August last year. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A smuggler was caught trying to move more than $5m worth of meth into California last week by disguising the drugs as watermelons. US Customs and Border Patrol announced on Tuesday that agents intercepted a smuggler on Friday during a secondary inspection at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility at the Otay Mesa crossing. The incident began when a 29-year-old man driving a truck pulled up to the border. When asked what the man was hauling, the said they were watermelons. The CBP agents sent him for a secondary inspection. The watermelons were unloaded from the truck for further inspection. That's when the agents found a few odd looking melons in the load. "Upon careful inspection, officers uncovered 1,220 packages wrapped in paper, disguised as watermelons within the shipment. The contents of the packages were tested and identified as methamphetamine, with a total weight 4587 pounds. The estimated street value of the drugs exceeds $5 million dollars," the CBP wrote in a statement. The driver was handed over to the US Department of Homeland Security for further investigation while the truck and drugs were seized by CBP agents. Plastic containers holding some of the bags disguised as watermelons ( US Customs and Border Patrol ) I am incredibly proud of our team for their exceptional work over the past few weeks in uncovering sophisticated and diverse smuggling methods," Rosa E Hernandez, Port Director for the Area Port of Otay Mesa, said in a statement. "As drug cartels continue to evolve their smuggling techniques, we will continue finding new and better ways to prevent these dangerous drugs and other contraband from entering the country." Agents at the same facility intercepted nearly 630 pounds of meth approximately a week ago. That time, smugglers were trying to hide the drugs in a celery shipment, according to another press release. That shipment was valued at approximately $755,000. Unlike the San Ysidro border, the Otay Mesa crossing typically has less tourist traffic but plenty of commercial and agricultural traffic. The crossing is about 25 minutes east of San Ysidro. Both busts occurred under the agency's Operation Apollo, which it described as a "holistic counter-fentanyl effort" it launched in October. The initiative expanded from California to Arizona in April. Operation Apollo "focuses on intelligence collection and partnerships, and utilizes local CBP field assets augmented by federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to boost resources, increase collaboration, and target the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States," the CBP said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Michigan doctor has been arrested after police accused him of hiding cameras in his office to record nude images of women and children for at least six years. Dr Oumair Aejaz, 40, has been charged with 10 counts, mostly felonies, including child sexually abusive activity; using a computer to create and or reproduce child sexually abusive material; recording children under the age of 18 while nude; recording women over the age of 18 while nude and using a computer to commit a crime. Aejaz is being held on a $2m bond. This is one of the most disturbing sexual predator cases I have seen in my very long career, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard in a news release. He violates literally anyone and everyone he can. From a two-year-old boy to grown women, no one is immune from his disgusting predatory behavior. Violating children in safe spaces as they change for a fun swim or sexually violating women who are still under sedation from a medical procedure shows his depravity has no limits. At the end of this case, it is my fervent hope he is held fully accountable behind bars. Dr Oumair Aejaz, 40, has been arrested for allegedly recording nude images of women and children for at least six years ( Oakland County Sheriff's Office ) Investigators found evidence of Aejaz, who specialized in internal medicine, of using the cameras to record children as young as two and women of varying ages in hospital rooms, changing areas, closets, bathrooms, bedrooms and an area swim club he had access to. Additionally, detectives said Aejaz recorded sexual encounters he had with numerous female hospital patients who were asleep or unconscious. The doctor had privileges as Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc Township and Henry Ford Macomb in Clinton Township but was not on staff at either of the locations. The hospitals are about an hour outside of Detroit. The Independent emailed both the hospital systems for comment. A spokesperson for Henry Ford Health said: We are shocked by these allegations and take them very seriously. This individual has never been an employee of Henry Ford Health but had privileges at several area hospitals, including Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. The safety of our patients and team members is our top priority and we have taken immediate action to prevent him from practicing at our health system. Detectives received a tip about Aejaz on 7 August and began building a case against the man. Authorities arrested him on 8 August while executing a search warrant. Officials found six computers, four cell phones and 15 external storage devices from the mans home. One device had over 13,000 videos police said the man recorded in the last six years. Its thought that it will take officials six months to complete a forensic examination of all the confiscated materials. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen D McDonald announced the charges at a news conference on Tuesday alongside Bouchard. These are children and moms at a swim school, she said. Theyre there to teach their kids to swim. Because that brings their kids joy and because they want their kids to be safe around water. They were victimized by a person of trust in the communityIts more than an invasion of privacy. It robs these moms and kids, and all of us, of a sense of safety we should have when were with our kids at a place like that. Aejaz, an Indian citizen, has been working in the US on a visa. He came to the country around 2011 and did his residency at Detroit Sinai Grace Hospital before moving to Dawson, Alabama. He returned to Oakland County to continue his practice in 2018. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A death row inmate in Missouri is currently fighting for his life as experts say new DNA evidence proves his innocence of a 1998 murder just weeks before he faces execution. Marcellus Williams, 55, was sentenced to death in 2001 for fatally stabbing well-known St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle. On August 11 1998, Gayle was stabbed 43 times with a kitchen knife in a brutal attack in her home in the St. Louis suburb of University City, according to court records. One day after her murder, police seized Williamss car and discovered a St. Louis Post-Dispatch-branded ruler inside. Police later found a laptop belonging to Gayles husband at the home of a man named Glenn Roberts, who claimed that Williams had given it to him. At the time, prosecutors alleged that Williams killed the 42-year-old during a burglary at Gayles home and left the house with a bloodied shirt, her purse and the laptop. At his trial, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Marcellus Williams, 55, was sentenced to death in 2001 for fatally stabbing well-known St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle ( Missouri Department of Corrections ) Now, he is scheduled to be executed on September 24. But, 20 years on from the murder, Williams continues to claim his innocence and is fighting to have his conviction overturned. On Wednesday, Williamss lawyers and St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell are presenting DNA evidence for the first time which they say shows that he could not have been the killer. In a 63-page motion filed by Bell, seen by The New York Times, they argue that Williams was wrongly convicted because the case rested entirely on testimony from two informants Laura Asaro, Williamss former girlfriend, and Henry Cole, a prison inmate who was previously behind bars with Williams and that there is no evidence linking Williams to the crime scene. Specifically, bloody footprints, hair and fingerprints found at the scene do not belong to Williams, the motion says. According to Bell, the murder weapon was tested in 2016 and three DNA experts have said that it cannot be traced back to Williams. Other forensic evidence from the scene also does not link to Williams, the motion says. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey attempted to prevent the hearing persisting that the evidence had already been heard ( AP ) The hearing on Wednesday marks the first time the DNA evidence in the case will be reviewed. While Bell and Williamss attorneys are fighting to prove his innocence, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has sought to quash the legal battle. Last month, Bailey asked both St. Louis County Circuit Court and the State Supreme Court to block the hearing arguing that the court had already heard and denied Williamss claims before and that the State Supreme Court has exclusive authority to review death sentences. The Missouri Supreme Court denied his request, paving the way for the hearing to take place. Williams has previously come close to execution twice, once in 2015 and once in 2017 before they were stayed at the last minute to conduct DNA testing. * Seeking greater efficiency, Zhao Xianchang transitioned into a professional farm machinery operator, offering specialized services to fellow farmers. * Farmers are now taking on roles as farm machinery operators, live streamers and even artists, reflecting the growing specialization and professionalism in the country's rural areas and expanding their skill sets. * From 2019 to 2022, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security added 74 new professions to its list, including e-commerce practitioners and housekeepers, with 13 directly supporting rural revitalization. JINAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- After months of hard work during the peak wheat harvest season, Zhao Xianchang and his son finally have a moment to rest, but their brief respite will be short-lived as they prepare to embark on a new venture. Zhao hails from Zhaojia Village in Weifang, a city in east China's Shandong Province. He bought a small tractor several years ago to ease planting, which eventually led him to establish an agricultural machinery cooperative. Seeking greater efficiency, he transitioned into a professional farm machinery operator, offering specialized services to fellow farmers. The demand for machinery services used to fluctuate seasonally due to single-crop farming, but with the diversification of agriculture, Zhao now sees their machinery in constant use. As agricultural modernization and economic development progress, new professions are emerging in rural China. Farmers are now taking on roles as farm machinery operators, live streamers and even artists, reflecting the growing specialization and professionalism in the country's rural areas and expanding their skill sets. FINANCIAL GAINS Zhao Xichang's son, Zhao Kai, explained that in the spring, they drive rotary tillers to Kaifeng City in central China's Henan Province for plowing and also operate tractors in Weifang to assist vegetable farmers. During the summer, they travel across regions nationwide for over a month, working on wheat harvest. In autumn and winter, they focus on local farming, assisting with the harvest and helping ginger farmers with plowing. As a dedicated farm machinery operator for nearly a decade, Zhao Kai has used five or six combine harvesters, evolving from manual to electronic controls while witnessing the advancement of modern farming in China. "Harvesting 300 mu (20 hectares) of wheat in a single day is now easily achievable, with less grain loss than before, working from 9 a.m. until late at night," Zhao Kai said. In Huanghua Village, Gongzhuling City, in northeast China's Jilin Province, Wang Xiuying stood in a flower greenhouse spanning over 1,000 square meters and introduced clivia online. Facing the camera, he said, "The texture of this orchid's leaves is clear and eye-catching. If you like it, please buy it," as he live-streamed at an e-commerce platform. Now a planter, Wang was once a migrant worker. She is effectively contributing to China's rural revitalization by leveraging modern new media technology in farming. "I sell dozens of potted plants during each live stream," she said. "In peak seasons, I can sell over a hundred pots a day, with buyers from across the country." In recent years, Huanghua has established an e-commerce service station, and several logistics companies have partnered with local flower farmers. Wang's daily routine includes live-streaming in the morning and packaging orders in the afternoon. Each day, delivery personnel from various logistics companies arrive on time to pick up the goods. Wang has amassed over 20,000 social media followers, with nearly a hundred viewers tuning in daily to watch her sell flowers via livestreaming. This has expanded the market for the village's clivia to buyers nationwide. Inspired by her success, many villagers are now venturing into e-commerce livestreaming. Currently, the village has over 100 flower greenhouses, with annual clivia sales revenue exceeding 100 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars), benefiting many households with significant economic gains. CULTIVATING CREATIVITY From 2019 to 2022, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security added 74 new professions to its list, including e-commerce practitioners and housekeepers, with 13 directly supporting rural revitalization. In May this year, online live streamers were also included in the list of new professions. In Jilin Province, over 6,000 rural professionals have been awarded vocational titles in fields such as folk artistry, farm management, e-commerce marketing, and leadership in farmer cooperatives. Likewise, Juye County, located in Shandong's Heze, a city renowned for its peony cultivation, has seen a rise in peony-themed art that has become increasingly popular among tourists. Notably, many of the most celebrated artists are local farmers. Gui Huaifang, 37, has worked diligently to master drawing techniques and now completes a painting in about two weeks, each selling for 4,000 yuan. As one of the first artists in the Hongmiao Village cooperatives, she often creates detailed peony paintings and films the process with her phone to share online. "Instead of leaving my rural home to work in the cities, I can stay here, spend more time with my children, and embrace new opportunities. Peony art has allowed me to build a better life right here at home," she said. Peony brush painting is relatively easy to learn, allowing farmers to quickly grasp basic techniques and complete works independently. To support this artistic endeavor, Juye County has launched free training courses through 49 local painting studios and over 160 calligraphy and painting institutions. These initiatives promote art education and help farmers increase their income. Currently, Juye has eight towns and 50 villages specializing in painting, with over 600 calligraphy and painting studios, more than 300 framing shops, and over 1,000 sales outlets. The art industry here employs over 20,000 people and produces more than 1.2 million artworks annually, which are exported to 40 countries and regions, with the output value expected to exceed 1.2 billion yuan this year. (Reporting by Shao Kun, Ye Ting, Feng Yuanyuan, Zhang Liyuan, Wang Haofei, Xue Qinfeng and Wei Meng; Video reporters: Feng Yuanyuan, Zhu Xiaoguang and Wei Meng; Video editors: Zhang Nan, Mu Xuyao and Zheng Xin .) The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man who was left paralyzed during a 2021 attempted robbery that left another man dead has been handed a life prison sentence for the attack. Twenty-year-old Jaiden Williams was 17 when he shot Orbit Pough III, 17, on 26 July 2021 in Grayson, Georgia, about 37 miles from Atlanta. Last week, a Gwinnett County jury found Williams, who is from Buford, guilty of two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit a felony and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to WSB-TV. Williams met Pough in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store. He wanted to buy a THC vape cartridge from Pough but didnt have any money at the time. So, he shot him in his side. Pough also had a gun and managed to shoot Williams in the neck, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Pough died in the incident. Jaiden Williams, 20, has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting a 17-year-old in 2021 ( Gwinnett County District Attorneys Office ) Investigators later found barrel contact marks from a shooting that happened at close range, the outlet reported. Williams had told police that he was riding in a car with him on their way to a drug deal. When Pough started to appear suspicious, he shot him. During the trial, Williams told the jury that he and Pough were friends. Police disagreed and said the two were strangers to each other. A judge sentenced Williams to life in prison with the possibility of parole, in addition to five years on probation. The victims family suffered a tragic loss, District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. The defendant was only 17 years old when he took the victims life. This sentence will be a long and hard lesson for him to learn from. But we simply cannot tolerate our young people following such violent paths. THC vape pens with Delta-9 contents that exceed 0.3 percent are illegal in the state of Georgia. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An accused rapist in Oklahoma has been arrested in a separate case after police said they found him with latex gloves and a painters mask as part of a plan to murder his ex-girlfriend and her mother. Matthew Robert Austin, 18, was turned in by a friend who heard him talking about harming his ex-girlfriend and family, per court records obtained by Law & Crime. Authorities with the Norman Police Department took Austin into custody on July 18 near his ex-girlfriends house. Police said Austin had a Home Depot bag filled with the items. When police discovered the items, he told them he was planning to paint his room or something along those lines, records showed. Austin admitted his intentions to stab his ex-girlfriend and her family and revealed the active case against him by the Moore Police Department regarding the rape of a 14-year-old girl. A witness said Austin told them his ex-girlfriend was messing with my life and he would just stab them so they would not scream. He also admitted to having sex with the 14-year-old but told police he thought she was 19, cops said. The girls mother contacted the Moore Police Department in Oklahoma and told them Austin had raped her daughter, according to the arrest warrant in that case. Text messages showed the two had known each other. According to the outlet, Austin had told the girl he was 16 years old when he was actually 18. He visited her house in July and forced himself on her and raped her, the affidavit states. Austin then told the girl not to tell anyone because of their age difference and said It needed to be a secret, cops said, adding that he allegedly told the girl he had done that before and everything would be ok. A nurse examiner at a local hospital assessed the girl. Austin has been detained and booked for planning acts of violence, possession of marijuana, devising plans to cause serious bodily harm or death and intimidating a witness. His total bond on those charges is over $30,000. Hed previously been booked on rape in the second degree. On that charge, his bond has been set at $400,000. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Scott Peterson, who was found guilty of murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn child, Conner, 20 years ago, has offered up his own theory about what he thinks happened to the mom-to-be. In a jailhouse interview from the Mule Creek State Prison in California, Peterson spoke out for the first time for Peacocks new three-part series Face to Face With Scott Peterson. There was a burglary across the street from our home, Peterson said in the series. And I believe that Laci went over there to see what was going on, and thats when she was taken. Laci was eight months pregnant when she vanished on Christmas Eve 2002. Peterson reported her missing after he claimed he returned from a solo fishing trip to find their Modesto home empty and their dog in the backyard with its leash still attached. Four months later, the bodies of Laci and Conner washed up on a shore. The burglary that Peterson theorized actually happened, but authorities have said, citing one of the convicted burglars statements, that it occurred on December 26, 2002, and not December 24, 2002, as the defense claimed. Scott Peterson on a call from prison, as seen in the trailer for Face to Face with Scott Peterson ( Peacock via YouTube ) According to journalists and legal experts who gave interviews for the docuseries, witnesses had told police at the time that they saw a suspicious van in the area of the house that was burglarized on December 24, with one witness even claiming that they saw a pregnant woman being forced into a van. The burglary was not mentioned at Petersons high-profile trial back in 2004. Peterson, who has maintained his innocence since the beginning, cites the burglary as supporting his claim that the cops did not turn over evidence to the defense that could have potentially exonerated him during the discovery process as they were supposed to. There are so many instances where there was evidence that didnt fit the detectives theory that they ignored, he insisted in the jailhouse call. However, two former detectives for the department, Jon Buehler and Al Brocchini, who are also featured in the doc, say they never hid evidence or failed to investigate leads during the probe. Laci Peterson was eight months pregnant when she vanished on Christmas Eve 2002 ( Netflix ) Peterson, who was involved in multiple extramarital affairs, quickly became a suspect following Lacis disappearance, and, after Laci and Conners bodies were discovered in April 2003, he was arrested near San Diego and charged with murder. He had dyed his dark hair blonde and was carrying survival gear, Viagra tablets and $15,000 in cash, according to authorities. Amber Frey, the 27-year-old woman Peterson had been having an affair with prior to Lacis death, went to police when she learned about Lacis disappearance on the news and realized that the missing womans husband was the man she thought was her boyfriend. She told police Peterson claimed he was never married when they began dating, then changed his story to being a widower. Sometime after Laci went missing, he then told her his wife was alive and pregnant but had gone missing. Frey has also spoken out for the first time in new Netflix documentary American Murder: Laci Peterson that was released last week. Amber Frey, former mistress of Scott Peterson, leaves the San Mateo Superior County Courthouse during his high-profile trial in 2004 ( Getty Images ) In 2004, Peterson was convicted of Laci and Conners murders and was initially sentenced to death but later resentenced to life in prison without parole. In January 2024, the Los Angeles Innocence Project took on his case, filing a motion to have pieces of evidence from the original investigation tested for DNA. A judge ruled in May that only a piece of duct tape found on Lacis body could be retested. Lara Yeretsian, one of Scotts original trial lawyers, remains hopeful of a different outcome. This is not the end of it, Yeretsian said in the series. Its just the beginning, and at least weve got one win. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A South Carolina sheriff who ordered a deputy to repeatedly shock a noncompliant inmate with a Taser was found not guilty of federal civil rights violations. "Thank the good Lord, thank the good Lord, Im probably going to go to sleep thanking the good Lord, former Malboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon said outside the courthouse. He was arrested and suspended in 2021 for an incident from the previous year, where he was filmed on body camera video ordering a deputy to shock inmate Harrel Johnson six times, shouting, Pop it to him. Lemon, whose term was slated to end this year, isnt running for re-election. The FBI and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigated the incident, and the state of South Carolina originally filed charges against Lemon and his deputy but dropped them in March 2024. Lemon was eventually charged in federal court with deprivation of civil rights. At trial, prosecutors argued Lemon was never Taser certified and shouldnt have ordered a deputy to use the weapon, while a member of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy testified that officers are only allowed to use a Taser on someone three times. During the week-long trial, Lemon argued he intervened in the Johnson matter because he knew the mans family and thought he could be useful in getting Johnson, who had a history of mental health problems, to enter his cell. A criminal justice expert for the defense argued the six shocks werent excessive given that Johnson lunged at the sheriffs when his handcuffs were taken off. The bottom line is Charles did not want to plead guilty because he didnt think he was guilty. He spent his entire life trying to be a good law enforcement officer, and this was a dangerous situation in which he felt and the jury vindicated his feelings that his actions were justified, defense attorney Morgan Martin told local paper The State on Monday. We are disappointed with the outcome, but we respect the jurys verdict, the office of U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Adair Boroughs said in a statement to the paper. Lemons deputy, Andrew Cook, pleaded guilty to a federal charge earlier this year. The state attorney generals office told Queen City News it is considering whether to pursue renewed charges. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} U.S. motorcyle brand Harley-Davidson downplayed its recent efforts at workplace diversity and inclusion, after it faced calls for a boycott from a high-profile conservative activist with a record of extracting change from well-known American companies. In a statement on X on Monday, the company said it remained commited to diversity, but said it would no longer push for a more diverse supply chain or participate in a corporate evaluation scheme ranking companies on their diversity and inclusion (DEI). We see it as every leaders role to ensure we have an employee base that reflects our customers and the geographies in which we operate, the company wrote. That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today, it continued. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals. The company also insisted its employee training would only be related to the needs of the business and be absent of socially motivated content. Harley also announced it would cease using the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index scoring system to evaluate its work. Decisions to cut DEI initiatives send a clear signal to employees that their employers simply dont care about equality in the workplace. Putting politics ahead of workers and consumers only hurts the same folks that these businesses rely on, HRC vice president of programs and corporate advocacy Eric Bloem told The Independent in a statement: Harley-Davidsons choice to back away from the Corporate Equality Index is an impulsive decision fueled by fringe right-wing actors and MAGA extremists who believe they can bully their way into dismantling initiatives that help everyone thrive in the workplace. Last month, Harley became a target of conservative activist and filmmaker Robby Starbuck, who accused the company of going totally woke. In a video thats garnered nearly 3 million views on X, Starbuck railed against the company for aspects including employees attending DEI trainings, an LGBT+ event being hosted at a company events venue, and its support of the Ride with Pride event, a gathering for LGBTQ motorcyle riders. He also accused the companys goal of achieving a greater diversity of suppliers as being a fancy corporate speak way for saying less white people. In its statement, Harley only obliquely referenced the campaign. We are saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks, designed to divide the Harley-Davidson community, the company wrote. George Gatto, who owns a Pittsburgh area Harley store, told Bloomberg he had faced angry comments over the boycott effort, but didnt personally feel persuaded by it, calling Starbuck a politician just trying to get clicks. My business in non-political. You are welcome to come here if youre a Democrat, a Republican, or independent, we dont even look at that, he said. Its about riding motorcycles and having fun. Starbuck, who ran for Congress in 2022, greeted Harleys statement on Monday by posting a meme showing him as the grim reaper going after woke corporations. In recent months, other well-known American brands including Tractor Supply and John Deere have pulled back on DEI-related programming amid similar public campaigns from Starbuck. Last year, Anheuser-Busch was the target of a similar backlash, after partnering with Dylan Mulvaney, an influencer who is transgender. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Instagram has failed to remove up to 93 per cent of violent, racist and misogynistic comments hitting out at female politicians in the US, according to new research. A study, by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, reported 1,000 abusive comments which featured racism, sexism and violence aimed at leading Republican and Democratic women politicians in six months. Some 77 per cent of the comments included gendered terms like b*tch, rape, and wh*re. Researchers discovered 93 per cent of the comments could still be seen on the social media giant which is owned by Meta a week after they reported them despite the remarks all demonstrably infringing the platforms policies. Prominent women on Instagram have come to expect misogynistic, hateful abuse and threats of sexual violence to them and their loved ones. Hateful abuse, targeting gender, race or sexuality, is not part of normal political discourse. Imran Ahmed The study looked at abuse directed at the following Democrat politicians - Vice President Kamala Harris, ex-House Speaker Representative Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Jasmine Crockett. While the Republican women researchers focused on were Marjorie Taylor Greene, Maria Elvira Salazar, Lauren Boebert, Senator Marsha Blackburn and Anna Paulina Luna. Our study shows that Meta is not interested in removing identity-based abuse and harassment. Even when users or researchers flag hate, Meta is doing less than the bare minimum to address users concerns, Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said. Prominent women on Instagram have come to expect misogynistic, hateful abuse and threats of sexual violence to them and their loved ones. Hateful abuse, targeting gender, race or sexuality, is not part of normal political discourse. These trolls are not attacking women politicians for their policy stances or perspectives and are seeking to send a message to women more generally. Comments identified included Hope someone leaves you fordead in a ditch, She would sound better with a f*cking gag in her mouth, and You complete evil f***ing b*tch, the devil has a hot place in hell reserved for you. Researchers warned social media platforms inability to take action on gendered abuse has fostered a culture of impunity for those who fire off vitriol. The study found some 221 of the 1,000 accounts reported by researchers to Instagram were repeat offenders and had targeted politicians several times in the space of half a year. Researchers discovered Ms Harris endured recurrent abuse with harassment including abusers pushing wholly false misogynistic stereotypes about the politician sleeping her way to the top and frequent derogatory remarks about her ethnicity. They reported 102 abusive comments directed at Ms Harris with as many as 92 per cent still up after a week. Researchers selected the top five politicians from the two main parties with the highest average post engagement between January and June for the study. Cindy Southworth, head of womens safety at Meta, said: We provide tools so that anyone can control who can comment on their posts, automatically filter out offensive comments, phrases or emojis, and automatically hide comments from people who don't follow them. "We work with hundreds of safety partners around the world to continually improve our policies, tools, detection and enforcement, and we will review the Centre for Countering Digital Hate report and take action on any content that violates our policies. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two people are dead and multiple buildings are on fire after a plane crashed in western Texas. A Cessna Citation business jet crashed early Monday morning in Odessa, Texas, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The plane was taking off from the Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airport but struggled to gain altitude, Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said. Two people who were on board the plane are dead, Griffis said. Officials have yet to release further details on the passengers. A small plane crashed in Odessa, Texas, killing two people and sparking a fire that scorched several buildings and homes ( City of Odessa ) Several buildings including mobile homes, storage facilities and a restaurant, burst into flames following the crash. The fire, which impacted an entire block, was contained within hours, Griffis said. One woman was injured after her mobile home caught on fire. She was rescued and taken to the local hospital. Her condition is unknown. A small plane crash in Odessa, Texas set several buildings on fire, including the restaurant Deweys. Two people are dead and one woman has been hospitalized after her home caught on fire ( City of Odessa ) There was a large fire after some explosions, witnesses have said that they saw the plane struggling to get altitude, clipped power lines...ultimately crashed in the alleyway, Griffis said. Its obvious the pilot attempted to avoid the houses, he continued. Photos of the crash site shared by city officials showed burning vehicles, charred signs and damaged power lines. However, just 22 energy customers are without power in Ector County, according to PowerOutage.us. Firefighters contained the fire sparked by the plane crash within hours, a local official said ( City of Odessa ) We spoke to an individual that was working just adjacent west of the crash, and he advised that he observed the plane struggling to gain altitude, Griffis added. He noticed it, and then he said, upon impact and the explosion, they felt the heat wave over there at their job site, and then there was another subsequent explosion, he continued. The Red Cross has also established a local shelter for those whose homes were damaged by the crash. Odessa is a city of 110,000 people in western Texas near the New Mexico border. The town is a roughly five-hour drive from both San Antonio and Austin. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An American soldier has been arrested over the disappearance of his pregnant wife, who vanished last month from the Hawaii base where the couple lives, the US Army announced. Pfc. Dewayne Arthur DJ Johnson II, 28, is in military pretrial confinement at the Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu, according to Army officials. Nineteen-year-old Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, who is six months pregnant, was last seen leaving their home on July 31, and reported missing the next day, the Army said. Johnson, a cavalry scout originally from Frederick, Maryland, enlisted in November 2022 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in June 2023. He has not yet been charged with a crime. The investigation remains current and ongoing, and no further information is available at this time, according to the Army. The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Mischa Johnsons whereabouts. U.S. Army Pfc. Dewayne Johnson, a cavalry scout assigned to 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, applies face paint during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 24-01 at Helemano Military Reservation, Hawaii, Nov. 2, 2023. ( DoD/5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Linfoot ) On Wednesday, Mischas mother pleaded for answers in the ongoing search for her daughter. I am asking the Public to please assist me with any information on Dewayne Johnson, Frances Tapiz-Andrian posted on Facebook. He No LONGER is Cooperating with the Searching or Locating of my daughter Mischa Johnson and their unborn child. Please Call CID at 8082080059. #BringMischaHome #JusticeforMischa. In another post early Wednesday, Tapiz-Andrian, who lives in Honolulu, said investigators were looking for anyone who was in contact with PFC Johnson anytime between July 12 and August 1. Mischa Johnson has been missing since July 31, according to authorities ( Honolulu PD ) Tapiz-Andrian posted screenshots of texts between herself and Johnson, in which Johnson appeared highly concerned about the situation. DJ I am so Thankful that you are doing All you can to Find Mischa, Tapiz-Andrian messaged her son-in-law on August 2. I called Wahiawa ER and they dont have any Jane DOE. We will Find her. We need to find her n we will, Johnson replied, according to the screenshot. the CID detectives will meet me soon to give me info found in her phone. Mischa will be Found, Tapiz-Andrian reassured Johnson. She is Loved and Cared for. Two weeks ago, Mischas sister Marianna provided an update, posting on social media that her family, along with Johnson and his platoon, had mounted a search the day before. No leads, she wrote. Schofield Barracks, near Honolulu, was named the Armys top installation in 2014 ( U.S. Department of Defense/Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal ) On August 11, Marianna shared some further thoughts about what was happening. I want to note that though my sister has depression, shes NEVER gone this long without talking to us, she posted. ... I wish we had updates for you all. But we believe the community will be pivotal in finding her. Thank you all for sharing her picture, sharing her face & story. The clothing and footwear Mischa was wearing when she went missing is unknown, and officials said she left her phone, wallet, keys, and Apple watch at home. Police described her as 52 and approximately 170 pounds, with a large tattoo on her back of a dragon. In an update on Tuesday, the Army said, Our efforts remain focused on locating Mischa, support to her family, and the safety and security of all personnel at US Army Hawaii installations We encourage anyone who may have information regarding Mischa Johnson to contact CID. Thank you. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} When Barack Obama visited the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, he couldnt even get a floor pass. The young Illinois state senator had just lost a bruising congressional primary to Bobby Rush. By 2004, he was back at the DNC in Boston, giving the keynote address. This time round, he was the self-proclaimed skinny kid with a funny name turned Democratic nominee for an Illinois Senate seat, and delivered the speech that would ultimately define him. Theres not a liberal America and a conservative America theres the United States of America, he said at the time. Theres not a Black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. Theres the United States of America. Four years later, Senator Obama approached the convention stage in Denver as a conquering hero. It preceded the monumental victory that made him the first Black person to become president and occupy a building built by enslaved people who looked like him. But despite this, Obama remained largely an outsider. He had defeated Hillary Clinton, and by proxy, Bill Clinton. As president, he often chafed at the typical glad-handing and building of relationships with Congress, handing it off to his vice-president Joe Biden, who had been a senator for 36 years. In 2004, Barack Obama delivered the keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in Boston. It catapulted a little-known state legislator to national prominence ( AP ) Yet, at the DNC in the United Center in Chicago on Tuesday, Obama heaped praise on his more garrulous former right-hand man. Looking back, I can say without question that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best and that was asking Joe Biden to serve as my vice-president, Obama said. The speech was delivered without Biden in the arena after the president had decided not to seek re-election last month and endorse his own vice-president Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket. Biden delivered his farewell address on Monday night, reportedly after Obama and other senior Democrats not-so-gently nudged him off the stage. President Joe Biden did not attend his former boss Barack Obamas speech after weeks of tension about whether Biden should step aside and make way for Kamala Harris ( Reuters ) Now, 20 years after his first keynote address, Obama was back in his hometown to speak to a party that he fundamentally reshaped. I am feeling hopeful because this convention has always been pretty good to kids with funny names who believe in a country where anything is possible, he said. As he took the stage at the United Center, crowds of delegates and supporters shouted Yes we can Obamas iconic chant. Im feeling fired up. Im feeling ready to go, he told the crowd. When the crowd booed one of his remarks on Donald Trump, he reiterated another of his famous lines: Dont boo, vote. The no-drama Obama approach that once frustrated Democrats now stands in stark contrast to the frantic and ad-hoc presidency of Trump that came after. And Obama could not help but take a swipe at his successor who had questioned whether the first Black president was born in the United States. Barack Obama hugs his wife and former first lady Michelle Obama after she introduced him on the second day of the Democratic National Convention. The former first lady also delivered a stirring speech where she made some of her most targeted shots at former president Donald Trump ( Getty ) We dont need four more years of bluster and chaos, he said. Weve seen that movie and we all know that the sequels usually worse, he said. He also compared Trump to a neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day. Obamas return to Chicago the city where he moved as a young man after college to become a community organizer and where he fell in love with a lawyer named Michelle Robinson was also a moment for him to endorse the future of the party. Obama heralded Kamala Harris, who attended the 2007 announcement of his candidacy in Illinois. Like him, she is a biracial candidate who earned comparisons to him almost as soon as he was elected. While much of Californias Democratic establishment got behind Hillary Clinton, Harris got behind Obama. Now the torch has been passed, Obama said on Tuesday. America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a president Kamala Harris. Toward the end of the speech, Obama played the hits from his original 2004 speech, talking about being the grandson of a white woman born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas, and about his mother-in-law Marian Robinson, who passed away earlier this year and tied it into Harris and Walz. Lets get to work, he said. Obama once again had the party on its feet. As former Democratic congressman Steve Israel told The Independent: Its poignant, particularly given the fact that he just emerged as a superstar on the political scene. And is now kind of the north star for the Democrats. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Barack Obama has sent social media wild after he appeared to make a not-so-subtle innuendo while talking about Donald Trumps weird obsession with crowd sizes at the Democratic National Convention. Speaking on the second night of the event, Obama kicked off his speech with plenty of digs at Trump, who was Obamas successor for the presidency in 2016. Calling Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago, Obama went on to say his constant stream of gripes and grievances has only grown worse now that he is afraid of losing to Kamala. The crowd listened intently as Obama touched on Trumps resume of childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories. But, there was one moment that really prompted laughter and caught the attention of viewers at home. Theres the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.... it just goes on, and on, and on, Obama said. Obama made a curious hand gesture to emphasise his point ( Independent US ) During his comments, Obama made a curious hand gesture to emphasise his point before eyeing his hands and looking back up to the crowd for dramatic effect. The audience in Chicago broke into raucous cheers and social media quickly followed suit. Barack Obama just got under Trumps skin BIGLY... reads one X post. Another person chimed in: I think hes being WAY too generous. Others let Obama do all the talking, choosing instead to simply punctuate his phrase with pointed emojis. Obamas inneundo didnt go unnoticed by some ( The Recount/X ) Some seized on the opportunity to make reference to adult film star Stormy Daniels ( Ron Filipkowski/X ) Meanwhile, others seized on the opportunity to make reference to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who famously had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006 and was paid hush money to keep silent about it during his 2016 White House run. Stormy knows, posted one person. While others coined the nickname Dinky Donald, claiming Trump is sensitive about size. Trump has become somewhat fixated on crowd sizes during this election cycle. This month, he falsely suggested that his January 6 rally moments before the Capitol riot drew a crowd to rival the crowd who gathered to hear Martin Luther Kings I have a dream speech during the 1963 March on Washington. Barack Obama gestures as he speaks during Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention ( REUTERS ) He has also laid into Kamala Harris for the size of her rally crowds, falsely claiming that a photo of a huge group of people waiting to greet Harris and her running mate Tim Walz on the tarmac of an airport in Michigan was fake and AI-generated. Photographic and video evidence proved him wrong. But Trumps obsession over their respectiv crowd sizes comes at a time when Harris is leading him by 2.9 points in the polls and when he and his running mate JD Vance are facing backlash over several controversial comments. Trump has been slammed for calling Harris stupid and wildly questioning her racial heritage while Vance has been slammed for his derogatory comments about women. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Democratic National Convention (DNC) has now entered its final day at the United Center in Chicago, where some of the partys biggest heavyweights have taken to the stage over the last three days. While the DNC is first and foremost a presidential nominating convention, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz already have their places in the White House race sown up after a five-day round of online voting for delegates wrapped on August 5. Now, as many as 50,000 visitors have descended on the Steven Spielberg-coordinated convention in the Windy City, including 5,000 delegates from 50 states and territories, plus 15,000 members of the media, tens of thousands of guests and a huge contingent of Gaza ceasefire protesters. The convention has been organized around four distinct themes, one for each day: Mondays was For the People, examining the Biden administrations accomplishments in the White House and how a future Harris Cabinet could continue its work, Tuesdays was A Bold Vision for Americas Future, Wednesdays was A Fight for Our Freedoms and Thursdays is For Our Future. Here the latest on what we know about the conventions schedule. Monday Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at the DNC on Monday August 19 2024 ( AP ) President Joe Biden delivered the headline speech on the opening night, giving an emotional address to rapturous applause from the crowd. Introduced by First Lady Dr Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden, the 81-year-old president ran through his accomplishments in the Oval Office before making a forceful case against Donald Trump. Denying that he was angry with members of his party who pressured him to step aside from the 2024 race, Biden explained: I love my job, but I love my country more. Hillary Clinton, the partys 2016 presidential nominee, also spoke of her desire to see the highest, hardest glass ceiling smashed with the election of a first female president. Delegates also heard from Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jim Clyburn, Jasmine Crockett, Robert Garcia, Grace Meng and Jamie Raskin, Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons, Governors Andy Beshear and Kathy Hochul, DNC chair Jaime Harrison and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain. Tuesday Michelle Obama and Barack Obama received a warm welcome at the DNC on Tuesday ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The Obamas took to the stage on Tuesday delivering an electrifying endorsement of the Harris-Walz administration while eviscerating Trump. Michelle denounced Trump for peddling a narrative of fear and declared that hope is making a comeback while also poking fun at Trumps reference to Black jobs, adding that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs. In his speech, Barack heaped praise on both Harris and Biden while slamming Trump for the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes. Other speakers included Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff including a touching video tribute from his son Cole Senators Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, and Tammy Duckworth, Billionaire Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Trumps former press secretary Stephanie Grisham. Wednesday Walz delivered a rousing speech as he formally accepted the VP nomination ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Walz took to the stage to deliver a rousing acceptance speech to formally accept his vice presidential nomination. Met with roaring chants of Coach! Coach! Coach! he dived into a football-themed metaphor: Its the fourth quarter, were down a field goal, but were on offense and we have the ball, were driving down the field and boy do we have the right team... Kamala Harris is ready! Former president Bill Clinton also took to the stage and made a jibe at Trumps age, noting that he celebrated his 78th birthday on Monday but I'm still younger than Donald Trump. Oprah Winfrey also made a surprise appearance, slamming JD Vances childless cat ladies comments. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, former VP hopefuls Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also delivered speeches. Thursday As is tradition, Kamala Harris will wrap up the final day of the convention on Thursday night with a headline speech as she formally accepts the nomination to be the Democratic Partys 2024 presidential candidate. Reverend Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist and baptist minster, has also announced he will take the podium. Additionally, former Republican congressman and outspoken Trump opponent Adam Kinzinger is expected to speak. How to watch: Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tim Walz gave the biggest speech on the biggest stage of his career as he accepted the Democratic partys nomination for vice president in front of a roaring crowd in Chicago. In keynote remarks at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, the Minnesota governor leaned on his experience as a public high school teacher and football coach to outline a vision for an America defined by care for neighbors and a kind of freedom he put in stark contrast to Donald Trumps agenda. Its the fourth quarter, were down a field goal, but were on offense and weve got the ball, Walz said in his closing statements. And boy, do we have the right team. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate want to build a country where workers come first, healthcare and housing are human rights, and the government stays the hell out of your bedroom, Walz said. Thats how we make America a place where no child is left hungry, where no community is left behind, where no one is told they dont belong, he said. Former football players from Mankato West High School in Minnesota introduced Tim Walz go the stage at the partys convention in Chicago on August 22 ( REUTERS ) His remarks served as another introduction to a candidate that many voters are still beginning to learn about after he made his debut on the campaign trail just two weeks ago. Walz a former member of Congress whose students encouraged him to run for office in 2006 coached football, basketball and track and taught geography at the same school where his wife Gwen Walz taught English. He was brought on the stage by one of his former students and next-door neighbors, Ben Ingman, and former members of Mankato West High Schools football team. Several other Mankato West alumni including members of the schools first-ever gay-straight alliance on which Walz served as faculty adviser had traveled to Chicago on Wednesday to cheer him on. Walz grew up in small-town Butte, Nebraska, where he learned that everybody belongs and everyone has a responsibility to contribute. Tim Walz embraces his wife Gwen Walz aafter he accepted the Democratic partys vice presidential nomination on August 22 ( REUTERS ) That family down the road, they may not think like you do, they may not pray like you do. They may not love like you do but theyre your neighbors, and you look out for them, and they look out for you, he said. He signed up to serve in the National Guard two days after his 17th birthday and served for 24 years. Eventually, like the rest of my family, I fell in love with teaching, he said. His students convinced him to run for office when he launched a campaign for Congress in 2006, with zero political experience and no money running in a deep-red district, he said. You know what? Never underestimate a public school teacher, he said. Walz represented the state in the House of Representatives for 12 years before running for governor. Tim Walz and his family on stage at the DNC in Chicago after he accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president ( AP ) While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banning hunger from ours, said Walz, touting his administrations extensive K-12 policy, including a law that mandates free breakfast and lunch meals to all students, regardless of income. We also protected reproductive freedom, because, in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the choices they make, he said. Weve got a golden rule: mind your own damn business. Walz and his family also endured the hell that is infertility, and praying each night for a phone call to experience the agony when we heard the treatments hadnt worked. The familys two children were conceived through intrauterine insemination. Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world, and we love you, Walz said. In an emotional moment, his son Gus stood up and applauded his father, shouting out: Thats my dad. Tim Walz reacts with his daughter Hope Walz after accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination in Chicago on August 22. ( Getty Images ) This is a big part of what this election is about: Freedom, Walz said. When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean the government should be free to invade your doctors offices, corporations free to pollute your air and water and banks free to take advantage of their customers. The Trump-allied Project 2025 agenda is an agenda that nobody asked for, he said. And its an agenda that does nothing for our neighbors, he added. Is it weird? Absolutely. And its wrong and its dangerous. Weve got something better to offer the American people: It starts with Kamala Harris. Walzs prime-time remarks to an audience expected to top the reported 81 million people who watched the conventions second night of programming arrived just two weeks after he made his debut alongside Harris at Temple University in Philadelphia. The Minnesota governors background as a high school football coach has figured prominently in his public profile since he joined the Democratic ticket, with Harris often calling him coach rather than governor. The title is also part of the decor at the United Center, where whole sections of the walls have been plastered with multicolored signs that simply read COACH. At a fundraiser in Massachusetts last week, Walz said he could provide a counterweight to another former gridiron coach in government: Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama I feel like one of my roles in this now is to be the anti-Tommy Tuberville, he said, to show that football coaches are not the dumbest people. Andrew Feinberg contributed reporting from Chicago Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Barack Obama and Michelle Obama closed out day two of the Democratic National Convention with iconic speeches that will go down in convention history. Michelle Obama tore into Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticizing his character and racist attacks that have targeted her and her husband in the past. "His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black," she said of Trump, before quipping Whos gonna tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?. Barack Obama wrapped up the evening in Chicago, praising the Vice President and her running mate Governor Tim Walz while taking aim at Trump. The former president called Mr Trump "a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn't stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago". "It's been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that's actually gotten worse now that he's afraid of losing to Kamala," the former president said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In a bizarre turn of events for the 2024 election cycle, Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Theo Von at his Bedminster club in New Jersey and quizzed the podcaster about, of all things, cocaine. During the latest episode of This Past Weekend with Theo Von, which aired on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, the topic of addiction and alcoholism rates in the US came up, specifically the fentanyl crisis. At one point in the discussion, the former president turned to asking Von about his own drug use, before peppering him with questions about cocaine use in general. Trump asked the podcast host how he got addicted. Oh no I would just do cocaine, replied Von. Thats down and dirty right? questioned Trump, adding: But you dont anymore? No, I dont do it anymore man and Im not doing it, Von said. With his interest clearly piqued, Trump quizzed Von further about whether cocaine is a stronger up. Is it too much? Too much to handle? he asked. Donald Trump sat down for an interview with comedian Theo Von at his Bedminster country club ( @TheoVon/YouTube ) Some of the stuff started to get a real rattle in it too, Von explained. I dont know where we were getting it from in this country but yeah it started to make me feel like I was a mechanic or something. Trump, who is famously teetotal, followed up by pushing Von onto the topic of alcohol. So the thing you go back to then is alcohol for the most part. Well-that-what I want probably is cocaine but I know that if I have a drink itll be like, okay, well I had a drink then I can do this, said Von. Is cocaine a stronger...up? Trump asked. So youre way up with cocaine more than anything else you can think of? This prompted an interesting and slightly enigmatic reply from Von, also known by his give name, Theodor Capitani von Kurnatowski III. Cocaine will turn you into a damn owl homie you know what I'm saying, he joked. You'll be out on your own porch, you know. You'll be your own street lamp. His curiosity unsatisfied, Trump asked Von if thats a good feeling. No, horrible, came the response. It's a miserable feeling, added Trump, just as Von expanded at the same time: But you do it anyway. The bizarre discussion appears to have taken place around the same time as Trumps press conference at his Bedminster club last week as he continues his campaign trail for the November election. While Trump courts podcasters, his rival Kamala Harris is in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, where she will become the partys official nomination. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump backed out of an interview after a local paper asked him for data to back up his continued baseless claims that crime is on the rise under President Joe Biden. The Detroit News reported that Trumps campaign had agreed to an interview with the former president on Tuesday after a campaign speech. However, the campaign suddenly claimed Trump no longer had time for the interview after a reporter began probing them on crime data. The Trump campaign had initially agreed that Trump would participate in an interview with The Detroit News on Tuesday, state politics reporter Craig Mauger wrote. But after the newspaper began asking about the Michigan crime data before the event, a campaign aide said the presidential candidate no longer had time for an interview after the speech. At the Howell, Michigan campaign event, Trump claimed there is a crime wave going on at levels nobody has ever seen before. The amount of crime that we have is unbelievable, Trump said, later labeling this perceived rise the Kamala crime wave. Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Howell, Michigan on Tuesday. There, he claimed the crime rate is on the rise despite federal data showing otherwise ( AFP via Getty Images ) Trump has made a similar claim countless times including in April in the same state, when he claimed the crime rate is only going up. As The Detroit News and other outlets have pointed out, national violent and property crime rates have fallen since Trump left office. The Detroit News cited data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation which showed the national violent crime rate dropped in 2021 and 2022 under Biden. The Trump campaign responded by claiming the data is totally unreliable at the present time because the FBI used estimated crime numbers for law enforcement agencies that didnt report numbers, The Detroit News reports. The murder rate also spiked by 30 percent during the last year of Trumps presidency, the largest one-year rise on record, CNN reports. Trumps implication that the crime rate is only going up is false, Anna Harvey, a political science professor and director of the Public Safety Lab at New York University, told CNN earlier this year. Trump has repeatedly spread a similar baseless claim that countries are sending people from mental health institutions and prisons to illegally enter the United States. The Washington Post estimated that during his presidency, Trump made more than 30,000 false or misleading statements. The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Warning: This livestream has not been independently fact-checked and may contain misinformation. Watch as Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday 21 August. The campaign stop is one of a number the former US president is holding this week in battleground states as Democrats meet in Chicago to formally choose Kamala Harris as their nominee in the 5 November election. Mr Trump yesterday attacked his Democratic rivals record on crime and safety, while brushing aside criticism from her campaign over holding an event in a Michigan town where white supremacists had rallied a month ago. The event in Howell on Tuesday attracted particular attention because of the towns historic association with the Ku Klux Klan. Mr Trump did not speak out against hate during his 45-minute remarks. When asked by a reporter afterward about the Harris campaigns criticism of the location, he replied by asking Who was here in 2021? After the reporter said Joe Biden, Mr Trump smiled and thanked her. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Doug Emhoffs ex-wife has declared that shes a more fierce supporter of her ex-husbands wife Kamala Harris than Melania Trump is of her own current husband Donald Trump. Despite divorcing 14 years ago and the second gentleman admitting to having had an affair during their marriage, Kerstin Emhoff still has a famously close relationship with her ex-husband and Harris and has spoken out about how the three of them together co-parent Ella and Cole Emhoff. This week, Kerstin has joined their blended family for the first two days of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago prompting one social media user to draw parallels between her and Melania. Kamalas husbands ex-wife is supporting her more enthusiastically than Trumps current wife is supporting him, wrote television producer Ben Wexler on X alongside a photograph of a smiling Kerstin at the convention. Kerstin, a 57-year-old film producer, reshared the post and wrote: Damn right. Having attended the DNC for the first two days, Kerstin has already doubled the appearances Melania made at this years Republican National Convention where her husband was named the Republican partys official presidential nominee. Kerstin shared a selfie with Harriss running mate Tim Walz and her children Ella and Cole ( kemhoff/Instagram ) During her time there, she has been sharing posts on social media. In one post on Instagram, Kerstin shared a selfie with Harriss running mate Tim Walz and her children Ella and Cole. It was like new members of the family, she captioned the post. Kerstin has consistently vouched for Harris both on the political stage and as a co-parent for the Emhoff children, including joining her 2021 inauguration as the vice president. Last month, when JD Vances comments attacking Harris and other Democrats as childless cat ladies resurfaced, Kerstin slammed the Republican vice presidential candidate. These are baseless attacks, she said in a statement to CNN. Kerstin Emhoff agreed that shes a bigger support of Harris than Melania is of Trump ( Kerstin Emhoff/X ) For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. Kerstin added: I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it. Harriss modern and less traditional family dynamic has taken center stage at the DNC, with the vice presidents stepchildren and husband also in attendance every day so far. On Tuesday night, both her husband and stepson Cole took to the stage to throw their support behind her campaign and open up about their family life. Cole Emhoff, son of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, speaks during the second night of the Democratic National Convention ( EPA ) During his keynote speech, Doug celebrated Harris as his wife, stepmother to his children and potential future president. As well as defining her as a joyful political warrior who can stand up to bullies, he also shared a more personal tribute as well as including an anecdote about a toe-curling voicemail from his first ever call to Harris that she makes him listen to every anniversary. Wherever shes needed, however shes needed, Kamala rises to the occasion. And she did it for me and my family, he told the jam-packed crowd. Cole and Doug Emhoff hug on stage at the DNC ( Getty Images ) And now that the country needs her, shes showing you what we already know: shes ready to lead. Doug added that meeting Harris was the most pivotal moment in his life and said that she will be exactly the right president. The second gentleman was introduced to the stage by his 30-year-old son Cole, who shared a touching video about their family dynamics and how his goofy dad was thrust into the world of politics. In the video, Cole noted that a decade ago, when Doug and Harris married, Kamala became Momala. Their family then acclimatised to the world of politics in the years that followed. Our blended family wasnt used to politics or the spotlight, but when Kamala became senator, we were all excited to step up. Especially my dad, he said in the video. Ella has also been present for every day of the DNC so far seen sporting a Harris-Walz camo hat on opening night ( Getty Images ) Then Kamala became vice president. It felt like Doug was a bit out of place on Capitol Hill. I thought, What is my goofy dad doing here? A win for Harris in November wouldnt just mean the first female president, the first Black female president and the first Asian-American president, it would also bring about the very first, first gentleman, Cole noted. Doug is already the first second gentleman and Jewish person to be a White House principal. We might not look like other families in the White House, Cole concluded. But we are ready to represent all families in America. Coles sister Ella has also been present for every day of the DNC so far seen sporting a Harris-Walz camo hat. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Texas officials have been forced to debunk a voter fraud conspiracy theory after it was shared on social media by Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo. On Sunday, the news personality suggested on X that Democrats were registering immigrants to vote at several locations in Fort Worth and Weatherford, Texas. The post on X states that the story comes from a friend. Friend of mines wife had to take her 16 yr old son to the DMV this week for a new license. Couldnt get an online appointment (all full) so went in person and had to go to 3 DMVs to get something done, Bartiromo posted on social media. First DMV was in Weatherford. Had a massive line of immigrants getting licenses and had a tent and table outside the front door of the DMV registering them to vote! Maria Bartiromo onstage at Womens Forum Of New York even on November 7, 2019. Texas officials have been forced to debunk a voter fraud conspiracy theory after it was shared on social media by the Fox News personality ( Getty Images ) The post then suggested that the friend witnessed the same thing at two DMV locations in Forth Worth but gives no information on when these incidents were supposed to have happened. Bartiromo did not say that the alleged registration drive was unlawful but her followers quickly jumped to that conclusion. Why are Democrats setting up voter registration tables outside DMVs and registering illegal immigrants to vote?! one X user responded. This is happening in Tarrant County and you can bet its happening across the state. Other users claimed that Bartiromo was highlighting the voter registration of people who werent US citizens. The story attracted the attention of the Texas Department of Public Safety, who said it was simply false, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Star-Telegram pointed out that theres no DMV office in Weatherford. However, there is a Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License office - but it had no tent or registration site set up last week. None of it is true, DPS spokesperson Sgt William Lockridge told the newspaper, noting that suggesting non-white Texas residents who were in line to get their licenses would be immigrants or illegal was kind of racist. Lockridge added: Just because these people arent white, that doesnt mean theyre illegal. The Independent has contacted Fox News for comment. Former president Donald Trump has falsely claimed since January that illegal immigrants would be able to vote in the 2024 election. He also baselessly claimed that Democrats were urging migrants to come to the US to be registered to vote. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vice President Kamala Harriss campaign has debuted a pair of election ads focused on Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander voters. The new campaign spots focus on anti-Asian hate and healthcare, NBC Newsreports. The ads will air both on television including ethnicity-focused networks like The Filipino Channel, 3HmongTV, SBS Television Korea, and Zee TV and on apps like YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Snap. They are part of a broader $90m media push to grab voters in battleground states. In an ad titled "The Seal," the campaign takes aim at Donald Trump and paints him as being disrespectful toward those with Asian heritages. It highlights his use of the phrase "kung flu" to link the coronavirus to China, accusing him of promoting "xenophobia." Its title references the ad's argument that Trump should not be allowed to stand behind the "seal of the president of the United States." When Trump called Covid the kung flu, he unleashed a wave of hate against our community, Nashville Metro Council member Terry Vo says during the ad. I was scared. People didnt feel safe. Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz. Harriss campaign debuted a pair of ads targeting Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander voters in battleground states ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Trump also used the term "Chinese virus," which helped spur anti-Asian hate incidents during the pandemic, according to a study by UC San Francisco. "The study examined nearly 700,000 tweets containing nearly 1.3 million hashtags, the week before and after the presidents tweet on March 16, 2020, to see whether his use of the term Chinese virus an expression that public health experts warned against using may have led others to use anti-Asian language on Twitter," according to the university. "They found that users who adopted the hashtag #chinesevirus were far more likely to pair it with overtly racist hashtags." Steven Cheung, Trump's senior campaign advisor, brushed off the ad's allegations in a response to NBC News. He created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity, and prosperity were afforded to everybody. Anyone who says otherwise is disgustingly using the AAPI community to play political games for their own benefit," he said. "The 2024 campaign is poised to build upon the strength and successes of Asian Americans during President Trumps first term to propel him to a history second term victory. In the second ad, titled "Reduced," Trump is accused of wanting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. It goes on to point out that the number of Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islanders who are uninsured has dropped by 63 per cent under the ACA. Trump said during a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania over the weekend that he would not end the ACA unless he could replace it with something better. However, he unsuccessfully tried to end the ACA during his term in office, and proclaimed in November that "Obamacare Sucks" and that he would replace the program. I dont want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Obamacare Sucks!!! Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden has quietly approved a new US nuclear strategy focusing on Chinas rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal earlier this year, a new report has revealed. The Nuclear Employment Guidance (NEG) is designed to prepare the US for potential nuclear confrontations with Russia, China, and North Korea, The New York Times reported. The strategy takes into account the rapid expansion of Chinas nuclear arsenal and ongoing threats from Russia, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, the report said. On Tuesday, the White House said it was not a response to any specific country or threat, but rather a broad deterrent policy. Spokesperson Sean Savett said that while the specific text of the guidance is classified, its existence is in no way secret. The guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, nor threat. The strategy is also significant as the New Start nuclear arms control agreement with Russia is set to expire in 2026 without a replacement in place. Under the treaty, which was last extended back in 2021 through to 2026, the two nations are allowed to inspect each others nuclear weapons facilities. In January last year, a US State Department spokesperson said that Russia is not complying with its obligation under the New Start Treaty to facilitate inspection activities on its territory. Russias refusal to facilitate inspection activities prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and threatens the viability of US-Russian nuclear arms control, the spokesperson said. The NYT reported that the NEG reflects the Pentagons assessment that Chinas nuclear capabilities will soon rival those of the US and Russia, fundamentally altering the global nuclear landscape. The president recently issued updated nuclear weapons employment guidance to account for multiple nuclear-armed adversaries, Vipin Narang, an MIT nuclear strategist who served in the Pentagon was quoted as saying by the outlet. And in particular, he added, the weapons guidance accounted for the significant increase in the size and diversity of Chinas nuclear arsenal. Over the past few years, the global nuclear landscape has shifted dramatically, prompting the Biden administration to reevaluate and update its nuclear strategy. Traditionally, US nuclear policy has been heavily focused on deterring Russia, given the size and scope of its nuclear arsenal. However, Chinas rapid expansion of its nuclear capabilities has become a growing concern for US defence officials. The Chinese side has decided to hold off discussion with the US on a new round of consultations on arms control and non-proliferation. The responsibility fully lies with the US, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular news briefing last month. The suspension of talks dealt a potentially serious setback to global arms control efforts, with Beijing joining Moscow in refusing to discuss with Washington measures to contain a nuclear arms race. NYT reported that the new document serves as a clear warning that the next president, taking office on 20 January, will face a far more unstable and dangerous nuclear environment than the one seen just three years ago. Russian president Vladimir Putin has made multiple threats to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, including during a particularly tense episode in October 2022. During that crisis, President Biden and his team, after reviewing intercepted communications between high-ranking Russian officials, were concerned that the chances of nuclear deployment could have escalated to 50 per cent or more. The US, which in June this year declared the possibility of deploying more strategic nuclear weapons to deter Russia and China, currently possesses about 3,700 nuclear warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. According to the Guardian, Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said that while US intelligence estimates suggest China may increase the size of its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia currently has about 4,000 nuclear warheads and it remains the major driver behind US nuclear strategy. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Matt Gaetz has secured his position in Floridas 1st Congressional District by winning the Republican primary, defeating challenger Aaron Dimmock. Mr Dimmock, a retired navy officer, was supported by super political action committees (PACs) connected to former House speaker Kevin McCarthy. Mr Gaetz, along with seven other House Republicans, led the successful campaign to remove Mr McCarthy as speaker last year. All eight of them have faced heavily funded primary challenges, which observers have labelled the McCarthy revenge tour. So far, however, only Bob Good of Virginia has lost. Mr Gaetz, a Donald Trump supporter who has been Congressman since 2017, had a substantial lead over his challenger. Mr Dimmock told The Hill before the primary he had never spoken with Mr McCarthy, yet he received his endorsement and saw his campaign bolstered by over $3m from a PAC associated with the former speaker. The Florida Patriots PAC ran aggressive ads attacking Mr Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies. Your daughters are never safe with the real Matt Gaetz, said one spot from the anti-Gaetz super PAC. Although the House Ethics Committee is still investigating Mr Gaetz, the Justice Department decided not to press charges against him following a sex-trafficking investigation last year. Mr Gaetz has dismissed the investigations as frivolous. Mr Gaetz had criticised his opponent for his background in diversity training. He ran ads highlighting his strong ties with Trump, who endorsed him. This is Donald Trumps party, and Im a Donald Trump Republican, one ad showed Gaetz proclaiming at a rally. He will now contest against Democratic candidate Gay Valimont in the November election. Ms Valimont is a former Florida leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Meanwhile, on the primary day, the Gaetz campaign sent out a fundraising email that read: I want to make a STATEMENT. I want to win in a LANDSLIDE VICTORY to prove to Kevin McCarthy that no matter how much money he sinks into defeating me, it will NEVER be worth it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former Trump fixer Michael Cohen joined a string of Republicans who have ditched his former boss at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday and joked he would speak to Kamala Harriss Chicago crowd if they let me. Cohen and a group of former Trump voters and anti-Trump Republicans, including the former presidents ex-press secretary Stephanie Grisham, were in Chicago on the second night of the convention. The former Trump ally, who was not invited to speak, was most recently in the limelight as he testified against the former president in the hush money trial which saw Trump convicted on 34 charges of falsifying business records. Cohen made a $130,000 hush money payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels to remain quiet in the leadup to the 2016 election about an alleged affair. Trump logged the reimbursements to Cohen as legal expenses. Cohen told the jury that Trump directed him to make the payment before the election and that the reimbursement was approved after his victory. Trump is still claiming that he paid Cohen for legitimate legal business. Ahead of the trial, Cohen told MSNBC that he was getting a slew of death threats from Trump supporters. "Its witness intimidation and its harassment," Cohen told the network. "What is his goal? Again, its to incite these followers to prevent me from appearing before ... the Manhattan district attorney in this upcoming trial. He does not want to face accountability at any cost." At the Democratic convention, Cohen told The Washington Times that hes concerned for the future of the country if Trump is re-elected. Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to former U.S. President Donald Trump, attends the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Cohen trashed his former boss while mingling at the convention ( Getty Images ) I fear for my children. I fear, God willing one day, my grandchildren if Im lucky enough to live that long, he told the paper. Im concerned about our democratic republic when you have somebody who wants to be president of the United States making statements like, I want to rewrite the Constitution. Do you really think this dumba** could rewrite the Constitution? When he says that he wants to destroy our tripartite system of government and confer all power to himself what do you think is going to end up happening in this country? Because the answer is going to be the end of our democratic republic, he added. Cohen spent time in prison after he pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, tax fraud, bank fraud, and lying to Congress. He told The Washington Times that he was invited to the convention by members of Congress but declined to specify who. He added that hes a strong supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Cohen is not the only former Trump ally to appear at the DNC. Stephanie Grisham, a former Trump press secretary and advisor turned critic, said Trump mocks his supporters behind closed doors, calling them basement dwellers. Journalist Brian Karem poses for a selfie with Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to former U.S. President Donald Trump, during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The former fixer was not the only former Trump ally to attend the DNC ( Getty Images ) I wasnt just a Trump supporter. I was a true believer, Grisham said, before adding that during a hospital visit when people were dying in the ICU, he was mad that the cameras were not watching him. He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth. He used to tell me, it doesnt matter what you say, Stephanie, say it enough and people will believe you, the former press secretary said. She added that she resigned on January 6, 2021, because she couldnt be part of the insanity any longer. Former Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois ( Getty Images ) Other Republicans set to speak at the DNC include former Trump White House national security official Olivia Troye, former Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger, and former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan. The Republican Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, John Giles, told the convention that Trump made a lot of lofty promises, unlimited economic growth, American manufacturing reborn, a secure border. Turns out Donald Trump was all talk. He wanted our votes, but he couldnt deliver a thing. Speaking to Americans in the political middle, Giles said, John McCains Republican Party is gone, and we dont owe a damn thing to whats been left behind. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A White House aide reportedly called Michelle Obamas speech at the Democratic National Convention an implicit rebuke to President Joe Bidens term, perpetuating rumors that there is a rift between the president and his former boss Barack Obama. The former first lady delivered a powerful speech on the second night of the DNC. She anticipated that a Kamala Harris presidency would bring a long-dormant sense of hope back to the country, reminding the nation of the enthusiasm felt during the Obama years while glossing over President Bidens term. Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isnt it? Michelle Obama began. Not just here in this arena but spreading all across this country we love a familiar feeling thats been buried too deep for too long. Hope is making a comeback! the former first lady said. While the focus of her speech was on the promise of a brighter future with Harris at the helm, a White House aide believed her words could have served as a slight to Biden. It was an implicit rebuke of the Biden era, the source told Politico, claiming that the former first lady seemed to be blending together the Trump and Biden presidencies into one dreary era in US history. The aides comment furthers swirling theories that there is some continuing tension between Obama and Biden. Last week, sources told Politico that Biden will not stay in Chicago to hear Obamas speech because he harbors resentment toward his former boss for not directly calling him to voice his concerns about his re-election chances. Months ago, following the Trump-Biden debate in June, Obama did not offer public support for Biden to stay in the 2024 race while a chorus of Democratic donors, voters and party leaders loudly called for him to step aside. Michelle Obama speaking at the Democratic National Convention. A White House aide argued that her speech, though widely praised, was an implicit rebuke to Bidens presidency ( AP ) Since Bidens fumbled debate performance, Obama allegedly privately expressed concern about the 81-year-old presidents re-election bid. Obama was also reportedly given an advance warning about George Clooneys an op-ed in the New York Times, in which he called for Biden to step aside, and did not object to it. Some had remarked that the Illinois Democrats lack of vocal support for Biden was actually saying a lot. Obamas silence is deafening, Democratic congressman Mike Quigley, toldVanity Fair in July. If President Obama was all in, he would be all in. The former first lady made no explicit comment about Biden good or bad but she did underscore the damage of Donald Trumps presidency, calling him a racist and misogynist. In his speech, Barack Obama also signaled that the nation would welcome a change, without distinguishing between Trump and his former vice president: America is ready for a new chapter. Americas ready for a better story. However, the former president spoke of Biden fondly numerous times throughout his speech, telling the crowd: History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy at a moment of great danger. I am proud to call him my president, but even prouder to call him my friend. He also hailed Biden s hard-earned resiliency and his unshakable belief that came when America needed them most. He hailed Biden for being selfless enough to do the rarest thing there is in politics: putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Michelle Obamas return to Chicago revived the message of hope that defined her husband Barack Obamas historic presidential campaign as she took aim at the political wrecking ball who has worked to make the country fear them. The former first lady who remains a massively influential voice in the Democratic Party but a reluctant campaigner delivered a forceful rebuke of Donald Trumps agenda at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night. She appeared on stage to roars from the crowd to deliver the penultimate speech at the United Center ahead of her former president husband. In one especially powerful moment, Obama eviscerated Trumps now-infamous comments about so-called Black jobs warning him that the role of commander-in-chief is very well one such job. Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? she said, to laughter in the room. Its his same old con doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lives as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make peoples lives better. Back in June, Trump sparked outrage for claiming immigrants were taking away Black jobs during the CNN debate with President Joe Biden. Michelle Obama greets her husband Barack Obama on stage before his speech during Day two of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago ( REUTERS ) Since then, he has been confronted with demands to define what exactly a Black job is and has been trolled by prominent Americans of color including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. Obama opened her roarous speech with other barely-veiled digs at Trump, and an urgent call to overwhelm the polls to vote for Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us, she said. The Obamas have been at the center of the division that Trump has exploited in his political rise, from amplifying birther conspiracy theories, refusing to beat back the racism brewing in his party, and leaning into Barack Hussein Obama. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black, she said. Former first lady Michelle Obama speaking during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday where she clapped back at Trumps Black jobs comments ( AP ) She told attendees that Harris has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open to others. Harris understands that most Americans will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth, Obama said, in another reference to Trump. No, we dont get to change the rules, so we always win. If we see a mountain in front of us, we dont expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top, she said. While her husband heaped praise on Biden in his speech, Obama made no mention of the president at any point in her 20-plus minute long speech despite spending four years working closely with him and First lady Jill Biden during the Obama administration. Her remarks about Harris, meanwhile, were met with thunderous applause from Democrats, who have exhibited renewed enthusiasm for this election since Biden announced that he would be standing down from the race and throwing his support behind the vice president. Attendees raise signs in support of Kamala Harris during day two of the Democratic National Convention ( REUTERS ) But Obama warned the convention that electing Harris was still going to be an uphill battle and cautioned Democrats against being our own worst enemies by succumbing to fear and complacency. The former First Lady praised Harris as more than ready for this moment and called her one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. Obama also made poignant reference to the loss of her mother, Marian Robinson, a Chicago native, who died in May, and Kamalas late mother. Its up to us to remember what Kamalas mother told her: Dont just sit around and complain do something! Obama said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fox News host Jesse Watters resurrected conspiracy theories falsely accusing Barack Obama of not being born in the US just hours before the former presidents speech at the Democratic National Convention. Its been 16 years since baseless, racist rumors surrounding Obamas heritage first swirled which were proven unequivocally false. The birther movement, better known as birtherism, emerged when false rumors spread that Obamas birth certificate was forged and that his birthplace was in Kenya or Indonesia, not Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite the widely disproven theory, according to the loose description in the constitution, only a natural-born citizen who is at least 35 years old and has been a resident of the US for 14 years or more can be president. On Tuesdays live episode of The Five, Watters took a stab at Obama hours before the former presidents electrifying DNC speech where he slammed Donald Trump, praised Joe Biden for his service and threw his support behind Kamala Harris. Hes definitely going to interfere in this election, the Fox News host claimed, pulling rhetoric often used by Trump. Jesse Watters launched into an attack hours before Obama made his DNC speech during a live episode of The Five ( Fox News/YouTube ) Thats why well be sending Johnny [producer on The Five] to Hawaii to get the truth about the birth certificate, Watters told viewers. This time we will dig deep and find out what really happened. Co-host Greg Gutfeld intervened saying that the producer must get his passport, before Watters retorted: To go to Kenya. I meant to Hawaii, just to see him do it. Ask him what the exchange rate is for the Hawaiian dollar, Gutfield sniggered. Today, some conspiracy theorists still subscribe to birtherism, despite the release of Obamas birth documents and confirmation of his birth by the Hawaii Department of Health before the 2008 election. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle stand on stage after she introduced him at evening two of the DNC ( AFP via Getty Images ) They go hand-in-hand with a slew of other baseless claims that Obama secretly practices Islam, with others attesting hes the antichrist. By 2010, approximately one in four Americans doubted Obama was born in the US, according to a CNN poll. By March 2011, Donald Trump began casting so-called real doubts about whether Obama had a US birth certificate. Days later, he claimed that he sent a team of investigators to Hawaii and said hed donate $5m to charity if anyone could convince him Obama was born in the US. After the release of Obamas long-form official certificate of live birth in April 2011, just over one in 10 Americans believed in the birther movement, according to a Gallup poll. In 2012, Trump continued to peddle the conspiracy theory and wrote on X, then Twitter, that an extremely credible source told him the certificate was a fraud. Trump has spearheaded the birtherism theory surrounding Obama for more than a decade ( AFP via Getty Images ) After years of attacking Obama, in 2020 Trump took aim at another political heavyweights heritage: the new vice president Harris. Yet again, this was proved completely false. I just heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements, Trump said at a press conference in August 2020, before adding: But thats very serious, youre saying that, theyre saying that she doesnt qualify because she wasnt born in this country. Trump did admit at the time that he didnt know for sure if that was right before doubling down that theyre saying Harris doesnt fit the criteria to be president. Last month, Trump launched into another attack on Harriss ethnic background while speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists claiming that the vice president had only recently happened to turn Black and she only previously leveraged her Indian heritage. Harris, who is both of Jamaican and Indian heritage, has regularly and proudly talked about her Black heritage in public, including during a 2006 panel of emerging Black leaders. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr is planning to drop out of the 2024 race by the end of this week, sources tell ABC News. The outlet reported on Wednesday that Kennedy is leaning towards backing former President Donald Trump, but those familiar with the candidates thinking noted that could still change. One source told ABC that Kennedy is working to finalize his decision quickly in hopes of quashing some of the Democrats momentum from their convention in Chicago. Kennedy is set to make a speech on Friday in Phoenix, Arizona, about the path forward for his campaign. Meanwhile, Trump is scheduled to host an event on Friday night in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. News of the speech comes after the independents running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said on a podcast on Tuesday that the campaign was considering two options: remaining in the race, which could risk a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris, or leaving the race to join forces with Trump. JD Vance, Trumps running mate, told NBC News on Wednesday that theres been plenty of communication between the campaigns. Kennedy has been making fewer stops on the campaign trail in recent weeks ( AP ) I havent spoken to RFK personally, but I know theres been a lot of communication back and forth between RFK, between the campaign, between this campaign, Vance told NBC. Our argument to RFK ... is ... if you want a Democratic Party that protected American workers and stood for strong borders, maybe disagreed with Republicans on things like tax policy, that party doesnt exist anymore, he argued. Vance added that Trump wouldnt necessarily give Kennedy a cabinet position if the independent endorsed him. But the former president did tell CNN on Tuesday that he was open to Kennedy joining a second Trump administration. I like him a lot. I respect him a lot, Trump told CNN. During the Republican convention in Milwaukee last month, Trump and Kennedy met face to face shortly after the assassination attempt which saw the former president grazed by a bullet during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Kennedy has been making fewer stops on the campaign trail in the last few weeks. His last campaign-sponsored event was in early July. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Robert F Kennedy Jr was too late to testify in court against a challenge from Democrats attempting to block him from the ballot in Pennsylvania. Attorneys for two Democratic activists challenging Kennedys spot on the ballot said in a Harrisburg courtroom on Tuesday that Kennedys candidacy paperwork has a fake home address. Similar allegations are being heard in other state courts. They also argued that the third-party candidate hasnt gathered the required number of signatures. Citing a canceled flight from Boston to Philadelphia the evening before, Kennedy showed up an hour and 40 minutes late. Commonwealth Court Judge Lori Dumas had earlier decided to continue without his testimony. Just after his arrival, the hearing was adjourned without the judge indicating when she would rule on the matter. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leaves the Pennsylvania Judicial Center on August 20 in Harrisburg, Pa. He arrived too late to testify in the case challenging his presence on the Pennsylvania ballot ( AP ) Kennedy could snag votes from Vice President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump if he were to appear on the ballot in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground with 19 electoral votes. Trump won the state in 2016 but President Joe Biden won it back in 2020. The attorney for Kennedy slammed the judges move to continue without the candidates testimony. Kennedy claimed that the Democrats are trying to block the rights of tens of millions of voters. To me, its a sad devolution of this party that the only way that they can win elections is to keep its opponents off the debating stage, off the ballots, and use lawfare to try to win elections rather than campaigning, he said outside the courthouse. Ill be on the ballot in every state, he added. The Kennedy campaign has called the challenge frivolous and Kennedy lawyer Paul Rossi said that a state shouldnt be in the business of banning a candidate from its ballot because of a residency argument. He said that it would lead to a patchwork of state court rulings removing some candidates from ballots, citing the March Supreme Court ruling to reinstate Trump on primary ballots following state attempts to use the 14th Amendment to have him removed. Rossi added that a federal court ruling from 2016 which ordered a lowering of the signature requirements for candidates from smaller parties should also be used in Kennedys case. One of the attorneys for the activists challenging Kennedys presence on the ballot, Tim Ford, said that Kennedy had filed petitions that violated state law and that his late appearance shows a total disregard for our process here in Pennsylvania and a disrespect for the voters who have to make the decision of who theyre going to vote for for president. Ford argued that Kennedy hasnt shown that the signature ruling should apply in this case and that the patchwork argument references a federal constitutional case and cannot be used in a case where the state of Pennsylvania is setting the rules governing who can appear on its ballots. Kennedy is battling challenges in other states as well, including Georgia and New York. Last week, a New York judge rejected his nominating petitions because the listed address was a sham. Kennedy is appealing the decision. Kennedy has listed his address as being in the Empire State, but those challenging his presence on the ballot say that he really lives in Los Angeles, California. Rossi argued that Kennedy partly pointed to the New York address to adhere to the 12th Amendment which states that a president and vice president shouldnt be from the same state Kennedys running mate Nicole Shanahan is a Californian. The attorney said that Kennedy is registered to vote in New York and that hes set to return to live in the state. The Kennedy campaign has claimed to have collected the required signatures to appear on the ballots in all 50 states and that hes currently officially on the ballot in 22 of them, including key states like North Carolina and Michigan. The Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps former White House press secretary took the stage at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night and shared the brutal one-word message from Melania in the wake of the January 6 insurrection that caused her to quit. Stephanie Grisham, who held the role from July 2019 to April 2020 before becoming the first ladys communications director and chief of staff, is one of several Republican figures invited to the convention in Chicago to denounce the extremism of the former president and his campaign. On Tuesday night, as she endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president, Grisham shared the brief text exchange, which finally convinced her to leave the post as she couldnt be part of the insanity any longer. On Jan. 6, I asked Melania if we can at least tweet that while peaceful protest is the right of every American, theres no place for lawlessness or violence, Grisham, with the apparent text shown on screens behind her, said. Melania simply responds: no. Former Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham speaks on stage in front of an apparent text message with former first lady Melania Trump ( Getty Images ) During her remarks, she told attendees that the former president mocks his supporters behind closed doors, calling them basement dwellers. She also told a story about Trump during a hospital visit when people were dying in the ICU, he was mad that the cameras were not watching him. He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth. He used to tell me, it doesn't matter what you say, Stephanie, say it enough and people will believe you, the former press secretary said. She added that she resigned on January 6, 2021, because she couldn't be part of the insanity any longer. Kamala Harris tells the truth, she repsects the American people and she has my vote, she said. Grisham told DNC attendees that Trump has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth ( Reuters ) In a statement to NBC News, Grisham said she never thought she would be speaking at a Democratic convention.But, after seeing firsthand who Donald Trump really is, and the threat he poses to our country, I feel very strongly about speaking out. She added: While I dont agree with Vice President Harris on everything, I am proud to be supporting her because I know she will defend our freedoms and represent our nation with honesty and integrity. Other Republicans are expected to share a similar message throughout the convention, including former Representative Adam Kinzinger, of Illinois, who is scheduled to speak Thursday. On Monday the first night of the convention a video compilation of former Trump voters was played to attendees, including a longer interview with a former Trumper, Rich Logis. Stephanie Grisham held the role of Trump press secretary from July 2019 to April 2020 and was also Melania Trumps chief of staff ( AFP via Getty Images ) While Donald Trump continues to attack moderates and independents, the Harris-Walz campaign has made clear that there is a place in our coalition for voters who reject the extremism of Donald Trump and want to protect our democracy, a Harris campaign official said. Grisham was Trumps third White House press secretary, succeeding Sarah Huckabee Sanders and was the first White House Press Secretary to hold no press conferences. She later assumed the role of chief of staff to former first lady Melania Trump on April 7 2020. On the evening of January 6 2021, Grisham resigned from the position following the storming of the United States Capitol. In the aftermath of the insurrection and her resignation Grisham has become a fervent critic of her former boss, warning that he would seek revenge if not reelected. She told CNN earlier this year: He used to tell me when I was press secretary, Go out there and say this. And if it was false, he would say, It doesnt matter, Stephanie. Just say it over and over and over again, people will believe it. He knows his base believes in him. He knows he can basically say anything and his base will believe what hes saying. Her inclusion on the second night of the convention, which also includes remarks from Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, continues the Harris campaigns drive to recruit Republicans to their cause. We will be putting patriotic Republicans front and center in our convention programming to explain, in their own words, why they are putting country first and supporting Vice President Harris, Austin Weatherford, the campaigns national Republican engagement director, said in a statement to NBC News. The campaign launched its Republicans for Harris program this month to reach more moderate and independent voters who may have supported Trump in the past, specifically highlighting the controversial Project 2025 document. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republicans and right-wing media are escalating a baseless conspiracy theory that Tim Walz is covertly working for China, twisting his teaching experience in the country and his subsequent visits as alleged evidence of a Chinese effort to groom him to have a foothold in the US government. After launching flailing investigations into Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, House Republicans have suggested opening yet another probe to target Harriss running mate. Donald Trumps campaign, his Republican allies and right-wing media outlets have sought to undermine Walzs military service and the fertility treatments that his wife used to become pregnant with their children. Now, GOP lawmakers are pressing federal authorities for documents and testimony as media figures drum up baseless speculation about Walzs career in education to attack Harriss campaign. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, wrote to FBI director Chriostopher Wray alleging Walzs longstanding connections to the Chinese Communist Party that make him susceptible to the Partys strategy of elite capture, which seeks to co-opt influential figures in elite political, cultural, and academic circles to influence the United States to the benefit of the communist regime and the detriment of Americans. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz attend the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19. ( AFP via Getty Images ) If you look at Walzs background, and you look at the things he talked about this is a guy who has really embraced Chinas view of the world, the Chinese ideology, which is communism, Comer told Fox News on Monday. Its very possible that China would be grooming an up and coming rising star in the political process to try to have a foothold in our government, Comer said. Senator Ron Johnson, who was described by The New York Times as the GOPs foremost amplifier of conspiracy theories and disinformation in 2021, baselessly asserted that Walz has deep connections to China. The House is going to investigate it now, he told Fox News this week. Its very strange. He got married on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square. Hes gone to China. Hes taught in China. Hes got deep connections to China. Walz taught English and American history in China through Harvard Universitys WorldTeach program in the late 1980s when he was 25. He later started a program called Educational Travel Adventures with his wife Gwen Walz, who is also a teacher, to organize summer trips to China for American high school students. Walz was one of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators in China after the country opened its doors to the world in the 1980s. He was in China during pro-democracy protests in Beijings Tiananmen Square in June 1989. It was my belief at that time that diplomacy was going to happen on many levels, certainly people to people, Walz said during a congressional hearing commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen protests in 2014. The opportunity to be in a Chinese high school at that critical time seemed to me to be really important. He did marry Gwen Walz on the Tiananmen Square anniversary on June 4, 1994, and he spent their honeymoon in China with 60 students as part of a class trip. Before he was elected to Congress in 2006, Walz was a global geography teacher at Mankato West High School in Minnesota, where his students encouraged him to campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives. House Oversight Committee chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, has launched several investigations into Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and now her running mate Tim Walz. ( AFP via Getty Images ) While in Congress, Walz served on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and his time in and out of office has largely sided with human rights issues and political moves in opposition to President Xi Jinpings regime. In 2010, Walz co-sponsored a House motion condemning the arrest of activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo and activist Huang Qi. He also supported the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which demanded an end to human rights abuses in the former British colony. Walz also met the Dalai Lama and has supported calls for religious freedoms in Tibet, condemned Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, and blasted Chinas allied relationship with Russia in its war in Ukraine. Throughout his career, Governor Walz has stood up to the CCP, fought for human rights rights and democracy, and always put American jobs and manufacturing first, according to a statement from Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann. Republicans are twisting basic facts and desperately lying to distract from the Trump-Vance agenda: praising dictators, and sending American jobs to China, he added. Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will ensure we win the competition with China, and will always stand up for our values and interests in the face of Chinas threats. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have blasted Comers latest comments as nothing more than a political stunt. For the umpteenth time, Chairman Comer shows the American people that his only real priority in Congress is doing Donald Trumps bidding, a spokesperson said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Reclusive billionaire and Republican mega-donor Timothy Mellon gave $50 million to a Donald Trump-supporting super PAC in July after pumping two other massive multi-million dollar donations into his campaign this cycle. The banking heir has now given a total of $115m to the Trump-connected Make America Great Again Inc. since 2023, making him the biggest donor to the political action committees that are backing the former presidents 2024 campaign. A filing with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday shows $50m from Mellon on July 15, shortly before President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris in the race against Trump. That donation appears to account for the bulk of donations that MAGA Inc. received in July. Donald Trump speaks from Michigan on August 20. His super PAC received $50m from a billionaire donor on Tuesday ( AFP via Getty Images ) Mellon an heir to the Pittsburgh familys banking fortune gave $50m to the Trump-connected PAC on May 31, one day after a New York jury convicted the former president on 34 felony counts stemming from his attempts to cover up a sex scandal before the 2016 election. Mellon also gave more than $25m to groups supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Tuesdays FEC filing also shows tens of millions of dollars coming into the PAC from investment banker Warren Stephens, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and Jacob Helberg, an adviser for the Peter Thiel-founded Palantir Technologies. Harriss campaign, meanwhile, has reportedly raised roughly half a billion dollars since she launched her campaign after Biden exited the race on July 21. The vice president raised roughly $200m in the first week of her campaign as she moved quickly to secure delegate pledges and Democratic endorsements heading into the Democratic National Convention. Her campaign hauled in another $310m in July. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump was set to make two attention-grabbing announcements at his event in Michigan on Tuesday. But when all was said and done, the ex-president held off. Trump spoke in Howell, Michigan flanked by members of law enforcement. His speech concentrated on crime, and he specifically hammered Vice President Kamala Harris over an imaginary surge in violent crime despite the fact that violent crime is actually at its lowest national rate in decades. The ex-president has sought to win over suburban voters by appealing to fears about crime and immigration. He made that explicitly clear on Tuesday as he opined to his supporters at the event that he thought polls showing women turning away from his campaign were fake. Trump claims polls are fake and suburban women like him But in his prepared remarks, Trump also planned to make two other unique appeals to voters, including his first foray into anti-transgender policy. A copy of his planned speech obtained by NOTUS revealed that Trump plans to propose making it a felony nationwide to provide gender-affirming care for minors without their parents or guardians consent, something which is already largely illegal except in a handful of states. To protect our children from sexual mutilation, we will make it a felony for any medical professional to perform surgery on a minor without parental consent, Trump reportedly planned to say. The second policy Trump originally was set to announce on Tuesday: a plan to seek the death penalty for persons found guilty of sexually abusing children. Its an issue which has already been blocked by the Supreme Court on the grounds of preventing incommensurate sentences for crimes, but one that is a clear nod to the groomer panic that has overtaken parts of the right, particularly on social media. Major figures on the American right wing are accused of weaponizing that panic to smear and target LGBT Americans. I am announcing today that I will be asking for the DEATH PENALTY for child rapists and child traffickers, read Trumps planned remarks. Donald Trump backed off from making two policy announcements in his speech in Howell, Michigan on Tuesday as Democrats hold the spotlight in Chicago amid their four-day convention ( Getty Images ) But neither of those above sentences made it into the live version of the ex-presidents speech in Howell. Instead, a source with knowledge of the change indicated that Trump is holding off on making those appeals to his base until after the Democratic convention ends. The reason? His campaign doesnt want it to be lost in the tsunami of positive coverage that typically follows party conventions and which is currently playing out as the Democrats rally supporters in Chicago. President Trump is saving those additional formal announcements until after the DNC when he can make them on a special occasion. Theyre too important to get lost in the shuffle of convention week, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Independent. The Independent has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. Its the first apparent recognition by the former president that he cant compete with the noise being generated by the DNC and a sign that his bid to recapture momentum in the race will have to wait at least another week. It comes as Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, are hosting a series of events across battleground states this week seemingly aimed at recapturing some of that attention. Trump himself sounded somewhat hoarse and tired on Tuesday as he spoke in Michigan amid what is certainly the busiest week for his personal campaign schedule in months. The Trump campaign is hosting a number of smaller-venue events throughout the week, with the ex-president speaking each day. The week will be capped off by another economic-themed event attended by both Trump and Vance in Las Vegas. The schedule itself may be aimed at refuting a point which has arisen since Biden dropped out of the race in July: the idea that Trump, at 78, is now by far the older candidate in the race, and therefore may also be unfit for office due to his age. Many of the Democrats who spent months battling concerns about Bidens age are now happily raising those same arguments against the Republican ticket. Trumps campaign now finds itself in a tight spot. Harris, since entering the race in late July, has been at the center of a stunning rebound of Democratic enthusiasm which has manifested in national and swing state polling, as well as a surge in donations and volunteer support in swing states around the country. Harriss campaign announced on Tuesday that it had raised more than a half billion dollars since she entered the race just under one month ago. Trump, by comparison, raised less than a quarter million in July less than Kamala Harris raised in one week after she entered the race as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump wrote a flattering note to Vladimir Putin after an ex-Russian intelligence officer and his daughter were poisoned by a deadly nerve agent in the UK in 2018, a former Trump advisor wrote in his upcoming memoir. Former National Security Advisor HR McMaster detailed Trumps relationship with the Russian President during his year-plus stint in the post in his book At War With Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House, obtained by The Guardian. The books release date is August 27. Sergei Skripal, a British citizen and former Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter Yulia, were exposed to novichok, a lethal nerve agent, in Salisbury, England in March 2018. The pair were hospitalized for weeks but ultimately survived. President Donald Trump with US Army Lieutenant General HR McMaster at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, in February 2017 ( AFP/Getty Images ) Three days after the attack, as world leaders in the west scrambled to respond to the near-death incident, Trump sat in the White House admiring a March 7 article in the New York Post titled Putin heaps praise on Trump, pans US politics, the now-retired general wrote. The then-president grabbed a black sharpie to pen an appreciative note on the article, the Guardian reported. Trump then asked McMaster to get the clipping to Putin. I was certain that Putin would use Trumps annotated clipping to embarrass him and provide cover for the attack, the former national security advisor wrote in his memoir. Military personnel in protective gear investigating the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England, in 2018 ( Getty Images ) McMaster recalled giving the note to the White House office of the staff secretary: Later, as evidence mounted that the Kremlin, and very likely Putin himself had ordered the nerve agent attack on Skripal, I told them not to send it. The praise captured by the Post article was part of an effort by Putin to alienate Trump from his advisors who urged him to take a tougher approach to the Kremlin, McMaster reportedly wrote. Putin, a ruthless former KGB operator, played to Trumps ego and insecurities with flattery, McMaster noted. The note at the time of the nerve agent attack is far from the first time Trump has expressed admiration for Putin. He hailed the autocratic leader as a genius, called him savvy, and even sided with him over US intelligence, disregarding their assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The then-president said at a joint press conference alongside Putin in July 2018: I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. Sergei Skripal in court in Russia in 2006 ( AP ) It didnt take long for laboratories around the world to conclude that the attack against Skripal was conducted by Russians. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in April 2018 said in stark terms: There is no plausible alternative explanation. Police in the UK determined that Skripal had been targeted specifically. Reports later indicated that Trump had privately doubted Russias role in the poisoning incident. While speaking to then-Prime Minister Theresa May months after the attack, Trump disputed her intelligence communitys conclusion that Putins government had orchestrated the attempted murder of Skripal, the Washington Post reported in October 2019. Police in the UK also connected the March 2018 attack to another poisoning in June, when British national Dawn Sturgess and her partner were exposed to Novichok in nearby Amesbury, England after coming into contact with a perfume bottle contaminated with novichok. She died the following month. Two Russian intelligence officers were charged in absentia with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and use of the novichok nerve agent. Trump and Putin at a joint press conference in Helsinki, Finland in 2018 ( Getty ) It was the second high-profile poisoning of a Russian defector in Britain to be blamed on Putin. In November 2006 former FSB agent and whistleblower Alexander Litvinenko died weeks after being poisoned with polonium-210, a radioactive isotope smuggled into the UK by two Russians who then met with Litvinenko at a London hotel and apparently put the poison in his tea. After over a year in this job, I cannot understand Putins hold on Trump, McMaster is quoted as saying. Weeks after the nerve agent attack, Trump announced that he was fired by tweet but praised him for doing an outstanding job and reassured that he would always consider McMaster a friend. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump praised his predecessor in a rare remark hours before Barack Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention. The Republican nominee claimed he respected Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, despite the fact that he has spent years bashing his predecessor and proliferating false claims about him, including questioning whether Obama was a US citizen, alleging he ordered the wiretapping of Trump Tower, and even claiming he founded ISIS. But hours before Obama headlined the second night of the DNC, Trump offered rare praise for him. I like him. I think hes a nice gentleman, Trump told CNN on Tuesday. He criticized some of Obamas trade policies before adding, But I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife. The Obamas did not return the favor. In his speech, Barack Obama told the crowd that Trump is only concerned about his own wellbeing, not Americas. Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Hours before the former first couple took the stage, Trump said he happens to like and respect them ( REUTERS ) The GOP nominee is a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. Its been a constant stream of gripes and grievances thats actually gotten worse now that hes afraid of losing to Kamala, the former president said. Trumps act has gotten pretty stale, Obama continued. We dont need four more years of bluster and chaos. Weve seen that movie and we all know that the sequels usually worse. In a moment that has since sent social media users into a frenzy, Obama seemed to be making a reference to male reproductive organs using hand gestures while talking about Trumps weird obsession with crowd sizes. The Republican nominee has been dubbed small hands in past years, also apparently referring to his anatomy. Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke before her husband. In her speech, she called Trump a misogynist and racist, criticized his divisive rhetoric, and blasted his stances on health care and reproductive freedoms. At one point, she used Trumps own words against him. Referring to Trumps now-infamous comment from June about so-called Black jobs, the former first lady warned him that the role of commander-in-chief might just be one of them. Whos going to tell him that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs? she told the crowd. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police officers have carried out fresh raids at the home of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Dozens of masked officers swooped on the self-described misogynists home in Romania that he shares with his brother Tristan Tate on Wednesday morning. Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said it was searching four homes in the counties of Bucharest and nearby Ilfov, investigating allegations of human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering. The Tates spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said in response to the raids that although the charges in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering and added that his legal team is present. Petrescu did not address the allegations involving minors. Masked police wait outside the residence of social media personality Andrew Tate during an early morning search raid ( AP ) Dozens of police officers and forensic personnel were seen scouring the large property on the edge of the capital Bucharest. During the entire criminal process, the investigated persons benefit from the procedural rights and guarantees provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the presumption of innocence, DIICOT noted in its statement. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, both former kickboxers and dual British-US citizens who have both amassed millions of social media followers, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four last year on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. They have denied the allegations. In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors case file against the four met the legal criteria and that a trial could start but did not set a date for it to begin. That ruling came after the legal case had been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, a process in which the defendants can challenge prosecutors evidence and case file. Police prepare to break down a door outside Andrew Tates residence ( AP ) Andrew (right) and Tristan Tate leaving a court in June 2024 ( EPA ) After the Tate brothers arrest in 2022, they were held for three months in police detention before being moved to house arrest. They were later restricted to the Bucharest and Ilfov counties, and later to all of Romania. Last month, a court overturned an earlier decision that allowed the Tate brothers to leave Romania as they await trial. The earlier court ruled on 5 July that they could leave the country as long as they remained within the European Union. The decision was final. Andrew Tate, who is known for expressing misogynistic views online and has amassed 9.9 million followers on the social media platform X, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. Police officers outside the Tate brothers residence in Pipera, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania ( Reuters ) He was previously banned from various social media platforms for misogynistic views and hate speech, but had his X account reinstated by new platform owner Elon Musk. In March, the Tate brothers also appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case, after British authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a UK case dating back to 2012-2015. The appeals court granted the British request to extradite the Tates to the UK, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the people initially unaccounted for after his superyacht Bayesian sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday. On Saturday morning, Italian authorities announced a manslaughter investigation had been launched into the deaths of seven people, after a five-day operation that has seen divers carefully navigating their way into the cabin bedrooms. After a decade-long legal battle which had seen him extradited to the US to face an $11bn fraud case, Mr Lynch had celebrated by inviting his close friends, colleagues and those who helped him on his legal team aboard his boat as a gesture of gratitude. Mike Lynch missing ( PA Archive ) Yet a week of sunshine along the Italian coastline would soon turn to horror after the boat capsized shortly before dawn, only offering those onboard a few minutes to get themselves to safety. British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who died after the Bayesian superyacht sank near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday. Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died. The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it sank at around 5am local time near the Sicilian capital of Palermo. The yachts chef, Recaldo Thomas, is already confirmed to have died after his body was recovered from the wreck on Monday, while 15 survivors were rescued. Here's what we know about the 22 people on board: Mike Lynch Hannah and Mike Lynch ( Supplied ) British technology tycoon Mike Lynch had been in the headlines long before the boat incident following being the centre of a high-profile fraud case. The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy, and his disappearance comes just weeks after he was cleared of all charges by a US jury related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. HP claimed, just a year after the sale, that Mr Lynch had used accounting tricks to artificially inflate its value before the sale. He spent 13 months under house arrest before being extradited to the US last May for a trial that acquitted him in June this year on all 15 counts. Mr Lynch told a Sunday Times journalist last month that he was about to go on a very long holiday. In June, he spoke of his indescribable relief at being back at home in Suffolk with his wife, daughters and their six dogs. He told reporters: I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field. Angela Bacares Mike Lynch and Angela Bacares ( Desmond O'Neill ) Wife of Mike Lynch, 57-year-old Angela Bacares managed to escape to safety and is in a wheelchair with abrasions on her feet that prevent her from walking, according to la Repubblica. The newspaper said she told doctors that at 4am, the boat had tilted and she and her husband were woken up. Under Angela Bacares name, the couples estimated wealth is 852m, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed in 2023. They have a house in Chelsea, west London, but primarily live on their farm in Suffolk with their six dogs and rare breeds of pigs and cows. Hannah Lynch Hannah Lynch ( Supplied ) Mr Lynch was travelling with his daughter Hannah, whose body was lifted ashore on Friday afternoon. The 18-year-old had just completed her A-levels and secured a place to read English at Oxford University. Hannahs former English teacher Jon Mitropoulos-Monk said she was one of the best English students in the country having scored 100% in her English Literature GCSE. Patrick Jacob, a family friend, paid tribute to her on Friday, saying: Hannah was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge. She was also warm, loving and deeply considerate; remarkably for her age. I am 50 years older than her and in my life I have never met anybody like Hannah. We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise. Her loss is unbearable. Chris Morvillo Neda Morvillo and Chris Morvillo ( Patrick McMullan via Getty Image ) Chris Morvillo is a lawyer who represented Mr Lynch in his US trial. He is a partner at the Clifford Chance law firm who confirmed on Tuesday he was among the six missing. In his most recent LinkedIn post, he thanked the legal team that helped win Mr Lynchs trial. At the end of the post, he thanked his family for their support: And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo. None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after. Neda Morvillo Chris Morvillos 57-year-old wife Neda was with him on the holiday. She has a luxury jewellery brand, which she runs under her maiden name Neda Nassiri. Her husbands firm Clifford Chance said in a statement: Our thoughts are with our partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing. Jonathan Bloomer Jonathan Bloomer ( PA Media ) Another of those confirmed to be dead is lawyer Jonathan Bloomer who is the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International. He is also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox, which confirmed he is missing. Its group chief executive Aki Hussain said they were deeply shocked and saddened by the news. Mr Bloomer was a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial and the pair are believed to be good friends, according to the Financial Times. Judy Bloomer Jonathan and Judy Bloomer ( Family Handout/PA ) Jonathan Bloomers wife Judy was also on board the yacht and has been confirmed dead. Mr Hussain said in his statement: Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing. Mrs Bloomer is on the board of The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers. The charity described her as a brilliant champion for womens health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years. Recaldo Thomas Recaldo Thomas ( Facebook ) Recaldo Thomas was the superyachts chef and the first person whose death was confirmed. The Canadian-Antiguan national was found by the Italian coastguard near the sunken boat. A friend of Mr Thomas, who asked to remain anonymous, said the yachting community has been saddened by his death. She told The Independent: He was a one-of-a-kind special human being. Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life his friends and his job. Ayla Ronald Ayla Ronald ( Clifford Chance ) Ayla Ronald and her partner are two of the 15 who survived the yacht disaster, law firm Clifford Chance confirmed. The 36-year-old worked defended Mr Lynch in court and was on the trip as part of the celebration for his acquittal. Clifford Chance said in a statement: Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident. She is originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London, her father Lin Ronald told The Telegraph, saying she was very shaken. Mr Ronald said that she was invited to go sailing as a result of the success in the recent United States court case. Matthew Aylas partner Matthew also survived the boat disaster. There is little more known about his background or condition. Charlotte Golunski Charlotte Golunskys face covered by an officer from the British embassy as she leaves hospital in Italy ( REUTERS ) Charlotte Golunskis testimony of the ordeal on the ship were some of the first to be published after she was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sofia. She spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, confirming she survived the yacht sinking and told how she kept her daughter alive after she was rescued. She said: I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. It was all dark. In the water I couldnt keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others. The 35-year-old is a partner at Invoke Capital, one of Mr Lynchs law firms, and has worked there since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile. James Emsley Ms Golunksis partner James Emsley was also rescued from the yacht, according to Sicilys civil protection agency. There is little information on him, but it has been confirmed the 36-year-old is the father of her one-year-old daughter. Sofia One-year-old Sofia was rescued from the water by her mother and subsequently looked after in hospital. Ms Golunski told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that her family survived only because they were on deck when the yacht sank after encountering a heavy storm. Dr Domenico Cipolla told local media that the family have had a physical and psychological upheaval of their lives. He said the hospital provided toys for the baby, cuddles, and fed them because they were frightened and hungry. The family of three left the Di Cristina Childrens Hospital in a black van on Tuesday via a back entrance today. They were accompanied by an officer from the British embassy, who covered the familys faces with a jacket to hide them from a huddle of photographers. James Catfield The captain of the superyacht James Catfield survived the horror and broke his silence on Tuesday with just five words. He said: We didnt see it coming and was described as limp as he waited outside an emergency room in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese, according to local media. Leo Eppel The Italian coastguard confirmed on Tuesday evening that Leo Eppel, a crew member, also survived the yacht sinking. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The identities of five bodies found inside the wreck of the luxury superyacht Bayesian have now been confirmed, and include British technology tycoon Mike Lynch. Also confirmed dead is Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, all of whom were aboard when the boat sank in a severe storm off the coast of Sicily. Mr Lynchs 18-year-old daughter Hannah remains missing, with search efforts resuming on Thursday morning and Salvatore Concina, the head of Sicilys civil protection agency, saying it remained their priority to find her. The 50-metre vessel sank as a fierce storm battered the area overnight, and was flying a British flag, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic. For the latest updates on this story, follow The Independents live blog What do we know about the missing people on the yacht? Mike Lynch was among the six tourists who were initially missing after disaster struck. The British technology tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was made an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006. In June, he was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to a $11 billion (8.64bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard. One man, the yachts chef Recaldo Thomas, was the first person confirmed dead, after his body was discovered on Monday in the hours after the sinking. Loved ones have paid tributes to Mr Thomas, a Canadian-born man who had been living in Antigua, on social media. One said: Rest in Power big man. I dont know what else to say except I love you, and I always will. Another wrote: Going to miss you so much Recaldo Thomas still finding this so hard to believe. Have you been affected by this story? Email rachel.hagan@independent.co.uk It is understood that Mr Lynch had planned the superyacht cruise as a celebration with family, employees and lawyers who supported him during the decade-long trial. Among the 15 survivors rescued from a lifeboat was Mr Lynchs wife Angela Bacares. Another survivor, Charlotte Golunski, 35, told Italian journalists how she saved her one-year-old daughter Sofia from drowning. The Bayesian sailing boat ( EPA ) She told La Repubblica she lost Sofia for two seconds, adding: I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. It was all dark. In the water I couldnt keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Golunski is a partner at Mr Lynchs firm, called Invoke Capital. Charlotte, Sofia and Charlottes husband, James have now been discharged from hospital. Ayla Reynold, from New Zealand, working at Clifford Chance, also survived the horror with her partner. Her father Lin Ronald confirmed to The Telegraph she had been invited aboard as thanks for assistance in Mr Lynchs recent court case. He said that his daughter had not given many details about what happened, but said: There are deaths and she and her partner are alive. Two more survivors have also been named as Leah Randall and Katja Chicken. They are both reportedly South African and worked as crew members on the Bayesian. Where did the yacht sink? The luxury yacht sunk off the coast of the Sicilian capital of Palermo in Italy. The 56-metre-long sailboat sank with 22 people on board shortly before sunrise, the Italian coast guard said in a statement. Map showing where superyacht sank off Sicily ( PA Graphics ) The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude, a coast guard official in Palermo told Reuters. Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days with floods and landslides causing major damage in the north of the country after weeks of scorching heat. The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking app Vesselfinder. The Bayesian superyacht The luxury boat, which had been cruising along the Italian coastline, was owned by Revtom, a company registered to Mr Lynchs wife Angela Bacares, which is based on the Isle of Man. The Bayesian is 56 metres long, according to VesselFinder. The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and is listed for rent for up to 195,000 euros (166,000) a week. Bayesian completed several sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily. Formerly known as Salute, or health in Italian, its 75-metre mast is the tallest aluminium mast in the world, Italian shipbuilder Perini said on its website. The route of the Bayeasian yacht took in its final hours before the storm ( vessel finder ) Perini constructed the boat in 2008 and it was last refitted in 2020 and was managed by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons. Camper and Nicholsons International, confirmed to The Independent that the Bayesian sailing yacht encountered severe weather and subsequently sank. What do we know about the search Body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Mr Concina said there will be an investigation in due course, but the priority is finding the missing teenager. As the body bags were taken back to the port, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting, and one bag was seen being put in the back of an ambulance. Inspections of the yacht's internal hull took place on Wednesday morning after divers succeeded in smashing through a glass window to enter it amid a reportedly difficult search operation. Five bodies were found in the wreck of the sunken Bayesian yacht on Wednesday ( PA Wire ) A helicopter was drafted in to help the search effort as divers from the local fire service entered the water with torches attached to their headgear. A police boat and divers also entered the water on Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews said they had been accessing the vessel through natural entrances, without making openings. Remotely controlled underwater vehicles have been used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search, the coastguard said. A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also arrived in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking. The MAIB is looking into what happened because the Bayesian was flying a British flag, it is understood. The Italian Coastguard said the MAIB is not involved in the search for the missing people, and that it has not been requested to assist. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Six people are missing and one is dead after a super yacht capsized off the coast of Sicily last night. A violent storm led the vessel named Bayesian to capsize in the early hours near the port of Porticello. Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer is amongst the missing, alongside UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and Salvatore Cocina, who is head of the civil protection agency in Sicily. The boat was carrying 22 people when it capsized, with 15 now rescued. The incident comes after Mr Lynch, 59, was cleared in a high-profile fraud case in June. The Autonomy founder was acquitted of charges related to the 2011 multi-billion dollar sale of his company to HP. Rescue operations continue after the luxury yacht sank off Sicily ( REUTERS ) If convicted by a jury, Mr Lynch would have been facing up to 20 years in prison. He had invited colleagues and family on board the yacht to celebrate his legal victory, with several onboard being involved in the trial. Amongst these was Mr Bloomer, 70, who was called to the stand by Mr Lynchs team during the trial. The British banking boss was chairman of Autonomys audit committee during its sale to HP, and told the jury that Mr Lynch wasnt particularly interested in the finance side. For the latest updates on the story, follow The Independents live coverage Mike was mostly interested in the strategy, new products, new areas to look at he didnt come to the audit committee, he had added. Mr Bloomer now remains one of the six missing passengers of the Bayesian, with British and Italian authorities working to find them. A spokesperson for for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily, and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected. Who is Jonathan Bloomer? Jonathan Bloomer speaking in 2002 ( Getty Images ) Mr Bloomer has been the chairman of Morgan Stanley International since 2018, and last year was also made chairman of the Hiscox international insurance group. He began his career at the now-defunct American accounting firm Arthur Andersen, working there for 20 years from 1974 to 1994. Mr Bloomer then spent the next ten years at Prudential, an insurance firm based in the UK, eventually becoming group CEO until 2005. Mr Bloomer has held several other roles since 2005, and alongside his chairman roles at Morgan Stanley and Hiscox, he also chairs property company SDL Group Holdings. The businessman was chair of Autonomys audit committee from September 2010 until its sale in October 2011. This is likely where he met and became friends with Mr Lynch. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine has damaged or destroyed three bridges in the Russian region of Kursk as they attempt to consolidate positions gained during their ambitious cross-border assult and cut off supplies to Moscows troops. The first bridge was destroyed in the village of Glushkovo, around eight miles west of Ukrainian troops inside of Russia, on Friday. The second was destroyed on Saturday in the village of Zvannoye, a further five miles westward. The third bridge reportedly destroyed on Sunday night is in the village of Karyzh, a further four miles westward. All three bridges run over the Seym river that runs through the Kursk region. If Ukraine confirms the destruction of the third bridge, that would mean that Russian forces are now reliant on receiving military equipment via a makeshift pontoon bridge, according to analysts. The purpose of targeting these bridges is to sever Russian supply lines and trap Moscows troops. View more When Ukraines air force posted footage of the second bridge being blown up on Saturday, their commander Mykola Oleschuk wrote on the Telegram messenger app: The aviation of the Air Force continues to deprive the enemy of logistical capabilities with accurate air strikes, which significantly affects the course of hostilities! Russian forces fighting between the Seym River and the Ukrainian border may now be stuck, trapped by the waterway behind them and running along their left flank, and the Ukrainian forces trying to advance in front of them and the Ukrainian border on the Russians soldiers right flank. The Seym and the Ukrainian border intersect near the Ukrainian town of Hirky, around six miles from the allegedly latest bridge strike in the Russian village of Karyzh. The Centre for Defence Strategies, a Ukrainian security think tank, wrote that this indicates that the objective [of Ukrainian forces] is to take control of a portion of Kursk Oblast south of the Seym River. If Ukrainian forces were to take that area, roughly 221 square miles worth of territory, it would enlarge the area of the Kursk region that they control by almost 50 per cent. Previous estimates from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, suggested that Ukrainian forces had taken around 300 square miles. The attack, which appears as a bulge into mainland Russia, is around 37 miles wide and almost 17 miles deep. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Five bodies have been recovered from the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian after it sank in a freak storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday. A fifth body remains in the sailboat while the whereabouts of the sixth missing person remain unknown. Tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the six people unaccounted for after his vessel sank at around 5am near the Sicilian capital of Palermo, having been caught in a violent tornado, known as a waterspout. The other four passengers who have been missing since the disaster are Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Chris Morvillo, a lawyer with Clifford Chance; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Italian firefighter scuba divers bring ashore the body of one of the victims on Wednesday ( AP ) Identities of the recovered bodies have not been confirmed by authorities, despite local and international media reporting some had been identified. As the body bags were taken back to the port of Porticello on Wednesday afternoon, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting, and one bag was seen being put in the back of an ambulance. The search operation was suspended on Wednesday evening and will resume on Thursday morning, with the process of bringing the fifth body to shore being described by Salvatore Cocina, from Sicilys civil protection agency, as ongoing. He also said there will be an investigation in due course, but the priority is finding the missing. British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among the six people unaccounted for after the Bayesian sank ( PA Archive ) The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working on the 56-metre vessel as a chef, was previously discovered on Monday, with tributes describing him as a well-loved, kind human being. Emergency services rescued 15 other passengers and crew from a lifeboat, which included a one-year-old baby and Mr Lynchs wife Angela Bacares, who is said to be in a state of shock and sadness. Lynch, 59, had recently made headlines after being acquitted of a $11bn (8.64bn) fraud case in June regarding the sale of his software giant Autonomy to US company Hewlett Packard. Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer also went missing after the disaster ( PA Media ) It is understood that the trip onboard his yacht had been a celebration, with collaborators and colleagues invited onboard. However, a freak weather incident caused the yacht to capsize, with authorities now investigating whether hatches had been left open by crew members as well as looking into onboard safety measures. Fire crews described the operation as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts and debris and furniture cluttering the narrow spaces within the boat. Inspections of the yachts internal hull took place on Wednesday morning, while a team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also arrived in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking. Specialist divers have spent three days searching the site ( PA ) The MAIB is looking into what happened because the Bayesian was flying a union jack, it is understood. The Italian Coastguard said the MAIB is not involved in the search for the missing people, and that it has not been requested to assist. A helicopter was drafted in to help the search effort, as divers from the local fire service were seen entering the water with torches attached to their headgear. Once dubbed the British Bill Gates, Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares were valued at 852m in 2023 by The Sunday Times Rich List. Boats are seen participating in the search efforts with specialist divers ( EPA ) Lynch founded Autonomy using technology he developed as a Cambridge student and was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise. After selling the company to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011, a decade-long legal battle ensued. HP claimed, just a year after the sale, that Lynch had used accounting tricks to artificially inflate its value before the sale. He was extradited to the US last May for a trial that acquitted him on all 15 counts. Lynch had told Radio 4 earlier this month that being acquitted was indescribable and believed he could only clear his name because of his huge wealth. Lynch founded Autonomy using technology he developed as a Cambridge student and was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to enterprise ( PA ) In an interview, he spoke of his plans to spend the summer months on holiday. Charlotte Golunski, who survived alongside her husband and baby, told la Reppublica she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning. She said: I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. It was all dark. In the water, I couldnt keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others. She described being woken by thunder, lightning and waves that made our boat dance, adding: It was the end of the world and my husband and I were struggling to stand up. The luxury boat, which had been cruising along the Italian coastline, was owned by Revtom, a company registered to Lynchs wife Angela Bacares. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among the six people missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, The Independent understands. The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and has been in the headlines after he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case. Mr Lynch was on the boat, named Bayesian, which sank in bad weather in the early hours of Monday near the Sicilian capital Palermo. There were 12 guests and 10 crew on board - of whom 15 have been rescued including Mr Lynchs wife, The Independent understands. Sources have also confirmed that Mr Lynch is the owner of the vessel. A body, believed to be that of the superyachts chef, has been found, according to local media, with pictures showing a body bag being brought to shore where ambulances were stationed. Once dubbed the British Bill Gates, Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares were valued at 852m in 2023 by the Sunday Times Rich List. Mike Lynch in 2011 ( PA Archive ) His disappearance following the superyacht sinking comes just weeks after he was cleared of all charges by a US jury related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. Mr Lynch founded Autonomy in 1996 using technology he developed as a Cambridge student. HP claimed, just a year after the sale, that Mr Lynch had used accounting tricks to artificially inflate its value before the sale He was then extradited to the US last May for a trial that acquitted him on all 15 counts over the 11-billion dollar (8.64 billion) purchase of his company. Mr Lynch said on Radio 4 that being acquitted was indescribable and believed he could only clear his name because of his huge wealth. He said most people, even if they sold all their assets, would run out of funds in a matter of months, to cover the legal fees, a situation that he said has to change. Have you been affected by this story? Email rachel.hagan@independent.co.uk Born near Chelmsford, Essex, to a nurse mother and father fireman, Mr Lynch said his father regretted not having the chance to attend university. He told LeadersIn: "He realised the importance of education so that was something that was very much fostered in my home. When he was 11 years old, he won a scholarship to study at Bancroft's School in Woodford Green and then studied natural sciences at the University of Cambridge. He set up his first company in the 1980s, with a 2,000 loan from the manager of a band, producing audio products for the recording industry, The Guardian reported. Mr Lynch has a string of accolades including being awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006. That same year, he was appointed to the BBCs board. He was also elected to former prime minister David Camerons council for science and technology in 2011. A representative for Dr Lynch declined to comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Poland for top-level security and trade talks before heading to neighboring Ukraine, which is at war with India's strategic partner, Russia. Modi will hold talks Thursday in Warsaw with Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda, which are expected to focus on security, especially in the region bordering Ukraine. Ukraine chastised Modi for his visit to Moscow last month, when he met and hugged President Vladimir Putin. Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine. Poland's deputy prime minister, Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who is also the defense minister, has said he counts on intensifying cooperation with India in various areas, including new technologies. In a statement ahead of his arrival in the NATO and European Union member nation, Modi said Poland remains India's key economy partner in Central Europe. The Indian leader's visit also marks 70 years of official bilateral relations between New Delhi and Warsaw, and comes 45 years after the previous visit by an Indian government leader, Morarji Desai. According to the figures cited by the Embassy of India, from 2013-2023, the total bilateral trade value increased from $1.95 billion to $5.72 billion, with India's exports accounting for majority of it. On Wednesday, Modi is to lay wreaths at two monuments in Warsaw marking joint chapters of World War II. One of the monuments honors the Good Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, who offered protection and care to some 1,000 Polish children evacuated from the Soviet Union to India from 1942-46, the other commemorates the joint effort in the 1944 Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy. Modi's statement said he is also to meet with representatives of the Indian community in Poland. Then-Indian President Pratibha Patil visited Poland in 2009, and Tusk, during his first term as prime minister, paid a visit to India in 2010. On Friday, Modi travels to Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The trip to Ukraine comes a month after Zelenskyy criticized Modi's two-day visit to Moscow in July, when he met with Putin on the day Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, killing scores of people. Zelenskyy had described the meeting as a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts." He also chided Modi for hugging Putin during their meeting. India has avoided condemning Russias invasion and instead has urged Russia and Ukraine to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday made an unscheduled trip to Chechnya, a mainly Muslim republic within the Russian Federation, his first visit in nearly 13 years, as Ukraine's stunning cross-border incursion into western Russia entered its third week. Putin was greeted by Chechnyas self-styled strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, before visiting a special forces academy bearing his own name and speaking with volunteer fighters who train there prior to being deployed in Ukraine. Putin praised the volunteers and said that as long as Russia has men like them, it will be invincible, according to reports by Russian state agencies. Russia Putin ( Sputnik ) Kadyrov said in a post on his official Telegram channels that more than 47,000 fighters, including volunteers, have trained at the facility since Moscow began what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Fighters from Chechnya, whose bid for independence after the Soviet Union's collapse led to years of war with Russian government forces, are participating on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine. Pro-Kyiv volunteers loyal to Dzhokhar Dudayev, the late Chechen pro-independence leader, are the sworn enemies of Chechen forces that back Putin and Kadyrov. The latter joined Russia in the months-long siege of Ukraines key port of Mariupol and other flashpoints in the country's south and east. Also on Tuesday, Putin visited the grave of Kadyrovs father, former Chechen leader Akhmat Kadyrov, a command post and a mosque in the local capital, Grozny. At the end of the day, he held talks with the Chechen leader, who announced the republic has tens of thousands" of reservists ready to fight the Ukrainians, according to Russian state media reports. The reports did not specify whether any of these might be sent to repel Kyiv's incursion into the Russian region of Kursk. The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to keep the North Caucasus stable following years of turmoil. International rights groups have accused Kadyrov's security forces of extrajudicial killings, torture and abductions of dissenters, but Russian authorities have stonewalled repeated demands for investigations. Russia Putin ( Sputnik ) Russia Putin ( Sputnik ) APTOPIX Russia Putin ( Sputnik ) The Kremlin scrambled fighters from Chechnya to help protect Moscow from an abortive mutiny launched by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last year, but some commentators warned that Kadyrovs ambitions could also potentially pose a threat to federal authorities. As of Tuesday evening, neither the Kremlin nor Kadyrov shared any details about the purpose and timing of Putins unexpected visit, with Kadyrov saying only that a busy schedule awaited the Russian leader. Putin later held talks with Kadyrov at the Chechen leader's residence in Grozny. Before his surprise visit to Chechnya, Putin was earlier on Tuesday in Beslan, a town in the Caucasus province of North Ossetia, where he had his first meeting in nearly two decades with mothers of children killed in the 2004 school attack by Islamic militants that left more than 330 dead. At the meeting, he slammed Kyivs incursion into Russia's Kursk region, accusing the Ukrainians of trying to destabilize the country. We will punish the criminals. There can be no doubt about that, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukrainian forces are advancing through Russias Kursk region as part of their historic cross-border assault, concentrating their resources on this attack - but Moscows forces are doing the same in eastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted this week the situation on Ukraines eastern frontline was difficult. Ukraines general staff, meanwhile, reported that there had been dozens of combat clashes on several hot points of the frontline in that direction. As reports surface that Ukraine may have shifted some military resources from the eastern Donetsk region, the site of the most intense fighting in Ukraine, to help prosecute their Kursk incursion, concerns abound that such a move could prove a fatal miscalculation. Since 6 August, when Ukraine began its cross-border attack, Russian forces have advanced several miles towards the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. Russia claimed to have control of the settlement of Zhelanne, about 12 miles from Pokrovsk, one of a number of villages and settlements Moscows forces claim to have taken this week. More than 50,000 civilians remain in the city, which had a pre-war population of around 80,000. If Russia eventually seizes it, it will be the largest population centre it has taken since Bakhmut last May, after months of heavy urban warfare. Nevertheless, the loss of Pokrovsk could have an even costlier effect. A young boy, his sister and his mother step off an armoured van on Tuesday used for evacuations from the Pokrovsk area ( AP ) The city, a logistical hub for the countrys military, sits at the junction of two major roads through the region. Its capture is seen as key to the Russian military prosecuting Vladimir Putins objective of taking the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, known as Donbas. Russias military appears to have thrown resources at the effort, possibly at the expense of defending its own civilians in Kursk. As one analyst put it, Putins eye of Sauron, a reference to Lord of the Rings, has been trained on Donetsk, and particularly Pokrovsk, even as his own country is being invaded. Russian troops are now just six miles from the city walls, allegedly battling the last proper defensive line outside the city, and four from the neighbouring town of Myrnohrad, according to local officials. Previous Russian assaults on cities in Donetsk, such as Avdiivka through the latter half of last year until around February this year, when it took control of the city, began with heavy mechanised attacks led by tanks and armoured carriers, as well as an aerial bombardment of the area. While the second element of that style of attack is still being used, Russian forces are now more reliant on dismounted infantry and small units attempting to move forward and make gradual advances towards Pokrovsk, according to one western official. The official added that those [attacks] have increased over the past week in terms of the rate at which [the Russians] are able to advance every day towards Pokrovsk, though the push remains gradual. Deep State, a Ukrainian analytical group that tracks the frontline and which is known to have close ties to the military, reported that another three towns had been taken by the Russians just to the south of Pokrovsk this week. It added that Russian forces had advanced near Novogrodivka , Zavitny and Ptychy three towns also on the southern edge of Moscows push towards Pokrovsk. Russian forces have also made gains further along the frontline in the wider Donetsk region, pushing towards the towns of Toretsk and Siversk, while the Russian ministry of defence claimed control of the town of Niu-York, near Toretsk. The western official on Friday confirmed that Niu-York was coming under the control of the Russians. They added, however, that Russia was losing around 1,000 casualties, dead and wounded, every day. Russia is losing more now than it is able to recruit, the official said, adding that there was no sign of Russias ability to scale up recruitment to offset these losses despite the introduction of more lucrative sign-up bonuses in recent months, Heavy fighting continues in the Pokrovsky direction, wrote Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on the Telegram messenger app at the start of the week. Defence forces are also doing everything necessary to protect Toretsk. As if as an afterthought, he added: We are achieving new results in Kursk. Ukrainian soldiers of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fire from BRM1K infantry fighting vehicle towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk region ( EPA ) The Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk region has undoubtedly been successful. It is the first time Russia has been invaded since the Second World War, a fact that is deeply embarrassing for Putin and his regime. Ukrainian soldiers toldThe Independent they laughed like madmen as they realised they were digging trenches inside Russia. It has also created a buffer zone between Ukrainian civilians and the Russian military, reducing Moscows ability to fire artillery and drones at nearby Ukrainian towns and cities, and saving lives in the process. As Ukraine bombs bridges to the west of its advancing forces inside Russia, effectively severing the last remaining supply lines to Moscows troops defending that area, Kyiv may also be on the cusp of taking more territory still. But it may well be coming at a price; square miles captured in Kursk could cost square miles lost in Donetsk. Some speculate that given Kyiv may be forced to the negotiating table by a future, notoriously transactional US president in Donald Trump (if he makes it to the White House in November), Ukraine could be employing a reach-before-result strategy, capturing parts of Kursk to later trade them for land occupied by the Russians later on. Others suggest it is a signal to Kyivs western partners that despite a difficult year, Ukraine is still capable of carrying out devastating offensives, and that it deserves additional support. There is no guarantee, however, that this will pay off. Meanwhile, Russias takeover of parts of eastern Ukraine is material, and it could prove more fatal. As Emil Kastehelmi, an open-source analyst tracking the Russo-Ukrainian war for The Black Bird Group, says: The ground in Donetsk is more valuable to the Russians [than Kursk]. It possibly should be to the Ukrianians as well. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine has launched the largest drone attack on Moscow since Vladimir Putins invasion its latest attempt to bring the war to Russia as it continues an audacious cross-border incursion in Kursk. For months, Ukraine has targeted Russian refineries and airfields with drones but assaults on the capital some 300 miles from the Ukrainian border have been rarer. One Russian dissident told The Independent that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was seeking to land a serious psychological blow to Russians. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin accused Ukraine of carrying out one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever in Wednesday mornings move. Russias defence ministry said its air systems destroyed a total of 45 drones over its territory, including 11 over the Moscow region, 23 over the border region of Bryansk, six over the Belgorod region, three over the Kaluga region and two over the Kursk region. Mr Sobyanin also claimed some of the drones were shot down just 24 miles south of the Kremlin. Ukraine is doing everything it can to shift the attention of Russian authorities from its own territory to the territory of the aggressor country, said Yevgenia Chirikova, a Russian dissident and friend of the late imprisoned opposition leader Alexander Navalny who now helps support the pro-Ukrainian Russian militias in Ukraine. Such drone attacks have been increasing recently, and I believe their intensity will continue to grow. Emil Kastehelmi, an open-source intelligence analyst tracking the war in Ukraine for the Black Bird Group, added: Ukraine is operating inside Russia. Now it makes the largest strike against Moscow of the whole war ... [Ukraine] wants to show Russia that just as they are always showing Ukraine that they are not really safe anywhere ... that the same applies in Russia. Central Moscow on Wednesday. Defence ministry said its air systems destroyed 11 drones over the city region ( Reuters ) Even when it is Moscow, Ukraine can still strike there, he said. Russian media showed unverified footage of drones whirring through the dawn sky across the Moscow region before being shot down in a ball of flame. Moscows airports, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, restricted flights for four hours during the attacks. The last time Ukraine fired such a number of drones at Moscow was in May 2023, when at least eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were reportedly destroyed. At that time, Mr Putin accused Ukraine of trying to scare and provoke Russia. Mr Sobyanin said there were no injuries or damage reported in the aftermath of the latest attacks, while Moscow residents spoke of the strength of the citys air defences. There were also no casualties or damage reported following the attack on Bryansk in Russias southwest, according to the governor of the region, Alexander Bogomaz. Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region, also claimed air defence forces successfully destroyed a Ukraine-launched missile in his area, with no injuries reported. But fires were seen on the ground as Ukraine claimed to have destroyed an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system there. Kyivs special forces also published footage of a series of strikes on Russian bridges and makeshift pontoon bridges over the Seym River in Kursk, where Kyivs forces have carried out an incursion that has lasted more than two weeks. They said they had used US-supplied high-mobility artillery rocket systems (Himars) to strike the bridges. It was the first official statement from Kyiv that Western weapons were part of the unprecedented offensive. Anonymous sources confirmed to The Independent last week that British Challenger 2 tanks were used in the attack, while Mr Zelenskys chief adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said the assault on Kursk was also part of a psychological tactic to force Putin to the negotiating table. A Russian Mi-35M helicopter fires towards Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location in the Russian-Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region ( AP ) [Russians] dont discuss the war, and they generally feel quite comfortable because there is a war going on somewhere, someone is killing. Its interesting for them to watch on TV, he said. But when the war proceeds into the territory of Russia, they are certainly scared. They are shocked. This has a significant impact on the psychological state of Russia. It is also a tool of influence. The bridges are vital to resupplying Russian forces between the river and the Ukrainian border, as well as providing a retreat route should Kyivs troops advance westward. All three permanent bridges in the area, which forms the southern half of the Glushkovsky district, were damaged or destroyed over the weekend, on Friday, Saturday and then Sunday. Ukraine claimed responsibility for at least one of those strikes. High-resolution satellite imagery released online also showed the extent of damage sustained by the third permanent bridge, near the village of Karyzh, after it was hit on Sunday. Russian engineers recently began constructing makeshift pontoon bridges to reconnect supply lines from the north of the river, but satellite imagery showed the constructions disappearing a day or two later. Plumes of smoke were visible in several of the pictures, suggesting Ukraine may have destroyed the facilities, but Kyiv had declined to comment. Ukraines special operations forces posted footage on Telegram of what it said was the destruction of several crossings and the engineering units responsible. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Danish and Swedish justice ministers vowed on Wednesday to go after organized crime leaders abroad, whom they say have been hiring teenagers in Sweden to carry out deadly shootings in Denmark. Denmarks Peter Hummelgaard has said that gangs have hired young Swedes to commit crimes in Denmark at least 25 times since April, in part because Swedish law imposes lighter penalties for minors who commit serious crimes. Several of the people who orchestrate this reckless and violent crime are hiding under warmer skies, and of course this is completely unacceptable, Hummelgaard told a press conference Wednesday after a meeting with his Swedish counterpart Gunnar Strommer in Copenhagen. He said they were often in the greater Middle East but didn't name any specific country. One of Sweden's two major gangs is led by a Swedish-Turkish dual national who lives in Turkey, which refuses to extradite its own citizens. Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer, left, and Denmark's Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard provide information at a press conference in the Ministry of Justice in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, about the effort against gang crime ( Thomas Traasdahl/RitzauScanpix ) Swedish and Danish media say that gang is involved in a deadly feud with one of the main criminal gangs in Denmark Loyal to Familia which was banned in 2021. Sweden has grappled with gang violence for years, while in Denmark, police have also seen violence between gangs but on a lesser scale. Last year, Swedish police noted an increase in the number of teenagers under 18 who were recruited to carry out killings for hire because they do not face the same police controls as adults and are often shielded from prosecution. Strommer said that Sweden would tighten its laws, noting that minors who are convicted of murder in Sweden are placed in juvenile facilities, while they can face up to 16 years in prison in Denmark. The two also vowed to crack down on online gang activity, with Strommer saying that leading figures in these criminal networks order murders and bombings totally out in the open online. Earlier, Hummelgaard has said that solutions could include changing Danish law to allow facial recognition technology, and deploying better software to monitor encrypted messages. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukrainian forces have captured hundreds of square miles of territory inside Russia in one of the most significant incursions into Russia since the Second World War. Thousands of Ukrainian troops smashed over the border from Ukraines Sumy region into the neighbouring Russian Kursk region on 6 August. Since then, Kyivs forces have claimed to have taken more land in a fortnight than Russia has in Ukraine during this entire calendar year. While the ground offensive appears to be slowing down, with Russian forces moving several thousand troops from less hot areas on the frontline in Ukraine, Kyivs air force have started destroying Moscows vital military supply lines, suffocating the troops still defending the area in Kursk. How much territory has Ukraine taken in Russia? View more The numbers vary. Calculating territory taken during an incursion that ebbs and flows is difficult. Ukraines army chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrksyi claims his forces have captured almost 445 square miles (1,150 sq kilometres) of land in Kursk, while they have also set up a military commandants office in the occupied part of the region. For context, that is nearly three times the amount of territory they retook in occupied Ukraine during their three-month counteroffensive last summer, according to estimates. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank that tracks developments on the frontline, offers a more conservative estimate of around 300 square miles (800 sq km). Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, said last week that Kyivs forces were pushing one to two kilometres further all along the new frontline. The attack, which appears as a bulge into mainland Russia, is around 37 miles wide and almost 17 miles deep. Could Ukraine take more territory? View more Last Friday, Ukraines air force destroyed the first of three bridges on the Seym River to the west of the Ukrainian troops in Kursk. On Saturday and then Sunday night, they destroyed the two other permanent bridges in that area, leaving Russian troops in the southern half of the Glushkovsky district, which is bisected by the Seym, effectively trapped between the river, the Ukrainian border and Kyivs forces in front of them. The aviation of the Air Force continues to deprive the enemy of logistical capabilities with accurate air strikes, which significantly affects the course of hostilities! air force commander Mykola Oleschuk wrote on Sunday morning. Recent drone footage from a Ukrainian brigade also suggests that Kyiv is now using first-person view (FPV) drones to destroy the makeshift Russian pontoon crossings erected in the days since the targeted strikes on the bridges. The Centre for Defence Strategies, a Ukrainian security think tank, wrote that this indicates that the objective [of Ukrainian forces] is to take control of a portion of Kursk Oblast south of the Seym River. Should they take this area, they would almost double the territory they currently control. How many troops are involved? Ukrainian servicemen guard an area at a destroyed border crossing point with Russia ( AFP via Getty Images ) A Ukrainian colonel who asked not to be identified to speak openly about sensitive issues told The Independent that around 8,000 soldiers were involved in the incursion. Thousands more Ukrainian soldiers were ready to enter the fray, he said. He claimed, in comments that were mirrored by multiple Ukrainian officials, including Mr Zelensky, that the troops were planning to hold their positions to create a buffer zone. Most simply, this zone would put more distance between Russian forces and Ukrainian civilians, reducing, though not halting completely, Moscows ability to fire artillery and missiles over the border. It would also prevent another Russian cross-border assault of their own like the one into the nearby northeast Ukrainian region of Kharkiv in May, which brought the countrys second largest city - with a population of around 1.3 million people - roughly within artillery range of Russian forces. How many Russian civilians have been evacuated? Volunteers sort a humanitarian aid for residents of Kursk region at the humanitarian collection point 'Moscow Helps' in Moscow, Russia ( EPA ) Russian officials say nearly 200,000 civilians have been evacuated from the Kursk region and the neighbouring Belgorod area. Ukrainian forces have not entered Belgorod but a state of emergency has been declared and local officials say Ukraine has launched aerial attacks on the area. Authorities in the Kursk region decided late on Wednesday night to evacuate another district, Glushkov, as Ukrainian forces continue to advance forwards. The district directly borders Ukraine and has a population of about 20,000 people. Regional governor Alexei Smirnov said on the Telegram messaging app that police and other state bodies would coordinate the evacuation process. Have Ukraine captured Russian soldiers? Mr Zelensky this week claimed one of the goals of the incursion was to replenish an exchange fund of Russian prisoners of war. Thousands of POWs from both sides have been swapped throughout the course of the war in Ukraine, with exchanges taking place roughly every few months. Private and public estimations of how many Russian soldiers have been captured during this incursion differ significantly. Mr Zelensky has suggested around Ukrainian troops have taken roughly 100 PoWs; the Ukrainian colonel claimed the true figure was closer to 2,000. Footage has, however, showed blindfolded men that appear to be Russian soldiers being escorted through the Ukrainian Sumy region in the back of a military pick up. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 28 people have died after a bus carrying Shia pilgrims from Pakistan overturned in Iran's Yazd province. The bus was carrying 51 passengers, all Pakistani nationals, on Tuesday night when it overturned and crashed outside the city of Taft, nearly 500km southeast of the capital Tehran. Police say their initial investigations point to an issue with the buss brakes as being the cause of the crash. Another 23 people suffered injuries in the crash, with 14 of them in a critical state, said Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency official. Pakistans consular services in Iran have been invited to Yazd province to follow up on the accident. Syed Athar Shamsi, the leader of the convoy that left from Larkana in Pakistan's Sindh province for the pilgrimage, said that the group was spread out in two buses. The bus in front was the one that crashed, he told GeoTV. In images broadcast by Iranian state TV, the bus could be seen turned upside down on the highway with its roof smashed in and all its doors open. Rescuers stepped gingerly through the broken glass and debris littering the road. The pilgrims were traveling through Iran to reach Iraq's Karbala to partake in the Arbaeen rituals, observed mostly by Shias. Millions of believers converge each year for the Arbaeen, regarded as the largest annual public gathering in the world. Arbaeen, Arabic for the number 40, marks the anniversary of the 40th day of mourning following the seventh-century death of the Prophet Muhammads grandson Hussein at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history. So far 25,000 Pakistanis have entered Iran to reach Karbala, Iran International reported. Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar offered his condolences to the bereaved families of the dead pilgrims. "I have given instructions to our ambassador in Tehran to ascertain exact situation and provide swift medical relief and recovery services as well as arrange repatriation of dead bodies to Pakistan," he said in a post on X. Iran has one of the world's worst traffic safety records, with some 17,000 deaths annually. This high toll is blamed on a wide disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services in its vast rural areas. An unrelated bus crash early on Wednesday in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province killed six people and injured 18, authorities said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US secretary of state Antony Blinken has warned that time is of the essence to secure a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as he finished his latest Middle East trip with a truce still proving elusive. Mr Blinken said Washington was doing everything possible to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas. It comes after Mr Blinken said Israel had accepted the latest proposal to end the 10-month-old war while Hamas said it veered too close to Israels demands. The deal needs to get done and it needs to get done in the days ahead, and we will do everything possible to get it across the finish line, Mr Blinken said. The plan would involve an initial six-week ceasefire, during which a limited number of female, elderly and sick Israeli hostages would be freed in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Displaced Palestinians in Gaza, where the 10-month-long war has uprooted millions and killed thousands ( AP ) It would be indefinitely extendable while negotiators settled the second stage, in which soldiers and bodies would be returned, Israeli troops would begin to withdraw from Gaza and displaced Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes in the north of the strip. But one of the main sticking points to an agreement has been Hamass longstanding demand for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all parts of Gaza, which Israel has reportedly rejected. In Qatar, Mr Blinken was asked about Israeli troop withdrawal terms within the ceasefire framework with Israel wanting to keep troops in the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza. The United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel, Mr Blinken said. More specifically, the agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations of the Israeli Defence Forces withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that. So thats as much as I know. Thats what Im very clear about. Both Hamas and Egypt oppose Israel keeping troops in the Philadelphi Corridor but Mr Netanyahu has insisted they are needed to stop weapons being smuggled into Gaza. Egypts president Abdel Fattah Sisi with US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Tuesday ( Egyptian Presidency/AFP/Getty ) Egyptian security sources said the US has proposed an international presence in the Philadelphi Corridor area, a suggestion the sources said could be acceptable to Cairo if limited to a maximum of six months. The ceasefire in Gaza must be the beginning of broader international recognition of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution, as this is the basic guarantor of stability in the region, Egypts president Abdel Fattah Sisi said after meeting Mr Blinken. Israels military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people since October, according to Palestinian health authorities in the Hamas-run strip. The war in Gaza began on 7 October when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities and military bases, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 50 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, Palestinian health authorities said on Wednesday, as the military said troops continued to target Hamas and seize weapons and ammunition. The Israeli military said jets hit around 30 targets throughout the Gaza Strip including tunnels, launch sites and an observation post. It said troops killed dozens of armed fighters and captured weapons including explosives, grenades and automatic rifles. The military issued new evacuation orders in the heavily overcrowded area of Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the fighting have sought shelter. For the displaced left exposed in Deir al-Balah, the lack of progress towards a ceasefire compounded the misery as they searched for space away from the fighting. Where will we go? Where will we go? said Aburakan, 55, a displaced person from Gaza City in the territorys north who has had to change refuge five times since October. We feel they are closing in. I live a few hundred metres from the threatened areas, and I have been searching since the early morning in vain for a space in western Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, or Nuseirat, he told Reuters. Meanwhile, Lebanons Hezbollah launched more than 50 rockets into Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, hitting a number of homes according to first responders. Hezbollah which, like ally Hamas, is backed by Iran said the attack was in response to an Israeli strike deep into Lebanon on Tuesday night that killed one and injured 19. On Tuesday, Hezbollah launched more than 200 projectiles toward Israel, after Israel targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot some 80km (50 miles) from the border, a significant increase in the daily skirmishes. Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily strikes for almost the entirety of the war in Gaza. In the Red Sea, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion was adrift after coming under multiple attacks, the UK maritime agency (UKMTO) said. Delta Tankers, the ships operator, confirmed the ship was adrift and had sustained minor damage. Its crew was assessing the situation and it would proceed on its journey, it said in a statement. The Iran-aligned Houthis have launched a series of attacks on international shipping near Yemen since last November over the war in Gaza. Reuters contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The worlds oldest living person, Maria Branyas Morera, died in Catalonia in Spain at the age of 117 years and 168 days, her family said on Tuesday. Born in San Francisco, US, in 1907, she lived through two World Wars, the Spanish Civil War and the 1918 flu pandemic and faced many personal hardships in her early years, including losing her father during her familys emigration to Spain and suffering hearing loss as a child. Her remarkable longevity was recognised by both the Gerontology Research Group and the Guinness World Records, and Branyas Morera became a symbol of resilience, having survived Covid at age 113. Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain, her family wrote on her X account. Branyas Morera passed away on 19 August. We will always remember her for her advice and kindness. Catalonias president, Salvador Illa, re-shared the post and expressed his condolences to the family. Maria Branyas, the grandmother of Catalonia and the oldest person in the world, has left us. We lose an endearing woman, who has taught us the value of life and the wisdom of the years. Branyas Morera, who had spent the last 20 years at the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, northeastern Spain, shared in a post on Tuesday that she was feeling weak. Her account was run by her family. The time is near, she added. Please dont cry; I dont like tears. And above all, dont worry about me. Wherever I go, I will be happy. In January 2023, Guinness World Records recognised Branyas Morera as the worlds oldest person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon at age 118. According to the Gerontology Research Group, Branyas Morera injured her eardrum in a fall while emigrating to Spain, resulting in permanent hearing loss in one ear. Towards the end of the voyage, Branyas Moreras father, Joseph Branyas Julia, died from pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 37, leaving Branyas Moreras mother to raise the family of five on her own, it said. Maria Branyas Morera passed away in her sleep ( x.com/MariaBranyas112 ) Branyas Morera tested positive for Covid in April 2020 but recovered, becoming the oldest recorded survivor of the disease at the time. In an interview with the Observer, she urged for better treatment of the elderly. This pandemic has revealed that older people are the forgotten ones of our society. They fought their whole lives, sacrificed time and their dreams for todays quality of life. They didnt deserve to leave the world in this way, she said. Branyas Morera married Dr Joan Moret in 1931 and they had two daughters and a son. He died in 1976. In August 2019, it was reported that she had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. On X, she described herself as Soc vella, molt vella, pero no idiota, meaning Im old, very old, but not stupid. She frequently posted in Catalan on her social media, sharing reflections on her life, memories from the past, and even recipes for Spains famous dish, paella. In February last year, American documentary maker Sam Green visited Branyas Morera while shooting for his film The Oldest Person in the World. The documentary, which began filming in 2015, features interviews with the worlds oldest individuals. The filmmakers plan to host a premiere every decade, an event Branyas Morera intended to attend. I will be at the premiere, she wrote on X. According to the Guinness World Records, she attributed her longevity to order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people. I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics, she added. According to CBS News, her youngest daughter, Rosa Moret, once credited her mothers longevity to genetics. She has never gone to the hospital, she has never broken any bones, she is fine, she has no pain, Ms Moret told regional Catalan television in 2023. Following the death of Branyas Morera, the title of the worlds oldest living person passed to Japans Tomiko Itooka, who is 116. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Scientists think they might have found an explanation for the wow signal that has long led to hopes it was contact from aliens. In August, 1977, the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University picked up a signal that has fascinated scientists ever since. The scientists who first spotted it wrote Wow! next to the signal on a printout, and it has been known by that name ever since. The blast was long and very intense, but only at a specific frequency. The details of the source led many to believe that it could be an intentional signal from aliens, sent using artificial technology. Scientists found that it appeared to have come from the constellation Sagittarius, but not exactly where. It was never spotted again, leaving scientists only to speculate on whether it was a signal from an extraterrestrial intelligence. Now, however, researchers at the University of Puerto Rico say they have found a new explanation for the signal. It was not an alien message but instead a unique astrophysical event, they say. Whats more, they have detected similar signals though none as intense as that first one that led to the wow signal. The researchers suggest that the signal was caused when a cold hydrogen cloud suddenly turned bright. That was probably because it was hit by emissions from. radiation source, such as a magnetar flare ofr a soft gamma repeater. When that happened, the clouds suddenly turned bright. That would explain why it was seen for a short period and then never spotted again. The researchers say that the new hypothesis not only explains the signal but represents an important warning for future potential detections of signs from aliens. Our study suggests that the Wow! Signal was likely the first recorded instance of maser-like emission of the hydrogen line, said Abel Mendez, who led the work. Scientists might now be able the find the exact origin of the signal, too, since they can look for objects within or behind those cold hydrogen clouds. The research is based on observations from 2020 and has been published in an early version online. The scientists behind it are refining it with input from the scientific community and hope to publish it in a peer-reviewed journal, they said. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two travellers were arrested on board an American Airlines plane in a saga that began over the mans bloody hair transplant. Eugenio Ernesto Hernandez-Garnier, 27, and Yusleydis Blanca Loyola, 32, both from Las Vegas, were flying home from Miami on Monday when the crew on board the American Airlines flight noticed profuse bleeding from his head, Local 10 reported. Miami-Dade Police told the outlet Hernandez-Garnier was asked by airline staff to clean up the blood and replace his bandages, but he said he didnt have any clean bandages. When the crew members then asked Hernandez-Garnier to leave the plane, the pair allegedly refused and said: If they could not fly, no one else can either. In a TikTok video posted by Loyola, she is heard shouting that her partner has just had surgery. Ultimately, the entire plane was forced to disembark in Las Vegas, delaying the flight. Hernandez-Garnier and Loyola were arrested on the scene for trespassing as they continued to refuse to get off the plane when police arrived. In a statement to Local 10, police said: After a brief moment of resisting to be handcuffed, they were subsequently placed under arrest. open image in gallery Eugenio Ernesto Hernandez-Garnier, 27, and Yusleydis Blanca Loyola, 32, in mug shots ( Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation ) The suspects were taken to Jackson West Medical Centre, Florida, where Hernandez-Garnier underwent a medical check. They were then transfered to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. American Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement to The Independent. During boarding of American Airlines flight 1858 on Aug. 19 with service from Miami (MIA) to Las Vegas (LAS), two customers became disruptive and were non-compliant with crewmember instructions, the spokesperson said. Law enforcement responded and removed both customers from the aircraft. We thank our crewmembers for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience. The delayed flight eventually took off on Tuesday morning. The couple face charges of trespassing after a warning and resisting an officer without violence. Barack Obama joked that the sequel is usually worse than the first film in a dig at Donald Trump in his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, 20 August. Speaking on the second night, the former president and former First Lady Michelle Obama rallied the party to support Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. Mr Obama, who completed two terms in the White House, told delegates that the US does not need another four years of bluster and chaos. We have seen that movie before - and we all know that the sequel is usually worse, he added. Meet the Taylor Swift fan taking the Democratic National Committee by storm. Kelly Jacobs, a delegate from Mississippi, explained that she is a political fashionista as she showed off her impressive outfit - featuring images of Swift and Kamala Harris - to The Independent. She has also been passing out Swiftie voter bracelets at the convention in Chicago. Young women need to show up to vote, they will help us win the election, Ms Jacobs said, adding that she would like to see Taylor endorse Vice President Harris ahead of the November election. Donald Trump asked several questions about cocaine in a new interview with Theo Von at his country club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The comedian and podcaster was discussing his personal drug use when the former president described cocaine as "down and dirty." Mr Trump asked further questions about the drug, including whether it is "too much to handle" and "a stronger up." The former president has previously advised against taking drugs, smoking, or drinking alcohol, the latter of which he says he has never consumed due to his older brother who was an alcoholic. Italian divers searched for a third day on Wednesday, 21 August, for six people rescuers fear are trapped inside the luxury Bayesian superyacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily. Those missing include British billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah; Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. One man, Recaldo Thomas, has been confirmed dead, and a further 15 people survived the incident. Coastguard officials have not ruled out the possibility that those missing may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank. Conspiracy theorists are branding the recent mpox outbreak a scamdemic in a recent social media wave of misinformation. A public health emergency was declared by the World Health Organisation over the outbreak in several African nations, with at least three cases now reported outside of the continent. Mpox can spread through skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated materials. Symptoms include a high temperature, headaches and muscle aches. In Africa, the latest strain, branded clade 1b, has a higher mortality rate which ranges from 4-10% compared to the usual rate of 0-11%. Bill Gates, along with other Big Pharma companies are being falsely accused of falsifying the outbreak to push vaccines for profit, with some even claiming that Covid vaccines caused mpox symptoms. Professor Michael Marks from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine told The Independent: The vaccination is the most likely component of control. Its known to be a very safe vaccine, very well tolerated. 'Compliance with antitrust investigations is of paramount importance,' European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. Photo: Getty Businesses have been urged to preserve all internal data following a 15.9m fine issued by the European Commission to a company earlier this year. The European Commission fined International Flavors & Fragrances Inc and International Flavors & Fragrances France SAS (IFF) in June this year after it discovered that a senior employee at the company intentionally deleted WhatsApp messages during an antitrust investigation. These messages were part of a conversation with a competitor and contained business-related information, the commission found. They were also deleted after the employee learnt of the inspection at the companys offices, which took place in March 2023. This was the first time the commission had fined a business for the deletion of messages on an app such as WhatsApp. EU regulation states that the commission can impose fines of up to 1pc of the total turnover of a firm thatintentionally or negligently obstruct an antitrust investigation. In this case, it opted for a fine of 0.3pc of IFFs total turnover. The separate antitrust investigation into the fragrance industry is still ongoing, the commission confirmed. As a growing number of businesses opt to use social media apps as part of their daily work, the commission called on companies to preserve all existing data related to business operations. Compliance with antitrust investigations is of paramount importance, European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said at the time. Companies that undergo an inspection must ensure that employees do not delete or manipulate business records. This includes communications on mobile phones. She added that the decision to impose a fine on the firm illustrates that the EU will pursue and sanction any obstructions to its investigations. A&L Goodbody partner Dr Vincent Power also called on Irish companies to alert their employees about this recent case, adding that they should never delete any business records as they could help to demonstrate innocence in some cases. Businesses should also warn staff not to delete anything when they are notified about an investigation as competition agencies will also check for deleted data through a request for recent data backups, according to Dr Power. He also called on businesses to be aware of social media or informal back channels used by colleagues where business information is exchanged. As seen in the IFF investigation, these methods of communication will also be inspected and cannot hide any anticompetitive behaviour, Dr Power reported. The Irish dairy industry is set to be caught in a brewing trade row between the European Union and China. Chinese authorities announced overnight that they have have opened an anti-subsidy investigation into imported dairy products from the EU. The move appears to be a tit-for-tat response to a move by the EU to restrict electric vehicles from China. A move to restrict EU dairy would mainly hit Ireland but the EUs announcement this week of tariffs on imports of electric vehicle from China, which would mainly benefit Germany and other car makers.. China is a significant, if challenging market for Irish dairy which includes supplying the countries huge baby formula sector. The move comes just ahead of a planned trade mission by Irish ministers and officials to China next week. The new investigation announced by China's commerce ministry on Wednesday will focus on various types of cheeses, milks and creams intended for human consumption. The probe began was prompted by a complaint submitted by the Dairy Association of China and the China Dairy Industry Association on July 29 on behalf of the domestic dairy industry, the ministry said. In 2022 Irish agri-food exports to China were valued at 722m, mostly food and drink. Irish dairy sales to China last year were worth around 400m. China will examine 20 subsidy schemes from EU members Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Ireland, and Romania, it said in a statement. Of the countries listed, Ireland is by far the biggest exporter of dairy to China. The move by China comes in the wake of the EU on Tuesday announcing scaled down but still significant duties on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles that Beijing had called on Brussels to scrap. WHO says viral infection is a global health emergency after Africa cases Danish biotech firm Bavarian Nordic could ramp up production of its mpox vaccine even before having orders lined up, based on the outcome of talks this week with the World Health Organisation, the companys CEO told Reuters yesterday. Chief Executive Officer Paul Chaplin said that the company urgently needs to make the call on whether to manufacture at risk or without signed contracts because diverting or switching manufacturing capacity from its other vaccines to mpox will take time. In order to make that decision, Bavarian Nordic would need to be reasonably convinced that those orders would be coming through, Mr Chaplin said. Well have to wait and see how the discussions develop this week and well make a decision later this week. He said the discussions were with the WHO, the global vaccine group Gavi, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and with individual governments in Africa and elsewhere. Last week the WHO declared that an outbreak of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, represents a global health emergency for the second time in two years. That announcement followed an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries. Africa CDC said yesterday that talks had started with Bavarian Nordic about technology transfer to enable its mpox vaccine to be manufactured in Africa in the future. Jean Kaseya, the CDCs director general, told a briefing that he would give a further update on the talks in the coming weeks. We need local manufacturing, and I want to recognise that and to thank Bavarian Nordic for accepting to do the tech transfer in Africa, for Africa to manufacture the vaccine, Mr Kaseya told reporters, adding that would help lower the price of the vaccine without compromising on its quality. Mr Chaplin, the Bavarian Nordic CEO, separately told Reuters earlier in the day that his company is in dialogue with the Africa CDC. Shares in Bavarian Nordic one of the few drug firms with an mpox vaccine were up about 19pc since market close on August 13, the day before the WHO announcement. On Saturday, the company said it has informed the Africa CDC that it could manufacture 10 million doses of the vaccine by the end of 2025, and could supply up to two million doses this year. But the two million doses by year-end would not be possible unless Bavarian Nordic changes gears to start producing more of its mpox vaccine now, instead of its other vaccines, Mr Chaplin said: Every week we dont switch over, we lose some of that capacity. Ireland set to have among the highest taxes on fuels in EU by October Petrol and diesel prices were little changed this month despite a hike in excise duty three weeks ago. However, planned tax rises later this year will mean this country will have the highest taxes on diesel in the EU. Petrol taxes are set to be among the highest in the EU when the scheduled carbon tax hike is implemented on Budget night in October. Petrol prices rose by 1c to 1.81 per litre this month. Diesel prices remained steady month on month at 1.74 per litre, according to the latest AA Ireland fuel survey. Following the reinstatement of the full excise duty on motor fuels on August 1 fuel prices were expected to rise. However, motorists got relief as falling crude prices counteracted the excise duty rise. Crude oil prices are slightly lower this month at just below $80 (72) per barrel. Electric vehicle owners can expect to pay an average of 916 a year to cover the national average of 17,000km per year, which is an increase of 39 per year month on month, AA Ireland said. We saw a slight increase again in petrol this month, but the price of diesel has remained steady which is great to see, said Jennifer Kilduff, head of marketing and PR for AA Ireland. She said average monthly charging costs for EV drivers have increased this month as a result of providers reversing the decreases we saw in July. It will be interesting to see how the next few months go and what Budget 2025 will bring for the motorist. Meanwhile, once the October carbon tax hike is put through in two months time the proportion of the price of diesel accounted for by tax will hit 54pc, said industry group Fuels for Ireland. This will put Ireland at the top of the European league when it comes to tax on diesel, alongside Malta, it said. The proportion of the cost of petrol that will be accounted for by taxes and levies will hit 57pc after the Budget. This will be the third highest level in the EU. The high tax rates follow the recent restoration of cuts in excise, which have driven prices higher over the last few months. The last increase came on August 1 with another one on April 1. The August excise duty hike added 4c to the litre of petrol, which Vat is included, and 3c to diesel. Octobers carbon tax rise will add 2c to the cost of a litre of each fuel. The implications of these rising taxes will be felt by consumers and businesses alike, but particularly by those in border regions, who face challenges due to fuel price disparities with Northern Ireland, said Fuels for Ireland. There are five taxes and levies on petrol and diesel Vat, excise duty, carbon tax, the Better Fuels levy and the National Oil Reserves Agency levy. Fuels for Ireland reiterated its call for the establishment of an expert group on fuel taxation. This would bring together government departments, the Revenue Commissioners, economists, environmental specialists and fuels industry representatives, to develop a balanced fiscal strategy. With the upcoming Budget poised to introduce further tax hikes, we need to address the significant impact these changes will have, said Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland. Celebrity News Al Porter responds to backlash at his slot in All Together Now line-up: Im trying to do things right Newlywed Saoirse Ronan has described the movie that she co-produced with husband Jack Lowden as a life-changing experience. Speaking at the premiere of The Outrun, which recently debuted at the Edinburgh Film Festival, the Carlow actor said her involvement in the project was all thanks to Lowden (34). The two actors married in a secret ceremony in Edinburgh last month, having got engaged last year after meeting in 2018 on the set of Mary Queen of Scots. The four-time Oscar nominee (30) said Lowden was so heartbroken that he could not be at the premiere. Ronan joked how she would be his representative instead, as she showed off her new gold band at her first public event since tying the knot. Hes prepping for a Scottish play that will be here next week. For me, personally, I wouldnt have been involved in this project, this life-changing experience, if it wasnt for Jack Lowden, she said. Hes an incredibly proud Scotsman and his lifes work will be to just bring work back to Scotland, which is what we want to continue to do. Theres so much incredible talent here, so much potential for incredible storytelling, and Jack and I have been so honoured to be a part of what we feel is the next wave of Scottish film-making. Saoirse Ronan with husband Jack Lowden at the Scottish premiere of 'Mary Queen of Scots' in Edinburgh in January 2019. Photo: Getty The Outrun, which will open on September 27 and is directed by Nora Fingscheidt, is already getting rave reviews after its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Based on the acclaimed memoir by Scottish writer Amy Liptrot, Ronan adopts a Scottish accent in the movie, which was filmed in the Orkney Islands. She plays Rona, a young woman recovering from alcohol addiction who has left rehab and returned to the remote Scottish region where she grew up, after a decade in London. Liptrots book was originally recommended to Ronan by Lowden during lockdown while the pair were living in their London home. From left, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Liptrot and Nora Fingscheidt at the world premiere of 'The Outrun' during the Edinburgh International Festival. Photo: Getty She said they were reading three books a week, like everyone else at the time. As soon as he finished it, he said to me, This is the next role you need to play. I finished the whole thing in two days, she said. I was so in love initially with Amys style of writing. It was so non-linear and poetic, but still very easy to follow and connect to. It was about a subject that I could relate to very strongly, as most people can, so we were all in from the very beginning. Lowden, who stars in Apple TVs Slow Horses, which returns next month, was equally generous in his praise of his wifes talents. He said she was utterly phenomenal and it was wonderful being married to another actor. Originally from Derry, McCafferty was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation MovementBook of condolence opened at Dublins Mansion HousePresident Michael D Higgins has led tributes following her death at the age of 80 Renowned journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty has died at the age of 80 The funeral of renowned journalist, author and activist Nell McCafferty will take place on Friday in her native Co Derry. The requiem mass will take place at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower, Co Derry, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. President Michael D Higgins has led tributes following her death at the age of 80. She died in the early hours of this morning at a Co Donegal nursing home, her family said. The journalist was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement. Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, Ms McCafferty wrote several books and also wrote for publications including The Irish Press, The Irish Times, the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Nell McCafferty Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the Border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly Station. Mr Higgins said Ms McCafferty was a pioneer and paid tribute to her unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness. It is with great sorrow that so many people will have learnt of the death of Nell McCafferty, he said. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. For example, Nell knew that standing behind the rituals of courts and unfortunate defendants, there was always a complex story which she had a gifted empathy to understand. In her column, In the Eyes of the Law, she opened peoples eyes to the operation of the district court and its interaction with those who found themselves before it. Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Across so many areas, including her work on the Kerry Babies case captured in her book A Woman to Blame, the Troubles, her own life experience and so many other areas beside, Nells writing remains a compelling and courageous record of those decades. As a writer and activist, including as a co-founder of the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, Nell McCafferty played a vital role and leaves a true legacy in fighting for feminism and womens rights across the island. Paying tribute to Nell on her 80th birthday earlier this year, I said that those who have had Nell as a friend and an ally are very fortunate in their being given the gift of experiencing humanity in all its possibilities and vulnerabilities, and delivered as she did it with a sense of humour that paid tribute to the authenticity of her Derry upbringing. Sabina and myself were privileged to be friends of Nell and to have experienced her enduring strength, courage, warmth and humour. She will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty Taoiseach Simon Harris also paid tribute to Ms McCafferty. It is with great sadness that I learned this morning of the death of journalist and campaigner Nell McCafferty, he said. Nell was fierce, fearless and fiery. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it. Her passion and wrath were not scattergun, it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. Charlie Bird and Nell McCafferty at the NUJ Gathering of Remembrance and Solidarity for the victims of the French terror attacks in Dublin Castle in 2015. Photo: Tony Gavin John Clarke, husband of the late RTE presenter Marian Finucane, spoke to RTE Radio Ones Liveline and paid tribute to Ms McCafferty, telling Joe Duffy she spoke her mind without a shadow of a doubt. Mr Clarke and Ms Finucane were close friends of Ms McCafferty and her partner Nuala OFaolain, who often visited their home in Co Westmeath. He recalled the support they received from Ms McCafferty following the death of their daughter Sinead from leukaemia in 1990 when she was just eight. (She was around) all the time. All the time, and a great support. I dont know in what way, but being there was the support, and caring I suppose, he said. The only downside of it was that Nell offered to cook for you and that was a disaster. I took Nell to a cooking class because she couldnt cook. All the other students at it it was a class for chefs were thrilled with Nell. She burned everything, spilled everything, forgot to turn on or off the oven depending on her humour. She was great fun. Mr Clarke said Ms McCafferty would check him, or indeed anybody, on feminist issues and she often brought him to meetings where she would be in attendance cheering on the troops of the feminist movement. He told the story of ending up in a Turkish belly dancing club in Istanbul with her, a very seedy joint to say the least. The belly dancer, a very lythe and rather beautiful woman, did her belly dance up on a table and Nell wanted, insisted, that she wanted to do a belly dance as well and climbed up on the table. I said to Marian and Nuala, and Nell as she was clamouring up on the table, Im out, youre going to get your throat cut here, youre on your own and forget the feminist movement. Nell got up and did her belly dance, which was appalling to watch and fell off the table. Everybody laughed and we all came home safely and happy. That was my life with Nell. Journalist Nell McCafferty (PA) Tanaiste Micheal Martin wrote on X: Deeply saddened at the passing of Nell McCafferty. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Mary Lou McDonald said that Nell McCaffertys writing helped change Ireland for the better. The Sinn Fein leader posted on X: Farewell, Nell. Talented. Feminist. Fearless. Nell McCafferty lived and worked every day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Most often, the powerful didnt like it. Thats how she knew she was doing the right thing. Her writing and campaigning helped to change Ireland for the better. She will be deeply missed. Nell McCafferty. Broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald and author Sinead Gleeson are among those who have paid tribute to Ms McCafferty after her family announced her death at the age of 80. An incredible character and colleague who broke the mould in so many ways for women and women writers. The contraceptive train, her ground-breaking work in the district court, Ms McDonald said on X. Ms Gleeson said: Nell McCaffertys voice was loud and uncompromising in an Ireland that hated women with opinions. Her journalism was ground-breaking (a rare female voice in Troubles discourse), her feminism absolute, her queer visibility a lifeline for LGBTQI people. RIP. Nell McCafferty (second left, partially obscured by the IWLM banner), catching the contraceptive train in 1971. Photo: Irish Times The Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, paid tribute to Nell McCafferty. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, she told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell and indeed before some other brilliant women of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. The National Womens Council paid tribute. "We are indebted to Nell. She was completely unafraid to name injustice wherever she saw it, and at times she was deeply unpopular for it. But her work paid dividends, said the National Womens Council. "Nell, and many others like her, helped shape the Ireland we live in today a country which is more equal, less ashamed, and where women are freer to live the lives we deserve. We send our deepest sympathies to Nells loved ones at this sad time. Nell was the very definition of a fearless feminist throughout her life, and the positive impact she has had on the lives of women today cannot be overstated. As a founding member of the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, she achieved huge gains for women in the area of equal pay, availability of contraception, and supports for lone parents. "Famously, she travelled to Belfast on the contraception train and distributed condoms to the people of Dublin on her return. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said she was deeply saddened to hear of Nell McCaffertys death at the age of 80. She described the journalist as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she said on X. Nell McCafferty in RTE HQ at the launch of Celebrity Bainisteoir in 2008. Photo: Collins The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has paid tribute to Nell McCafferty, describing her as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a lifelong member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. Stormont first minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill paid tribute. Nell was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society, she said. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Education Minister Norma Foley said Ms McCafferty was a figure who enhanced the lives of women in Ireland "beyond measure". "I was greatly, greatly saddened to hear of her passing. She was an enormous figure, I think, in all of our lives as we grew up. She was such a rich commentator and such an honest commentator on the experiences of women, and she put women front and centre, and she advocated for women, she represented women," Ms Foley said. A book of condolence for McCafferty has been opened at Dublins Mansion House. It will be open until 5pm today and tomorrow. Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan said: I was saddened to hear of the death of Nell McCafferty this morning. On behalf of the people of Dublin, I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues. Nell will be remembered for her long-standing commitment to social justice and womens rights. She used her voice as a journalist and campaigner to call out injustice and inequality and will be remembered as one of the trail blazers for equality for women in Ireland. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam. More to follow Today's News in 90 seconds - 21st August 2024 Actor Brendan Gleeson has said he agreed to take part in new movie Joker: Folie a Deux because he thought Joaquin Phoenix's performance in Joker was "one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen". The Dubliner was speaking in Bewley's Cafe in Dublin city this morning at a coffee morning in support of a nationwide fundraising campaign for hospices. The actor, who has featured in films including The Banshees of Inisherin and In Bruges, was speaking before travelling to Los Angeles ahead of the worldwide release of his latest work starring Phoenix and Lady Gaga. He said Phoenix inhabited this extraordinary place thats so conflicting, thats so sympathetic in some ways, and utterly repulsive in others. It took the idea of mental instability into a place where we have to accept some culpability when it gets out of control, and at the same time theres an element of wildness in that, where youre sort of saying, I dont know if anybody can contain whats been released now, he said. Gleeson also said it was becoming increasingly difficult to get a storyline like that of The Banshees of Inisherin, because there was a trend in cinema emphasising visuals and action sequences. But he said superheroes were just a different way of exploring the nature of humanity, and cited Heath Ledgers portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight as proper character study. Turning to the Phoenix-led Joker movies, he said: I was mesmerised by the first film and thrilled to be a part of the second. I havent seen it yet, but I just love the bravery of taking it on and bringing Lady Gaga into the mix, and... having music as a part of it. I cant wait to see it, to be honest. Gleeson, who turns 70 next March, said he felt aware of his age, but that he had once been told good health is a golden crown which only those who are ill can see. I try to keep an eye on the crown and as long as Im motoring around all right, I appreciate life, he said. I do think that curiosity, the maintenance of curiosity in the freshness of the world, and seeing the world again in the framework of how precious it is and how transient, if you can maintain it, then life keeps coming up with things that are wonderful. We all know it can be the simplest thing in the world. Brendan Gleeson: Hospices a beacon of goodness amid negativity in the world The mortality thing, I understand you do the math, as I say. But I feel in bonus country, in a way. Ive been allowed to see my kids grow up. Ive been allowed to see things through a little bit. Its all bonus country anyway. So we continue with the bonus country. Gleeson has been a long-time supporter of hospice care after both of his parents, Pat and Francis, spent their final days in St Francis Hospice in Dublin. Hospices were a beacon showcasing the best of humanity at a time when there was a lot of negativity and anxiety in the world, he said. The actor said Irish people were generally good at confronting death. If you dont take on board how final death is, you dont really get a proper perspective on how delicious life can be, he said. The hospice movement generally has been a kind of a little bit of a beacon, in the sense that it's given a degree of positivity to the way life is framed, which I find really refreshing, he said. The hospice found a way for me to be able to say goodbye to my parents in a way that seemed actually beautiful," he said. I found that a remarkable triumph over circumstance, and it gave me kind of a faith in the humanity it takes to make that happen, because it doesn't happen by mistake. He added: At the moment, I can have a chat at any point with the memory of when my folks were well and not fighting the last throes of life when they were in their fullness. So, I can have the conversation with those entities and so I feel they're never really gone. Brendan Gleeson speaks about death in Irish culture With the hospice, you feel this is something that's perpetuating a feeling that goodness is paramount within this particular world and it's very hard to keep that front and centre the way things are happening. There's an awful lot of negativity, anxiety and a lot of it well-founded but it's always been this way. We've always been careering towards our own destruction and, at the same time, elevating ourselves beyond any other life form, and it's just the human condition. So, I find tipping the scales on the good side is the hospice movement and I feel honoured to be a part of it. People who wish to register to host a coffee morning on September 26, or on a different date, can visit www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie or make a donation on the same website. Gleeson said it was exciting that an in-patient unit with 24 single rooms was being planned for St Francis Hospice, which would offer more privacy to families and their loved ones. He said his father spent time in a four-bed room: "The conversation was a little inhibited; you are in hearing distance of others, trying not to earwig, and at the same time attempting an intimate conversation with your loved one in quite a loud voice. Because patients are at that stage, you have to speak fairly loudly. Single rooms make it so much easier. The countrys most critically endangered wild bird has begun inching away from oblivion after conservation efforts in key habitats. However, the corncrake is still extremely vulnerable with just 233 individual breeding sites recorded in the past year. The shy ground-nesting bird whose distinctive crek-crek call was once ubiquitous in the Irish countryside has gained ground under a dedicated conservation project begun in 2021. Since then, the number recorded has grown by 35pc with 250 farmers and landowners carefully managing 1,500 hectares of land, mainly in Donegal, Mayo and Galway, to keep the species safe. Participants in the Corncrake LIFE project receive payments in return for agreeing to leave large patches of nettles, rough pasture or high-standing crops for the birds to hide in, and to delay mowing grass until last August until chicks are reared. They are also asked to mow fields from the centre outwards rather than from the outside in to give any resident birds time to escape. That simple change in approach is believed to reduce chick mortality by up to 60pc. Dr John Carey, who manages the Corncrake LIFE project, welcomed the improvements but warned the corncrake was not out of the woods. We need to be cautious in terms of our optimism, he said. Corncrakes are still very vulnerable, both to changes within our landscape but also to the dramatic shift we are seeing in our weather patterns. This summer was very tough on a lot of wildlife, with a notable drop in insect numbers which can have a devastating downstream effect on birds like corncrakes. However, what is clear is that the exceptional effort being made by farmers and landowners is having a positive impact and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. The key now is to keep it all going. The EU-supported Corncrake LIFE project comes to an end next year but Minister for Nature Malcolm Noonan said the conservation efforts and incentives for landowners would be maintained. The National Parks and Wildlife Service will continue and extend the programme and has committed to ensuring the positive actions of the Corncrake LIFE project can continue when the project comes to its conclusion at the end of 2025, a spokesperson said. The NPWS will mainstream its commitment to the long-term delivery of these actions and we will be fully supporting the continuation of the Corncrake conservation project. Just 46 dog fines for dog fouling were handed out across Ireland last year, figures have shown, as visually impaired people have said it makes their life a misery and called for dog owners to clean up after their pets. In a survey of those with visual impairments carried out by Vision Ireland, over a third of respondents said that they had been personally impacted by dog waste in public spaces, such as footpaths. Cars parked on footpaths were also found to be difficult for those with visual impairments to navigate around, with 70pc of survey respondents identifying them as a problem. Data provided to Vision Ireland by local authorities revealed that more than 22,000 fines were issued to motorists illegally parking on footpaths across the country in the past year. Kerry had the most fines for dog fouling, at 13, followed by Dublin city with 8 and Cork County and Fingal tied with six. Many counties, including Cork City, South Dublin and Wexford, issued zero fines for dog fouling. Dublin City led the way with 2,079 cars clamped for footpath parking and another 4,039 fines issued, followed by Cork City with 2,402 fines, and Galway 2,313. Cavan (2), Leitrim (2) and Roscommon (0) were bottom of the list for fining drivers who left their vehicles on footpaths. Kevin Kelly, head of policy, partnerships and external affairs at Vision Ireland said: Parked cars and dog waste are two of the biggest hazards people who are blind and vision impaired face on our footpaths. The number of parking fines issued alone is astounding and gives an idea of the many thousands of obstacles people who are blind and vision impaired face when theyre out and about. Fines alone will not solve these problems. We must all work together and do our part to clear our paths. If everyone takes more responsibility for their actions, we can work towards making our paths safer for all. Fines relating to dog fouling were down this year, with only 46 being issued across the entire country. This is a reduction of 36 fines from 2022, and the organisation has welcomed efforts by local authorities in their efforts to tackle the issue. A number of councils have run awareness campaigns to highlight the issue. Other more creative solutions can be seen in Tipperary and Longford, where local county councils provide what are called Mutt Mitts, which allow dog owners to dispose of dog waste safely. Dog waste can cause serious health and safety issues to all members of the public, but for those with visual impairments, it presents a slipping hazard, and can dirty white canes. Vision Ireland is encouraging motorists as well as dog owners to consider the hazards they may be creating and how they can affect people who are blind or vision impaired. The organisation has created a dedicated web page Clear Our Paths to assist those in learning more. Fines for dog fouling in 2023 Local Authority Fines Issued Kerry 13 Dublin City Council 8 Cork County Council 6 Fingal 6 Laois 3 Limerick City & County 3 Clare 1 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown 1 Galway City 1 Galway County 1 Louth 1 Waterford 1 Wicklow 1 Carlow 0 Cavan 0 Cork City Council 0 Donegal 0 Kildare 0 Kilkenny 0 Leitrim 0 Longford- 0 Mayo 0 Meath 0 Monaghan 0 Offaly 0 Roscommon 0 Tipperary 0 Sligo 0 South Dublin 0 Westmeath 0 Wexford 0 Fines for parking on footpaths Local Authority Fines Issued Parking on Footpaths Dublin City Council - 2079 (clamps) 4039 (FPNs) Cork City Council - 2402 Galway City - 2313 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown - 2225 Wicklow - 1760 Fingal - 1742 South Dublin - 1294 Limerick City & County - 1253 Waterford - 910 Donegal - 533 Westmeath - 463 Kildare - 443 Meath - 423 Kerry - 420 Tipperary - 312 Cork County Council - 309 Kilkenny - 264 Louth - 175 Mayo - 172 Wexford - 123 Carlow - 101 Galway County - 84 Laois - 81 Sligo - 67 Clare - 66 Offaly - 65 Longford - 38 Monaghan - 5 Cavan - 2 Leitrim - 2 Roscommon - 0 Smart Moves is a free, resilience- and evidence-based programme for fifth- and sixth-class pupils from the ISPCC Big life changes can be exciting but theyre also daunting, and the move from primary school to secondary school can be a tough one. The ISPCC offers help with its Smart Moves programme designed to facilitate this life transition, and it has proved popular with users. Smart Moves is a free, resilience- and evidence-based programme for fifth- and sixth-class pupils. There is also a secondary school programme available, which supports young people as they begin their journey in secondary school. The primary programme is teacher-led and includes 15 short lessons covering topics from friendship to problem-solving to sleep difficulties. The secondary programme provides a total of 24 lessons, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. According to one educational professional, It stimulated good conversations, while another said that the programme was very easy to use and thought-provoking, adding that it encouraged pupils to think about potential worries, problems and routes of support. There are many areas covered in the programme that both students and teachers had never considered before as part of the transition that are really important, said a teacher, who added that the length of programme is also a hit, we have found in the past that a little work in sixth class at the end of the year is not enough. Having resilience does not mean you will not face challenges. However, it gives ability to endure these challenges and bounce back For the students themselves, completing the Smart Moves programme was an overwhelmingly positive experience and they would recommend that other schools get involved in it. One sixth-class pupil said, it made me feel more prepared by talking about my feelings and other peoples feelings. Niamh Clarke of ISPCC says that: Smart Moves is based on the resilience framework and looks to build lifelong coping skills for young people. Having resilience does not mean you will not face challenges. However, it gives ability to endure these challenges and bounce back. The programmes resources will be sent directly to each school at the start of the 2024/25 academic year: they include a manual for the teacher as well as a private booklet for each student in which they can explore their thoughts and feelings during each module. ISPCC has also launched an Irish-language version of the programme for primary schools. For more information on the supports ISPCC offers to children and young people, please go to ispcc.ie/smart-moves/ Aftermath of the fire at Augustinians building in Ballyboden Gardai have sealed off the site of a large fire that broke out overnight at a derelict building in south Dublin. Dublin Fire Brigade worked through the night at the vacant building in Ballyboden, near Rathfarnhman. The entire roof structure of the T-shaped building formerly used as a church and training college for the Augustinian Order was gutted in the blaze. This morning, crews could be seen removing hoses from hydrants and bringing them back to fire engines. Firefighters worked all night to put out the blaze, which was fanned by a strong breeze, making it difficult to bring under control. Dublin Fire Brigade initially sent three fire tenders from Dolphin's Barn and Tara Street stations, and a turntable ladder unit and foam tender unit from Tara Street. An extra fire tender was later sent from Donnybrook station. When the fire was brought under control about 2am. two fire tenders and the turntable ladder unit remained. By 8am today, one fire tender remained to dampen down hot spots. One section of the Edmonstown Road beside the building remained closed this morning and gardai were at the scene directing traffic. This morning, Dublin Fire Brigade said smoke was drifting across the M50 and across Rathfarnham as a result, urging anyone affected by smoke to close their windows and doors as a precaution. 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 "A turntable ladder is currently acting as a water tower fighting the fire from above, the spokesperson added. Gardai were alerted to the fire about 8.20pm last night. A Ukrainian soldier walks through the Russian town of Sudzha, in the Kursk region. Photo: AP An Irish man serving in the Ukrainian military is missing in action and is presumed dead, it has been reported. Alex Ryzhuk (20), an Irish citizen who grew up in Dublin and has Ukrainian parents, joined the Ukrainian Foreign Legion as a volunteer when he turned 18. It has been reported that Mr Ryzhuk officially deemed missing in action and presumed dead while serving on the frontline last month. "The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance, a spokesperson said. "As with all consular cases, the department does not comment on the details of individual cases. Mr Ryzhuk was a member of a drone unit in the Ukrainian army and went under the name Irlandets (Irish man) in the Ukrainian army. His parents and girlfriend in Ireland have been informed that he is missing, presumed dead, it has been reported. In a YouTube video shared to the channel of a high-profile military blogger earlier this year, Mr Ryzhuk said he was just 17 when the conflict escalated in February 2022 but was eager to serve in the Ukrainian military forces. He said his parents confiscated his passport to prevent him from travelling but that he applied for a new passport when he turned 18 and used his savings to make the trip to Ukraine. "I tricked my parents a bit. I hope they will forgive me, he said, adding that he remained in touch with his family and friends. A teacher at Mr Ryzhuks secondary school in Dublin has described the missing Ukrainian as a good role model who showed other students how to embrace all aspects of school life. Mr Ryzhuk attended Synge Street CBS in Portobello from 2016 to 2021. He was a student who always had a smile on his face. He always wanted to help others, it was a very strong trait that he had, Head Teacher Claire Catterson said. Ms Catterson told RTE's Morning Ireland that Mr Ryzhuk was involved in the judo and basketball teams at the school and he loved both volleyball and Halloween. Every year we would do the Trick or Treat for Temple Street, where students would dress up and every year he came in decked out from head to toe. Everyone would have been waiting to see what he would be dressed up in, she said. She described him as one of those all-rounders who was a very dedicated student. He loved the business subjects, accountancy, economics, he took them all for his Leaving Certificate. He often spoke of going on to study law when he was here He would have been known throughout all the years here, she added. Mr Ryzhuk was very proud of his Ukrainian heritage, and was bilingual. You would have heard him speaking in the corridors to other Ukrainians in his own language, Ms Catterson said, adding that he spoke of visiting relatives at home during summer holidays. She said his close friends knew he joined the war against Russia in 2023. On news that he is missing and presumed dead, she said there was "great shock" within the school community. An awful lot of teachers are contacting me yesterday evening and there is great shock and sadness because they remember the young man who was just three short years ago walking these school corridors in his uniform with a smile on his face, she said. And wanting to help any way that he could. Speaking to The Irish Times in May, Mr Ryzhuk told how he had been deployed to battlezones in Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Kharkiv after volunteering to join a unit of international volunteers. He entered Ukraine through Poland, calling his parents when he was in Kyiv and they argued for something like three months but his family had come to accept his decision. Mr Ryzhuk, who was speaking in May after a week-long visit home, said he was just as patriotic towards Ireland, adding that he would like to go back to Ireland and live peacefully there. "But Ukraine is also on the table in war and in (civilian) life, you need to always have multiple plans, he said. Mr Ryzhuk is among a number of Irish men who travelled to Ukraine to serve in the military there shortly after Russia invaded the country. Graham Dale (45), who was originally from Raheny in north Dublin but moved to the US in 2000, died in December while fighting for the Ukrainian Army. He previously fought with the US Marines during the Iraq war. In April 2023, Finbar Cafferky (40s), from Achill Island, died while fighting on the frontline in the east of the country. Mr Cafferky had previously fought with an arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS. In September 2022, Rory Mason (25), from Co Meath, died while fighting with the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region. Levy is part of the move to encourage more building to ease housing crisisTaoiseach Simon Harris insists Government decisions should be made collectively as tensions rise over Finance Minister Jack Chambers announcing the planned delay The Green Party is furious over Fianna Fail plans to defer the introduction of the controversial Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) until after the next general election. The Irish Independent yesterday revealed Finance Minister Jack Chambers plans to postpone the tax for a year and to redraft legislation to ensure zoned land worked by farmers is not targeted by the scheme. Mr Chambers took the decision following talks with Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, his Fianna Fail colleagues. This afternoon, Taoiseach Simon Harris insisted government decisions should be made collectively as tensions rise over Mr Chambers announcing the planned delay. It came after senior Green Party source said Fianna Fails decision to long-finger the introduction of the tax means it might never happen. The Government has decided to defer the introduction of the landmark Residential Zoned Land Tax for a year Is Fianna Fail serious about tackling the housing crisis or isnt it? The Government had agreed to this measure in order to ensure that speculators arent just sitting on land thats been earmarked for new homes in order to watch its value go up, the source said. Everyone in Government agrees that we need in the region of 50,000 new homes every year, but thats going to be impossible if we allow speculators to sit on parcels of land that have been specifically zoned and serviced with infrastructure such as roads, electricity wires and water supplies. The source added that there is a facility for farmers to have their land dezoned if they do not want to sell it or build on it, which would mean they would not be hit with the tax. Were absolutely open to looking at ways that this process can be improved in the Budget but we shouldnt use this issue as an excuse to abandon a measure that is crucial to solving our housing crisis, the source added. Speaking at the Virginia Fair in Co Cavan, Mr Harris said he wanted to see the Department of Finance come forward with sensible proposals to ensure active farmers are not treated as land hoarders under the legislation. I think its important that its done in a calm manner and of course the cabinet should always make decisions as a collective and thats the way we should do business, he said. Mr Harris said the Government agreed to give breathing space to people potentially impacted by the tax last year, which he said was the right thing to do. Government needs to do two things here and theyre both equally important; we do need to have a tax in place in relation to land hoarding, thats important. We do have a housing crisis the Oireachtas passed that legislation and many politicians from right across the political persuasion supported that, Mr Harris said. But we also need to make sure that active farmers are recognised and it is offensive to describe an active farmer as a land hoarder. He said that he will be meeting all the farm organisations next month ahead of the Budget. I'm very determined that we use the tax system and other methods to support the family farm. I understand, and I think the people of Ireland understand, the difference between somebody hoarding land and somebody farming and producing a product. I think there has been far too much in recent years in political and media debate talking down to farmers, suggesting they are the cause of all the problems of the world when in fact farmers are the solution. They are the solution to so many issues, they are the backbone of the economy. Yes, we have real issues around housing and climate. Both of those issues can be addressed in a way that supports and certainly doesnt impede on farmers. The Residential Zoned Land Tax is a sensible measure, but it is important that there isnt an unintended consequence that hits active farmers. In fairness to the IFA I appreciate its use of the phrase active, because it creates an important differentiation between the hoarder and farmer. Meanwhile, Education Minister Norma Foley defended her party colleague Mr Chambers decision. Speaking at an event to mark the rollout of the free school book scheme to students in Junior Cycle, she said the tax was something that she engaged with the housing minister and finance minister on. "I want to commend Mr Chambers in relation to this. I think this is the right move, and I have engaged with him in relation to it and indeed, minister Darragh O'Brien," Ms Foley said. "I think there's a recognition that we also have to support farmers who are active on the ground. Agriculture and its importance should never be underestimated, those who are actively farming, those who are using the land for the purpose of agriculture, I don't think that they should be caught in a bind and so we need to reflect on that, and we need to preserve that. Ms Foley said there was also a need for balance and fairness when it comes to the delivery of houses. "Equally so, we need to drive ahead, obviously, with housing and we are making huge progress here. We're seeing more than 50,000 houses now been commenced this year. I think it's quite a phenomenal figure that we're seeing. Greater than we've ever seen at any time previously in the last long, long number of years. Meanwhile, Green TD Neasa Hourigan told RTE Morning Ireland it is a shame and unfortunate for farmers if we are going to blame average decent farmers for land hoarding. She described it like hiding food in a famine. We know from 1973, when we did the Kenny report, that land hoarding is one of the biggest problems in terms of the affordability of housing in this country. We agreed five years ago that we would deal with that and now we are putting it probably on the never never, not even on the long-finger. Ms Hourigan said it is shocking for a Fianna Fail minister to do this. Mr Chambers is going to have to stand on doorsteps in Dublin West and defend putting off a measure that would fundamentally and strategically deal with the price of housing, she said. Green Party TD and Oireachtas Housing Committee chair Steven Matthews said it is incredible that Fianna Fail is seeking to delay the zoned land tax for a second year in a row. Do they not realise that there is a housing emergency? he said. That there are people crying out for homes and that we have to increase our housing output of affordable, social, private and cost-rental homes? It is incumbent on the Housing Minister and Finance Minister to use every possible option to alleviate the housing crisis affecting our people. The Zoned Land Tax is not a silver bullet, but abandoning it is cash in hand for land-owning speculators. The tax, which would see land zoned for residential development taxed at 3pc of its market value, was a government attempt to unlock more sites for housing construction and prevent speculators from hoarding serviced land. It was announced in Budget 2022 and was due to come into effect next February, with tax bills due to be paid by May. However, there was a backlash among farmers whose land was zoned for residential development but was being used for agricultural purposes. Yesterday, Mr Harris said he listened to the legitimate concerns of farmers who faced their land being taxed despite it being used for agricultural purposes. He said the three government leaders will come to a decision on RZLT before the budget, and Department of Finance officials are drafting alternative legislation so farmers are not affected by the new tax. As long as Im Taoiseach, no active farmer will pay Residential Zoned Land Tax simple as, Mr Harris said at a Fine Gael event promoting supports for families. Im absolutely committed to the tax but I need the Department of Finance to listen to the real and legitimate concerns of farmers. Mr Harris added: It is offensive to tell a farmer they are a land hoarder when farming is such an important part of our economy. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the decision to delay the tax is disgraceful. This is a direct result of this Governments abject failure over the past three years to exempt actively farmed land from this tax, he said. Sinn Fein has repeatedly raised this problem with the Government for the past three years, but no action was taken. Four of the vehicles have been confirmed as stolen in recent months in Dublin, Kildare, and Meath A man has been arrested over the alleged theft of at least four motorbikes following an intelligence-led garda operation this morning. The operation, which targeted the unauthorised taking of motorbikes in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and Eastern Region, was conducted today, Wednesday, August 21, and resulted in the seizure of five motorbikes. Detectives attached to Cabra and Blanchardstown garda stations raided a property as part of investigations into organised crime in the Blanchardstown area of the DMR West. Following a search under warrant, five motorbikes were recovered. Four of the vehicles have been confirmed as stolen in recent months in Dublin, Kildare, and Meath. A man in his 40s was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in the DMR. Gardai are hoping to identify the owner of the fifth motorbike, a red Honda CR Series off-road motorcycle and confirm its status. Anyone who believes they are the owner of this vehicle, which may have been stolen in the last number of months, is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000. Education Minister Norma Foley is considering the introduction of a mobile phone ban in secondary schools. The Department of Education has previously introduced an initiative to keep childhood smartphone-free that sought to encourage parents to avoid buying the devices for their children while in primary school. However, Ms Foley now says she will go further and will look to tackle the use of smartphones in secondary schools. I've met with mobile phone providers, I've met with the social media platforms, and we continue to educate both at primary and at post primary, but I am now in a space where I'm looking to introduce a ban on the mobile phones at post primary, Ms Foley said. The minister said there had been a number of studies that pointed to the disruption to learning caused by mobiles and she also noted the impact of cyberbullying on students. I think we're very conscious of the world in which we live. All studies including, for example, the United Nations studies there last year are telling us that mobile phones interrupt learning in a school environment, Ms Foley said. Obviously, they are a cause of cyber bullying and we know too that the conversation, the integration, the community of conversation that so important in school is very much so interrupted by the fact that students take out their mobile phones at different times. Ms Foley said that while schools had been working hard in relation to the use of mobile phones, principles still said phones were interrupting classrooms and that a culture of non-acceptance was needed. I meet principals who tell me the mobile phone, even though students keep it in their bag, the beeping of it is an interruption to study. It's a continuous hum almost in the background that's there, the minister said. The minister said moving forward with a ban in secondary schools was something she was looking into but it would not be a feature in primary schools. So, were moving forward now with the ban, working with our schools on mobile phones, particularly in post primary, the minister said. It's not an issue really in primary in that they're not using them particularly during school hours in primary. Increasing numbers of schools around the country have already banned students from using or having phones with them during school time. The minister was speaking at an event to mark the rollout of the free school book scheme to students in Junior Cycle from this September. Ms Foley said the extension of the scheme to students in senior cycle in the upcoming Budget was "an absolute ambition of hers. I do think there's a general goodwill towards this. There's an absolute recognition of the positivity and the benefit for parents and guardians and for students themselves. So I'm doing all that I can, but I can't guarantee it until we have the business of the Budget done but it's an absolute priority for me. A new encampment of tents has now been established along Dublins Grand Canal, just yards from where the first major dismantling of a large encampment happened on Mount Street on May 1. Throughout the summer there have been several operations to remove such encampments of asylum seekers, from Mount Street itself and then numerous operations along the canal banks. While the camps are smaller than they were earlier in the summer, the numbers of international protection applicants has remained broadly static, with an average of over 400 per week seeking government assistance from mid May to August. Several kilometres of security fencing has been erected on Mount Street Lower and all along the banks of the Grand Canal from Grand Canal Dock at the city end stretching up to near Harolds Cross. Asylum Seeker tents return to Mount Street Bridge. Photo by Steve Humphreys 21st August 2024. This was erected by Waterways Ireland due to safety concerns about large numbers of people sleeping close to the waters edge. Despite these measures, more than 30 tents have now been erected on the canal bank inside the security fences close to Mount Street Bridge and metres from Lower Mount Street where the largest camp had previously been erected in close proximity to the International Protection Office on Mount Street, where asylum seekers register. Labour leader Ivana Bacik today said the situation remains as unsustainable today as it was at the beginning of the summer. Unfortunately, it remains the same, that the current situation for those forced to sleep in tents in public spaces is inhumane and unsustainable. I want to see government move swiftly to provide the capacity that's necessary in the reception and integration centres has been promised, she told the Irish Independent. I have commended the local volunteers who are trying to provide support to the individuals seeking refuge here. And the High Court has found against the Government and said it has not been able to provide adequate accommodation, so we just need to see urgent movement on this. It's simply not acceptable just to keep barriers up everywhere and suggest that somehow fixes the situation, she added. Asylum Seeker tents return to Mount Street Bridge. Photo by Steve Humphreys 21st August 2024. Asked if she thought the recent public order incidents and fires at the former Crown paints factory in Coolock, and disturbances at the Thornton Hall site, both of which are being prepared for asylum seekers, were delaying Government action to provide accommodation, Deputy Bacik said: we can't let this sort of activity derail what must be rolled out, which is the appropriate capacity for international protection applicants. Clearly the government are facing the awful prospects of these protests, and the actions and obstructions by a small number of individuals, but we have international obligations and human rights obligations, and also, we're a country of welcome, said Ms Bacik. Councillor Dermot Lacey and I have called for the repurposing of Baggot Street Hospital in the heart of our own constituency, and we have seen no action on that. All around the country we see vacant, publicly owned buildings sitting empty that could and should be repurposed. The small number of hostile actions we've seen actually don't reflect the broad welcome we've had from Irish communities and communities across Ireland for new residents, and that's really heartening. We're a country that is crying out for expertise and for skilled labour, and many people are coming here seeking refuge and the offering of the benefit of their skills and expertise, and we should be offering much greater legal pathways, the Government should be moving to increase the number of legal routes to Ireland to gain employment here. But crucially, government needs now to rapidly increase the levels of capacity of accommodation provided, she added. There are currently 2,509 international protection applicants awaiting offers of accommodation in Ireland according to the Department of Integration. Numbers seeking international protection since beginning of May until beginning of July are as follows: Week ending 05/05 - 612 Week ending 12/05 - 479 Week ending 19/05 - 424 Week ending 26/05 - 429 Week ending 02/06 - 364 Week ending 09/06 - 350 Week ending 16/06 - 405 Week ending 23/06 - 284 Week ending 30/06 - 366 Week ending 07/07 - 447 Decision by Finance Minister Jack Chambers will be seen as a major election sweetener for farmers, but also a win for land speculators hoarding sites in the hope the value will increase in line with record house prices Finance Minister Jack Chambers made the land tax decision after talks with the Housing Minister and the Agriculture Minister. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Taoiseach Simon Harris climbing out of a pen containing Kerry Bog pony during a visit to The Tullow Agricultural Show in Carlow. Picture date: Sunday August 18, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Health. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it is offensive to describe farmers as land-hoarders as he confirmed the Government is delaying the introduction of Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). Mr Harris said he listened to the legitimate concerns of farmers who faced their land being taxed despite it being used for agricultural purposes. He said the three Government leaders will come to a decision on RZLT before the Budget and Department of Finance officials are drafting alternative legislation so active farmers are not impacted by the new tax. As long as Im Taoiseach no active farmer will pay Residential Zoned Land Tax simple as, the Taoiseach said at a Fine Gael event promoting supports for families. Im absolutely committed to the tax but I need the Department of Finance to listen to the real and legitimate concerns of farmers. It is offensive to tell a farmer they are a land hoarder when farming is such an important part of our economy, he added. The Government has decided to defer the introduction of the landmark Residential Zoned Land Tax for a year The tax, which would see land zoned for residential development taxed at 3pc of its market value, was a government attempt to unlock more sites for housing construction and prevent speculators from hoarding serviced land. It was announced in Budget 2022 and was due to come into effect next February, with tax bills due to be paid by May. However, there was backlash among farmers whose land was zoned for residential development but was being used for agricultural purposes. Farmers could apply to their local authorities to have their land rezoned, but a government source said the process yielded only limited changes, with many active farmers still within scope. Mr Harris said the Irish Farmers Associations (IFA) position on the RZLT is very reasonable because they differentiate between an active farmer and someone who claims to have farmland to avoid tax. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the decision to delay the tax is disgraceful while the housing crisis is on-going. This is a direct result of this governments abject failure over the past three years to exempt actively farmed land from this tax, he said. Sinn Fein has repeatedly raised this problem with the government for the past three years but no action was taken. That the government has again delayed this tax for another year is a boon to land hoarders and will only deepen their housing crisis, he added. This comes as the Government decided to defer the introduction of the RZLT for a year. The decision by Finance Minister Jack Chambers will be seen as a major election sweetener for farmers who feared land they were working would be hit with significant taxes under the scheme. However, it will also be a win for land speculators hoarding sites in the hope the value will increase in line with record levels of house prices. Mr Chambers decided to pause and defer the tax for another 12 months following high-level discussions with Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. Mr Chambers and Mr OBrien also agreed to revise the legislation so that it will permanently exclude farmers. This process will progress in tandem with the development of the National Planning Framework when it is published later this year. A senior government source said there is considerable concern within the higher levels of the Coalition that the tax will place a disproportionate burden on active farmers whose land has not yet been de-zoned. This will be a key measure and priority for Fianna Fail in the Budget to ensure we partner with farmers and rural communities. We must protect active farmland and food production systems from any disproportionate levy or tax, the source said. Many farmers have expressed concern that leaving this measure in place without intervention would put the viability of their farm at risk. Fianna Fail will be ensuring this Budget addresses these concerns. Before the Dail rose for the summer recess, the Fine Gael parliamentary party passed a motion committing to exempting farmers from the Residential Zoned Land Tax. Former rural affairs minister Michael Ring, who tabled the motion, said farmers who use their land for food production are not property speculators or developers and should not be treated as such. After the vote, Mr Ring said: There was widespread agreement from colleagues and ministers that farmers should not be financially punished for a tax which was aimed at those who were sitting on idle land. Farmers are most certainly not doing that, they are critical to this countrys financial prosperity and well-being. Concerns have been raised over Ukrainian refugees being given preferential treatment over Irish people when accessing State-supported return-to-work schemes. Independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim Marc MacSharry said it was discriminatory that Ukrainians only need to be unemployed for nine months to gain access to community employment schemes while Irish citizens must wait a full year. The Department of Social Protection said the reason Ukrainian refugees can access the schemes sooner is to promote integration. However, in a letter to Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, who is responsible for the schemes, Mr MacSharry asked her to revisit the eligibility criteria for the programmes aimed at getting people back to work. It has been brought to my attention by a number of community employment supervisors who are running very successful community employment schemes around the country, that Irish citizens are being discriminated against when it comes to filling community employment placements, he said. Mr MacSharry said it is highly discriminatory that Irish citizens have to wait three more months on social welfare than Ukrainian refugees before they can avail of back-to-work schemes. I very much regret the reality that this favouritism towards Ukrainian nationals only serves to fuel resentments, undermine solidarity and nurtures ethnic intolerance in local communities, he told Ms Humphreys. I strongly urge you to immediately revisit the scheme eligibility criteria and urgently re-establish the same qualifying period for all applicants. The Department of Social Protection confirmed to Mr MacSharry that Ukrainian refugees are eligible to enter employment schemes sooner than Irish citizens. To support the integration of Ukrainian nationals residing here, the qualifying period for eligibility for community employment schemes has been reduced from 12 months to nine months, the department said. The eligibility criteria for community employment are kept under active review by the department. Minister Humphreys and Minister Joe OBrien will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the participants. A spokesperson said: This change was introduced to take account of the fact that most of the people arriving from Ukraine spent some time on a supplementary welfare payment before transferring to a Jobseekers payment. This measure was introduced to support the integration of Ukrainian nationals residing here and to enable the Department and CE sponsor organisations to work with and provide further support and assistance to Ukrainians while supporting schemes continuing to deliver services in local communities, he added. Mr MacSharry previously raised concerns about the high levels of social welfare paid to Ukrainian refugees here compared to other EU states. The Government subsequently reduced the payments. Gardai have established that a 16-year-old boy who stabbed an army chaplain had been reposting propaganda from Islamic terrorist organisations after being radicalised online. The Irish Independent can reveal that he had come to the attention of specialist gardai and was being monitored before Thursday nights attack in Galway because of the open nature of what the teenager was posting online. The 16-year-old had been living in the Galway city area with his family, who originally came to the country from the UK. His parents live apart from each other. Within hours of chaplain Fr Paul Murphy (52) being attacked at 10.45pm on Thursday with a large bayonet-style knife at Renmore Barracks, detectives raided the family home of the boy and seized a number of devices including his laptop and mobile phones. Gardai are aware that the boy had been reposting disturbing material from terrorist groups affiliated with organisations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda in recent months, a source told the Irish Independent. Elective procedures have been stalled to cope with the overcrowding at the hospital Widespread consultation with patients and health staff, including international experts, is promised in newly published terms of reference today by Hiqa for its review of whether Limerick needs a second hospital emergency department to ease the region's trolley crisis. The patient watchdog said it will have a preliminary report for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in six months and a final verdict next summer. The terms of reference pave the way for the examination to get underway and comes as elective procedures have been stalled to cope with the ongoing emergency department overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick. Hiqa said it will review the current relevant national and international evidence to ensure an evidence-based rationale to inform the potential future configuration of comparable urgent and emergency healthcare services. It will establish an expert advisory group which contains patient representatives and operational, clinical and nursing expertise to inform its overall approach in the conduct of this review. It will involve key stakeholders in the region and nationally through the implementation of an extensive stakeholder engagement plan with key interested parties, including patients and healthcare professionals in the region and nationally. It will also engage with the relevant clinical community in the region and nationally to inform clinical considerations through the establishment of a clinical advisory forum with relevant clinical and nursing representatives including but not limited to emergency medicine, acute medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, paediatrics, the National Ambulance Service and local GPs to inform the review. Hiqa will monitor compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare in the hospital to seek to identify any further areas of progress assessing the potential impact and benefits of process improvement and operational effectiveness initiatives on available capacity across the University of Limerick Hospitals Group. The review will call on specialist expertise external to Hiqa to review health service capacity in the HSE mid-west region. The review will take into account current and future population needs as well as consider the recent unpublished report by retired judge Frank Clarke, who looked at accountability. A capacity work stream will be conducted by an external body with expertise in this area and appropriate arrangements will be put in place to enable the outputs to be considered by Hiqa as part of the overall review. A preliminary briefing will be provided to the Health Minister within six months from the initiation of the review. A final report will be provided to the minister in summer 2025, which will then be published. Local campaigners have long called for a second emergency department in the region after enduring years of overcrowding. The issue of patient safety has been highlighted and reached a point of major concern following the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston in December 2022, who died from meningitis-related sepsis after waiting hours on a trolley to be seen. Hiqa pointed out that when all emergency care was confined the the Limerick hospital, closing three other emergency departments in the region, an estimated 267 extra inpatient were promised. Such an investment did not occur prior to the reconfiguration of services. In response to the economic downturn post-2008, healthcare budgets, including capital budgets, were severely curtailed and the additional capacity was not provided at UHL, or at other hospitals." Hiqa said that while other hospitals have managed to get greater operational grip on overcrowding the pace in Limerick has been slower. Parenting envy: How to overcome the urge to compare and compete with other people's children If you find yourself measuring your childs achievements against those of their friends, recognising your own insecurities is crucial to breaking cycle Never worry about how your child is doing in comparison to others, instead offer them support where they need it. Photo: Getty David Coleman Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 03:30 Do you ever find yourself enviously looking at other peoples children who seem so well behaved, or appear successful in school or sports, or are popular among their peers? Theodore Roosevelt said comparison is the thief of joy, and yet, as a parent, it can feel almost impossible not to compare your family with others. Combining solar power and home charging drives down fuel bills Amid all the negativity around ownership of electric vehicles, some motorists are tapping into the lower costs of electrified cars by skilfully deploying the resources at their disposal. In the case of two people profiled here, that has meant installing solar panels and a 7Kw home charger to transform the cost of running an electric car and, of course, home. Basically, they are sorted for low-energy cost motoring for a long time. I thought it might be of interest to read about their experiences so far. Niall Murphy, from Ballinhassig, Co Cork, works in the commercial renewable energy sector, so he is well placed to assess what works, and what doesnt. The Christmas before last, his ESB bill was 950. It felt like the final straw, he said. It isnt that I think I can save the planet, but I can do my bit for my childrens future. So he went about getting Swyft Energy to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and a Zappi 7Kw home charger, all in the one day. Such has been the effect on his bills that he is now planning to switch from a large plug-in (PHEV) to an all-electric car. He has had a Kia Sorento PHEV since last September and installed the PV solar panels and charger last October. Installing solar made a notable difference, as home-socket charging could take 12 or 13 hours, whereas its done within four hours with the Zappi EV charger now, he said. His day-to-day driving, such as school and shop runs, are completely covered by solar power. He charges his car at home using solar power during the summer, running an estimated 60km off the battery. Thats a good figure for a large car such as the Sorento, and shows that you can drive in EV mode a lot of the time. The savings on petrol are significant. In winter, he charges during cheaper-rate hours, between 2am and 6am, as well as using whatever solar energy is generated. Mr Murphy had opted to buy a PHEV as opposed to a fully electric car, due to concerns over access to charging infrastructure during longer commutes in rural Ireland. Its really chicken and egg stuff whether rural Ireland should install the infrastructure so people buy EVs or whether people should buy EVs to justify putting in the infrastructure, he said. I think well buy a full EV when were changing from our current car. It isnt that I think I can save the planet, but I can do my bit for my childrens future. In my most recent bill, I was able to export enough solar power (to the grid) that I was actually owed 240. My bill used to be between 2,500-3,000 a year and will probably be just 1,000 this year. Pat Casey Another who is driving electric is Pat Casey, who made the switch to a full EV. He is a board member of Swyft Energy, based in North Kerry, so he is practising what he preaches. In 2020, I installed 16 solar PV panels and a 7.5Kw battery to reduce my electricity costs, benefit the environment and get a better return on investment than from financial institutions, he said. Installing 16 panels meant that I was equipped to later buy an EV in 2022 and now have the option to install a heat pump down the line. He says solar PV significantly reduces energy bills and lessens carbon footprint. He covered 31,000km last year. Around 26,800km of that total was home charged through solar PV and night-rate power. That led to a total running cost for his EV of 1,139, representing a saving of 1,514 and 3,380kg of CO2 versus his previous diesel car. In addition to his EV savings, he reduced his household electricity costs last year by 1,583 and carbon emissions by 875kg of CO2. His total savings for last year were 3,097, representing an 18pc annual return on his solar investment and 55pc annual savings on energy costs. It takes time for the electric-car savings to make up the difference between EVs and the lower-priced internal combustion engines. But by using the likes of solar power, cheaper energy will bridge the gap quicker than expected. Five years ago, then Fine Gael politician Maria Bailey, found herself at the centre of a national scandal and subsequent media storm. The former TD took a case against a Dublin hotel for medical expenses after a fall on their premises. It became front page news and would forever be known as Swing-Gate. But as coverage continued, Maria Bailey went on one of the most listened to radio programs in the country to put forward her side of the story. As the phrase goes, any publicity is good publicity - but this might just be the exception to the rule. Today on the Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Kevin Doyle, Group Head of News at Media House Ireland, to take us through how the story broke, his involvement in it, and reflect on the scandal that saw the politician deselected by her party. This podcast was originally published in May 2024. The principal of a Cork primary school has appealed for more space to be allocated to their school to accommodate the growing demand for places ahead of the new academic year. The severe lack of space has resulted in students being taught in the hallway and staff room. Fermoy Educate Together (FET) opened in 2018 in Fermoy Youth Centre and was later granted the basement level of the former Fermoy Technical School/Gaelscoil de hIde building in the town as it expanded. The remaining two floors were given to the Cork Education Training Board (CETB) for its further education and training services. FET is unable to use mobile buildings for extra classrooms as the only available outdoor space is the tiny playground. Access to the school is limited, with the main way in and out being a small laneway from the main street. It cannot be used by vehicles. Principal Toni Maguire, of Fermoy Educate Together (FET) has appealed for access to the rooms in the floors above their current ground floor location to alleviate the lack of space. Our admissions policy is due to be written in October for the 25/26 academic year. The board of management are now faced with the dilemma of whether we can we take junior infants for that year or not because I cant fit 26 children in our final classroom, she said. Ms Maguire continued: I have between here and October to find a solution with the department or I am facing the board making the decision of us not taking junior infants which for me is disgraceful. People want the school and I have waiting lists for five other classes. A total of 96 students will be enrolled in Fermoy Educate Together for the 2024-2025 academic year said Ms Maguire. My cap is 104 children. I havent stepped outside that original divestment agreement and I dont want to step outside that. I simply cannot accommodate those 104 children in our current location. I have 96 children going to be in our building from this September. I have 21 children crammed into the bottom classroom. I have had to close admissions for that class. I now have two children on a fifth class waiting list and two children on my sixth class waiting list. Technically I have the space for them as 26 is what I should have in there. I only have 21 but I cannot actually fit their tables and chairs in the classroom. I have to put them on a waiting list and tell them I have no space for your child because I cant physically fit them in the school, she added. We have councillors and TDs involved, said the school principal. The current situation is that the Department of Education are holding us to our divestment agreement. They are saying it was agreed that a four classroom school would be opened in a co-located site with the ETB. My argument is that we have a third of the space that is outlined in their schedule of accommodation for a four classroom school. The co-educational school currently has students from junior infants up to sixth class. Ms Maguire said the students are situated in every possible space in their building. We have students everywhere I can possibly fit them. We are not complying with health and safety. I am currently getting a health and safety audit done on the school to show that we cant be using those spaces. From a principals point of view If I refuse a child and a parent takes a case against me like a Section 29, technically we have space for that child but physically I dont. I have been very honest with the childrens parents. I would love to have them in our school but I cant fit them in the classroom. It is offering a choice to parents and is hugely popular, said Ms Maguire. What frustrates me is Norma Foley opened up Paradise Place Educate Together in Dublin. This was the very first Catholic school to divest under Educate Together. She announced that they are doing a whole country wide survey because the department acknowledge that they arent providing enough multi denominational spaces for people. On the ground we are an existing school. The demand is there, but they wont give me appropriate accommodation for what they agreed to in the first place. The school principal said due to space constraints she cant open an autism class for four students. Since we opened the demographic of Ireland has changed massively. The number of children with autism has jumped massively. I cant open an autism class even though I have four children who should be in an autism class. Their parents are choosing to put them in a mainstream class because there are no educate together autism classes anywhere near us. Parents have no choice in the area. Ms Maguire appealed for the Minister for Education, Norma Foley to listen to their story. I want Minister Foley to sit down and see what I am trying to say. They are forever going back to the divestment agreement. I am not trying to break that. We do not have anything near the resources or the space that other four classroom schools have. We have children being educated in a corridor. We are in a Department of Education building. For some reason the ETB are being prioritised over Department of Education children and staff. The ETB were made aware that we would need additional space going forward. Now we have got to that point the department are unwilling to make the ETB give us extra space so we are stuck with what we had originally. The ETB provide a wonderful service, but they have options in other places in the town. We have no option because of the divestment agreement. For me if the ETB have access to other buildings in the town they could outsource some of their courses and we could have an extra classroom or two in the building that we are currently in. That would solve all the problems, she added. Students are scheduled to return to Fermoy Educate Together on Wednesday, August 28. The principal said a solution and common sense is required. We want a solution. We need common sense and for extra space to be given to us upstairs. I am not asking for a new build. I am not asking for a state of the art complex. I want a correct size classroom to fit the children in. We will keep fighting for it, said Ms Maguire. I am not asking for the world. It is very frustrating. I am not going away. We are going to be one of the first Educate Togethers to go into decline even tough the demand is growing. It is not because we dont have the waiting lists, it is because the department wont give us the space. I will keep fighting for the kids. The Department of Education was contacted for comment by The Corkman, but at the time of going to print had failed to respond. Volunteers Anna O'Shea, Donie Lucey and John P Moynihan demonstrate some of the work carried out by CRITICAL, the emergency medical response charity. Photo: John Tarrant The emergency medical response charity, CRITICAL, has established a new Community First Responder (CFR) group to cover the Duhallow area in County Cork. The Blackwater CFR group will cover an area which spans 147 square miles, including Millstreet, Banteer, Rathmore, Ballydesmond and Kiskeam. The newly launched group will respond to 999/112 calls including cardiac arrests, stroke, and patients with breathing difficulties. David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL, said: The Blackwater CFR group is the latest addition to the charitys network which is expanding its presence around Ireland. CRITICAL volunteers are working in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service, providing a quick response to medical emergencies in their communities. We have seen the impact of our CFR groups in other areas and I am sure that this latest group will be of major benefit to the north Cork area. The group currently has 10 active and fully-trained responders with an additional 13 in training. These include people from the local fire service, factory workers, IT workers and the HSE. Donie Lucey is a fundraising support officer with CRITICAL who responds as a volunteer with Blackwater. He was one of those who helped set up the Blackwater CFR group and said he has seen first-hand the benefits of having responders in an area, particularly one as expansive as this particular part of north Cork. "Our volunteers can be at the scene in minutes providing vital treatment to a patient before the ambulance arrives. The training that our volunteers receive is fantastic and, only recently, one of our Blackwater CFR volunteers put his skills to use when one of his relatives began choking. "The biggest reward for us is knowing that weve helped save the life of someone in our community, whether that be a friend, family or neighbour. Donie is also a member of the Millstreet Vintage Club which recently raised 12,500 in support of CRITICAL. The funds raised locally will help to ensure the group has access to lifesaving resources when they respond to a 999 call in the area, such as defibrillators and training equipment. These funds will also ensure the group's life support bags can be kept fully stocked with disposable medical products, like breathing assistance tools and defibrillator pads. CRITICAL is Irelands leading volunteer emergency medical response charity and its mission is to save lives through a network of volunteer emergency medical responders. In total, the charity has six community first responder groups around the country with an additional three due to go live later this year. To join the Blackwater CFR group, contact info@criticalcharity.ie. For those wishing to donate to CRITICAL or to get involved with the charity, please visit https://criticalcharity.ie/ or call 021 4190 999. Passengers complain of being late for work after access closed during peak hours 'Temporary' access to Clongriffin Dart Station has been in place for 13 years The shutters giving access to the stairwell to Clongriffin Dart Station were closed until 11am. Pic: @samanthaofl The stairwell at a Dublin Dart station was completely locked up on one side this morning, leaving some commuters stranded and late for work. The temporary access point to Clongriffin Dart Station has now been in place for 13 years and local residents have experienced multiple issues on the non-Irish Rail owned Baldoyle side for over a decade. The lift and access point, managed on behalf of the owners by Richmond Homes, has been in place since 2010, the developers are responsible for keeping it open. The lift at the station has been out of service on multiple occasions, leaving commuters who need the lift unable to use the Dart station. Samantha OFlanagan, from Myrtle the Coast Residents Association, told the Irish Independent that this morning, the shutters at The Coast, Baldoyle, were closed overnight and remained shut until around 11am. In response to her queries to Richmond Homes, which began at 7.45am, she was told at 10am that the private developers were getting onto the security firm they use to manage the access point to find out why its closed and when it will be opened. Weve received numerous emails and messages from residents today who were late for work due to the complete closure of the stairwell, she said. The situation just goes from bad to worse the lift is frequently out of service, night-time access is restricted, preventing residents from reaching the 24-hour bus service. Then this morning, the shutters remained closed during peak commuting hours, leaving people unable to access the Dart or bus services. The stairwell is a separate access point managed by Richmond Homes Were exhausted from constantly fighting these issues. The NTA assured us that a lift upgrade would be completed by the end of summer, which is promising, but weve yet to receive any updates as to whether this is on schedule. Regardless, a lift upgrade alone is useless if the shutters remain down and access is blocked. Private developers should not control access to public transport; its as simple as that. It leaves residents vulnerable with no recourse when issues like today arise. Despite being encouraged by the Minister for Transport to leave our cars at home and use public transport, we cant even access it. The Government is failing our community, and access to public transport must be managed by a public body, she added. Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins has also been working to address the issues of the access point at Clongriffin throughout her time as a local representative in the area. I have done everything in my power to resolve a situation that should never have occurred, she said. Due to poor planning regulations, we have been left in a situation where a private developer owns and controls access to a public Dart station and bus service. I have personally put in hundreds of questions and motions over the last five years. Having exhausted my councillor powers, I set up a petition, and with the community here, we have held protests. Finally, we secured a meeting with the Transport Minister and the NTA, and we were told there would be a resolution by this September. I am continuing to put pressure on the NTA and Fingal to deliver on their promises. We cannot go on like this hundreds of people missing Darts and buses to work this morning. We wont tolerate it any longer, she added. Richmond Homes, Fingal County Council, and the National Transport Authority have been contacted for comment. Exclusive | Mother meets and thanks Kerry guards for saving her babys life It was a happy ending outside Listowel Garda Station on Wednesday morning. Hero guards Ryan Hill (left) and Mark Cushen with baby Precious and her mom Donna. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. Stephen Fernane Kerryman Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 13:20 A County Limerick mother has been reunited with the hero guards who helped save her seven-week-old daughters life on Saturday evening. Honorary Secretary of Tipperary Peace Convention, Martin Quinn, said that the awarding of the peace prize to Medecins Sans Frontieres - Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a statement of support for an organisation that has brought medical care to the victims of earthquakes, nutritional crises, epidemics, conflicts and other disasters Medecins Sans Frontieres Doctors Without Borders (MSF), have been announced as the recipient of the 2023 Tipperary (Ireland) International Peace Award. Honorary Secretary of Tipperary Peace Convention, Martin Quinn, said that the awarding of the peace prize to Medecins Sans Frontieres Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a statement of support for an organisation that has brought medical care to the victims of earthquakes, nutritional crises, epidemics, conflicts and other disasters. For over 50 years MSF has gone to wherever people are suffering, and has become renowned for their work in medical emergencies around the world, said Mr Quinn. MSF grew out of the ideals of a group of French doctors who wanted to be on the ground helping those most in need anywhere in the world. Many decades later their work is of vital importance on a global level, whether responding to emergencies or providing medical support to vulnerable local communities. The 2023 Tipperary International Peace Award recognises the humanitarian work of MSF and the response of its teams to crises, both of war and of natural disasters. From its evolution of being an organisation with little or no resources, to becoming globally recognised for its humanitarian work, MSF is a worthy recipient of the Tipperary International Peace Award The award, while recognising the work of MSF for 53 years, also remembers those who were caught up in war torn situations and paid the ultimate price for their humanitarian efforts. Past recipients of the award include former South African President the late Nelson Mandela, former President of Ireland, Professor Mary McAleese and her husband Senator Martin McAleese, the late Senator Edward Kennedy and his sister the late Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, Pakistani student Malala Yousafzai, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, former US Secretary of State, John Kerry, the Syrian Civil Defence White Helmets, former Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, former Irish President and Chair of The Elders, Mary Robinson and last years recipient, Belarusian politician, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The 2023 award will be presented to representatives of MSF at a ceremony in Tipperary, Ireland, on Saturday, September 21, which is International Day of Peace (United Nations). Follow Independent Tipperary on Facebook Responding to news of the selection, Chris Lockyear, Secretary General, MSF, said, We are sincerely grateful to be recognised by Tipperary Peace Convention for our medical work and provision of humanitarian assistance to people affected by war, displacement, exclusion from healthcare and epidemics. During a time of immense human suffering as a result of brutal conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and Democratic Republic of Congo, and the many silent humanitarian crises where our dedicated teams provide care, our work is often just a sticking plaster in response to an emergency. Real change for many of the communities that we assist, needs to come from states and world leaders who have the power to lessen human suffering through decisive political action in service of the worlds marginalised and vulnerable communities. Enniscorthy residents will be able to taste fresh food from around the world in new Asian and Japanese restaurant Ai by Ahmad in Templeshannon. Owner Ahmad Musa is originally from Malaysia where he gained valuable experience working in various Japanese restaurants, and after 12 years he has set up his own restaurant right in the heart of the town. Every year Mr Musa enters the Panel of Chefs of Ireland annual competition and adorns the walls of his restaurant with his impressive collection of medals. The building, opposite Treacys hotel, can hold up to 20 visitors at a time, while supplying a mouth-watering takeaway menu. On the menu is an extensive range of fish options to transport diners to the heart of Asia; Malaysia Rendang Roll, Prawn Tempura Tamaki, Unagi Roll, and more. The business prides themselves on being inclusive to all diners needs and is suitable for vegans, children, and also halal-friendly. The meaning behind the name is equally befitting, with ai translating to love in Japanese to represent the chefs passion for good quality food. The restaurant is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday 12.30 p.m. to 10.pm. Although the restaurant is closed Mondays and Saturdays, he has big plans to use those days to teach Japanese cooking classes. Food lovers are encouraged to avail of their current discounts which will give them 20 per cent off their first takeaway order, with every tenth meal free, based on the average of their previous orders. It has been five long months since locals of the Ballycarney community outside Enniscorthy, Co Wexford battled to save the historic old post office from an unexpected fire and owners are delighted to be able to reopen its doors to residents and the camera crew from RTEs Nationwide. On Sunday April 14 Barry Lacey, who renovated the location and gave it a new lease of life with his father Sean, was alarmed when he received a phone call that the building was on fire. When he arrived on site shortly after he was met with the heart-warming scene of a group of passing locals fighting to put out the fire and preserve the building. Soon after, units from Wexford Fire Service in Enniscorthy and Bunclody took over efforts, managing to dampen out the flames. Sean says the fireproof membrane they initially installed on the rood in their renovations, was instrumental in limited damage, though they were never able to decipher the cause of the fire. "We still dont know what caused it but it could have been so much worse. We had decided to install a fireproof membrane as a precaution thinking we would never need it. But there you go at the end of the day we did! he said. Since then they have been hard at work restoring and repairing the damage, only recently opening for the Local Development Group to hold their meetings and for this week's Heritage Week events. Locals and firefighters worked hard to save the building. "We only had to repair parts of the roof, and thankfully not the whole roof. We were lucky that the original thatcher John Barnes, from the West of Ireland, was able to come up and carry out the work. We also have put in a new heating system instead of relying on the stove fire just in case. We wouldnt want to see what happened ever again he added. In the last few weeks they have been able to accommodate various groups who previously frequented the property before the incident, including the 1798 Spinners, a group of traditional craftspeople who use the spinning wheel. Nationwide had filmed and aired an episode that featured the old post office that delved into its history before the incident, and with their presence required at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in the county, the crew saw it as a perfect opportunity to film an update on the renovations. "The stars just seemed to align and they are re-airing the previous episode with the added segment on Wednesday August 20. We are happy that we are able to bring back a sense of community to the area, what with the older generation using post offices as a social outlet, Mr Lacey said. They plan to throw events for both Halloween and Christmas and encourage anyone interested in using the building for events to contact them by email at theoldpostofficeballycarney@gmail.com or by phone at 0872783335 (Barry) or 0872596356 (Sean). The organisers and helpers pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Jenny Clancy and Susan Ryan enjoyed The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell At The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday were Margaret Cloney, Isabelle Simpson and Bernie Cloney. Pic: Jim Campbell Ann and Aidan Sinnott were at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Colm Blake and Ciara Albarracin at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday were Amanda Kiely, Louise Byrne and Ryan Byrne. Pic: Jim Campbell Debbie Connolly, Niamh Fitzgerald and Cliona Gannon were pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Fionn Clancy, Sophia Ennis and Darryl Ryan pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Michael Murphy, Catherina Dixon, Katie Dixon, Michael Doran and Colm Blake enjoyed The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday were Betty Doyle, Cormac Murphy, Jane Ryan Murphy, Senator Malcolm Byrne, Roisin Murphy and Michael Murphy. Pic: Jim Campbell Dermot, Pamela and Fionn Dawner attended The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell At The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday were Katie Healy and Rachel Cahill. Pic: Jim Campbell Yvonne Sweeney, Rena O'Brien and Audrey Dormer attended The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Catherine Hillis, Ciara Albarracin and Kate Curran enjoyed The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Soraya Connelly, Katie Healt, Evan Rogan, Debbie Connolly, Brian Rogan and Pat Connolly pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Leah, Sinead, Abbie, Ivan, Mary and Katie Ryanhart were pictured at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell Verona Murphy TD, Debbie Connolly, James Doran, Ciara Doran and Mia Fitzgerald at The Great Beach Walk in aid of Down Syndrome in Cahore on Monday. Pic: Jim Campbell The second annual Great Beach Walk took place on Monday, August 19 and once again there was a great turnout for the special day. Despite the forecasted stormy weather, hundreds of people took part in this charity event to raise much needed funds for Wexfords branch of Down Syndrome Ireland. Speaking at the event, Secretary of Down Syndrome Wexford Ciara Doran said, For parents of people with Down Syndrome, it is so humbling to see the support of our community here today. Every cent that has been donated will be spent on vital therapies such as Speech and Language, so that our children can achieve what other parents take for granted. We want to thank everyone who has helped us, especially Michael Murphy, it means so much to us. All walkers finished at the Strand Cahore, where they were treated to delicious burgers courtesy of Pauline Dunne as well as music and face painting. TD Verona Murphy, TD James Browne, Senator Malcolm Byrne as well as Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain, Cllr Pip Breen and Cllr Mary Farrell were seen among the walkers on the day. Down Syndrome Wexford supports their members with Down Syndrome and their families and is run entirely by volunteers. As the HSE is failing to provide early intervention for the youngest of its members, the charity relies completely on donations to provide access to vital services such as Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy locally. All the money raised is used to enhance the lives of their members with Down syndrome and to help children reach goals that so many parents take for granted. In 2023, the inaugural charity event raised 22,000 for much needed speech and language, occupational therapy and other therapies for children with Down Syndrome in Wexford. Snowpiercer (2013) ITV4, 9p.m. Before he directed Parasite, the first foreign language film to win the Best Picture Oscar, Bong Joon-ho made his English-language debut with the dark fantasy thriller Snowpiercer. Boasting an impressive cast including Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell and Parasites Song Kang-ho, its set in the future where a failed experiment to end global warming has turned the Earth into an uninhabitable frozen wasteland. Whats left of humanity is confined to a high-speed train, where passengers are divided by class but a revolution is brewing. The film only had a limited cinema release in the US but was enough of a critical hit to lead to a spin-off TV series. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 Barbarian (2022) Film4, 9p.m. Written and directed by Zach Cregger with plentiful on-screen splatter and a disturbing breast-feeding sequence, Barbarian suckles on the dread of an overnight stay in unfamiliar surroundings. Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) travels to Detroit for an important job interview and books accommodation for the night through an app. Arriving at a house in a rundown neighbourhood during a raging rainstorm, Tess discovers the property has been double-booked by a man called Keith (Bill Skarsgard). Unfortunately, there is a big convention in town, and she cant find anywhere else to stay, so Tess ignores her misgivings and agrees to take the bedroom while Keith sleeps on the sofa. Strange noises emanating from below ground confirm that Keith is the least of Tesss worries if she wants to survive the night FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Gone Girl (2014) GREAT! movies, 10.55p.m. On the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) calls the police to his home. There are signs of a struggle, and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) is missing. Amys distraught parents (David Clennon, Lisa Beth) join Nick to front a high-profile media campaign to secure the safe return of their daughter, but in the glare of the spotlight, it becomes clear the Dunnes marriage was on the rocks, and the cops and public openly question Nicks innocence. Gone Girl is a spiky satire, skilfully adapted by Gillian Flynn from her 2012 bestseller. Admittedly, you have to dig deep beneath the surface of David Finchers polished film to find the jet-black humour but its there, walking hand-in-hand with sadism and torture that propel the narrative towards its unconventional denouement. SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 The Promised Land (2023) BBC4, 9p.m. Mads Mikkelsen headlines director Nikolaj Arcels gritty Nordic western, which was selected by Denmark as the countrys official entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards. Adapted from Ida Jessens novel The Captain and Ann Barbara, the film opens in 1755 with impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelsen) turning his attention to the supposedly uninhabitable Jutland Heath. Nothing will grow on this vast expanse of untameable land, but Kahlen intends to prove doubters wrong and claim the heath in the name of the King. Unfortunately, merciless local nobleman Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg) has also staked a claim to the land that Kahlen now harvests. De Schinkel vows bloodthirsty and brutal revenge against Kahlen and everyone he holds dear. SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 The Sound of Music (1965) BBC1, 3.50p.m. Inspired by a true story, this much-loved musical follows novice nun Maria (Julie Andrews), who is employed as a governess to the seven unruly Von Trapp children. Their widowed father (Christopher Plummer) runs the house on military lines, but his new employee eventually brings fun and music back into his offsprings lives and melts his heart in the process. However, the Austrian familys happiness is threatened by the looming Second World War. Theres a reason this classic always gets rolled out at Christmas and Bank Holiday weekends there isnt a single dud in the Rodgers and Hammerstein score, which includes songs such as Do-Re-Mi and My Favourite Things. Andrews is on iconic form as the all-singing Maria, while Plummers sardonic Captain Von Trapp stops things getting too sugary. MONDAY, AUGUST 26 The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) Film4, 6.40p.m. Writer-director Armando Iannucci realises great expectations with his madcap take on Charles Dickens indomitable literary hero. The Personal History of David Copperfield breathlessly abridges the mid-19th century serial and novel to focus on the quixotic and colourful characters. A galaxy of stars in the British acting firmament sparkle in small yet perfectly formed roles including a delightfully bonkers Tilda Swinton as Betsey Trotwood and Peter Capaldi as lovable rapscallion Mr Micawber. The setting may be pungently Victorian but the tone is unmistakably modern from the heros knowing narration to nudge-nudge wink-wink flashes of directorial brio that bookmark each chapter. Dev Patel plays the likeable comic foil in the midst of madness, who is slowly educated in the whims of his fellow man. TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 Carlitos Way (1993) Film4, 11.05p.m. Newly released jailbird Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) pledges to stay away from a life of crime. He leaves behind the murky world of drug dealing and invests his money in a nightclub, determined to become a successful businessman. However, its not long before the Puerto Ricans shady lawyer has him twitching at the temples, and a string of former associates dont help either. Carlito decides to move to Florida, but can he outrun the thugs who (wrongly) believe hes a murderer? Director Brian DePalma has made a few stinkers in his career, but this is one of his best offerings, with a terrific performance from Pacino. Add to that a deliciously sleazy turn by Sean Penn and some masterly direction and you have the makings of cinematic perfection. Despite the R733 outside Wexford town having recently been described as one of Irelands most notorious roads in a recent RTE Prime Time documentary, it seems that erratic driving is continuing on the Duncannon Line. One of the Droleens built by the late Frank de Groot and his group sailing off Bray in 2014. Bray Sailing Club is holding its annual Murdoch Open Dinghy Regatta on Saturday, August 24, and this year the club promises to focus in particular on historic boats, including one special boat which was designed in Bray 128 years ago. Members of the public are invited to watch the racing events, with boats on the water, from Bray Harbour, at 2pm until 4pm, followed by the prizegiving ceremony. Of particular interest in this year's event is the participation of the historic boats, including the Droleen clinker boat originally designed in Bray in 1896. Some 100 years later, the plans of the original boat were re-discovered and the Bray Droleen Heritage Association was founded, with boats subsequently built to the original plans. The Droleen is a 12 lapstrake/clinker built boat, a method of boat building in which the edges of hull planks overlap each other, and was designed in 1896 by W Ogilvy, in Bray. It was intended to be launched off a stony beach and to be sailed in any weather, plenty of wind and seanot infrequently encountered off the coast of Bray, according to maritime writer HC Folkards 1906 book, Sailing Boats from Around the World. Eight boats were builtsome, if not at all, by a Mr Foley of Ringsend, Dublinbut it is thought that the development of the class was hampered when some of the original owners, who were in the British Army, were called away to fight in the Boer War (18991902) in South Africa. There was, however, some class racing up until World War One, after which these boats gradually disappeared. None of them survive today. The plans did survive somehow and in 1996 they were redrafted by the renowned naval architect and small-boat designer, George OBrien Kennedy. This allowed the Bray Droleen Heritage Associationfounded in 2013 and led by the late Frank de Grootto build two new boats, the first of which was launched at an Old Gaffers Association event on Dublins River Liffey in 2014. Xi says China to continue to support NPC in deepening exchanges with IPU Xinhua) 08:10, August 21, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China's National People's Congress' (NPC) affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China will, as always, support the National People's Congress (NPC) in deepening exchanges and cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Xi made the remarks while meeting with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of NPC's affiliation to the IPU, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries in Beijing. Xi welcomed the speakers' visit to China, noting that they come from countries on different continents. "We are all members of the Global South," he said. Despite different national conditions, China and the countries are all good brothers and good partners with a shared vision, Xi added. Noting that the current global landscape is rapidly evolving, Xi said China is willing to work with other countries to advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and build the Earth into a harmonious family. Exchanges between legislative bodies are an important part of state-to-state relations, Xi stressed, adding that legislative bodies should and are capable of playing an active role in forming state-to-state relations based on equality and mutual trust, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation for development, promoting open and inclusive exchanges and mutual learning, advancing global governance featuring fairness and equity, and making unique contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi briefed the foreign parliamentary leaders on the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which was held in mid-July. He stressed that China's unswerving commitment to high-level opening up will inject new momentum into the development of the world economy, provide new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and open up new prospects for the common development of developing countries. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the legislative bodies of other countries to jointly explore modernization paths suited to their own national conditions, Xi added. He described the adherence to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC and the commitment to developing whole-process people's democracy as "major experience of China in achieving remarkable progress in governance." The true essence of people's democracy lies in the principle that matters should be discussed openly, with collective issues being deliberated by the public to accommodate aspirations and demands of the whole society, Xi noted. Whole-process people's democracy not only has a complete set of institutional procedures but also involves comprehensive participation and practices, making it extensive, authentic and effective, he said. China will, as always, support the NPC in deepening exchanges and cooperation with the IPU, Xi said. He added that on the basis of mutual respect for each other's development paths and institutional models, efforts should be made to strengthen the exchange of legislative and governance experience, jointly enhance the capacity to perform duties, and foster a favorable legal environment and a solid foundation of public opinion for deepening friendly cooperation among the Global South. Tulia Ackson, IPU president and Tanzania's National Assembly speaker, Peter Katjavivi, speaker of Namibia's National Assembly, and Marinus Bee, chairman of Suriname's National Assembly, addressed the meeting on behalf of the foreign speakers. They said the IPU has maintained long-term friendly and close cooperation with the NPC of China, and thanked the Chinese side for its commitment to promoting unity, mutual trust, friendship and cooperation among parliaments of all countries, as well as its contribution to the development of various undertakings of the IPU and the implementation of the SDGs. As the largest developing country in the world, China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and made remarkable achievements in development, setting an example and providing important opportunities for other developing countries, they said. The IPU appreciates China's stance of upholding fairness and justice in international affairs, advocacy of equality for all countries regardless of size, and significant contributions to world peace, stability and common development, they said. All parties expressed appreciation for the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, pledging commitment to strengthening friendly partnerships with China, adhering to the one-China principle, and jointly safeguarding multilateralism through close cooperation with China. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China's National People's Congress' (NPC) affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China's National People's Congress' (NPC) affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China's National People's Congress' (NPC) affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with foreign parliamentary leaders attending the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of China's National People's Congress' (NPC) affiliation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the 2024 interregional seminar on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for parliaments of developing countries, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) "We're bullish about the future. And we want to be a good partner to our Chinese corporate partners and consumers," said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC), welcoming the economic policies from the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). #GLOBALink The workshop on Thursday, August 29, is focussed on the horticulture sector. Bord Bia will hold a Wicklow workshop for horticulture businesses with a focus on UK Customs and Trade regulations. From October 31, food and drink exporters in Ireland will be required to comply with additional trade requirements under the UK Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which will involve products of all risk levels experiencing checks upon entering Great Britain, with the exception of specific low-risk plants. Bord Bia, in association with PerformanSC supply chain consultants, plan to provide workshops throughout the country to provide insights for exporters. A session preparing businesses ahead of the Christmas tree season will be held at the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy on Thursday, August 29. Visit the Bord Bia website in order to register your attendance. Irelands president has led tributes to renowned author, journalist and feminist activist Nell McCafferty, who has died at the age of 80. The celebrated writers family said she died in the early hours of Wednesday at a nursing home in Co Donegal. The former Irish Times journalist, originally from Londonderry, was a prominent voice on womens rights issues across the island of Ireland and in 1970 co-founded the Irish Womens Liberation Movement (IWLM). Nell McCafferty, centre, died aged 80 at a nursing home in Co Donegal (Niall Carson/PA) Considered a journalistic trailblazer and fearless social commentator, McCafferty authored several books and also wrote for publications including the Sunday Tribune and Hot Press. Campaigning for the legalisation of contraceptives in Ireland in the 1970s, she famously took part in an event known as the Contraceptive Train in 1971 when members of the IWLM travelled across the border to Belfast, bought a range of contraceptive products and took them to Dublin, where they staged a protest at the citys Connolly station. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said McCafferty had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness and had a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism. 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 Mr Higgins said he and his wife Sabina were privileged to be friends with her and said she will be deeply missed by us all. Nell McCafferty was a pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected, Mr Higgins said. Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work. He added: Nell had a unique gift in stirring peoples consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society. A defining feature across Nells life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it. Irish premier Simon Harris paid tribute to the journalist as a fierce, fearless and fiery campaigner who suffered no fools. If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it, the Taoiseach said. Her passion and wrath was not scattergun it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many. Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore. As one of the women who took the train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasnt for warriors like Nell. In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasnt afraid to enter every battle for gay and womens rights. We all owe her a great debt for this. Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace. 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 Northern Irelands First Minister and Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle ONeill said McCafferty was a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She added: A proud feminist and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society. She eloquently spoke up for disadvantaged women through her work with the Irish Womens Liberation Movement, particularly highlighting the poverty and injustices women faced in the late 20th century across the island. Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty, and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. A proud daughter of Derry, Nells wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult 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 Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said he was deeply saddened at McCaffertys death. Nell was an exceptional journalist and campaigner the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and womens rights, the Tanaiste posted on X, formerly Twitter. She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland. In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement. She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues. Irelands Press Ombudsman, journalist Susan McKay, also paid tribute. She was an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist, Ms McKay told BBC Radio Ulster. She changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people. You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell, and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society. Nell went straight into working-class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive. She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time. And its very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasnt really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before. 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 SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described McCafferty as a mould-breaker and establishment shaker. She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could, he said on X. An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure. Leader of the Irish Labour Party Ivana Bacik said she is deeply saddened. She described McCafferty as a wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon. It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends, she posted on X. 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 National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described McCafferty as one of the most renowned journalists in Ireland. She was a long time member of the NUJ and a former union activist. Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said: With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished. She was one of the most renowned journalists in the country as a reporter, columnist, author and broadcaster. The public recognised in her a deep commitment to social justice. The fact that she was so often referred to only by her first name is a reflection of her special place in Irish journalism and in the public consciousness. This stemmed from her unique qualities as a reporter and storyteller. Nell McCafferty could be hilariously funny, frequently controversial and delighted in being contrary. She was never afraid to challenge the consensus and took pleasure in afflicting the comfortable. Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland. Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style. McCaffertys funeral will take place on Friday in her native Derry. A requiem mass will be held at 12.30pm at St Columbas Church, Long Tower in the city, followed by a private cremation in Co Cavan. Dont use dating apps, Russians in Kursk are warned by government Moscow fears its enemy is gathering intelligence and has hacked CCTV as incursions by Ukrainians continue Local resident Natalya, who didn't give her family name, stands amid debris of her house hit by shelling in Makiivka in the Donetsk region of Ukraine yesterday. Photo: Reuters Joe Barnes Telegraph.co.uk Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 03:30 Russia has told residents in three regions neighbouring Ukraine not to use dating apps, to prevent Kyiv collecting intelligence. LATEST | More inspections of sunken yacht carried out as search enters third day for six feared dead Why did the superyacht Bayesian sink? Neil Lancefield and Ted Hennessey in Sicily Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 11:33 Search crews have carried out further inspections of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily as the hunt for six people feared trapped in the vessel continues. How low can we go? Boys in Green must aim to end one of the worst losing streaks in our football history Sicily yacht sinking: Divers search wreck with little chance of finding survivors One dead and six still missing after British vessel sank in storm off Sicily Rescue personnel work in the area where the luxury yacht sank, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, after the vessel was hit by a violent storm. Photo: Reuters Giselda Vagnoni Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 03:30 Divers scoured the wreck of a luxury yacht off Sicilys coast yesterday in the search for six missing people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, following an intense storm that sank the vessel early on Monday. This combination of six undated photos shows hostages, from top left, Alex Dancyg, Abraham Munder and Yagev Buchshtab and from bottom left, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri and Nadav Popplewell, who were held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, the Israeli military said its forces recovered their bodies in an overnight operation in southern Gaza, without saying when or how the six died. Hostages Families Forum announced their deaths while in Hamas captivity. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP) LATEST | Fired-up Barack and Michelle Obama tear into Donald Trump as they endorse Kamala Harris at Democratic convention Barack Obama called Trump a 78-year-old billionaire who hasnt stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years agoWhos going to tell Trump that the job hes currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?, Michelle Obama asked the crowdTrumps former press secretary also appeared at the convention in Chicago Obamas share warnings about Trump amid rousing Harris endorsements Steve Peoples, Jonathan J Cooper and Zeke Miller Wed 21 Aug 2024 at 07:25 Warning of a difficult fight ahead, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday called on the nation to embrace Kamala Harris in urgent messages to the Democratic National Convention that were at times both hopeful and ominous. India, Malaysia Agree to Expand Cooperation in Emerging Sectors India and Malaysia have agreed to enhance trade relations, facilitate worker movement, and promote the use of their national currencies for bilateral transactions. On August 20, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met to discuss ways to elevate the partnership between their nations. Indias Prime Minister Modi hosted bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Ibrahim in New Delhi, focusing on expanding cooperation in emerging areas, such as digitalization, defense manufacturing, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI). On August 20, 2024, the leaders acknowledged the success of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership established in 2015, which has significantly strengthened ties between India and Malaysia. The two countries agreed to elevate this partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Expanding cooperation across key sectors Anwar Ibrahim, who assumed office in 2022, made his first official visit to India as the Malaysian PM. According to media reports, the Malaysian leader is keen on improving relations with India. Since April 2023, both nations have been settling trade in their respective currencies, the rupee and the ringgit, and Indias palm oil imports from Malaysia have seen a noticeable increase. The latest round of discussions covered a wide range of areas, including defense, trade, digital technology, education, tourism, and cultural exchange. During the meeting of the two Prime Ministers, several key agreements were signed, including Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering employment, traditional medicine, digital technology, culture, youth engagement, financial services, and governance reforms. These agreements underscore the expanding scope of cooperation between the two nations. India also agreed to support Malaysias request to join the BRICS grouping, a move that Prime Minister Ibrahim has been advocating for. India-Malaysia trade growth Modi has claimed that in FY 2023-24, Malaysia invested US$5 billion in India. The trade between the two countries reached US$20.01 billion in the previous financial year. In addition, Modi called for a swift review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to strengthen supply chains. India-Malaysia Trade Trends Year-On-Year (Value in US$ Million) Trade 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 India exports to Malaysia 6,364.66 6,057.68 6,995.04 7,156.16 7,262.15 Growth % -4.82 15.47 2.30 1.48 India imports from Malaysia 9,782.28 8,373.05 12,424.20 12,734.94 12,754.01 Growth % -14.41 48.38 2.50 0.15 Total Trade 16,146.94 14,430.73 19,419.24 19,891.11 20,016.17 Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Ministry official Jaideep Mazumdar announced a special one-time export of 200,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice to Malaysia, despite Indias general ban on such exports. On July 20, 2023, India announced its decision to ban exports of non-basmati white rice to calm rising domestic prices in the domestic market. The country is the worlds top rice exporter, accounting for some 40 percent of the global trade in cereal. Advancing collaboration India and Malaysia agreed to further collaboration in sustainable energy, climate change, agriculture, and cultural exchange. India expressed interest in selling defense equipment to Malaysia, including aircraft produced by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Both nations also agreed on a framework to ensure the welfare of Indian workers in Malaysia, where approximately 140,000 Indian workers are currently employed. This number could increase as India seeks to create more job opportunities both domestically and abroad. Conclusion The latest discussions between India and Malaysia mark a significant milestone in India-Malaysia relations, with a focus on expanding cooperation across various sectors and tackling global challenges together. Additionally, both sides agreed to collaborate further on global challenges such as sustainable energy, climate change, and worker welfare, positioning India and Malaysia as strong partners in the region and on the global stage. Photo Courtesy: File photo from Wallpaper Cave New Delhi/IBNS: The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending industry is staring at a potential decline in new investments and subdued growth following the tightening of regulations by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), according to Financial Express. The new RBI guidelines have barred P2P lenders from offering immediate withdrawal facility, which was a major attraction for investors, reports Financial Express, adding that several players have already communicated with their customers informing them that they have discontinued the facility. Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is a type of platform that allows participants to borrow and lend sums of money without having to rely on a conventional financial institution to control transactions. P2P lending platform's immediate withdrawal facility was marketed under the guise of secondary market transactions. For example, in this set-up, if a lender which has originally lent an amount of Rs 100 for a 12-month period decides to withdraw the remaining Rs 80 after two months, the P2P platform facilitates this by selling the remaining loan (Rs 80) to a new lender which is interested in lending, and essentially, this process functions as a transfer of loans from the original lender to a new one, according to Financial Express. The central bank has also barred the use of algorithm in selection of borrowers, and from now on, lenders have to choose borrowers manually, as per reports. According to experts, the P2P lending industry is also expecting operational costs to increase, while under the new norms, a platform will require funds in the escrow accounts of lenders and borrowers to be cleared within a day (T+1), which means there will be higher transfer charges. Earlier on Friday (August 16), the apex bank tightened the rules for P2P lending platforms, prohibiting them from taking on any credit risk, offering credit enhancement, or providing guarantees. The RBI said, in the revised guidelines, that a P2P platform should not promote peer-to-peer lending as an investment product with features like tenure-linked assured minimum returns, liquidity options, etc, reports Financial Express. Photo Courtesy: WHO/Katson Maliro The health department has directed three Delhi government hospitals to set up specific isolation rooms for suspected and confirmed mpox patients. India has not reported any mpox cases so far during the current global outbreak of the disease. "Three Delhi government hospitals -- LNJP, GTB (Guru Teg Bahadur hospital) and Baba Saheb Ambedkar -- have been directed to set up isolation rooms for suspected and confirmed cases of the disease. While LNJP (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital) has been designated as the nodal facility, two other hospitals are on standby," a senior health department official told Business Today. Meanwhile, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has reportedly issued a guideline to handle suspected mpox-infected patients. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the mpox situation. As advised by the Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, chaired a high-level meeting recently to review the status of preparedness for Mpox in the country and related public health measures, an official statement said. As per the present assessment, the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is low, the Indian government said. Also Read: Mpox: All you need to know about latest public health emergency which is leaving nations alert Meanwhile, a top official of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said Mpox is not the new COVID and European governments need to show strong political commitment to eliminate it. Briefing journalists in Geneva, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, insisted that the risk from mpox to the general population was low. He rejected comparisons between the fast-spreading viral disease which the agency declared an international public health emergency last week, and the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of whether its mpox clade 1, behind the ongoing outbreak in east-central Africa, or mpox clade 2, behind the 2022 outbreak that initially impacted Europe and has continued to circulate in Europe since. We know how to control mpox - and in the European region - the steps needed to eliminate its transmission altogether, Dr. Kluge continued. Transmission pattern Current scientific knowledge about the virus indicates that it primarily transmits through skin-to-skin contact with mpox lesions, including during sex. The UN health agency officials reply to questions about whether Europe would experience COVID-like lockdowns was an unequivocal no. Speaking via video link from Copenhagen, Dr. Kluge recalled that the 2022 European mpox outbreak was brought under control thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men. He cited behaviour change, non-discriminatory public health action and mpox vaccination as factors of success in Europe in 2022. However, the region failed to go the last mile to quash the disease and is currently seeing some 100 new mpox clade 2 cases every month, he said. Last week, Sweden became the first country outside Africa to record a case of the mpox clade 1 variant at the centre of the latest outbreak, which has been spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to neighbouring countries. The Swedish case concerned a person who had travelled to an affected area of Africa. The current state of alert due to clade 1, which is considered to be more severe, gives European health authorities the opportunity to also strengthen focus on clade 2 and eliminate it once and for all, Dr. Kluge urged. Smallpox vaccines work The UN health agency representative called specifically for European solidarity with Africa, notably regarding equitable access to vaccines. WHO recommends the use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available. These have originally been developed against the now-eradicated disease smallpox. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that the producer of MVA-BN, Bavarian Nordic, has capacity to manufacture 10 million doses by end of 2025 and can already supply up to two million doses this year. As for LC16, which is a vaccine produced on behalf of the Government of Japan, he underscored that there is a considerable stockpile of this vaccine. Japan has been very generous in the past with donations and is currently in negotiations with the DRC Government, he said. The DRC has reported more than 15,600 mpox cases so far this year and some 540 deaths. Photo Courtesy: PMO India X page Indian PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday described Poland as a 'key economic partner' in Central Europe ahead of his visit to the country. Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Poland in 45 years. His visit to the European nation coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. Leaving for Warsaw. This visit to Poland comes at a special time- when we are marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. India cherishes the deep rooted friendship with Poland. This is further cemented by a commitment to democracy and pluralism. I will hold talks Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 In his departure speech, Modi said: "My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership." He said he is looking forward to engaging with the members of the 'vibrant' Indian community in Poland. After Poland, Modi will visit conflict-torn Ukraine. "From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine," he said. "I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region," Modi said. Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X post Kolkata/IBNS: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday took over the security of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a 31-year-old junior doctor was raped and murdered, following the Supreme Court order. A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud gave the order while hearing a suo motu case related to the RG Kar hospital incident. "It is essential to maintain safe conditions for doctors to pursue their duty. Thus we have been assured by SG Mehta that CISF shall be deputed in sufficient numbers to guard the facility of RG Kar Medical college ..Mr Sibal says there is no objection since the aim is to safeguard the place. Any concern regarding to their safety can be placed by an email to the registrar judicial of this court," the CJI said. Earlier on August 14 midnight, a mob vandalised the hospital and Kolkata Police personnel deployed there allegedly fled the scene during the attack, due to which the court has asked for added security, especially since many residents have left their place of duty. The Supreme Court came down heavily on the West Bengal government over delay in filing FIR in the horrific rape-murder case and ordered setting up of a National Task Force to look into the safety of healthcare staff in hospitals across the country. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing both rape-murder and hospital vandalism cases, having taken over from Kolkata Police based on a Calcutta High Court order. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer of Kolkata Police and the only accused arrested so far in connection with the rape-murder case, is now in CBI custody and he will be facing a polygraph test soon. The Kolkata Police said they have arrested more than 30 people so far in connection with the hospital vandalism case. The junior doctors, particularly in West Bengal, went on a strike demanding justice for the 31-year-old, who is now referred to as Tillotama, cripping the medical system of the state. Not just the students, people from diverse fraternities are conducting rallies in Kolkata and neighbouring districts on a regular basis with one-point demand, justice for the victim. Photo Courtesy: PIB India While Rahul Gandhi opposed it, another Congress MP Shashi Tharoor came out in support of the Centre's lateral entry scheme and said it is an indispensable method for the government to acquire expertise. My position on lateral entry is that it is an indispensable method for the government to acquire expertise which it otherwise lacks, in specific areas of specialisation for which there are no qualified persons already in government service. In the short term, it remains https://t.co/cw3wAT7gZO Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 19, 2024 "My position on lateral entry is that it is an indispensable method for the government to acquire expertise which it otherwise lacks, in specific areas of specialisation for which there are no qualified persons already in government service. In the short term, it remains unavoidable. In the long-term, what is needed is for government officers, recruited under the existing rules, including applicable reservations, to be trained in the necessary specialisations needed by the government," he posted on X. The government Tuesday requested the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to withdraw its advertisement for lateral entry into bureaucracy, amid intense opposition criticism and pressure from ally Chirag Paswan, who had also expressed reservations against the move. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that the "move should be aligned with social justice", Union Minister Jitender Singh wrote in a letter to the UPSC chief. UPSC last week issued an advertisement seeking "talented and motivated Indian nationals" for lateral recruitment to various senior positions within the Union government. These positions included Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary in 24 ministries, with a total of 45 posts up for grabs. "While most of the major lateral entries before 2014 were made in an ad-hoc manner, including cases of alleged favouritism, efforts of our government have been to make the process institutionally driven, transparent and open," the minister's letter read. "The Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation." Lateral entry into the bureaucracy refers to recruitments from outside traditional government service cadres, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), to fill mid and senior-level positions in government departments. The move triggered a debate on lateral entry into bureaucracy, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi denouncing the process as an "attack on Dalits". The ruling BJP countered by pointing out that the concept emerged under a Congress-led government. Even Union Minister Chirag Paswan, the BJP's Bihar ally, echoed the criticism. However, Paswan has welcomed the retraction of the move, saying it showed the government cared about people's concerns. "Since the time the lateral entry issue came to my notice, I raised it in front of concerned authorities at different places. I presented the concerns of SC/ST and backward people regarding this issue to the Prime Minister. For the past two days, I have been in touch with the PM and his office. He held in-depth discussions with me and I submitted relevant documents to his office. In all kinds of government appointments, rules of reservation should be followed by the government," he was quoted as saying by NDTV. "I am happy that my Prime Minister Modi understood the concerns of SC/ST and backward people. My party and I thank PM Modi," he added. Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from YouTube video Kolkata/IBNS: Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered, used to sell unclaimed dead bodies, claimed his ex-colleague. Former RG Kar Hospital deputy superintendent, Akhtar Ali, said Dr. Ghosh removed all evidence of selling dead bodies. "He is a criminal, not a doctor. He's ruined many students' lives.... He runs a mafia raj. He has ruined many lives, taught students to consume alcohol and he even sold unclaimed dead bodies and tampered with death records and removed the registers so that nobody comes to know about it," Ali told Times Now. The former staffer said he had spoken about the illegal activities but no one acted even after Dr. Ghosh was found guilty in the probe. Dr. Ghosh, who came under massive fire from the protesters who went into an indefinite strike demanding justice, was summoned for the sixth consecutive day after the Central Bureau of Investigation took charge of the case. Dr. Ghosh, who faced the ire for alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, resigned from his post facing protests from the medical students. Though he had resigned, the Mamata Banerjee government had controversially appointed him to a similar post at Calcutta National Medical College within a few hours. The trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which is located in North Kolkata's Belgachia area. One person, a civic volunteer, has been arrested in connection with the case but protesting students as well as the victim's parents suspect more people are involved in the case. Photo Courtesy: PIB Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim has hinted that his administration may consider the extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to India and said he is "open to any ideas and evidence submitted". Naik, who faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India, has been living in exile in Malaysia since 2017, as a runaway fugitive. He left India in 2016. He was granted a permanent residency by Malaysia's previous government led by Mahathir Mohamed. Anwar Ibrahim, who was in India recently and met PM Narendra Modi, was quoted as saying by Firstpost: " It was not raised by the prime minister. He did raise much earlier, many years back. But the issue is, Im not talking about one person, Im talking about the sentiment of extremism, of compelling cases and evidence that suggests the atrocities committed by an individual or groups or parties." "These are of concern to us. The atrocities of Israeli forces in Gaza, that is real We are open to any ideas and if evidence is submitted, we will not condone terrorism," he said. India and Malaysia signed nine MoUs during PM Anwar Ibrahim's visit to New Delhi on Tuesday. Following the bilateral meeting between Ibrahim and Indian PM Narendra Modi, 10 announcements related to both nations were also made. Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart to further intensify the multi-dimensional relationship. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim will pay a State Visit to India on August 19-21. This was the first visit of Anwar Ibrahim as the Prime Minister of Malaysia. India and Malaysia have strong historical and socio-cultural linkages. Our bilateral relationship was elevated to the status of Enhanced Strategic Partnership in 2015 during the visit of Prime Minister Modi. As both countries enter the second decade of Enhanced Strategic Partnership next year, the visit of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would pave way for further strengthening of India-Malaysia bilateral ties by charting out a multi-sectoral cooperation agenda for the future. Photo Courtesy: Narendra Modi Facebook page Speaking to ANI, Saurabh Gilitwala said, I am from Mumbai, I came to Poland 7 years agoIt has been more than 40 years since an Indian President or PM has visited Poland. We are all excited as this visit will further strengthen India-Poland ties. Ajay Sharma, a member of the Indian diaspora, said he is excited welcome Modi to the country. Ajay Sharma told ANI, I have been in Poland for almost 6 years. I came here as a student in 2018. Then I established my own company here. And after I completed my studies, now I am working for my own company and growing my own company. We are very excited. Our friends and colleagues in different cities are asking about PM Modis schedule and they have even booked their tickets to travel to Warsaw to see PM Modi." Indian PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday described Poland as a 'key economic partner' in Central Europe ahead of his visit to the country. Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Poland in 45 years. His visit to the European nation coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. In his departure speech, Modi said: "My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership." After Poland, Modi will visit conflict-torn Ukraine. Photo Courtesy: Narendra Modi X page Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Poland, marking the visit of the first Indian PM in past 45 years. After arriving in Warsaw, Modi said: " Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations." Earlier in the day, Narendra Modi described Poland as a 'key economic partner' in Central Europe. Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations. pic.twitter.com/KniZnr4x8g Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 His visit to the European nation coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. In his departure speech, Modi said: "My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership." He said he is looking forward to engaging with the members of the 'vibrant' Indian community in Poland. After Poland, Modi will visit conflict-torn Ukraine. Photo courtesy: X/Kunal Ghosh & @RDA_UP Kolkata/IBNS: Amid nationwide doctors' protests in the wake of the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital , senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh has asked how the medicos would respond if security forces went on strike to demand "justice" against perpetrators of the 2019 Pulwama attack. "With a request to doctors to end their strike, I have a question. There has been no justice in the Pulwama case. So, if jawans desert the borders and start a 'we want justice' strike, how would they see it?" Kunal Ghosh, who has been articulating the party's position in the aftermath of the rape-murder horror, said in a post on X. - 'we want justice' , ? Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) August 21, 2024 Forty personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 when an explosives-laden vehicle crashed into a convoy of vehicles transporting the security personnel. Less than two weeks later, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes in Pakistan's Balakot and targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp as retaliatory action. Meanwhile, for the past 10 days, doctors across the country have been protesting against the chilling rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital on August 9. Hearing the matter Tuesday, the Supreme Court set up a 10-member National Task Force to recommend steps to prevent violence against and ensure safe work conditions for healthcare professionals. "Medical professionals - doctors, nurses and paramedic staff - work round the clock. Unrestricted access to every part of healthcare institutions has made healthcare professionals susceptible to violence," the court said. Following the court directive, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday took over the security of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Also read: Central force deployed at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital as per Supreme Court order Earlier on August 14 at midnight, a mob vandalised the hospital and Kolkata Police personnel deployed there allegedly fled the scene during the attack, due to which the court has asked for added security, especially since many residents have left their place of duty. The Trinamool leader's remarks come at a time when the Mamata Banerjee-led party is under fire over its handling of the heinous crime. Last Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, slamming the Kolkata Police which had "made no significant progress in the case". The Trinamool Congress has countered the criticism over the incident by questioning what progress the CBI has made after it took over the probe. Photo courtesy: Videograb from X Hyderabad/IBNS: At least 15 people were killed and 17 others injured after a fire broke out at a pharmaceutical firm unit in Andhra Pradeshs Anakapalli district on Wednesday, media reports said. The fire broke out at an Escientia Company plant in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone. Anakapalli district collector Vijaya Krishnan told the media that the fire did not break out as a result of a reactor blast. Initial media reports suggested that the fire broke as a result of a blast in one of the chemical reactors. He suspected an electricity-related fire behind the incident, said reports. According to the collector, 13 people who were trapped in the unit were rescued. The injured have been shifted to the NTR Hospital for treatment. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the loss of lives. "The CM assured that the government will stand by the families of the workers who died," said an official press release. The blaze reportedly broke out during lunchtime when most staffers were not at work, averting a bigger disaster. Photo courtesy: X/@MEAIndia Warsaw/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Poland a first for an Indian Prime Minister in more than four decades, joked that the "first" has been one of the biggest headlines back home. Addressing a gathering of expat Indians, the Indian Prime Minister said that his recent visit to Austria has been another first in four decades. "It is my good fortune to bring about many firsts," he added to laughter and cheers. Grateful to the Indian diaspora in Poland for their warmth. Speaking at a community programme in Warsaw. https://t.co/tqvRMS9bKF Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 This string of firsts, he indicated, was due to a 180 degree shift in foreign policy. "For decades, India's policy was to maintain distance from all countries," PM Modi said. "Today, India's policy is to maintain close ties with all countries. Today's India wants to connect with everyone," he said in a subtle jab at the Non-Aligned Movement of the 70s under the then Congress government. Ahead of his much-anticipated visit to Ukraine, Modi said this is not an era of war and pledged to campaign for a peaceful resolution of Russia's invasion. Indian diaspora - a crucial pillar of - partnership! A vibrant Indian diaspora in Poland welcomed PM @narendramodi with great joy and fervour. In his address, PM shared his thoughts on the transformative progress achieved by the country and outlined his vision for Viksit pic.twitter.com/UyWlBG0blj Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2024 "India is an advocate of permanent peace in this region. Our stand is very clear - this isn't an era of war. This is the time to come together against those challenges which threaten humanity. Therefore, India believes in diplomacy and dialogues," PM Modi said. PM Modi, 73, will be the first Indian Prime Minister to make a Ukraine trip and is the first in 45 years to travel to Poland - Kyiv's close ally and a key transit for foreign leaders heading to its war-torn neighbour. The Prime Minister spoke about the transformative progress achieved by India in the last 10 years. He expressed confidence that India will become the third-largest economy in the next few years. Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations. pic.twitter.com/KniZnr4x8g Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 He also spoke about his vision for the country to become a developed nation - Viksit Bharat - by 2047. He stated that Poland and India were enhancing their partnership in areas of new technology and clean energy and driving green growth. Earlier in the day, PM Modi paid tributes to Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw, Poland. Paid homage at the Kolhapur Memorial in Warsaw. This Memorial is a tribute to the great Royal Family of Kolhapur. This Royal Family was at the forefront of giving shelter to Polish women and children displaced due to the horrors of World War II. Inspired by the ideals of pic.twitter.com/Nhb9flvqmH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 He said that this Memorial is a tribute to the great Royal Family of Kolhapur. "This Royal Family was at the forefront of giving shelter to Polish women and children displaced due to the horrors of World War II," he added. He was also given a grand welcome by the Indian community on his arrival in Poland. Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland! Their energy embodies the strong ties that bind our nations. pic.twitter.com/mPUlhlsV99 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 21, 2024 PM Modi also laid a wreath and paid tribute at the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw earlier. This Monument commemorates the sacrifice and valour of soldiers from Poland, India and other countries who fought alongside each other in the famous Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy during the second World War. The Prime Ministers visit to the Monument underscores the shared history and deep-rooted ties between India and Poland that continue to inspire many. Canada is witnessing a troubling surge in violent incidents linked to a handful of Sikh miscreants, raising alarm within communities across the nation and globally. The escalating violence, driven by inter-gang rivalries among Khalistani extremist factions, is threatening to overshadow the peaceful image of the broader Sikh community in the country. Just days ago, the normally quiet neighborhood of Surrey, British Columbia, was shaken by a brazen shooting incident. Shots were fired at the residence of Raghbir Nijjar, cousin of the slain Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Raghbir, a former president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey and a close associate of the controversial figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is allegedly embroiled in the violent undercurrents that have recently gripped the region. Raghbir, who is also running for the temple presidency again, has been tainted by allegations of drug involvement, further complicating the already volatile situation. This attack is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of violence stemming from internal power struggles and gang wars within these extremist groups. Experts suggest that while the Khalistan issue is often cited, the real motive behind these violent confrontations may be the control of millions of dollars, fueling these dangerous rivalries. Adding to the list of alarming incidents, Satinder Pal Singh Raju, a key figure in organizing Khalistan referendums and a close ally of the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Interstate 505 near San Francisco on August 11. The truck Raju was traveling in was riddled with bullets, underscoring the lethal stakes involved in these internecine battles. Raju, who has been active in promoting the Khalistan agenda across North America, played a significant role in organizing referendum votes in various cities, including Calgary, Alberta, and San Francisco, California. His involvement in these activities, particularly after Nijjars assassination in June 2023, has kept him in the crosshairs of rival factions. The string of violent episodes has cast a shadow over the Sikh community in the diaspora, which has a long history of peaceful coexistence and significant contributions to their respective countrys multicultural fabric. However, the actions of a few have raised concerns about the communitys reputation, both domestically and internationally. As violence continues to escalate, community leaders and law enforcement agencies are on high alert, fearing that these internal conflicts could spiral further out of control, endangering more lives and deepening the communitys divide. The Sikh community globally now faces the challenge of addressing this escalating violence and distancing itself from the actions of a few who are bringing shame to a proud and peaceful heritage. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this wave of violence will be curtailed or if it will continue to mar the communitys image on the global stage. (Image ad text courtesy: Khalsavox.com) Photo Courtesy: Super Avia Catalana X page Maria Branyas Morera, who is the oldest person on earth, has died at a nursing home in Spain, her official X page confirmed. She was 117. "Maria Branyas has left us. She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain," read the post on her official X page. Guinness World Records also confirmed her death and said the organization was saddened by the death of Maria. "Aged 117 years 168 days, she was the eighth-oldest person (with a verifiable age) in history," GWR said in a statement. She was confirmed to be the worlds oldest woman (and person overall) in January 2023, following the death of Lucile Randon (France). Maria attributed her longevity to order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people. She was earlier quoted as saying by GWR: I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics. She was born in San Francisco, USA, in 1907. After living in both Texas and New Orleans, the family decided to return to Catalonia in 1915, amidst the First World War. They later settled in Spain. Aged 24, Maria married her husband, Dr Joan Moret, and they went on to have three children. After living through both World Wars, the Spanish Civil War, and the Spanish Flu pandemic, Maria also survived COVID-19 in 2020. Bus accident leaves 28 Pakistani pilgrims dead. Photo Courtesy: X page video grab At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims died and 23 others were injured in a bus accident in Irans Yazd city on Tuesday. According to reports, they were travelling to Iraq for a Shiite Muslim ritual. Pakistans Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu confirmed the incident and posted on X: " In pursuit of their religious journey,28 Pakistani Zaireen laid down their lives last night in Yazd city in bus accident.Another 23 are injured.I have no words to express grief but I can assure that I will do my very best for repatriation of those who passed away." "And look after the injured ones.Embassy officials have already left for Yazd, almost 700 km away from embassy,this morning. An officer in Zahedan is overseeing emergency arrangements.I'm in touch with Iran government and office of Mayor of Yazd for crucial arrangements," the envoy said. PM Shehzad Sharif expressed sadness Pakistan PM Shehzad Sharif has expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the tragedy. "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives at a bus accident of Pakistani Zaireen near Yazd in Iran. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. I have directed our Mission in Tehran to extend all possible assistance to the affected families," he posted n X. According to media reports, the bus overturned and caught fire close to the Taftan-Dehshir check point. As many as 53 passengers were present on the bus at the time of the accident. The pilgrims were on their way to join the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraqs Karbala Governorate. photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has said nine Chinese naval vessels and eight military aircraft were tracked around the region between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Aug. 18) and 6 a.m. on Monday, media reports said. Of the eight Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the countrys central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND as quoted by Focus Taiwan. Taiwan responded and sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. So far this month, Taiwan has tracked PLA aircraft 294 times and Chinese ships 174 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan, reported Focus Taiwan. What is the basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan? The basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two. The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan. He ruled it for many decades. This is where Chinas claim to Taiwan emanates. The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwans argument against the claim. Why is Taiwan important to China? A lot of things actually, which of course are related to Taiwan but not necessarily direct to Taiwan. It's more about (China's) relationship changing with the United States or we should say Western Countries, mainly the United States and China. Taiwan then happens to become a key player and main actor in this dynamics, said Alice. 100 miles from the coast of China, Taiwan is an island, that is located in the first island chain, this positioning makes it crucial to the US foreign policy. US-Sino relations hinge on, One China Policy, it acknowledges that, there is only one Chinese Government." The US recognises its formal ties with China. With Taiwan the US shares independent strong unofficial relations. At a time when international shows are creating buzz in the digital space, French thriller La Maison is all set to release on OTT platform Netflix starting September 19. There will be 10-episodes of the series streaming on Apple TV+. The trailer for the show is not yet out, but here's everything else you need to know about the show: Flash ! Apple TV+ annonce que la serie francaise La Maison debutera sa diffusion le 20 septembre prochain ! + premiere photo ! Les 2 premiers episodes sur 10 sortiront le premier jour, la serie se deroule dans un atelier de haute couture emblematique base a Paris et on pic.twitter.com/wBMICO9C1j Apple TV+ Fr Actu (@AppleTVPlusFrA) June 26, 2024 Plot If you are someone who loves French drama and scandal, La Maison is just for you. The drama revolves around a French fashion house and family rivals. Also Read: Monsters - The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story OTT release date Netflix: When to watch the true-crime series La Maison is basically about a fashion house that faces a scandal, leaving its family's legendary fashion couture house in controversy. Characters Perle Foster and Paloma Castel get together further in the story, recreate LEDU, and claim their place in the LeDu family and the fashion world. Is the plot of La Maison based on real life? No, the story of La Maison is totally fictional, but yes, the Apple TV+ series has taken inspiration from the real-life culture of French fashion houses. It is well known that powerful infulential families control and have controlled several famous fashion houses. There are many families that have since sold controlling stakes to larger fashion conglomerates. Cast and crew The star cast of La Maison includes Lambert Wilson, Amira Casar, and Zita Hanrot, among others, in lead roles. The Apple TV+ series has been directed by Fabrice Gobert and Daniel Grou. The writing credits for La Maison belong to Jose Caltagirone and Valentine Milville. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. People love to poke fun at Akshay Kumar for doing five or six movies a year while his peers barely manage one every couple of years. His bank account has become a punchline of its own. But here's the plot twisthailed as Khiladi Kumar, the Bollywood actor does not only have a big bank balance but also a big heart. He makes sure he gives back to society in whichever way he can. Mukesh Chhabra's recalls Akshay Kumar's heartwarming effort for his mother Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has recently revealed how Akshay Kumar helped him when his mother was sick. In conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia for his podcast, Chhabra revealed that when his mother Kamal Chhabra had a heart problem two years ago, Tanu Weds Manu director Anand L Rai suggested he should refer to a renowned doctor at a prominent hospital. When he got to know that Akki knew the doctor well, he dropped him a message. The actor who has a golden heart called him immediately and got everything arranged for his mother. He called him every day for 15 days to keep a check and was even speaking to the doctor to get updates. He said, Despite being so busy, he would ask every morning, 'Mummy da ki haal hai?' I can't forget that at all. He even met my mother. It is not even that we are regularly in touch, because you take this step to help someone when you know them at a personal level but still, he did that. We started talking after that, but I cant forget that moment." Mukesh Chhabra's mother had passed away in April this year. Akshay Kumar recently donated Rs 1.21 crores to Haji Ali Dargah A couple of weeks ago, Akshay Kumar had donated Rs 1.21 crores for renovation of Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai. The official Instagram handle of Haji Ali Dargah posted a video of his visit and also thanked him and also thanked him. Earlier, the actor had donated Rs 3 crores for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. After months of speculations about their romance hitting the rock bottom, Jennifer Lopez has reportedly filed for divorce from Ben Affleck. This comes two years after they gave their relationship a second chance by getting married in Las Vegas' drive-through Chapel. This comes amid the reports of them living separately for some time now. Jennifer Lopez files for divorce from Ben Affleck amid financial dispute Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck, No Pre Settlement pic.twitter.com/IHTyeh8ZTi Siraj anwar (@sirajanwar_13) August 20, 2024 It was in the summer of 2021 when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck made headlines for their romance growing stronger after their break up in 2004. One of the most loved couples of Hollywood was back together. They were often spotted walking hand-in-hand and their fans were only left gushing. They finally made it official by marrying in 2022. Two years later, rumors of trouble in their relationship began swirling, and now their divorce has made headlines. According to sources cited by the Daily Mail, Bennifer didn't sign a prenuptial agreement before their July 2022 wedding. This means that any income they earned separately in the previous two years, including the income from their brand deals and film projects, would be considered part of their shared assets. Court documents also show that Jennifer requested the judge to deny spousal support for Ben, even though she isn't seeking it for herself. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's love story - 20 years of love and two splits Looks like the man has already given up years ago. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleckpic.twitter.com/bROe0jwmuM Yellow Bird (@YellowLove243) August 20, 2024 It all began in the year 2000 when they first met on the sets of Gigli, in which they played criminals stuck on a job together. In 2002 when the film was released, Ben had reportedly proposed to Jennifer and they were already in a relationship. It is said that they were engaged by the end of the year too. In 2004, they were even planning to get married. However, they called off their engagement and instead ended their relationship. This was quite shocking to their fans who fondly called them Bennifer. They went their own separate ways and dated other people. They both got married to their respective partners and even had kids and got divorced. Bennifer once again made headlines in 2021 after rumours of them being together again started to swirl around. By the next year, they got married and were even spotted having a gala time on their honeymoon in Paris. Also Read: After 20 Years Of Romance, Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck Marry In Las Vegas' Drive-Through Chapel For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Michelle Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Tuesday with a fiery speech that directly criticized former US President Donald Trump while showing strong support for Kamala Harris. In a pointed attack on Trump, Michelle Obama referenced his previous controversial comments about undocumented migrants taking "Black jobs." She quipped, "Who's going to tell him that the job he is currently seeking might be one of those Black jobs?" Her remark underscored Trump's history of racially charged rhetoric and his efforts to question President Barack Obama's eligibility for office. Michelle Obama: "Who's gonna tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs?" DAMN! pic.twitter.com/ex79AChbBN Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) August 21, 2024 "For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us," Michelle Obama said, continuing her criticism. "His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking and highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black." Revisiting Trumps controversial narrative on Black jobs Trump has faced backlash for claiming during a June debate with President Biden that immigrants are taking "Black jobs" and "Hispanic jobs." His statement prompted the NAACP to respond on X: "What exactly are Black and Hispanic jobs!?!" Despite the criticism, Trump reiterated his "Black jobs" stance during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual convention last month. When asked to define a Black job, he responded, "A Black job is anybody that has a job. That's what it is," a remark that drew laughter from the audience. Michelle Obamas message goes beyond Trump While Michelle Obamas speech heavily critiqued Trump, she also delivered a broader message, urging all Americans to take action. "Look, I don't care how you identify politically, whether you're Democrat, Republican, independent, or none of the above, this is our time to stand up for what we know in our hearts is right," she said. "To stand up, not just for our basic freedoms, but for decency and humanity, for basic respect, dignity, and empathy for the values at the very foundation of this democracy." The former First Lady also lauded Kamala Harris, calling her "one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency." She highlighted Harris's achievements and noted that her dignified representation stems from a legacy of strong women. Also Read: Why Taylor Swift is being dragged into US presidential race by Donald Trump Michelle Obama opened her address with a hopeful note, reflecting on a nation grappling with uncertainty and subtly critiquing Trump's tenure. "America, hope is making a comeback," she declared, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a viral video circulating on social media, an Indian woman is seen visibly frustrated while attending a music festival in Albania. Her candid account of her experience as a tourist in Albania has struck a chord, with many expressing support for her after she described facing racism while others perpetuated the same. The Indian woman had been attending a Jason Derulo concert in Tirana, Albania. Check out her video: Female Indian tourist is told to "Go back to India" by local girls at an Albanian Music festival. pic.twitter.com/8kJcsYSHd7 Posts By Feds (@SuspectFed) August 20, 2024 In the video, she shares her experience, saying, "I was waiting in the line and there is this group of four girls who just came up, cut the line and when I pointed it out, they said repeatedly that I should go back to my country." "[they] laughed about it, they called me their mother and all of that jazz." She concludes sarcastically, "I feel very welcome Albania. Great job, thank you very much." How did people react? Opinions on social media were divided. Some users highlighted Albania's reputation for racism, with one saying, "Albania is one of the most rac1st countries in the world" and another noting the irony: "That's so funny because Albanians complain of discrimination & racism when they try to immigrate to the EU & UK.." Credit: United States Department of State | Albania Others took a stronger stance, shockingly supporting the racist behavior. Credit: X/ @SuspectFed One user pointed out the hypocrisy in the comments section: "'We aren't racist!' All the comments then proceed to insult the victim instead of denouncing the racist comments said to her. You are all really proving your point." Another echoed this sentiment: "Jesus the fact no one here has even referred to the racists negatively and 80% of comments are an insult targeted at the victim says a lot." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Greece's Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) is holding an auction today to sell 26-week Treasury bills, targeting a total of 500 million euros. The short-term debt instruments will mature on January 24, 2025, and settle on July 26, 2024. Participation is restricted to primary dealers, who can submit their bids electronically through the H.D.A.T. system. Non-competitive bids, up to 20% of the total auction amount, can be submitted until noon local time today, with no further non-competitive bids accepted after that deadline. The T-bill auction is a key part of Greece's ongoing strategy to manage its public debt and secure the necessary funding for government operations. The auction's success will be closely watched by financial markets as an indicator of investor confidence in the Greek economy. iefimerida.gr The Greek government is moving swiftly to implement its recovery plan for the victims of the devastating wildfire that ravaged northeast Attica on August 11th. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, after visiting the fire-stricken areas and meeting with local mayors and key ministers, pledged immediate action to provide compensation for property damage and restore municipal infrastructure and the natural environment. A platform for submitting initial aid claims by affected residents and businesses has already been activated. Additionally, extensive reforestation efforts covering 58,340 hectares in Attica will commence, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and implemented by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund and forestry services. The government has also allocated over 2.1 billion euros for upgrading civil protection systems and infrastructure, with approximately 1 billion euros from national and EU funds earmarked for forest protection and management. While acknowledging that "we can never be fully satisfied when events surpass our efforts," Mr. Mitsotakis stressed the need for a calm and objective evaluation of the firefighting response. He promised a comprehensive review in Parliament at the end of the fire season to assess "what went right and what went wrong," addressing criticism from the opposition. Despite the challenges posed by climate change and the recent wildfire, the government remains committed to continuously improving the civil protection system. Translated by Anthee Carasavva iefimerida.gr The new governor of the Mt Athos monastic community, retired general Alkiviadis Stefanis, formally assumed his duties on Wednesday in Karyes. In a brief statement, the new civil administrator of the historic all-male community expressed appreciation for his welcome. He added that his only purpose was "to serve the Mt Athos community and contribute to (its) continuation and increase of global prestige". iefimerida.gr Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday, directed teachers nationwide to down tools and begin an indefinite strike should the Police arrest the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. Recall that on Monday the Intelligence Response Team arm of the Nigerian Police Force, invited Ajaero, for questioning over Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime. Advertisement Reacting, NUT in a circular to its state wings nationwide by its President and Acting Secretary General, Audu Amba and Abdullahi Mohammed, respectively, asked teachers to prepare for industrial action. The Union said: As you may be aware, the President of NLC was invited by the Nigeria Police Force on the premise of unfounded and politically-motivated investigation into alleged terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. READ ALSO: If Anything Happens To Ajaero, Well Go On Strike Tonight NLC Threatens The Congress considers the act of harassment and intimidation as an attempt by the Police to stifle the voice of the working people as represented by the Leadership of the Congress. Consequently, the NEC of the NLC met and resolved to, among other things, direct all affiliates and State Councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation as the Congress would not hesitate to take all necessary actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. In the light of the above, the NUT hereby directs al State Wings of the Union to mobilize all teachers and be prepared to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike action by 12 midnight today, if anything happens to the President or any other leader of the Congress. The NUT stands with the NLC in this struggle to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our nation. All State wings are therefore directed to be on alert as they await further directives. The Federal Government has come up with plans to save over N10 billion from the coming United Nations Climate Change Conference, Conference of Parties (COP29). The plan, as stated by the Presidency on Tuesday, is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubus promise to reduce the cost of governance. Advertisement This years Conference of Parties (COP29 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Presidency said the move was necessitated by the humongous government delegations that went for COP28 in Dubai last year, a development that sparked public criticism. Addressing a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, noted that what transpired last year will not repeat itself. According to him, Tinubu had requested for an inquest after what happened in Dubai, adding that even though there were some deliberate misinformation, the truth of the matter is, we also found that there were government officials who had no business at that meeting. Ngelale, who explained that the measure would save the government about N10 billion from the 11-day event, said government would no longer hire a pavilion which costs $5,000, but a delegation office will be set up inside the premises. He added that some of the wasteful platforms that give rise to consultancies and subcontracts for lighting and other technology provisions will not be used as they can be provided directly by the National Council on Climate Change. He said: Many Nigerians would recall that after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigerias delegation to COP 28 in Dubai, UAE, last year, there were some elements of outcry concerning the size of the delegation. READ ALSO: Not All COP28 Delegates Are Sponsored By FG Presidency To Nigerians